scholarly journals Reading with new tools: an evaluation of Personal Digital Assistants as tools for reading course materials

2002 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Waycott
Keyword(s):  
Activity Theory ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Personal Digital Assistants ◽  
Learning Tools ◽  
Desktop Computer ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
Reading Activity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Opening Up ◽  
Small Screen

Lightweight, palmtop devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) can now be used for reading electronic text, opening up their potential as learning tools. This paper reports a study that evaluated the use of PDAs for reading course materials by students on an Open University master's course. The research is grounded in activity theory, which provides a useful framework for examining how the introduction of a new tool changes an existing activity. Student perceptions of the possibilities and constraints of the PDA, as determined by questionnaires and interviews, reveal the impact the new tool had upon reading. The PDA constrained reading with limitations such as the small screen size, new requirements for navigating through the text and awkward methods for taking notes. These conditions made it difficult for students to skim-read the text, to move back and forth within the document and to interact with the text as easily as they could with paper. Nevertheless, students welcomed the opportunity to have the course materials on a portable, lightweight device that could be used at any time and in any place. This made it easier to fit the reading activity around the various other activities in which students were involved In addition, the PDA was used in conjunction with existing tools, such as the printed version of the course materials and the desktop computer. Therefore, it was not seen to replace paper but rather to extend and complement it. The findings are discussed using concepts from activity theory to interpret how the new tool modified the reading activity.DOI:10.1080/0968776020100205

scholarly journals Clinical Educator and Student Perceptions of iPad™ Technology to Enhance Clinical Supervision: The Electronically-Facilitated Feedback Initiative (EFFI)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Snodgrass ◽  
Darren Rivett ◽  
Scott Farrell ◽  
Kyle Ball ◽  
Samantha Ashby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Professional ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Clinical Supervision ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Clinical Placement ◽  
Personal Digital Assistants ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Electronic Feedback ◽  
Clinical Educators ◽  
The Impact

Purpose: Growing demands placed upon healthcare systems require more health professionals to be trained. Clinical placement education is an integral component of health professional training, however accommodating increasing numbers of student placements is a challenge for health services. Personal digital assistants such as iPads™ may assist in delivery of clinical education, by facilitating transfer of knowledge and skills from clinical educators to health professional students, however such an initiative has not been formally investigated. The present study sought to explore perceptions of clinical educators and allied health students regarding the impact of an iPad™-based feedback delivery system on student reflection and learning. Methods: A pilot study was performed using iPads™ with specialised software to deliver electronic formative feedback to physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology students during clinical placements. Students and clinical educators completed a questionnaire exploring advantages and disadvantages of the technology. Results: Nine clinical educators and 14 students participated and completed the survey. Clinical educators largely (n=7, 78%) reported the electronic feedback system was easy to use and 67% (n=6) reported it improved the quality of feedback provided to students. Five (56%) clinical educators thought electronic feedback improved student performance. Most students (n=10, 71%) reported electronic feedback facilitated reflection upon performance, and 64% (n=9) reported improved performance as a result. Disadvantages included poor wireless internet access and software inefficiencies (n=7 [78%] clinical educators, n=7 [50%] students), and difficulties using iPads™ in settings requiring infection control (n=2 [22%] clinical educators). Conclusions: Clinical educators and students perceived electronic feedback as a positive adjunct to student learning on clinical placement, however technological and software interface factors need to be considered for implementation in some settings.

scholarly journals The virtual classroom: A catalyst for institutional transformation

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nantha Kumar Subramaniam ◽  
Maheswari Kandasamy
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environment ◽  
Virtual Classroom ◽  
Independent Study ◽  
Object Oriented Programming ◽  
Institutional Transformation ◽  
Learning Tools ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
The Impact

<span>This study explores the use of the virtual classroom which has been created in </span><em>myVLE</em><span>, a learning management system used by the Open University Malaysia (OUM). The virtual classroom in </span><em>myVLE</em><span> is an asynchronous-based online learning environment that delivers course materials to learners and provides collaboration and interaction using an asynchronous-based forum as the main platform to support the learners' independent study. It also provides a learning environment with learning tools, learning materials, opportunities for contextual and collaborative discussions, and individual learning and assessment. OUM uses this virtual classroom to deliver the subject </span><em>Object-Oriented Programming</em><span> (CS1) and in this paper the impact of this delivery system is explored. The study aimed to elicit students' perceptions of the virtual classroom, based on their learning experiences, how well it supported their self-managed learning, and their personal preference for this compared with face to face interactions. Findings obtained using a questionnaire indicated moderate responses (average value for the items was between 2.0 to 3.6 on a five point Likert scale) for the use of the virtual classroom, and some possible reasons for this are discussed in this paper.</span>

scholarly journals Enhanced student perceptions of learning and performance using concept-point-recovery teaching sessions: a mixed-method approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun Jin Cho ◽  
Michael R. Melloch ◽  
Chantal Levesque-Bristol
Keyword(s):  
Academic Success ◽  
Active Learning ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Basic Psychological Needs ◽  
Academic Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Active learning pedagogy has recently received a great deal of attention, and many universities have attempted to create student-centered learning environments to improve students’ academic success. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of concept-point-recovery (CPR) teaching sessions as an active learning strategy on students’ perceptions of the learning environment, motivation, and academic learning outcomes in an electrical engineering course. To investigate the effectiveness of CPR sessions, students’ perceptions of learning and their performance were compared to those of students in a control classroom. Finally, students’ written comments on the course and instructor were explored in further analysis. Results The quantitative findings revealed that there was a significant change in students’ perceptions of learning after the CPR teaching sessions, and there was an increase in students’ perceptions and learning outcomes compared with those of the control group. In addition, the qualitative findings from students’ written feedback demonstrated that students felt that the instructor cared about students’ learning and success and that they had a positive learning environment. Conclusions CPR teaching sessions can be an alternative model for instructors to connect with students and create supportive environments to help students achieve academic success, which in turn promotes the satisfaction of students’ basic psychological needs and self-determined motivation. Therefore, increasing students’ engagement in their learning processes and making connections with students through CPR teaching sessions can facilitate improvements in students’ motivation and academic success. How this new active learning technique can be applied to higher education is discussed.

scholarly journals Connecting Activity Implementation Characteristics to Student Buy-In Toward and Utilization of Formative Assessments Within Undergraduate Biology Courses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen R. Brazeal ◽  
Tanya L. Brown ◽  
Brian A. Couch
Keyword(s):  
Student Engagement ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Learning Preferences ◽  
Formative Assessments ◽  
Student Experiences ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Undergraduate Biology ◽  
Biology Courses ◽  
The Impact

AbstractWhile formative assessments (FAs) can facilitate learning within undergraduate STEM courses, their impact likely depends on many factors, including how instructors implement them, whether students buy-in to them, and how students utilize them. FAs have many different implementation characteristics, including what kinds of questions are asked, whether questions are asked before or after covering the material in class, how feedback is provided, how students are graded, and other logistical considerations. We conducted 38 semi-structured interviews with students from eight undergraduate biology courses to explore how various implementation characteristics of in-class and out-of-class FAs can influence student perceptions and behaviors. We also interviewed course instructors to provide context for understanding student experiences. Using thematic analysis, we outlined various FA implementation characteristics, characterized the range of FA utilization behaviors reported by students, and identified emergent themes regarding the impact of certain implementation characteristics on student buy-in and utilization. Furthermore, we found that implementation characteristics have combined effects on student engagement and that students will tolerate a degree of “acceptable discomfort” with implementation features that contradict their learning preferences. These results can aid instructor reflection and guide future research on the complex connections between activity implementation and student engagement within STEM disciplines.

scholarly journals The Impact of Embedded iPad Use on Student Perceptions of Their Digital Capabilities

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt Elphick
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Student Body ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Digital World ◽  
Key Skills ◽  
The University ◽  
Teaching In Higher Education ◽  
The Impact

Digital capabilities are recognized as key skills that students must possess to learn and work in our increasingly digital world and have been the subject of a growing focus over recent years. Similarly, smartphones and, to a lesser degree, tablets are now ubiquitous within the student body, and many academics are beginning to leverage these devices for the purposes of learning and teaching in higher education. To further explore the possibilities of mobile technology, the iPilot project was created to explore the effects that embedded iPad use had on undergraduate students’ creativity, ability to collaborate with their peers and their perception of their digital capabilities. Focusing on the digital capabilities aspect of the project, this paper explores the results gathered. While the results are mixed, when combined with data taken from the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) Digital Experience Tracker, it does appear that using iPads in the university classroom can have a positive impact on certain digital behaviors and students’ perceptions of their digital skills.

Impact of a New Teaching and Learning Approach in an Introductory Programming Course

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 789-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sohail Iqbal Malik ◽  
Jo Coldwell-Neilson
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Dropout Rates ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Final Exam ◽  
Introductory Programming ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
Didactic Triangle ◽  
The Impact

High failure and dropout rates are reported in introductory programming (IP) courses in different studies despite extensive research attempting to address the issue. In this study, we introduced an ADRI (Approach, Deployment, Result, Improvement) approach in the teaching and learning process of an IP course to improve learning and success rates. All three entities of the didactic triangle (student, instructor, and content) were involved in the research to better understand and execute the proposed approach. The IP course materials were redesigned based on the ADRI approach, and an editor was developed to promote the new approach and encourage students to complete the various stages required in the approach. Two surveys were conducted, and final exam grades over four semesters were compared with determine the impact of including the ADRI approach in the course. We concluded that the ADRI approach provides a positive impact on outcomes that the students achieved during the course. It engages students in practicing their programming skills and provides a new presentation style for examples and exercises which discourages students from taking programming shortcuts. It not only helps to reduce the failure and, significantly, the dropout rates from the IP course but also impacts positively on all students who passed the IP course.

Evaluating E-Book Effectiveness and the Impact on Student Engagement

2021 ◽  
pp. 027347532110351
Author(s):  
Adam C. Merkle ◽  
Linda K. Ferrell ◽  
O. C. Ferrell ◽  
Joe F. Hair
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Student Engagement ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Perceived Effectiveness ◽  
Spring Semester ◽  
Digital Disruption ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Shed Light

Marketing curricula are experiencing a digital disruption as e-books and other electronic educational resources replace print textbooks. This study investigates student perceptions about the effectiveness of print textbooks and e-books. Specifically, we focus on the perceived effectiveness of e-books and the impact on student engagement. A field-based quasi-experiment was conducted with a sample of 259 students in the Fall semester, and a follow-up sample of 395 students in the Spring semester. The results show a diverse impact of e-books on student engagement. Some aspects of engagement are positively affected while other aspects of student engagement exhibit a neutral or negative leaning impact. The findings also reflect significant variation in e-book effectiveness depending on the course. Finally, we find that e-books moderate the relationship between textbook effectiveness and academic performance engagement. Highly effective e-books result in higher levels of academic performance engagement. Collectively these findings shed light on the current situation and provide a foundation for additional research to further our understanding about e-book effectiveness and its relationship to student engagement.

scholarly journals Student Perceptions and Understanding of Client-Therapist Interactions Within the Inpatient Acute Care Environment: Qualitative Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorna M. Hayward ◽  
Kristin C. Greenwood ◽  
Matthew Nippins ◽  
Alicia Canali
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Professional Competence ◽  
Physical Therapists ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
The United States ◽  
Doctor Of Physical Therapy ◽  
Inpatient Settings ◽  
Acute Care Settings ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundPhysical therapists practicing in inpatient acute care settings in the United States work in a 21st century health care system that requires professional competence in clinical reasoning and decision making. For doctor of physical therapy (DPT) students, the development of confidence in the patient evaluation and the professional skills necessary for managing the inpatient environment can be challenging.ObjectiveThe study's purpose was to understand whether the early exposure of students to inpatient settings informed their understanding of the thought processes and actions of experienced clinicians during client interactions.DesignA qualitative design was used.MethodsThirty-three DPT students working in inpatient settings were recruited from 15 unique inpatient hospital (acute care and rehabilitation) facilities with a convenience sampling technique. Reflective data were collected for 1 month with clinician-facilitated discussion boards.ResultsFour themes emerged: environment, communication, evaluation, and client-therapist interaction. The themes informed a conceptual model depicting the observation by DPT students of factors that influenced interactions between clients and experienced clinicians in inpatient settings. Reflection on the what, the how, and the why that informed clinical decisions enabled students to recognize the situated nature of evaluation and treatment approaches.LimitationsThe use of a sample from 1 year of a DPT program at one university reduced the generalizability of the results.ConclusionsLimited research has examined student perceptions of the interactions of experienced clinicians with clients in inpatient acute care settings. More research is needed to understand the impact of exposing students to the thoughts and actions of therapists working in such settings earlier within DPT curricula.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document