The current study seeks to investigate the effectiveness of augmented reality in online distance learning at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was carried out in an instructional software authoring tools course for in-structional technology department students to develop academic achievement and instructional software design skills. To achieve this, augmented reality was used, which allowed the learning process to be completed via online dis-tance learning. Forty students were selected to participate by purposeful sampling. The results show that augmented reality was more effective in supporting academic achievement as well as skills acquisition in the virtual classrooms compared to the virtual classrooms that did not use augmented reality in online distance learning. In general, augmented reality or one of its (fixed, animated) patterns can be used to effectively learn in online distance learning during pandemic periods. As well as augmented reality that can use location-aware or vision-based maybe have a good potential in online dis-tance learning within the pandemic. As such the teachers must be prepared to employ all patterns of augmented reality in traditional online distance learn-ing or during the pandemics to achieve the need for 21st-century skills. Con-ducting more research is required in online distance learning by using aug-mented reality with another sample and different content general, augmented reality or one of its (fixed, animated) patterns can be used to effectively learn in online distance learning during pandemic periods.

This paper focuses on comparing collaborative group sizes (small versus large) in terms of developing preservice teachers’ skills in designing webpages using HTML in a project-based learning environment. It examines the effect that group size has on academic achievement and product quality in project-based learning environments. The experiment involved 74 undergraduate students enrolled in the sixth level of the Computer Teacher Program, Faculty of Education, King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia, during the second term of the school year 2018-2019. Study results indicate that there are significant differences between large and small size groups as they relate to students’ academic achievement and product quality, showing a preference for a large group, which disagrees with most of the existing literature. In this study, the researchers explain this disagreement and recommend new directions in researching group sizes in project-based learning environments in the future.