Title: Effects of isolated versus combined learning enactments in an online course

Authors: Dominique Verpoorten; Wim Westera; Marcus Specht

Addresses: Welten Institute, Open Universiteit Nederland, Valkenburgerweg 177, 6419 AT, Heerlen, the Netherlands ' Welten Institute, Open Universiteit Nederland, Valkenburgerweg 177, 6419 AT, Heerlen, the Netherlands ' Welten Institute, Open Universiteit Nederland, Valkenburgerweg 177, 6419 AT, Heerlen, the Netherlands

Abstract: In a controlled experiment on the effects of frequent and local digital annotations, 137 volunteers covered an online course under three possible conditions: no/free/question-based digital annotations. Results show no difference in performance between groups when annotation behaviour is considered in isolation. However, analyses conducted within treatments provide indications of a positive impact on performance when annotation rates are taken into consideration, and coupled with other enactments tracked in the course. Combined in engagement profiles ('Learning DNAs'), these enactments suggest that what makes active learning efficient might be an on-going crisscrossing between a first-order learning activity (the study of the course) and a series of second-order activities, such as making notes. Students who manage to coordinate these activities at a higher rate perform better. This observation opens a line of reasoning about what determines the quality of a mental engagement in a learning task, in terms of balance and rotation of cognitive and meta-cognitive operations.

Keywords: annotations; reflection amplifiers; split screen learning; students set the test; widgets.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTEL.2017.084499

International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, 2017 Vol.9 No.2/3, pp.169 - 185

Received: 16 Dec 2015
Accepted: 20 Oct 2016
Published online: 09 Jun 2017 *

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