Perceptions of undergraduate students on the effect of cooperative learning on academic achievement

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Keramati ◽  
Robyn Margaret Gillies

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the effect of embedding cooperative learning (CL) into the Primary and Secondary Education Course (PSEC) on the academic achievement of undergraduate university students. The study also sought to gauge the perceptions of these students application of CL.Design/methodology/approachThis was a mixed methods sequential explanatory design involving 136 undergraduate university students who participated in a 16 week semester intervention involving the implementation of CL into their PSEC. Achievement data were collected from all students pre- and post-intervention to determine if there were significant differences between the experimental and control conditions. Forty-four participants from the experimental condition were also interviewed post-intervention on their experiences of CL.FindingsThe results showed that there was a significant difference between the academic achievement of students in the experimental and control groups in favor of students in the experimental group (p < 0.001). The perceptions of participants in the experimental condition indicated that CL not only created an empathetic, safe and pleasant learning environment and strengthened students' individual and communicative skills, but it also helped to develop an understanding of quality learning.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of this study have the potential to influence university instructors by demonstrating how CL provides opportunities to not only improve student learning but also their attitude to learning.Originality/valueThis study, while demonstrating the positive effect of CL on students' academic achievement also revealed the potential this approach to teaching and learning has for embedding it in other university courses.

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-55
Author(s):  
Ali Nouri ◽  
Fataneh Esmaeilli ◽  
Saman Seifpour ◽  
Mahmoud Talkhabi ◽  
Anahita Khorami

This study is a mixed method design which employed both quantitative and qualitative methods in order to investigate the impact of dialogic learning on students’ attention and academic achievement. Data were collected using several instruments, including: the Attention Network Test; academic performance tests and semi-structured interviews. Results of Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) indicated that there is a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of students of the experimental and control groups on the executive control in favor of the experimental group after controlling the IQ score and pre-test scores. Further, there is a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of student of the experimental and control groups on the academic achievement tests (except of mathematics) in favor of the experimental group. The qualitative data also supported the quantitative findings. Therefore, dialogic teaching has significantly greater and more positive changes on some aspects of attention and academic performance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Satyananda Panda

Depression is a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration. These problems can become acute or recurrent and lead to substantial impairments in an individual’s ability to take care of his or her everyday responsibilities. It is a complex disorder which can manifest under a variety of circumstances and due to a multiplicity of factors. The rate of depression increases during the adolescence period where there is a greater risk for substance abuse and other psychiatric co-morbidities. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to look into the effect of personality dimension on the level of depression amongst the undergraduate university students. For the said purpose, both independent variables (gender, personality) as well as dependent variable (depression) were undertaken. A non clinical sample of 100 undergraduate students from SRM University, Gangtok falling in the age group of 19-25 years participated. They were assessed by the following tools: the socio-demographic data sheet, the Beck Depression Inventory II and the revised NEO five factor inventory. The data collected were analyzed on the basis of Statistical Package for Social Science Version 22. The study found a significant and positive correlation of extraversion with openness and conscientiousness and significant difference between male and female undergraduate university students on extraversion, openness and conscientiousness dimension of personality.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Afsaneh Ghanizadeh

PurposeThe major purpose of the present study is to investigate the contribution of academic resilience in accounting for two motivational and attitudinal constructs ? Grit and positive orientation and also probe the predictive power of all these constructs in academic achievement of university students in the midst of the pandemic COVID-19.Design/methodology/approach521 university students participated in an online survey. To measure academic resilience, a scale designed and validated by Kim and Kim (2016) comprising 26 items was employed. The scale contains five sub-factors: perceived happiness, empathy, sociability, persistence and self-regulation. Grit was assessed via an 8-item scale comprising two facets: perseverance of effort (PE) and consistency of interest (CI). It was designed by Duckworth and Gross (2014). Positive orientation was determined through positivity scale developed by Caprara et al. (2010), consisting of eight items.FindingsThe results of structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that resilience positively and significantly predicted both grit (β = 0.56, t = 6.41) and positive orientation (β = 0.54, t = 6.35). Resilience also predicted academic achievement directly (β = 0.71, t = 9.12) and indirectly via its impact on grit and positive orientation. It was also found that positive orientation and grit are positively and highly associated (β = 0.77, t = 9.28).Originality/valueThe pandemic COVID-19 brought about substantial changes in university students' education and their overall life style. Many university students around the globe experienced virtual education. Balancing personal and academic roles in these unprecedented conditions seems to be a tough challenge for every university student.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 712-719
Author(s):  
Ayşe Eliüşük Bülbül ◽  

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the "patience training program" on the patience and life satisfaction levels of university students. The study was organized as a pre-test, post-test experiment and control group design. For a total of 30 students from which were 17 in the control group and 17 in the experimental group, patience training was given for 5 weeks. The "Patient Scale" developed by Schnitker (2010) and adapted to Turkish by Eliüşük and Arslan (2016) and the "Life Satisfaction Scale" developed by Diener, Emmons, Larsen and Griffin (1985) and adapted to Turkish by Dağlı and Baysal (2016) were used as a data collection tool in the study. The "Wilcoxon" test was used for the comparison of in-group differences in the analysis of obtained data and the "Mann-Whitney U" test was used in examining the differences between the two groups. As a result of the study, it was observed that the patience and life satisfaction average scores of students in the experimental group receiving "patience training" increased significantly, while there was no significant difference in the patience and life satisfaction averages scores of the control group students.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 750-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon Olusola Babatunde ◽  
Damilola Ekundayo ◽  
Olubola Babalola ◽  
Jumoke Aduramigba Jimoh

Purpose Building information modeling (BIM) inclusion in education pedagogy is crucial in preparing skilled graduates for employment in the construction industry. Against this backdrop, studies on BIM education abound in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) programmes in higher education institutions (HEIs). However, there are limited empirical studies on BIM potentials in the quantity surveying (QS) profession in HEIs, particularly in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to identify and assess the BIM drivers and benefits as important to the QS profession using an empirical approach. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify the BIM drivers and benefits in relation to the QS profession, which was used to design a questionnaire. To capture a broad perception, a questionnaire survey was carried out which targeted the academia and final year undergraduate students from two selected universities offering QS honour degree programmes in Nigeria. Data collected were analysed using mean score, standard deviation and Mann–Whitney test. Findings The study identified 12 BIM drivers in relation to the QS profession and the analysis of the ranking revealed that almost all the identified BIM drivers are considered by respondents as important. The study further identified 14 BIM benefits and the analysis of the ranking indicated that all the identified BIM benefits are considered as important. The results of the Mann–Whitney test indicated a slight statistically significant difference, particularly in one of the selected universities on the ranking of the BIM drivers and benefits as important to the QS profession. Practical implication The findings of the study provide empirical evidence on the current perceptions of the drivers and benefits of BIM to QS academia and students as they explore the concept for the advancement of QS profession. Originality/value This study would provide practical insights to use BIM for QS practice. Also, this study would contribute to improving the QS graduates and professional quantity surveyors understanding of the BIM knowledge applicable to QS profession.


Author(s):  
William Bart

The purpose of this study was to explore how undergraduate university students react to chess instruction. Certain patterns emerged from 10 offerings of a Freshman Seminar entitled “Beginners’ Chess and 21st Century Thinking Skills”. The course enrolled only first-year and second-year undergraduate students at a large public state university in the USA. The students tended to have little or no knowledge of chess prior to the course. The course made extensive use of chess-related websites available on the Internet such as chess.com, lichess.org, and chessgames.com. The instruction involved the projection of a chess-related website projected onto a large classroom screen with the use of an instructor’s computer connected to a projector that projected the computer-based image onto the screen. The course had 10-20 students in each annual offering of the course that lasted 15 weeks. The student evaluations of the course were very positive, indicating that the students enjoyed the course very much. The course involved instruction in chess on topics such as tactics and basic checkmates along with instruction on the cognitive psychological foundations of chess on topics such as problem solving and critical thinking. The primary task in the course was that each student had to prepare a critical evaluation of two of their own chess games that included correct usage of proper algebraic notation for the chess moves. The chess activity that the students enjoyed the most was group competition.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amirhossein Yousefinya ◽  
Camellia Torabizadeh ◽  
Farid Zand ◽  
Mahnaz Rakhshan ◽  
Mohammad Fararooei

Objective. To evaluate the effects of application of a manual on the improvement of alarms management in Intensive Care Units (ICU). Methods. This quasi-experimental study evaluated the effectiveness of the introduction into of a manual for alarm management and control in the ICU of a hospital in southeastern Iran. The intervention was a 4-hour workshop was on topics related to the adverse effects of alarms, standardization of ECG, oxygen saturation and blood pressure monitoring systems, and the use of ventilators and infusion pumps. Data were collected thorough 200 hours of observation of 60 ICU nurses (100 hours’ pre-intervention and 100 hours’ post-intervention). Response time, type of response, customization of alarm settings for each patient, the person responding to an alarm, and the cause of the alarm were analyzed. Alarms were classified into three types: false, true and technical. Results. The results showed a statistically significant difference between the pre- and post-intervention frequency of alarm types, frequency of monitoring parameters, customized monitoring settings for patients, and individuals who responded to alarms. The percentage of effective interventions was significantly higher for all parameters after the intervention (46.9%) than before the intervention (38.9%). Conclusion. The employment of a manual for management of alarms from electronic equipment in ICUs can increase the frequency of appropriate responses to alarms in these units.


Author(s):  
Byamukama Topher ◽  
Keraka M. Margaret ◽  
Gitonga Eliphas

Background: Immunization is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions to reduce child mortality and morbidity associated with infectious diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the perceptions of caregivers on immunization in Ntungamo district.Methods: Quasi-experimental study was used with health centres assigned to intervention and control groups. Purposive sampling was used to select the two counties where the study was done. Proportional sampling was done to get study samples from each health facility, while systematic sampling was done to get study participants. A total of 787 children from twelve health facilities provided the study sample. A post intervention evaluation was conducted to determine the effect of these interventions. Association of variables was tested using Mann Whitney U-test and Chi-square.Results: On benefits, most caregivers in the intervention group (85.3%) and in the control group (54.3%) regarded immunization as very highly and moderately beneficial to their children respectively. On risks, most caregivers in the intervention group (85.5%) and control group (43.1%) regarded the risk factor associated with immunization as very low and moderate respectively. From hypothesis testing, there was a significant difference on the perceived benefits and risks of immunization between the intervention and control group.Conclusions: Most caregivers in the intervention and control group regarded immunization as very highly beneficial and moderately to their children respectively. Most of the caregivers in the intervention and control group regarded the risk factor associated with immunization as very low and moderate respectively. 


2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-13
Author(s):  
Md Humayun Kabir Talukder ◽  
Shahana Parvin

This cross - sectional descriptive study was conducted to explore the relationship of medical students' self-concept with their academic achievement. The study population was preclinical second year medical students. Study was carried out at one government and one non-government medical colleges in Dhaka. Sample size was 254 and sampling technique was purposive. The three dimensions of self concept: personal, family and social self-concept of medical students were assessed through 45- items questionnaire, which was answered on a five-point Likert scale. Data was collected by self administered structured questionnaire with Bengali version. Academic achievement data were measured by two term examinations marks of three subjects (Anatomy, Physiology & Biochemistry) based on written and oral examinations. Simple statistical tests were used to analyze the dominant dimension of student's self-concept. Inferential statistic such as ttest was used to analyze the difference between the self-concept and gender. Pearson correlations were used analyze the relationship between self-concept of students with their academic achievement. The participant's age ranged from 17 - 23 years with a mean of 19.8 and a standard deviation of 0.93. Among the respondents 47% were male and 53% were females. In term-I and term-II exams majority (66.9% and 66.1%) student were high achievers. The research finding showed that the dominant dimension of self concept was family self-concept (mean value was 53.73). Beside that, t-test analysis showed that there was significant difference between dimension of self-concept of students according to gender (p= 0.03, p= 0.02). Pearson correlations analysis showed that there was positive correlation between dimensions of self-concept with student's academic achievement. Study recommended to increase the student's self-concept in order to enhance their academic achievement. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjme.v2i1.18131 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Education Vol.2(1) 2011: 10-13


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 457-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naglaa M. Abdo ◽  
Wafaa S. Hamza ◽  
Mariam A. Al-Fadhli

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of Kuwait Infection Control Directorate educational program in improving knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of environmental service workers (ESWs) regarding the management of infectious and sharps waste. Design/methodology/approach An interventional educational pre-test/post-test study was conducted over seven months, on a sample of 102 ESWs in Farwaniya General Government Hospital, Kuwait. Educational sessions and practical training using the KAP approach were applied during the intervention phase. The KAP of the participants were assessed using a questionnaire and observation checklist in the pre- and post-intervention phases. Findings Improvement in all aspects of the KAP regarding infectious and sharps waste management was observed among the participants after implementation of the intervention, with a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-test results (p<0.01). Originality/value The applied multi-component educational program in the current study can be successfully implemented for ESWs in all government hospitals in Kuwait and other countries with similar settings.


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