Evaluating E-Book Effectiveness and the Impact on Student Engagement

2021 ◽  
pp. 027347532110351
Author(s):  
Adam C. Merkle ◽  
Linda K. Ferrell ◽  
O. C. Ferrell ◽  
Joe F. Hair

Marketing curricula are experiencing a digital disruption as e-books and other electronic educational resources replace print textbooks. This study investigates student perceptions about the effectiveness of print textbooks and e-books. Specifically, we focus on the perceived effectiveness of e-books and the impact on student engagement. A field-based quasi-experiment was conducted with a sample of 259 students in the Fall semester, and a follow-up sample of 395 students in the Spring semester. The results show a diverse impact of e-books on student engagement. Some aspects of engagement are positively affected while other aspects of student engagement exhibit a neutral or negative leaning impact. The findings also reflect significant variation in e-book effectiveness depending on the course. Finally, we find that e-books moderate the relationship between textbook effectiveness and academic performance engagement. Highly effective e-books result in higher levels of academic performance engagement. Collectively these findings shed light on the current situation and provide a foundation for additional research to further our understanding about e-book effectiveness and its relationship to student engagement.

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suheir Awadalla ◽  
E. Bethan Davies ◽  
Cris Glazebrook

Abstract Background Many university students experience depression and anxiety, both of which have been shown to affect cognitive function. However, the impact of these emotional difficulties on academic performance is unclear. This study aims to determine the prevalence of depression and anxiety in university students in United Arab Emirates (UAE). It further seeks to explore the relationship between emotional difficulties and students’ academic performance. Methods This longitudinal study recruited 404 students (aged 17–25 years) attending one UAE university (80.4% response rate). At baseline, participants completed a paper-based survey to assess socio-economic factors and academic performance, including most recent grade point average (GPA) and attendance warnings. PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales were used to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms. At six-month follow-up, 134 participants (33.3%) provided details of their current GPA. Results Over a third of students (34.2%; CIs 29.7–38.9%) screened for possible major depressive disorder (MDD; PHQ-9 ≥ 10) but less than a quarter (22.3%; CIs 18.2–26.3%) screened for possible generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; GAD-7 ≥ 10). The Possible MDD group had lower GPAs (p = 0.003) at baseline and were less satisfied with their studies (p = 0.015). The MDD group also had lower GPAs at follow-up (p = 0.035). The Possible GAD group had lower GPAs at baseline (p = 0.003) but did not differ at follow-up. The relationship between GAD group and GPA was moderated by gender with female students in the Possible GAD group having lower GPAs (p < 0.001) than females in the Non-GAD group. Male students in the Possible GAD group had non-significantly higher GPA scores. Higher levels of both depression and anxiety symptoms scores were associated with lower GPAs at baseline. PHQ-9 scores, but not GAD-7 scores, independently predicted lower GPA scores at follow-up (p = 0.006). This relationship was no longer statistically significant after controlling for baseline GPA (p < 0.09). Conclusion This study confirms previous findings that around a third of university students are likely to be experiencing a depressive disorder at any one time. Furthermore, it provides important evidence regarding the negative impacts of emotional difficulties on students’ academic performance. The results support the need to consider the mental health of students who are struggling academically and highlight the importance of signposting those students to appropriate support, including evidence-based therapies.


2021 ◽  
pp. 088307382110012
Author(s):  
Michelle Kowanda ◽  
Lindsey Cartner ◽  
Catherine Kentros ◽  
Alexa R. Geltzeiler ◽  
Kaitlyn E. Singer ◽  
...  

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person services for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities were disrupted globally, resulting in a transition to remote delivery of services and therapies. For individuals with neurogenetic conditions, reliance on nonclinical caregivers to facilitate all therapies and care was unprecedented. The study aimed to (1) describe caregivers’ reported impact on their dependent’s services, therapies, medical needs, and impact on themselves as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) assess the relationship between the extent of disruption of services and the degree of self-reported caregiver burden. Two online questionnaires were completed by caregivers participating in Simons Searchlight in April and May 2020. Surveys were completed by caregivers of children or dependent adults with neurodevelopmental genetic conditions in Simons Searchlight. Caregivers reported that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic moderately or severely disrupted services, therapies, or medical supports. The majority of caregivers were responsible for providing some aspect of therapy. Caregivers reported “feeling stressed but able to deal with problems as they arise,” and reported lower anxiety at follow-up. Caregivers reported that telehealth services were not meeting the needs of those with complex medical needs. Future surveys will assess if and how medical systems, educational programs, therapists, and caregivers adapt to the challenges arising during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Author(s):  
Kathleen R. Brazeal ◽  
Tanya L. Brown ◽  
Brian A. Couch

AbstractWhile formative assessments (FAs) can facilitate learning within undergraduate STEM courses, their impact likely depends on many factors, including how instructors implement them, whether students buy-in to them, and how students utilize them. FAs have many different implementation characteristics, including what kinds of questions are asked, whether questions are asked before or after covering the material in class, how feedback is provided, how students are graded, and other logistical considerations. We conducted 38 semi-structured interviews with students from eight undergraduate biology courses to explore how various implementation characteristics of in-class and out-of-class FAs can influence student perceptions and behaviors. We also interviewed course instructors to provide context for understanding student experiences. Using thematic analysis, we outlined various FA implementation characteristics, characterized the range of FA utilization behaviors reported by students, and identified emergent themes regarding the impact of certain implementation characteristics on student buy-in and utilization. Furthermore, we found that implementation characteristics have combined effects on student engagement and that students will tolerate a degree of “acceptable discomfort” with implementation features that contradict their learning preferences. These results can aid instructor reflection and guide future research on the complex connections between activity implementation and student engagement within STEM disciplines.


2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 629-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Ford ◽  
C. Parker ◽  
J. Salim ◽  
R. Goodman ◽  
S. Logan ◽  
...  

BackgroundChildren with poor mental health often struggle at school. The relationship between childhood psychiatric disorder and exclusion from school has not been frequently studied, but both are associated with poor adult outcomes. We undertook a secondary analysis of the British Child and Adolescent Mental Health Surveys from 2004 and its follow-up in 2007 to explore the relationship between exclusion from school and psychopathology. We predicted poorer mental health among those excluded.MethodPsychopathology was measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, while psychiatric disorder was assessed using the Development and Well-Being Assessment and applying Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM IV) criteria. Exclusion from school and socio-demographic characteristics were reported by parents. Multi-variable regression models were used to examine the impact of individual factors on exclusion from school or psychological distress.ResultsExclusion from school was commoner among boys, secondary school pupils and those living in socio-economically deprived circumstances. Poor general health and learning disability among children and poor parental mental health were also associated with exclusion. There were consistently high levels of psychological distress among those who had experienced exclusion at baseline and follow-up.ConclusionsWe detected a bi-directional association between psychological distress and exclusion. Efforts to identify and support children who struggle with school may therefore prevent both future exclusion and future psychiatric disorder.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 251
Author(s):  
Sabah Faihan Mahmood ◽  
Yassen Taha Mahmood

      Human Development aims to   enlarge choices in front of people by improving the level of health, education, and income; this means that this process will upgrade both the economic and social development.In other words, human development aimes to raise the average of age and this requires the advancement of the health aspect, raise the level of knowledge and this requires the advancement of  the educational aspect of all kinds., and raise the standard of living, and this requires the advancement of the economic aspect by providing the necessary jobs and promote economic activities.      The study focus on the relationship between education and human development which has great importance as a mean to determine the impact of education on human development. The research seeks to achieve a set of objectives, including:        Review  the concept of human development and its basic elements, shed light on the reality of development in Iraq and follow the path of its development, and find out the role of education in influencing human development through the changes taking place in it and its impact on increase or decrease  human development index during the period of the research.       The research found set of   results, the most important were the important effect of the education index on the level of human development index represented by HDI.  Iraq had a good educational system in the eighties and nineties, reaching good education index value for the year (1990) which was (0.890), making the human development index in Iraq in the highest level and the value of the Human Development Index (0.759) in the first report issued by the United Nations in the year (1990). when the education index fall back there was negatively impact on the value of human development  index in Iraq Directory, so when the education index value became (0.721) , the value of the Human Development Index  was  (0.590) in the year 2011 . This means that the value of the human development index decrease in recent years, although of improvement in the level of health, and the average per capita GDP in Iraq, and this illustrates the significant role of education on the human development process.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasan Yılmaz ◽  
Coşkun Arslan ◽  
Emel Arslan

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of mothers’ and teachers’ testimonies that conflict with scientific facts and scientific explanations on kindergartners’ judgments. The participants consisted of 104 young children in Şanlıurfa province in Turkey. Their ages ranged from 48 to 79 months, with a mean age of 61.48 months (SD = 5.58). The participants were randomly assigned to the following four groups: 1) Scientific explanation followed by teacher’s testimony, 2) teacher’s testimony; 3) scientific explanation followed by mother’s testimony, 4) mother’s testimony. The children responded to a question about a scientific fact. After the response, they watched their mothers’ or teachers’ testimonies which contradict the scientific fact. Findings revealed that when a scientific explanation was not provided, the children tended to show deference to their teachers’ and especially mothers’ testimony. A week later, a follow-up measurement revealed that this impact did not last a week.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. p70
Author(s):  
Lewis R. Gale ◽  
Clifford Nowell

The objective of this paper is to explore the impact of amotivation on academic performance and to test whether the impact of motivation on academic performance differs across students from China and the U.S. Using data from Chinese and U.S. students located in their home countries, we find amotivation negatively impacts academic performance of both groups of students. We also show that external motivation is positively associated with academic achievement. While these findings are consistent with results from previous studies, we extend the understanding on the relationship between motivation and academic performance by demonstrating that the magnitude of the detrimental impact of amotivation differs between students in the two countries and that the positive impact of higher levels of external motivation provides similar benefits for both groups of students.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Yang ◽  
Yan Zhu ◽  
Linshan Zhang ◽  
Likun Wang ◽  
Yuanhong Mao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The initial computed tomography (CT) blend sign has been used as an imaging marker to predict haematoma expansion and poor outcomes in patients with a small volume intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). However, the relationship between the blend sign and outcomes remains elusive. The present study aimed to retrospectively measure the impact of initial CT blend signs on short-term outcomes in patients with hypertensive ICH who underwent stereotactic minimally invasive surgery (sMIS). Methods: We enrolled 242 patients with spontaneous ICH. Based on the initial CT features, the patients were assigned to a blend sign group (91 patients) or a nonblend sign (control) group (151 patients). The NIHSS, GCS and mRS were used to measure the effects of sMIS. The rates of severe pulmonary infection and cardiac complications were also compared between the two groups. Results: No significant differences in NIHSS and GCS scores were observed between the two groups. The proportion of patients with good outcomes during follow-up was not different between the two groups. The rate of rehaemorrhaging increased in the blend sign group. No significant differences in severe pulmonary infections and cardiac complications were noted between the two groups. Conclusions: The initial CT blend sign was not associated with poor outcomes in patients with hypertensive ICH who underwent sMIS. ICH patients with CT blend signs should undergo sMIS if they are suitable candidates for surgery.


Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chisato Izumi ◽  
Shuichi Takahashi ◽  
Sumiyo Hashiwada ◽  
Koji Hanazawa ◽  
Jiro Sakamoto ◽  
...  

Atheromatous plaques of the aorta have been regarded as a potential source of emboli, but there are few reports about the frequency and prognosis of patients with thoracic aortic plaques and about the relationship between plaque morphology and prognosis, especially long-term follow-up data. The purpose of this study is to clarify the impact of aortic atheromatous plaque morphology on survival rate and the incidence of subsequent embolic event. We retrospectively investigated 1570 consecutive patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography between 1991 and 2003. The presence of severe plaque (>5mm in thickness) in the thoracic aorta were examined. Survival rate and subsequent embolic event rate were compared between patients with severe plaque and 109 control patients. The control patients were selected from the patients who showed no or mild plaque and as they were matched for age, gender, and risk factors of atherosclerosis with the patients with severe aortic plaque. The relationship between aortic plaque morphology and prognosis was also estimated, according to the presence of ulceration, calcification, hypoechoic plaques, and mobile plaques. Mean follow-up period was 8.7 years. Among 1570 patients, severe aortic plaque was detected in 92 patients (5.9%). These 92 patients showed significantly low survival rate and high subsequent embolic event rate compared with control patients (8-year survival rate, 50% vs 87%, 8-year embolic event free rate, 57% vs 90%). The relative risk of death was significantly increased for ulceration (2.4, 95% CI;1.1–5.2) and the relative risk of embolic events was significantly increased for mobile plaques (2.2, 95% CI;1.1–5.1). In conclusion, aortic plaque > 5mm in thickness was a predictor of a low survival rate and a high embolic event rate. Among patients with aortic plaque >5mm in thickness, ulceration was a predictor of a low survival rate and mobile plaque was a predictor of a high embolic event rate.


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