2021: ASCILITE 2021 Conference Proceedings: Back to the Future

Universities are under heightened pressure to become more efficient using less resources., the quality of teaching and the student experience must not be sacrificed in pursuit of efficiency. One strategy is to use automation, smart

Universities are under heightened pressure to become more efficient using less resources., the quality of teaching and the student experience must not be sacrificed in pursuit of efficiency. One strategy is to use automation, smart technology to augment the work of human teachers. Not to replace the teacher but to make them better at what they do. Give them smart tools to do their jobs more effectively. Learning Analytics is one such tool that has the potential to leverage teaching capability. This paper examines the learning analytics implementations at five diverse Australian universities (regional and metropolitan) with varying degrees of success reported. These implementations are evaluated using of DeLone and McLean’s (2003) information system success model. It will be seen that participants in this interpretivist case study regard learning analytics as having potential benefits but are not sure about how best to realise analytics systems with extensive usability research built-in and offering sophisticated functionality seem likely to emerge and take precedence over the trial and error approach. This study addresses an apparent gap in the research as limited studies exist targeting both learning analytics and information system success.

People sit at the heart of digital transformation in Higher Education. Often, they are ‘Third Space’ support staff, including Learning Designers, Education Technologists and Academic Developers, broadly defined here as ‘edvisors’ –

People sit at the heart of digital transformation in Higher Education. Often, they are ‘Third Space’ support staff, including Learning Designers, Education Technologists and Academic Developers, broadly defined here as ‘edvisors’ – educator-advisors. Edvisors share their expertise of pedagogy and technology to support, guide and lead change in teaching practices but they can be hampered by numerous factors that diminish their ability to contribute meaningfully. While the work that some types of edvisors – largely academic developers and learning designers – do is well represented in research, there has been little consideration of these underlying challenges. This paper reports on a survey of 58 edvisors in 24 Higher Education institutions in Australia relating to their perceptions of how their work is understood and valued by their direct managers, edvisors in other roles in their institution, academics and other managers in the institution. The data were analysed to look for variations by role type, job title, academic/professional classification, gender, and qualifications. Results show that edvisors feel their work is more valued than understood overall but relationships between different edvisor role types can be more fractious than those they have with academics. Improving understanding and valuing of edvisors is vital to their contribution to transformation.

This semi-structured qualitative study maps out the diversity of career paths of Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) learning designers (LDs) and summarises their career advice for those aspiring to be LDs. It identifies that, among the 92

This semi-structured qualitative study maps out the diversity of career paths of Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) learning designers (LDs) and summarises their career advice for those aspiring to be LDs. It identifies that, among the 92 participants, there were many different pathways into the profession both from an academic and from professional backgrounds. It identified that the most common entry points into the postsecondary LD profession come through previously working: as a primary and secondary teacher; in higher education student services, as an English as a Second Language (ESL) professional, a sessional academic seeking job stability; in private industry, such as in film and television and in the area of training and development. Most career transitions into LD were serendipitous, or a natural progression rather than a deliberate and planned process. The study further identified a paucity of LD and associated professions career information in ANZ public domain, which held some back from entering a Learning Design career earlier. This paper concludes with some recommended strategies to address this, to the extent that it is hoped that this paper will aid aspiring LDs in planning their career transitions more effectively.

Social interaction is seen as a key tenet of constructivist approaches to learning. There is a significant body of literature looking into online collaboration for learning, however less is known about how students experience collaboration

Social interaction is seen as a key tenet of constructivist approaches to learning. There is a significant body of literature looking into online collaboration for learning, however less is known about how students experience collaboration more broadly. Understanding student experience may help to understand ways of ensuring online collaboration is successful. This student-led study aimed to explore what can be learnt from student perspectives of online collaboration. This study is embedded in a larger research program surrounding a 2019 course renewal project. Ten undergraduate law students were interviewed as part of the overall study but with additional semi-structured questions regarding collaboration. Participants were enrolled in a mix of online and blended units. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Four themes were interpreted: 1) pre-existing social relationships facilitate online collaboration; 2) social media platforms enable interpersonal interaction and, as a result, online collaboration; 3) university-provided platforms lacked social elements of collaboration; and 4) face-to-face collaboration appears frictionless compared to online only collaboration. This study indicates the value of exploring collaboration as a broad social phenomenon rather than one purely focussed on educational designs that promote collaboration. Results suggest a considerable interaction between the interpersonal (friend focus) and study (learning focus). In the online space, collaboration was mediated by pre-existing embodied relationships and social media forums. There was a sense that social media activity would be difficult to mandate. This raises challenges, including how to manage equity issues around access to informal platforms; and how to incorporate into learning environments technologies that are experienced as ‘frictionless’ (i.e., easy and achievable without thought) and which appear to promote collaboration.

Virtual reality in one form or another has been around for over 50 years, most notably in entertainment and business environments. Technology-focused teachers have been leading the way with attempts at utilising and integrating virtual

Virtual reality in one form or another has been around for over 50 years, most notably in entertainment and business environments. Technology-focused teachers have been leading the way with attempts at utilising and integrating virtual reality into K-12 and Higher Education. However, as quickly as technology changes so does the enthusiasm for the use in educational contexts. Much of this is due to the high-level cost (time and money) with no evidence-based educational return. In 2020 the global pandemic forced the education sector to innovate to provide authentic learning environments for students. The time is right for virtual reality to take centre stage. Over 171 million people worldwide currently use virtual reality, and the market in education is expected to grow by 42% over the next five years. This paper focuses on a range of virtual reality literature encompassing work across the spectrum of software and hardware, identifying where more educational implementation and research needs to be done and providing a perspective on future possibilities focusing on current affordances.

Online Interactive Activities (OIA) are an increasingly popular educational learning experience. OIA allows for flexible delivery with the activities used synchronously during class, or asynchronously outside of class at a time convenient

Online Interactive Activities (OIA) are an increasingly popular educational learning experience. OIA allows for flexible delivery with the activities used synchronously during class, or asynchronously outside of class at a time convenient for the learner, and they prompt active participation and engagement. As a result, many learning environments are implementing design and development projects to incorporate OIA. However, incorporating new tools and approaches in educational systems can be complex. In this paper we discuss the processes that Victoria University employed to develop and implement OIA, in order to facilitate efficient blended delivery on a large scale. We discuss reasons why the tool H5P was chosen for the development of OIA; outline the projects and processes used to oversee and implement OIA roll-out; present the support mechanisms and professional development provided to enable the design, development, and incorporation of OIA; and lastly provide novel case examples to inspire future use.

This paper shares insights gained from members of a Community of Practice (CoP) who jointly designed and developed Interactive Oral Assessments (IOAs) for their online subjects in the first half of 2021 as part of a broader institutional

This paper shares insights gained from members of a Community of Practice (CoP) who jointly designed and developed Interactive Oral Assessments (IOAs) for their online subjects in the first half of 2021 as part of a broader institutional project to improve online assessment practice across a multi-campus regional NSW university. Meetings of the CoP were conducted virtually to allow geographically dispersed staff to participate in and benefit from the sessions. The main aim of the CoP was to design online assessments that promote academic integrity and reflect authentic graduates' practice. The CoP members implemented new assessment regimes, tasks and rubrics for their respective subjects involved in the initiative and developed a suite of resources for future staff interested in trialling this approach. The outcomes highlight the value of a dedicated CoP in supporting academics to successfully embed a new assessment approach, and for encouraging uptake across the university courses.

Video feedback can be an important and key mechanism for supporting online student learning in higher education. In the context of online music teaching, video feedback provides a necessary audio and visual element to support music

Video feedback can be an important and key mechanism for supporting online student learning in higher education. In the context of online music teaching, video feedback provides a necessary audio and visual element to support music students’ learning of music performance practice. A predecessor to a larger study in video feedback, this pilot study sought to explore instructor perceptions of the use of video feedback in music performance teaching classes. Using self-study methodology, findings suggest that video feedback can effectively complement individualised online music teaching within an undergraduate performance class and a Master of Music Performance Teaching group music class, provide supportive scaffolding for self-regulated learning, and offer students opportunities to create meaningful student-instructor connections and community. Strategies for effective implementation by way of self-regulation and communication are also addressed.

This project investigated VET educators' perspectives of the usefulness and ease-of-use of technology in their units, including the difficulties they had implementing technology. VET Teachers were offered a one-day ‘bootcamp’ style

This project investigated VET educators' perspectives of the usefulness and ease-of-use of technology in their units, including the difficulties they had implementing technology. VET Teachers were offered a one-day ‘bootcamp’ style workshop where they were introduced to innovative technology for the classroom. A significant amount of time in the workshops was spent mapping VET pedagogy and technology using the ‘pedagogy before technology’ approach. The study was designed as an action research project with a combination of quantitative and qualitative questions delivered via survey at the conclusion of the workshop. For the first loop of the project, 23 educators answered 11 quantitative questions based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) targeting their perception of the usefulness of technology and its ease-of-use in delivering their units, with qualitative evidence gathered in the form of field notes by researchers as participant observers. The results revealed VET educators had a high level of confidence in their understanding of technology and their ability to learn about technology. However, they lacked confidence in implementing technology in their pedagogical practices. Specifically, whilst they had average confidence using technology to teach simple concepts, they lacked confidence in using technology to teach complex concepts and adequately assess their students.

Introducing XERO Accounting software into a core accounting unit can have many benefits for students, including improving their professional skills and enhancing their employability. However, it is important that students gain knowledge

Introducing XERO Accounting software into a core accounting unit can have many benefits for students, including improving their professional skills and enhancing their employability. However, it is important that students gain knowledge and skills in all aspects of the software as well as understanding the accounting processes that underlie the software’s operations. This paper presents an overview of implementation of Xero software, in a core accounting course, at a regional university in Australia. Student numbers ranged from 24-63 across the semesters studied. We highlight and discuss the processes adopted to appropriately scaffold students’ learning and assessment. We assess the effectiveness of the intervention by observing student engagement with specially developed videos and measuring student results in associated assessment tasks over three offerings of the course. The provision of a suite of learning opportunities, (training and use of excel and Xero accounting software) translated to improved student outcomes on the technology- related assessment items. Few students who viewed the learning videos contacted the course teaching team for further assistance, suggesting the videos were an effective resource that provided enhanced learning opportunities for students. These findings provide advice and information regarding the issues associated with integrating accounting software for other teaching teams or institutions considering similar applications in their courses or programs.

With the increasing popularity of social technologies, many Chinese students use WeChat for their studies in Australia. However, there have been limited studies about how students effectively use WeChat for their academic activities and

With the increasing popularity of social technologies, many Chinese students use WeChat for their studies in Australia. However, there have been limited studies about how students effectively use WeChat for their academic activities and the impacts on students' academic achievements. Therefore, this study focuses on the relationship between WeChat usage and academic activities of university students in Australia. Using a modified Delphi technique, we conducted three online focus groups of 16 university students who had an experience of WeChat. A thematic analysis revealed that the usage of WeChat could impact their academic performance, and many international students had challenges to be familiarised with a new digital environment in Australia. The findings contribute to much clear understanding of how students utilise WeChat for academic activities to provide a better usage of social media for university students.

This study compared the associated impact of gamified molecular genetics lessons on undergraduate student grades for pre-COVID-19 blended delivery and COVID-19 online only delivery of a first-year biology course. When the molecular

This study compared the associated impact of gamified molecular genetics lessons on undergraduate student grades for pre-COVID-19 blended delivery and COVID-19 online only delivery of a first-year biology course. When the molecular genetics gamified lessons were used by on- and off-campus students to support their learning, most students had successful learning outcomes in either blended or online only learning environments. In contrast, students who chose not to use these lessons had significantly greater failure rates for both the molecular biology and the genetics short answer questions in the final invigilated exams. Importantly, there was noticeable gamified lesson fatigue observed by both on- and off-campus students and therefore when incorporating gamified lessons into courses, curriculum design needs to be carefully considered. In conclusion, the use of gamified lessons was associated with significantly reduced student failure rates for molecular genetics concepts studied in a university foundational biology course.

The paper provides a process and design overview of a large Master of Commerce unit (from hereon referred to as 'The Unit') at a University in Australia. The skills flowing from a creative and analytical mindset have been noted as crucial

The paper provides a process and design overview of a large Master of Commerce unit (from hereon referred to as 'The Unit') at a University in Australia. The skills flowing from a creative and analytical mindset have been noted as crucial in the future. The Unit develops these two mindsets as complimentary by taking a multidisciplinary approach to curriculum design. By outlining the theoretical frameworks applied in the curriculum design and development and the approaches to teaching and learning, especially during the Pandemic, it is hoped that other academics and learning design teams will be able to draw inspiration that they can apply to their contexts. It is possible that the challenges that have arisen during this process may be applicable and have been experienced by other teaching teams in higher education institutions and certainly during the emergence of online learning during the Pandemic. This paper first discusses the approach we took in the curriculum design, informed by the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Principles and Biggs' 3P's model of teaching and learning. The paper then focuses on design principles utilised to create the online learning management system for students.

As one of the earliest instructional methods in formal education, lectures are primarily designed for students to learn through acquisition (Laurillard, 2012). Bligh’s seminal work (2000) concluded with evidence that lectures are as

As one of the earliest instructional methods in formal education, lectures are primarily designed for students to learn through acquisition (Laurillard, 2012). Bligh’s seminal work (2000) concluded with evidence that lectures are as effective, but not more effective, than other methods in transmitting simple information. Although large, didactic, ‘sage on the stage’ (King, 1993) lectures have been much criticised over the past few decades, evolution to ‘guide by the side’, facilitated approaches has been slow.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about an era of innovation in higher education that was extraordinary both in its scale and suddenness. Our study, carried out in STEM and Health disciplines of a multi- campus Victorian university, asked the

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about an era of innovation in higher education that was extraordinary both in its scale and suddenness. Our study, carried out in STEM and Health disciplines of a multi- campus Victorian university, asked the teaching academics in the eye of this storm to reflect on what they had learnt from this experience. In particular, we asked what had worked, what had not worked, what they planned to retain in their teaching post-COVID-19, and what they would be relieved to discard. Above all, we found the experience of COVID-19 learning and teaching to be highly variegated. Academics reported some online activities which were predominantly successful, others which were predominantly unsuccessful, and still others for which the experience was quite different, depending on the context. Our data suggest that future learning and teaching policy should allow for discipline and cohort nuances and cannot be one-size-fits-all.

Graduates require opportunities to gain experience and develop professional networks to enhance their employability and career progression. However, students’ access to relevant networks and opportunities to gain experience is not

Graduates require opportunities to gain experience and develop professional networks to enhance their employability and career progression. However, students’ access to relevant networks and opportunities to gain experience is not equitable, and this contributes to gaps in employment outcomes at graduation and beyond (Harvey et al., 2017; Tomaszewski et al., 2019). This paper showcases key principles underpinning the design and success of a student and alumni-led network designed to enhance employability. In addition to creating networks between students and alumni, Deakin Launch Network, leverages their skills and experience to identify and create opportunities to enhance the employability of Deakin graduates, especially for those more likely to face disadvantage in the graduate employment market. In doing so, the network provides students with valuable connections, experience, and knowledge relevant to employability. Students also report that the connections and collaborations supported by the network, contributed to their wellbeing and sense of belonging during remote learning, and satisfaction with their educational experience. For alumni, the network has provided motivation and opportunity to re- connect or remain connected to the university. Our case study shows that students and alumni are a valuable source of networks, experience and influence that can, and should, be better utilised by universities. Furthermore, distributed student-leadership and purposeful inclusion can positively impact the outcomes of student-staff partnerships, including project deliverables, the student experience and learning outcomes.

Research shows that students who believe their teachers are caring for them are more likely to engage with the class and exhibit higher levels of self-esteem and well-being. What we learn from the past should guide our present practice to

Research shows that students who believe their teachers are caring for them are more likely to engage with the class and exhibit higher levels of self-esteem and well-being. What we learn from the past should guide our present practice to pave the way for a more authentic relationship with our students in the future. This paper reports a case study of how a ‘pedagogy of care’ was implemented in a first-year large teacher-education unit of study at an Australian university during the transition to fully online learning and teaching in response to the pandemic. The paper reports the strategies adopted by the teaching team and the results of an online survey conducted with the students about their experience of the transition. The qualitative survey responses were organised into themes that illustrated how students perceived teacher care. According to the students, teachers cared when they organised consistent synchronous sessions, provided opportunity for interaction between students, recorded lectures, were lenient, modified assessment, marked assessments quickly, exhibited positivity, and acknowledged challenges due to COVID-19. These themes were then classified into two broad categories on a continuum ranging between the delivery of the unit to interpersonal or human aspects.

Professional recognition through Certified Membership of the Association for Learning Technology (CMALT) provides a significant opportunity for all those who use learning technologies to be acknowledged for their experience, capabilities

Professional recognition through Certified Membership of the Association for Learning Technology (CMALT) provides a significant opportunity for all those who use learning technologies to be acknowledged for their experience, capabilities, and practice. The CMALT portfolio requires a personal narrative that presents description, critical reflection, and evidence of professional practice. Through an experiential lens, this paper considers three facets of the authors’ CMALT experiences a decade apart—how the portfolios as personal narratives encouraged reflection on practice; the commonalities in the technology themes presented in those portfolios; and how reflective coaching contributed to the benefits of applying for CMALT.

After a successful proof of concept to expand the university’s commitment to Open Educational Resources (OER), a pilot program was launched to facilitate the adaptation and development of Open Textbooks by academic staff for students as

After a successful proof of concept to expand the university’s commitment to Open Educational Resources (OER), a pilot program was launched to facilitate the adaptation and development of Open Textbooks by academic staff for students as well as broader audiences. The pilot involved the use of the publishing platform Pressbooks as a mechanism to raise awareness of Open Educational Resources, and to provide a university-supported tool with which to develop Open Textbooks. Commencing in Semester 2, 2020, participants in the pilot received vendor training from Pressbooks, as well as support from learning and teaching and library staff. Pilot participants used the Pressbooks platform in a number of ways. Academics created textbooks as course material in a single unit, academics adapted open textbooks for Australian contexts over a number of units, and academics created open textbooks based on their research and not for a specific unit of study. Of the 13 pilot participants, five open textbooks were created, with one still in development. Responses to the pilot were mixed. Student feedback on the use of Pressbooks indicates that they enjoyed the structured and easy-to-read course material. Other students expressed frustration with the higher workload expectations of consuming material online prior to participating in synchronous classes. Students appreciated the zero cost of engaging with an open textbook. Academic feedback was also mixed, with some appreciating the flexibility and engagement that they can achieve in Pressbooks. Others were discouraged by the amount of time spent on creating material for little perceived benefit. The majority of academic staff who developed a textbook using Pressbooks would like to continue to use the platform.

Typical university Learning Management Systems (LMSs) place an enrolment paywall between students and the content within a unit. This has the effect not only of preventing access from potential students, but also of locking past students

Typical university Learning Management Systems (LMSs) place an enrolment paywall between students and the content within a unit. This has the effect not only of preventing access from potential students, but also of locking past students out from accessing updated materials as the subject develops over subsequent years to their enrolment. In this and many regards, the mechanisms by which academics can produce and publish content face limitations that open source software documentation sites do not. This provocation paper describes some of these limitations and gives an overview of the JamStack – common techniques that have developed within the software development community that allow convenient self-publishing of sites and materials. The paper then gives a brief introduction to Doctacular: a course-oriented static site generator that is under development (but already used for two live sites) to bring JamStack-style publishing to academic course materials

Specialist medical education aims to develop clinical knowledge in conjunction with professional attributes such as communication skills, collaboration, health advocacy, management, and professionalism. RANZCO is undertaking a 3-year

Specialist medical education aims to develop clinical knowledge in conjunction with professional attributes such as communication skills, collaboration, health advocacy, management, and professionalism. RANZCO is undertaking a 3-year curriculum redesign plan that incorporated feedback received from the Australian Medical Council and is moving towards a systematic approach to supervisor and trainee teaching and learning interventions to improve the quality of the learning experience. In parallel to the new curriculum, the college has established the Digital Learning Transformation initiative by developing theoretical frameworks to guide a systematic approach to learning design. The frameworks informed the design, implementation, and evaluation of interactive modules to support supervisors in educational topics. This concise paper aims to present the theoretical underpinning and the Modus Operandi of the intervention. The authors hope this initiative could inspire other medical colleges to take an evidence-based educational approach to supervisor training.

Higher education institutions and its stakeholders are just about to catch up with the rapid pace at which educational data are being generated. While recent learning analytics research and applications are mainly focused on learning

Higher education institutions and its stakeholders are just about to catch up with the rapid pace at which educational data are being generated. While recent learning analytics research and applications are mainly focused on learning, there is an increased awareness that data analytics may provide teaching staff with evidence-based insights for enhancing teaching processes. The aim of this systematic review is to gain a deeper understanding on how data analytics in the educational context may play a role in helping teaching staff to leverage their own teaching A total of N = 18,723 articles were located and screened resulting in a final sample N = 35 key publications. Findings indicate that empowering teachers with data from educational contexts may support pre-active, interactive, and post-active reflection phases of teaching. However, teaching staff are required to further develop their educational data literacy in order to avoid biased pedagogical decision-making. data analytics

La Trobe University is implementing a new Social Work course. Several evidence-based curriculum design and teaching innovations have been identified as having the potential to support both new explicit and implicit curriculum. This paper

La Trobe University is implementing a new Social Work course. Several evidence-based curriculum design and teaching innovations have been identified as having the potential to support both new explicit and implicit curriculum. This paper reports on the introduction of an innovative learning technology solution to promote a student centred learning approach. The use of the technology is novel to social work coursework education so evaluating the impact on supporting learning outcomes addresses a current gap in the research literature. Supporting a student centred approach, the innovation amalgamates ePortfolios with Moodle LMS to capture learning activities and assessments in their own digital space. The project has been a collaboration between the Social Work discipline and Technology Enhanced Learning Services. Findings from our evaluation show that the use of ePortfolios is consistent with transformational learning principles whereby the software application enables critical reflection, a sense of ownership over learning and the opportunity for students to be creative. The innovation also empowers students to develop a portfolio of curated reference material along with indivdiualised evidence of knowledge that can be utilised beyond graduation for potential employers or opportunities for further study.

Ghosting is a student behaviour characterised by enrolling in a subject but never participating. Hence, a ghost student who remains enrolled receives a zero-fail grade. From 2022, the Job ready Graduates Package will require that only

Ghosting is a student behaviour characterised by enrolling in a subject but never participating. Hence, a ghost student who remains enrolled receives a zero-fail grade. From 2022, the Job ready Graduates Package will require that only genuine students have access to Commonwealth assistance at Australian Universities and an institution may need to refund the fees of what are referred to as non-genuine students. In 2019 and 2020, 382 first-year subjects were monitored to identify disengaged students in weeks 3 and 4 of the session using learning analytics and non- submission of an early assessment item. Disengaged students were contacted via phone and 2-way SMS and offered timely and targeted support pre census. The total number of domestic undergraduate students receiving a zero fail has decreased during this time. To further reduce the number of ghost students, once identified as disengaged, an engagement should be mandatory to remain in the subject.

Knowing when a student is being productive in an online learning environment is challenging to discern from online trace data. Custom built assessment tools, integrated into a learning management system (LMS), offer a way to obtain

Knowing when a student is being productive in an online learning environment is challenging to discern from online trace data. Custom built assessment tools, integrated into a learning management system (LMS), offer a way to obtain finer-grained data not commonly available in existing systems. An exploratory observational study of 1,822 assessment submissions in an online course of 500 students was conducted. All assessments were submitted utilising a new online assessment tool that offered embedded resources, feedback and tracked when words were typed or pasted into the tool. Students were hesitant to consistently use the online editor, moderately used the embedded resources and heavily utilised the feedback. There was moderate evidence that whether or not a student viewed the previous assessments feedback was a better indicator of future assessment success than LMS activity.

Advancements in immersive virtual reality (VR) have encouraged educators to start looking for ways to leverage the potentials of this technology. This concise paper reports the preliminary findings of a study where VR was used in an

Advancements in immersive virtual reality (VR) have encouraged educators to start looking for ways to leverage the potentials of this technology. This concise paper reports the preliminary findings of a study where VR was used in an educational setting. A small group of teachers and students explored free VR apps and investigated their usefulness for learning. Through this activity, they not only compiled a list of VR apps that could potentially be used by teachers but also co-investigated the benefits and challenges of implementing VR-powered activities. The study was backed up by student app reviews, teacher observations, and focus group interviews. The results revealed that students found VR engaging and stimulating and successfully explored the educational values of multiple apps; however, they experienced some degree of cybersickness. As a response to this concern, the next phase of the study will focus on desktop VR and learner- generated content.

Curiosity is a significant educational component behind human learning and is vital for a learner to sustain motivation and engagement in both face-to-face and online learning environments. Positive feedback has the potential to support

Curiosity is a significant educational component behind human learning and is vital for a learner to sustain motivation and engagement in both face-to-face and online learning environments. Positive feedback has the potential to support learning by enhancing competence, confidence, and curiosity. Informative feedback at the right time is the sought-after goal in traditional classrooms and is equally important for the learning design within a digital educational environment. Individual differences such as personality, gender, learning style, and curiosity trait can play a crucial role in how feedback is received and acquired knowledge is demonstrated in a different context by a learner. This paper proposes to exploit the benefits of positive feedback in a statistics game by establishing a connection between feedback and curiosity through the lens of the self- determination theory of motivation. It presents a work-in-progress psychological theory-based conceptual framework to foster curiosity by means of game-based learning and gamification approaches.

The capability to identify and make a judgement about the quality of own and work of others is known as evaluative judgement. Such capability is crucial for learners and their learning trajectories, allowing them to become job-ready

The capability to identify and make a judgement about the quality of own and work of others is known as evaluative judgement. Such capability is crucial for learners and their learning trajectories, allowing them to become job-ready graduates and life-long learners. The overall concept is newly named but existed in different forms and shapes in the literature. There is sporadic literature investigation of evaluative judgement development by educational technology. Self-assessment, peer-assessment and portfolios in the online learning environment bring various educational values and benefits. Each of these pedagogical activities can contribute to the development of evaluative judgement in an online environment enhanced by educational technology. The primary purpose of this paper is to expand the discussion about the development of evaluative judgement using educational technology. This paper provides some rationale for the inclusion of selected pedagogical activities in the curriculum and actively using them in student- centred education.

With the advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI), much has been made of the use of AI in education. Central to that is the idea of an Automated Response System (ARS). Current adoption of ARS’s in education has been mainly in the realm

With the advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI), much has been made of the use of AI in education. Central to that is the idea of an Automated Response System (ARS). Current adoption of ARS’s in education has been mainly in the realm of administrative tasks but is likely to move into the support of teaching. ARS can be used as a supplement for teaching as it provides instant feedback, and 24/7 support. Having a highly accessible, 24/7 ARS can help relieve some of the burdens placed on teachers, especially in a post COVID-19 environment, where teachers expect work to intensify, rather than simplify. In this paper we present a work-in-progress that proposes what features an ARS for education should have, how these would be useful and how these features help teachers assist students meet their learning outcomes in a holistic manner.

There is a substantial body of work arguing that sense of belonging, connection and interaction is a critical element for students to persist and succeed in learning online. However online students frequently report feeling isolated and

There is a substantial body of work arguing that sense of belonging, connection and interaction is a critical element for students to persist and succeed in learning online. However online students frequently report feeling isolated and disconnected from teachers, peers, and the institution. This paper explores the use of regular, informal video messages to facilitate these connections in a fully online course We argue that such videos can build teacher presence, provide opportunities for sharing feedback, guidance, emerging developments and professional insights, and contribute to a dynamic and engaging learning environment. We share preliminary feedback and reflections on the use of such videos and discuss the next steps in measuring the impact of these videos on student learning and satisfaction.

Innovation was seen as crucial for universities even before the COVID-19 global pandemic, to widen participation within massification strategies, to deliver graduates that meet the needs of economies and to justify increased fees in

Innovation was seen as crucial for universities even before the COVID-19 global pandemic, to widen participation within massification strategies, to deliver graduates that meet the needs of economies and to justify increased fees in response to reduced government funding. Innovation will become increasingly important as universities contribute to the post-pandemic recovery of their communities and nations and need to find new avenues for research funding with less reliance on governments. In this paper, we describe our first steps towards developing a culture of innovation in learning and teaching across science, health, and engineering disciplines by bringing together and empowering a group of mostly junior academics. We describe achievements of this group, indicate key success factors, and discuss next steps.

The pandemic has drastically changed the education landscape. The pedagogical practices, policies and procedures ingrained and refined over many years were suddenly rendered less effective. Overnight, new practices, policies and procedures

The pandemic has drastically changed the education landscape. The pedagogical practices, policies and procedures ingrained and refined over many years were suddenly rendered less effective. Overnight, new practices, policies and procedures had to be drafted to support teaching and learning. More than a year on, educators have found a new home, new pedagogies and practices have been refined and continue to be, policies and procedures are agile to support a volatile environment academia dwells in during the pandemic era. Building upon the work the Mobile Learning Special Interest Group (MLSIG) presented last year at the conference, we investigate the role mobile learning is and could play in emerging pandemic pedagogies. Eight vignettes are presented from universities around the world that are analysed using Activity Theory to understand the role of mobile devices and social tools for developing blended synchronous learning (BSL) and HyFlex learning.

In this report on a specialised topic of remix and emergent learning we will demonstrate an open education project that emerged from the future. Using open and inclusive practices, a global group of educators engaged in some serious fun to

In this report on a specialised topic of remix and emergent learning we will demonstrate an open education project that emerged from the future. Using open and inclusive practices, a global group of educators engaged in some serious fun to collaborate and share digital and physical artefacts based on a poem. The poem itself was collaboratively created using open, online software, and allowed for serendipitous participation without the need to learn new skills. The set of work that was and is being created is beautiful, diverse, and far reaching. We discuss the practices of remix that this collaboration uses and show how these seemingly trivial experiences both nurture well- being, lead to serious learning, and have wide applicability in other, more formal, learning contexts.

Higher Degree Researchers (HDRs) in Australia tertiary education programs must achieve mastery of complex skills, theories, and concepts. Non-traditional HDRs, especially those enrolled part time and remotely, face barriers to achieving

Higher Degree Researchers (HDRs) in Australia tertiary education programs must achieve mastery of complex skills, theories, and concepts. Non-traditional HDRs, especially those enrolled part time and remotely, face barriers to achieving these outcomes. This concise paper uses the case study of a regional university in Australia to investigate the theoretical underpinnings of technology use to promote HDR communities of learning, especially for part time and remote researchers.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, universities in Singapore had to shift from traditional face-to- face learning to eLearning. We explored students’ experiences with and perceptions towards eLearning in the context of a public health module

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, universities in Singapore had to shift from traditional face-to- face learning to eLearning. We explored students’ experiences with and perceptions towards eLearning in the context of a public health module about physical activity. The module had a mixture of asynchronous lectures and live Zoom tutorials. We conducted nine in-depth interviews with students from the module. Students felt that the onus was primarily on the instructors to lead lessons and engage students. As such, they often took a backseat during online classes and rarely participated in class discussions. The eLearning environment enhanced their ability to be passive as they could be largely anonymous. The eLearning environment also made it easy to lose focus and mentally disconnect during lessons. Finally, students spoke about the lack of connection to classmates which impacted their learning efforts. To alleviate this and promote social engagement and connection, check-in polls, movement breaks, and breakout room discussions can be implemented.

In this paper, we share insights from our experience of harnessing technologies to innovatively design a capstone experience for large cohorts of accounting students in hybrid and online environments, informed by insights from key

In this paper, we share insights from our experience of harnessing technologies to innovatively design a capstone experience for large cohorts of accounting students in hybrid and online environments, informed by insights from key stakeholder consultations and relevant research. To support scaffolded development of professional skills and identity in a short span of eleven weeks, we designed a coherent suite of experiential learning and assessment activities based on contemporary events, an Enterprise Resource Planning business simulation, employability skills training and authentic case studies. Consistently high student evaluations of this unit suggest that our students find this experience valuable. Student responses to the Graduate Attribute Scale in the Graduate Outcomes Survey have shown improvement following the introduction of the capstone unit.

There has been a steady increase in international students pursuing postgraduate coursework education in English speaking countries. Like first-year undergraduate students, these international students need assistance transitioning into

There has been a steady increase in international students pursuing postgraduate coursework education in English speaking countries. Like first-year undergraduate students, these international students need assistance transitioning into the new educational environment and preparing for self-directed, collaborative learning throughout their careers. Drawing on the social constructivist pedagogical approaches, we developed learning tasks that foster self-regulation and collaboration among postgraduate coursework IT students, aligning these tasks with the learning outcomes of the subject Information Design and Content Management. This paper presents the rationale and method for the design of the learning tasks, and how these learning tasks to not only align with the subject learning outcomes but also facilitate self-regulation. A study involving pre- and post-subject surveys and interviews with 133 subject students will provide us with further insights into the effectiveness of the learning task design and the areas for improvement.

Educators around the globe are striving to promote equity in their classrooms by adopting adaptive learning systems to provide customised learning resources and tools to help the learners achieve mastery at their own pace. This

Educators around the globe are striving to promote equity in their classrooms by adopting adaptive learning systems to provide customised learning resources and tools to help the learners achieve mastery at their own pace. This personalised approach goes a long way in closing the divide between students' socioeconomic status and special needs. Over the years, the advancement in technology offers more sophisticated adaptive technologies. It aggregates data such as students' prior knowledge and academic performances to predict and better adapt the learning paths. This paper presents the evaluation of adaptive technologies for personalised learning and the vision of a Personalised Adaptive Learning and Assessment (PALAS) system for Higher Education. This vision could be an imperative piece supporting Singapore's ‘National AI Strategy’, set to focus on personalised education through adaptive learning and assessment.

Three large first-year undergraduate subjects with 240-517 enrolled students were selected to participate in this pilot study. A meeting scheduling tool was embedded in the learning management system and thirty-minute, one-on-one tutorial

Three large first-year undergraduate subjects with 240-517 enrolled students were selected to participate in this pilot study. A meeting scheduling tool was embedded in the learning management system and thirty-minute, one-on-one tutorial sessions were available to students in the 2 weeks leading up to the due date of at least one large written task. Thirty one percent (31%) of enrolled students attended at least one appointment with a tutor. There was no difference in the average assessment mark that students obtained before the first tutorial was offered between those who attended a tutorial session for a later assessment item and those who did not. There was a significant increase in the average cumulative grade (10%, p<0.05) of students who attended a tutorial. The novel use of the calendar booking tool combined with online meeting technology provides a simple and convenient method to provide personalised feedback to a large cohort of students.

Teachers’ ways of using ICT (Information and Communication Technology) in various disciplines is a recent issue in the higher educational research paradigm. In order to extend previous findings in relation to this issue, this research

Teachers’ ways of using ICT (Information and Communication Technology) in various disciplines is a recent issue in the higher educational research paradigm. In order to extend previous findings in relation to this issue, this research proposes an in-depth investigation focusing on vocational teachers’ qualitatively diverse ways of using ICT in different disciplines. A cohort of 11 teachers from three TAFE (Technical and Further Education) institutions of NSW, Australia, were purposively chosen aiming to ensure adequate variations in disciplines, gender, and experience of using ICT. The phenomenographic research approach was considered as the theoretical and methodological underpinning which guided the participant selection, data collection and data analysis. The findings revealed that disciplines have very limited influence on using ICT in TAFE teaching. It further discerned four categories of description: tool, content, subject, and student focused. The findings provide useful information towards improving vocational teaching practices in different disciplines and working as an input for improving teacher professional development program (TPD). In order to generalise these findings, an extended research with a wider sample is recommended.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for improvement in our operational processes. In our Business Co-Design (BCD) team we have successfully utilised a design-based research (DBR) approach for the past two years - and it has

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for improvement in our operational processes. In our Business Co-Design (BCD) team we have successfully utilised a design-based research (DBR) approach for the past two years - and it has worked well. However, we have noticed that from an operational perspective, the DBR approach methodology we have been using can struggle to scale up, as designing is bespoke and offers tailor made solutions for our individual projects. We will pilot incorporating elements of a soft systems thinking approach together with actor- network theory (ANT) to enable us in applying a more holistic approach to the design and development of units of study which will provide opportunities for input from the larger team, instead of working in silos. Additionally, we are hopeful that this new approach will also assist us in making our design and projects scalable and sustainable – and to support us in increasing efficiency.

One year ago, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that COVID-19 was a pandemic. Twelve months on, we reflect on the educational change in Singapore and embrace the need to constantly re-imagine blended learning for living and

One year ago, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that COVID-19 was a pandemic. Twelve months on, we reflect on the educational change in Singapore and embrace the need to constantly re-imagine blended learning for living and learning with COVID-19. Using Dr Roger Greenaway’s four F's of active reviewing - Facts, Feelings, Findings & Future as the structure, this paper first presents the study of the transitions in blended learning of higher education pre-, during and post-pandemic lockdown. This review placed a spotlight on many gaps. Hence, this paper discusses pertinent issues following the review, particularly COVID-19 accelerated remote teaching, the ‘Blended Learning@NIE’ policy, and the policy-making process. This paper also reports the preliminary result of the policy implementation through the end-of-semester evaluation. The result is congruent with the feelings to develop digital fluency as teacher intuition for designing, developing and facilitating more meaningful blended learning experiences.

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly presented a multitude of challenges to the way education is delivered; its wide-reaching multidisciplinary impact has also presented a unique opportunity as a focus for real-world authentic learning

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly presented a multitude of challenges to the way education is delivered; its wide-reaching multidisciplinary impact has also presented a unique opportunity as a focus for real-world authentic learning. For some time now, technology has enabled interaction at a global scale, allowing students to connect with teachers and industry experts around the world. This paper reports on the innovative design of an intra-curricular program utilising COVID-19 as a focus for online, real-world connected learning, delivered to business students at a large Australian university during the pandemic lockdown. Implemented as an online intra-curricular initiative, ‘Leading in a Post-COVID World’ encouraged student engagement with the challenges of leadership to address issues on a personal, local, and global scale. Using a community of inquiry (CoI) lens we explore key features of the program and find that a CoI approach combined with principles of real-world learning and authentic experiences encourages student participation and engagement in this intra-curricular space.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected disruptions to educational practices, forcing universities to deliver lectures, tutorials, exams, and other assessments online. Academics and program managers reacted swiftly to adapt their

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected disruptions to educational practices, forcing universities to deliver lectures, tutorials, exams, and other assessments online. Academics and program managers reacted swiftly to adapt their education programs, managing a crisis that could have harmed Australia’s education system. Academic staff rapidly addressed the immediate requirements of delivering classes online, upskilling their digital competencies to continue with minimal disadvantage to students. A perceived problem arising from the need to move to online assessment is an increase in violations of academic integrity. Due to the speed with which the changes took place, there have not necessarily been corresponding changes in the policies and procedures that govern and guide teaching and assessment practices, related to academic integrity. A crisis can open an opportunity for innovation, and this study is a work in progress to investigate how things were done differently to uphold academic integrity in computing courses at Australian universities.

While universities have instituted use of various forms of technologies to help identify instances of academic integrity compromises, these tools are unable to detect cases where students get someone else to do their academic work for

While universities have instituted use of various forms of technologies to help identify instances of academic integrity compromises, these tools are unable to detect cases where students get someone else to do their academic work for them. This paper discusses a two-stage approach to addressing academic integrity at a postgraduate business studies course where students were engaged in understanding what academic integrity means within their context and explore various forms of unethical behaviours. They were also made aware about various institutional policies and procedures for academic integrity breaches. This was followed with a post-assessment, ad-hoc feedback from students about their submitted work. Although a thorough evaluation is planned at a later stage, this paper shares some initial results about the effectiveness of this approach to countering academic misconduct behaviours. The paper will be of interest to other teaching academics interested in developing a culture of academic integrity.

In a ten-year study over thirty STEM units in seven nationally accredited institutions (two colleges, five universities, including a five-star teaching university) in two different countries were analyzed to evaluate their educational

In a ten-year study over thirty STEM units in seven nationally accredited institutions (two colleges, five universities, including a five-star teaching university) in two different countries were analyzed to evaluate their educational quality using a range of criteria and benchmarked against the finalists of the 2010 IEEE global award for academics. Unit content and teaching were found to be almost exclusively based on Constructivist based principles. However, Constructivism provides subjective guidelines open to different interpretations. The analyzed units demonstrated considerable variation in pass rates and educational standards. One unit consistently achieved circa 100% pass rates but at the expense of the standard of learning outcomes – far below any reasonable expectations. At the other extreme one unit achieved a higher standard of learning but with pass rates below 30%. This problem can potentially be addressed by using the new quantitative Cognitive Load Optimization learning theory and technology.

This paper outlines an initiative that involved implementing ‘Numbas’ as a computer-based tool to support mathematics learning. ‘Numbas’ was implemented within the existing learning management system at Queensland University of Technology

This paper outlines an initiative that involved implementing ‘Numbas’ as a computer-based tool to support mathematics learning. ‘Numbas’ was implemented within the existing learning management system at Queensland University of Technology, where students engaged in formative assessment activities independently and were provided with automated feedback along the way. An initial evaluation was undertaken by learning designers using the ‘Assessment Design Decisions Framework’, and although more rigorous evaluation is underway, results indicate positive outcomes, and appropriate adjustment is likely to be made before rolling it out to other units within the School of Mathematical Sciences. This paper will be of interest to other educators looking for ways to embed independent computer-aided learning of mathematics.

Ensuring lasting impact of transformational teaching and learning initiatives in higher education can prove challenging. The sustainability of such initiatives may hinge on capacity building of teachers, balancing innovation and

Ensuring lasting impact of transformational teaching and learning initiatives in higher education can prove challenging. The sustainability of such initiatives may hinge on capacity building of teachers, balancing innovation and sustainability during the design process and ensuring that the story of change is shared beyond those involved in the initial transformation. Using a case study example, this concise paper discusses how a transformational teaching and learning initiative in a large Australian Business School is approaching sustainable learning design through co-design, capacity building and the dissemination of research.

One of the significant challenges facing vocational training institutions is the conundrum of providing the best possible learning outcomes to a diverse range of people using pedagogical practices and materials that by design demand

One of the significant challenges facing vocational training institutions is the conundrum of providing the best possible learning outcomes to a diverse range of people using pedagogical practices and materials that by design demand uniformity in delivery approaches. In this paper, we examined a snapshot of perspectives from teachers and students in two distinctly different vocational training institutions, one in China and the other in Australia. Comments from participants revealed that flexible approaches to course delivery, the provision of a range of different types of learning materials, and institutional support in teacher training and curriculum design are vital elements in implementing an inclusive learning space for students. This paper proposes that a triad of interrelated elements, consisting of pedagogy, learning materials and institutions, are bound together by learning management systems that facilitate the creation of multi-modal course delivery approaches. We further contend that teaching practices that pigeonhole people as belonging to immutable categories of learning styles are outmoded and detract from creating inclusive learning environments. The findings from this study indicate that best practice approaches for developing truly engaging educational environments are rooted in the facilitation of individual autonomy in the learning process. The creation of opportunities for constructive interaction between learners is needed.

This paper explores industry-university partnerships in the creation of short courses and micro- credentials. It is a position paper that precedes a pilot study. We scan the higher education environment for current practices and begin to

This paper explores industry-university partnerships in the creation of short courses and micro- credentials. It is a position paper that precedes a pilot study. We scan the higher education environment for current practices and begin to explore the notion of a more consistent and strategic approach. Partnerships refer to both industry as partners in course development, and industry as partners in developing meaningful learning experiences in the context of professional and career development. The pilot study that this paper is connected to aligns with national and international frameworks and explores university-industry partnerships, to ensure such partnerships can be leveraged to offer better value to learners with regards to workplace and lifelong learning.