Research Status and Trends of Online Learning Platforms in China

and Abroad

Jiaqi Guo and Wei Zhang

Beijing University of Technology, Institute of higher Education, China

Keywords: Online learning platform, Online learning, Social media, China, Review.

Abstract: As a tool which can’t be ignored in online teaching, online learning platform has always been the focus of

researchers. The variety of online learning platforms are rich and powerful, which is of great help to

teaching practice. There have been many researches on online learning platform in the past few years. In

order to ensure normal teaching during the epidemic period of COVID-19 in 2020, scholars' research on

online learning platform was pushed to a new height. At present, there are few reviews that classify the

online learning platform from the category. This paper classifies the online learning platforms in China and

abroad, and systematically combs the current research status of online learning platforms at China and

abroad from each category. The results show that the types of online learning platforms in China are mainly

divided into live broadcast form, MOOC form and APP form, in which more attention is paid to teaching

practice, teaching design and teaching reform. The types of abroad online learning platforms are mainly

divided into learning management system (LMS) and social learning network (SLN). They pay more

attention to the use effect, the prediction of students' learning behavior and the feasibility of the application

of social media in teaching. Future research can pay more attention to the use of social media software in

online teaching, so as to provide more possibilities for Internet teaching.

1 INTRODUCTION

As the support of online learning and blended

learning, online learning platforms widely appears

in teaching life and becomes a necessary tool for

auxiliary teaching. At present, the most widely used

online teaching platforms in the world are

Blackboard, Moodle and Microsoft Teams. In

China, online teaching platforms with more users

include Superstar Learning APP, Rain Classroom,

Tencent Meeting and so on. During the COVID-19

epidemic in 2020, as a tool to protect health and

maintain normal teaching activities, the online

teaching platforms attracted more attention in the

educational circles and promoted the related

research to a deeper level. Before the epidemic of

COVID-19, the research on the exploration of

online learning platforms paid more attention to the

effect of use and effectiveness of the platform.

Keith and Yoo (2018) tested the use of Google

classroom and found that the use of Google

classroom increased students' classroom

participation and made the classroom more

dynamic. Sadequle (2019) found that the use of

Google classroom can help teachers better complete

the teaching work and help better communication

between teachers and students. After the COVID-19

epidemic, people not only pay attention to the

verification of the use effect of the online teaching

platform, but also pay attention to the students' use

experience, the choice of online teaching strategies

and the feasibility of different types of network

communication platforms in teaching. Basania

(2020) surveyed students' views on Edmodo

software as an online learning tool, and found that

Edmodo enhances students' creativity, promotes the

development of interaction and communication

ability, and improves the activity of thinking.

Ngepathimo and John (2021) proposed that in the

online teaching during the epidemic period of

COVID-19, we should not only pay attention to

solve the technical problems such as network and

interface, but also promote the development of

students' critical thinking through reasonable

teaching and rational use of the functions of the

online learning platforms, so as to meet the learning

needs of the new normal period. Through the online

teaching of EFL students using Facebook, İbrahim

Guo, J. and Zhang, W.

Research Status and Trends of Online Learning Platforms in China and Abroad.

DOI: 10.5220/0011913600003613

In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on New Media Development and Modernized Education (NMDME 2022), pages 445-450

ISBN: 978-989-758-630-9

 2023 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. Under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

445

(2021) found that the vocabulary mastery of

students using Facebook was better than that of

traditional teaching. Through the above analysis, we

can find that the current research on the online

learning platforms is mostly direct research on the

platform, but lack of systematic classification of the

online learning platforms. This paper systematically

classifies the online learning platforms and reviews

the literature of the online learning platforms from

the category to help people understand the current

research trend of the online learning platforms. At

the same time, the categories and research focus on

online learning platforms in China and abroad are

compared to enrich the research on China online

learning platforms and provide more possibilities

for online teaching.

2 METHODOLOGY

In the form of literature review, this study

systematically combs the research of online learning

platforms in China and abroad, and grasps the

current research status and research progress. By

sorting out the relevant literature, the online

learning platform is divided into different

categories, and the literature is sorted out according

to the category, researchers can refer to the results

of this study to understand the current research

situation in the field of online learning platforms in

China and abroad, and to understand the similarities

and differences between Chinese and abroad online

learning platforms by comparing their respective

research emphases, and then put forward targeted

suggestions for improvement and improvement of

the future online education practice, in order to

obtain better online teaching results. The typical

research articles which are studied in this paper are

shown in table 1:

Table 1. Typical research articles studied in this paper

Author Name China or Abroad Research articles studied

E. B. Siahaan Abroad Students' Perception of Edmodo Use as a Learning Tool

E. Evgenievich

Egorov, etc.

Abroad

Moodle LMS: Positive and Negative Aspects of Using Distance

Education in Higher Education Institutions

J. H. Liang China

Research on the marketing strategy of Xueersi online education platform.

Modern Marketing (Business Edition)

J. Wu China Who should learn and think?. Invention & Innovation

J. H. Du China

Discussion on online higher Mathematics Teaching practice and Reform

based on "Super Star platform + Tencent Meeting"

K. R. Heggart, J.

Yoo

Abroad

Getting the Most from Google Classroom: A Pedagogical Framework for

Tertiar

Educators

M.Yu, etc. China Practice of online and offline mixed Teaching based on MOOC

M. S. Islam Abroad

Bangladeshi University Students' Perception on Using Google Classroom

for Teaching English

M. I. Mukhlif, A. a. I.

Challob

Abroad

Enhancing Vocabulary Knowledge among Secondary School EFL

Students by Using Facebook

N. Kadhila, J.

Nyambe

Abroad

Barriers to the Quality of Emergency Online Pedagogies in Higher

Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study from the

University of Namibia

N. Kerimbayev, etc. Abroad

Virtual educational environment: interactive communication using LMS

Moodle

R. Conijn, etc. Abroad

Predicting Student Performance from LMS Data: A Comparison of 17

Blended Courses Using Moodle LMS

V. Maphosa Abroad

A UTAUT Evaluation of WhatsApp as a Tool for Lecture Delivery

during the COVID-19 Lockdown at a Zimbabwean University

X. H. Yang, T. Meng China

Application of Tencent Meeting combined with flipped classroom in

MBBS production Teaching under the epidemic situation. Health

Vocational Education

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446

X. Y. Wang, Y. Li China

Application of PBL Joint flipping Classroom based on Rain classroom in

Obstetrics and Gynecology Teaching under the background of epidemic

situation

X. X. Dong China

A study on the Application of blended Teaching based on "Rain

Classroom" in Pharmacolo

case discussion

X. C. Hu, etc. China

Does China need mathematics education like "Xueersi online learning

APP"?

Y. Wang, etc. China

Design and practice of online flipping classroom Teaching Model based

on "SPOC+ Live"-- taking Internal Combustion engine course as an

exam

Y. Y. Xu, J. Li China

Blended Teaching practice of Foreign Architectural History course based

on Rain Classroom. Technology Win

Z. Li, L. B. Yu China

The Construction and Teaching effect of Engineering Chemistry SPOC.

Journal of Chemical Education

2.1 Research Question

The objective of this paper is to explore the current

research status of online learning in China and

abroad. By doing so, it is hoped that the advantages

and disadvantages of current situation could be

found and it could be a reference for the future

research in this area.

In order to clarify the focus of the research, this

paper puts forward the following research

questions:

Q1: What are the current researches on online

learning platforms in China?

Q2: Which aspects are the current researches on

online learning platforms in abroad?

2.2 Searching Strategy

In order to solve this research questions, this paper

uses the keyword “online learning platform” and

“online teaching platform” to search in ERIC and

CNKI. Through a comprehensive search of

keywords, to comprehensively obtain the research

literature about the online learning platform.

Literature retrieval is carried out in different

databases, among which abroad literature retrieval

mainly comes from ERIC. Chinese literature

retrieval mainly comes from CNKI.

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In the selection of literature, we select the categories

of educational research, publicly available journal

papers, conference papers and degree papers.

Respectively sort out and summarize the collected

Chinese and English literature to answer the two

questions raised above. Therefore, this section is

divided into two parts, one is the current researches

on online learning platforms in China, the other is

the aspects of the current researches on online

learning platforms in abroad.

3.1 What are the Current Researches

on Online Learning Platforms in

China?

At present, the research of online learning platform

has received great attention in China. By using the

CNKI to search the relevant literature, the results

are shown in Figure 1. It can be found that after the

COVID-19 epidemic in 2019, the number of

research on online learning platform and online

teaching platform increased significantly.Compared

with 2020, the number of related articles has

decreased in 2021, but on the whole, the research on

online learning platform is still the focus of

educational circles.

Figure 1 The number of related papers in CNKI from

2019 to 2021

The current Chinese research on the online

learning platforms can be summarized from the

following three categories:

One is the online course platforms for real-time

teaching in the form of live broadcast.

Representatives of this type are Tencent Meeting,

ZOOM and Ding Talk. In view of the above several

Research Status and Trends of Online Learning Platforms in China and Abroad

447

live broadcast as the main form of online education

platform, in the specific teaching, many scholars

have put forward their own thoughts on teaching

practice and reform. Du (2021) provides some

suggestions on online higher mathematics learning

based on Tencent conference from three aspects:

teaching organization, teaching resources and

teaching implementation. For MBBS production

teaching, Yang and Meng (2021) proposed to

combine Tencent conference with flipped

classroom, and found that this teaching model helps

to improve the learning performance of MBBS

students in all aspects. Wang et.al (2021) designed

the flipped classroom teaching mode of SPOC+ live

broadcast by combining nail with MOOC of

Chinese universities, and achieved good results in

teaching practice. Li et.al (2021) adopted the

teaching mode of SPOC teaching and live broadcast

of answering questions after class in engineering

chemistry class. It can be found that live online

learning platform is used more frequently,

especially during the COVID-19 epidemic, teachers

actively explore the integration of live broadcast

platform and online education in order to maintain

the normal order of education and teaching. In the

related research, more live broadcast platforms and

MOOC are used to form a flipped classroom, so as

to obtain better learning and teaching results.

The second is online learning platforms with

MOOC as the main form of high-quality resource

sharing. The representatives of this type are Chinese

University MOOC, Superstar Learning APP, and

Rain Classroom and so on. The research on MOOC

platform mainly focuses on the combination of

MOOC and traditional face to face classroom, the

reform and improvement of MOOC teaching design

and the promotion strategy of MOOC platform

interaction. Starting from the teaching aspect, Yu

et.al (2021) have done some research on the teaching

mode of the combination of online and offline

courses. Wang (2021), Dong (2021) and Xu (2021)

all combine Rain Classroom as the main online

learning environment with traditional offline courses

to explore hybrid applications in different

disciplines. This kind of MOOC online learning

platform is more likely to be combined with the

traditional classroom for blended learning or

teaching.

The third is online learning platforms based on

APP. The representatives of this type are Xueersi

online school, GOTU Classroom and APe

counseling and so on. With regard to this type of

platforms, the search results on CNKI are mostly

about its enrollment and business model, as well as

thinking about the popularity of online tutoring

APP. Taking learning and thinking as an example,

Liang (2020) analyzed the problems existing in the

marketing strategy of the learning and thinking

online learning platform, and put forward some

suggestions. In addition, scholars such as Wu (2017)

and Hu (2016) have thought about the learning

nature of online education APP, and analyzed

whether platforms such as Xueersi online school are

really "cultivating students' interest" as advertised,

or selling parents' anxiety and increasing students'

burden. It can be found that there is relatively little

discussion about online education and teaching.

This type of online learning platform is more like a

paid MOOC course, the audience is biased towards

primary and secondary school groups, and the

curriculum content is more targeted.

3.2 Which Aspects are the Current

Researches on Online Learning

Platforms in Abroad?

There is a lot of talk about the use and effect of

online learning platforms in abroad. Abroad online

teaching platforms are mainly divided into two

types. One is the platforms that belongs to the

learning management system (LMS), such as

Blackboard and Moodle. The other is platforms

belonging to social learning networks (SLN), such

as Edmodo, WhatsApp and Microsoft teams. The

change in the number of articles about LMS and

SLN in Web of Science from 2019 to 2021 is shown

in Figure 2. It can be found that, compared with

2019, the research on these two types of online

learning platforms has increased significantly in

2020 and 2021.

Figure 2 The number of related papers in Web of Science

from 2019 to 2021.

Learning Management system (LMS) platform,

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which is specially used for teaching, has a strong

pertinence. The use of LMS can help students

arrange web-based learning tasks and provide

electronic classrooms for synchronous and

asynchronous learning. Abroad scholars pay more

attention to the effect of use. For example, in

distance learning during the epidemic, Evgeny et.al

(2021) conducted a survey of freshmen to seniors

who had quarantined themselves during the

epidemic and found that the Moodle platform had

become an effective learning tool during the

epidemic, and the value of Moodle as a means of

participating in interactive communication and

learning in the educational process of learners has

increased.

In addition, this kind of LMS has a large number

of data of students' learning, and students' progress

in all educational activities can be observed through

the online learning tasks assigned in the classroom.

For the number of clicks on online courses, to a

certain extent, students' learning performance can

also be predicted. Taking Moodle as an example,

Rianne et.al (2016) compared 17 blended learning

courses using Moodle, the representative software

of LMS courses. The results show that although the

differences between courses are large and more

detailed theoretical reasoning is needed to obtain

generalized results. However, learning analysis can

still be used to analyze individual courses, to predict

student performance and to evaluate curriculum

design. Studies by Nurassyl et.al (2020) have

proved that Moodle is an advanced strategic

solution for planning, implementing and managing

learning activities, while the use of Moodle helps to

improve students' ability, motivation and learning

satisfaction. This type of online communication is

very attractive for both students and teachers.

Social learning network (SLN) is to apply all

kinds of social media software which is not

originally aim to used for education in online

education to attract students' interest, promote

communication, and gradually develop new usage

in education and teaching. In this part, scholars pay

more attention to the feasibility and teaching effect

of using it in online learning and face to face

teaching. In terms of feasibility, some scholars

believe that the use of some emerging social media

in online learning is a formal innovation, and there

are many benefits. Take Edmodo as an example,

Gürhan (2017) analyzes the use of Edmodo

software in the classroom from an academic point

of view. Through a questionnaire survey of 50

experts and scholars, it is found that although there

are some drawbacks in the use of social software,

Edmodo software is different from the traditional

social software (SNS) and rarely has the

characteristics of disturbing the classroom. At the

same time, Edmodo software supports the

organization and discipline in learning, and can give

students timely feedback and free communication.

Therefore, as a form of curriculum innovation,

future experts will still use Edmodo software for

teaching activities in the course. In terms of

teaching effect, take WhatsApp as an example.

Vusumuzi et.al (2020) used WhatsApp as the only

teaching platform during the epidemic, and 200

students were selected for questionnaire survey. The

results show that the students' attitude, behavior

intention and platform usefulness of using

WhatsApp are higher, indicating that the students

have a higher degree of use. Schools will easily

integrate the platform to enhance or subvert

traditional face-to-face courses. WhatsApp can

support learning in the 21st century through

autonomous, collaborative and learner-centered

education.

4 CONCLUSION

This study makes a systematic literature review of

the research on online learning platforms at China

and abroad. To sum up, the types of online learning

platforms in China are mainly divided into live

broadcast form, MOOC form and APP form of

online teaching platforms. Among them, scholars

pay more attention to teaching practice, teaching

design and teaching reform. Abroad online learning

platforms are mainly divided into learning

management system (LMS) and social learning

network (SLN). Among them, scholars pay more

attention to the use effect, the prediction of students'

learning behavior and the feasibility of the

application of social media in teaching. It can be

found that there are relatively rich types of research

on online education platforms abroad, including not

only professional education platform research, but

also focus on social media, which greatly improves

the possibility of learning platform. China online

learning platforms are all based on special web sites

or software. If you want to interact and

communicate, you must download the software or

log on to a specific web site. The complexity of the

application have a certain impact on students'

participation, completion and satisfaction in online

learning. Therefore, the future research on online

learning platforms can pay more attention to the

development and use of social media. Through

Research Status and Trends of Online Learning Platforms in China and Abroad

449

systematic carding, this study can help researchers

understand the types and research status of online

learning platforms, help teachers to correctly choose

a suitable online teaching platform, and make

rational use of the functions of the platform to

achieve better teaching results. This paper also has

some limitations, because the choice of literature

retrieval websites is limited, and the research results

are only produced by a few selected keywords, so

some articles may not be included. It is hoped that

in the future research, more reference papers could

be included to get a more comprehensive picture.

Online learning is developing fast worldwide,

especially after the appearance of COVID-19.

Therefore it is hoped that the comparison of online

learning research between China and abroad in this

paper could help to reveal the advantages and

disadvantages of online learning development in

different countries. More importantly, this paper

could provide a reference for the research and

reform direction in the future.

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