This paper reports on a case study that examined the process of designing and evaluating a learning object to help students understand the therapeutic principles of drug administration. The challenges and issues associated with creating learning objects using interactive multimedia software will be described. The study had two broad objectives: (1) to analyze and document the process of designing a learning object and (2) to evaluate the outcome of applying these practices. To achieve its purpose, this illustrative case study examined the following areas, 1) theories of learning and cognition that influence the design of learning objects; and 2) instruments that can be used to assess the quality of the learning object and to provide designers with information for improving the learning object. The results from the evaluation revealed that the learning object was rated highly in the areas of content quality, learning goal alignment and motivation. Interaction/ usability and feedback/ adaptation were areas identified as needing improvement. The comments and ratings obtained in the student surveys provided the basis for the learning impact study and indicated that this learning object provides added value for the study of pharmacokinetics.

As education progresses in the digital era and in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, learning will be adaptive and individualized to meet the needs of individual learners. This is possible because of emerging technology, artificial intelligence, and the internet of things. This study is making significant contribution to future education by identifying forces that are shaping education and developing a competency profile for the digital teacher of the future. The research conducted focus groups and interviews with education experts from six countries to identify the forces shaping education in the future and the competencies required by the digital teacher to function effectively. The Competency Profile for the Digital Teacher (CPDT) can be used to train and orient the digital teacher of the future.

An analysis of the interaction patterns in an online conference from a distance education graduate course was conducted, using an approach that focused on the transcript's interactional and structural features. A new tool for transcript analysis, the TAT (Transcript Analysis Tool), was used to analyze interactional features, while structural elements suggested by social network theory were examined. Analysis of the patterns of interaction in the conference showed interaction was variable, and that while all participants were engaged, intensity and persistence of participation were unequal among individual participants in several ways. The TAT showed the proportions of five major types of sentences in the transcript, corresponding to different modes of interaction (questions, statements, reflections, engaging comments, and quotations/citations). The findings showed that the TAT seemed to relate usefully to other work in this area, and that social network principles were valuable in the analysis of conference interaction.

The Framework for the Rational Analysis of Mobile Education (FRAME) model was originally developed as a basis for assessing the effectiveness of mobile devices for distance learning [1]. The FRAME model is the first comprehensive theoretical model to describe mobile learning as a process resulting from the convergence of mobile technologies, human learning capacities, and social interaction. It addresses contemporary pedagogical issues of information overload, knowledge navigation, and collaborative learning. It is hoped that this model will help to guide the development of future mobile devices, the development of learning materials destined for mobile learning, and the specification of teaching and learning strategies for mobile education

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The evolution of wireless technologies and the development of applications for mobile devices in higher education have been spectacular. For many educators, mobile technology in the field of teaching and learning has recently become one of the most important areas of research. Today, mobile learning is a strategic topic for many organizations concerned with education. In the future, more research should be conducted to transform education using mobile learning. The advent of new types of devices is disruptive to education, no matter what educators and education institutions do. Therefore, a thorough analysis, from a pedagogical and technological perspective, is key to ensuring appropriate usage and implementation of mobile learning. This Special Section of RUSC. Universities and Knowledge Society Journal presents a general overview of successful mobile learning experiences in higher education. Its aim is to share best practices and create new opportunities in universities. These mobile applications will add another layer to the learning and teaching processes. Keywords

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As technology evolves, there is a shift towards the use of mobile technology to deliver education both on-campus in a blended format and online delivery. This shift is moving at a very fast pace which is a major challenge for educational organizations which has to train staff and build the infrastructure for mobile delivery. Educators have to be trained on how to develop quality mobile learning materials, how to use the technology for the delivery, and how to provide quality support to students so that they are successful when using mobile technology to learn. This chapter provides guidelines for designing and implementing mobile learning.