Digital sensors allow people to collect a large quantity of data in chemistry experiments. Using infrared thermography as an example, we show that this kind of data, in conjunction with videos that stream the chemical phenomena under observation from a vantage point, can be used to construct digital twins of experiments to support science…

Open pedagogy has been touted by advocates as a promising expansion of open educational resources because it involves shifting from making resources accessible to impacting the practice of teaching. The allure of the term coupled with its promise to bring greater innovation to pedagogy has led to its widespread use at conferences and publications.…

With increased emphasis on accessibility and quality education in tertiary institutions, open and distance learning (ODL) is occupying the center stage in Nigeria. Open educational resources (OERs) is becoming a valuable alternative to improving access to high-quality educational content released under open licenses by outstanding universities…

The success of MOOC (massive open online courses) is rapidly increasing. Most educational institutions are highly interested in these online platforms, which embrace intellectual and educational objectives and provide various opportunities for lifelong learning. However, many limitations, such as learners' diversity, lack of motivation, affected…

In the Fall of 2014, several universities came together to offer a unique "dual-layer" open online course. This course was designed with two complete layers from two different course design modalities (instructivism and connectivism). Learners were granted the freedom to create an individualized pathway through the course involving…

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the attention of distance education issues to the fore in a way not seen before. All forms of educational provision and sectors were affected by the pandemic. The aim of this conceptual leading article is to highlight three pertinent issues that need to be taken into account in Open, Distance and…

South Africa, like other countries in the world, went into lockdown due to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which meant closure of venue-based exam centres, university libraries and academic offices for more than three months. This encounter forced higher institutions of learning to review and reconfigure their assessment practices and conduct…

This research investigates the comparative effectiveness of the ChatGPT and the Google search engine in facilitating the self-learning of JavaScript functions among undergraduate open and distance learning students. The study employed a quasi-experimental post-test control group design to analyze the variables of disorientation, satisfaction,…

Social work education prioritizes the use of research to inform practice. As university students, prospective social workers have a wealth of research available to them as well as librarians to help them find, evaluate, and use that information. However, access to much of this research ends once the student graduates - at a time when it is most…

This edited volume explores key challenges facing Vietnamese universities amidst digital transformation, navigating the intersection of technology and cultural values, competition, and open education. Chapters in this book offer insights into the current landscape of Vietnamese higher education, outlining strategies for institutional success and…

There has been little research into the impact of textbook costs on higher education in the United Kingdom. To better understand textbook use patterns and the issues faced by UK students and educators the UK Open Textbooks Project (2017-2018, http://ukopentextbooks.org/) conducted quantitative survey research with United Kingdom educators in…

Prior studies of MOOC learners have focused almost exclusively on behavioural and social aspects of engagement. This paper extends the scope of previous studies by adopting a multi-dimensional, person-centred approach to investigate learner engagement in MOOCs. An analysis of 1,452 self-administered survey responses uncovered three prototypical…

Literature review reveals that in sub-Saharan Africa, archives and records management (ARM) education is not yet grounded in institutions for higher learning. In eSwatini (previously Swaziland) the situation is even worse as only one institution of higher learning, the Institute of Development Management (IDM) offers ARM programmes at…

As the adoption of open educational resources (OER) continues to increase, instructors have started using these resources for more than simply delivering content. "Open pedagogy" is a term used to describe a range of instructional practices that often incorporate OER into the learning process. This study examined student perceptions of…

The mid-term evaluation of the Partnership for ODFL in the Pacific Project was commissioned by the Commonwealth of Learning to examine the initial two years of the five-year activity. The evaluation was undertaken by Standard of Proof, the MFAT MERL panel, providing specialist services in monitoring, evaluation, measurement and research and…