Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) provide flexibility in education and have become widely used for the promotion of multimedia learning. This use coincides with mobile devices becoming prevalent, VR devices becoming more affordable, and the creation of user-friendly software that allows the development of AR/VR applications by non-experts. However, because the integration of AR and VR into education is a fairly new practice that is only in its initial stage, these processes and outcomes need to be improved. Designing, Deploying, and Evaluating Virtual and Augmented Reality in Education is an essential research book that presents current practices and procedures from different technology-implementation stages (design, deployment, and evaluation) to help educators use AR/VR applications in their own teaching practices. The book provides comprehensive information on AR and VR applications in different educational settings from various perspectives including but not limited to mobile learning, formal/informal learning, and integration strategies with practical and/or theoretical implications. Barriers and challenges to their implementation that are currently faced by educators are also addressed. This book is ideal for academicians, instructors, curriculum designers, policymakers, instructional designers, researchers, education professionals, practitioners, and students.

It has never been more important for schools and instructors to consider best practices and strategies to appropriately design effective English language courses. Teaching English successfully to diverse audiences requires an understanding of how to communicate with students based on their individual needs and backgrounds. In order to ensure schools provide the best English language education possible, they must examine and apply innovative research in the field. Intercultural Communication and Ubiquitous Learning in Multimodal English Language Education reviews and reports the current research methods and theoretical advances in English language learning linked to applied technologies and action research. The book considers the most innovative approaches to English language education from an intercultural and communicative perspective that covers key concepts such as collaborative ubiquitous learning and multimodal communication. Covering topics such as social networks, virtual environments, and intercultural awareness, this reference work is crucial for academicians, researchers, scholars, practitioners, instructors, and students.

The current learning environment is substantially different than what existed for most of the 20th century. Learners and teachers today must navigate in perpetually changing contexts where education is influenced by technological advancement and obsolescence, economic barriers, a changing employment landscape, and even international politics. Studies indicate that employers seek to hire graduates with strong skills in areas coalescing around international awareness, creativity, communication, leadership, and teamwork. Skills and experiences in these areas are necessary preparation for the current economy and to pursue jobs that do not exist yet, while providing some insulation against the obsolescence of industries that lack these characteristics. These interpersonal skills are not often the subject of students’ degrees, yet there are opportunities in online education to cultivate them. With increased interest in new career options comes the need to reconsider how to teach subjects in the increasingly online environment. Advancing Online Course Design and Pedagogy for the 21st Century Learning Environment is a critical reference book that navigates today’s dynamic education requirements and provides examples of how online learning can foster growth in skill areas necessary for career advancement through effective course design. Moreover, it helps educators gain insight into online pedagogy and course design for the 21st century learner and prepares them to convert traditional courses and enhance existing online courses, thereby supporting students’ growth and development in the highly dynamic online learning environment. Focusing on specific learning activities, assessments, engagement, communication techniques, and more, this book provides a valuable resource for those seeking to upgrade teaching and learning into the online environment, those that seek better employment outcomes for their students, and those seeking to explore contemporary online course design strategies or examples. This includes teachers, instructional designers, curriculum developers, academicians, researchers, and students.

This book provides holistic guidance and proposes practical frameworks to navigate complex learning environments in the rapidly evolving climate, and an environment to facilitate effective learning and knowledge transfer, while advocating a shift in the learning culture, and culture of learning, in varying contexts. It serves well for varying and cross-disciplinary clusters of individuals, particularly for academics, senior management of higher education institutions, and senior leaders of corporate organizations. This book equips readers with a deeper understanding of the evolving and dynamic issues that need to be addressed in the higher education context; to handle multifaceted situations in the process of engaging University students to be nurtured as future global leaders and knowledge workers.

Representing a diverse range of academic perspectives from various disciplines to provoke original thinking, engage critical analysis, and fuel the desire to improve education, this book is for those readers with a genuine interest in quality education and supporting technology. One often hears the words “Enhanced”, “Learning Environments”, “Technology”, and “Innovation” liberally applied in conversations with an assumption that their inclusion automatically improves the quality of education. This book looks beyond mere buzzwords for the ground truth in how education, technology, and innovation can enhance theory and practice in pedagogy and andragogy. It begins with a philosophical criticism about education and technology to remind us of our responsibility to teach purposefully, before discussing entrepreneurial thinking regarding education. The book then makes a strong case for how technology can impact life-saving educational training, and discusses immersive virtual reality learning environments for exploring the essential design components from the perspective of instructional designers and subject experts. It also examines how state-of-the-art Hollywood technology is now accessible to all and discusses the impact this may have on education. The book concludes with an analysis of the implications of the metaverse concept for a pioneering new frontier in future-focused enhanced learning environments.

In higher education systems, equal importance must be given to differently abled students. However, not all educational institutions have infrastructure and facilities to admit these students even though accessibility and support for these students is growing. There are many schemes, facilities, services, and financial assistance available to these students along with new assistive technologies that are making teaching and learning processes more effective. While using new technologies in education systems such as e-learning and blended learning, these students need special attention as well as some advanced training and additional features in the technology itself that better help them become familiar with it. Understanding the demands and requirements of differently abled students is the best way to provide them with quality education. Assistive Technologies for Differently Abled Students explores how to implement effective assistive technologies and other related services for providing differently abled students an education that is high quality and equal to their peers, enabling them to go on and excel in their field and obtain employment. Topics that are highlighted within this book include an overview for the different types of diverse assistive technologies for all types of students including students with visual impairments, learning disabilities, physical challenges, and more. This book is ideal for school administrators, researchers of higher educational institutes, non-governmental organizations, assistive technology experts, IT professionals, social workers, inservice and preservice teachers, teacher educators, practitioners, researchers, academicians, and students looking for information on the types of assistive technologies being employed in education for all types of differently abled students.

This handbook covers current research in the science of cyber behavior. Written by international scholars from a wide range of disciplines, the chapters focus on four fundamental elements of cyber behavior: users, technologies, activities, and effects. It is the ideal overview of the field for researchers, scholars, and students alike.

There has been an evolution of the explanations on the results of research on human learning and how digital technologies have supported the design of more efficient learning environments. Previous theories such as Richard Mayer’s cognitive theory of multimedia learning and John Sweller’s cognitive load theory have gained signification attention and remain the two main theories within the multimedia learning field. However, there has not yet been a book compiled of several investigations on the specific 4C-ID model that covers different domains of knowledge. The 4C-ID model combines the two main theories of Richard Mayer and John Sweller to advance the field of learning and instruction. 4C-ID Model and Cognitive Approaches to Instructional Design and Technology: Emerging Research and Opportunities explores the behavioral and constructivist approaches to learning and instruction and focuses mainly on the particular cognitive approach and resulting theories and insights of the 4C-ID model. The chapters present the results of three experimental studies applied to the teaching of electrical circuits, initiation to computer programming using the Alice microworld, and computer programming using Python textual language. This book is a valuable resource tool for computer programmers, computer scientists, teachers, educational psychologists, practitioners, researchers, academicians, and students interested in the various approaches to learning and instruction in terms of the 4C-ID instructional model.

While many school districts and institutions of higher education still cling to the traditional agrarian school year with a factory model delivery of education and Carnegie units based on seat time when most people are no longer farmers, factory workers, or reliant on learning in a classroom, there are bursts of promising practices that buck the norm by questioning the educational value of these traditions. Though researchers have investigated the potential of students learning in their own homes via personalized instruction delivered by computers rather than attending traditional institutions, the status quo in education has remained stubbornly resistant to change. Mixed-reality simulations, year-round schooling, grouping students by competencies instead of age, and game-based teaching are just a few of the educational innovations that seek to maximize learning by recognizing that innovation is essential for successfully teaching students in the modern era. The Handbook of Research on Innovations in Non-Traditional Educational Practices is a comprehensive reference source that examines various educational innovations, how they have developed workarounds to navigate traditional systems, and their potential to radically transform teaching and learning. With each chapter highlighting a different educational innovation such as experiential learning, game-based learning, online learning, and inquiry-based learning and their applications in all levels of education, this book explores the issues and challenges these educational innovations face as well as their impact. It is intended for academicians, professionals, administrators, and researchers in education and specifically benefits academic deans, vice presidents of academic affairs, graduate students, faculty technology leaders, directors of teaching and learning centers, curriculum and instructional designers, policymakers, principals and superintendents, and teachers interested in educational change.

Educators are continuously seeking ways to engage their students in active learning processes and are faced with challenges that include engaging students in learning activities, promoting meaningful learning experiences, and providing effective experiences for every student. Studies that investigate instructors’ experiences are limited since more focus is given to students. Future research calls for teachers’ innovative contributions in introducing new strategies and teaching approaches to further involve students, increase student attendance in online sessions, and employ a variety of technological tools. Fostering Meaningful Learning Experiences Through Student Engagement is an essential reference source for the latest scholarly information on curriculum development, instructional design, and pedagogical methods for fostering student engagement learning initiatives. The book examines engagement and meaningful learning techniques in both face-to-face and online instruction. Covering topics that include active learning, language learning, teacher experiences, and teacher-student relationships, this book is ideally designed for teachers, instructional designers, curriculum developers, academicians, researchers, professionals, and students that believe that stronger or improved student engagement should be their instructional objectives and wish to engage students in learning activities that promote meaningful learning experiences.