Sustainable Inspiration of Flexible Education—Second Edition

Dear Colleagues,

The global COVID-19 pandemic has instigated a paradigm shift in teaching and learning across all educational levels. One of the most consequential transformations is the wide adoption of online or blended learning mediated by educational technologies, including virtual classrooms, open online courses, collaborative virtual environments, social media, and artificial intelligence (Peñarrubia-Lozano et al., 2021; Chen, 2022). Initially, these adaptations were necessitated by social distancing measures, aiming to enable flexible learning during unprecedented times. However, as we progress into the current era, the objective has evolved to harness these technologies, especially recent advancements in artificial intelligence, to enhance, enrich, and sustain flexible learning in the post-pandemic era.

While the inherent traits of these technologies, such as connectivity, interactivity, and intelligence, undeniably foster novel forms of flexible learning, a comprehensive exploration of their capacity to meet the evolving learning needs and expectations in this “new normal” era remains a critical undertaking. Given the likelihood of the current situation persisting, it is imperative for researchers and practitioners in the field to conceptualize, develop, and evaluate various technology-mediated measures, approaches, and practices to ensure the sustainability and enhancement of flexible learning.

The aim of this Special Issue is to solicit new findings regarding how flexible education can be sustained and enhanced with technology-mediated measures, approaches, and practices. Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Adaptive learning;
• Application of AI in teaching and learning;
• Assessments for blended learning;
• Computer-supported collaborative learning;
• Content development for blended learning;
• Enriching the learning experience with blended learning;
• Improved flexibility in learning processes;
• Intelligent assessment tools;
• Intelligent student advising;
• Intelligent tutoring systems;
• Interactive blended learning systems;
• Learning analytics and education big data;
• Pedagogical and psychological issues;
• Personalized learning with AI;
• Practices in borderless education;
• Strategies for blended learning;
• Technology-enabled sustainable teaching and learning strategies;
• The ethical, legal, and social implications of AI in education;
• Other topics related to sustainability in education.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

References

1. Chen, R.H. Effects of Deliberate Practice on Blended Learning Sustainability: A Community of Inquiry Perspective. Sustainability 2022, 14, 1785.
2. Peñarrubia-Lozano, C.; Segura-Berges, M.; Lizalde-Gil, M.; Bustamante, J.C. A qualitative analysis of implementing e-learning during the COVID-19 lockdown. Sustainability 2021, 13, 3317.

Prof. Dr. Harrison Hao Yang
Dr. Richard Chen Li
Dr. Lap Kei Lee
Dr. Simon K. S. Cheung
Dr. Lam For Kwok
Guest Editors

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• flexible learning
• sustainable education
• online learning
• blended learning
• technology-mediated learning
• open education