Information and communication technologies play a crucial role in a number of modern industries. Among these, education has perhaps seen the greatest increases in efficiency and availability through Internet-based technologies. E-Learning as a Socio-Cultural System: A Multidimensional Analysis provides readers with a critical examination of the theories, models, and best practices in online education from a social perspective, evaluating blended, distance, and mobile learning systems with a focus on the interactions of their practitioners. Within the pages of this volume, teachers, students, administrators, policy makers, and IT professionals will all find valuable advice and enriching personal experiences in the field of online education.

Distinctive Distance Learning Education Design: Models for Differentiated Instruction attempts to gather the traditional models of teaching and learning and present them in a way that is useful to both new and experienced online teachers in a manner that can assist in increasing the overall effectiveness of online courses and training sessions and provide a greater impact for both the teacher and the learner.

This book addresses the gap in the literature concerned with global case studies of successful Digital, Mobile and Open Education. The book shares experiences from international teaching and learning projects at all levels of Education, and provides advice for future policy and investment in digital teaching and learning and Open Education projects. It also provides an expectation on the future capacity and sustainability of Open Education.

Recently, there has been an increased understanding that learning occurs outside of the traditional classroom setting, particularly for adult lifelong learners. This perspective has enhanced an attentive design in the underlying technological architecture that is required for the integration of formal and informal learning environments. Synergic Integration of Formal and Informal E-Learning Environments for Adult Lifelong Learners presents a collection of issues and research from adult education professionals who define, develop, implement, and evaluate the integration of formal and informal eLearning environments for adult lifelong learners. Academics, teachers, administrators, and learning technologists will benefit from this publication s unique approach to discussing and analyzing the challenges of introducing and implementing learning technologies for adult lifelong learners."

This book aims at discussing the development of MOOCs in China in relation to MOOCs in other countries or areas. Based on the history of MOOCs, we summarize and compare the development of MOOCs in China and other countries with empirical evidence from a comprehensive investigation about MOOCs in Asian, United States, and Europe. Then we discuss about the importance of MOOCs in China and its role in the reform of higher education system, and the model of teaching and learning in China. After all, we provide suggestions about how to improve MOOCs at the national, institutional, and individual level. In this book, we analyse and present the current construction and development of MOOCs in China from four dimensions including platforms, courses, learners, colleges and universities based on huge empirical evidence from a comprehensive investigation of 14 platforms, 42 universities, 1388 MOOCs, and 22895 learners. Our investigation mainly focused on seven topics: platform construction and operation, learner groups, curriculum organization form, teaching interaction, learning evaluation model, learning support service, and courses certification and academic score system. Based on the investigation, we found there is an emerging trend of collaboration among government, universities and enterprise in the development of MOOCs in China, which provides great opportunities to build an innovative educational service system for all kinds of learners. We also discuss our findings in relation to the corresponding development of MOOCs in United States, Europe and other regions and then focus on the unique challenges that China faces, such as the lack of deep learning in MOOCs, the low information literacy and self-regulated learning abilities of MOOC learners, the lack of individualized support for MOOC learners, and so on. At last, this book summarizes the overall development of MOOCs in China and other countries and then put forward the future trends and suggestions in this field.

Distance learning has become very popular in recent years, making evident some of the problems inherent to online classes as they are today. High attrition rates, driven in part by student isolation and low satisfaction, have plagued online courses. For an online class to succeed, it must be built upon engaging media and meaningful interaction. Increasing Productivity and Efficiency in Online Teaching provides a reference for educators in virtual classrooms and enumerates strategies to foster instructor engagement and support. Because co-construction of information, opposed to rote memorization of disseminated facts, engages students and develops critical thinking skills, online education must shift to reflect this. Drawing from learning theory, this publication focuses on the ways educators can shape their online classes to best suit their students and leave them with knowledge and course satisfaction. This book is recommended for researchers, developers, students of education, administrators, and online educators in all subject areas.

Winner of the Outstanding Book Award (Society for Professors of Education) This book offers a re-assessment of the educational and occupational value of MOOCs based on developments since 2013. When MOOCs appeared--amidst great fanfare in 2012, leaders proclaimed an educational "revolution." By 2013, however, dramatic failures, negative research findings, and sharp critiques ended the MOOC hype. This book examines both MOOCs and prior distance learning innovations, and offers a broad overview of their educational, economic and social effects. Chapters explore ties between MOOCs and emerging pedagogical models as well as exponentially rising tuition rates, student debt, and chronic underemployment of university graduates worldwide. It offers readers a comprehensive, up-to-the-moment guide to the MOOC phenomenon.

Distance Learning and University Effectiveness: Changing Educational Paradigms for Online Learning addresses the challenges and opportunities associated with information and communication technologies (ICTs) as related to education. From discussing new and innovative educational paradigms and learning models resulting from ICTs to addressing future student needs and international issues, this book provides comprehensive coverage of the paradigm, teaching, technology and other changes that may be required of universities to remain in the new competitive marketplace of online learning.

The integration of emerging technologies in higher education presents a new set of challenges and opportunities for educators. With a growing need for customized lesson plans in online education, educators are rethinking the design and development of their learning environments. Utilizing Virtual and Personal Learning Environments for Optimal Learning expertly combines informative chapters and relevant case studies on the effective use of technology to enhance online education for students of varying learning styles and abilities. This publication is an essential reference source for educators, researchers, professionals, and upper-level students with an interest in leveraging digital technologies and virtual environments to enhance personalization in learning. This publication features timely research and case studies focused on online teaching and learning techniques in higher education including immersive technologies, research methodologies, and pedagogical designs.

The potential of virtual world technologies to improve teaching and learning has been recognized in recent years, creating new possibilities for teaching and learning processes, with virtual environments impacting the achievement of student learning and collaboration. Learning in Metaverses: Co-Existing in Real Virtuality discusses a better way to understand this new learning universe, exploring the possibilities of new social organization through the use of avatars in virtual worlds. Examining platforms such as Web 3D, metaverse, MDV3D, ECODI, hybrid living and sharing spaces, gamification, alternate reality, mingled reality, and augmented reality to evaluate the possibilities for their implementation in education, this reference book will be of use to academics, educators, students, researchers, gamers, and professionals.

Are you a student about to enrol on a Problem-based Learning course? Or are you currently engaged in Problem-based Learning and want to get the most out of your course? Are you tutoring a course in Problem-based education? This book will help you understand this popular learning method. It enables students and teachers to experience the full potential of Problem-based Learning. Introduction to Problem-based Learning pays particular attention to the skills students need to operate within, as well as outside of Problem-based groups.

Institutional research (IR) is a growing, applied, and interdisciplinary area that attracts people from a variety of fields, including computer programmers, statisticians, and administrators and faculty from every discipline to work in archiving, analyzing, and reporting on all aspects of higher education information systems. Cases on Institutional Research Systems is a reference book for institutional research, appealing to novice and expert IR professionals and the administrators and policymakers that rely on their data. By presenting a variety of institutional perspectives, the book depicts the challenges and solutions to those in higher education administration, and state, federal, and even international accreditation.

For online learning and other forms of distance learning, time management is vital. As a recognized social asset, time constitutes a consistent and complete new approach to online higher education. Assessment and Evaluation of Time Factors in Online Teaching and Learning combines empirical and methodological research to study the role of time comprehensively from an institutional and management perspective, a technological perspective, and a pedagogical perspective. Focusing on higher education, this book is aimed at educational researchers, social science researchers, teachers, and students interested in improving the learning process and experience.

This title enables readers to understand the key issues underpinning e-learning with a view to enabling them to use it effectively in their professional practice. This book offers education practitioners with little or no pedagogical grounding in the field of e-learning insights that will enable them to improve their professional practices in relation to the conceptualisation, design, implementation, assessment and evaluation of approaches to e-learning. The authors pay attention to the perspectives of both teachers and learners when exploring key questions including: How does technology affects pedagogy? How can technology best support learning? "Key Issues in e-Learning" avoids simplistic conceptualisations of online teaching and learning. Instead, this text draws on a wide range empirical, conceptual and theoretical evidence, and outlines practical approaches to improving practice and research.

In information technology, unlike many other fields, the need to support the unique perspective of technologically advanced students and deliver technology-rich content presents unique challenges. Today's IT students need the ability to interact with their instructor in near-real time, interact with their peers and project team members, and access and manipulate technology tools in the pursuit of their educational objectives.""Handbook of Distance Learning for Real-Time and Asynchronous Information Technology Education"" delves deep into the construct of real-time, asynchronous education through information technology, pooling experiences from seasoned researchers and educators to detail their past successes and failures, discussing their techniques, hardships, and triumphs in the search for innovative and effective distance learning education for IT programs. This Premier Reference Source answers the increasing demand for a fundamental, decisive source on this cutting-edge issue facing all institutions, covering topics such as asynchronous communication, real-time instruction, multimedia content, content delivery, and distance education technologies.

In today's technology-crazed environement, distance learning is touted as a cost-effective option for delivering employee training and higher education programs, such as as bachelor's, master's and even doctroal degrees. Distance Learning Technologies: Issues, Trends and Opportunities provides readers with an in-depth understanding of distance learning and the technologies available for this innovative medium of learning and instruction. It races the development of distance learning from its history and includes suggestions for a solid strategic implementation plan to ensure its successful and effective deployment.

The globalization of education has developed alongside the advancement of technological resources. By integrating these resources into the education system, better services and opportunities are now available in online learning contexts. Developing Successful Strategies for Global Policies and Cyber Transparency in E-Learning is an essential reference source for the latest academic research on the importance of transparency within online learning environments. Featuring extensive coverage on topics relating to management models, pedagogical approaches, and technological advancements, this book is a pivotal reference source for policymakers, managers, and educators seeking current research on the impact of e-learning on a global scale.is book features timely, research-based chapters across a variety of relevant topics including informational policies, education systems, and learning models.