Learners may develop expertise by experiencing numerous different but relevant situations. Computer games and virtual simulations can facilitate these training opportunities, however, because of the relative difficulty in authoring new scenarios, the increasing need for new and different scenarios becomes a bottleneck in the learning process. Furthermore, a one-size-fits-all scenario may not ad...

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform designs, such as those of edX and Coursera, afford linear learning sequences by building scaffolded knowledge from activity to activity and from week to week. We consider those sequences to be the courses’ designed learning paths. But do learners actually adhere to these designed paths, or do they forge their own ways through the MOOCs? What are the im...

Multidisciplinary learning, interdisciplinary learning and transdisciplinary learning are often used with a similar meaning, but the misunderstanding of these terms may cause a failure of defining learner needs and developing high quality learning design. In this paper, the three terms are reviewed in line with learner engagement and are conceptualised according to different types and levels of...

The success of e-Learning course material [12,18] is based on the pedagogical principles. Few of the principles are curriculum design with specific objectives, consideration of different social groups, learner engagement, ease of use, and ensure the acquisition of learning objectives with formative and summative assessment. But due to over-focusing on technology and dissemination of content, th...

Among foreign language educators interest in extensive reading is growing along with questions about learner motivation to read. Maintaining learner motivation over long periods of time is influenced by many variables suggesting that multiple means of stimulating motivation is needed. The psychological theory of flow has been suggested to influence motivation and engagement in reading. This stu...

In the current digital environment, it is vital for learners to develop digital literacy skills. The UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (HE) requires graduates to demonstrate digital literacy. Employers consider these skills essential. With the high cost of HE in the UK, learners themselves also expect university courses to demonstrate relevance to the workplace. Nevertheless, s...

Modern computer games show potential not just for engaging and entertaining users, but also in promoting learning. Game designers employ a range of techniques to promote long-term user engagement and motivation. These techniques are increasingly being employed in so-called serious games, games that have nonentertainment purposes such as education or training. Although such games share the goal ...

Learners experience a wide array of cognitive and affective states during tutoring. Detecting and responding to these states is a core problem of adaptive learning environments that aim to foster motivation and increase learning. Recognizing learner affect through nonverbal behavior is particularly challenging, as students display affect across numerous modalities. This study utilizes an automa...

Indicators help actors to organise, orientate and navigate through complex environments by providing contextual information relevant for the performance of learning tasks. In this article we analyse the requirements, present a model and an initial prototype of a software system that uses smart indicators to support learners to be more engaged in the learning process. We argue that indicators ne...

As online and blended learning has become common place educational strategy in higher education, educators need to reconceptualise fundamental issues of teaching, learning and assessment in non traditional spaces. These issues include concepts such as validity and reliability of assessment in online environments in relation to serving the intended purposes, as well as understanding how formativ...