Developing and Comparing Data Mining algorithms that Work Best for Predicting Student’s Performance

Learning data analytics improves the learning field in higher education using educational data for extracting useful patterns and making better decision. Identifying potential at-risk students may help instructors and academic guidance to improve the students’ performance and the achievement of learning outcomes. The aim of this research study is to predict at early phases the student’s failure in a particular course using the standards-based grading. Several machines learning techniques were implemented to predict the student failure based on Support Vector Machine, Multilayer Perceptron, Naïve Bayes, and decision tree. The results on each technique shows the ability of machine learning algorithms to predict the student failure accurately after the third week and before the course dropout week. This study provides a strong knowledge for student performance in all courses. It also provides faculty members the ability to help student at-risk by focusing on them and providing necessary support to improve their performance and avoid failure.

The Opinions of Field Experts on Usability of Internet of Things Technology in Open and Distance Learning Environments

Within the scope of this study, it is aimed to determine the usability of the Internet of Things Technology in open and distance learning environments. In this context, the phenomenology method was used in order to get the opinions of field experts. The criterion sampling method, which is one of the purposeful sampling methods, was used in determining the participants. As a criterion, it is taken into account that the participants are experts in the field of open and distance learning. In this context, 8 field experts contributed to the study. The findings obtained at the end of the study, internet of things technology; It clarifies how it can be used in traditional face-to-face learning environments and open and distance learning environments, what benefits it can provide, what are its limitations, its future usage trends, and how it can be used outside of learning environments.

Delivering Higher Education in public Health Emergencies

With the general closure of universities and schools in Sierra Leone due to the COVID-19 pandemic, digital learning has become a credible alternative to maintain students in educational, training, and research links. The study responds to three primary questions: 1) What digital learning modalities have shown to be most effective for providing continuity in learning amid temporary or permanent school closures? 2) What digital learning modalities are promising for their use but evidence for their use evidence about them is still lacking? 3) What are the challenges and considerations when planning for and implementing digital learning? The study utilised qualitative research methods: interviews; focus group discussions; qualitative survey; and document reviewing. A stratified sample of 260 participants (161 male and 99 female) was randomly drawn from teachers, education officials and information technology experts. This paper provides snapshots of the different distance learning initiatives and program that have been implemented, including both the promises they offer.

Comparison and Transition of Research Focus on Application of IT in Education

The application of Information Technology (IT) in education has opened new scenarios for this ancient process. With rapidly changing field of IT, the adoption of IT in education has been changed drastically. It is quite difficult for researchers to keep pace with changing research trends. An analysis based on the keywords could provide a synopsis on the use of IT in education. The keywords can be extracted and clustered to draw a sketch of trend changes over time. In this paper, we propose two empirical methods based on classic TF/IDF, i.e., overall rating (OR) and dynamic character (DC) of a keyword for in-depth keyword analysis to examine changing trends in research. The method help in disclosing time based changes in research focuses by comparing TF/IDF weights of keywords in different years. A total of 8131 scholarly articles from 12 well recognized journals were used in this analysis. The analysis shows that proposed methods provide sufficient insight into the research trends of application of IT in education in 11 years, i.e., 2007-2017.

Measuring Innovation and creative content in course content and effectiveness - Case study and Meta Analysis-

The concept-knowledge theory or C-K design theory explains that creativity is the conceptualization of design that is independent of any other design domain. It explains innovation, creation, and discovery within the framework of design processes. Creativity is an integral part of engineering design. The QFD methodology is applied to construct the “engineering design and creativity course” at the faculty of engineering as per the various stakeholders of curriculum design. The suggested methodology satisfies accreditation requirements as a part of continuous improvement of curriculum. The QFD course design methodology integrates the learning outcome with the assessment methodologies, learning processes and knowledge elements well. The course is a strategic fit with the vision 2030 and curriculum. The course development methodology as suggested minimize learning deficiencies. It is measured by course mapping with learning outcome.

The Effectiveness of Distance Learning (BlackBoard) in Pursuing the Educational Process at Taif University during the COVID-19 Pandemic from the .....

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia facing the Covid-19 pandemic, as it is trying with all its efforts to pursue higher education in its universities and schools through distance learning. The current research tried to investigate Taif University experience in distance learning and the effectiveness of BlackBoard in pursuing education in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic from the viewpoints of teachers and students. To achieve this goal, the descriptive survey approach was used. Two questionnaires were designed A random sample was chosen from all colleges of the University The sample consisted of (240) faculty members and 804 students. The results showed great effectiveness of BlackBoard in pursuing education from the viewpoints of faculty members, and to a very great degree from the students' point of view. No impact of the two variables (gender, rank) appeared in the viewpoints of faculty members in that effectiveness. male students’ viewpoints were higher than those of females, and the viewpoints of master's students were higher than those of undergraduate students on this effectiveness.

One Step Further

In this qualitative research study, a bidirectional ARS was integrated into a lecture. Students’ perceptions were explored by focusing on their preferences on different question and feedback types, sharing of posts, nickname use, problems, and design suggestions. A total of 25 students participated in focus group interviews. The results showed that students liked the multiple-choice type questions due to the easy answer characteristics, and they found it difficult to text their responses for open-ended questions. The majority of the students preferred getting feedback immediately after asking a question. Students also stated that using ARS ease their shyness. The findings can significantly contribute for understanding the potential of an ARS supporting two-way communication during a lecture-based approach of instruction, also demonstrate that thinking level of the questions with the feasibility of ARS should be investigated together, and the different preferences of students on the question type, feedback type, and nickname use highlight the importance of student characteristics.

ICT Use in the EFL Classroom in Morocco

This study investigates the level of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use in teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) in Morocco. It explores the effects of EFL teachers' personal and technology-related variables in ICT use in English high school classes. The study opts for a descriptive and an analytical method to account for this claim. Therefore, a mixed-methods approach is used. A survey questionnaire and interviews are conducted to obtain a corpus of data that is both representative and reliable. The sample of our study consists of thirty teachers of English in six high schools in the city of Meknes. The findings indicate that ICT integration in the EFL classes in Morocco is hampered due to different variables. Interior variables refer to the teacher's attitude and dilemma towards using ICT; while exterior ones are strongly associated with the lack of ICT facilities and ICT related equipment in the Moroccan high schools.

On Integrated Peer-Assisted Learning Clusters Among Students in a Nigerian University

Peer interaction to assist and learn from each other has been extended online in recent times. This study was conducted to find the pattern of participation in integrated peer-assisted learning and to investigate factors known to affect such participation among students in their peer-assisted learning clusters. The pattern of participation was established through the frequency with which the respondent use their preferred mode of peer interaction. Structural equation modeling was implemented to study the relationship between participation and the factors considered. Social medial is the most prevalent among the online means of interaction considered. Conflict, cohesion and effective leadership in the clusters have more direct effects on the other factors considered. The frequency of participation does not correlate significantly with the other personal and interpersonal factors considered. These findings suggest that the decision for voluntary participation in peer-assisted learning clusters are possibly driven by other factors such as academic.

Ubiquitous Technologies and Learning

This study makes an original contribution to the literature on social media usage for learning purposes through the phenomenological approach of enquiry. It examined the general motivations for social media usage; how social media is used to meet academic needs; perceived academic benefits; and how social media usage disrupts studies. A total of 24 undergraduate students were engaged in rigorous focus group discussions. Results showed that social media has been adapted to suit the academic needs of users through the process of appropriation. It was found that although social media could be a viable platform for inter-university-collaborative-learning, respondents hardly engaged in that. It was suggested that students create inter-university social media groups for collaborative learning. There were accounts of negative implications of using social media, like addiction and distractions. Students must adopt tactics to handle distractions which could prove helpful in out-of-school settings like the workplace.