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The Paper Chase model is a synchronous collaborative approach to manuscript development. Through a structured and team-based design, authors participate in a "marathon" of writing, editing, revising, and submitting their publications within a specified period. This active-learning approach is considered a high-impact practice by engaging students in research dissemination through a collaborative project. This study sought to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a virtual Paper Chase exercise. We conducted the Paper Chase with six teams led by multidisciplinary faculty (with 24 undergraduate students and four graduate students). All participants were given pre-and post-surveys, with both open- and closed-ended questions. Results indicated that the process increased cooperative and problem-solving components of group work attitudes, increased participants' confidence in writing skills, increased understanding of research processes and that participants appreciated putting their skills immediately into practice. Participants identified strengths as well as opportunities for improvement in online modules and facilitation. The process was effective in that half of the manuscripts were submitted to peer-reviewed outlets within 90 days of the event. The positive evidence for learning in the virtual Paper Chase model supports future applications and may strengthen the involvement of students in research dissemination. Additional research may expand upon the findings by assessing group work dynamics, quality of final products, and conducting the process in a hybrid model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of mobile technology, mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) has significant potential regarding its practical applications and benefits in foreign language learning. Nevertheless, little research was conducted to examine factors regarding the facilitation of oral communication through MALL based on established theories or models. The purpose of this review is to investigate the main constituents conducive to the intended outcomes based on an adapted model from Beatty (2010) and further provide guidelines for enthusiastic stakeholders in the field. Twenty-eight empirical studies were collected and categorized according to four key variables of the design model and analyzed qualitatively, with the key findings identified as follows. Due to the technical affordance of mobile technology, it is found that a student-centered self-regulated learning context is created, where students construct knowledge through self-instruction, self-evaluation, and self-correction. Furthermore, a speaking strategy-driven collaborative-based learning design enhances students' oral proficiency through strong social connections, interactions, and communication. Finally, given the pedagogical design and practices, high-level cognitive thinking is thereby promoted, with promising affective learning outcomes. In light of the findings, guidelines for educational practitioners, learners, and system designers are provided for pedagogical and practical application in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predictors of student academic success do not always replicate well across different learning designs, subject areas, or educational institutions. This suggests that characteristics of a particular discipline and learning design have to be carefully considered when creating predictive models in order to scale up learning analytics. This study aimed to examine if and to what extent frequently used predictors of study success are portable across a homogenous set of courses. The research was conducted in an integrated blended problem-based curriculum with trace data (n = 2,385 students) from 50 different course offerings across four academic years. We applied the statistical method of single paper meta-analysis to combine correlations of several indicators with students' success. Total activity and the forum indicators exhibited the highest prediction intervals, where the former represented proxies of the overall engagement with online tasks, and the latter with online collaborative learning activities. Indicators of lecture reading (frequency of lecture view) showed statistically insignificant prediction intervals and, therefore, are less likely to be portable across course offerings. The findings show moderate amounts of variability both within iterations of the same course and across courses. The results suggest that the use of the meta-analytic statistical method for the examination of study success indicators across courses with similar learning design and subject area can offer valuable quantitative means for the identification of predictors that reasonably well replicate and consequently can be reliably portable in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes how an anatomy and physiology laboratory class transitioned from a paper-based lab to an online learning platform that updated the curriculum to rely more on face-to-face small group collaboration and peer teaching. Student perceptions of the new format were positive, but halfway through the transition a global pandemic challenged the new instruction method. The face-to-face curriculum had to be adjusted to a virtual format that lacked in-person interaction between the instructor and the students. This switch to virtual labs had an adverse effect on both student perception and student performance in the second half of the semester. Our observations underscore the importance of creating an interactive community when teaching virtually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a study of notetaking in university courses, we found that the large majority of students prefer paper to computer-based media like Tablet PCs for taking notes and making annotations. Based on this finding, we developed CoScribe, a concept and system which supports students in making collaborative handwritten annotations on printed lecture slides. It includes mechanisms for the paper-based sharing and semantic tagging of annotations and slides. Moreover, we present a novel visualization of shared handwritten annotations providing an integrated access to annotations from all learners. The results of a user study indicate that CoScribe efficiently supports student annotation and can be easily integrated into current annotation practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sound pedagogical framework must be explored and identified to implement opportunities for collaborative learning through international exchange. This paper identifies the framework used by two universities, in Sweden and the United States. Virtual learning environments and meaningful learning activities can be constructed using web-based learning platforms. The goal for this initiative was ‘internationalisation on home plan’ for nursing faculty and students that opened up internationalised learning opportunities for all students, including those who do not participate in study abroad/mobility activities. This broader opportunity supports the development of cultural awareness and understanding of global health care practices and the nursing profession on mutual topics of concern, in this case patient safety. Learning activities and learning outcomes can be stipulated. The pedagogical framework was compatible with the Bologna Process' constructive alignment, deep learning and a student focus. The student nurses were not only given the opportunity to explore the learning objective of patient safety and participate in an international collaboration with another university, but also gained university academic credit for fulfilling the task. There is a great gain in using virtual collaboration and learning modules that are embedded in courses for the purpose of ‘internationalisation on home plan’ since not all students can participate in student mobility activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses papers featured in the issue about online learning and web-based learning technologies with topics such as effects of navigation on digital reading, evaluation of online collaborative learning and learning achievement in flipped and conventional classrooms.

The use of generative learning models in natural language processing (NLP) has significantly contributed to the advancement of natural language applications, such as sentimental analysis, topic modeling, text classification, chatbots, and spam filtering. With a large amount of text generated each day from different sources, such as web-pages, blogs, emails, social media, and articles, one of the most common tasks in NLP is the classification of a text corpus. This is important in many institutions for planning, decision-making, and creating archives of their projects. Many algorithms exist to automate text classification tasks but the most intriguing of them is that which also learns these tasks automatically. In this study, we present a new model to infer and learn from data using probabilistic logic and apply it to text classification. This model, called GenCo, is a multi-input single-output (MISO) learning model that uses a collaboration of partial classifications to generate the desired output. It provides a heterogeneity measure to explain its classification results and enables a reduction in the curse of dimensionality in text classification. Experiments with the model were carried out on the Twitter US Airline dataset, the Conference Paper dataset, and the SMS Spam dataset, outperforming baseline models with 98.40%, 89.90%, and 99.26% accuracy, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper Scribbles (PS) consisting of markers, vanguard sheets and 3M Post-It notes, is a pedagogical tool to harness collective intelligence of groups for collaborative learning in the classroom. Borrowing the key features of PS and yet avoiding some of their physical limitations, a computer-based tool called Group Scribbles (GS) was designed to enable high performance synchronous, face to face collaborative experiences in the classroom. In our exploratory study, we discuss and compare the different properties of PS and GS technologies in two elementary grade 5 classes. The findings reveal that there are not only physical and technical differences but more importantly, pedagogical differences between the two technologies that accounts for different collaborative learning mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the design of a digital Chinese character composition game with the paper-interface named as ARC (Augmented Reality-based Chinese Characters) and its implementation in a Singapore primary school. The ARC game is designed to help beginning Chinese as second language (L2) learners to develop Chinese orthographic knowledge and improve quality of collaboration. Underlying sociocultural perspectives of learning, it seeks to enable learners to complete the game collaboratively in classrooms, and in this process to build a deep understanding of linguistic knowledge in solving in-situ language-related problems that emerge in language use. The results of a quasi-experiment indicate that ARC is an effective system for improving Chinese character learning performance and collaborative learning quality. It suggests that the augmented paper, enabling natural interactions, allow more and potentially young students to engage with educational content and collaboration. The problematizing scaffold should be embedded in the game design to elicit more opportunities for collaborative dialogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the effects of computer-mediated (CM) versus pen-andpaper (P&P) writing on written accuracy and feedback processing in tasks written and rewritten collaboratively following a pedagogical treatment in two intact authentic classrooms. The study involved 32 secondary education low-proficiency English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) learners writing two descriptive texts collaboratively and receiving in-class training in the identification and correction of grammatical, lexical, and mechanical errors. Participants were provided with unfocused direct error correction (EC). Error logs were used to facilitate noticing of teacher corrections (i.e., feedback processing). Dyads were required to rewrite their texts for evidence of feedback uptake. Results indicate that writing collaboratively on the computer with the availability of the Internet contributes to increased grammatical and lexical accuracy. No differences were found between writing environments regarding feedback processing or accuracy of rewritten texts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented which discusses the collaborative writing with multiple authors which has additional challenges including varied levels of engagement of coauthors, provision of fair credit through authorship or acknowledgements and acceptance of diversity of work styles. Also discussed are the 10 simple rules for collaboratively writing a multi-authored paper which include to build a writing team wisely; to create a data management plan and to jointly decide on authorship guidelines.

This paper discusses digital skills and their role in collaborative distance learning. Collaboration is considered to be one of the most effective, yet challenging, methods of teaching and learning. Many learners avoid collaborative tasks, for different reasons. We believe that the level of digital skills may be a key to understanding their attitude. A study was conducted at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland. The respondents assessed, amongst other items, the level of their own digital skills. Based on this assessment, three groups of students with different skill levels were distinguished. Further analyses showed that students with different level of digital skills vary according to their own experiences in collaborative online learning, but not in terms of views on the phenomenon, technologies used, or computer hardware. Most differences are between the low and high skill groups. However, they are also present between the low and average, and the average and high skill groups. These results contribute to the discussion on the need to individualise the teaching and learning process and highlight the roles of digital competence development for all participants in the learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-touch technology is increasingly being used to support collaborative learning activities. However, to know how this technology can be used most effectively, we need to understand if collaborative interactions differ when groups are using multi-touch technology compared with other tools. In this paper, we compare the interactions of groups of 10 to 11-year-old students working collaboratively to solve three math problems in either a multi-touch or paper condition. The number of ideas raised, who proposed them and whether they were responded to, were coded to identify differences in idea development and interactions across conditions. Responses by students to ideas proposed by other students were coded. Results indicate that similar numbers of ideas were raised across conditions; student responses to ideas raised by other students were more likely to elaborate on the idea or combine it with other ideas in the multi-touch condition than in the paper condition. These results reinforce prior findings that show higher levels of collaborative engagement around ideas when using multi-touch than paper and extend our understanding of how this occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has brought new hybrid learning environments with some students in the classroom and some others online, synchronously, due to the needs of social distancing. These new hybrid learning environments pose new challenges, for example for group collaboration. This paper presents Smart Groups, a system aimed at helping teachers to orchestrate collaboration in hybrid learning environments and assesses its usability and usefulness through a simulation study. Smart Groups identifies the students that are in the classroom and online, automates the creation of groups (recommending collaborative learning flow patterns to teachers and considering the previous work done by students), supports the communication among students and the use of additional tools and resources for collaboration, and helps maintain the safety distance among the students who are in the classroom. The usability of Smart Groups has been assessed through a mock-up by 60 users (41 students and 19 teachers) with the system usability scale (SUS) obtaining good results (mean = 75.47, standard deviation = 14.95, median = 76.25). A subgroup (10 teachers out of 19) carried out follow-up interviews using the technology acceptance model (TAM) and highlighted the usefulness of Smart Groups to orchestrate collaboration in hybrid learning environments. Implications for practice or policy:. • Smart Groups supports teachers in the orchestration of groups in hybrid learning environments. • Smart Groups facilitates group coordination and communication among students. • Smart Groups helps maintain the safety distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher education institutes are continuously exploiting technology to improve the delivery of courses. This paper reviews the use of mobile learning applications in higher education institutes to; i) identify publication trends, ii) types of mobile learning applications used, and iii) categorize the research papers published. The applied method is the Systematic Mapping Study. A Systematic mapping study was conducted using 103 papers retrieved from six different databases. The findings of this mapping study showed an increased research interest in the field and a variety of mobile learning applications used (learning management, vodcast and podcast, game-based learning, collaborative learning, and language learning applications). The published studies are mainly solution-oriented that focus on the use of mobile learning applications. The results were helpful to position future research activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The writing process has traditionally been seen ‘as a lonely journey’ to typify the lack of support that students experience for writing outside the classroom. This paper examines an attempt of The Writing Portal (TWP), a supplementary online writing platform, to support students’ writing needs throughout the five stages of the writing process, viz., planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. Social constructivist principles underpin TWP, which was designed to engender collaboration amongst its student participants. Not only does TWP provide links to evaluated Internet resources and a writing portfolio, but it also features collaboration tools such as the Group Forum, chat, a writing portfolio, a private messaging system, and a comment function for pages or articles created. Thus, it is very much akin to a ‘one-stop centre’ for academic writing within a flexible and supportive environment. In this qualitative case study, 16 third-year TESL pre-service teachers at a Malaysian Teacher Education Institute embarked on a 12-week writing course using TWP. Qualitative data in the form of students’ online discourses, task reflections, log files, and digital artefacts were captured to explore how TWP's affordances supported students’ writing needs. In addition, Soller's collaborative learning conversation skills (CLCS) taxonomy was used as an analytical framework to investigate the collaborative learning engendered in the online environment. The findings indicate that TWP served its purpose by addressing students’ writing needs at all stages of the writing process as they accomplished multiple writing tasks. Additionally, evidence of collaborative learning is evident in three functions of TWP: the Group Forum, chat, and the comments for pages/articles. However, there are differences between the frequencies of the specific skills used for each function. To conclude, TWP appears to be a successful tool at supporting students at all stages of the writing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]