Professional vision of classroom management comprises the competence to recognize relevant classroom management events and interactions and to interpret them in a theory-based manner (Gold et al., 2016; Sherin & van Es, 2009). Promoting this competence is a main goal of teacher training. The effectiveness of video-based learning arrangements to promote this competence has already been confirmed (Steffensky & Kleinknecht, 2016). However, there is a lack of digital learning opportunities that offer individually adaptable learning paths (Bremer, 2009) to take different performance levels and learning tempi of pre-service teachers into account (Landenfeld et al., 2019). This article therefore describes the development of a digital, video-based learning module to promote the professional vision of relevant classroom management events. It was developed according to proven media-psychological design principles and subjected to usability testing. Representing the potential user groups, two student teachers (novices) and twelve seminar leaders (experts) worked on at least one part of the digital learning module and evaluated its usability in terms of content, operability, and aesthetics. A qualitative content analysis of interview transcripts and notes revealed that design and content of the module were evaluated as aesthetic and meaningful. Additionally, statements on module length, video analyses, support elements, feedback, operating elements, and design aspects were extracted. Based on these findings, the video analyses were modified, and the module was revised. In addition to the possibility of using the digital learning module for the competence development of pre-service teachers, the obtained findings are useful for the construction of future video-based learning modules.
Purpose: This paper provides an overview of studies that integrate adult learners’ perceptions on e-Learning courses related to healthcare, by identifying and describing characteristics and key factors of these courses and by delineating factors that should be considered when designing e-Learning courses for healthcare practitioners. Methods: A scoping review was conducted of studies evaluating university level e-Learning courses in healthcare disciplines (2010–2020), following the PRISMA-ScR method for data identification, screening, selection and extraction. The data was prepared according to the study, participants, and course characteristics as well as the evaluation of learners’ success, engagement and perceptions. Findings: Of the 246 identified studies, 12 met the inclusion criteria for this study. The evaluation of the e-Learning courses in the sample was generally positive for both online and hybrid models for all outcome variables. Three factors influencing the structure, process and outcome quality of e-learning courses stood out: the functionality of the learning management system (LMS) (i.e., structure quality); the importance of real-time interaction and feedback (i.e., process and outcome quality); and the influence of initial expectations on process and outcome quality. Originality: A substantial body of research has addressed issues related to outcomes and course design across e-Learning courses. Yet, there is no consensus on what can be defined as a successful, high-quality e-Learning course from an adult learner’s perspective. This research highlights factors to consider when designing e-Learning courses for healthcare practitioners that integrates the adult learner’s perspective.
This special issue includes scientific articles and practical reports related to the digital networked infrastructure for education, formerly called the National Education Platform. The issue gives an impression of the breadth of projects and approaches that deal with questions of digital education, the necessary competencies for the future of digital collaboration and many other topics as part of the funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The aim is both to update the level of information on the initiative among the professional community and to highlight the existing potential for further research and development in this context.
Nowadays, there are many online courses like MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) available from different providers (e.g. edX, Coursera, openHPI, OpenWHO, iMOOX). To support learners, aggregators like Class Central or MOOChub were established. These aggregators hold catalogs with the offerings of the providers making them a central entry point for the users. Such catalogs are based on metadata, which needs to be formatted in a proper way. This metadata can then be used for filtering courses and recommendation engines also. With more and more emerging AI-based recommendation services for learning opportunities and learning path assistants, the need for well-maintained and meaningful metadata is growing massively. In this paper, we report on our research about different systems for categorizing the fields of study, topic, or subject, which can be used to enhance existing metadata formats. An overview of field of study categorization systems of different entities (e.g. international, national, and private organizations) is given. The systems are compared regarding their usefulness in metadata formats for the description of courses. The results are utilized to refine our own metadata format and represent a further step towards a standardized metadata format for courses and automatically generated metadata.
Virtual worlds (VWs) have been present in higher education for more than a decade but have regained substantial traction in recent years as a result of COVID-19 and the metaverse hype. Nonetheless, facilitating peer exchange and social interaction in VWs in higher education has not been sufficiently researched nor is specific design knowledge available. Therefore, we derive design principles systematically by collecting design requirements based on scientific contributions on VWs, encompassing the instructor viewpoint, before turning them into meta-requirements that we then merge to design principles. We translate these into tangible design features instantiated in a genuine VW teaching unit with master students. The evaluation in focus group interviews after the application of our design knowledge demonstrates the theoretical and practical value of our contribution to strengthening social interaction in distance learning settings from teachers’ and learners’ perspectives.
