scholarly journals The Constructive Overlap: A Study of Multiplex Ties in Students’ Study-Related Networks and Academic Performance

Author(s):  
Annika Fjelkner-Pihl

AbstractThis article adds to a growing body of literature on how various types of social relations can work synergistically to promote students' academic success. Students’ study-related social networks affect academic outcome in higher education. The network literature in education generally explores students’ various relations separately, rather than their multiplex relations or when individuals share several relations. This approach risks missing the full complexity of the student experience. The aim of the present study is to add to the discussion on student social networks and attainment in higher education by further exploring multiplex relations maintained in a specific study program, in which a large share of students in the cohort commute. A survey was distributed to students in one cohort (n = 146). The findings revealed that, in this cohort, students’ friendship, working and learning networks overlap substantially, and that centrality in the friendship and in the student multiplex networks was positively and significantly related to academic outcome, whereas centrality in the working and learning networks was not. Points for future research are suggested, and practical implications for those supporting student learning in higher education are discussed.

Author(s):  
Latinka Ivanova Todoranova ◽  
Radka Valerieva Nacheva ◽  
Vladimir Stoyanov Sulov ◽  
Bonimir Penchev Penchev

Mobile learning can be identified as the next stage in the development of e-learning. In this regard, <strong>the purpose of this paper</strong> is to propose a model for mobile learning integration in higher education which is based on analysis of students’ expectations. То achieve this goal, a survey has been conducted among students enrolled in programs in the field of information and communication technologies. The analysis of the collected data shows that students have mobile devices, which they use not only for communication on social networks, but also for education. In addition, their expectations regarding mobile learning have been identified taking into account their study program and their previous experience with an e-learning platform.


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sobia Shujaat ◽  

Purpose: The current study was based on analyzing effect of team work on employee satisfaction, as team work is considered to be a crucial factor for achieving organizational goals. Methodology/Sampling: A survey was conducted among 384 employees from different organization to analyze their team work experience. Regression analysis was applied to access the significance of linear relationship on data under study. Findings: It was found that team work has a significant impact on employee satisfaction. Future research should investigate the ways in which teamwork interest can be moderated by characteristics of the task and the group, preferably those characteristics that instructors have some control over to facilitate group work experiences. Practical Implications: Employers value team work skills from incoming employees with higher education. Hence it is critical that instructors in higher education institutions understand the importance of teamwork and the factors that contribute to positive teamwork environment. The study will be helpful for HR departments to understand the importance of team work and for devising better work groups.


2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niall Corcoran ◽  
Aidan Duane

Purpose The management of organisational knowledge and the promotion of staff knowledge sharing are largely neglected in higher education institutions. The purpose of this study is to examine how enterprise social networks can enable staff knowledge sharing in communities of practice in that context. Design/methodology/approach The study is framed as an Action Research project, covering three cycles over a 12-month period. During the Diagnosing phase, a conceptual model was developed for empirical testing. Data were collected through 30 semi-structured interviews and a number of focus groups. This was supplemented by content analysis and reflective journaling. Findings The findings support the conceptual model and provide insight into the antecedents necessary for the creation of an enterprise social network-enabled knowledge-sharing environment, the motivators for and barriers to participation, and the perceived organisational and individual benefits of increased staff knowledge-sharing activity. Research limitations/implications As the study has a higher education focus, all of the findings may not be generalizable to other types of organisation. Further development of the conceptual model and testing in other contextual settings will yield greater generalizability. Practical implications A number of findings have practical implications for the management of higher education institutions, such as the evidence of a divide between faculty and other staff. In general, the study findings provide an opportunity for educationalists to better understand the scope and impact of employing social media platforms for knowledge sharing. Originality/value This paper adds to the growing body of work on organisational implementations of social media, and should be of interest to practitioners and researchers undertaking similar projects.


Author(s):  
Caroline Haythornthwaite ◽  
Maarten De Laat

This chapter discusses and illustrates how knowledge of social networks can be used to inform social and technical design for learning and teaching in higher education. The chapter introduces the social network perspective and how this can be used to explore learning. It shows how a relational approach can be used to explore the basis of learning ties, uncover social roles and positions, and form a basis for a network’s social capital. This is followed by a discussion of current research directions illustrating how this approach can be applied in education. This research indicates how knowledge of informal learning networks can facilitate informed design for learning, teaching, and professional development.


2017 ◽  
pp. 644-666
Author(s):  
Vera Silva Carlos ◽  
Ricardo Gouveia Rodrigues

According to the literature, social relationships have a positive influence on work-related attitudes and behaviours. Taking into account that Online Social Networks (OSNs), brought about by Web 2.0, have become an international phenomena and have a considerable impact on the way people communicate and interact with each other, the chapter's purpose is to evaluate the effect that the use of OSNs has on the worker's attitudes and behaviours. In this way, the authors use a questionnaire to evaluate the attitudes of 157 faculty members in Higher Education Institutions (HEI). To assess the use of OSNs by faculty members, they use a binary variable. After analysing and discussing the results, the authors conclude that the use of OSNs influences the workers' performance traits. The relations they propose in what concerns the workers' attitudes are all empirically proven. At last, the authors describe the study limitations and suggest some perspectives for future research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 542-579
Author(s):  
Varaxy Yi ◽  
Jacqueline Mac ◽  
Vanessa S. Na ◽  
Rikka J. Venturanza ◽  
Samuel D. Museus ◽  
...  

Over the past three decades, many higher education scholars have engaged in efforts to counter the stereotype that Asian Americans achieve universal and unparalleled academic success. While most of these scholars adopt an anti-oppression approach, some researchers have claimed that this literature reinforces oppressive deficit paradigms. To understand this conflict in existing literature, the current authors utilize an anti-imperialistic approach to analyze scholarship on the model minority myth. The current analysis reveals little evidence that research on the myth reinforced hegemonic deficit thinking. Instead, authors find that scholars largely utilized complex and multifaceted antideficit approaches, challenged dominant essentialist model minority frames, engaged in strategic (anti-)essentialism to navigate complex pan-racial contexts, and reframed the myth to achieve diverse purposes that speak to different audiences. Several implications for conducting critiques of literature reviews and future research on the myth are discussed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulf Olsson

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse if open courses, including massive open online courses (MOOCs), can be used as professional development despite their openness since the openness not only brings together individuals from different organizations but also may make the results of collaboration public. Design/methodology/approach – The setting is eight companies in different sectors and networks, collaborating with Higher Education Institutions in developing open courses in externally funded projects. The opinions of managers and HR-specialists in the companies are investigated and analysed. Findings – The managers and HR-specialists are positive to open courses that deliver professional development. They consider the openness in this kind of course to be of no significant problem. The employee knows what can be shared and what can be kept secret. The conditions are, however, different depending on the kind of company and the kind of inter-company relationship that exists. Research limitations/implications – Several interesting questions arise for future research about the use of open courses as professional development in different categories of inter-firm relationship and trust. Practical implications – If the openness is not a hindrance open online courses would appear to meet the requirement of flexibility; they have the potential of being suitable for professional development for individuals who want to increase their competence, but also as organized professional development in organizations and businesses. Originality/value – This is one of the first studies of the openness as a potential hindrance when open courses including MOOCs are utilized as professional development.


Author(s):  
Vera Silva Carlos ◽  
Ricardo Gouveia Rodrigues

There is plenty of evidence on a positive influence of social relationships on work-related attitudes and behaviors. Besides, online social networks (OSNs), made possible by Web 2.0, have become a global phenomenon and have a considerable impact on the way people communicate and interact with each other. Our purpose is to evaluate the effect of using OSNs on the worker's attitudes and behaviors, particularly in the context of Higher Education. In this sense, we used a questionnaire, to evaluate the attitudes of 157 faculty members. To assess the use of OSNs, we resorted to a dichotomous variable. After analyzing and discussing the results we conclude that the use of OSNs influences the worker's performance, but not Job satisfaction, Organizational commitment or extra-role performance. The relationships we propose in what concerns the worker's attitudes are all empirically proved. Lastly, we describe the study limitations and we suggest some perspectives for future research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4344
Author(s):  
Harold Tinoco-Giraldo ◽  
Eva María Torrecilla Sánchez ◽  
Francisco José García-Peñalvo

Mentoring in higher education helps learners acclimate to a new academic topic, increases the likelihood of academic success, and reduces attrition. Learners rely on the expertise and experience of mentors to help them graduate in a timely manner and advance on to their career. As online and distance education becomes more pervasive, computer-mediated mentoring allows learners to connect with their mentors in new ways. Research about mentoring in higher education includes investigations into the efficacy of virtual or e-mentoring. We conducted a literature review of research from 2009 to 2019 to identify relevant elements for implementing e-mentoring programs in higher education. Our research revealed that there is a consistent interest in the subject matter within educational research; however, there is a gap on virtual mentoring in higher education for students conducting offsite internships. Our research reviews e-mentoring programs, identifies how these programs are evaluated, identifies factors of successful programs, and establishes a research agenda in areas of e-mentoring programs for students in offsite internships and how they can be structured to achieve the same level of success.


Author(s):  
Yu Zhou ◽  
Guangjian Liu ◽  
Xiaoxi Chang ◽  
Ying Hong

Abstract This paper examines the influence of the interaction of three sources of innovation, namely, top-down (bureaucratic structure), bottom-up (high-involvement HRM) and outside-in (outreaching network), on two stages of firm innovation, i.e. invention and commercialization. Using data from 620 large Chinese companies, we found that there was a synergy between the bureaucratic structure and a high-involvement HRM system in influencing firm innovation. Social networks were most effective in promoting firm innovation in the presence of a high-involvement HRM system. The bureaucratic structure inhibited social networks in contributing to firm innovation. Ideas for future research and practical implications are discussed.


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