scholarly journals Analyzing Educational Objectives that Include Critical Thinking: Dot Product Problems in Vector Algebra

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-118
Author(s):  
Aneta Gacovska-Barandovska ◽  
Vesna Celakoska-Jordanova ◽  
Emilija Celakoska
Keyword(s):  
First Year ◽  
Mathematical Activity ◽  
Solo Taxonomy ◽  
Algebra Students ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Vector Algebra ◽  
Dot Product ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The University ◽  
First Year University

The primary and secondary school educational system should be stable and any upgrading reforms should be made gradually and consistently. This is especially important in mathematics education, since the element of logical reasoning while learning is more prominent there. Inconsistencies in reforms generate deficiencies in the higher levels of young students’ reasoning skills and this situation continues on the university stage of education. We will report our findings about the reasoning of first-year university students on elements of geometry and associated algebra. We conducted an experiment where students’ understanding of the definition of dot product of two vectors, cosine function and linear (in)dependence of vectors is evaluated, and address their mathematical activity to provide insight into the key elements of the problem they are solving. We use Bloom’s and SOLO taxonomy as a tool for the assessment of our findings. We obtained the data from written exams given to vector algebra students and also from individual interviews.   

scholarly journals Sustainability and Stakeholder Awareness: A Case Study of a Scottish University

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4186
Author(s):  
Abdulhakeem Raji ◽  
Abeer Hassan
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Theory ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Voluntary Exercise ◽  
Communication Tool ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The University

This paper adopted a case study approach to investigate the sustainability practices of a Scottish university in order to understand if sustainability forms part of its central policy agenda. As such, the paper focuses on the levels of awareness and disclosure of their sustainable practices, measuring the impacts and effectiveness of those initiatives. This paper introduces signaling theory to explore the idea that appropriate communication via integrated thinking can close the gap between the organization and its stakeholders. We believe that the provision of this relevant information will lead to better communication between the organization and its stakeholders, supporting a signaling theory interpretation. Therefore, we are suggesting that integrated thinking is an internal process that organizations can follow to increase the level of disclosure as a communication tool with stakeholders. From the literature reviewed, four themes were identified (definition of university sustainability, sustainability awareness, disclosure framework within universities, and level of accountability). The research adopted a pragmatic view and conducted individual interviews with participants belonging to three stakeholder groups (members of the university’s senior management, the governing council, and the student union executive). Although this study focused on just one Scottish university, it should still provide some insight for the better understanding of the underpinning issues surrounding the sustainability accountability practices of Scottish universities in general. The research findings indicated that the university prioritized only two sustainability dimensions—economic and environmental—and that the university still perceived sustainability as a voluntary exercise. Additionally, it is evident that the university had no framework in place for measuring its sustainability delivery—and therefore had no established medium of communicating these activities to its stakeholders. Moreover, research findings showed that the social and educational context of sustainability was lacking at the university. The university has done little or nothing to educate its stakeholders on sustainability.

Correlating entrance data and first year academic performance of students enrolled in the Integrated Master in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Porto

2021 ◽  
pp. 030641902110156
Author(s):  
TMGP Duarte ◽  
AM Lopes ◽  
LFM da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Mechanical Engineering ◽  
Institutional Factors ◽  
First Year ◽  
Female Type ◽  
The University ◽  
First Year University ◽  
Over Time

Understanding how the academic performance of first year undergraduate students is influenced by home, personal and institutional factors is fundamental to delineate policies able to mitigate failure. This paper investigates possible correlations between the academic performance of students at the end of high school with their achievements at the end of first year university. Data for students in the Integrated Master in Mechanical Engineering (MIEM) program within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Porto are analysed for the period 2016/2017 to 2019/2020. The students’ performance is measured by two metrics and the students are structured as a whole and by groups, according to their gender (Male/Female), type of secondary school (Public/Private), living place (Away/Home) and the rank of MIEM in their application list of options (Option 1/Option 2–6). The information is organized statistically and possible correlations between the data are investigated. The analysis reveals limited correlation between the two metrics, meaning that all students may exhibit good or poor results at the end of first year in MIEM, independent of their status at entrance. An unanticipated pattern is exhibited for the group Option 2–6, since it shows that, despite entering into MIEM without top application marks, the students in this group can perform as well as the others. This behavior is consistent over time.

Connecting First Year Students to Formal and Informal Learning Experiences

2013 ◽  
pp. 51-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa L. Johnson ◽  
Laura Pasquini ◽  
Michelle R. Rodems
Keyword(s):  
Learning Communities ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
University Of Florida ◽  
Online Learning Communities ◽  
Formal And Informal Learning ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The University ◽  
First Year Seminar

This case study, an honors first year seminar from the University of Florida, USA, demonstrates the benefits and challenges of these developments in education. The case expands the definition of formal, informal, and online learning communities in the context of a first year seminar.

scholarly journals SELF-DEVELOPMENT COMPETENCE OF FIRST-YEAR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PROBLEM

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 74-79
Author(s):  
E.V. SYSOEVA ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
University Students ◽  
Psychological Adaptation ◽  
Federal State ◽  
First Year ◽  
Structural Components ◽  
Existential Approach ◽  
Self Development ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
First Year University

Statement of the problem. The article analyzes the philosophical-sociological and psychological-pedagogical literature on the problem of forming a universal self-development competence in the preparation of university students. The problem is the universal nature of the competence and the ambiguity of its interpretation and allocation of structural components. The purpose of the article is to clarify the definition of self-development competence among first-year university students from the standpoint of the existential approach (M.I. Rozhkov). The research methodology consists in the analysis and synthesis of normative legal acts, program documents in higher education, works of Russian and foreign researchers on the problem of students’ self-development. The result of the study is a more accurate definition of “self-development competence” among first-year university students within the framework of the existential approach, taking into account the identified age characteristics, the specifics of educational motivation and socio-psychological adaptation of students at the stage of transition from secondary to higher school. The revised concept interpretation of “self-development competence of first-year university students” and the identified structural components allow the teacher to timely determine the level and develop the ability of students to predict, according to the motivational-target, cognitive-prognostic, activity-reflexive components of the self-development competence with the modern requirements of the Federal State Educational Standard of Higher Education 3++, developed on the basis of professional standards and approved in 2017.

scholarly journals HEALTH ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOURS OF FIRST-YEAR UNIVERSITY OF WARMIA & MAZURY STUDENTS: A CALL FOR IMPLEMENTING HEALTH EDUCATION AT UNIVERSITIES

2013 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-90
Author(s):  
Robert Podstawski ◽  
Elżbieta Wesołowska ◽  
Renata Gizińska ◽  
Andrzej Sołoma
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
First Year ◽  
Health Attitudes ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
The University ◽  
First Year University

Despite the growing interest in health and the abundance of health-promoting programs and campaigns, there is a noticeable lack of such undertakings at colleges and universities. This is worrisome, considering the fact that the first-year of studies is the last phase of education in which it is possible to promote and establish a healthy lifestyle. The purpose of the research was to evaluate the health attitudes and behaviours of first-year university students. A total of 700 first-year male students aged 19-20 attending the University of Warmia & Mazury in Olsztyn (Poland) took part in the study by filling out anonymous questionnaires concerning health behaviours and attitudes regarding physical activity, nutrition, tobacco and alcohol use, stress and pro-health activities. The results indicate that physical activity of the respondents was limited to participation in the obligatory physical education classes during high school and while at university. Moreover, the students were concerned more about personal hygiene and appearance than physical fitness and proper nutrition. The majority of them did not have a regular schedule of meals and did not take vitamin supplements. The percentage of respondents who declared drinking alcohol regularly (once a week) and even every day is quite worrisome. One out of ten students reported losing consciousness multiple times as a result of binge drinking and over a third blacked out at least once during the first few months of their studies. Although only a small margin of the students surveyed can be considered to be addicted to smoking, nearly half of them admitted to smoking occasionally. Although a significant portion of students expressed a fear in stress generating situations during their studies, the majority possessed a very limited knowledge of stress coping methods. The research results indicate a clear need to implement adequate health promoting programs at the university level of education to help counteract the observed negative tendencies. Key words: university male students, health attitudes and habits, physical activity, nutrition, tobacco/alcohol use, stress, pro-health activities.

scholarly journals Assessment in First Year University: A Model to Manage Transition

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-38
Author(s):  
J. A. Taylor ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
First Year ◽  
Education Students ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Specific Content ◽  
The University ◽  
First Year University ◽  
Engineering Computing

For most students assessment guides their study and learning practice. Yet in the literature associated with the first year of study at university, few have mobilised the power of assessment to develop and engage first year undergraduate students. This paper presents a model of assessment for first year students which separates the semester into three overlapping assessment phases: assessment for transition, assessment for development and assessment for achievement. The implementation and usefulness of the model is supported by examples from mathematics, engineering, computing, communication and nursing studies at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ). Particular attention is paid to assessments for transition which occur early in the semester and are linked more closely with processes than specific content. Evidence is collated on the success of assessments in improving the participation of students, especially distance education students.

scholarly journals Self-efficacy in first-year university students: a descriptive study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Alvarez-Huerta ◽  
Iñaki Larrea ◽  
Alexander Muela ◽  
José Ramón Vitoria
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Student Motivation ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Professional Career ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The University ◽  
First Year University ◽  
Motivation And Learning

The study and analysis of the self-efficacy beliefs of students has become an important line of educational research. The purpose of this study, conducted at the University of Mondragon (Spain), is to explore the different perceptions concerning the creative and entrepreneurial self-efficacy of students on their entrance to university. Results revealed clear patterns with regards to discipline and gender. Students commencing their degrees in social sciences show lower creative and entrepreneurial self-efficacy perceptions than their peers in other disciplines. Women show lower scores than men across different disciplines with the exception of women commencing engineering studies. Self-efficacy has been related to student motivation and learning and has been found influential in the choice of the professional career. The high significance of this construct in education makes the results of this study have clear implications for the development of learning environments that address the differences found between gender and disciplines. Directions for future research are also indicated.

scholarly journals University students’ social interaction type specifics in the learning process

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 ◽  
pp. 00093
Author(s):  
Olga Rodina ◽  
Liubov Gladkova ◽  
Olga Selivanova
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
University Students ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
First Year ◽  
Interaction Type ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Conflict Situations ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
First Year University

The author highlights the importance of human social interaction in training university students.The paper presents an overview of the conceptual aspects of social interaction in scientific research.Based on theoretical approaches to the definition of social interaction, the paper defines “social interaction” in the context of the classroom activities.The aim of the paper is to investigate and define the first-year university students’ interaction specifics in the learning process.The experiment involved 118 students from the Institute of Geology and Oil and Gas Production.On the basis of K.Thomas-Kilmann’s test questionnaire focused on determining a leading interaction type in conflict situations, social interaction type specifics of the first-year students of technical specialties were determined and described.

Pedagogical Inteaction in the University Environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-82
Author(s):  
Mariela Todorova-Koleva
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Effective Interaction ◽  
First Year ◽  
Mutual Respect ◽  
University Environment ◽  
Good Communication ◽  
Faculty Of Education ◽  
The University ◽  
First Year University

The article represents the main points of the pedagogical interaction between first year university students, and the lecturers in the university environment. An inquiry was conducted among 45 students from the Faculty of Education in University of Veliko Tarnovo „St. Cyril and St. Methodius According to the students, the basis of good and effective interaction is mutual respect, good communication and communication skills, the presence of feedback and a process involving both the lecturers and the student.

Prediction of University Success: A Follow-up Study of the 1977 Internal Intake to the University of New England

1979 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Watkins
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Predictive Power ◽  
First Year ◽  
Study Methods ◽  
School Certificate ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
The University ◽  
University Success ◽  
First Year University

A follow-up study of 275 first year university entrants showed that a measure of good study methods made a worthwhile contribution to the prediction of tertiary performance beyond the level of the Higher School Certificate alone. Other possible predictors included in this study (satisfaction with university and various personality measures) showed little predictive power.

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