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This study aims to examine the impact of reduced in-person learning during COVID-19 on students’ academic achievement gaps focusing on rural–urban and in-school disparities. To this end, first, we investigated the regional disparity of student performance between Seoul and Gangwon, representative areas of urban and rural regions in South Korea, using t test analysis. Second, we conducted a regression analysis to analyze how the number of in-school days is associated with the student performance gap by controlling the regions. Our findings from the two analyses can be summarized as follows: First, we observed a difference in patterns between the two regions. In Seoul, student performance was polarized at the two ends of the grade spectrum, whereas in Gangwon Province, achievement declined overall between pre- and post-COVID-19. Second, in the case of Seoul, the proportion of mid-range achievement students decreased after COVID-19, whereas in Gangwon Province, COVID-19 did not have a significant effect on students’ B, C, and D grades. Third, regardless of region, more in-person learning was associated with a higher portion of mid-range grades. Based on the findings, we suggested several policy implementations to cope with student performance gaps, which can facilitate the governmental response to nationwide crises that may emerge in the future.

The term blended learning is used frequently, but there is ambiguity about what is meant. What do we mean by blended learning? What, how and why are we blending? In this paper different definitions, models and conceptualizations of blended learning and their implications are discussed. Inclusive definitions and models, and diverse conceptualizations, mean that essentially all types of education that include some aspect of face-to-face learning and online learning is described as blended learning in the literature. Blended learning has become an umbrella term. Blended learning is also used to describe other blends, such as combining different instructional methods, pedagogical approaches and technologies, although these blends are not aligned with influential blended learning definitions. Since blended learning has many meanings, it is important that researchers and practitioners carefully explain what blended learning means to them. It is also suggested that alternative, more descriptive terms, could be used as a complement or replacement to blended learning.

This study investigates how students experienced a sense of place and a sense of belonging in both in-person and virtual learning environments by analyzing student interview data. As educators and university students grapple with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we consider how students experience the presence and absence of sense of place and belonging, and how this could inform faculty and staff practices. We conclude by offering recommendations for university educators, with a particular focus on the benefits of building communities of practice.

The demand for distance education has been increasing over the years, and this has gained momentum especially in the post-pandemic period. This development has caused a debate among the academicians as to whether distance education mode serves the real purpose of education as In-person learning does. Even though the method of schooling is not a consideration in most firms' hiring decisions, the level of employability skills and competency are critical to landing a job in any sector. The primary goal of this study was to determine whether the mode of education caused a substantial difference in the competency and employability skills of the graduates/students. For this purpose, a sample of 350 In-person learning course students and 112 distance education students from Karnataka, India, was used in the study. Employability skills were measured using standard instrument with 10 dimensions and competency levels were measured using standard SLC Self-Evaluation Measurement with eight dimensions. This study found that the education method significantly impacts students' competency and employability skills. Further, it demonstrates that distance education students have a higher competency level than In-person learning students. Conversely, students with In-person learning showed a higher level of employability skills. Distance education, however, is lacking in developing employability skills for various reasons. Nevertheless, using the right ed-Tech tools and software in distance education could boost effectiveness and keep the learners engaged and motivated.

This study explores the perceptions of primary school teachers of online learning in a program developed in Indonesia called School from Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Data were collected through surveys and semi-structured interviews with 67 class teachers in primary schools. Data analysis used thematic analysis of qualitative data. The analysis results found four main themes, namely, instructional strategies, challenges, support, and motivation of teachers. This research contributes to the literature of online collaborative learning between teachers, parents, and schools that impact student success. Broadly, the success of online learning in Indonesia during the COVID-19 Pandemic was determined by the readiness of technology in line with the national humanist curriculum, support and collaboration from all stakeholders, including government, schools, teachers, parents and the community.

BACKGROUND:Online learning is the newest and most popular form of distance education today; within the past decade it has had a major impact on education. The aim of the present study was to know the effect of online learning basketball using social media on learners' performance of some fundamental skills in basketball and determine difference between online learning and in-person learning, knowing which one is better than the other.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The present experimental study was conducted in Sports Academy for Basketball in Zagazig-Egypt during March-April 2022. Thirty two female junior basketball players volunteered to participate in the study from Sports Academy for Basketball (age: 16.23 ± 0.66 years; body height: 164.5 ± 3.32 cm; body mass: 65.25 ± 3.22 kg). They were divided into two equally sized experimental groups, online learning (ONL) group (n = 16) and in-person learning (INL) group (n = 16), to perform (15) educational sessions for (5) weeks, (3) sessions per week, and the session time was 90 minutes. Junior basketball players were assessed before and after five-week training period. Data were collected by Basketball Passing test, Dribbling Skill test, Lay Up Shoot test, Speed Spot Shooting, and Free-Throw Shooting test. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 software using the descriptive statistical test. The level of significance was set at P ≤0.05.RESULTS:The results showed that the two groups made significant improvements in all variables but INL group had significantly greater improvements than ONL group. The percentage of improvement ranged from 13% to 223% for INL group versus 8% to 158% for ONL group.CONCLUSION:We conclude that in-person basketball learning was better than online learning basketball. Therefore, teachers and trainers must rely primarily on in-person learning and not rely on distance learning, especially with regard to learning motor skills, except in emergency cases.

Blended Learning (BL) creates a ‘rich’ educational environment with multiple technology-enabled communication forms in both face-to-face and online teaching. Students’ characteristics are closely related to the learning effectiveness in the BL environment. Students’ ability to direct themselves in learning and to utilise learning technologies can affect student learning effectiveness. This study examined the impacts of self-directed learning, technology readiness, and learning motivation on the three presences (social, teaching, cognitive) among students undertaking subjects in BL and non-BL (NBL) settings. The results indicated that the BL environment provides good facilitation for students’ social involvement in the class. Student technology readiness plays a stronger role in impacting the teaching presence in a BL environment than NBL environment. These findings imply that a proper BL setting creates a cohesive community and enhances collaborations between students. Prior training of learning technologies can potentially enhance students’ teaching presence.

With the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in education, the number of published studies in the field has increased. However, no large-scale reviews have been conducted to comprehensively investigate the various aspects of this field. Based on 4,519 publications from 2000 to 2019, we attempt to fill this gap and identify trends and topics related to AI applications in education (AIEd) using topic-based bibliometrics. Results of the review reveal an increasing interest in using AI for educational purposes from the academic community. The main research topics include intelligent tutoring systems for special education; natural language processing for language education; educational robots for AI education; educational data mining for performance prediction; discourse analysis in computer-supported collaborative learning; neural networks for teaching evaluation; affective computing for learner emotion detection; and recommender systems for personalized learning. We also discuss the challenges and future directions of AIEd.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic forced dental schools to close their campuses and move didactic instruction online. The abrupt transition to online learning, however, has raised several issues that have not been resolved. While several studies have investigated dental students’ attitude towards online learning during the pandemic, mixed results have been reported. Additionally, little research has been conducted to identify and understand factors, especially pedagogical factors, that impacted students’ acceptance of online learning during campus closure. Furthermore, how online learning during the pandemic impacted students’ learning performance has not been empirically investigated. In March 2020, the dental school studied here moved didactic instruction online in response to government issued stay-at-home orders. This first-of-its-kind comparative study examined students’ perceived effectiveness of online courses during summer quarter 2020, explored pedagogical factors impacting their acceptance of online courses, and empirically evaluated the impact of online learning on students’ course performance, during the pandemic. Method The study employed a quasi-experimental design. Participants were 482 pre-doctoral students in a U.S dental school. Students’ perceived effectiveness of online courses during the pandemic was assessed with a survey. Students’ course grades for online courses during summer quarter 2020 were compared with that of a control group who received face-to-face instruction for the same courses before the pandemic in summer quarter 2019. Results Survey results revealed that most online courses were well accepted by the students, and 80 % of them wanted to continue with some online instruction post pandemic. Regression analyses revealed that students’ perceived engagement with faculty and classmates predicted their perceived effectiveness of the online course. More notably, Chi Square tests demonstrated that in 16 out of the 17 courses compared, the online cohort during summer quarter 2020 was equally or more likely to get an A course grade than the analogous face-to-face cohort during summer quarter 2019. Conclusions This is the first empirical study in dental education to demonstrate that online courses during the pandemic could achieve equivalent or better student course performance than the same pre-pandemic in-person courses. The findings fill in gaps in literature and may inform online learning design moving forward.

Given that massive open online learning courses (MOOCs) are considerably different from traditional classrooms in terms of roles and responsibilities of instructors and learners, successful learners are required to be self-directed in MOOC learning environments. One of the most popular self-directed learning (SDL) models proposed by Garrison (Adult Education Quarterly 48(1):18–33, https://doi.org/10.1177/074171369704800103 , 1997 ) includes three components: motivation, self-monitoring, and self-management. This model was originally discussed from traditional online and face-to-face learning environment. Thus, the present study investigated the relationship among motivation, self-monitoring, and self-management in MOOCs by surveying 322 MOOC learners. Using structural equation modeling, this study found that motivation directly affected self-monitoring and indirectly influenced self-management through self-monitoring. In addition, self-monitoring positively influenced self-management. Therefore, promoting student self-monitoring skills and motivating students is critical. Additional research is needed on the ways to facilitate and support self-monitoring of MOOC learners. Future research could examine the influence of the three elements of SDL on learning achievement and engagement. In addition, further exploration of learner behaviors in MOOCs could provide insights on facilitating learners’ SDL.