scholarly journals Quantifying the impact of mathematics support on the performance of undergraduate engineering and computing students

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Calum Macdonald
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Student Performance ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Mathematical Content ◽  
Undergraduate Engineering ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

The School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment at Glasgow Caledonian University has provided mathematics support for all students in the school since 2012/13. This paper compares the performance of two groups of undergraduate students; those who engaged with mathematics support, through attending targeted lectures, and those who chose not to engage. Data collected over the five years from 2013/14 to 2017/18 for 4,690 engaging and non-engaging students, enrolled on modules with a substantial mathematical content, were analysed. Module marks achieved at first diet for the two groups of students, at all undergraduate levels, were selected as a measure of how mathematics support impacts on student performance. The study showed that there was a substantial and significant difference between the marks achieved by students that engaged with support and those that did not. Students who engaged on average showed an 8% increase in their module mark compared with those who did not engage. 

The interplay of glossing with text difficulty and comprehension levels

2021 ◽  
pp. 136216882110204
Author(s):  
Seyede Faezeh Hosseini Alast ◽  
Sasan Baleghizadeh
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
First Language ◽  
Think Aloud ◽  
Text Difficulty ◽  
L2 Reading ◽  
Think Aloud Protocols ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact ◽  
L2 Reading Comprehension ◽  
Underlying Processes

The aim of this experiment was to investigate how glossing influences second language (L2)reading comprehension in relation to text difficulty and the two local and global meaning representations. Fifty-eight undergraduate students were asked to read three easy, moderate, and difficult texts and, following each passage, answer twenty comprehension questions targeting local and global concepts in one of the two first-language-glossed and unglossed conditions. Half of the participants in each group were supposed to think aloud while reading. The results revealed a significant difference between the performance of glossed and unglossed groups on comprehension of local concepts in all three difficulty levels. However, the impact of glossing on comprehension of global concepts was significantly influenced by text difficulty. The qualitative analysis of think-aloud protocols suggested a substantial difference in glossing functionality on fluency between the easy and the difficult texts. Furthermore, it is suggested that revisiting the glossing effect in combination with text difficulty on the reading product and underlying processes might reconcile some divergent hypotheses on glossing impact on fluency.

scholarly journals The Effects of Gaming on University Student Quiz Performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-119
Author(s):  
Corinne M Gist ◽  
Natalie Andzik ◽  
Elle E Smith ◽  
Menglin Xu ◽  
Nancy A Neef
Keyword(s):  
Student Performance ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Electronic Device ◽  
Classroom Engagement ◽  
Electric Device ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Competitive Games ◽  
Education Courses ◽  
Quiz Scores

The use of competitive games to increase classroom engagement has become common practice among many teachers. However, it is unclear if using games as an assessment tool is a viable way to increase student performance. This study examined the effects of administering quizzes through a game-based system, Kahoot!,versusprivately on an electronic device. The quiz scores of 56 undergraduate students, enrolled in one of two special education courses, were evaluated. A linear regression was used to compare student scores across the two conditions, as well as performance over the course of a 15-week semester. No significant difference in quiz scores was found between the two conditions, and quiz scores in both conditions improved similarly over time. Sixty-eight percent of the students reported preferring to take the quiz privately on an electric device as opposed to on Kahoot!. Limitations and recommendations for practitioners are discussed.

scholarly journals Is missing geographic positioning system data in accelerometry studies a problem, and is imputation the solution?

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Meseck ◽  
Marta M. Jankowska ◽  
Jasper Schipperijn ◽  
Loki Natarajan ◽  
Suneeta Godbole ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Gps Data ◽  
Positioning System ◽  
Accelerometer Data ◽  
Generalised Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

The main purpose of the present study was to assess the impact of global positioning system (GPS) signal lapse on physical activity analyses, discover any existing associations between missing GPS data and environmental and demographics attributes, and to determine whether imputation is an accurate and viable method for correcting GPS data loss. Accelerometer and GPS data of 782 participants from 8 studies were pooled to represent a range of lifestyles and interactions with the built environment. Periods of GPS signal lapse were identified and extracted. Generalised linear mixed models were run with the number of lapses and the length of lapses as outcomes. The signal lapses were imputed using a simple ruleset, and imputation was validated against person-worn camera imagery. A final generalised linear mixed model was used to identify the difference between the amount of GPS minutes pre- and post-imputation for the activity categories of sedentary, light, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Over 17% of the dataset was comprised of GPS data lapses. No strong associations were found between increasing lapse length and number of lapses and the demographic and built environment variables. A significant difference was found between the pre- and postimputation minutes for each activity category. No demographic or environmental bias was found for length or number of lapses, but imputation of GPS data may make a significant difference for inclusion of physical activity data that occurred during a lapse. Imputing GPS data lapses is a viable technique for returning spatial context to accelerometer data and improving the completeness of the dataset.

Investigating the Impact of Gamification in Children Using GSR

2022 ◽  
pp. 23-57
Author(s):  
Sonali Rani Sahansra ◽  
Anshu Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Student Performance ◽  
Traditional Learning ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Game Based Learning ◽  
School Students ◽  
Learning Groups ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Game Intervention ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
The Impact

This study aimed to investigate the impact of game-based learning on student performance. For this reason, an empirical study was conducted which comprises the comparison of traditional learning and game-based learning. The participants were lower primary school students of age group 6-8 years. GSR NUL-217 logger sensor was used to record the physiological signals of each participant in real time. An Android-based game intervention named “KidsZoneApp” was developed which included mathematics and English lesson plans according to the student's curriculum. The collected log data was used to calculate the changes in different dimensions of completing the task. ANOVA yielded a very significant difference between game-based learning and traditional learning groups. Overall, the results showed that game-based learning contributed to increased students' performance levels. Significantly, students under game-based learning completed the task in lesser time as compared to traditional learning.

A comparison of student performance on discipline-specific versus integrated exams in a medical school course

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 370-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew R. Thompson ◽  
Mark W. Braun ◽  
Valerie D. O'Loughlin
Keyword(s):  
Medical School ◽  
Student Performance ◽  
Bloom's Taxonomy ◽  
Integrated Instruction ◽  
Bloom’S Taxonomy ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Usmle Step 1 ◽  
Usmle Step ◽  
Exam Scores ◽  
The Impact

Curricular reform is a widespread trend among medical schools. Assessing the impact that pedagogical changes have on students is a vital step in review process. This study examined how a shift from discipline-focused instruction and assessment to integrated instruction and assessment affected student performance in a second-year medical school pathology course. We investigated this by comparing pathology exam scores between students exposed to traditional discipline-specific instruction and exams (DSE) versus integrated instruction and exams (IE). Exam content was controlled, and individual questions were evaluated using a modified version of Bloom's taxonomy. Additionally, we compared United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) step 1 scores between DSE and IE groups. Our findings indicate that DSE students performed better than IE students on complete pathology exams. However, when exam content was controlled, exam scores were equivalent between groups. We also discovered that the integrated exams were composed of a significantly greater proportion of questions classified on the higher levels of Bloom's taxonomy and that IE students performed better on these questions overall. USMLE step 1 exam scores were similar between groups. The finding of a significant difference in content complexity between discipline-specific and integrated exams adds to recent literature indicating that there are a number of potential biases related to curricular comparison studies that must be considered. Future investigation involving larger sample sizes and multiple disciplines should be performed to explore this matter further.

scholarly journals The Impact of Incidental and Intentional L2 Vocabulary Learning on Depths and Breadth Dimensions of Vocabulary Knowledge

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Seyyed Rasool Mirghasempoor Ahmadi
Keyword(s):  
Learning Style ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Reading Ability ◽  
English Language ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Reading Program ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
The Impact

Through the introduction of different dimensions of vocabulary knowledge, various studies attempted to examinenumerous effective factors on these dimensions. The present study aimed to show the effects of different vocabularylearning styles through extensive and intensive reading programs on depth and breadth aspects of vocabularyknowledge. To achieve this goal, 45 sophomore undergraduate students of English language teaching and translationin Payam-e-Noor University participated in this study. Initially, in order to homogenize the learners based on theirlevel of language proficiency, MEPT was administered. Then, by measuring the mean and standard deviation ofparticipants’ scores, the number of participants reduced to 35. The ultimate subjects’ scores on the readingcomprehension items of MEPT show that they are all at the intermediate level of reading ability. Participantsdivided into three experimental groups randomly: two groups were in the extensive reading program with differentform-focused and meaning-focused tasks as incidental vocabulary learning style. And the third group was in theintensive reading program as intentional vocabulary learning style. Participants in these experimental groups readlong stories or passages per week with ten goal-oriented words. After 8 weeks, Word Associates Test (WAT) andVocabulary Knowledge Scale (VKS) were administered to measure the acquired knowledge of new words and also,determining the effects of various learning styles on different dimensions of vocabulary knowledge. The results ofPaired-samples and Independent T-tests revealed that both incidental and intentional groups developed in the periodbetween the pre- and post-test, but, there was a significant difference between the effects of incidental vocabularylearning in the form of ER program and intentional vocabulary learning in the form of IR program. Moreover, therewas a significant difference between the effects of the form-focused and meaning-focused task.

scholarly journals Design, implementation, and assessment of an interactive simulation to teach undergraduate immunology students hemolytic disease of the newborn

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-306
Author(s):  
Maurizio Costabile
Keyword(s):  
Student Learning ◽  
Student Performance ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Interactive Simulation ◽  
Hemolytic Disease ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Interactive Simulations ◽  
Blood Grouping

Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) is a potentially fatal condition caused by a Rhesus (Rh) antigen incompatibility between a mother and fetus. As a result, determining the Rh status of expectant parents is a routine clinical assessment. Both the physiological and immunological basis of this condition are taught to undergraduate students. At the University of South Australia, some undergraduate immunology students find this topic challenging. The author designed, implemented, and assessed the impact of an interactive simulation to facilitate student learning of HDN. The students were actively engaged in determining the blood grouping and Rh status of an expectant mother and father and then determining the possibility of developing HDN. The simulation was found to take only 15 min to complete yet led to a significant increase in student performance in an end of semester exam question. Student perceived understanding was found to significantly improve following the introduction of the simulation, even though the content had been covered in a formal lecture. Student feedback was highly positive of this learning approach. In conclusion, short, interactive simulations can be used effectively to enhance student learning of challenging concepts.

Racial and low-income quotas in Brazilian universities: impact on academic performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-176
Author(s):  
Claudia Bueno Rocha Vidigal
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Student Performance ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The North ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to estimate the impact of racial and low-income quotas on academic performance of students from public and private universities in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach Using propensity score matching applied to student-level data from the National Examination of Student Performance conducted in 2012; this paper identifies the impact of the quota policy on academic performance considering all Brazilian universities. Findings The results indicate that there is no statistically significant difference in academic performance between students admitted under the racial quota and those who had the regular admission (non-quota students). The impact is positive, however, for students from the North region of Brazil and among those with very low family income, whereas a negative impact is observed for those from the Central-West region. In regard to the low-income quota, quota students perform worse than eligible non-quota students as their scores are, on average, 14 percent lower. Similar findings are observed when different subsamples are considered. Originality/value This paper’s main contribution is to provide a broader and more rigorous empirical approach than that presented by the existing literature in order to evaluate the impact of quota policies on academic achievement. Moreover, this study considers all Brazilian institutions whereas previous studies are limited to only one or a few universities.

scholarly journals A comparative study of Blended learning versus Conventional learning in higher education on the academic achievement of undergraduate students in the general chemistry course

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 2770-2785
Author(s):  
Najeh Rajeh Alsalhi Et al.
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
General Chemistry ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Achievement Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

The main goal of this study was to examine the impact of blended learning on the academic achievement of undergraduate students in the general chemistry (CHE101) course. The participants' learners of the study were (326) learners, who were randomly split into two groups, one of which taught by using blended learning (empirical group A, n = 163) and the other which with taught by using the conventional method (control group B, n = 163). To accomplish the objectives of the study, the researchers prepared the study tool, which is an achievement test, after confirming its validity and reliability. Data analyses showed that there is a statistically significant difference among the mean scores of learners in the two study groups on the achievement test, for the benefit of empirical group learners, who taught through blended learning. Moreover, the results revealed that achievement varied according to the College of the learners in the empirical group (in favor of those students of Pharmacy and Health Sciences College). However, there is no statistically significant difference in students according to the students’ gender variable and, according to the Academic year variable. The study recommended that blended learning be used more widely to cover different sectors of education.

Impact of Whatsapp in improving learning among 9th semester MBBS students

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-30
Author(s):  
Y Satish Reddy ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Control Group ◽  
P Value ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Opinion Poll ◽  
Didactic Teaching ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Group A ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact

Background: Interactive Teaching learning can be used in clinical subjects like surgery for better participation of students as one-way didactic lectures do not involve active participation of students. WhatsApp is one of the most famous messaging services which everyone use and it is easy, cheaper, and faster. Objective: the purpose of the study was to study the impact of whatsapp in improving learning in general surgery among 9th semester medical students. Methods: This study was conducted among 9th semester MBBS students in Surgery department. Students were divided into group a (study group) and group b(control group) by a simple random sampling. Gastric cancer was discussed among students of both Groups through didactic teaching. after didactic teaching, only Group A students were exposed to social media type of learning, i.e., using WhatsApp, after the session a multiple-choice questionnaire having 10 MCQs was given to both groups and an additional poll was conducted among the Study-group students to assess their perception towards Whatsapp intervention. the mean score obtained by both the groups were compared with unpaired t test. P-value <0.05 is taken as statistically significant. Results: The mean (SD) score of the Study-group was 8.58(1.18) and the mean (SD) score of the Control-group was 5.41(1.32) and statistically significant difference was found between the two groups scores with a p-value less than 0.05 opinion poll found that the intervention of whatsapp among study group was effective. Conclusion: we observed that the usage of WhatsApp in addition to the didactic teaching was found advantageous and enhanced learning in undergraduate students

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