scholarly journals A pilot study: Facilitating cross-cultural understanding with project-based collaborative learning in an online environment

Author(s):  
Rustam Shadiev ◽  
Wu-Yuin Hwang ◽  
Yueh-Min Huang

<p>This study investigated three aspects: how project-based collaborative learning facilitates cross-cultural understanding; how students perceive project-based collaborative learning implementation in a collaborative cyber community (3C) online environment; and what types of communication among students are used. A qualitative case study approach was applied to explore these aspects using a variety of data sources. First, students’ reflections were evaluated to determine their level of cross-cultural understanding. Second, students’ messages on the discussion board were analysed to explore their cross-cultural learning process and types of communication. Third, interviews were conducted with the students and their instructor to investigate their experiences and perceptions with respect to project-based cross-cultural learning. Results of this study show that cross-cultural learning took place in the 3C online environment. Folk games, learning activities, were interesting, drew students’ attention, and stimulated their motivation. The students and the instructor positively perceived the 3C online environment as it created an authentic learning environment by connecting students from different cultures. Educational, technical, and communicative types of communication in the 3C environment were derived; however, only communication of the educational type could facilitate cross-cultural understanding. Based on the results, this study provides implications and suggestions for the teaching and research community in the field.</p>

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8642
Author(s):  
Lucas Kohnke ◽  
Andrew Jarvis

COVID-19 and the shift to online teaching necessitated a change in approach for English for Academic Purposes (EAP) teachers in preparing their students for university studies. This study explored how EAP instructors coped with and adapted their provision for emergency remote teaching. The study was conducted at an English-medium university in Hong Kong and a qualitative case study approach was adopted. The results revealed two overarching themes of opportunity and challenge. While the sudden shift to online teaching forced innovation and fostered collaborative learning and feedback, teachers experienced difficulties in communicating with students and monitoring their learning. The study voices teacher perspectives in delivering EAP courses online and highlights important implications for the successful delivery of future online EAP provisions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7675
Author(s):  
Radovan Madleňák ◽  
Stephen P. D’Alessandro ◽  
Agostino Marengo ◽  
Jenny Pange ◽  
György Iván Neszmélyi

Online courses are gaining popularity because they provide extensive and varied course material, information, knowledge, and skills, whilst also creating an effective educational online community. This research adopts a case study approach to focus on the teaching method and the manner in which a strategic commitment to eLearning provides scope for the development and implementation of top quality educational online fully accredited programs. Entrepreneurship focuses on developing businesses that add value and create wealth and prosperity in our societies. Therefore, entrepreneurship is a key area of learning for graduate students seeking to set up and operate their own SME organizations. It can serve as a benchmark for the teaching of other graduate subjects that require a sound correlation for the correlation of concepts and theories to the challenging complexities of the real world. The program was developed on the basis of the implementation of a state-of-the-art eLearning platform that allowed for a combination of varied self-learning and collaborative learning elements and activities within a single platform. This enabled students to access the online content material efficiently and effectively. It allows for the development of a program based on the flipped classroom teaching methodology. The underlying concept of the flipped classroom methodology is that effective eLearning should comprise both synchronous and asynchronous learning activities. This combination of self-learning and collaborative learning calls for careful planning by the tutor to ensure that the learning objectives are clearly defined for each activity and that the relevant deliverables are monitored. The content material for each subject course module was designed, developed, produced, and presented by the different project partners in a holistic manner structured to motivate participants to learn. The results of our analysis have shown that students were able to learn, discuss their projects, and cooperate during an online course in an effective and participant-focused manner with their tutors. The feedback given highlights the importance of ongoing communications between students and the tutors who often need to act as mentors to retain student engagement.


Pythagoras ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Methuseli Moyo ◽  
France M. Machaba

Our research with Grade 9 learners at a school in Soweto was conducted to explore learners’ understanding of fundamental fraction concepts used in applications required at that level of schooling. The study was based on the theory of constructivism in a bid to understand whether learners’ transition from whole numbers to rational numbers enabled them to deal with the more complex concept of fractions. A qualitative case study approach was followed. A test was administered to 40 learners. Based on their written responses, eight learners were purposefully selected for an interview. The findings revealed that learners’ definitions of fraction were neither complete nor precise. Particularly pertinent were challenges related to the concept of equivalent fractions that include fraction elements, namely the numerator and denominator in the phase of rational number. These gaps in understanding may have originated in the early stages of schooling when learners first conceptualised fractions during the late concrete learning phase. For this reason, we suggest a developmental intervention using physical manipulatives to promote understanding of fractions before inductively guiding learners to construct algorithms and transition to the more abstract applications of fractions required in Grade 9.


Author(s):  
Tamara Phelan

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze how selected senior instructors in physical therapist educational programs define and seek to impart information on professional behavior. Methods: A qualitative case study approach was used to gather data from eight instructors teaching in four physical therapist educational programs in a selected region. Each interview was analyzed as an individual case study, followed by a cross case analysis to identify common themes. Results: Interpretational analysis using a process of constant comparison revealed nine common themes: 1) Instructors found it difficult to broadly define professional behavior. 2) Instructors expect students to be on time. 3) Instructors expect students to speak and act with courtesy and respect. 4) Instructors expect students to communicate appropriately. 5) Instructors expect students to dress appropriately. 6) Instructors expect students to participate in class. 7) Instructors consciously model professional behavior as a way to communicate their expectations. 8) Instructors give instructions and provide students with feedback about professional behavior. 9) Instructors do not attach a specific grade to professional behavior. Conclusions: Although instructors indicated a lack of confidence in consistency regarding professional behavior expectations, the themes that emerged in this study fit within existing descriptions of professional behavior for clinical physical therapists. Instructor perceptions of strategies for conveying information about professional behavior to students were consistent with existing literature on modeling and explicit teaching. .


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Auliyaaurohmah Auliyaaurohmah ◽  
Khoirul Umam

The effort to preserve the beauty of the environment is an obligation for every social creature that lives on this earth. These efforts are carried out and planned so that every human being has a caring attitude and responsibility with the surrounding environment. In educational institutions the role of a teacher cannot be separated in the educational process. To realize students as quality resources cannot be separated from the environment. This article intends to explain about environmental education in Madrasah Aliyah Negeri 7 Jombang. With a qualitative case study approach, this research was carried out through observation, interviews and documentation. The results of the discussion from the research show that, in the implementation of their roles and participation in forming and increasing environmental awareness by teachers, students are well implemented. Most of them have a caring attitude to their environment, which is proven by their daily habits, which is to dispose of waste according to the space provided. It's just that for minorities who are still indifferent to the environment, support and encouragement from teachers need to be increased so that all madrasa residents, especially students, have positive behavior, be aware and care about the surrounding environmen


2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saloshna Vandeyar ◽  
Thirusellvan Vandeyar

Utilising a qualitative case study approach, this research study set out to understand discrimination experienced by immigrant students in their interactions with South African students and the prejudice immigrant students expressed against Black South African students. Findings reveal that the discrimination experienced by immigrant students could be clustered into four broad themes, namely categorisations and prototypes; practised stereotypes; academic and social exclusion; and work ethic. Furthermore, statements immigrant students make about South African students seem to fall into two broad categories, namely lack of value for moral integrity and lack of value for education. Educating students to value human dignity and to view each other as cosmopolitan citizens of the world could be a way to ensure social cohesion and harmony of future generations to come.


Author(s):  
Irene Martin-Rubio ◽  
Drew Rodgers ◽  
Erik Døving

Cross-cultural knowledge management in the e-environment results from interactions with others from different cultures that require new understanding and interpretations. The authors find that few studies have been conducted to address the objective of identifying the competences that are needed to promote learning and information processing in the 21st century. The authors’ primary goal is to identify competences that will promote learning and information processing in global organizations. The chapter outlines a taxonomy of competences necessary for cross-cultural learning in the global e-environment based on Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory.


Author(s):  
Walimbwa Michael ◽  
Shopi M. Julius ◽  
Nampijja Diana

Pedagogical integration of technologies is a fairly new concept in education. Educational institutions need to have prerequisite planning for leadership in pedagogical integration of emerging technologies. This chapter investigates institutional leadership that enables educators to build capacity to effectively integrate technology into pedagogy. Using a qualitative case study approach, leaders were interviewed and official documents analyzed. The data analyzed indicate that institutional leadership facilitates increased acquisition of and access to technology devices and facilities. It is found that institutional leadership is pivotal in supporting, training, and innovatively exploring various ways of integrating technologies into the curriculum. It is thus concluded that in this era institutions need leaders who proactively engage in planning for integration of technologies for transformed pedagogic practices.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatih Saltan

The aim of this study was to investigate the learning experience of students studying pedagogic formation in blended design with regard to attendance, self confidence, and attitudes toward both Pedagogic Formation Program (PFP) and the teaching profession. In order to achieve this aim, a qualitative case study approach was carried out. The participants of this study consisted of 154 graduated Faculty of Arts and Sciences students who were enrolled in the first blended PFP in Turkey. A qualitative case study was conducted. Data were obtained through an open-ended questionnaire (n=154) and focus group interviews (n=8). The qualitative data were analyzed by using content analysis techniques. Overall, the results indicated that blended PFP was highly promising regarding professional development, self-confidence, accessibility and eliminating some disadvantages of distance education. Specifically, inherent problems of online education continued to take place in blended design but a balanced blended approach could minimize these weaknesses. Participants indicated that face-to-face sections were more applied, authentic and effective than the online part. On the other hand, most of the participants preferred to attend the online lessons regularly.  It was mainly because of availability concerns, travelling, and comfort of their home.


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