This research area investigates the various teaching and learning processes that take place in online environments as well as their effects on learner outcomes. Research issues such as how to tailor and fine-tune online teaching to learners’ needs, how learners culturally appropriate knowledge, and the effects of instruction on learners’ performance. Interaction and communication in formal and informal learning scenarios would be the core mechanisms for analysis throughout all kinds of ICT technologies. The results of the teaching and learning processes will search for adaptable decisions and actions that make these processes reliable. The three main areas of research are (but not limited): 1) instructional design of online tasks, materials and tools, 2) e-assessment methods and the provision of effective feedback 3) learning support and efficient student patterns and profiles
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Propostes de tesi |
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Grup de recerca |
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Assessment and feedback in online learning environments
This research line focuses on:
- Characteristics and nature of feedback and its impact on
students’ learning.
- Peer feedback and students learning.
- Feedback and collaborative learning.
- Feedback and learner engagement in online
environments.
- Design of formative assessment and the role of feedback.
- Feedback and feedforward and its implementation.
- Academic writing as a learning tool in online learning
environments and scaffolding supports such as feedback.
- Feedback and self-regulation of learning; feedback and
socially shared regulation.
- Feedback and assessment in MOOCs (massive open
online courses).
- Assessment and feedback on quality processes at
institutional level.
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Dra. Anna Espasa, coordinadora Dra. Teresa Guasch, coordinadora |
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Research in techonology-enhanced second language teaching and learning
This research line focuses on second language teaching and learning in blended and virtual environments. Technologies that support language learning are necessary, but they should go hand-in-hand with pedagogical and psycholinguistic considerations. This line of research investigates the effectiveness of different pedagogical interventions on second language learning. Research topics include, but are not limited to:
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Dra. Aleksandra Malicka |
TechSLA Lab Group |
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Second language acquisition outcomes in computer-assisted language learning environaments
There are increasingly more technologies that support computer-assisted language learning. While these are necessary developments, there is a need for technological options that go hand-in-hand with pedagogical and psycholinguistic considerations. This line of research investigates the effectiveness of different pedagogical interventions on L2 learning in computer-assisted language environments. For example, task design, types of corrective feedback, and instructional methods. The ultimate goal is to identify those variables that have the greatest impacts on L2 learning in computer-assisted language learning environments.
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Dra. Gisela Grañena | TechSLA Lab Group |
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Using learning analytics to redefine the role of tutors and learners for effective feedback and assessment This research line uses data analysis to find and analyse indicators in order to measure the relation between the student's academic achievement and, for instance, the tutor's use of educational interactive (online) tools. We also analyse the influence of the educational personal feedback in the learning process and the relevance, for instance, of the emotional factors in this process. This analysis also includes the study of appropiate personalised feedback tools to formative assessment, specifically in the context of learning by competence like rúbrics and portfolios, among others. This research line has a special interest in analysing the relation between the students profile with the dropout in online courses related with the educational tutors feedback process. |
Dra. Teresa Sancho, coordinadora |
LAIKA Research Group |
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Integrating insights from educational neuroscience, socio-emotional learning and imaginative/Waldorf pedagogies into a novel transformative educational paradigm in a digitized society
This research will involve an experimental study with the aim of achieving students’ holistic development involving the balanced development of each dimension of human being, namely cognitive, social, emotional, spiritual, and physical. In this framework, the project will investigate the following large-scale research topics (which can be independent PhD topics):
1. The relationship of educational neuroscience with socio-emotional learning, especially emotional intelligence.
2. The relationship of neuroscience and imaginative pedagogies.
3. The relationship of imaginative pedagogies with socio-emotional learning, especially emotional intelligence.
4. The relationship of virtual or human teacher cognitive and affective feedback with neurotransmitters and students’ motivation and attention.
5. The development of an intelligent and affective-aware CSCL environment that orchestrates students' interactions and engagement in an effective manner, taking into consideration different affective states.
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Dra. Marta Arguedas
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Online Procrastination Procrastination as a hazardous delay of fulfillment of tasks can cause severe consequences for lifelong learning. The study of the patterns and causes of virtual procrastination when learning online could shed light on how to keep studying along life span. Procrastination habit is not a simple question of laziness or poor management skills but involve more complex educational and psychological aspects. Common learning behaviors like work better under pressure or avoid deadlines hide large differences among people around self-regulatory mechanisms. Retrospective methodology and Experience Sample Methodology (SEM) can provide with rich data about online learners routines and patronise specific solutions to overcome postponement. |
Dra. Elena Barberà |