Speaker sessions - topic-specific

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Monday November 2, 2020

Digital technology in educational practices – C

3:15–3:45PM – Presentation 1

Online university courses: from perseverance to dropping out, various factors for consideration

The dropout rate in distance education is often cited as a limitation of this teaching/learning mode. Perseverance in university studies, especially at the undergraduate level, is, in fact, often viewed as problematic. Distance education adds other factors that could influence the academic journey. A number of researchers have found that even if previous academic results remain the best indicator of success and perseverance at the post-secondary level, some students drop out because they are unable to adapt to the university environment. As students begin online university courses, what factors are likely to influence them to persevere or drop out? Most of the research examines the influence of a specific factor, but we intend to present some results of a study focussing on learners’ socio-demographic profiles, as well as their learning strategies and the instructional design of courses taken and the coaching they received. One observation of many is that the study of course design (which is rarely done) yields promising results.

3:45–5:15PM – Mini-symposium

Collaboration: the core of research and projects carried out by GRIIPTIC members in the COVID-19 era

This mini-symposium presents various projects and studies conducted by researchers and student-researchers who are members of GRIIPTIC. All of the projects are the result of major collaboration between: i) the two groups and ii) GRIIPTIC members and practitioners. One of the topics covered is the Digital Competency Framework, the most recent policy (coordinated by GRIIPTIC) governing digital technology in education in Quebec, from the primary grades to university, for both learners and instructors. We will also present two results of studies that could not have been completed without practitioners’ close collaboration: one on the inverted classroom and another on benefits and challenges during a pandemic. Another presentation will discuss our Boussole numérique project, an annual study of digital technology among Quebecers. The guide on telepresence in videoconferencing will also be presented, and we will close with a brief overview of two MOOCs on digital technology in education, run by the members of GRIIPTIC.

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