Internship of Accounting Students in the Form of E-Learning: Insights from Poland

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed on us not only e-learning with higher education providers, but also triggered considerable difficulties in organization internships. Institutions and enterprises that used to be eager to take interns have refused to do so. In these conditions, the key objective for the Faculty of Management at the UTP University in Bydgoszcz was to organize e-internships to ensure a working environment similar to the real working conditions of the accounting department. A new internship program was developed that implemented the assumptions of active learning, by virtue of the case study approach, computer-based learning environments, and a comprehensive task simulating the work of the accounting department in the form of a multi-step project. The key objective of this article is to present the results of research in the form of a survey on how the students majoring in Finance and Accounting perceive the proposed internship method. The results show that an internship in the form of e-learning with the proposed education methods is appreciated by the students. E-learning does not necessarily have to be less effective than traditional learning. The use of platforms and the selecting of adequate methods can enhance the activity of students, supporting self-education and independent task performance.

Do self-created metacognitive prompts promote short- and long-term effects in computer-based learning environments?

Students must engage in self-regulated learning in computer-based learning environments; however, many students experience difficulties in doing so. Therefore, this study aims to investigate self-created metacognitive prompts as a means of supporting students in their learning process and improving their learning performance. We conducted an experimental study with a between-subject design. The participants learned with self-created metacognitive prompts (n = 28) or without prompts (n = 29) in a hypermedia learning environment for 40 min while thinking aloud. In a second learning session (stability test), all participants learned about a different topic without prompts. The results showed no clear effect of the self-created metacognitive prompts on the learning process and performance. A deeper analysis revealed that students’ prompt utilization had a significant effect on performance in the second learning session. This study contributes to the research investigating how students can be supported in ways that enhance their learning process and performance.

Preservice teacher disengagement with computer-based learning environments

Investigating disengagement is a continuing concern within computer-based learning environments. Drawing upon several strands of research into preservice teacher learning with network-based tutors, this paper outlines an object orientation to conceptualize a type of disengaged behaviour referred to as carelessness. We further differentiate this construct in terms of carelessness towards one’s own learning as opposed to other’s learning. In support of our claims, we review research into carelessness in the context of nBrowser, an intelligent web browser designed to support preservice teachers learn about the pedagogical affordances of novel technologies while designing lesson plans. The key aspects of this research can be listed as follows: (1) a knowledge engineering approach to implement a set of production rules within the learning environment to detect instances of carelessness and intervene; (2) a data-driven approach to infer learner behaviours in their absence due to carelessness; and (3) a model-driven approach to improve the functioning of the learning environment despite instances of carelessness. We discuss the limitations of these different approaches and draw implications for future research into preservice teacher disengagement with computer-based learning environments.