M. Farajollahi, A. Shayestehfar, B. Saeidipour, Saeed Taleebi
{"title":"The Role of Economic Factors in the Growth and Development of Human Resources in Open and Distance Universities of Iran","authors":"M. Farajollahi, A. Shayestehfar, B. Saeidipour, Saeed Taleebi","doi":"10.5812/IJVLMS.66776","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5812/IJVLMS.66776","url":null,"abstract":"Context: The demand for higher education is one of the main issues, which should be considered by managers and planners considering the reduced academic population. Currently, distance education institutions are among the most important centers of higher education according to their special mission. The main objective of this study was to identify the determinant economic factors in students’ enrollment in open and distance universities. Methods: This study utilized the documentary analytical method, time series, and ordinary least square regression model. In this study, the sample size consisted of 500 Payam-E-Noor University (PNU) centers. The sample included the number of applicants of BA of the academic years 2001 to 2014 in PNU and the reliability of independent variables was confirmed using the Dickey Fuller Test. Effective variables for distance education were first derived using the Delphi method. In the Delphi method, the indices and variables were first extracted by examining the documents, distributed to 15 professors of higher education, economic sciences, and social sciences, and finally, the indicators were approved. Results: This study showed that the earning per master’s degree was 0.144 (P = 0.043); student scholarship and loan (0.583, P = 0.035) were significantly higher and had positive effects on the numbers of PNU applicants compared to other variables. Diploma degree income (-0.083, P = 0.038) and gross domestic production (-22.10, P = 0.092) had significantly higher and negative effects on students’ entrance to PNU. Conclusions: Expecting future income and students’ scholarships and loans had a determinant impact on the entry of students in PNU. Therefore, educational planners in this university should pay attention to these points.","PeriodicalId":33759,"journal":{"name":"Interdisciplinary Journal of Virtual Learning in Medical Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48654753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"How Students Experience Blended Learning? (Malaysian Experience)","authors":"M. Attaran, Zamzami Zainuddin","doi":"10.5812/IJVLMS.79384","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5812/IJVLMS.79384","url":null,"abstract":"Context This research studied student’s perception of using SPeCTRUM (as a platform for blended learning) at a university in Malaysia. Methods A mixed method design was employed to collect data on students’ perception and experience of using SPeCTRUM in learning activities. A questionnaire, individual interviews, focus group discussion, and class observations were used as instruments for collecting the data. Participants were from the faculty of education, university of Malay (Malaysia). Results The results showed that the students had positive attitudes towards SPeCTRUM regarding its flexibility in learning activities outside the class hours, including students’ peer interaction. However, the findings showed that the instructor had limited time to interact with students virtually on the SPeCTRUM outside the class, and their priority is informative quality. Conclusions According to the results, SPeCTRUM has great flexibility, which allows students to have easy access. It provides the opportunity to save time and allows learning at any time and place.","PeriodicalId":33759,"journal":{"name":"Interdisciplinary Journal of Virtual Learning in Medical Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49650772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparing Students’ Academic Engagement Based on How Much They Use Social Networks in Learning English","authors":"F. Zamani, B. Talebi","doi":"10.5812/IJVLMS.65552","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5812/IJVLMS.65552","url":null,"abstract":"Context: The current study aimed at comparing students’ academic engagement (AE) based on their educational use of social networks (EUSN) in learning English at the Iran language Institute (ILI), Tabriz branch. Methods: The survey study evaluated the status of EUSN and AE on 204 English language learners (ELLs). The population of the study consisted of all ELLs (n = 1874) studying at the Tabriz branch of ILI in the spring of 2017. The instruments used in the current study to measure variables were the Reeve and Tseng AE questionnaire (α = 0.968) and a researcher-made questionnaire (α = 0.966) for","PeriodicalId":33759,"journal":{"name":"Interdisciplinary Journal of Virtual Learning in Medical Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49302459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. K. Banihashem, K. Aliabadi, Saeid Pourroostaei Ardakani, Ali Delaver, M. N. Ahmadabadi
{"title":"Learning Analytics: A Systematic Literature Review","authors":"S. K. Banihashem, K. Aliabadi, Saeid Pourroostaei Ardakani, Ali Delaver, M. N. Ahmadabadi","doi":"10.5812/IJVLMS.63024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5812/IJVLMS.63024","url":null,"abstract":"Context Learning analytics is considered as the third wave in educational technology and it is a new and promising field of study. This study was conducted to clarify benefits and challenges of learning analytics in education. Methods Cooper’s systematic literature review was used as the research method. This method has five steps as follows: a) formulation of the problem, b) collection of data, c) evaluation of the appropriateness of the data, d) analysis and interpretation of relevant data, and e) organization and presentation of the results. Based on the study selection process, 36 articles were finally selected to be analyzed. Results The results showed that ethics and privacy were one of the most important challenges of learning analytics in education along with the lack of attention to theoretical foundations and scope and quality of data. The results also showed that learning analytics could bring remarkable benefits for education, such as increased engagement of students, improvement of learning outcomes, identification of students at risk, providing real - time feedback, and personalization of learning. Conclusions Based on the results, it can be concluded that learning analytics offer new insights in education, however, there are ethical, educational, and technical issues in the use of learning analytics in education.","PeriodicalId":33759,"journal":{"name":"Interdisciplinary Journal of Virtual Learning in Medical Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41702905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Identification of e-Learning Components in General Offices of Environment of Northeast of Iran","authors":"Hamid Sodagar, N. Jabari, Kiumars Niyaz Azari","doi":"10.5812/IJVLMS.65173","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5812/IJVLMS.65173","url":null,"abstract":"Context E-learning on how to deal with the environment has a significant impact on strengthening the environmental culture and achieving the goals of sustainable development. The current study aimed at identifying e-learning components in general offices of environment of Northeast of Iran. Methods The current qualitative study was conducted on 18 elite staff from general offices of environment of Northeast of Iran by purposive sampling until data saturation in 2016. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews, the effective factors of e-learning components were identified, and then they were categorized and placed in the subtheme and main theme. Results The results of decoding and analyzing the content of the theme showed that the causative factors (design, implementation, evaluation, human factors, and management) and the underlying factors (learning culture, context, educational environment, and technology infrastructure) and environmental factors (structure and policies of education and technological culture) as factors influencing the identification of e-learning components by interviewees in the general offices of environment of Northeast of Iran. Conclusions The identification of the components of e-learning by environmental elites can lead to the localization of an e-learning model. Results of the current study indicated that more attention should be shifted by the general offices of environment from the traditional method to e-learning. Since the application of these methods can be considered as a learning complement by providing a positive experience and a long lasting and deep learning.","PeriodicalId":33759,"journal":{"name":"Interdisciplinary Journal of Virtual Learning in Medical Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46266606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}