Assessing the Effectiveness of Smartphone Usage to Interact with Learning Materials in Independent Learning Outside of Classrooms among Undergraduate Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-75
Author(s):  
Sununthar Vongjaturapat ◽  
◽  
Nopporn Chotikakamthorn ◽  
Panitnat Yimyam
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Independent Learning ◽  
Learning Materials

College English Learning Center Planning Based on Language Learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 4493-4499
Author(s):  
Diwen Dong
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Independent Learning ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
English Learning ◽  
Learning Center ◽  
Learning Centers ◽  
Learning Materials ◽  
College English ◽  
The University ◽  
Functional Areas

Objectives: Planning for English learning centers for college students can meet the needs of students’ independent learning and achieve the purpose of enhancing students’ comprehensive English practice and application ability. Methods: This study proposed the characteristics and functions of the English learning center, as well as the resources and facilities of the learning center when planning the university English learning center, and explained the construction of the English learning center’s learning materials and the division of functional areas. The influencing factors of the construction of learning center materials mainly include students’ language level, learning needs, authority and applicability of learning materials. Results: On this basis, taking the English learning center plan of a university library as an example, the functional areas are divided into four functional areas: English listening, speaking, reading and writing. Conclusion: It is hoped that this research will provide some reference and reference for the planning study of university English learning center based on language learning.

scholarly journals The Autonomy of Indonesian EFL Students: A Mixed Method Investigation

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 422-443
Author(s):  
M Melvina ◽  
Nenden Sri Lengkanawati ◽  
Yanty Wirza
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Learner Autonomy ◽  
Independent Learning ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
State University ◽  
Mixed Method Design ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Second Year

The present study sought to scrutinize undergraduate EFL students’ learning autonomy in a state university in Indonesia. This study employed a triangulation study of mixed-method design by distributing questionnaires and conducting interviews to get quantitative and qualitative data. The questionnaire was distributed to 40 second year participants enrolled in listening, speaking, reading, and writing for academic purposes classes, whereas 15 participants were selected for the interview Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyse the data collected from the questionnaire and the interview. Findings revealed that the level of students’ learner autonomy was classified as moderate level of autonomy. This indicated that Indonesian undergraduate students were considered somewhat autonomous learners. In addition, the Indonesian undergraduate students defined learner autonomy as independent learning with or without the teacher’s assistance, students responsible for their own learning, and learner autonomy was the student’s self-awareness and self-initiated to learn outside the classroom to find ways of learning and collaborate with others. The study recommended that teachers should consistently develop learner autonomy in their teaching practice.

An assessment of information literacy skills among first-year postgraduate students at Sokoine University of Agriculture Tanzania

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mugyabuso J. F. Lwehabura
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Information Search ◽  
Concept Maps ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Independent Learning ◽  
First Year ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Literacy Knowledge ◽  
Information Literacy Skills

This study was set to examine and identify some aspects of information literacy skills among postgraduate students at Sokoine University of Agriculture and determine challenges and problems facing them in terms of searching and use of various information resources. Systematic probability sampling and questionnaires were used to collect data from175 students out of 314 first-year postgraduate students registered. The findings showed that although information literacy exists among students, a good number of students demonstrated significant deficiency in their information literacy knowledge and skills in key aspects including searching for information from electronic sources, application of various information search techniques such as Boolean operators, use of truncation, synonyms and concept maps. Based on the findings, the paper recommends addressing the shortcomings found by introducing a mandatory information literacy course for both postgraduate and undergraduate students to ensure effective independent learning among students.

scholarly journals Learning for Success: Distance Education Students’ use of their Learning Materials

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-55
Author(s):  
A. Smith ◽  
◽  
E. Smith ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Study Strategies ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Learning Materials ◽  
Strong Argument ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Assessment Tasks ◽  
Study Programs ◽  
Additional Reading

This paper reports the results of a research project investigating the use that Distance Education (DE) students at university make of the learning materials that are supplied to them. The research is based on a survey of 998 DE students enrolled in ten undergraduate subjects spread across all five Faculties at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in New South Wales, Australia. CSU is Australia’s largest DE provider of higher education. The project addressed the following questions: • The extent to which DE undergraduate students use their learning materials. • The extent to which students undertake the learning activities that are often incorporated in learning materials. • The extent to which students obtain learning materials beyond the printed learning materials, especially their use of library facilities and the internet to research topics in their study programs. • The way in which DE undergraduate students approach their study and the study strategies that they adopt. The paper reports the major conclusions from the survey. It was found that the majority of students read most or all of the learning materials that were sent to them. They relied heavily upon the prescribed textbooks, did some additional reading as recommended, to a limited extent carried out additional reading beyond that recommended, and worked through the provided learning materials in a methodical manner. They generally completed, in their minds if not always on paper, the study tasks embedded in the learning materials. Those students that read less and paid less attention to study tasks tended to study in a way that was focused on passing assessment tasks. Overall the study provides a strong argument for the retention of printed learning materials as students seem to work well with them, and the more effectively students use them the better they seem to perform.

scholarly journals Learning, Student Digital Capabilities and Academic Performance over the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 361
Author(s):  
Maria Limniou ◽  
Tunde Varga-Atkins ◽  
Caroline Hands ◽  
Marie Elshamaa
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Cognitive Effort ◽  
Independent Learning ◽  
Delivery Mode ◽  
Veterinary Science ◽  
Online Questionnaire

During the time of COVID-19 lockdown over spring 2020, universities shifted teaching from on-campus blended learning to an emergency remote fully online approach. The aim of this study was to compare Psychology and Veterinary Science undergraduate students’ academic performance with their responses on a self-reported questionnaire regarding their digital capabilities, individual’s characteristics, and the role of environment on their independent learning process over the first COVID-19 lockdown period. Social-Cognitive Theory was adopted to conceptualise students’ behaviour, individuals’ characteristics, and learning environment with their academic performance to a learning framework. A total of 303 students from both disciplines (133 Psychology and 170 Veterinary Science undergraduate students) participated in this study by completing an online questionnaire after following the teaching shift from blended learning to full remote online approach at a UK University during the 2019–2020 academic year. Differences between students’ responses were identified due to their discipline’s curricular structure, students’ study behaviours (i.e., being exposed to unrelated learning activities), and students’ cognitive effort to think critically in the search, evaluation and managing of digital information. Students with high level of self-regulation and digital capabilities were able to keep focused and engaged during the lockdown. Although universities and teachers were “forced” to shift their teaching approach due to the unfortunate disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, most students have coped with the changed teaching delivery mode relatively easy with minimum guidance. However, teachers should further consider how digital technologies could enhance students’ learning flexibility promoting critical thinking.

scholarly journals Undergraduate Students’ Experiences of the Use of MOOCs for Learning at a Cambodian University

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 336
Author(s):  
Riccardo Corrado ◽  
Erica Pretorius ◽  
Gert van der Westhuizen
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Massive Open Online Courses ◽  
Independent Learning ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
A Current ◽  
The Way

Currently, some universities in Cambodia are exploring the usage of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), which can support education by allowing cost-free independent learning for university students. For effective implementation, it is fundamental to understand the current Cambodian ecosystem, how universities implement MOOCs for teaching, and how students use them for learning. Due to a current gap in the literature on this matter, this research work aims to investigate students’ awareness of MOOCs, usage, and difficulties encountered with their adoption for learning. This research work is a case study of a university in Cambodia, and it adopts a mixed-mode approach involving a quantitative questionnaire, followed by qualitative semi-structured interviews. Currently, many students are not aware of MOOCs, and regarding those using them, they report a low level of organized effort, which points out to the fact that students are in general not very organized and systematic in the way they approach learning using MOOCs. Furthermore, a major issue still lies in the way these courses are implemented in the curriculum and the learning activities, underlined by the type of ICTs affordances currently exploited by the usage of MOOCs for learning.

scholarly journals The UTILIZATION OF DIGITAL CONTENT OF LEARNING SOURCES CENTER (LRC) IN SCHOOL OF PASS RECEIVER ASSISTANCE DEVICES OF LRC

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-93
Author(s):  
Eni Susilawati Siswo wardoyo ◽  
Ai Sri Nurhayati ◽  
Kusnandar
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation Research ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Independent Learning ◽  
Digital Content ◽  
Learning Resources ◽  
Digital Learning ◽  
Input Process ◽  
Learning Materials ◽  
Ict Tools

Abstract: Learning Resources  Center (LRC) in schools provides a wide selection of learning resources to support learning activities and encourage effective learning so as to achieve learning goals. LRC assistance has been provided from 2016 to 2019, so a research is needed to determine its utilization in schools.This research aims to determine the description of the utilization of ICT tools to support the learning process, as well as obstacles encountered, and recommendations for solution in use of ICT tools and content of LRC for learning in schools. Research uses evaluation research using CIPP (context, input, process and product). The samples are headmasters, teachers, and education staff in schools receiving PSB assistance from Data Center and Information Technology (Pusdatin) Ministry of Education and Culture Education Center in the 2016 to 2019 which is spread in various regions of Indonesi. Data collection using online questionnaires, interviews, limited observation, and documentation. The results showed that:1) the forms of utilizing PSB digital content in schools vary including: most teachers present in front of the class using projectors with the lecture method and some have integrated with other learning models, forms of use are used as independent learning resources for students both individually and in groups or on scheduled;2) in general the availability of inovative teachers is quite adequate, as many as 31% of schools have more than 5 teachers who are able to make independent digital learning materials and 53% of schools have less than 5 teachers who are able to make independent digital learning materials; 3)some recommendations in an effort to improve the quality of utilizing PSB digital content and PSB assistance tools, namely the need: increasing the availability of ICT infrastructure, improving the quality of HR management of PSB, increasing the quality of applications and quantity of PSB digital content, and improving the quality of policy support.  Keywords: Learning resources, digital conent, ICT utilization, innovative instruction   Abstrak: Pusat Sumber Belajar (PSB) di sekolah menyediakan berbagai macam pilihan sumber belajar untuk mendukung kegiatan pembelajaran dan mendorong cara belajar yang efektif sehingga dapat mencapai tujuan pembelajaran. Bantuan PSB telah diberikan sejak tahun 2016 sampai dengan tahun 2019, sehingga perlu dilakukan kajian untuk mengetahui pemanfaatannya di sekolah.  Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui gambaran pemanfaatan bantuan perangkat TIK untuk menunjang proses pembelajaran, serta kendala yang dihadapi, dan rekomendasi solusi dalam pemanfaatan bantuan  perangkat TIK dan konten PSB untuk pembelajaran di sekolah penerima bantuan PSB. Penelitian menggunakan penelitian evaluasi dengan menggunakan model  CIPP (context, input, process dan product). Sampel adalah kepala sekolah, guru-guru dan tenaga kependidikan pada sekolah penerima bantuan perangkat PSB dari Pusdatin Kemendikbud  Tahun 2016 s/d. Tahun 2019 yang tersebar di berbagai wilayah Indonesia. Pengumpulan data menggunakan kuesioner online, wawancara, observasi terbatas, dan dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa: 1) bentuk pemanfaatan bantuan konten digital PSB di sekolah beragam diantaranya: sebagian besar guru menyajikan di depan kelas menggunakan projector dengan metode ceramah dan ada yang sudah mengintegrasikan dengan model pembelajaran lainnya, bentuk pemanfaatan digunakan sebagai sumber belajar mandiri bagi siswa baik individu maupun kelompok atau secara terjadwal; 2)pada umumnya ketersediaan guru penggerak cukup memadai, sebanyak 31% sekolah memiliki lebih dari 5 orang guru yang mampu membuat bahan belajar digital mandiri dan 53% sekolah memiliki kurang dari 5 orang guru yang mampu membuat bahan belajar digital mandiri; 3) beberapa rekomendasi dalam upaya peningkatan kualitas pemanfaatan konten digital PSB dan perangkat bantuan PSB yaitu perlunya: peningkatan ketersediaan sarana prasarana TIK,  peningkatan kualitas SDM pengelola PSB, peningkatan kualitas aplikasi dan kuantitas konten digital PSB, serta peningkatan kualitas dukungan kebijakan. Kata kunci: Sumber belajar, konten digital, pemanfaatan TIK, pembelajaran inovatif.  

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