Moving from consciousness

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-12
Author(s):  
Michelle Trim
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Public University ◽  
First Year ◽  
Primary Concern ◽  
Financial Success ◽  
Computer Scientist ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Experience Teaching ◽  
First Year Seminar

This past fall semester, I had the idea to lead a small group of graduate students in offering a First Year seminar for new computer science and informatics majors that focuses on ethics. Feeling clever, I themed our sections: "What makes a 'good' computer scientist?" Together, my students and I taught nine sections under this label. It was a learning experience teaching this one-credit course alongside this brilliant group of MS and PhD students, two of whom had been in my undergrad courses previously. We learned very quickly that right now, in our large public university, in our fairly well-funded state, that our first-year students' primary concern was finding a good job. Many selected our seminar because they thought it was going to be about how to make them the best - how to set themselves up to have the best chance at economic success after college. While we were initially surprised at how these first-year students defined our seminar topic title, it makes sense that they would see being 'good' as being best evidenced by achieving financial success.

CAD Platform Independent Software for Automatic Grading of Technical Drawings

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanchit Ingale ◽  
Anirudh Srinivasan ◽  
Diana Bairaktarova
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Students ◽  
Spatial Reasoning ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Spatial Visualization ◽  
First Year ◽  
Spatial Skills ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Pedagogical Tool ◽  
Students Success ◽  
Mechanical Objects

Spatial visualization is the ability of an individual to imagine an object mentally and understand its spatial orientation. There have been multiple works proving that spatial visualization skills can be improved with an appropriate training. Such training warrant a critical place in the undergraduate engineering curricula in many engineering schools as spatial skills are considered vital for students’ success in the technical and design fields [1–4]. Enhanced spatial skills help not only professionals in the engineering field but also everyone in the 21st century environment. Drawing sectional views requires mental manipulation and visual thinking. To enhance students spatial reasoning, one of the authors of this study, conducted a class in spatial visualization. The course-learning goal aimed at improving first-year engineering students’ spatial reasoning through instruction on freehand drawings of sectional view. During the semester, two teaching assistants had to grade more than 500 assignments that consisted of sectional views of mechanical objects. This was a tedious and a time consuming task. Motivated by this experience, this paper proposes a software aiming at automating grading of students’ sectional view drawings. The proposed software will also give live feedback to students while they are working on the drawings. This interactive tool aims to 1) improve the learning experience of first year students, with limited CAD knowledge, and 2) introduce a pedagogical tool that can enhance spatial visualization training.

scholarly journals Needs Analysis of Psychosocial Module Development Based on Psychoeducation Approach for Public University Students in Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 604
Author(s):  
Salleh Amat ◽  
Harizah Izyan Samsudin ◽  
Abu Yazid Abu Bakar ◽  
Mohd Izwan Mahmud ◽  
Mohd Hasrul Kamarulzaman
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Positive Response ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Public University ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Needs Analysis ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Module Development

This study is a needs analysis that aims to develop a psychosocial module based on a psychoeducation approach in order to strengthen the assertiveness, social skills, and psychological well-being of public university students in Malaysia. The specific objectives of this study were to identify the perceptions of university students on the need to design and build a psychosocial module, identify the constructs that should be included in the phase of designing and building of the psychosocial module as well as the support that has been received and the support that the students desire while on campus. This survey study utilized a questionnaire distributed to a total of 286 first year students studying at three public universities in Malaysia. The data obtained were analyzed by using descriptive statistics. The findings of the study showed a highly positive response from the students toward the development of a psychosocial module and the constructs listed in the questionnaire. Implications from this study can further solidify the constructs that should be included in the design and construction of the psychosocial module as well as identify the availability of the approaches, strategies, and support activities that have been received and desired by the students.

Connecting First Year Students to Formal and Informal Learning Experiences

2013 ◽  
pp. 51-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa L. Johnson ◽  
Laura Pasquini ◽  
Michelle R. Rodems
Keyword(s):  
Learning Communities ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
University Of Florida ◽  
Online Learning Communities ◽  
Formal And Informal Learning ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The University ◽  
First Year Seminar

This case study, an honors first year seminar from the University of Florida, USA, demonstrates the benefits and challenges of these developments in education. The case expands the definition of formal, informal, and online learning communities in the context of a first year seminar.

scholarly journals Fostering students’ autonomy in learning English in nonlinguistic university

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 03007
Author(s):  
Oksana Pershukova ◽  
Nina Nikolska ◽  
Oksana Vasiukovych
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Learner Autonomy ◽  
Autonomous Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Autonomy Development ◽  
Special Approach ◽  
And Control

The study aims to find out whether it is possible to foster students’ learner autonomy in the context of ESP language learning in non-linguistic universities by using a special approach. The experiment was carried out at National Aviation University in Ukraine with two groups of first-year students of electronics (experimental and control) in 2018-2019. Testings to determine students’ level of communicative competence in English and surveys to identify students’ level of learner autonomy development were conducted in September and May of the same year of education. The control group did not receive any special training, while in the experimental group were created special learning conditions. With the purpose to prepare students to accept responsibility for their learning, they were given the opportunities to choose educational materials; to set goals of their learning; to reflect the process and evaluate the results of learning, etc. Modern technologies were widely used as well as scaffolding (if necessary). According to the results of the experiment, it was stated that only a part of the most active students used the created conditions and gained experience in autonomous learning. The conclusion was made about creating such an environment. It is a challenge that is appropriate to realize to give an autonomous learning experience to aspiring students.

UNDERGRADUATE HEALTHCARE STUDENTS’ ATTITUDE TO E-LEARNING AT MEDICAL UNIVERSITY - PLOVDIV

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 855-861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yordanka Tsokova ◽  
Tanya Taneva ◽  
Biyanka Tornyova ◽  
Todor Cherkezov
Keyword(s):  
Time Management ◽  
Management System ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Content Management ◽  
University Education ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Traditional Classroom Teaching ◽  
Medical University

E-learning is seen as a possible solution to the problem of modernization of the university education in response to the changing needs of the society. In undergraduate healthcare training, e-learning is implemented predominantly as blended learning in addition to the traditional classroom teaching. A major factor in the success of e-learning are learners’ attitudes, beliefs and concerns. The aim of the present study was to investigate undergraduate healthcare students’ attitude to e-learning at Medical University – Plovdiv. In this case, e-learning is considered to be electronic educational resources organized as an interactive e-learning unit or course, provided through a learning content management system. The survey was carried out in 2016 through a self-reported questionnaire among 270 first year students from ten healthcare specialties. Participants were asked to express a degree of agreement with nine statements on a five point Likert scale. The influence of gender, age, specialty and previous e-learning experience on the opinion of students was investigated. The results showed that students’ attitudes towards e-learning were positive, but learners were not enthusiastic about it. Genders have different views about e-learning implementation – women are more likely to accept it. The experience first year students had did not allow them to judge if e-learning supports better time-management or life-long learning skills. Students agreed that implementation of e-learning depends on the subjects and there are disciplines that can be provided as distant courses within the learning management system.

Lowering the threshold for online learning with Facebook

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Fourie
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Learning Processes ◽  
Metacognitive Awareness ◽  
First Year ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Communication Course ◽  
Grounded Theory Method

Students’ understanding of their own learning needs can improve, if they can be made more aware of their own learning processes by supporting their metacognitive development. Research has shown that membership of online communities can positively contribute to the social acculturation process of first year students (Wohn, Ellison, Khan, Fewins-Bliss, & Gray, 2013). Moreover, these social networking sites could meet specific learning needs. A group of South African first year medical students doing a second language communication course were invited to become members of a closed Facebook group with the purpose of lowering the threshold of online learning. These students reported that their metacognitive awareness about their own learning processes was raised, which made it possible for them to progress towards and access the online learning experience. Data collected during the course were analysed following the grounded theory method and a framework for raising metacognitive awareness was created.

scholarly journals Enquiry-Based Learning Online: Course Development and Student Experience of a First-Year Enquiry-Based Learning Seminar

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 129-142
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Murray ◽  
Nathan John Lachowsky ◽  
Natalie Green
Keyword(s):  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Online Course ◽  
First Year ◽  
Course Development ◽  
Online Distance Education ◽  
Online Course Development ◽  
Online Distance ◽  
The University ◽  
First Year Seminar

Online courses are increasing in popularity while universities are using first-year seminars to address the challenges of large impersonal classes, lack of student engagement, and increased skills development. Could the learning experience and benefits of an in-person first-year seminar be achieved through an online distance education (DE) format? How would students’ experience benefit from an online DE first-year seminar? At the University of Guelph, an online interdisciplinary first-year seminar was developed and offered four times. This essay includes reflections from the faculty instructor and educational developer who co-designed the course, results from pre- and post-course surveys completed by students, and interviews conducted with students.

scholarly journals Easing the transition from secondary school to higher education through recognition of the skills of our students

2016 ◽  
pp. 51-55
Author(s):  
Orla C Kelly ◽  
Odilla E Finlayson
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Short Communication ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
First Year ◽  
Physical Sciences ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Business Innovation ◽  
University Level ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Chemical Events

This short communication discusses research, which has investigated students‟ self-perception of their skills. This was to identify which skills they felt most and least confident in upon starting university. General and scientific and practical skills as well as skills related to improving learning were explored. The results suggested that students felt most confident in working in groups, interacting with people to obtain the necessary information and assistance, and observing chemical events and changes among others. In contrast students felt least confident in planning and presenting an oral presentation, analysing and evaluating experimental data, and using the internet and other resources to gain information. Details of how the findings were used to make effective changes to an existing module will be discussed. Furthermore, the relevance of this in terms of supporting our first year students in their transition to university-level work and subsequently planning appropriate modules will be discussed in relation to the recently published results from the UK Physical Sciences Centre Review of the Student Learning Experience in Chemistry and in light of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills Higher Ambitions and Skills for Growth papers.

scholarly journals USAGE OF CRITICAL THINKING STRATEGIES IN THE CHEMISTRY COURSE FOR A FUTURE DOCTOR

2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-27
Author(s):  
Irina Kazuša
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Study Planning ◽  
Process Modification ◽  
Thinking Strategies ◽  
Study Process ◽  
Intensive Work ◽  
Future Doctor

The goal of general chemistry and biochemistry – teach students to use their knowledge about chemical structure of organism and molecular processes. To better understand explanations and to prognosticate processes students are given, information presented on other courses. As time dedicated for chemistry course for first year students of RSU is reduced, use of critical thinking strategies in starting period of study process increases probability of achieving positive results. By organizing study process at the beginning of semester, students are introduced to detailed plan thus giving an opportunity to organize their own time according to previous learning experience. Students are provided with thorough study material both in printed and electronic form thus allowing them to find more time for fact analysis, problem solving and relation finding. By stepping away from the traditional routine, the proportion between lectures and practical lessons was changed in favour of practical lessons. Gained experience allows concluding that intensive work with small groups, by introducing students to different approaches to information analysis, graphical systematization of information, development of dialog skills and other methods is effective and worth developing. Key words: critical thinking, study process modification, study planning.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document