scholarly journals Using Padlets as E-Portfolios to Enhance Undergraduate Students’ Writing Skills and Motivation

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 67-83
Author(s):  
Eleni Meletiadou
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Alternative Assessment ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Feedback Session ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Learning Platform ◽  
Reflective Skills ◽  
Interactive Experience ◽  
Interactive Feedback

Despite the increasing support for the use of e-portfolios, research on its utility is just beginning to emerge. In terms of the current study, 200 students were asked to create digital portfolios with Padlet, share their e-portfolios via their Virtual Learning Platform (VLE), and ask for peer and lecturer feedback every time they completed a written task. Using a diagnostic test and their final assignment, students had to write a reflective report at the beginning and the end of an academic term. They also interacted every week using a forum created by their lecturer to enhance collaboration and peer support. At the end of each interactive feedback session, they had to reflect on their work and the feedback they received and post their self-reflections on the forum. Findings indicated that students managed to improve their writing performance significantly and enhance their motivation towards writing and learning in general due to this innovative alternative assessment method. This was evident from their final reflective reports, their focus group discussions, and the anonymous feedback they provided through Mentimeter. Students reported that they enjoyed this interactive experience which was both engaging and rewarding. However, students expressed their wish for more support when using IT tools and e-portfolios and asked to be guided to develop their writing and reflective skills and engage even more with their e-portfolios.

THE ROLE OF MOBILE PHONES AS EFFECTIVE TOOLS FOR LANGUAGE LEARNING BY LIBYAN EFL LEARNERS

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-163
Author(s):  
Safia Mujtaba Alsied
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Integral Element ◽  
Good Learning

The current technological era has witnessed a great advancement in the world of mobile technology. Mobiles gadgets have now turned out to be an integral element of the daily life. Given the fact that mobile devices can be used to serve a number of functions, EFL learners can utilize them regularly to enhance their process of learning and attain good learning outcome. This article intends to explore the effectiveness of using mobile phones in language learning by Libyan EFL learners. To further investigate this issue, questionnaires were administered to 151 Libyan EFL undergraduate students from the English department of Sebha University and focus group discussions (FGDs) were carried out with 18 students. The results revealed that using mobile phones in learning was effective to a great extent. Besides, the majority of Libyan EFL learners utilized their mobile phones mostly to check meaning of words, to listen to English songs and to develop reading, listening, speaking and writing skills. The findings also demonstrated that Libyan EFL learners exhibited positive perceptions towards using mobile phones in learning English.

The Use of Peer Assessment as an Inclusive Learning Strategy in Higher Education Institutions

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
Eleni Meletiadou
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Alternative Assessment ◽  
Learning Strategy ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Peer Assessment ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Training And Support

Peer assessment (PA) is one of the most popular forms of alternative assessment currently used in higher education institutions worldwide. In the current study, PA was used as an inclusive assessment tool to enhance students' writing skills and motivation towards writing and learning in general. Forty-two undergraduate students attended an academic writing module for one academic semester. The overall aim was to develop their writing skills taking into consideration their individual differences and ensuring all students had an opportunity to succeed. Students received training in PA and were then involved in reciprocal anonymous PA. Findings indicated that learners improved their writing skills considerably and became more independent learners. Their motivation also increased as they could better understand the assessment criteria. However, they confessed that they needed more training and support and they believed that PA should also be used in other modules and courses to enhance student collaboration and reflection.

A Comparison of Disease Assessment Methods for Southern Stem Rot of Peanut

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. L. Rideout ◽  
T. B. Brenneman ◽  
K. L. Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Assessment ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Sclerotium Rolfsii ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Assessment Methods ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Stem Rot ◽  
Disease Assessment ◽  
Time Required

Abstract Southern stem rot (caused by the soilborne fungus Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.) of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) traditionally has been assessed based on the percentage of infected 30.5-cm row segments, commonly referred to as disease incidence. Several alternative disease assessment methods were evaluated in four fungicide trials during the growing season (aboveground ratings) and immediately after peanut inversion (belowground ratings). Pearson's correlation coefficients compared disease assessments and yields for all trials. Across all disease assessment methods, belowground assessments at inversion showed a stronger correlation with yield than in-season aboveground assessments. Several of the alternative assessment methods showed a stronger negative correlation with yield than did the traditional disease incidence rating. However, none of the alternative methods were consistently more precise across all assessment dates and trials. There was a significant positive correlation between many of the alternative methods and the traditional disease incidence method. Furthermore, none of the alternative methods was better than the traditional method for detecting differences among fungicide treatments when subjected to ANOVA and subsequent Waller-Duncan mean separation tests (k-ratio = 100). Based on comparisons of the time required to assess disease intensity, the traditional disease assessment method was found to be the most time efficient method of those tested in this study.

scholarly journals Enjoying Learning Writing through Facebook Group

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Zulfadli Abdul Aziz ◽  
Husnul Khatimah
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Situational Interest ◽  
Individual Interest ◽  
English Writing ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Interactive Feedback ◽  
Group 1

This research showed many English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students in Aceh struggle in learning English writing as they had a lack of interest in it. This descriptive qualitative study aimed to find out in what ways Facebook Group might facilitate the enjoyment of the students in learning this skill. The data were collected using interviews and was analyzed through thematic analysis. The interview was done one by one at a time. Ten students from UIN Ar-Raniry were purposely chosen for the interviews in this research. The research findings show that there are four themes found that caused the participants enjoyment of the learning writing in the group: (1) it provides unlimited timing; (2) it facilitates the participants’ freedom and creativity; (3) it provides the interactive feedback; and (4) it helps them in brainstorming the ideas. These four themes directly enhance the students’ situational interest in learning writing that related to an environmental factor, but it results in the development of their individual interest. This research suggests that the teacher should combine the learning process in the classroom with the Facebook group media to fasten the enhancement of the learners’ writing skills. For the learners, it is suggested that they should utilize their social media such as Facebook group not only as their communication media but also for developing their learning in writing.

scholarly journals Is Big Data Security Essential for Students to Understand?

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-170
Author(s):  
Rochman Hadi Mustofa
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Data Security ◽  
Personal Data ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Security And Privacy ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Technology Applications ◽  
Digital Payments ◽  
Financial Technology

AbstractBig Data has become a significant concern of the world, along with the era of digital transformation. However, there are still many young people, especially in developing countries, who are not yet aware of the security of their big data, especially personal data. Misuse of information from big data often results in violations of privacy, security, and cybercrime. This study aims to determine how aware of the younger generation of security and privacy of their big data. Data were collected qualitatively by interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) from. Respondents were undergraduate students who used social media and financial technology applications such as online shopping, digital payments, digital wallet and hotel/transportation booking applications. The results showed that students were not aware enough and understood the security or privacy of their digital data, and some respondents even gave personal data to potentially scam sites. Most students are not careful in providing big data information because they are not aware of the risks behind it, socialization is needed in the future as a step to prevent potential data theft.

scholarly journals The Effect on Learning Objectives and Outcomes of Students’ Inability to Develop Language Competencies for Appropriate Communication at the Undergraduate Level

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. p64
Author(s):  
Casimir Adjoe ◽  
Rosemary Kimani
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Random Sampling ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Learning Objectives ◽  
Communication Studies ◽  
Undergraduate Level ◽  
English Writing ◽  
Linguistic Ethnography ◽  
Language Competencies

The ability to communicate is a skill needed for beneficial learning outcomes. It is likewise needed for functioning in our connected world and spaces. However, undergraduate writing still gives the impression of poor English writing skills and inadequate communication. The paper takes a linguistic ethnography approach to examine the effects of poor English writing skills on the learning objectives and communication of undergraduate students. Using a random sampling of 37 examination scripts of Communication Studies students and their analysis through a revised version of Bloom’s taxonomy of educational objectives, the study suggests that poor English writing skills and the inability to communicate are likely among the effects of the inability of undergraduate students to acquire competence at the comprehension, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation tasks needed to enable them compose knowledge and meaningful messages as well as to communicate them. The study, therefore, suggests the need for investigating practical steps that can be taken to assist students with poor English writing competencies and skills to access knowledge and be able to produce knowledge in their learning situations, and further still, be able to communicate their knowledge as competently as possible without an overemphasis on grammatical correctness as the goal.

scholarly journals Writing Skills Development for Graduate Studies and Career Readiness in Science and Aging Fields: A Case Study Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Stafford McRell ◽  
Betty L. Wilson ◽  
Sue E. Levkoff
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Underrepresented Students ◽  
Fellowship Training ◽  
Career Readiness ◽  
Graduate Studies ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Writing Class

Increasing the number of racially and ethnically underrepresented students who pursue scientific graduate studies in programs focusing on science and aging offers an opportunity to increase the number of aging specialists while simultaneously promoting diversity in the research labor market and supporting new ideas. This case study aims to better understand how students participating in an academic preparatory program experience a writing class contextualized within (1) students' writing background and (2) students' future ambitions related to science and aging. The individually-tailored writing class was taught as a critical component of a comprehensive educational program that targets underrepresented racial and ethnic minority undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing scientific graduate studies in fields related to aging. The researchers conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with students (n = 4) enrolled in the 24-month fellowship training program, which included participation in the writing course during the summer prior to their senior year of undergraduate education. All participants were young adult college students who identified as Black or African American and female. Using thematic coding, statements about professional writing skills were divided into four primary themes: (1) prior experiences, (2) class experiences, (3) future goals and ambitions, and (4) structural considerations. These themes suggest potential implications for effective interventions aimed to advance the writing skills and academic and career readiness of racially and ethnically diverse students entering fields of science and aging.

scholarly journals Towards an automatic classification system for supporting the development of critical reflective skills in L2 learning

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Classification System ◽  
Automatic Classification ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Active System ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Classification Framework ◽  
L2 Learning ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Reflective Skills

This study aimed to develop an automatic classification system, namely ACTIVE, for generating immediate and individualised feedback on students’ reflective entries about their second language (L2) learning experiences. It also aimed to explore students’ attitudes towards using the system to support the development of their reflective skills in L2 learning. A total of 466 undergraduate students took part in the study. One hundred and twenty-seven participants were involved in the development phase, where their reflective entries were manually annotated according to a classification framework for critical reflection on L2 learning, and the annotated entries were then used to develop the ACTIVE system. The remaining participants were asked to generate automated feedback reports on their reflective entries for improvement by using the system. To solicit their views towards the system, the participants were administered an online questionnaire and some of them were also invited to attend a semi-structured interview. The overall results indicate that the classification accuracy of the system is comparable to that of human annotators. They also suggest that both teacher and machine feedback types have strengths and limitations, highlighting the need to further explore the use of multi-channel, multi-layer feedback in improving students’ reflective skills in L2 learning.

scholarly journals Mobile Phone Influence on Sexual Behaviour of Undergraduate Students: A Case Study of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-41
Author(s):  
Ondicho Machuki ◽  
Joan Mutua
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Safe Sex ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions

Purpose: The study sought to examine the influence of mobile phone use on sexual behaviour of university students: a case study of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya. The study specifically, sought to examine the effect of characteristics of mobile phones users, uses and gratification of mobile phones and the frequency of using mobile phones on sexual behaviour of university students in Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya. Methodology: The research design that was adopted was descriptive in nature. The study also used both quantitative and qualitative data obtained from the respondents using questionnaires and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) guides. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires while qualitative data was collected using Focus Group Discussions. The study adopted a stratified random sampling technique to select the sample size from the three strata, which are the various Faculties in JKUAT. The study then used Fisher’s formula to arrive at an adequate scientific sample size of 384 students who were targeted using convenient sampling, that is those that are ready to respond to the questionnaires and the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). The quantitative data in this research was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics using SPSS v22.0. Results: It was concluded that male students are more likely to use protection consistently compared to female students. In addition, the findings imply that consistency in condom use is a factor that is dependent on the age of the individual. In addition, relationship status is a contributor to the behaviour of the students sexually. For those that are in serious relationships, their use of protection declines due to the build-up of emotional and intimate trust towards each other. The findings likewise indicate that the student’s usage of mobile phones correlates significantly with the consistent use of protection for safe sex. Those students who have had their phones since they joined Campus are more likely to practice safe sex. In addition, heavy users of mobile phones are likely to practice safe sex including those who browse the internet for news updates. Unique contribution to theory, policy and practice: The study recommends the media practitioners need to step up the production of morally acceptable media content and offer a platform for advertising and campaigning for sexual conduct by encouraging and stressing the use of protection. The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education should actively involve the undergraduate students in reproductive information awareness campaigns for ensuring positive attitudes towards responsible sexual behaviour and promoting best sexual practices.         

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