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Omid Noroozi

Wageningen University and Research Centre, Education and Competence Studies, Faculty Member

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OMID NOROOZI is working at the Education and Competence Studies Chair Group of Wageningen University, The Netherlands. He graduated in 2013 after having defended his PhD thesis entitled ‘Fostering Argumentation-Based Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning in Higher Education’. His research was supervised by prof. Martin Mulder (promotor), dr. Harm Biemans (co-promotor), and prof. Armin Weinberger (co-promotor). He has presented many papers at international conferences and published various articles in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Specialties: Educational Technology, Research and Development,
Designing and evaluating Online learning Platforms,
Research on Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) Environments,
Designing and Evaluating Various CSCL Scripts,
Scaffolding Online Learning Platforms,
Research on the Role of Argumentation in Learning,
Research on CSCL within Agri-food sciences in Higher Education

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Seyyed Kazem Banihashem

Open University The Netherlands

Caro-Lynn Verbaan

Seyyed Banihashem

Wageningen University and Research Centre

Kharazmi University Of Tehran

MARZIEH PARVANEH AKHTEH KHANEH

University of Melbourne

Armin Weinberger

Saarland University

Wageningen University

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Papers by Omid Noroozi

The intersection of epistemic beliefs and gender in argumentation performance

by Omid Noroozi and Seyyed Kazem Banihashem

Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 2023

This study explores the intersection role of students’ epistemic beliefs and gender in argumentat... more This study explores the intersection role of students’ epistemic beliefs and gender in argumentative essay writing. In total, 148 undergraduate students from a Dutch university followed an argumentation module, filled out the epistemic beliefs survey, and wrote an argumentative essay. Results showed that students’ beliefs about the Internet-specific justification of knowledge did not influence essay performance. On the other hand, beliefs about the nature of scientific knowledge influenced their argumentative essay writing. Overall, there were no gender differences in argumentative essay writing. However, female students outperformed male students in taking a position on the topic. The interaction effects of beliefs about the Internet-specific justification of knowledge and gender in argumentation performance were neutral. There was, however, an intersection effect of students’ epistemic beliefs about the nature of scientific knowledge and their gender in argumentation performance. We discuss these results and provide suggestions for future research.

A SWOT analysis of ChatGPT: Implications for educational practice and research

Innovations in Education and Teaching International , 2023

ChatGPT is an AI tool that has sparked debates about its potential implications for education. We... more ChatGPT is an AI tool that has sparked debates about its potential implications for education. We used the SWOT analysis framework to outline ChatGPT's strengths and weaknesses and to discuss its opportunities for and threats to education. The strengths include using a sophisticated natural language model to generate plausible answers, self-improving capability, and providing personalised and real-time responses. As such, ChatGPT can increase access to information, facilitate personalised and complex learning, and decrease teaching workload, thereby making key processes and tasks more efficient. The weaknesses are a lack of deep understanding, difficulty in evaluating the quality of responses, a risk of bias and discrimination, and a lack of higher-order thinking skills. Threats to education include a lack of understanding of the context, threatening academic integrity, perpetuating discrimination in education, democratising plagiarism, and declining high-order cognitive skills. We provide agenda for educational practice and research in times of ChatGPT.

Modeling teachers' and students' attitudes, emotions, and perceptions in blended education: Towards post-pandemic education

by Omid Noroozi and Harm Biemans

The International Journal of Management Education, 2023

Literature on post-pandemic education suggests blended learning as a new balanced education appro... more Literature on post-pandemic education suggests blended learning as a new balanced education approach. However, little is known about teachers' and students' attitudes, emotions, and perceptions of blended education. This study aims to first explore teachers' and students' attitudes and emotions (workload, stress, well-being, and motivation) related to blended education and then model these attitudes and emotions, and online tools satisfaction with perceived teaching and learning performance by considering satisfaction with teaching and learning activities as a mediating variable. To do this, in total, 327 teachers and 547 students from a Dutch university participated. Of these, 307 teachers and 534 students filled out a survey, and 20 teachers and 13 students were interviewed to get more in-depth data. Quantitative data was analyzed by using structural equation modeling and multiple linear regression and qualitative data was analyzed via Atlas.ti 9 software. The main results showed that both teachers and students perceived high workload, low well-being, and high motivation in blended education. In addition, while a significant relationship between teachers' and students' attitudes and emotions and their perceived teaching and learning performance were found, no significant mediating role was reported for satisfaction with teaching and learning activities. We discuss these results and provide recommendations for future research, policy, and practice.

Design, implementation, and evaluation of an online supported peer feedback module to enhance students' argumentative essay quality

by Omid Noroozi, Harm Biemans, Caro-Lynn Verbaan, and Seyyed Banihashem

Education and Information Technologies, 2023

We know little to what extent peer feedback strategies can be applied on a large scale in higher ... more We know little to what extent peer feedback strategies can be applied on a large scale in higher education for complex tasks. This study aimed to design, implement, and evaluate an online-supported peer feedback module for large-scale use to enhance higher education students' argumentative essay writing performance. To do this, 330 students from five different courses at bachelor and master levels followed the online supported peer feedback module. In this module, students were asked to write an argumentative essay about a controversial issue, provide peer feedback for two peers, and revise their original essays based on the received feedback. Three types of data including original essay (pre-test) data, peer feedback data, and revised essay (post-test) data collected. Students also filled out the learning satisfaction questionnaire at the end of the module. The findings showed that the suggested online-supported peer feedback module was effective in improving students' argumentative essay quality in all courses at the bachelor and master levels. The findings also showed there is a difference in the level of students' satisfaction with the module among the courses and between the education levels. The findings of this study provide insights into and add value to the scalability of online peer feedback tools for argumentative essay writing in different contexts. Based on the findings, recommendations for future studies and educational practice are provided.

Teacher profiles in higher education: the move to online education during the COVID-19 crisis

by Omid Noroozi and Harm Biemans

Learning Environments Research, 2023

During the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers were forced to move their teaching completely online. Whil... more During the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers were forced to move their teaching completely online. While some seized the opportunity to learn and innovate, others experienced difficulties. This study provides insights into the differences between university teachers during the COVID-19 crisis. A survey among university teachers (N = 283) was conducted to investigate their attitudes towards online teaching, beliefs about students' learning, level of stress experienced, self-efficacy and beliefs about their own professional development. Employing a hierarchical cluster analysis, four distinct teacher profiles were found. Profile 1 was critical but eager; Profile 2 was positive but stressed; Profile 3 was critical and reluctant; Profile 4 was optimistic and easy-going. The profiles differed significantly in their use and perception of support. We suggest that teacher education research should carefully consider sampling procedures or take a person-centred research approach and that universities should develop targeted forms of teacher communication, support and policy.

The effects of collaborative reasoning strategies on improving primary school students' argumentative decision-making skills

by Omid Noroozi and Seyyed Kazem Banihashem

The Journal of Educational Research, 2022

This study investigates the effects of three Collaborative Reasoning (CR) strategies including pr... more This study investigates the effects of three Collaborative Reasoning (CR) strategies including pre-trained CR, scripted CR, and pre-trained + scripted (mixed) CR on the argumentative decision-making skills of primary school students. Forty-six school students were requested to write a reflective essay on a social-moral issue, and after participating in a six-week story-based CR with three different conditions, they were asked to write their reflective essay. A follow-up test was conducted two weeks later. The results showed that students in the pre-trained CR condition performed better than students in the scripted CR condition with regard to acquiring and transferring decision-making skills. However, compared to students in the mixed CR condition, the performance of the students in the pre-trained condition was lower for acquiring and transferring decision-making skills. In terms of learning satisfaction, students with the mixed CR condition declared higher learning satisfaction compared to students in the other two conditions. We discuss these results and provide agenda for future research and practice.

A systematic review of the role of learning analytics in enhancing feedback practices in higher education

by Omid Noroozi, Stan Van Ginkel, Seyyed Kazem Banihashem, and Harm Biemans

Educational Research Review, 2022

Learning analytics (LA) offers new opportunities to enrich feedback practices in higher education... more Learning analytics (LA) offers new opportunities to enrich feedback practices in higher education, but little is understood about the ways different LA can enhance feedback practices for educators and students. This systematic literature review maps the current state of implementation of LA to improve feedback practices in technology-mediated learning environments in higher education. We used strict inclusion criteria to select relevant studies that have investigated the role of LA on feedback practices. To identify common features of LA for feedback studies, we coded relevant publications using an analytical framework that identifies four key dimensions of LA systems: what (types of data), how (analytic methods), why (objectives), and how educators and students are served by LA (stakeholders). Based on findings, we propose a conceptual framework that can guide the implementation of LA for feedback systems and also suggest future empirical research in this area.

Online peer feedback patterns of success and failure in argumentative essay writing

Interactive Learning Environments, 2022

In peer feedback literature, little is known about the patterns of success for peer feedback acti... more In peer feedback literature, little is known about the patterns of success for peer feedback activities in online learning environments. This study aims to explore the peer feedback patterns of successful, less successful, and unsuccessful higher education students for argumentative essay writing. In this exploratory study, 330 higher education students were asked to perform three tasks in three consecutive weeks. In the first week, they were asked to write an argumentative essay. In the second week, students provided two sets of feedback on their peers’ argumentative essays based on the given criteria. In the third week, students were asked to revise their argumentative essay based on the received feedback. The findings revealed that unsuccessful and less successful students significantly received more affective and descriptive feedback from their peers, while successful students received more feedback related to the identification of the problem from their peers. Furthermore, descriptive and constructive features of feedback were predictors of students’ success in the improvement of argumentative essay writing. The findings of this study provide practical implications for the effective design of peer feedback strategies for improving students’ argumentative essay writing in online learning environments.

The role of students’ epistemic beliefs for their argumentation performance in higher education

Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 2022

Students’ argumentation performance can be influenced by their epistemic beliefs, however, in the... more Students’ argumentation performance can be influenced by their epistemic beliefs, however, in the context of argumentative essay writing and argumentative peer feedback in online setting this has not been clearly investigated. This study explores relationship between students’ epistemic beliefs and argumentation performance regarding essay writing and peer feedback. In total, 101 undergraduate students filled out the epistemic beliefs survey and wrote an argumentative essay. Then, they provided two sets of feedback on the essays of their peers and finally submitted their revised essays. Students’ beliefs about the Internet-specific justification of knowledge did not play a significant role in their argumentation performance in essay writing, while it was related to their constructive peer feedback performance. Students’ beliefs about the nature of scientific knowledge were significantly related to their argumentative essay writing and peer feedback performance. In terms of uptake of peer feedback, no significant role was found for epistemic beliefs.

Gender differences in students' argumentative essay writing, peer review performance and uptake in online learning environments

by Omid Noroozi, Seyyed Kazem Banihashem, and Harm Biemans

Interactive Learning Environments, 2022

This study adopted a pre-test-post-test design to explore gender differences in argumentative ess... more This study adopted a pre-test-post-test design to explore gender differences in argumentative essay writing and peer review performance and uptake within a higher education context. To do this, as part of a bigger project, 101 students were asked to individually write an argumentative essay, engage in peer review activities and revise their original essay based on the received reviews from peers. The findings showed that female students perform better than male students in argumentative essay writing in terms of taking a position on the topic. Gender differences were also found in peer review performance, where females provided better justifications for identified problems in peer review, more constructive reviews and higher quality peer review than males. The findings also revealed that although there was no gender difference in overall peer review uptake, females uptake of peer review resulted in improvement of their arguments against the position in the revised essay. These findings suggest that gender plays a significant role in argumentative essay writing, peer review performance and uptake of the received reviews from peers. Recommendations for future research along with how to deal with these gender differences in educational practice in online settings are provided based on the findings.

The role of motivation in MOOCs' retention rates: a systematic literature review

by Seyyed Kazem Banihashem and Omid Noroozi

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning, 2022

Although MOOCs platforms offer a unique way to provide information for a large cohort of particip... more Although MOOCs platforms offer a unique way to provide information for a large cohort of participants, only a small percentage of participants complete MOOCs. The high number of dropouts in MOOCs is a key challenge, and the literature suggests that it can be affected by participants' motivation. However, it is not known how and to what extent motivation influences participants' dropout in MOOCs. There is a need to provide an overview of the role of motivation in MOOCs' retention. In this study, we aimed to identify motivational factors and theories that affect participants' retention in MOOCs and explain how does motivation supports participants to complete MOOCs. To do so, a systematic review was conducted using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria and a set of relevant keywords and databases which resulted in 50 relevant publications. Our analysis led us to identify six main motivational factors that influence participants' MOOCs completion including academic, social, course, personal, professional, and technological motives. These factors were divided into two main categories including need-based motivation and interest-based motivation. The results showed that academic motives play the most important role in participants' MOOCs retention compared to the other factors. It was also found that self-determination theory was used as the most dominant theory to support participants' motivation for MOOCs completion. In addition, the results revealed that the motivational factors not only impacts participants' MOOCs retention directly, but also this impact is mediated by participant satisfaction, self-regulation, attitude toward using MOOCs, performance, engagement, and level of participation. Based on the results, further implications for practice and future research are provided.

Supporting argumentative essay writing through an online supported peer-review script

by Omid Noroozi and saeed latifi

Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 2021

This study investigated the impact of an online peer-review script on students' argumentative pee... more This study investigated the impact of an online peer-review script on students' argumentative peer-review quality and argumentative essay writing. A pre-and post-test experimental design was used with 42 undergraduate students in the field of educational science. Students were randomly divided over 21 dyads and assigned to two conditions (unscripted and scripted peer-review). Students were first asked to write an original argumentative essay about the topic at hand. Then, students in the scripted condition had to review their peer's argumentative essay based on a peer-review script while students in the unscripted condition reviewed their peer's essay without the script. Finally, all students had to revise their original essay based on the comments of their peers. Students in the scripted peer-review condition outperformed students in the unscripted condition in terms of quality of their argumentative peer-review and argumentative essay writing. These results are discussed and implications are provided.

The mediating role of digital informal learning in the relationship between students' digital competence and their academic performance

Computers & Education, 2021

Students' digital competencies are important for their academic performance. Although scholars ha... more Students' digital competencies are important for their academic performance. Although scholars have highlighted the importance of students' digital informal learning in developing their digital competence, the mediating role of digital informal learning between digital competence and academic performance have remained unexplored. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the mediating role of digital informal learning between higher education students' digital competence and their academic performance. The data were collected from 319 students from Shiraz University in Iran. Data were analysed using structural equation modeling via AMOS. The result showed a positive effect of the students' digital competence on their digital informal learning and academic performance. Moreover, digital informal learning as the mediator variable had a positive effect on the relationship between digital competence and students' academic performance. In conclusion, to improve students' academic performance, educators and curriculum designers should consider both their digital competence and their digital informal learning.

The effects of computer-based virtual learning environments on nursing students' mathematical learning in medication processes

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning, 2021

Computer-based virtual learning environments (CBVLEs) are potentially useful teaching tools for t... more Computer-based virtual learning environments (CBVLEs) are potentially useful teaching tools for training nursing students in professional duties such as the mathematical tasks associated with medication processes. In this study, a CBVLE was designed with well-structured instructional activities such as interleaved practice and feedback. Mathematical medication scenarios and basic arithmetic exercises were integrated into the CBVLE. Four training conditions were used in the CBVLE to facilitate extra support for mathematical medication learning: (1) learning without worked examples, (2) learning with worked examples involving domain-specific knowledge, (3) learning with worked examples involving regular thinking strategies, and (4) learning with combined worked examples. This study was conducted with 118 nursing students enrolled in post-secondary nursing education and Bachelor's nursing programmes. Students were pre-tested and post-tested on their mathematical medication learning. Training in the CBVLE improved mathematical medication learning for all students from pre-test to the post-test stages, but no differences were found among the four different conditions. Nursing students' prior knowledge, non-verbal intelligence, and number of correct tasks predicted mathematical medication learning outcomes. When controlling for non-verbal intelligence, students in the condition 1 benefited more than students in condition 3 in terms of their mathematical medication learning outcomes. The same accounted for the support of the low-achieving students in the CBVLE. The support conditions for the high-achieving group appeared to be unimportant for mathematical medication learning. It seems that technology is taken over some of the capacity of working memory, which accounts for the benefits to the low-achieving learners.

The impacts of constructivist learning design and learning analytics on students' engagement and self-regulation

by Omid Noroozi and Seyyed Kazem Banihashem

Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 2021

So far, the synergistic relationship between learning design and learning analytics and its impac... more So far, the synergistic relationship between learning design and learning analytics and its impact on learners’ educational practices have been investigated. However, little work has been done to show how integrated learning design based on constructivism learning theory and learning analytics can affect learners’ engagement and self-regulation. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of the Constructivist Learning Design and Learning Analytics (CLDLA) Model on learners’ engagement and self-regulation. In this experimental study, 50 graduate students at Iranian’ Allameh Tabataba’i University were asked to participate in a Moodle course called “Teaching Skills” and fill out Agentic Engagement Scale and Self-Regulation Questionnaires in two steps as a pre-test and post-test measurements. Analysis of the data indicated that the CLDLA model has a positive impact on learners’ engagement and self-regulation. Based on the results, recommendations for further research and educational practices are suggested.

Peer feedback or peer feedforward? Enhancing students' argumentative peer learning processes and outcomes

by Omid Noroozi and saeed latifi

British Journal of Educational Technology, 2021

This study compared the effects of support for peer feedback, peer feedforward and their combinat... more This study compared the effects of support for peer feedback, peer feedforward and their combination on students’ peer learning processes, argumentative essay quality and domain‐specific learning. Participants were 86 BSc students who were randomly divided over 43 dyads. These dyads, in a two‐factorial experimental design, were assigned to four conditions including: peer feedback (n = 22), peer feedforward (n = 22), mixed (n = 20) and control group (n = 22) conditions. An online peer feedback environment named EduTech was designed which allowed us to implement various types of support in the form of question prompts. In this online environment, students were asked to write an argumentative essay on a controversial topic, to engage in peer learning processes and to revise their essay. Overall, the results showed that students in the three experimental conditions (peer feedback, peer feedforward and their combination) benefited more than students in the control group condition (without any support) in term of peer learning processes, argumentative essay quality and domain‐specific learning. However, there was no significant difference among the three experimental conditions. This implies that peer feedforward can be as important as peer feedback in collaborative learning environments which is often neglected both in theory and practice.

The effects of using Merrill's first principles of instruction on learning and satisfaction in MOOC

Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 2020

This study investigates the effects of a developed MOOC based on Merrill’s principles of instruct... more This study investigates the effects of a developed MOOC based on Merrill’s principles of instruction on participants’ learning outcomes and satisfaction. A pre-test-post-test with a control group design was used in this study. In total, 335 participants were assigned into experimental (using Merrill’s principles of instruction) and control group (using the conventional method). However, 291 subjects (143 participants from the experimental and 148 participants from the control group condition) remained in the course up to the last session, and only 200 participants (100 participants per each condition) filled in the surveys. The results were in favour of participants in the experimental condition both in terms of learning and satisfaction compared to the participants in the control group condition. By implementing Merrill’s principles of instruction in designing MOOCs and actively engaging participants in a problem-centred learning process, their learning outcomes and satisfaction can be further improved.

Multimodal data indicators for capturing cognitive, motivational, and emotional learning processes: A systematic literature review

by Omid Noroozi and Paul Kirschner

Education and Information Technologies, 2020

This systematic review on data modalities synthesises the research findings in terms of how to op... more This systematic review on data modalities synthesises the research findings in terms of how to optimally use and combine such modalities when investigating cognitive, motivational, and emotional learning processes. ERIC, WoS, and ScienceDirect databases were searched with specific keywords and inclusion criteria for research on data modalities, resulting in 207 relevant publications. We provide findings in terms of target journal, country, subject, participant characteristics, educational level, foci, type of data modality, research method, type of learning, learning setting, and modalities used to study the different foci. In total, 18 data modalities were classified. For the 207 multimodal publications, 721 occurrences of modalities were observed. The most popular modality was interview followed by survey and observation. The least common modalities were heart rate variability, facial expression recognition, and screen recording. From the 207 publications, 98 focused exclusively on the cognitive aspects of learning, followed by 27 publications that only focused on motivation, while only five publications exclusively focused on emotional aspects. Only 10 publications focused on a combination of cognitive, motivational, and emotional aspects of learning. Our results plea for the increased use of objective measures, highlight the need for triangulation of objective and subjective data, and demand for more research on combining various aspects of learning. Further, rather than researching cognitive, motivational, and emotional aspects of learning separately, we encourage scholars to tap into multiple learning processes with multimodal data to derive a more comprehensive view on the phenomenon of learning.

Argumentation-based computer supported collaborative learning (ABCSCL): The role of instructional supports

European Journal of Open Education and E-learning Studies, 2020

This paper investigates the role of instructional supports for argumentation-based computer suppo... more This paper investigates the role of instructional supports for argumentation-based computer supported collaborative learning (ABCSCL), a teaching approach that improves the quality of learning processes and outcomes. Relevant literature has been reviewed to identify the instructional supports in ABCSCL environments. A range of instructional supports in ABCSCL is proposed including scaffolding, scripting, and representational tools. Each of these instructional supports are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the extent to which and the way in which such instructional supports can be applied in ABCSCL environments are discussed. Finally, suggestions for future work and implications for the design of ABCSCL environments are provided.

Students' online argumentative peer feedback, essay writing, and content learning: does gender matter

by Omid Noroozi and Harm Biemans

Interactive Learning Environments, 2020

Whilst the importance of online peer feedback and writing argumentative essays for students in hi... more Whilst the importance of online peer feedback and writing argumentative essays for students in higher education is unquestionable, there is a need for further research into whether and the extent to which female and male students differ with regard to their argumentative feedback, essay writing, and content learning in online settings. The current study used a pre-test, post-test design to explore the extent to which female and male students differ regarding their argumentative feedback quality, essay writing and content learning in an online environment. Participants were 201 BSc biotechnology students who wrote an argumentative essay, engaged in argumentative peer feedback with learning partners in the form of triads and finally revised their original argumentative essay. The findings revealed differences between females and males in terms of the quality of their argumentative feedback. Female students provided higher-quality argumentative feedback than male students. Although all students improved their argumentative essay quality and also knowledge content from pre-test to post-test, these improvements were not significantly different between females and males. Explanations for these findings and recommendations are provided.

The intersection of epistemic beliefs and gender in argumentation performance

by Omid Noroozi and Seyyed Kazem Banihashem

Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 2023

This study explores the intersection role of students’ epistemic beliefs and gender in argumentat... more This study explores the intersection role of students’ epistemic beliefs and gender in argumentative essay writing. In total, 148 undergraduate students from a Dutch university followed an argumentation module, filled out the epistemic beliefs survey, and wrote an argumentative essay. Results showed that students’ beliefs about the Internet-specific justification of knowledge did not influence essay performance. On the other hand, beliefs about the nature of scientific knowledge influenced their argumentative essay writing. Overall, there were no gender differences in argumentative essay writing. However, female students outperformed male students in taking a position on the topic. The interaction effects of beliefs about the Internet-specific justification of knowledge and gender in argumentation performance were neutral. There was, however, an intersection effect of students’ epistemic beliefs about the nature of scientific knowledge and their gender in argumentation performance. We discuss these results and provide suggestions for future research.

A SWOT analysis of ChatGPT: Implications for educational practice and research

Innovations in Education and Teaching International , 2023

ChatGPT is an AI tool that has sparked debates about its potential implications for education. We... more ChatGPT is an AI tool that has sparked debates about its potential implications for education. We used the SWOT analysis framework to outline ChatGPT's strengths and weaknesses and to discuss its opportunities for and threats to education. The strengths include using a sophisticated natural language model to generate plausible answers, self-improving capability, and providing personalised and real-time responses. As such, ChatGPT can increase access to information, facilitate personalised and complex learning, and decrease teaching workload, thereby making key processes and tasks more efficient. The weaknesses are a lack of deep understanding, difficulty in evaluating the quality of responses, a risk of bias and discrimination, and a lack of higher-order thinking skills. Threats to education include a lack of understanding of the context, threatening academic integrity, perpetuating discrimination in education, democratising plagiarism, and declining high-order cognitive skills. We provide agenda for educational practice and research in times of ChatGPT.

Modeling teachers' and students' attitudes, emotions, and perceptions in blended education: Towards post-pandemic education

by Omid Noroozi and Harm Biemans

The International Journal of Management Education, 2023

Literature on post-pandemic education suggests blended learning as a new balanced education appro... more Literature on post-pandemic education suggests blended learning as a new balanced education approach. However, little is known about teachers' and students' attitudes, emotions, and perceptions of blended education. This study aims to first explore teachers' and students' attitudes and emotions (workload, stress, well-being, and motivation) related to blended education and then model these attitudes and emotions, and online tools satisfaction with perceived teaching and learning performance by considering satisfaction with teaching and learning activities as a mediating variable. To do this, in total, 327 teachers and 547 students from a Dutch university participated. Of these, 307 teachers and 534 students filled out a survey, and 20 teachers and 13 students were interviewed to get more in-depth data. Quantitative data was analyzed by using structural equation modeling and multiple linear regression and qualitative data was analyzed via Atlas.ti 9 software. The main results showed that both teachers and students perceived high workload, low well-being, and high motivation in blended education. In addition, while a significant relationship between teachers' and students' attitudes and emotions and their perceived teaching and learning performance were found, no significant mediating role was reported for satisfaction with teaching and learning activities. We discuss these results and provide recommendations for future research, policy, and practice.

Design, implementation, and evaluation of an online supported peer feedback module to enhance students' argumentative essay quality

by Omid Noroozi, Harm Biemans, Caro-Lynn Verbaan, and Seyyed Banihashem

Education and Information Technologies, 2023

We know little to what extent peer feedback strategies can be applied on a large scale in higher ... more We know little to what extent peer feedback strategies can be applied on a large scale in higher education for complex tasks. This study aimed to design, implement, and evaluate an online-supported peer feedback module for large-scale use to enhance higher education students' argumentative essay writing performance. To do this, 330 students from five different courses at bachelor and master levels followed the online supported peer feedback module. In this module, students were asked to write an argumentative essay about a controversial issue, provide peer feedback for two peers, and revise their original essays based on the received feedback. Three types of data including original essay (pre-test) data, peer feedback data, and revised essay (post-test) data collected. Students also filled out the learning satisfaction questionnaire at the end of the module. The findings showed that the suggested online-supported peer feedback module was effective in improving students' argumentative essay quality in all courses at the bachelor and master levels. The findings also showed there is a difference in the level of students' satisfaction with the module among the courses and between the education levels. The findings of this study provide insights into and add value to the scalability of online peer feedback tools for argumentative essay writing in different contexts. Based on the findings, recommendations for future studies and educational practice are provided.

Teacher profiles in higher education: the move to online education during the COVID-19 crisis

by Omid Noroozi and Harm Biemans

Learning Environments Research, 2023

During the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers were forced to move their teaching completely online. Whil... more During the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers were forced to move their teaching completely online. While some seized the opportunity to learn and innovate, others experienced difficulties. This study provides insights into the differences between university teachers during the COVID-19 crisis. A survey among university teachers (N = 283) was conducted to investigate their attitudes towards online teaching, beliefs about students' learning, level of stress experienced, self-efficacy and beliefs about their own professional development. Employing a hierarchical cluster analysis, four distinct teacher profiles were found. Profile 1 was critical but eager; Profile 2 was positive but stressed; Profile 3 was critical and reluctant; Profile 4 was optimistic and easy-going. The profiles differed significantly in their use and perception of support. We suggest that teacher education research should carefully consider sampling procedures or take a person-centred research approach and that universities should develop targeted forms of teacher communication, support and policy.

The effects of collaborative reasoning strategies on improving primary school students' argumentative decision-making skills

by Omid Noroozi and Seyyed Kazem Banihashem

The Journal of Educational Research, 2022

This study investigates the effects of three Collaborative Reasoning (CR) strategies including pr... more This study investigates the effects of three Collaborative Reasoning (CR) strategies including pre-trained CR, scripted CR, and pre-trained + scripted (mixed) CR on the argumentative decision-making skills of primary school students. Forty-six school students were requested to write a reflective essay on a social-moral issue, and after participating in a six-week story-based CR with three different conditions, they were asked to write their reflective essay. A follow-up test was conducted two weeks later. The results showed that students in the pre-trained CR condition performed better than students in the scripted CR condition with regard to acquiring and transferring decision-making skills. However, compared to students in the mixed CR condition, the performance of the students in the pre-trained condition was lower for acquiring and transferring decision-making skills. In terms of learning satisfaction, students with the mixed CR condition declared higher learning satisfaction compared to students in the other two conditions. We discuss these results and provide agenda for future research and practice.

A systematic review of the role of learning analytics in enhancing feedback practices in higher education

by Omid Noroozi, Stan Van Ginkel, Seyyed Kazem Banihashem, and Harm Biemans

Educational Research Review, 2022

Learning analytics (LA) offers new opportunities to enrich feedback practices in higher education... more Learning analytics (LA) offers new opportunities to enrich feedback practices in higher education, but little is understood about the ways different LA can enhance feedback practices for educators and students. This systematic literature review maps the current state of implementation of LA to improve feedback practices in technology-mediated learning environments in higher education. We used strict inclusion criteria to select relevant studies that have investigated the role of LA on feedback practices. To identify common features of LA for feedback studies, we coded relevant publications using an analytical framework that identifies four key dimensions of LA systems: what (types of data), how (analytic methods), why (objectives), and how educators and students are served by LA (stakeholders). Based on findings, we propose a conceptual framework that can guide the implementation of LA for feedback systems and also suggest future empirical research in this area.

Online peer feedback patterns of success and failure in argumentative essay writing

Interactive Learning Environments, 2022

In peer feedback literature, little is known about the patterns of success for peer feedback acti... more In peer feedback literature, little is known about the patterns of success for peer feedback activities in online learning environments. This study aims to explore the peer feedback patterns of successful, less successful, and unsuccessful higher education students for argumentative essay writing. In this exploratory study, 330 higher education students were asked to perform three tasks in three consecutive weeks. In the first week, they were asked to write an argumentative essay. In the second week, students provided two sets of feedback on their peers’ argumentative essays based on the given criteria. In the third week, students were asked to revise their argumentative essay based on the received feedback. The findings revealed that unsuccessful and less successful students significantly received more affective and descriptive feedback from their peers, while successful students received more feedback related to the identification of the problem from their peers. Furthermore, descriptive and constructive features of feedback were predictors of students’ success in the improvement of argumentative essay writing. The findings of this study provide practical implications for the effective design of peer feedback strategies for improving students’ argumentative essay writing in online learning environments.

The role of students’ epistemic beliefs for their argumentation performance in higher education

Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 2022

Students’ argumentation performance can be influenced by their epistemic beliefs, however, in the... more Students’ argumentation performance can be influenced by their epistemic beliefs, however, in the context of argumentative essay writing and argumentative peer feedback in online setting this has not been clearly investigated. This study explores relationship between students’ epistemic beliefs and argumentation performance regarding essay writing and peer feedback. In total, 101 undergraduate students filled out the epistemic beliefs survey and wrote an argumentative essay. Then, they provided two sets of feedback on the essays of their peers and finally submitted their revised essays. Students’ beliefs about the Internet-specific justification of knowledge did not play a significant role in their argumentation performance in essay writing, while it was related to their constructive peer feedback performance. Students’ beliefs about the nature of scientific knowledge were significantly related to their argumentative essay writing and peer feedback performance. In terms of uptake of peer feedback, no significant role was found for epistemic beliefs.

Gender differences in students' argumentative essay writing, peer review performance and uptake in online learning environments

by Omid Noroozi, Seyyed Kazem Banihashem, and Harm Biemans

Interactive Learning Environments, 2022

This study adopted a pre-test-post-test design to explore gender differences in argumentative ess... more This study adopted a pre-test-post-test design to explore gender differences in argumentative essay writing and peer review performance and uptake within a higher education context. To do this, as part of a bigger project, 101 students were asked to individually write an argumentative essay, engage in peer review activities and revise their original essay based on the received reviews from peers. The findings showed that female students perform better than male students in argumentative essay writing in terms of taking a position on the topic. Gender differences were also found in peer review performance, where females provided better justifications for identified problems in peer review, more constructive reviews and higher quality peer review than males. The findings also revealed that although there was no gender difference in overall peer review uptake, females uptake of peer review resulted in improvement of their arguments against the position in the revised essay. These findings suggest that gender plays a significant role in argumentative essay writing, peer review performance and uptake of the received reviews from peers. Recommendations for future research along with how to deal with these gender differences in educational practice in online settings are provided based on the findings.

The role of motivation in MOOCs' retention rates: a systematic literature review

by Seyyed Kazem Banihashem and Omid Noroozi

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning, 2022

Although MOOCs platforms offer a unique way to provide information for a large cohort of particip... more Although MOOCs platforms offer a unique way to provide information for a large cohort of participants, only a small percentage of participants complete MOOCs. The high number of dropouts in MOOCs is a key challenge, and the literature suggests that it can be affected by participants' motivation. However, it is not known how and to what extent motivation influences participants' dropout in MOOCs. There is a need to provide an overview of the role of motivation in MOOCs' retention. In this study, we aimed to identify motivational factors and theories that affect participants' retention in MOOCs and explain how does motivation supports participants to complete MOOCs. To do so, a systematic review was conducted using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria and a set of relevant keywords and databases which resulted in 50 relevant publications. Our analysis led us to identify six main motivational factors that influence participants' MOOCs completion including academic, social, course, personal, professional, and technological motives. These factors were divided into two main categories including need-based motivation and interest-based motivation. The results showed that academic motives play the most important role in participants' MOOCs retention compared to the other factors. It was also found that self-determination theory was used as the most dominant theory to support participants' motivation for MOOCs completion. In addition, the results revealed that the motivational factors not only impacts participants' MOOCs retention directly, but also this impact is mediated by participant satisfaction, self-regulation, attitude toward using MOOCs, performance, engagement, and level of participation. Based on the results, further implications for practice and future research are provided.

Supporting argumentative essay writing through an online supported peer-review script

by Omid Noroozi and saeed latifi

Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 2021

This study investigated the impact of an online peer-review script on students' argumentative pee... more This study investigated the impact of an online peer-review script on students' argumentative peer-review quality and argumentative essay writing. A pre-and post-test experimental design was used with 42 undergraduate students in the field of educational science. Students were randomly divided over 21 dyads and assigned to two conditions (unscripted and scripted peer-review). Students were first asked to write an original argumentative essay about the topic at hand. Then, students in the scripted condition had to review their peer's argumentative essay based on a peer-review script while students in the unscripted condition reviewed their peer's essay without the script. Finally, all students had to revise their original essay based on the comments of their peers. Students in the scripted peer-review condition outperformed students in the unscripted condition in terms of quality of their argumentative peer-review and argumentative essay writing. These results are discussed and implications are provided.

The mediating role of digital informal learning in the relationship between students' digital competence and their academic performance

Computers & Education, 2021

Students' digital competencies are important for their academic performance. Although scholars ha... more Students' digital competencies are important for their academic performance. Although scholars have highlighted the importance of students' digital informal learning in developing their digital competence, the mediating role of digital informal learning between digital competence and academic performance have remained unexplored. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the mediating role of digital informal learning between higher education students' digital competence and their academic performance. The data were collected from 319 students from Shiraz University in Iran. Data were analysed using structural equation modeling via AMOS. The result showed a positive effect of the students' digital competence on their digital informal learning and academic performance. Moreover, digital informal learning as the mediator variable had a positive effect on the relationship between digital competence and students' academic performance. In conclusion, to improve students' academic performance, educators and curriculum designers should consider both their digital competence and their digital informal learning.

The effects of computer-based virtual learning environments on nursing students' mathematical learning in medication processes

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning, 2021

Computer-based virtual learning environments (CBVLEs) are potentially useful teaching tools for t... more Computer-based virtual learning environments (CBVLEs) are potentially useful teaching tools for training nursing students in professional duties such as the mathematical tasks associated with medication processes. In this study, a CBVLE was designed with well-structured instructional activities such as interleaved practice and feedback. Mathematical medication scenarios and basic arithmetic exercises were integrated into the CBVLE. Four training conditions were used in the CBVLE to facilitate extra support for mathematical medication learning: (1) learning without worked examples, (2) learning with worked examples involving domain-specific knowledge, (3) learning with worked examples involving regular thinking strategies, and (4) learning with combined worked examples. This study was conducted with 118 nursing students enrolled in post-secondary nursing education and Bachelor's nursing programmes. Students were pre-tested and post-tested on their mathematical medication learning. Training in the CBVLE improved mathematical medication learning for all students from pre-test to the post-test stages, but no differences were found among the four different conditions. Nursing students' prior knowledge, non-verbal intelligence, and number of correct tasks predicted mathematical medication learning outcomes. When controlling for non-verbal intelligence, students in the condition 1 benefited more than students in condition 3 in terms of their mathematical medication learning outcomes. The same accounted for the support of the low-achieving students in the CBVLE. The support conditions for the high-achieving group appeared to be unimportant for mathematical medication learning. It seems that technology is taken over some of the capacity of working memory, which accounts for the benefits to the low-achieving learners.

The impacts of constructivist learning design and learning analytics on students' engagement and self-regulation

by Omid Noroozi and Seyyed Kazem Banihashem

Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 2021

So far, the synergistic relationship between learning design and learning analytics and its impac... more So far, the synergistic relationship between learning design and learning analytics and its impact on learners’ educational practices have been investigated. However, little work has been done to show how integrated learning design based on constructivism learning theory and learning analytics can affect learners’ engagement and self-regulation. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of the Constructivist Learning Design and Learning Analytics (CLDLA) Model on learners’ engagement and self-regulation. In this experimental study, 50 graduate students at Iranian’ Allameh Tabataba’i University were asked to participate in a Moodle course called “Teaching Skills” and fill out Agentic Engagement Scale and Self-Regulation Questionnaires in two steps as a pre-test and post-test measurements. Analysis of the data indicated that the CLDLA model has a positive impact on learners’ engagement and self-regulation. Based on the results, recommendations for further research and educational practices are suggested.

Peer feedback or peer feedforward? Enhancing students' argumentative peer learning processes and outcomes

by Omid Noroozi and saeed latifi

British Journal of Educational Technology, 2021

This study compared the effects of support for peer feedback, peer feedforward and their combinat... more This study compared the effects of support for peer feedback, peer feedforward and their combination on students’ peer learning processes, argumentative essay quality and domain‐specific learning. Participants were 86 BSc students who were randomly divided over 43 dyads. These dyads, in a two‐factorial experimental design, were assigned to four conditions including: peer feedback (n = 22), peer feedforward (n = 22), mixed (n = 20) and control group (n = 22) conditions. An online peer feedback environment named EduTech was designed which allowed us to implement various types of support in the form of question prompts. In this online environment, students were asked to write an argumentative essay on a controversial topic, to engage in peer learning processes and to revise their essay. Overall, the results showed that students in the three experimental conditions (peer feedback, peer feedforward and their combination) benefited more than students in the control group condition (without any support) in term of peer learning processes, argumentative essay quality and domain‐specific learning. However, there was no significant difference among the three experimental conditions. This implies that peer feedforward can be as important as peer feedback in collaborative learning environments which is often neglected both in theory and practice.

The effects of using Merrill's first principles of instruction on learning and satisfaction in MOOC

Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 2020

This study investigates the effects of a developed MOOC based on Merrill’s principles of instruct... more This study investigates the effects of a developed MOOC based on Merrill’s principles of instruction on participants’ learning outcomes and satisfaction. A pre-test-post-test with a control group design was used in this study. In total, 335 participants were assigned into experimental (using Merrill’s principles of instruction) and control group (using the conventional method). However, 291 subjects (143 participants from the experimental and 148 participants from the control group condition) remained in the course up to the last session, and only 200 participants (100 participants per each condition) filled in the surveys. The results were in favour of participants in the experimental condition both in terms of learning and satisfaction compared to the participants in the control group condition. By implementing Merrill’s principles of instruction in designing MOOCs and actively engaging participants in a problem-centred learning process, their learning outcomes and satisfaction can be further improved.

Multimodal data indicators for capturing cognitive, motivational, and emotional learning processes: A systematic literature review

by Omid Noroozi and Paul Kirschner

Education and Information Technologies, 2020

This systematic review on data modalities synthesises the research findings in terms of how to op... more This systematic review on data modalities synthesises the research findings in terms of how to optimally use and combine such modalities when investigating cognitive, motivational, and emotional learning processes. ERIC, WoS, and ScienceDirect databases were searched with specific keywords and inclusion criteria for research on data modalities, resulting in 207 relevant publications. We provide findings in terms of target journal, country, subject, participant characteristics, educational level, foci, type of data modality, research method, type of learning, learning setting, and modalities used to study the different foci. In total, 18 data modalities were classified. For the 207 multimodal publications, 721 occurrences of modalities were observed. The most popular modality was interview followed by survey and observation. The least common modalities were heart rate variability, facial expression recognition, and screen recording. From the 207 publications, 98 focused exclusively on the cognitive aspects of learning, followed by 27 publications that only focused on motivation, while only five publications exclusively focused on emotional aspects. Only 10 publications focused on a combination of cognitive, motivational, and emotional aspects of learning. Our results plea for the increased use of objective measures, highlight the need for triangulation of objective and subjective data, and demand for more research on combining various aspects of learning. Further, rather than researching cognitive, motivational, and emotional aspects of learning separately, we encourage scholars to tap into multiple learning processes with multimodal data to derive a more comprehensive view on the phenomenon of learning.

Argumentation-based computer supported collaborative learning (ABCSCL): The role of instructional supports

European Journal of Open Education and E-learning Studies, 2020

This paper investigates the role of instructional supports for argumentation-based computer suppo... more This paper investigates the role of instructional supports for argumentation-based computer supported collaborative learning (ABCSCL), a teaching approach that improves the quality of learning processes and outcomes. Relevant literature has been reviewed to identify the instructional supports in ABCSCL environments. A range of instructional supports in ABCSCL is proposed including scaffolding, scripting, and representational tools. Each of these instructional supports are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the extent to which and the way in which such instructional supports can be applied in ABCSCL environments are discussed. Finally, suggestions for future work and implications for the design of ABCSCL environments are provided.

Students' online argumentative peer feedback, essay writing, and content learning: does gender matter

by Omid Noroozi and Harm Biemans

Interactive Learning Environments, 2020

Whilst the importance of online peer feedback and writing argumentative essays for students in hi... more Whilst the importance of online peer feedback and writing argumentative essays for students in higher education is unquestionable, there is a need for further research into whether and the extent to which female and male students differ with regard to their argumentative feedback, essay writing, and content learning in online settings. The current study used a pre-test, post-test design to explore the extent to which female and male students differ regarding their argumentative feedback quality, essay writing and content learning in an online environment. Participants were 201 BSc biotechnology students who wrote an argumentative essay, engaged in argumentative peer feedback with learning partners in the form of triads and finally revised their original argumentative essay. The findings revealed differences between females and males in terms of the quality of their argumentative feedback. Female students provided higher-quality argumentative feedback than male students. Although all students improved their argumentative essay quality and also knowledge content from pre-test to post-test, these improvements were not significantly different between females and males. Explanations for these findings and recommendations are provided.

Studies on Education, Science, and Technology

ISTES, 2022

Chapter Highlights ➢ This chapter is part of a pragmatic epistemological posture (Creswell, 2007)... more Chapter Highlights ➢ This chapter is part of a pragmatic epistemological posture (Creswell, 2007), in the sense that we are essentially interested in "what works" in a given teaching context, by granting an equivalent value as much to research carried out in a positivist rather than an interpretative paradigm. ➢ In order to describe the current state of scientific knowledge relating to the flipped classroom in higher education, both from the point of view of students and teachers, by making a diagnostic reading dissecting the points of similarities and differentiating between flipped teaching and educational governance, we conducted a literature search in databases and search engines. ➢ The results of the analysis were translated into a narrative synthesis describing the relationship between the flipped teaching method and university governance. ➢ We reinforced our study with a questionnaire addressed to international students in a German university to which the reverse teaching method was applied in the teaching of the German language. Flippe d L e ar ning Me t hod: A St re ngthen ing or Contradict ion of t he Educat ional Gove r nance Pr inciple s? 8

Collaborative and Distributed E-Research: Innovations in Technologies, Strategies and Applications