Historically, online instructors have primarily, if not solely, used asynchronous text-based communication to interact and communicate with students in online courses. However, despite this use, online instructors and students have expressed concerns and limitations with asynchronous communication. Research suggests that synchronous communication…

Research shows that utilizing Google Chat aids in positive student experiences (Saadatmand et al., European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning 20:61-79, 2017), promotes learner interaction (Kobayashi, Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education 16:28-39, 2015), and has a higher level of satisfaction over traditional communication tools such…

Online learning has enhanced accessibility in education, but also poses significant challenges in maintaining academic integrity during online exams, particularly when students are prohibited from accessing unauthorized resources through the Internet. Nonetheless, students must remain connected to the Internet in order to take the online exam.…

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, instructors began using online learning platforms to offer live remote instruction (e.g., Zoom), which allow students to view themselves in real-time (i.e., self-view). The present research examined whether having students keep their cameras on, relative to cameras off, during a live online lecture would…

Background: Amidst the increasing application of online education in the post-COVID era, new challenges in student engagement have emerged. However, most studies on online engagement have adopted macro-level approaches and relied on self-report measures of retrospective engagement. Few have examined micro-level engagement in terms of real-time and…

In the spring of 2020, a global pandemic caused an immediate transition to online, synchronous learning platforms in much of the world. In discussion-based classrooms, where students construct learning from the material and their interactions with each other, the shift posed new challenges to educators and students. This mixed methods action…

This research study explored the perspectives of 20 educational technologists from four Saudi Arabian universities regarding the integration of AI-powered technology, particularly ChatGPT, into online higher education. The study used a qualitative research method that relied on the principles of theoretical sampling to select participants and…

COVID-19 required new off-school technology-based learning environments for educational continuity. This study described the online delivery modes of lectures and tutorials in a university in Brunei Darussalam during COVID-19. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 818 students from eight faculties. Data were collected through online surveys…

A recent increase in blended course options has changed the landscape of higher education, necessitating revisions of prior categorization of blended online and in-person course models. Building on the Mixed Instructional eXperience (MIX) taxonomy using current literature and course models, we developed three key parameters for defining course…

The recent surge of online language learning services in the past decade has benefitted second language learners. However, there is a lack of understanding of whether learners, especially young learners, are engaged in online learning, and how educators can enhance the engagement of the online learning experience. This study examines an artificial…

Low student engagement and motivation in online classes are well-known issues many universities face, especially with distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The online environment makes it even harder for teachers to connect with their students through traditional verbal and nonverbal behaviours, further decreasing engagement. Yet,…

Background/purpose: This study aims to determine the preferences and opinions of University of Sharjah students about hybrid learning, taking into account its increasing use globally, especially during and after the pandemic. Materials/methods: Participants were invited to complete a voluntary web-based questionnaire (Google Form), which was…

Students are termed "multitaskers," and it is likely that they easily fall prey to other subjects or topics that most interest them. They occasionally took heed or gave close and thoughtful attention to the lectures they were on. In the current educational system, our young generations receive materials from their leftovers, and their…

Authentic dialogue demands that we respond, interpret and sometimes disagree with others' ideas--a key component of participation in a democratic society. Yet the sharing and uptake of different ideas can be hampered by traditional online platforms which divide students into isolated threads. To tackle this issue, we introduce two novel online…

With the advent of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence (AI) tools, students have a new instrument that can create writing samples for them, making it easy to violate academic integrity. A constructivist grounded theory multiple-case study was conducted to address faculty perceptions of ChatGPT as a tool for learning and teaching instead of a…