This study explored the effects of web-enabled pedagogies on students' involvement in learning. A series of quasi-experiments were conducted to investigate whether students' involvement increases over time if intervened, respectively, by problem-based learning (PBL), self-regulated learning (SRL), and their combinations. Two classes of 102 first-year students at a vocational school in a onesemester course were chosen for this empirical study. The results were generally supportive. The authors further discuss the implications for schools, scholars, and teachers engaged in e-learning.

No abstract

A design experiment was conducted applying Web-based problem-based learning (PBL), self-regulated learning (SRL), or their combination to help low-achieving students improve their skills of deploying application software in a compulsory course at a vocational school in Taiwan. The effects were encouraging and mostly positive. However, students' inertia to change routines of learning inherited from a culture of taking standard tests found in e-learning practice is quite common. A teacher's awareness of these changes and associated resistance may increase likelihood of e-learning success for future trials. Some modifications of the design are thus suggested for the next round of the experiment.

Many private vocational schools in Taiwan have taken to enrolling students with lower levels of academic achievement. The authors re-designed a course and conducted a series of quasi-experiments to develop students' long-term computing skills, and examined the longitudinal effects of web-enabled, problem-based learning (PBL) and self-regulated learning (SRL) on vocational students' computing skills. Two classes of 76 students in a one-semester course were chosen for this empirical study. These low-achieving students were re-examined for their long-term computing skills 36 months after the course started. The results indicate that students who received web-enabled PBL and SRL had significantly better computing skills in the 36th month than those who received traditional didactic lectures. The authors discuss the implications for schools, and for scholars and teachers engaged in e-learning.

No abstract

Vocational education in Taiwan is highly competitive in that it must attract sufficient student enrollment in the environment with a rapidly increasing number of schools. Many students in this context tend to have lower levels of academic achievement, and do not adequately get involved in their schoolwork. Under such constraints but moving toward more practical orientation, the authors conducted five experiments, applying web-mediated problem-based learning (PBL), self-regulated learning (SRL), blended learning (BL), or their combinations to help low-achieving students improve their computing skills. This study further develops appropriate course design and online teaching methods for both teachers and schools. Each of the five studies addressed a different project whose goal was to develop students’ computing skills in online classes. The five studies: (a) provide demonstrations of the effects of web-based PBL and SRL, (b) illustrate how to design and implement web-based PBL and SRL for low-achieving students, (c) provide refined interventions of web-based PBL and SRL based on multiple-phase experiences of real practices and reflections, and (d) demonstrate the effects of BL and the relevant technologies to provide more channels and opportunities for students to review and practice their computing skills.

The vocational colleges in Taiwan regard professional certifications as a badge of skills achievement. To enhance student learning in this specific context, the authors conducted a quasi-experiment to explore effects of web-mediated self-regulated learning (SRL) with feedback, blended learning (BL) and their combinations on enhancing students’ skills of using Microsoft Word. Four classes in successive years, with a total of 190 freshmen, were divided into 2 (SRL with Feedback vs. SRL without Feedback) × 2 (Blended vs. Traditional) experimental groups. Results were generally positive. The results showed that students in the group of BL and SRL with feedback had better skills and higher pass rate on certification exams than those in the control group. It is hoped that the lesson learned is also useful for those teachers engaged in e-learning, specifically, in vocational colleges.

The vocational colleges in Taiwan regard professional certifications as a badge of skills achievement. To enhance student learning in this specific context, the authors conducted a quasi-experiment to explore effects of web-mediated self-regulated learning (SRL) with feedback, blended learning (BL) and their combinations on enhancing students’ skills of using Microsoft Word. Four classes in successive years, with a total of 190 freshmen, were divided into 2 (SRL with Feedback vs. SRL without Feedback) × 2 (Blended vs. Traditional) experimental groups. Results were generally positive. The results showed that students in the group of BL and SRL with feedback had better skills and higher pass rate on certification exams than those in the control group. It is hoped that the lesson learned is also useful for those teachers engaged in e-learning, specifically, in vocational colleges.