ESEeL 2012 Abstracts

Full Papers Short Papers
Full Papers
Paper Nr: 2
Title:

STUDENTS ONLINE INTERACTION IN A BLENDED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT – A CASE STUDY OF THE FIRST EXPERIENCE IN USING AN LMS
Authors:

Ivana Mijatovic, Jelena Jovanovic and Sandra Jednak
Abstract: The main objectives of the research presented in this paper are to explore online interactions and engagement of students who are using a Learning Management System (LMS) for the first time in their studies, and the impact of different types of students’ online interactions on their learning outcomes. To answer our research questions, we have conducted a semester-long study with 88 undergraduate students enrolled in the Quality Engineering course taught in the blended learning mode. Our findings show that the students perceived interaction as a dominant aspect of the online part of the course (done using the Moodle LMS). Our findings also provide evidence that different types of interactions can influences different levels of learning outcomes. If the acquisition of factual knowledge is desired, then interaction with learning content is the most influential. However, if higher levels of learning outcomes are to be achieved, then more interactive online communication is needed. The need for interaction is rising with increasing levels of learning objectives (outcomes). Our findings also show that students’ involvement in more challenging activities, in order to fulfil more demanding learning objectives (like application of knowledge or analysis, synthesis and evaluation) increase their need for student-teacher and student-student interaction.
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Paper Nr: 9
Title:

CAN A MEDIA ANNOTATION TOOL ENHANCE ONLINE ENGAGEMENT WITH LEARNING? - A Multi-case Work-in-progress Report
Authors:

Meg Colasante and Josephine Lang
Abstract: The paper explores preliminary data of four cases in a larger study investigating the effects on learning of a new educational technology called Media Annotation Tool (MAT). In particular, the paper focuses on learning engagement with MAT and begins to raise questions about what factors promote or enhance engagement. Drawing on the work of Kirkwood (2009), the authors analyse the type of educational technology functions that were expressed through the ways teachers integrated the use of MAT into their curriculum. Another factor explored in the paper is student engagement. Barkley’s (2010) theorising on the complexity of student engagement for learning argues that engagement is where motivation and active learning synergistically interact. Examining students’ reflections on their use of MAT, the authors identify that while MAT offers active learning, motivation for the use of MAT may be a missing factor for some disengaged students. This insight provides further themes to explore in further analysis of the project’s data.
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Short Papers
Paper Nr: 5
Title:

TOWARDS INTERACTIVE LECTURES IN DISTANCE EDUCATION
Authors:

Herman Koppelman
Abstract: In the last decades many studies in computer science education have emphasized the role of interaction promoting techniques. The context is usually face-to-face education. In this paper we focus upon a well-known example of such techniques, the interactive lecture, and discuss how to adapt it to be useful in distance education. We discuss two key factors. The first is the role modern technology can play to support the interactive lecture in distance education, podcasting in the first place. The second is the use of well-designed problems. We discuss the characteristics of well-designed problems, and their importance in distance education.
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Paper Nr: 7
Title:

A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT TO LEARN PROGRAMMING
Authors:

G. Bizzarri, L. Forlizzi and F. Ricci
Abstract: Students taking their first steps in the programming world need to find resolved examples, compare their solutions to well-know problems and to understand the errors that are returned by a compiler. We have planned to create a wiki for source code and give to the students an e-learning platform that allow them to write code in a collaborative way, integrated with a technology to compile the source code written in different programming languages, to interpret errors returned by the compiler and to show them by a virtual tutor speaking in their national language and that use the natural language of everyday life. It helps to understand the errors, where they were committed and how fix them.
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Paper Nr: 8
Title:

TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MOBILE LEARNING MODEL FOR SMART PHONES USING STAKEHOLDERS’ ANALYSIS
Authors:

Evangelos Moustakas, Isabel Oliveira, Carlos Costa and Maria Teresa Roberto
Abstract: The objective of the current research is to develop a mobile learning model for smart phones which will be used by educational institutions for learning and training purposes but also for on-the-go communication for students and academics and information sharing. It would determine the important elements of mobile applications as a medium to facilitate m-Learning both in assembling responses from students and for reporting feedback to individual students. The mobile application would also integrate capabilities so the students would be able to access presentations by professionals through the 3G application in their mobile devices. They could also interact by posting their comments and sharing photos, images, voice and video though this application. The lecturer could facilitate and moderate debates while students could respond and learn without being in front of a computer. The application would also be used as a digital marketing channel for promoting Educational Programmes to potential candidates.
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Paper Nr: 10
Title:

A PRACTICE FIELD FOR TEACHING ELECTRONIC MARKETING
Authors:

Luis Vaz and Nuno David
Abstract: Professionals in electronic marketing make intensive use of information and communication technologies. An intensity that makes the teaching of electronic marketing somewhat challenging and specific when compared with other disciplines. Teaching electronic marketing will only be effective if the learning environment reaches similar levels of technological intensity as the discipline itself. This suggests that electronic marketing might be particularly appropriate to the use of e-learning as a teaching instructional model. However, this carries risks and further challenges, resulting from difficulties in obtaining positive results whenever learning is supported by e-learning platforms. If one wants to achieve lower failure risks and effective and motivated learning, the e-learning model should be provided with features that strengthen it pedagogically. This paper proposes a practice field for teaching electronic marketing, embedded and tested in an e-learning platform provided with learning activities that implement a practice field.
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