This book provides an accessible introduction to the philosophy of educational research. A historical-philosophical journey presents the development of research methods from their origins to the present day. In addition, the book reflects on how research methods have influenced scientific effectiveness. Throughout, the book covers the principal things that need to be known today about the theory and practice of educational research, its epistemological bases, and its development as a discipline within scientific knowledge. The historical events that defined both the methodological evolution and the current situation of contemporary educational research are described to enable its understanding. This book provides an accessible introduction to the philosophy of educational research. A historical-philosophical journey presents the development of research methods from their origins to the present day.. It can also be used as didactic material for classroom discussions on educational research, educational philosophy, and current controversies in education. Its usefulness reaches the social sciences, humanities, and experimental sciences in all areas related to teaching and training. The basis of educational research is exposed, both in its concepts or philosophical visions and methodologies, which ultimately define what education means today. Topics discussed in the book include: * Basics of Educational Research; * Mixed, Quantitative and Qualitative Models; * Ethics in Scientific Research; * Current Problems in Education; * Historical Evolution of Educational Research; Main contents: Theory and Practice of Educational Research; The Problems of Public Education; Philosophy-Based Research; The Debate between Quantitative and Qualitative Paradigms: Alternative Visions of How to Research Education; The Emergence of Mixed Methods in Educational Research; Science-Based Research and Evidence-Based Decision-Making; Scientific Research and Education; From Research Applied to Practice to Research Embedded in Practice; Educational Research in an Era of Ethics in Scientific Research; The Use of Standardized Tests to Measure; Research-Evaluation of Learning.

The adequate integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) in educational and training processes is one of the biggest current challenges in education. The classroom of the present is very different from just a few decades ago, new technological tools are completely transforming its characteristics and activities. This internationally authored book offers a timely, effective and practical vision of this new educational scenario. The book takes a multidisciplinary approach in looking at the problems and possible solutions that are faced by the educational professional of the 21st century when, by necessity or obligation, they face the use of ICT in their daily tasks. Divided into two parts, one theoretical and another practical, this book offers the highlights of the most important lines of research that are being developed today in educational technology, and importantly presents the innovations which have had the most impact over recent years. From the profound transformations in the physical classroom to everything that involves new virtual scenarios, where online teaching requires innovative strategies and training processes, this book describes the diverse scenarios that ICT has generated and will continue to generate in the field of education. It presents a new and a very different type of education that can be adapted to the needs of the citizen of the digital society.

During the last decades, our society is witnessing an authentic revolution that, in a dizzying manner has deeply influenced, modified, and transformed the way of life of human beings. This constant and unstoppable revolution is transmuting all areas of our life: social, cultural, personal, labor, economic, training, etc. This new society is characterized by a high generation of knowledge and the constant and fluid processing of information. In this macro-context, the MOOC phenomenon emerged. MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) courses are based on the principles of massive, free access to all materials and resources offered online. This new didactic path can be constituted in an innovative techno-social tendency, especially oriented in the panorama of Higher Education to stimulate university improvement, open opportunities at the same time for education and training or, simply, derive towards a new business model for the universities. In addition to being an entry point for the popularization of science and knowledge, the future possibilities are enormous and are being studied in all their various dimensions. Many initiatives as a result have been developed to implement this new form of education. MOOC Courses and the Future of Higher Education presents the latest research theories and current examples of MOOC courses practices in Higher Education. The chapters represent an extensive assortment of interpretations and practices examples of MOOC courses, across areas as varied as teaching methodologies, instructional innovations, educational technology, etc. This work is structured in three sections, the first one covers the university institution in the knowledge society, the second analyzes the MOOC training proposals, and the third discusses the future role of MOOCs. Technical topics discussed in the book include: - The Virtualization of Teaching in Higher Education - Training and Professional Development at the e-University - Taxonomy of MOOCs - MOOC: Strengths and Weaknesses - MOOCs and the Scientific Community: Challenges and Innovation - MOOC Platforms - Directory of MOOC Resources - MOOC: Reflections of the Future

Moreover, in recognition of the limitations inherent to its conceptualization, in which models present approaches from quantitative and qualitative research in order to address the totality and density of human endeavor. For this reason, within higher education research a more pluralistic and flexible view of research is emerging, where models of quantitative and qualitative research are recognized as being complementary to each other, to enter the social convolution in which we live. Educational Research in Higher Education presents latest research theories and modern-day examples of design research in higher education. The chapters represent an extensive assortment of interpretations and examples of how today's new design researchers conceptualize this growing methodology across areas as varied as classroom teaching methodologies, instructional innovations, educational technology, equality studies, environmental education, etc. This book is planned as a guide for master and doctoral students, novel researchers, crossover and professional researchers from field's other than but related to higher education, who are interested in supporting new design research.