Online Environment Research Articles

Assessing the interplay of presentation and competency in online video examinations: a focus on health system science education

BackgroundThe integration of Health System Science (HSS) in medical education emphasizes mastery of competencies beyond mere knowledge acquisition. With the shift to online platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased emphasis on Technology Enhanced Assessment (TEA) methods, such as video assessments, to evaluate these competencies. This study investigates the efficacy of online video assessments in evaluating medical students’ competency in HSS.MethodsA comprehensive assessment was conducted on first-year medical students (n = 10) enrolled in a newly developed curriculum integrating Health System Science (HSS) into the Bachelor of Medicine program in 2021. Students undertook three exams focusing on HSS competency. Their video responses were evaluated by a panel of seven expert assessors using a detailed rubric. Spearman rank correlation and the Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) were utilized to determine correlations and reliability among assessor scores, while a mixed-effects model was employed to assess the relationship between foundational HSS competencies (C) and presentation skills (P).ResultsPositive correlations were observed in inter-rater reliability, with ICC values suggesting a range of reliability from poor to moderate. A positive correlation between C and P scores was identified in the mixed-effects model. The study also highlighted variations in reliability and correlation, which might be attributed to differences in content, grading criteria, and the nature of individual exams.ConclusionOur findings indicate that effective presentation enhances the perceived competency of medical students, emphasizing the need for standardized assessment criteria and consistent assessor training in online environments. This study highlights the critical roles of comprehensive competency assessments and refined presentation skills in online medical education, ensuring accurate and reliable evaluations.

The Effectiveness of Blended Learning, Digital Literacy Programs, and Teacher Training on Student Outcomes in 2024

This study examines the effectiveness of blended learning, digital literacy programs, and teacher training on student outcomes in 2024. The primary objective is to qualitatively analyze the literature to understand how these educational strategies impact student performance and engagement. The research employs a qualitative literature review methodology, synthesizing findings from academic articles, industry reports, case studies, and empirical studies to provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge in this field. The literature review methodology involves systematically collecting and analyzing scholarly sources that discuss various aspects of blended learning, digital literacy programs, and teacher training. The study categorizes the literature into key themes, such as the benefits of blended learning in providing flexible and personalized education, the role of digital literacy programs in equipping students with essential skills for the digital age, and the impact of continuous teacher training on instructional quality and student achievement. Thematic analysis is used to identify patterns and trends in how these factors influence student outcomes. The findings indicate that blended learning enhances student engagement and learning outcomes by combining traditional and digital instructional methods, offering flexibility and personalized learning experiences. Digital literacy programs are shown to be critical in developing students' competencies in using digital tools and navigating online environments, which are essential skills in the modern educational landscape. Teacher training is highlighted as a key factor in improving teaching practices and, consequently, student performance.

Online environments, social networks and pornography: the role of teachers and managers in the provision of sex and sexuality education in Chilean schools

ABSTRACT Over the last decade, various provisions have been enshrined in law to encourage the implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Comprehensive sexuality Education in Chilean schools. However, it is unknown whether appropriate steps have been taken to advance the right to sex and sexuality education, incorporating the use of ICTs as part of existing plans. The objective of this study was to identify the role that schools and schooling might play in relation to online environments, social networks and pornography as they affect children and adolescents’ sex and sexuality education in Chile. The research took the form of a qualitative study in which 30 education professionals were interviewed to identify needs, challenges and opportunities for incorporating the use of social networks and pornography in sex and sexuality education plans. We found that teachers and school managers rarely intervene in students’ sexualised digital media consumption. While being aware of and concerned about the effects it might have, they broadly delegate responsibility to families. There is a need to create educational communities with a greater knowledge of how to spearhead innovative and participatory internal policies and practices to ensure students’ access to good quality sex and sexuality education in online environments.

Improving Student Engagement and Success in Computer Programming Courses through Social Learning in Online Environments

This paper addresses the necessity to enhance the effectiveness of online learning (OL) environments by examining the influence of social interactions on learner motivation, engagement, and success, specifically focusing on online computer science education (CSE). Acknowledging the limitations of peer-to-peer and learner-to-teacher interactions on online platforms, this paper delves into the potential of social learning (SL) organized through learner groups, communities, or networks to significantly enrich the learning experience. To test the hypothesis that SL positively impacts student outcomes, an experiment was conducted with 49 engineering students divided into two groups. The first group undertook an object-oriented programming course in C++ using the Moodle platform, while the second group, in addition to the online course, participated in asynchronous group activities through forums and synchronous interactions via chat. The results reveal a notable positive impact of SL on student outcomes, with participants in the second group reporting higher satisfaction levels and achieving superior results compared to those in the first group. The findings underscore the significance of integrating social interaction into OL environments, with potential implications for enhancing the overall quality of education and student performance in society.

Freedom of speech in the age of digital technologies: protection against censorship and online persecution

This article examines key aspects related to threats to freedom of speech in the online environment, particularly censorship and persecution. The author explores tools that help protect this freedom, restore access to information and expressions that have been restricted. Special attention is given to the role of international standards in the field of human rights and their importance in ensuring freedom of speech in the digital age. The author analyzes innovative approaches and technologies used to protect internet users from censorship and online persecution. The research reflects current trends in the field of information freedom and offers recommendations for further steps to support the values of democracy and human rights in the digital space. Overall, the article analyzes the impact of social media and other online platforms on freedom of speech and expression. It highlights the role of digital literacy and education in shaping users’ awareness of their rights and opportunities on the Internet. Ethical aspects of using freedom of speech in the online environment and the importance of balancing freedom of expression with protection against negative influence and discrimination are also considered. Analyzing innovative approaches and technologies for protecting freedom of speech in the online environment, the article emphasizes current trends in information freedom. The results and recommendations of the article can serve as a basis for the development of policies and programs aimed at protecting the values of democracy and human rights in the digital age. This research can also assist government bodies, civil society, and IT companies in their efforts to protect freedom of speech and raise awareness among users about their rights and opportunities on the Internet. Such an approach reinforces the role of science and research in addressing important issues in the modern world, particularly in the realm of digital freedom and human rights.

Combating cyberbullying as ensuring the child right to safety

The modern digital world opens up many opportunities for communication, learning, and entertainment. However, along with these opportunities, the number of threats is also increasing. The development of information technologies is accompanied by a rapid spread of offenses in this area. Cyberbullying, as a form of digital violence, has become a serious threat to children in the virtual space. It is a dynamic phenomenon, because it is becoming more dangerous every year, and the number of people affected by it is increasing. Cyberbullying violates not only emotional and social well-being but also security, which is one of the fundamental human rights. Given the increasing digitization of society and the increase in the number of online interactions, understanding and effectively combating cyberbullying is becoming an extremely important component of creating a safe and healthy environment for children’s development. The scientific research is devoted to the investigation of the problem of cyberbullying how to ensure a child right to safety in the online environment. The article analyzes various aspects of cyberbullying, including approaches to defining the concept by foreign and Ukrainian scientists, its types, and consequences for children’s development. An analysis of the legislation was carried out, and the effectiveness of the measures provided by it to prevent and counteract the above-mentioned phenomenon was analyzed. The role of educational institutions and their effectiveness in combating cyberbullying has been studied. It was concluded that there is no single approach to defining the concept of cyberbullying and its types. It was said that the negative impact can have various manifestations and can be both psychological and physical. It was also concluded that there are problems in the effectiveness of measures aimed at combating cyberbullying. The conclusions of the article indicate the importance of a comprehensive approach to the problem of cyberbullying and the need for joint efforts of all interested parties to create a safe online environment for children, forming a model of responsible behavior in cyberspace. The need to develop and implement effective strategies against cyberbullying aimed at ensuring and protecting the child right to safety is emphasized.

Research on Legal Issues of Protection of Rights and Interests of Internet Consumers in China

This paper explores the current status and issues of China's laws regarding the protection of consumer rights in online transactions, aiming to analyze challenges in their implementation and propose reform recommendations. Firstly, it reviews China's existing legal framework, including major legislative provisions and judicial interpretations. Subsequently, through an analysis of ambiguities in legal application, challenges in regulatory enforcement, and barriers to consumer rights protection, it exposes the primary issues in current legal implementation. Finally, based on these findings, specific reform suggestions are proposed to clarify legal applicability, enhance regulatory efficiency, and improve mechanisms for consumer rights protection, aiming to enhance the effectiveness and fairness of consumer protection in China's online environment.

Pathways from Family Functioning to Internet Gaming Disorder: The Mediating Role of the Dark Triad.

With internet gaming disorder (IGD) becoming more common, there are growing worries about the health of those it affects. This study examines how traits like Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism might connect family functioning to IGD. The research involved 1190 young adults who answered an online survey, sharing their personal experiences. To examine the mediation effects, latent variable structural equation modeling (SEM) was used, revealing complex relationships among the variables under investigation. Although all direct and indirect paths were statistically significant, the mediation effects of narcissism were positive only when Machiavellianism and psychopathy were not included as parallel mediators, but negative otherwise. The findings suggest that individuals with strong family functioning could be less likely to internalize manipulative behaviors and show a lack of empathy, traits that could contribute to their involvement in IGD. The results underscore the importance of recognizing the multifaceted nature of this phenomenon and provide valuable insights for developing comprehensive strategies to prevent and tackle IGD. Therefore, prevention and intervention efforts should consider the combined influences of family functioning, personality traits, and individual and contextual factors in the online environment to effectively address this problem.

Understanding the Family Business Effect in Online Environments: Exploring Family Business Brands

Understanding the Family Business Effect in Online Environments: Exploring Family Business Brands

The persistence of toxic online messages influences perceptions of harm and attributions of blame

Abstract Researchers often use attribution theory to understand how people make sense of messages. Unlike the ephemeral actions typically investigated using attribution frameworks, messages can persist. Our study observed how persistence influences the harmfulness of messages and how people levy blame upon harmful posters and those ostensibly obligated and capable of intervening. Grounded in the path model of blame, a randomized experiment (N = 520) tested whether persistence cues in an online environment (low vs high message persistence) influenced appraisals of the harmfulness of online toxicity (i.e., sexism on Reddit), inferences of mental states for relevant agents (e.g., awareness, capacity), attributions of blame, and motives to respond. Results indicated that greater persistence increased perceived harmfulness and motivated individuals to place greater blame upon inactive/ineffective moderators who were capable of intervening.

The relationship between space and time perception: A registered replication of Casasanto and Boroditsky (2008).

Everything in our environment moves through both space and time, and to effectively act we must be aware of both spatial and temporal elements in relation to our own bodies. Thus, perceptions of space and time have an intimate relationship. Walsh's a theory of magnitude (ATOM) suggests that space and time perception rely on a general magnitude system and their relationship should be roughly symmetrical. Alternatively, metaphor theory, which is based on the philosophical work of Lakoff and Johnson, argues that we represent time using a spatial metaphor and thus the relationship should be asymmetrical (with space influencing time more than time influences space). A compelling line of evidence for metaphor theory comes from the work of Casasanto & Boroditsky. Cognition, 106(2), 579-593. (2008) who experimentally demonstrated this asymmetric effect. However, in our previous unpublished online replication attempt of this work, we found a roughly symmetrical relationship between space and time, more in line with the theoretical predictions of ATOM. Given this, we performed a registered replication of Casasanto & Boroditsky. Cognition, 106(2), 579-593. (2008) in both an online and laboratory environment.

Ubiquitous processes strengthening neighbourhood communities: How neighbourhood‐related social media can foster the active involvement of citizens and build resilient communities

AbstractModern local communities are undergoing deep changes due to modern social and cultural processes and to the widespread use of ubiquitous, neighbourhood‐related social media. Indeed, the latter shape citizens' experiences in terms of both local relationships and opportunities for shared aims and behaviours. Therefore, this study endeavours to unravel the impact of neighbourhood‐related social media on users' sense of community (SoC), sense of responsible togetherness (SoRT), and perceptions of community resilience via their potential in enhancing their informal neighbouring behaviours and civic engagement. Nine hundred and sixty‐five Italian citizens (30.1% males; Mage = 22.80; SDage = 4.88) answered an online questionnaire; Structural Equation Modelling was used to run a multiple sequential mediation model having community resilience as the final outcome. The results confirm the positive relationship of such social media with users' informal neighbouring behaviours and civic engagement but show that only civic engagement mediates its relationships with SoC, SoRT, and perceptions of community resilience. Altogether, this opens interesting venues for future developments in both research and intervention fields, with reference to (a) further unravelling the intertwinement between online and local social dynamics and environments, and (b) better understanding how such intertwinement and this kind of social media could represent tools for the promotion of community building processes and of local resilience in community interventions.

TEACHERS’ PRACTICES WHEN ASSESSING YOUNG FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNERS’ PERFORMANCES IN ONLINE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

The paper aims to give an insight into primary English language teachers’ assessment practices in Serbia in online teaching caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2022. The participants of this explorative study were 30 primary teachers of English representing a variety of teaching contexts in the country. The research aims to reveal the participants’ experiences related to adjusting assessment to the online environment, the ways they gave formative feedback to the learners, and the perceived effectiveness of feedback for improving learning. The results show that the majority of the respondents adjusted their assessment practices to online teaching by relying more on formative assessment and apps. They also found a number of ways for giving feedback to the learners, but expressed a lot of doubts about its effectiveness. The implications of the study involve providing pre-service education and targeted in-service training for foreign language teachers in the area of applying formative assessment in online learning environments.

Data Privacy in Social Media: Awareness and Comfortability of Mathematical Computing Course Session I 2023/2024 Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Polytechnic’s Students

The increasing integration of social media into daily lives of individuals has raised significant concerns about data privacy. As users actively engage with various platforms, the extent to which they are aware of the privacy implications and their comfort levels with the use of personal data become vital issues. This study aimed to identify social media platforms that are often used by students, their level of awareness towards social media data privacy policy and their comfortability towards data privacy by social media companies. The respondents in this study comprises of 106 male and female students. The data are analyzed descriptively by mean, frequency and percentage. The level of awareness towards social media data privacy policy is high with average mean score 3.94, WhatsApp is the often-surfed social media platform by score of 89.62% and most students were highly comfortable with how educational social media platform used their data with mean 3.85. This study proposes the necessity of a diverse approach involving education, user empowerment, and technological advancements to enhance data privacy awareness and comfort levels among students in the realm of social media and prepare to a more secure and responsible online environment for the next generation users

Analysis and Governance Strategies of Online Gambling Crimes under New Live Streaming: Taking Lottery Games as an Example

With the development of multimedia technology and the increasing popularity of online live streaming, new forms of online gambling crimes using online live streaming platforms for game live streaming have also emerged, and new operating modes and criminal methods have been used. This gambling method involves certain game anchors using their online popularity, as well as the trust of some fans and their viewers in their anchors during live broadcasts, to attract viewers to participate in gambling through various means and gimmicks. This new type of network under game live streaming involves various factors such as law, technology, and regulation. Live streaming platforms, hosts, and users who watch live broadcasts must strictly abide by laws and regulations. Government regulatory departments also need to strengthen their supervision of whether gambling is involved in the field of online live streaming, protect the legitimate rights and interests of the public, and maintain a healthy and orderly online environment.

Customer helping behaviour in the banking environment: a gift-giving perspective and research agenda

PurposeThis study aims to broaden understanding of customer helping behaviour in the banking environment and provide strategic direction for much-needed further research regarding its role and management within the customer service journey.Design/methodology/approachGift-giving literature was further explored to identify plausible characteristics of customer helping behaviour in the banking environment.FindingsCustomers’ acts of helping could be complex in nature and may involve multiple actors, including customer helpers, gatekeepers, and other members of customer helpers’ networks. Moreover, customer helpers and their helping networks may operate in both offline and online environments, in various stages of the service experiences, and ultimately in the customer journeys. Furthermore, the help customers provide to other customers could be framed by socially constructed arrangements that seem to be (1) dynamic in nature, (2) comprising of joint efforts by multiple actors, and (3) within diverse and interlinked helping environments. Accordingly, several research implications for the banking environment are identified.Originality/valueKey to services in the banking environment may be the complex and synthesised helping systems among customers that evidently could affect product adoption, use, and customer loyalty of customers receiving help throughout the service experiences and customer journeys. Accordingly, guided by gift-giving literature, the current paper sets the research agenda.

Doctoral students’ season schools

Part of the work of universities worldwide is to train new doctors who can meet current and future challenges and who have the knowledge and skills required in academic life. There are many ways to achieve these goals, and it is necessary to explore these avenues. For the last decades, a diversity of spaces for learning and networking beyond formal ones has been provided to doctoral students. International seasonal schools, intensive programs, international writing retreats, international research communities of practice, and international seminar groups, among others, have been learning opportunities where students have the opportunity to discuss their work with peers, mentors and teachers. These learning spaces are organised by various facilitators such as universities, scientific associations, and researchers who usually focus on the same topic. In many cases, those experiences became even more relevant during the pandemic, keeping some of those activities in online environments with a significant role as a supportive network for social isolation (Cullinane et al., 2022). Now that the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have been lowered in most countries of the world and people seem to be craving to meet other people once again face-to-face, it is reasonable to assume that participating in these learning opportunities will become even more popular.

Symposium 3: Networked learning in the time of pandemic

Digital networking technologies have allowed lecturers and students to remain connected while being physically isolated during global lockdowns resultant from the COVID-19 pandemic. We argue that the increased utilization of online spaces for teaching and learning during the time of isolation has brought the question of intersubjectivity and alienation in cyberspace to the forefront. As part of an ongoing phenomenological analysis of the virtual, we survey the experiences of networked learning reported by a group of South African university students in their end of course surveys. We track particularly their experience of alienation, their capacity to engage with material in the online environment, and their awareness of self as a learner. For Merleau-Ponty there resides in intersubjectivity a founding corporeity that serves to explicate the composition of the intersubjective world as based in a plurality of anonymous subjects and in the intersubjectivity of intellectual consciousnesses. In terms of the virtual, a redeployment of Merleau-Pontian thought (and particularly his concept of the flesh) reveals that the body-subject and digital technology artefact are co-implicit in the generation of the virtual. The virtual serves as a point of networked intersubjectivity that concretely expands and constrains human experience and behaviour. Furthermore, in the virtual we navigate a reified landscape. Virtual reification, though seemingly a contradiction, sees us treating the virtual as concrete from the basis of our embodiment. This leads us to an alienated networked intersubjectivity, whereby all potentialities are founded in ordered and carefully arranged systems that promulgate pragmatic and capitalist logics. We investigate how reification makes up the virtual, and how our engagement with the virtual points us back to the nature of alienation (indeed, for Marx, alienation is an intersubjective social relation). We find in the virtual therefore not isolation, but rather a deficient mode of intersubjectivity. While the individual never becomes atomized, for even in the virtual a deficient mode of intersubjectivity remains nevertheless a mode of intersubjectivity, we find that the individual functions as part of a deficient and distorted network. We suggest in conclusion certain teaching methods that may minimize or mitigate students’ experience of alienation.

Academic Skills Used by College Students Without Brain Injury: A Validation Study

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a brief, ecologically valid measure of academic-related skills used by students in both in-person and online higher education. Method: Twelve undergraduate ( n = 7) and graduate ( n = 5) college students without brain injury participated in a pilot study followed by focus group semistructured interviews. Next, preliminary normative data were collected from a larger sample of undergraduate ( n = 152) and graduate ( n = 73) students without brain injury, ages 18–35 years. Participants were asked to rate the cognitive, communicative, and academic skills they used for in-person and online instruction. The students completed a 27-item scale (Likert, 1 = strongly disagree to 6 = strongly agree ). Results: Following an exploratory factor analysis, seven distinct factors were retained creating the final instrument in the population without brain injury. These included sustained attention, metacognition, working memory, problem solving, reading comprehension, selective attention, and processing speed. Conclusions: Responses from college students without brain injury helped to validate items on the College Readiness After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury scale. Undergraduate and graduate students identified the skills they used in both online and in-person academic learning environments. Future plans include the recruitment of students with mild traumatic brain injury returning to higher education to investigate the sensitivity of the scale.

Research on the Risks and Preventive Measures of Ideological and Political Education for College Students in the Context of the Internet

In the internet context, education’s pertinence and timeliness have been significantly improved. However, the online world is also full of hidden risks, and in this context, the behavior and thoughts of college students may have the risk of derailment. At the same time, the implementation of ideological and political education in universities may also face challenges. This article will analyze the causes of risks faced by ideological and political education for college students from three different perspectives: online media, individual students, and university management. In the final part of the article, targeted suggestions will be proposed, including strengthening student risk awareness education, enhancing the discourse power of universities in ideological and political education, and fully utilizing the advantages of online tools to increase risk prevention efforts, adapt to new changes in the online environment, and lead the new direction of university education work.