Student Learning and Engagement in a Blended Environment

Author(s):  
Lijia Lin

The chapter investigated students' behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement, as well as their learning in a blended environment. A convergent mixed methods research design was used in which quantitative data (face-to-face attendance, online system login, and survey) were collected from 71 undergraduate students, and qualitative data (focus group interview) were collected from six of these students. These data were further analyzed and integrated. The quantitative results showed that students' online login, the behavioral engagement indicator, had a positive impact on their learning, which was supported by qualitative findings. Further analysis revealed the mixture of students' engagement, such as confusion vs. interesting feelings to online discussions and frustration vs. not much effort using the online system.

Author(s):  
Lijia Lin

The chapter investigated students' behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement, as well as their learning in a blended environment. A convergent mixed methods research design was used in which quantitative data (face-to-face attendance, online system login, and survey) were collected from 71 undergraduate students, and qualitative data (focus group interview) were collected from six of these students. These data were further analyzed and integrated. The quantitative results showed that students' online login, the behavioral engagement indicator, had a positive impact on their learning, which was supported by qualitative findings. Further analysis revealed the mixture of students' engagement, such as confusion vs. interesting feelings to online discussions and frustration vs. not much effort using the online system.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-41
Author(s):  
Ondicho Machuki ◽  
Joan Mutua

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.         


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-193
Author(s):  
Dinah Katindi Nyamai

Over the decades, the world has had great people—in economics and  education but what the world craves for as it grapples with social challenges are people with strong moral character. This article seeks to provoke discussions on the secreted curriculum and its role on youth’s learning of professionalism because much of youth’s professionalism learning comes not from the prescribed curriculum, but the secreted curriculum. The target population was 1246 undergraduate students in universities in Nairobi city County. The Yamane’s sample calculation formula was employed in determining the sample size and the sample was 486. In analyzing the quantitative data, the researcher utilized the SPSS software program version 25. The results revealed that influences of unplanned lessons arising from how we do what we do and say what we say have both negative and positive impact on youth’s acquisition of professional values. The researcher therefore proposes a thorough exploration of the humanistic climate (the secreted curriculum).


Author(s):  
Jennie Rose Steres Blake ◽  
Nicola Grayson ◽  
Sami Karamalla-Gaiballa

Traditional investigations into the impact of skills support on student success tend to focus on embedded or curriculum linked modes of delivery. The subject of this investigation concerns a study of the impact of ‘open’ support delivered through the University of Manchester library’s My Learning Essentials skills programme (MLE). MLE is a blended service providing both face-to-face and online support through two dominant pathways: one which is embedded in the curriculum and one which is ‘open to all’ regardless of degree programme or level of study. The ‘open’ nature of this type of support and the variety amongst the student population who engage with it means that measuring the impact on areas such as attainment has always been difficult. This article will present the results of a small study that investigated a specific cohort of undergraduate students in order to assess whether connections could be drawn between attendance at MLE ‘open’ workshops and degree classification. Although the cohort investigated was quite small, there is evidence of significant positive impact on student attainment as a result of engagement with the MLE programme. The data was run through a regression analysis that controlled for factors that could influence attainment and compared attendees of MLE open workshops with those who did not attend. Beyond the results of the regression analysis the study reveals interesting data around student uptake of MLE as a service and presents the methodology used, the results gained, and the lessons learned throughout the process.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 929-938 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lloyd M. Mataka ◽  
Megan Grunert Kowalske

A convergent mixed methods research study was used to investigate whether or not undergraduate students who participated in a problem-based learning (PBL) laboratory environment improved their self-efficacy beliefs in chemistry. The Chemistry Attitude and Experience Questionnaire (CAEQ) was used as a pre- and post-test to determine changes in students' self-efficacy beliefs in general chemistry laboratories at a Midwestern University in the USA. Interviews were used to augment the quantitative data. Paired samplet-tests were used to determine the difference in means between pre- and post-tests. Analysis of variance was used to determine the influence of confounding variables. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the interview data. There was an observed improvement in students' self-efficacy beliefs using both qualitative and quantitative data. Interviews with the participants indicated that students had higher self-efficacy beliefs in chemistry for conducting chemistry experiments and for participating in undergraduate research after the PBL laboratory experience than they had before it. Students felt that PBL provided them with autonomy while exploring phenomena and allowed them to take more responsibility for their own learning. This study is significant in that it adds knowledge to research on the effects of PBL instruction and strengthens existing information on the relationship between PBL and the affective domain. Results from this study may also be informative to chemistry laboratory instructors on what PBL has to offer with regard to student outcomes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hee-Jung Lee ◽  
Hugh Wilkins

The concept of the environmental bubble was introduced by Cohen to describe the ‘psychological comfort’ sought by mass tourists. However, there has been little empirical research to investigate the underlying structure of this construct. This study provides insight into the psychological motivations of those who choose mass tourism and provides a scale, named Tourist Interaction Avoidance, which measures the extent to which tourists seek to avoid uncertainty during their trips and can be used as a predictor of travel style. A sequential mixed methods research design was adopted with qualitative data collected through focus group interviews followed by a self-completion survey to collect the quantitative data. The findings identify three underlying components: ‘protection’, ‘food’ and ‘avoidance’. These provide deeper understanding of the needs of tourists from South Korea by identifying the three components that underpin the dimension and provide a means to measure individual tourist preferences.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 215
Author(s):  
George Kojo Scott

This study analyzed how revenue mobilization practices in the District Assemblies (DAs) of Ghana influence service delivery. The research adopted the mixed methods research design and gathered qualitative and quantitative data using questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions and document analysis. Multi-stage sampling method where thirty four out of 170 districts were selected from which the study sampled 612 DA officials and 1020 citizens who responded to questionnaires. The sample also included 28 key interview informants and 20 participants in two focus group discussions. The study analyzed quantitative data using descriptive statistics and regression, while qualitative data were interpreted thematically. The study established that revenue mobilization practices at the DAs had a positive and significant effect on service delivery. The study recommends that the DA authorities should audit and review automated revenue collection tools to ensure optimal benefits from these automations. The parliament and District Assemblies are encouraged to review and consolidate the existing financial management legal framework to ensure faster transfer of funds to the district assemblies and specify sanctions on national government officials who mishandle or delay the funds.


2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrina A. Meyer

Thirteen students in a graduate-level course on Historical and Policy Perspectives in Higher Education held face-to-face and online discussions on five controversial topics: Diversity, Academic Freedom, Political Tolerance, Affirmative Action, and Gender. Students read materials on each topic and generated questions for discussion that were categorized by Bloom’s taxonomy so that the level of questions in the two discussion settings would be closely parallel. Upon completion of each discussion, they answered questions that addressed depth and length of the discussion, ability to remember, and a self-assessment of how the student learned. Students’ assessments show a consistent preference for the face-to-face discussion but a small number of students preferred the online setting. However, what is perhaps more interesting is a minority of approximately one-third of the students who perceived no difference between the settings, or that the two settings were perhaps complementary.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Benard Litali Ashiono

This article reports on a study that was carried out to establish determinants of ICT integration in mathematics teaching and learning. This paper focuses on the kind of support teachers require to effectively use ICT in teaching mathematics. An exploratory sequential mixed methods research design was employed to conduct this study in which quantitative data was initially collected in the first phase. Qualitative data was then collected in the second phase to explain the quantitative data collected in the initial phase. The study targeted all the teachers teaching in lower grades in both private and public schools. A sample size of 40 lower primary schools were purposively selected based on the availability of ICT tools for instructional purposes in those schools. Three teachers teaching in grade one, two and three were then selected using simple random sampling technique especially in cases where more than three teachers existed. Teacher Questionnaire, Teacher Interview Protocol and Observation Protocol were used to collect data. Data was analyzed qualitatively using descriptive phenomenological analysis in which data transcriptions were divided into themes and sub-themes related to phenomena under study. The findings of the study revealed that there was a significant relationship between supporting teachers’ use of ICT in the classroom and their actual use of ICT in teaching mathematics. The study findings however revealed that teachers teaching lower grades in Mombasa, Kenya were not adequately supported in their use of ICT in teaching mathematics. It was recommended that teachers must be granted adequate support in their use of ICT in teaching mathematics.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Irwin ◽  
Janika Vikman ◽  
Hannah Ellis

Background: Veterinary work is considered high risk and involves working with a range of hazards including large animals, high workload and long hours. A key potential hazard is making home visits and providing out of hours emergency care where vets often work alone, without support, and must travel long distances. The current study aimed to examine UK veterinary perceptions of safety climate, lone working and on-call tasks to gain a deeper understanding of the risk and hazards involved. Method: An online mixed-methods survey was used to gather quantitative data relevant to practice safety climate, and qualitative data regarding veterinary perception of lone working and on-call work. A sample of 76 UK veterinarians were recruited.Results: The quantitative results suggest that there may be practice safety climate issues around a lack of communication and discussion pertaining to safety, particularly in terms of maintaining personal safety. Key themes within the qualitative data included feeling pressure to treat patients, dealing with difficult clients, travel concerns and feeling unsafe when meeting clients alone and in remote locations. Conclusion: These findings indicate that personal safety requires more attention and discussion within veterinary practices, and that safety protocols and requirements should be shared with clients.


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