scholarly journals Electronic Learning May Improve the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics and Science in Marginalized Schools in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda: A Baseline Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Angella Musiimenta ◽  
Wilson Tumuhimbise ◽  
Michael Nankunda ◽  
Elly Bangumya ◽  
Justus Atuhaire ◽  
...  

Background: Over the years, mathematics and sciences have been performed poorly worldwide. There is an overwhelming high failure rates of mathematics and sciences in the marginalized schools found in Nakivale refugee settlement in Uganda. Electronic (e)-learning tools could be promising interactive strategies for teaching mathematics and sciences. There is lack of studies documenting educational challenges in the refugee settlement, and how e-learning can address the challenges.Objective: To identify the challenges experienced in teaching and learning mathematics and sciences in schools found in Nakivale refugee settlement, and explore the potentials of using e-learning to address the identified challenges.Methods: We employed a parallel mixed methods study design that utilized focus group discussions and surveys. We purposively conducted a focus group discussion with the 17 mathematics/science teachers that we had trained (in e-learning) from 6 schools in Nakivale refugee settlement. We also administered surveys to 267 learners and mathematics/science teachers of the six participating schools.Results: Educational challenges reported by participants are: 1) lack of access to modern teaching and learning resources, 2) Leaners’ negative attitudes towards mathematics and science, 3) overwhelming number of learners in class. 4) Lack of ICT pedagogical skills. They anticipated that e-learning could potentially: 1) enable unlimited and flexible access to educational resources, and 2) enhance engagement, interest and understanding of learning concepts. They however worried about the availability of sufficient technological infrastructure (e.g. internet, computers, and electricity) and skills to use the application. Conclusion: E-learning may enable unlimited and flexible access to educational resources, and enhance engagement, interest and understanding of learning concepts, which could potentially improve performance in mathematics and sciences in otherwise marginalized schools.

Robotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Maria Pozzi ◽  
Domenico Prattichizzo ◽  
Monica Malvezzi

Robotics is now facing the challenge of deploying newly developed devices into human environments, and for this process to be successful, societal acceptance and uptake of robots are crucial. Education is already playing a key role in raising awareness and spreading knowledge about robotic systems, and there is a growing need to create highly accessible resources to teach and learn robotics. In this paper, we revise online available educational material, including videos, podcasts, and coding tools, aimed at facilitating the learning of robotics related topics at different levels. The offer of such resources was recently boosted by the higher demand of distance learning tools due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The potential of e-learning for robotics is still under-exploited, and here we provide an updated list of resources that could help instructors and students to better navigate the large amount of information available online.


Author(s):  
Prayuth Chusorn ◽  
Cheaztha Bhoprathab ◽  
Pornpimon Chusorn ◽  
Pramook Chusorn ◽  
Yupawarat Kentekrom

Research for development policy for the Effective Research University case study of Khon Kaen University used the principle of policy research divided into three stages: 1) the synthesis document 2) Interviews of experts and 3) focus group discussion. Target groups include administrators, faculty member and university researchers. Research tools were documentary analysis questionnaires and the focus group form.  The analysis and interpreted data were performed by content analysis.Research findings As a leading research university with international quality and standards as importance goal which requires challenge strategies aimed to integrative change as follows,Preparing personnel together, determine the faculty strategies to support personnel and researchers, using a variety of research products, creative works develop into applied research and development research and create system and mechanisms of intellectual property to develop into commercial applications continuously. Establishing research fund to motivate faculty members researchers and graduate students for knowledge technologies to be utilized and satisfy the needs of local and nationally. Knowledge management of the experiences of a senior researcher ,support the teaching and learning process by using the study as a base by integrating research and teaching at both the subjects and courses including the use of research-based knowledge to manage the process of decision making, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and improvement work. Support for research and transfer research to the public focus on professional development and quality of life as well as the base for the development of networking and knowledge sharing. Awards & recognition / reward and honor researchers and research institution with outstanding performance in research and innovation to accelerate the strengthening of research integration, towards selfreliance build competitiveness and social guides.  Keywords: Research University,  challenge strategies 


2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 642-652
Author(s):  
Hasan Ozgur Kapici ◽  
Genc Osman Ilhan

There is not a common attitude in a society for socio-scientific issues (SSI) such as whether to use nuclear power plants for energy production. Within this respect, the aim of the research is to examine pre-service science teachers’ and pre-service social studies teachers’ attitudes toward SSI and to reveal their views about setting up nuclear power plants in their country. The participant of research is 120 pre-service teachers. Firstly, Attitudes toward Socio-scientific Issues Scale (ATSIS) was implemented and then, focus group discussions were done with five students from each department separately so as to understand their views about nuclear power plants. Findings revealed that whereas pre-service teachers are eager to learn more about SSI, they have anxiety about it due to religion, moral and ethical perspectives. In addition, whereas both groups of pre-service teachers have some common views about nuclear power plants, pre-service science teachers do not have more positive views about having nuclear power plants in their country. Key words: attitude towards socio-scientific issues, focus group discussion, pre-service teachers, nuclear energy.


Author(s):  
Shafinah Farvin Packeer Mohamed

As programming is one of the core subjects for BSc IT students, it is vital for them to have programming skill. However, students are often terrified of programming since it is a challenging subject. Traditionally, the programming teaching and learning process are limited to lectures and lab exercises. This approach is no longer appropriate in today's learning environment and required skills in the 21st century. Collaborative learning is acknowledged as an approach that fits the programming students. Thus, this chapter has adapted the collaborative approach in Programming 1 class. Three techniques were applied namely problem-based learning, buzz groups, and pair programming. At the end of the semester, an online survey to obtain students' opinions and a focus group discussion were conducted. In addition, the examination results of the repeaters were also compared. Results from the survey and focus group indicate that the collaborative approach is able to increase students' interest and the grade of the repeaters in the Programming 1 subject.


2018 ◽  
pp. 2274-2287
Author(s):  
Utku Kose

With the outstanding improvements in technology, the number of e-learning applications has increased greatly. This increment is associated with awareness levels of educational institutions on the related improvements and the power of communication and computer technologies to ensure effective and efficient teaching and learning experiences for teachers and students. Consequently, there is a technological flow that changes the standards of e-learning processes and provides better ways to obtain desired educational objectives. When we consider today's widely used technological factors, Web-based e-learning approaches have a special role in directing the educational standards. Improvements among m-learning applications and the popularity of the Artificial Intelligence usage for educational works have given great momentum to this orientation. In this sense, this chapter provides some ideas on the future of intelligent Web-based e-learning applications by thinking on the current status of the literature. As it is known, current trends in developing Artificial Intelligence-supported e-learning tools continue to shape the future of e-learning. Therefore, it is an important approach to focus on the future. The author thinks that the chapter will be a brief but effective enough reference for similar works, which focus on the future of Artificial Intelligence-supported distance education and e-learning.


Author(s):  
C. Candace Chou

This study explores student views of various E-Learning tools as teaching and learning media in an online course for pre-service and in-service teachers. This chapter also examines the pedagogical applications of E-Learning tools in an online course. The capabilities of a system that allows meaningful interaction, reflection, personal identification, and a sense of community play a key role in the degree of social presence. This study highlights some key findings regarding the efficacy of E-Learning tools from student perspectives and make recommendations for future pedagogical practice.


Author(s):  
Nikolas Galanis ◽  
Enric Mayol ◽  
María José Casany ◽  
Marc Alier

E-learning has experienced an extraordinary growth over the last years. We have reached a point in time when most learning institutions have adopted an LMS as an integral element of their teaching and learning infrastructure. In parallel, the number of educational tools available for learning is increasing and keeps evolving. This variety means that it is not always easy or possible to add these educational tools into LMSs to enhance the learning process. It would, however, be in everyone´s interest for these tools to interact with the LMSs. To solve the problem of interoperability between LMS and learning tools, several interoperability standards define ways so that LMSs can interface with external learning tools in order to make them accessible from within the learning platform in an intuitive and concise way. This chapter is focused on the service-oriented approach to interoperability and specifically on the IMS LTI standard and the TSUGI hosting environment that aims to simplify the integration of external learning tools.


Author(s):  
Jared Keengwe ◽  
Joachim Jack Agamba

The emergence of e-learning tools such as Course Management Systems (CMS) offer instructors a practical means to transition from face-to-face to blended delivery modalities that could better serve the needs of digital learners. However, instructors fail to take advantage of such existing modern classroom technologies to provide better learning experiences for their learners. Part of this is due to the lack of a system to determine the underuse of technological tools in a CMS. This project focused on examining the degree of Moodle technology integration into course instruction to support effective student teaching and learning by three instructors. This article stimulates reflections on pedagogical experiences with regard to course content material and instructor practices. The study illustrates that instructors and learners can believe technology is being used well in a CMS course site when the opposite is true.


2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 338-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susannah Diamond ◽  
Brian Irwin

PurposeThe paper aims to explore staff practices in using e‐learning to embed sustainability literacy, highlight best practice and determine areas for improvement.Design/methodology/approachA framework of four areas for developing student sustainability literacy (SSL) was proposed as a basis for analysing practice. A literature review then explored the extent to which e‐learning is used to support embedding SSL in the curriculum, and the types of e‐learning currently in use for this.FindingsE‐learning tools were most frequently used to provide flexible access to information, followed by support for communication and collaboration, and were less frequently used for the development of specific skills, personal identity and confidence.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample of case studies provided only limited evidence. A survey of practitioners could be undertaken to explore and validate the issues raised by the literature review.Practical implicationsThe review highlighted scope for a pedagogical shift away from using e‐learning for information delivery and practical communication, and towards supporting rich, student‐centred forms of learning in both blended and distance learning modes.Social implicationsThis shift would create more powerful learning experiences for students, more effectively develop students' personal identities and skills, and yield graduates who are more confident in their ability to create more sustainable futures.Originality/valueThis paper will be of value to academic staff and educational developers looking to develop practice in embedding SSL in teaching and learning, and to harness the potential of e‐learning.


Author(s):  
Alois Matorevhu

Communication and Information Science (CIS) can be effectively applied in a STEM environment if ICT is accessible to people including those who are visually impaired (VI). This is premised on that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has invaded every part of society, from home, industry and social life, as the world moves rapidly into digital media.  One way of ensuring the effective inclusion of VI people in communication and Information Science is to have an education system from preschool, secondary through to tertiary which has inclusive ICT education. Apart from engendering CIS, ICT promotes/enhances student-centered learning consistent with STEM objectives. Through Zimbabwe’s education system, the visually impaired (VI) people like anybody else, need to understand and apply ICT as a tool to aid their learning, professional development, and a means of socializing. What is questionable is whether the education system of Zimbabwe from preschool, prepares VI people to be effective users of ICT as STEM objectives suggest.  In order to gain insight, curricula documents for a selected teachers’ college T and Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education curriculum documents were analyzed.  Also, data was generated through interviews and focus group discussion with VI pre-service teachers at teachers’ college T. The interviews and focus group discussions aimed to generate data through VI pre-service teachers’ reflections on their primary and secondary school days, juxtaposed with their current experience during teacher training with respect to inclusivity on use of ICT as a tool for teaching and learning, aiding personal learning and social life interactions. All the 10 VI pre-service teachers involved in the study concurred that if ICT learning and application begins as early as primary level, one is bound to develop high competence and confidence in ICT use. However, a very supportive environment, morally and materially, was seen as crucial in developing high competence and confidence levels of VI persons in using ICT for learning and in social life.


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