Eliani Boton is a Lecturer: Academic Development at the University of South Australia (UniSA), specialising in the creation of blended and fully online learning experiences that enhance student outcomes. Her work focuses on inclusive, high-quality programs that combine traditional and innovative teaching approaches to foster engagement and academic success.
Eliani's PhD research in Educational Technology focused on improving student retention in online education, exploring factors such as cultural issues, motivation, Learning Management Systems, and online pedagogies. Through qualitative case studies with online lecturers from six countries, she identified effective strategies for enhancing student engagement, underscoring the important... Read more
About me
Eliani Boton is a Lecturer: Academic Development at the University of South Australia (UniSA), specialising in the creation of blended and fully online learning experiences that enhance student outcomes. Her work focuses on inclusive, high-quality programs that combine traditional and innovative teaching approaches to foster engagement and academic success.
Eliani's PhD research in Educational Technology focused on improving student retention in online education, exploring factors such as cultural issues, motivation, Learning Management Systems, and online pedagogies. Through qualitative case studies with online lecturers from six countries, she identified effective strategies for enhancing student engagement, underscoring the important role of educators in online learning environments.
Prior to joining UniSA, Eliani contributed her expertise to Monash University, where she provided educational advice and design expertise to support academic and professional staff. This role involved a comprehensive approach to unit revitalisation, ensuring that units were constructively aligned and designed with authentic assessments. Additionally, as an Online Learning Advisor for fully online postgraduate courses at Queensland University of Technology, Eliani supports student learning in the Graduate Certificate in Education (Innovative Learning Design) and the Master of Education.
Her research background includes significant contributions to the Whole of Community Engagement initiative at Charles Darwin University, where she collaborated with remote Aboriginal communities to promote an educational reform that is inclusive, culturally respectful, and community-driven.
Eliani’s contributions have been recognised with a Dean's Award for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (Business School) and a DVCE Role Model Award for Educational Design at Monash University, celebrating her innovative approaches to enhancing student learning.
About me
Eliani’s PhD research focused on Educational Technology, specifically exploring how digital tools can be integrated into higher education to enhance teaching, learning, and student engagement. Her work examined the effective use of technology in curriculum delivery and its impact on student engagement and retention.
Eliani’s current research interests include supporting academics in curriculum development, and the use of technology to create more engaging, accessible, and efficient learning environments. She is particularly focused on the role of AI in shaping the future of education and the ways in which it can support both teaching practices and student success.
Research
___________________ Doctoral Thesis (PhD) _____________________
Boton, E. (2016). Strategies for higher retention in online degree programs. University of New England, Armidale, Australia. https://www.academia.edu/28950618/Strategies_for_higher_retention_in_online_degree_courses
_____________________ Journal Articles _______________________
Moore, T., Boton, E., Street, C., Gundjarranbuy, R., & Maypilama, E. L. (2022). The Whole of Community Engagement initiative: Interculturality in remote Aboriginal education. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 51(2). DOI 10.55146/ajie.v51i2.38 https://ajie.atsis.uq.edu.au/ajie/article/view/38/575
Boton, E. & Gregory, S. (2015). Minimizing attrition in online degree courses. The Journal of Educators Online, 12(1), 62–90. https://www.academia.edu/10622637/Minimizing_Attrition_in_Online_Degree_Courses
________________Refereed Conference Proceedings______________
Boton, E. & Gregory, S. (2015). LMS Integration in Higher Degree Programs. In Proceedings of IAC-TLEl 2015 in Vienna (pp. 6–11). Vienna, Austria: Czech Institute of Academic Education z.s. https://www.academia.edu/19011886/LMS_Integration_in_Higher_Degree_Programs
Australian Association for Research in Education (Darwin, 2016): Understanding the aspirations of remote Aboriginal communities to pursue further education: The benefits of collaborative research
https://www.nintione.com.au/resources/rao/understanding-the-aspirations-of-remote-aboriginal-communities-to-pursue-further-education-the-benefits-of-collaborative-research/
______________________Other Publications______________________
Boton, E. (2024, March 18). From Chalkboards to Algorithms: Innovative Pedagogy in the Age of Al. Training and Development Magazine, 51(1), 42-45. https://www.flipsnack.com/aitdpublications/00_mar-24-digital/full-view.html
Boton, E. (2022, Dec 6). The Real Tech Revolution is the New Learning Transformation. Training and Development Magazine 49(4), 34-36. https://www.flipsnack.com/aitdpublications/training-development-december-2022.html
Boton, E. (2022, Jan 28). Making Online Content As Engaging As Your Students' Social Media Feed. eLearning Industry. https://elearningindustry.com/making-online-content-as-engaging-as-your-students-social-media-feed
Whole of Community Engagement Initiative: final report for Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Programme (HEPPP) Indigenous Grants Round 2013 publication date: Nov 1, 2017. https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/228728790?selectedversion=NBD61033710
Research
Eliani’s PhD research focused on Educational Technology, specifically exploring how digital tools can be integrated into higher education to enhance teaching, learning, and student engagement. Her work examined the effective use of technology in curriculum delivery and its impact on student engagement and retention.
Eliani’s current research interests include supporting academics in curriculum development, and the use of technology to create more engaging, accessible, and efficient learning environments. She is particularly focused on the role of AI in shaping the future of education and the ways in which it can support both teaching practices and student success.
2023 Vice-Chancellor's Education, Research and Professional Excellence Awards. Role Model Award (Educational Designer).
2023 Dean's Award for Innovation in Learning and Teaching Elevate Team - This is in recognition of our exceptional joint contribution to the student learning experience of Monash Business School over the year.
External engagement & recognition