Past, present, and future of smart learning: a topic-based bibliometric analysis

Abstract

AbstractInnovative information and communication technologies have reformed higher education from the traditional way to smart learning. Smart learning applies technological and social developments and facilitates effective personalized learning with innovative technologies, especially smart devices and online technologies. Smart learning has attracted increasing research interest from the academia. This study aims to comprehensively review the research field of smart learning by conducting a topic modeling analysis of 555 smart learning publications collected from the Scopus database. In particular, it seeks answers to (1) what the major research topics concerning smart learning were, and (2) how these topics evolved. Results demonstrate several major research issues, for example,Interactive and multimedia learning,STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education,Attendance and attention recognition,Blended learning for smart learning, andAffective and biometric computing. Furthermore, several emerging topics were identified, for example,Smart learning analytics,Software engineering for e-learning systems,IoT (Internet of things) and cloud computing, andSTEM education. Additionally, potential inter-topic directions were highlighted, for instance,Attendance and attention recognitionandIoT and cloud computing,Semantics and ontologyandMobile learning,Feedback and assessmentandMOOCs (massive open online courses) and course content management, as well asBlended learning for smart learningandEcosystem and ambient intelligence.