Author: samerahsaad

Boosting Online Learning Through Technology

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This post is provided by guest blogger, Samerah Saad, graduate student University of St. Francis, MS Talent Development program. 

Barbetta (2022) summarizes how active learning by digital tools can enhance learner outcomes by promoting collaboration and engagement. One focus includes the concept of Education 5.0 to discuss the learner-centric outcomes and focus on student well-being adapted to be more inclusive on a holistic level. The utilization of artificial intelligence to amplify learning experiences supports increased rates of engagement. The author supports their theory by data found in gamification approaches without losing sight of ethical concerns on data privacy. They also provide a framework for implementation to include cross-disciplinary collaboration with artificial intelligence. 

I enjoyed the inclusive mentions to emphasis accessibility and a holistic approach for learning. Barbetta focused on lower-cost options such as presentations adaptations and peer learning sessions. However, I am concerned about the sufficiency these tools will provide since it will take from the direct approach from traditional means. Active listening or proper absorption on niche topics from the peer-turned-teacher doesn’t guarantee adequate results. I would have enjoyed specific examples, with their effectiveness, of how technology can boost current programs with relative ease to provide the reader with an actionable insight to more realistically integrate.  

Reference: 

Barbetta, P. M. (2022). Technologies as tools to increase active learning during online higher-education instruction. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 51(3), 317–339. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472395221143969 

Unlocking Student Success with Digital Learning Logs 

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This post is provided by guest blogger, Samerah Saad, graduate student University of St. Francis, MS Talent Development program. 

Arizmendi et al. (2023) highlights how Learning Management Systems and utilization of digital logs can provide insights to student performance and outcomes. This would be utilized to assess e-learning environments and their ability to understand the unique interaction patterns for the student. Moreover, this would also be used to analyze the data to calculate trends among all class members. This will be helpful to see how long each student is spending on coursework in comparison to the grades they are earning. The authors highlight how essential it is to enhance the learning experience through diverse learning approaches, standardization, instructional strategies, and proper use of technological tools/resources. 

I recommend this article’s approach to put into practice many of the theories circling successful approaches to e-learning. However, there are concerns on how these digital logs can gather information to be utilized effectively in an ethical manner. I am concerned about how thoroughly they will need to dive into student data without privacy concerns. Additionally, just because an individualized student demographic is inputted into the algorithm, I worry about overcoming any stereotypical notions and assess the student fairly. Personalized education was a major selling point but, unfortunately, there was no data supporting the same results for diversified in-person learning. 

Reference:

Arizmendi, C. J., Bernacki, M. L., Raković, M., Plumley, R. D., Urban, C. J., Panter, A. T., Greene, J. A., & Gates, K. M. (2022). Predicting student outcomes using digital logs of learning behaviors: Review, current standards, and suggestions for future work. Behavior Research Methods, 55(6), 3026–3054. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-022-01939-9Links to an external site. 

Online Students…The Choice is Yours!

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This post is provided by guest blogger, Samerah Saad, graduate student University of St. Francis, MS Talent Development program. 

The article “Examining Voice and Choice in Online Learning” provides students with the agency to create their own academic pathway (Henrikson & Baliram, 2023). The authors talk about the likely outcomes and trends for ways to utilize flexible content to increase engagement and motivation. They highlight the benefits of empowering students to dive into their interests with personalized context. Autonomous learning, particularly focusing on asynchronous online modules at self-paced regulation, helps foster a learning environment most advantageous to each student.  

Though students are the primary target here, faculty and staff members should be very interested in this information as it offers a practical option. We have come a long way in our technological advancements, and it’s about time we put them to good use in academia. It’s important to note that there are barriers to online learning, such as assuming each student can afford proper technology or has access to reliable internet. Through a credible source with data to back up emerging trends, the author did not mention any hindrance due to being overwhelmed by all the options newly presented to them. 

Reference 

Henrikson, R., & Baliram, N. (2023). Examining voice and choice in online learning. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-023-00401-wLinks to an external site.