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The United States along with the rest of the world has experienced an unprecedented disruption in daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost everyone has experienced some sort of stay at home order resulting in an economic catastrophe greater than the Great Recession of 2008 and on par with the Great Depression almost a century ago. Educational institutions at both the K-12 and post-secondary levels have not been immune from the shutdown, with many schools closed from mid-March through the end of the 2020 school year. Many schools moved classes to remote, distance delivery platforms. Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers were tasked with creative engaging learning activities online for curricula which is taught in a hands-on contextual learning environment. This paper will present preliminary results from research conducted by a collaborative group of nine researchers from across the United States with collectively over 200 years of career and technical education experience. The conceptual framework used for this study was Danielson's Framework for Teaching and Enhancing Professional Practice and Foundations of Career and Technical Education including Constructivism. 3,267 participants representing all 50 states responded to the 37-item survey. The research objectives included description of participants and identified challenges to planning and delivery of CTE content when schools were closed, and instruction was moved to remote/distance/online platforms. Participants ranked their challenges as instructors and their perceptions of challenges that were experienced by their students. CTE teachers ranked replicating classroom or lab environments online and lack of experience teaching online as their biggest challenges. The perceptions of the participants concerning challenges for their students included motivation to guide and manage their own learning and students' access to reliable internet connection. The emergence and prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic added a layer of complexity to educational practice that was not foreseen and for which no intentional preparation had occurred. Understanding how CTE teachers and instructors responded to this call, and the challenges they and their students encountered, is important to efforts to improve practice in the future and to be in a better position should another crisis occur that forces learning to be delivered in alternative formats from that of the traditional face-to-face classroom. [Note: The page range (177-194) shown on the PDF is incorrect. The correct page range is 177-193.]

In this paper, we describe a teaching scenario using a virtual environment (known also in the context of the 'metaverse'). This is motivated by the challenges that arise during the pandemic. More and more teaching scenarios are transferred to online learning settings, which allow learning at any time and at any time. One of the possibilities are virtual 3D environment. These allow more intensive immersion than for example video conferences. Furthermore, they offer new didactic concepts, for example, for group activities. The benefit of using virtual 3D environments we demonstrate by a concrete learning scenario: the simulation of robot programming. A further advantage when using virtual 3D environments are personal assistants (conversational/ pedagogical agents), for example, to the ease the work load borne by teachers; meanwhile, this works well also with natural language due to advantage stage of artificial intelligence implementations.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has prompted educators in universities to reconsider their teaching methods, mainly due to the social distancing measures imposed within the classroom settings. On the other hand, the growing importance of continuing education opportunities for adult learners after graduation has seen the need to transform traditional teaching modes that primarily depend on face-to-face interaction into virtual modes, which are deemed more time- and cost-efficient. These major shifts in social and economic developments have a significant impact on the evolution of curriculum planning in higher education. Education that has scientific inquiry components inevitably comes into question, as conventional beliefs that experiments should be hands-on and will not be as effective if conducted virtually cast doubts on the move to the online space. This paper discusses the background of an impending shift in a university's approach to more online-based laboratory classes in an immunology course, as well as the exploration of the potential of conducting online laboratory experiments based on student perceptions.

Online Arabic learning presents several challenges, one of which is the ineffective utilization of learning media. This study aims to describe the tendency of Arabic learners through the Dars Arabi YouTube channel video media and the relationship between the learner's propensity and the variables of gender, age, and educational background of Dars Arabi channel users. This study uses a descriptive statistical method. The sample selection was taken randomly from as many as 160 people from a population of around 17,800 YouTube channel subscribers. This study's findings indicate that the tendency of online Arabic learners is at a moderately average level. This study also shows no statistically significant difference between trends in YouTube channel users and the variables of gender, educational background, and users' age. This study's conclusion shows the importance of using YouTube media to learn Arabic with content that is fun and can be enjoyed by all groups of society in a relaxed manner.

The purpose of the article is to analyze the research activity of students in the context of distance education in order to identify factors that influence its formation. The work highlights the practical aspects of stimulating students' research activity. The work uses the methods of questionnaires, testing, and the method of expert evaluations. Statistical analysis was carried out using chi-square, Pearson's coefficient. The study was based on a pedagogical experiment. It was determined that the students within the experimental group exhibited a markedly higher degree of research engagement than the control group. Specifically, the mean research activity scores in the experimental group were 75% for the need for achievement, 68% for the need for recognition, 82% for the need for curiosity, 61% for the need for control, and 42% for the need for distinction. Overall, it can be contended that motivation plays a crucial role in fostering research endeavors in the conditions of distance education. The obtained results can be used to improve the research activity of students. Potential future studies could focus on conducting a comprehensive exploration of certain aspects, such as the incentives behind research endeavors and enhancing cognitive abilities through research activities.

The study delves into the behavioral shifts observed in "digital students" transitioning from distance to onsite learning during the Generation Z era, influenced significantly by the disruptive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Technological advancements have reshaped students' perspectives, rendering educational and organizational engagements more accessible via platforms like video conferencing. However, the return to onsite learning has prompted a notable culture shock, leading to heightened levels of stress and anxiety among digital students. This research aims to examine the psychological ramifications of stress and anxiety on post-pandemic student attitudes toward extracurricular organizational intention. Employing the depression anxiety stress scale (DASS-42) and conducting multiple linear regression analysis on a sample of 420 respondents, the study reveals a significant negative impact of stress level (-35.6%) on students' intentions to engage in organizational activities. Additionally, anxiety levels contribute to a variation of -6.8%. These findings underscore the intricate relationship between psychological factors and student participation, underscoring the imperative to address stress and anxiety to foster robust involvement in campus organizational endeavors.

English for young learners (EYL) teachers have practiced some creative activities to maintain their pupils' learning with natural exposure to the target language amidst the pandemic. One activity practiced by Indonesian and Korean teachers was an international collaboration to perform a virtual drama of each country's folktale. This phenomenological research aimed at tapping the teachers' perceptions regarding interculturality and world Englishes (WE) in the virtual dramatic play collaboratively conducted and delving into their commitments in honing interculturality and WE. Two Indonesian and Korean teachers were involved in three sessions of in-depth interviews using pre-prepared interview questions. The trustworthiness of the data was achieved by the group discussions allowing the participants to comment on and revise the transcribed data, as well as triangulation by two international collaborators. Thematic analysis was performed to identify emerging themes and to provide novel insights into EYL teachers' encounters with interculturality and WE. The Indonesian and Korean teachers admitted the compatibility between language and culture, the urgency of introducing varieties of English, and the merits of conducting international collaboration to promote interculturality and WE. The teachers are committed to integrate interculturality and WE in their instructions despite some differences in the stipulated curricula.

The student exchange programs are venues for learning opportunities by offering multicultural contexts. This study reports on the experiences of ten prospective English language teachers in a virtual student exchange program to investigate likely skill development in a multicultural and open and distance learning setting. This descriptive study used the qualitative method. The textual data were elicited through eighty reflective essays written by the participants. Virtual classroom observations and WhatsApp chat data ensured data triangulation. The results revealed the themes as developed learning and life skills and enhanced internal gains. It was found that internal outcomes, such as self-confidence, empathy, and self-reliance, were enhanced rather than external gains. One of the limitations of this study was the brevity of the exchange program, which lasted only eight days. Additionally, the current study is a small-scale study, which limits the generalizability of the results. Last but not least, only two participants placed in the researcher's class were observed. The study poses a few implications for education policymakers, curriculum developers, and teachers. In light of the results, it is posed that adding a multicultural aspect to the teacher training curriculum is imperative for teacher empowerment. Though the literature on student exchange reports findings on the gains and challenges, there is a scarcity of studies delving into what skills students develop and how with vivid examples. In this respect, this study adds to the relevant literature.

Türkiye with its multifaceted soft power, it aspires to strengthen its influence throughout the surrounding countries of the Arabian Gulf. Türkiye is applying the maximum prominent cultural and educational diplomatic strategies for boosting knowledge and cooperation to preserve its impact inside the Gulf location. By establishing the Yunus Emre Institutes (YEE), the implementation of cultural and educational activities, the ties between Türkiye and the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has been reinforced. As a result of the world's rapid change soft power has become essential in the international arena. This article significantly assesses Türkiye's soft power tasks in the GCC area and its implication on the Arabian Gulf regional dynamics. It examines Türkiye's public diplomacy initiatives in the GCC through cultural and educational diplomacies on domestic and regional attitudes.

The ability to interact or engage with the instructor, other students, and the content i.e., to experience online student engagement, is one main difference between traditional and digital media employed in teaching and learning processes. As literature on this topic in the Turkish context has proliferated, to date, virtually no systematic reviews of this research have been carried out in order to identify potential gaps in the literature. To address this issue, this study investigated previously conducted research in chronological order on student engagement at the post-secondary level in the Turkish context using a PRISMA-based systematic review screening process. The results show that online engagement research and practices have clearly increased and diversified over time. Specifically, online engagement research in the Turkish context has tended to focus on computer science students studying in online-only, LMS-supported environments where their behavioral engagement has been investigated quantitatively. Considering these findings, this systematic review suggests that future studies in the Turkish context should examine other fields besides computer science education, focus more on collaborative tools and the social dimension of engagement, use more qualitative methods, and investigate blended environments as well as online-only.

This research investigates the intercultural usability factor of e-learning products designed for the instruction of Turkish as a foreign language. The subject of study, "Ana Dil Turkce," refers to a freely accessible and distant education platform developed by Anadolu University with the purpose of instructing non-native speakers in the Turkish language. This study employed a concurrent mixed methods research design to investigate the intercultural usability of the "Ana Dil Turkce" e-learning system. The study incorporated a qualitative component through the utilization of a case study methodology, while a cross-sectional survey design was employed to address the quantitative part. The quantitative portion of the study employed descriptive methods, whereas the qualitative portion utilized content analysis methods. The qualitative component of the study involved the participation of 25 individuals who were active and registered users in the system during the period from 2020 to 2022. Additionally, the quantitative component of the study included the participation of 211 users. The quantitative portion of the study employed a questionnaire as a method of data collection, while the qualitative component utilized a semi-structured interview format. The study's conclusions were analyzed through the integration and juxtaposition of qualitative and quantitative data. The study yielded findings regarding the cultural appropriateness of the Ana Dil Turkce e-learning objects. The findings indicate that the cultural learning objects inside the e-learning system are deemed adequate, albeit requiring further development and enrichment.

A sudden shift to distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkiye strained teaching and learning activities, placing K-12 teachers in a novel context with challenges and opportunities to investigate. This study explores the teaching experiences and opinions of K-12 teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on challenges, advantages, and suggestions. Search queries were executed in leading databases (DergiPark, ULAKBIM TRDizin) to locate potential studies. Twenty-two studies meeting the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria were subjected to a rigorous and iterative thematic analysis using the qualitative meta-synthesis approach. The results revealed significant challenges categorized into ten themes: shortcomings in technology and infrastructure, student motivation and engagement, technology literacy, and social and emotional well-being. The results also highlighted key advantages of distance education in eight categories such as learning improvement, flexibility and convenience, and digital tools and resources. Additionally, the study identified valuable suggestions that contribute to the success of distance education, such as adapting curriculum, increasing access to technology, strengthening internet infrastructure, providing teacher training and support, developing engaging and interactive instructional materials, and improving communication and collaboration between students and teachers. The study results inform the development of evidence-based practices and policies that can support K-12 teachers in providing quality online education during times of crisis.

This research study focuses on the growing concern of academic misconduct in distance education courses. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to measure the impact of introducing webcam recording software as an online supervision tool for high-stakes exams in two separate online courses (Management and Accounting). Results revealed that overall performance decreased following implementation of the software, and persisted after taking potential confounding factors into account. Additionally, the explanatory power of the regression analysis was higher for scores under supervision, which suggests that cheating was occurring before online supervision was introduced. It can be concluded from this study that online supervision is an effective tool to combat academic dishonesty in distance education courses.

This article examines the effects of technology in the field of education and management and focuses especially on the effects of technologies used in distance education activities on transformation processes. Based on research conducted, the article explains how technological developments affect education and management processes, according to the findings obtained as a result of the interviews. The technologies used in the digitalization processes of higher education institutions that provide distance education services and the effects of these technologies on the transformation processes were examined. How artificial intelligence, blockchain, metaverse, brain-computer interfaces and similar technologies can be used in education and organizational management processes and how this use affects management processes are discussed. Findings show that technological developments have profound effects on the processes in educational environments and transform management processes. As a result, the research emphasizes the need for further research and application to effectively use technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and metaverse in education and management processes. It is stated that advances in this field can cause significant transformations in education and management.

COVID-19 is an unprecedented pandemic that has impacted the whole world. The pandemic made researchers and educators realize the critical need to prepare for future disasters. This study explored a context-specific case for elementary online learning where we investigated how elementary school teachers transitioned to emergency remote teaching (ERT) from face-to-face to online learning during the pandemic. A case study approach was used to explore South Korean elementary teachers' ERT approaches and experiences during COVID-19. Using the CIPP (Context, Input, Process, and Product) framework, we sought to understand how the transition occurred from the perspectives of the teachers. The analysis uncovered several themes that fall under each category of the framework. In terms of context, limited technological aptitude and lack of training in online instructional design as well as policy issues and socio-economic differences were identified as key factors in assessing the current state of the ERT. In terms of input, instructors' efforts as well as support from in and out of school were discussed. Student interaction and engagement were identified as key factors in understanding the process of ERT. Lastly, learning outcomes, instructional strategies, and systemic transformation emerged as products of ERT.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the disruption of classroom activities and adoption of online teaching-learning in almost all parts of the globe, including India. The sudden switch from classroom blackboards to laptop screens may have influenced students' study approaches, especially with challenges related to technology access and readiness for online learning among Indian students. Since different social and economic factors bring about differences in students' learning, an online survey was conducted with 296 randomly selected undergraduate distance learning (DL) students at Indira Gandhi National Open University to examine how technology access during the pandemic influenced the study approaches of Indian DL students from various marginalized and non-marginalized groups. The research results showed that marginalized students had lower access to technology than did their non-marginalized counterparts, although no gender differences were found in access to technology in both the groups. Lower access to technology was associated with a surface approach to study among the DL students in general and the marginalized students in particular. Females in the marginalized group were found to be at risk in terms of both access to technology and study approaches. The findings were intended to enrich our understanding of the role of technology vis-à-vis distance learners' study approaches during the pandemic and formulate appropriate teaching-learning strategies for the future.

The present study analysed digital literacy issues encountered by elementary school teachers in remote classrooms due to COVID-19. The study sought to derive a plan for cultivating teachers' digital literacy to support students' distance education. To this end, focus group interviews were conducted with five elementary school teachers in charge of upper grades, the results were analysed, and strategies to improve teacher digital literacy were derived. Specifically, three main areas of teacher digital literacy were identified for improvement. The first was providing training to use digital devices and online platforms, develop online content, and strengthen copyright understanding. The second was providing professional development programs to train digital teaching methods or pedagogies by level and by subject characteristics. The third was activating online and offline platforms for information sharing among teachers and establish a digital teaching support system. This study will be of value to teachers and school administrations in preparing for distance education in the era of digital transformation because it presents measures to foster teachers' digital literacy required by future society.

This study aimed to systematically compile the activities and applications to be used by instructors to conduct synchronous virtual classrooms effectively. Using specific keywords in various databases we examined the literature to discover the activities and applications associated with effective synchronous virtual classrooms. A total of 70 studies were included in the study, based upon pre-determined criteria. A total of 53 activities and applications for conducting synchronous virtual classrooms effectively were obtained and classified according to Gagné's nine events of instruction (GNEI). These activities and applications were sorted within 11 themes dimensions: technical control, environment control, clarity, introductory activities, technological tools, course materials, interaction, feedback, summarizing, time management, and self-assessment. Synchronous virtual classrooms conducted according to this classification will serve as a guide for instructors to conduct synchronous virtual classrooms effectively.

The contents of calculus, known for their complexity, present significant challenges for students, particularly in mastering multiple integrals and effectively visualizing related concepts. The transition to distance learning prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated the learning process in multiple integrals. In line with this and considering the potential of computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL), in this research we explore the impact of teaching in a CSCL environment on student achievements, focusing on students from the computer science study program. Through data analysis using ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests, it was found that students exposed to collaborative learning in GeoGebra environment demonstrated higher levels of theoretical and practical knowledge compared to peers who acquired knowledge without using GeoGebra. Additionally, this group of students achieved results comparable to those of students who attended traditional in-person teaching, showing noticeable improvements in solving complex tasks. Our findings show the effectiveness of CSCL approach in context of distance learning and highlight potential of collaborative environments enhanced with technology in facilitating student understanding and achievements in calculus education.

The recent expansion of the COVID-19 outbreak has drastically altered the educational landscape, causing certain schools to operate on a distance education basis. The goal of this study is to investigate this phenomenon in depth, focusing on the elements that may contribute to the marginalization of students with learning disabilities and their immigration biography. At the same time, it attempts to investigate the perspectives of a group of students, teachers, and parents on how to avoid marginalization as a result of distance education. We employed a mixed research style to study the aforementioned problem. A total of 132 secondary school students, 52 secondary school teachers, and 49 secondary school parents were included in the study. As research tools, questionnaires, focus groups, observations and interviews were used. The data analysis reveals that the elements which may contribute to marginalization in remote education are primarily related to attention challenges, but also to technical difficulties. According to the participants, a closer collaboration between the Ministry of Education, school administrations and teachers, as well as revisions to the substance of teaching subjects, may be the solution to the problem.

This study aimed to investigate decreasing student academic stress in distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, transition period, and new normal era by giving a self-help module to students. This research employed an experimental approach with a group pre-test post-test design with quantitative analytics. The perceived academic stress scale (PASS) and module evaluation scale were utilized to assess students' academic stress levels and their understanding of the module. The subjects consisted of one male student and thirty-seven female students, as the school was dominated by female students. This study indicated that students' academic stress levels during the pandemic and the new normal were in the medium range (18.82 - 19.97). The results showed that there was no significant difference in academic stress between the pandemic and the transition period (t = 1.322, p > 0.05) and the data between the pandemic and the new normal (t = -1.426, p > 0.05), while between the transition period and the new normal, it showed a significant difference (t = -4.189, p < 0.05). The study recommends that schools develop future guidance and counseling programs to help students cope with stress and build resilience. This study's findings can inform policy decisions and academic interventions to support students' mental health and academic success during challenging times.

With the research discussed here I aimed to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary school mathematics teaching processes and specifically the teaching process of 1st-grade geometric shapes. A holistic multiple case study design was used in this qualitative research. The participants were primary school teachers who have taught both processes and geometric shapes in 1st grade primary school and were selected using purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews based on an interview form developed by me was used as data collection instrument. In this form, questions about the 4 skills in the programme related to geometry were included. Lesson content, materials, and content related to the method of expression related to each skill were examined comparatively during and before the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews during which the questions on the form were asked, were conducted with participating teachers. The content analysis technique was used to analyse the obtained data. The results of the analysis show that the transition to online education during the COVID-19 pandemic had serious consequences. Positive and negative effects were found in both primary school mathematics teaching process and the teaching process of geometric shapes in the 1st grade.

This qualitative study explores the potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the academic writing skills of a large student cohort within the context of a distance learning institution. Utilising qualitative methods, the research explores diverse approaches and applications of generative AI to elevate teaching and learning experiences. Grounded in socio-cultural theory and a human-AI collaboration framework, the study highlights the synergistic interplay between human intelligence and generative AI capabilities. Email interviews with lecturers, focus group discussions with students, and informal discussions with markers on a WhatsApp group helped researchers to (1) understand lecturers' perceptions of generative AI integration in the Academic Writing module, (2) explore students' perspectives on the potential of generative AI as a guide in the Academic Writing module, and (3) examine the potential of generative AI on students' motivation to enhance their academic writing skills. Findings from the study reveal that the potential of generative AI has a positive impact on teaching and learning experiences, providing innovative opportunities for academics. This research contributes to the discourse on the intersection of generative AI and education, reiterating the innovative potential of generative AI in redefining pedagogical strategies and shaping the future of distance learning.

The academic success of first-year students' learning in science faculties is by no means assured, especially in an Open Distance Learning setting with its limited number of face-to-face encounters between students and lecturers or tutors. Therefore, such encounters should be highly efficient in view of the considerable amount of knowledge transfer to students. The University of South Africa (Unisa) makes provision for contact sessions of 15 hours per semester for selected modules in an attempt to elevate the pedagogical efficiency of these sessions by focusing on the threshold concepts as an innovative way of learning. This paper shows that tutorials adopting the threshold concepts approach have the potential to make students academically more successful. The focus of this study is an introductory information systems module that teaches the Python programming language. Our statistical analysis demonstrated that the year marks and final exam scores of the participating students were frequently higher than those of the students in the control group.

This study aims to evaluate the online measurement and evaluation course in teacher training programs during the COVID-19 process. In the study, we sought answers to two primary research questions: What are the opinions of teachers and school administrators regarding their measurement and evaluation competencies? Does the online "measurement and evaluation" course have the qualities of an effective program in the "antecedents, transactions, and outcomes" dimension? We structured the research into two phases within a multistage evaluation design framework. The findings show that there were problems and positive aspects in all dimensions of the program. For example, adapting teacher training programs developed before COVID-19 to distance education processes was challenging. In distance education, some practices contradict the modern teaching and assessment approach. Such problems were reflected in teachers' acquisition of measurement and evaluation competencies. The achievement test we applied to the observed groups also confirmed these findings. For this reason, responsible organizations should not ignore the fact that we cannot renounce distance education. During program development, they should reconsider how the teachers will acquire measurement and evaluation competencies and how we will measure and evaluate in distance education.

Technological advances and the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a significant paradigm shift in the field of education, especially in the field of distance education. In this period, although distance education offers a number of advantages to its users, it has also brought some difficulties. This sudden transition has had a profound impact on students, teachers, and institutions, leading to changes in teaching methods, assessment practices, and student engagement strategies. This study aims to investigate the problems that arise in the distance education process and to examine the effects of these problems on students in detail. A qualitative approach is considered ideal since it enables deeper understanding of experiences of university students during distance education. Convenience sampling was chosen because it provided easy access for the researchers and allowed the inclusion of participants who met the required criteria. The participants consisted of 37 people, 28 girls and 9 boys, who had experienced the distance education and were studying in the Psychological Counselling and Guidance programme in the second year of a state university located in the Aegean region of Türkiye. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using content analysis and thematic analysis methods. According to the findings of the study, the problems encountered by the students in the distance education process were listed under the following main themes: technological problems, problems related to the monitoring and evaluation of the course, motivation problems, emotional and physical problems, communication problems, problems related to domestic and environmental factors, feeling of professional inadequacy. In addition, students' suggestions for solutions to these problems and their opinions about whether they prefer face-to-face or online education were also discussed. As a result, the study offers suggestions for educational institutions and educators to overcome the difficulties encountered in distance education and to make the experience a positive one.

In line with the philosophy of inclusion and various legislative instruments which encourage 'education for all', ODL institutions have made provision for sign language interpreters (SLIs) to facilitate participation for deaf students. Although, some studies have examined issues of virtual learning and the ODL programme; a paucity of studies assessing virtual sign language interpretation (VSLI) in remote educational activities is evident. Therefore, a research study was instituted to probe into perceived enablers and or constraints of providing VSLI during the Covid-19 lockdown in Nigeria. Based on the Job Demand Resources Model, two research questions were raised and answered in this paper. This study adopted the qualitative research design and seven SLIs who had participated in virtual teaching and learning activities during the lockdown were purposively selected to participate in the study. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection, and the data collected were coded and analysed thematically through using an iterative process. Government policies and the empathetic nature of SLIs were found to be enablers of VSLI, while four themes, namely epileptic power supply; internet connectivity; lack of institutional support and the comprehensibility of deaf students who attended remote lectures were found to serve as barriers to effective and efficient VSLI. Based on the findings, appropriate recommendations were made.

Distance education and e-learning have become pivotal during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a solution to maintain education continuity amidst restrictions. This study delves into the application of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to assess the acceptance and utilization of e-learning among university students, with a particular focus on Turkey. This geographical context presents an opportunity to investigate the multifaceted factors influencing the effectiveness of e-learning, which have received limited exploration thus far. A surveybased quantitative approach employs Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to understand student attitudes toward distance education and investigate the relationships among various dimensions such as learning, usage, and barriers. The study, conducted among 1040 undergraduate students enrolled in Turkish distance education programs, reveals significant positive relationships between learning and usage dimensions, while negative relationships exist between learning and barriers and usage and barriers. The findings underscore the importance of enhancing the ease of use of distance education platforms and addressing encountered barriers to foster effective utilization. Recommendations include establishing robust support mechanisms, improving training programs, and facilitating better communication channels between students and educators. The study contributes to the understanding of e-learning acceptance and usage among university students, providing insights for designing more effective educational interventions and enhancing higher education systems, especially in the case of Turkey.

During the pandemic period, there have been such upheavals from production methods to distribution strategies, and from supply methods to corporate functioning. Accordingly, it would not be wrong to say that all companies and sectors, regardless of national or international, are part of this fundamental transformation. When the education sector was evaluated from the same perspective, it is possible to say that it is one of the sectors most affected by the differences created by this pandemic. For instance, very soon after the pandemic, almost all higher education institutions switched to distance education activities instead of face-to-face education. This study aims to examine the effects of the devastation caused by the pandemic on students at the higher education level in the context of efficiency. In this research, the criteria has been set as which university students' efficiency was achieved during the distance education process, and the research included 1604 participants from 15 universities, who formed the study's sample. The data obtained was subjected to reliability and validity analysis, and it was by using the SPSS program, and the results were examined with different dimensions.

To overcome the difficulty and unprecedented suspensions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, every organization is required to consider strategic steps to sustain, one of which is by implementing digital transformation and developing leadership capability. This study aims to determine the impact of digital transformation and leadership capability in maintaining the organization, particularly in distance education. This study used questionnaires distributed to 402 students to obtain their opinions on digital transformation, leadership capability, and organizational resilience in Universitas Terbuka, a founder of distance education institutions in Indonesia. Data were analyzed using descriptive and Higher-Order Structural Equation Modeling analysis. Based on the modelling, it is shown that the modelling had a good value of the Goodness of Fit Indicator through a standardized loading factor (SLF) more than the tolerable loading factor limit (>0.50). The Variance Extracted (VE) and Construct Reliability (CR) values also showed that the questions on every indicator used in this study were sufficiently measurable and reliable. The results of hypothesis testing indicated that there was a positive and significant impact of digital transformation and leadership capability on the organizational resilience of Universitas Terbuka.

In this meta-analysis study, it was aimed to examine the perceptions of distance education and the effect size of technology usage competencies by using meta-analysis method. In the meta-evaluation carried for this purpose, twenty-eight studies that met the criteria for inclusion in the research were reached. By combining these studies, 11.797 sample groups were studied. In order to reach a general decision in the research, a funnel plot graph was drawn before statistical calculations were made. Statistical calculations were performed in order to make a general impression decision about the publication bias in the funnel plot diagram. When the statistical analysis results and the diagram graph results were combined, it was determined that there was no publication bias in the studies included in the study. Then, a heterogeneity test was performed to determine the model type of the research. According to the results of the heterogeneity test, it was decided that this research should be interpreted according to the type of random effects model. For heterogeneity, publication type, school type, and branches were aimed as moderators. It was observed that the meta-analysis study had a small distribution of perceptions of distance education and technology usage competencies, that the variables of publication type, school type and distribution departments did not have a moderator unit in the calculations done on the moderator, but it was concluded that the effect sizes of the studies published as articles, the studies carried out in secondary education institutions and the studies on mathematics teachers had a relatively larger effect size than the others.

Psychological grit has gained substantial interest among traditional higher education practitioners, with many seeking the link between grit, academic performance and retention. The literature pertaining to distance education cohorts is scant, however, especially within the South African context, which holds unique challenges for accessing and completing a tertiary qualification. This study made use of a nonexperimental design and used Grit-S and demographic data combined with records of student performance and progression to ascertain grit's role in determining retention and degree completion at a mega distance education institution in South Africa. The sample comprised 775 honours students who registered for their qualification for the first time in 2017. Results from the final structural model highlighted the significant influence of perseverance and first-to-second year retention on student success (operationalised at qualification completion). A subsequent binary logistic regression revealed odds ratios of 1.98 (CI: 1.45 - 2.69) and 12.15 (CI: 7.40 - 19.95), respectively. The final model explained 24% of the variance in qualification completion rates, with the biggest contributor being first-to-second year retention ([beta] = 0.45; p < 0.01). These results and subsequent implications are discussed.

In Spring 2020, there was a sudden shift from face-to-face (F2F) to distance learning (DL) due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. A study by Al-Jarf (2020) showed that 55% of the students and instructors preferred F2F instruction and were not satisfied with DL due to unfamiliarity, lack of training, interaction, technical problems and others. In the Fall Semester 2021, Saudi universities resumed F2F instruction in combination with some online classes. In some emergencies such as weather conditions, all students study online rather than cancelling classes. This status quo has continued until now. This study explores students' preferences for DL vs F2F learning, their attitudes towards each and reasons for their preferences. Responses to a survey showed that 36% of the students in the sample prefer DL because it has become a necessity during emergencies such as pandemics and wars. They can check the lecture recording any time. They save commuting time. In addition, 40% of the respondents prefer F2F instruction because they get better grades. It is more suitable for science classes (labs, experiments, anatomy). Participation, interaction, and questions make a difference. In DL, students can leave Blackboard or Zoom, walk around, and take a nap, whereas in F2F, they focus better. Some health sciences, engineering, law, and/or business instructors talk about their experiences and views of the job market which is enriching and enjoyable for the students. Moreover, 17% have no preference and believe that the mode of learning depends on the instructors' competence, teaching techniques used, integration of technologies, and online resources, interaction, engagement, and students' participation. Participants' views and recommendations are given in detail.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, technological and administrative systems for implementing online learning, and the infrastructure that supports its access and delivery, had to be adapted quickly. While disparity in accessibility existed between urban and rural students, extensive resources had been allocated and processes developed to connect learners with course activities and materials, to facilitate communication between instructors and students, and to manage the administration of online learning. Educators needed to make way for this transition with the available technological support and their existing IT skills. Although the pandemic is over, online education still remains a viable option for continuing education in an emergency situation. Exploring the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and delving deep into the nature and the types of these challenges and their possible reasons will pave the way of translating these insights into academic practices required for laying the foundation of blended learning (BL) in higher education. Recently the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh has published a proposal for adopting BL in the higher education institutions of Bangladesh. This case study consisting of both quantitative and qualitative research, explores the challenges faced by the teachers of the University of Asia Pacific (UAP) during the online shift of education because of the pandemic. Based on the findings, a blended learning framework has been developed which can be applied in tertiary level education in Bangladesh and elsewhere.