Multiple Ethnographic Case Study Research of Student-Centered Learning Environments in Higher Education Classrooms

Author(s):  
Sabine Hoidn
Author(s):  
Philippa Gerbic

Online discussions are now available as a pedagogical option in blended learning environments in universities. Much of the research to date has focused on the characteristics of this computer-mediated environment and its potential for learning and there has been less examination of wider contextual factors. This chapter presents case study research which investigates online discussions as they occur within the broader framework of the learning design or curriculum within a blended environment in a campus-based degree programme. The chapter provides insights into influential factors for undergraduate student learning and makes recommendations for teachers who wish to advance the educational potential of the new communication medium.


Author(s):  
Sandrina B. Moreira

In higher education there is an increasing trend from teacher-centered to student-centered learning environments, wherein active learning experiences can play a decisive role. This chapter assesses how students perceive the use of active learning techniques within the lecture framework, traditionally accepting students as passive listeners. A survey was distributed in the undergraduate course of Accounting and Finance - evening classes, at the end of the semester, to evaluate and help refine the active learning approach conducted in an economics course. Students reported an overall positive response towards active learning, which helped them to focus, engage, and learn. They especially value the lectures as interactive learning experiences. Students' appraisal regarding the usefulness of key implementation rules like the what, when, who technique on slide-written instructions, as well as the variety of active learning activities tested, revealed the designing and testing of active learning events need improvement.


Author(s):  
Bruce L. Mann

As a research methodology, case study is very popular among researchers doing investigations of Internet-supported teaching and learning. This chapter will discuss considerations for conducting case study research in online and blended (on-site and online) learning environments.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-52
Author(s):  
Alessandra Molinari ◽  
Andrea Alessandro Gasparini

AbstractThis paper addresses the issue of how to enhance student participation in university governance. This issue is approached by taking into account the growing pressures of the European Commission’s modernization agenda on the educational policies of the European Higher Education Area, and by focusing on the way these pressures affect students’ conceptions of themselves and of the mission of higher education. The thesis presented in this paper is that design thinking and the humanities share a common epistemological core that enables them, if applied in educational settings, to play a major role in fostering students’ trust in their governance skills and in their ability to influence educational policies through a creative mindset and a deeper comprehension of the stakes in present-day higher education. An experimental workshop combining design thinking with the humanities and with the constructivist approach of student-centered learning was held within a course in a humanities bachelor program on the basis of a heuristic framework developed through an interdisciplinary research process. This process was conducted according to the principles of design and hermeneutics. The outcomes of the workshop in terms of the participants’ enhanced self-confidence and decisional skills validate the thesis of this study.


Author(s):  
Ezenwayi Amaechi ◽  
Patricia Fusch

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the investigator's reflections, both prospective and retrospective, on the process and experience of conducting a mini-ethnographic case study research in Nigeria. The research titled “Exploring barriers to women entrepreneurs in Enugu State Nigeria” was written to add to the body of knowledge on barriers facing some small-scale women entrepreneurs in the marketplaces in Nigeria. A mini-ethnographic case study design was used for this study, this methodology is a combination of ethnography and case study research that can assist a researcher to gain an in-depth understanding of a phenomenon. The data collection methods used for this study included open-ended semi-structured interviews, direct observation, reflective journaling, and field notes. Reflection enables investigators to engage in self-analysis throughout the research process. Reflections and experiences in the three marketplaces where the research took place, including interactions with the gatekeepers as well as the women entrepreneurs who shared their lived experiences, will be discussed.


Author(s):  
Hunter Keeney ◽  
Kaye Shelton ◽  
Diane Mason ◽  
J. Kenneth Young

As online education expands, more data is needed on how to optimize its effectiveness in higher education settings. This chapter highlights a quantitative study that utilized the Distance Education Learning Environments Survey (DELES), to test the effects of student-centered learning constructs on student satisfaction in online courses. The sample population consisted of 306 students taking masters-level online courses in education or nursing at a university in Southeast Texas. Descriptive statistics and data were analyzed by correlation analysis and stepwise regression. Results of analyses showed personal relevance and authentic learning had the strongest correlations with student satisfaction, whereas the strongest predictors of student satisfaction were personal relevance and instructor support. The findings of the study described herein can provide beneficial insight regarding the design of effective online learning environments in higher education and improving the quality of the student experience.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siti Mumun Muniroh

The aim of this study was to know the psychological dynamics of child labour in Batik sector in Pekalongan. This case study research applied interview, observation and documentation for collecting data. The findings of this research show that school breakout child labour generally motivated to work only to earn, whereas the school child labour, more motivated by pity feeling of their parents. The children labour affective condition has different ways in order to face the problems of school continuity. Some felt disappointed on failure to continue their school, some felt so-so, and some others felt happy because of school duties-free. Generally, child labour was excited when they help their parents or when they work in the owner of the interprise. They also felt proud because they could help out their parents’ burdens. The school breakout child labour tend to have no any desires for coming back to their school because of feeling happy in working. It differs with the school children, which still have an expectation to continue to the higher education and have aspiration.


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