scholarly journals Analyzing students online learning behavior in blended courses using Moodle

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalina Rebucas Estacio ◽  
Rodolfo Callanta Raga Jr

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe a proposal for a data-driven investigation aimed at determining whether students’ learning behavior can be extracted and visualized from action logs recorded by Moodle. The paper also tried to show whether there is a correlation between the activity level of students in online environments and their academic performance with respect to final grade. Design/methodology/approach The analysis was carried out using log data obtained from various courses dispensed in a university using a Moodle platform. The study also collected demographic profiles of students and compared them with their activity level in order to analyze how these attributes affect students’ level of activity in the online environment. Findings This work has shown that data mining algorithm like vector space model can be used to aggregate the action logs of students and quantify it into a single numeric value that can be used to generate visualizations of students’ level of activity. The current investigation indicates that there is a lot of variability in terms of the correlation between these two variables. Practical implications The value presented in the study can help instructors monitor course progression and enable them to rapidly identify which students are not performing well and adjust their pedagogical strategies accordingly. Originality/value A plan to continue the work by developing a complete dashboard style interface that instructors can use is already underway. More data need to be collected and more advanced processing tools are necessary in order to obtain a better perspective on this issue.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Hwan Lee

Purpose This paper aims to investigate whether the consumers who return a product and those who end up keeping a product after experiencing post-purchase dissonance (PPD) possess distinct underlying characteristics. Design/methodology/approach Field survey study consisting of two separate surveys conducted with consumers of New York City and neighboring areas of New York and New Jersey. Findings Product returners and keepers exhibited disparate demographic profiles regarding gender and household income, along with ethnicity to some extent. The two groups also exhibited different predispositions with regard to confidence in the purchase decision and expectations about their purchase. Finally, returners and keepers were engaged in divergent thoughts, feelings and activities to cope with PPD. Practical implications The findings of this study offer marketing practitioners new knowledge and insight into understanding product returners and keepers and will assist them in developing strategies to reduce and manage increasing product returns by consumers more effectively. Originality/value This study is the first to present empirical evidence that product returners and keepers have distinct profiles of demographic characteristics and predispositions toward purchase. The study also has found divergent PPD coping strategies used by the two types of consumers, which exposes an obsolete understanding of PPD in the marketing literature.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Ma ◽  
Henry Liu ◽  
Michael Sing

Purpose This study aims to address the gap by empirically exploring how residential construction-production progress, which includes project commencement, under-construction and project completion, responds dynamically to fluctuations in house prices. Design/methodology/approach A vector autoregressive model and an impulse response function are applied to simulate and analyse the circle of the stage-responsiveness of residential construction to residential property price dynamics in the state of Victoria, Australia. The quarterly numbers of dwelling units commenced, under-construction and completed are used as the proxy for the residential construction activities at three stages over the construction progress. Findings The analysis indicates that the dynamics are essentially transmitted throughout the construction process and can substantially impact the pace of production progress. The findings from this study provide an empirical base that should be useful in developing price-elasticity and production theories applicable to the context of residential property construction. Research limitations/implications The findings described above have been generated basically by examining the case of Victoria, Australia at a macro level. The generalisation of the research output needs to be verified further by future researchers using data collected from other regions/countries. Nevertheless, the reliability of the conclusions with particular practical implications can be substantially improved by future researchers by analysing more markets and production proxies at the activity level. Practical implications Based on new empirical findings, this research argues that building activity (i.e. under construction) played as a gateway between the construction and housing sectors, via which the inter-responsiveness of the housing supply in terms of construction activities and housing prices are transmitted. Originality/value This research firstly attempts to explore the inter-responsiveness between the real estate and construction sectors. A simulated circle of the stage-responsiveness of residential construction to residential property price dynamics is proposed, which can serve as a significant foundation for developing the theory of construction production.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 882-899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Malinova ◽  
Jan Mendling

Purpose The authors observe that actionable guidelines are missing from many reference works on business process management (BPM). Also, success factors are mostly not contextualized in the different phases and concerns of a BPM initiative. The purpose of this paper is to address this research gap. Design/methodology/approach The research design builds on a literature survey for building an integrated framework for BPM that is referred to as integrated BPM. It integrates lifecycle phases, capability areas and governance aspects. Then, the authors consolidate insights from expert interviews. Findings As a result, the authors provide a list of various activities that are associated with the different elements of BPM. Furthermore, the authors describe pitfalls for each of the elements that have been avoided in order to make the BPM initiative a success. Research limitations/implications The findings emphasize the potential to study BPM success and its factors on a more fine-granular activity level. Practical implications The list of activities and the list of pitfalls are directly applicable for practitioners. Originality/value The research on the integrated BPM framework consolidates insights from prior research and extends it with an expert perspective on pitfalls.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 299-315
Author(s):  
Judy Vargas Bongala ◽  
Vanessa Baraero Bobis ◽  
John Paul Ramos Castillo ◽  
Arlyne Canales Marasigan

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the pedagogical strategies and challenges of selected multigrade (MG) schoolteachers in Albay, Philippines.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilized a case study design using a validated semi-structured instrument with in-depth interviews to ten MG teachers, observation and document analysis. Qualitative data analyses such as content and thematic analyses were used in analyzing the data.FindingsThe results show that MG teachers use a variety of overlapping and supplementary instructional strategies such as (1) teaching one topic to all grades and at varying levels of difficulty using differentiated activity, (2) “jump-jump strategy”/teaching one grade while others work independently and (3) peer teaching or tutoring. However, there are several pedagogical challenges that MG teachers are faced with: (1) conflict between the medium of instructions and grade grouping, (2) problems with lesson planning, (3) unfocused instruction, (4) insufficient learners' materials, (5) absence of training prior to MG teaching and (6) the negative perception of the effectiveness of MG instructions.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited within the context of the participants and focuses on the pedagogical strategies and challenges in the implementation of MG teaching.Practical implicationsThe results of this study can serve as a reference on how to support and strengthen MG instruction.Originality/valueThis study provides a research-based overview of MG schools from the grassroots level and adds to the limited studies of MG education in the Philippines.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reina Ferrández-Berrueco ◽  
Tauno Kekale ◽  
David Devins

Purpose – European policy is placing an increasing emphasis on involving employers and labour market institutions in the design and delivery of higher education (HE) programmes that match curricula to current and future needs of the economy. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the curriculum development process for work-based learning (WBL) programmes and to connect it to the basic pillars, organizational and pedagogical strategies and key stages that enable higher education institutions (HEIs) to foster students’ learning, employability and innovation. Design/methodology/approach – Case studies of 14 European WBL programmes in HE are reported using interviews and document analysis. These case studies are used to develop a final framework and examples of practice. Findings – A framework was designed to develop WBL programmes that include three basic pillars and the interactions between them to enhance learning quality (doctrine), provide authentic experiences (authenticity) and respect the ways of developing and delivering WBL (culture). Research limitations/implications – While selecting the cases on this “best practices” basis, some important pitfalls were not discussed. Thus, rather than offering a definitive theory, the authors provide a framework of issues that should at least be taken into account in the different stages of planning, delivery and reflection. Practical implications – The framework is simultaneously a kind of “checklist” for WBL curriculum developers. Originality/value – The research presents 14 case studies from programmes recognized in six European countries and develops an original WBL programme planning, delivery and evaluation framework that can also be used as a checklist for HEIs offering WBL programmes.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian T.H. Kuah ◽  
Chang H. Kim ◽  
Stéphane Le Queux

PurposeThis paper examines cases of multiculturalism in Singapore and Malaysia. Through causal sociocultural mechanisms, the authors observe how two countries in proximity, with shared histories and demographic profiles, achieve differing outcomes in regard to social cohesion and competitiveness.Design/methodology/approachThe paper employs case-centric process tracing (CPT) to build a “plausible” explanation of causal mechanisms that can contribute to social cohesion and competitiveness. The authors adopt a common analytical framework to distil the nuances of generalizability and a cross-case analysis in order to ascertain factors that enable multiculturalism.FindingsDifferent causal mechanisms result in diverging outcomes in the two countries. In managing multiculturalism, Singapore has pursued policy actions emphasizing “integration and pragmatism,” while Malaysia has followed a model of “separation and preferentialism.” Judging by a selected number of established indicators, Singapore's multiculturalism outcomes seem more successful than that of Malaysia in respect to areas of national competitiveness and interethnic tolerance.Practical implicationsThis paper sheds insights on the policy actions that promoted multicultural integration. The process tracing approach is found to be a useful tool in helping policymakers understand how intrinsic mechanisms can contribute to more/less desirable socioeconomic outcomes.Originality/valueTogether with the evidence using the CPT approach, the paper draws attention to multiculturalism evolving through distinctive sets of public policy. The authors ultimately suggest that such policies can be paralleled to the function played by institutions in leading to “varieties of capitalism” and have an impact on achieving cohesive and competitive societies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-287
Author(s):  
Nataša Rupčić

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight challenges and opportunities that surround the process of learning with an emphasis on higher-order learning and learning as behavior. Higher-order learning has been conceptualized as learning behavior that can be learned. Design/methodology/approach The holistic framework regarding higher-order learning has been proposed on the basis of systems perspective and critical thinking of previous contributions. Findings A review and analysis of learning, especially higher-order learning, resulted in its conceptualization and guidelines on how to implement it. Higher-order learning is a learning behavior that can be learned and implemented in many situations in complex social and organizational practices. Research limitations/implications Conclusions and remarks provided in this paper need further empirical testing and validation. Practical implications Implications for practitioners have been identified in terms of recommendations for implementing higher-order learning as a learning behavior that can be learned. Social implications Dedicated implementation of higher-order learning and learning as behavior can bring true change to the current social and economic paradigm and lasting solutions to the so-called “stubborn problems” of pollution, abuse, destruction and poverty, and can cause systemic transformation of our declining society. Originality/value Higher-order learning has been conceptualized and challenges surrounding it have been identified along with suggestions on how to overcome them.


2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 226-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark E. Lokanan

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the demographic characteristics of investors who have been victims of investment fraud in Canada from 1984 to 2008. Design/methodology/approach – Data for this study come from the Investment Dealers Association's tribunal cases that were decided between 1984 and June of 2008. The cases were retrieved from the Securities Regulation Tribunal Decisions database in Quicklaw. Data were collected to examine the demographic profiles of the investors. Findings – The findings indicate that the victims were not particularly rich and a significant proportion borrowed money and opened margin accounts to invest. Those most vulnerable were investors who were retired and had limited investment knowledge. Many also dipped into their savings to fund their future retirement needs. Practical implications – The study is useful for regulators in the securities industry because it paints a demographic portrait of the investors who are more vulnerable to investment fraud. Thus, as part of their investors' education mandate, regulators can tailor their fraud prevention programs to the needs of specific subsets of investors. Originality/value – This is the first study of its kind in Canada that provides a detailed demographic profile of victims of investment fraud. For the first time, data are available to show the occupational classifications, types of accounts and investment objectives of investors who were victims of investment fraud.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-80
Author(s):  
Michael Crowhurst ◽  
Julie Faulkner

Purpose From one Graduate Diploma Secondary student taking a pro-diversity course that both authors had a connection with there was a very angry response, encapsulated by the statement “This course made me feel guilty to be an Australian”. We are aware that negative student evaluations can be part of the territory for tertiary teachers working in diversity courses. The purpose of this paper is to explore the students’ confronting comment which will be construed as a type of offer that is being extended to us – an offer that we are refusing. We draw on Deleuze and Guattari’s notion of “exterior assemblages”, and we shift our gaze to consider “what constitutes the territory” that is our response to the pre-service teacher’s evaluative claim. Design/methodology/approach The specific methods we deployed involved an eclectic appropriation of various tools. We embarked on this process of exploration by journaling, collective reflection and informal discussions with other colleagues. Our journals responded to the question: What constitutes the place that is the territory that is our refusal of the student’s offer? In order to explore this place we: kept a hand-written journal; used conventional text and arts based practice techniques in our journaling; discussed our journal entries periodically (face to face, via Skype and via e-mail); discussed this project with colleagues – giving them knowledge that we were doing this – and that we might write journal entries about these conversations; and read a variety of relevant texts We engaged in these processes for a three month period. At the end of this period we shared journals, and set about the task of analysing them. We engaged in a number of analyses and detailed our findings over the next month. Further, over a longer period of time we engaged with this incident and our journal entries and presented a series of in progress papers at a variety of conferences and seminars. The analysis of the data generated involved discourse analysis and dialogue. Findings A series of key discourses were identified and listed in the paper. Research limitations/implications The key identified ideas are briefly linked to a series of implications for practitioners. Practical implications One of the key practical implications is the suggestion that where disagreements surface in education that one response to such moments might be for the parties to consider where they are located. Social implications The paper outlines a way of thinking about disagreements that has useful implications when considering issues relating to pedagogical strategies aiming to work towards social justice. Originality/value The paper is an original response to a critical moment that occurred for two lecturers in pre-service teacher education.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 455-471
Author(s):  
Jorge Cruz-Cárdenas ◽  
Jorge Guadalupe-Lanas ◽  
Ekaterina Zabelina ◽  
Andrés Palacio-Fierro ◽  
Margarita Velín-Fárez ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand in-depth how consumers create value in their lives using WhatsApp, the leading mobile instant messaging (MIM) application. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts the perspective of customer-dominant logic (CDL) and uses a qualitative multimethod design involving 3 focus groups and 25 subsequent in-depth interviews. The research setting was Ecuador, a Latin American country. Findings Analysis and interpretation of the participants’ stories made it possible to identify and understand the creation of four types of value: maintaining and strengthening relationships; improving role performance; emotional support; and entertainment and fun. In addition, the present study proposes a conceptual model of consumer value creation as it applies to MIM. Practical implications Understanding the way consumers create value in their lives using MIM is important not only for organizations that offer MIM applications, but also for those companies that develop other applications for mobile phones or for those who wish to use MIM as an electronic word-of-mouth vehicle. Originality/value The current study is one of the first to address the topic of consumer behavior in the use of technologies from the perspective of CDL; this perspective enables an integrated qualitative vision of value creation in which the consumer is the protagonist.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document