Research Outputs
Virtual Communities of Practice on Linkedin: A Study on Self-Directed, Work-Related Learning
Design Criteria for Instructional Videos
The use of videos in teaching is becoming more and more widespread. For this purpose, not only existing videos are used, but also exclusive videos are created. There are different types of instructional videos used and created for teaching. It is useful to know which design principles these videos should follow in order to evaluate the quality of existing learning videos and to know the criteria one should consider when creating exclusive instructional videos. Therefore, questions arise as to how these videos should be designed to equally support theory and practice and what educational requirements they should meet for the use in teaching. These questions are answered with the framework of the study in hand that applied the method design-based research, incorporating qualitative and quantitative research methods. Survey instruments were guided interviews with experts, questionnaires for school students and a focus group. Participants in the study were teachers and students from the Vienna University of Teacher Education. The field of application was nutrition and consumer education for teaching students of the middle school. The results are presented in the form of design principles
The Facilitation of Digital Literacy in EFL Classes
Digital literacy has become an essential form of literacy for the students of the 21st century. This development had been significantly accelerated by the Covid- 19 pandemic, when all students in Austria had to switch to distance learning at some point between the years 2020 and 2022. Based on a web-based survey conducted among Austrian EFL students, this paper aims to investigate the current status of digital literacy among 5th and 6th grade EFL students from their perspective. A special focus is placed on students who have received a digital device for e-Learning purposes within the school year 2021/2022. The following key results were observed: Students have a generally positive attitude towards e-Learning that also shows a connection to their level of digital skills. Furthermore, there are significant differences in experiences and attitudes toward e- Learning based on grade level. Further research into manifold areas of digital literacy could be beneficial in order to gain a deeper understanding of the topic and practical assistance for educators and students.
EFL Teaching in a Digital Environment
English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching has, similarly to all other subjects, gone through a digital transformation that was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Quarantines and subsequent distance learning led to new paths of teaching languages that opened up new chances to facilitate language learning. This web-based survey, conducted among Austrian secondary school students, aimed to identify methods and tools used in the EFL classroom, predictors for students’ digital skills and chances that can be utilized in the future. The following key results were observed: English classes during the school year 2021/2022 offered a wide variety of tools that the students worked with and improved in. Furthermore, the analysis showed that English language skills significantly influence and predict the improvement of students’ digital skills. Finally, multiple chances for working with digital devices in the EFL classroom could be extrapolated from the results of the survey.