scholarly journals Feasibility of virtual mock trials as a parallel teaching-assessment activity for student pharmacists at two American pharmacy programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

2021 ◽  
pp. 362-372
Author(s):  
Shih-Ying H. Hsu ◽  
Ettie Rosenberg ◽  
Hoai-An Truong ◽  
Lynn Lang ◽  
Reza Taheri

Background: Student-pharmacists forced into remote-learning by the COVID-19 pandemic participated in a Virtual Mock Trial (VMT). Objectives: Feasibility of VMTs was assessed by evaluating student VMT performance, student perceptions on technology and overall experiences. Methods: The VMT was implemented via video conferencing technology in April 2020. Faculty-judges and student-jurors observed/rated student performance using pre-established rubrics. A post-VMT survey was administered electronically. Descriptive analyses were performed, and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests were conducted to compare programmes. Results: Forty-six students from Programme A (East Coast, USA) and 89 from Programme B (West Coast, USA) participated in the VMTs. The faculty-judges’ evaluation scores for student performance ranged from 85.0% to 96.7%, while the student-jurors’ evaluation scores ranged from 68.3% to 100%. Student perceptions on the four categories regarding technology use all had means > 5 on a 7-Point Likert Scale. More than 79.0% of students rated their VMT experience positively (i.e. 6 or 7). Conclusions: VMT is feasible for the current pandemic remote-learning environment, and it could be replicated in other pharmacy or healthcare programmes to enrich students' active learning in virtual education.

2021 ◽  
pp. 003329412199778
Author(s):  
Maria Manolika ◽  
Rigas Kotsakis ◽  
Maria Matsiola ◽  
George Kalliris

Increasing consensus among information systems researchers suggests that personality accounts for the effective use of several technologies, yet less is known about the process through which personality affects user perceptions of technology acceptance. This study, therefore, examined whether personality is associated with student perceptions of audiovisual technology acceptance, and whether general self-efficacy mediates this association. In total, 244 students completed an online survey including measures of personality, general self-efficacy, and perceptions of audiovisual technology acceptance. Canonical correlation uncovered significant associations between personality and student beliefs about technology use. Results further revealed that general self-efficacy fully mediated the effects of openness to experience and neuroticism on Perceived Ease of Use, whereas the association between agreeableness and Perceived Usefulness was partially mediated by self-efficacy beliefs. The fact that personality influences students’ perceptions of technology acceptance both directly and indirectly should not remain unnoticed, especially when designing intervention programs to enhance their academic performance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi Yuan Chen ◽  
Shu-Yin Wang ◽  
Yi-Fang Yang

The purpose of the study is to explore the influence of teaching evaluations on teachers in that they might try to please their students by giving higher grades in order to get higher teaching evaluation scores. To achieve this purpose, the study analyzed the correlations between teaching evaluation scores, student’s final grades and course fail rates, and it also examined whether students’ final scores and course fail rates are important predictors of teaching evaluation scores. The study used teaching evaluation scores and students’ final grades of the courses offered in the fall term of academic year 2014 and the spring term of academic year 2015 in one university in Taiwan as research samples. The results showed that both student’s final grades and course fail rates are predictors of teaching evaluation scores. There is a positive correlation between teaching evaluation scores and students’ final grades, and a negative correlation between teaching evaluation scores and course fail rates. Based on the findings, the study inferred that the implementation of teaching evaluations may influence teachers to give better grades and lower course requirements to please their students in order to get higher teaching evaluation scores.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Reidt ◽  
Keri Hager ◽  
James Beattie ◽  
Amy Pittenger ◽  
Maureen Smith ◽  
...  

This case study describes a longitudinal curricular sequence implemented to teach evidence-based medicine (EBM) skills. The longitudinal sequence is innovative in its approach, design, and assessment of EBM. This approach moves away from the conventional strategy of teaching drug information and drug literature evaluation as stand-alone courses and instead embraces the EBM Framework and its use in the context of authentic problem solving. The EBM Framework—Ask, Acquire, Appraise, and Apply—was used as the basis for defining seven EBM skills. These skills were targeted in the evidence-based, integrated design of 17 learning episodes delivered with eight faculty members through six courses in the first year. Student perceptions of relevance of EBM and performance on assessments and learning activities throughout the sequence suggest that integrating EBM across the first year of the curriculum is an effective strategy for teaching EBM skills. Three themes emerged from analysis of the data and experience, including the need for: a strong teaching team, a whole task approach with a focus on solving authentic problems, and care in interpreting the progression of assessments and patterns of student performance. Through instructor observations and peer review, the longitudinal sequence has been refined and has had an impact on the rest of the curriculum.   Type: Case Study


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 255
Author(s):  
Julieta Noguez ◽  
Luis Neri ◽  
Víctor Robledo-Rella ◽  
Rosa María Guadalupe García-Castelán ◽  
Andres Gonzalez-Nucamendi ◽  
...  

Education 4.0 demands a flexible combination of digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving in educational settings linked to real-world scenarios. Haptic technology incorporates the sense of touch into a visual simulator to enrich the user’s sensory experience, thus supporting a meaningful learning process. After developing several visuo-haptic simulators, our team identified serious difficulties and important challenges to achieve successful learning environments within the framework of Education 4.0. This paper presents the VIS-HAPT methodology for developing realistic visuo-haptic scenarios to promote the learning of science and physics concepts for engineering students. This methodology consists of four stages that integrate different aspects and processes leading to meaningful learning experiences for students. The different processes that must be carried out through the different stages, the difficulties to overcome and recommendations on how to face them are all described herein. The results are encouraging since a significant decrease (of approximately 40%) in the development and implementation times was obtained as compared with previous efforts. The quality of the visuo-haptic environments was also enhanced. Student perceptions of the benefits of using visuo-haptic simulators to enhance their understanding of physics concepts also improved after using the proposed methodology. The incorporation of haptic technologies in higher education settings will certainly foster better student performance in subsequent real environments related to Industry 4.0


2022 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 238212052110632
Author(s):  
Miraal S. Dharamsi ◽  
D. Anthony Bastian ◽  
Heather A. Balsiger ◽  
Joel T. Cramer ◽  
Ricardo Belmares

INTRODUCTION As virtual education becomes more widespread, particularly considering the recent COVID-19 pandemic, studies that assess the impact of online teaching strategies are vital. Current anatomy curriculum at Paul L. Foster School of Medicine consists of self-taught PowerPoint material, clinical vignette-centered team-based learning (dry lab), and prosection-based instruction (wet lab). This study examined the impact of video-based muscle model (VBMM) instruction using a student-designed forearm muscle model on anatomy quiz scores and student perceptions of its effectiveness with regards to learning outcomes. METHODS Students divided into Group 1 (54 students) and Group 2 (53 students) were assessed prior to and following a 3.5-minute video on anterior forearm compartment musculature using the muscle model. Group 1 began by completing a pretest, then received VBMM instruction, and then completed a posttest prior to participating in the standard dry lab and 1 hour wet lab. Group 2 completed the wet lab, then received the pretest, VBMM instruction, and posttest prior to participating in the dry lab. Both groups took an identical five-question quiz covering locations and functions of various anterior forearm muscles each time. RESULTS Mean scores were higher than no formal intervention with exposure to VBMM instruction alone (0.73 points, P = .01), wet lab alone (0.88 points, P = .002), and wet lab plus VBMM instruction (1.35 points, P= <.001). No significant difference in scores was found between instruction with VBMM versus wet lab alone ( P = 1.00), or between either instruction method alone compared to a combination of the two methods ( P = .34, .09). Student survey opinions on the VBMM instruction method were positive. CONCLUSION VBMM instruction is comparable to prosection-based lab with regards to score outcomes and was well received by students as both an independent learning tool and as a supplement to cadaveric lab. When compared to either instruction method alone, the supplementation of VBMM with cadaveric prosection instruction was best. VBMM instruction may be valuable for institutions without access to cadaveric specimens, or those looking to supplement their current anatomy curriculum.


2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Baird ◽  
Rahat Munir

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on the effectiveness of a workshop (cooperative learning) based seminar approach in an undergraduate accounting subject. Design/methodology/approach – The effectiveness is assessed using a combination of student perceptions obtained in a survey of students enroled in a third-year elective accounting unit, and a comparison of student performance across semesters with alternative teaching structures. Findings – The survey results provide strong evidence that students perceive that seminar-based learning is effective in improving generic skills, including problem solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills. The findings also suggest that groups were generally successful, while many students found that the weekly case study assignments kept them engaged with the unit and provided them with an insight into real-world activities. The analysis of student performance provides further support for the effectiveness of this approach with the students subject to the seminar approach performing better in regard to the three types of assessments analysed. Practical implications – Academics should consider using the seminar-based approach to inculcate the skills required in the accounting profession. Originality/value – The study provides a unique insight into the success of a change in teaching structure from a traditional structure to a seminar-based workshop. The study examines both student perceptions and actual student performance.


Author(s):  
Danielle Werle ◽  
Courtney T. Byrd

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptual ratings and performance evaluations of students who do and do not stutter by professors who require oral presentations. Additionally, this study sought to investigate the influence of behaviors related to communication competence on perceptual and evaluative ratings. Method: One hundred fifty-eight college instructors who require oral presentations in their classes participated in this study. Participants viewed one video of four possible randomized conditions: (a) presence of stuttering + low communication competence, (b) absence of stuttering + low communication competence, (c) presence of stuttering + high communication competence, and (d) absence of stuttering + high communication competence. Participants evaluated student performance against a standardized rubric and rated the student along 16 personality traits. Results: Results of separate 2 × 2 analyses of variance revealed professors' view and evaluate students presenting with high communication competence more positively overall, regardless as to whether stuttering is present or not. Significant interactions between fluency (i.e., presence vs. absence of stuttering) and communication competence (i.e., high vs. low) were found for negative personality traits, as well as delivery evaluation scores. The video for which the student stuttered and presented with low communication competence was rated more positively than the video for which the student did not stutter and presented with low communication competence. Conclusions: Professors perceive and evaluate students who stutter differently from their nonstuttering peers, and those ratings are moderated by levels of communication competence. High-communication-competence behaviors improved perceptual and evaluation scores; however, in the presence of low-communication-competence behaviors, professors overcorrect in the form of positive feedback bias, which may have negative long-term academic consequences.


2020 ◽  
pp. 105256292096020
Author(s):  
Anthony Francescucci ◽  
Julie Kellershohn ◽  
Martin A. Pyle

Contemporary instructors face a growing paradox: pedagogical research espouses the benefits of interactive learning, yet, due to funding pressures, large class sizes challenge their ability to implement these practices. The present research investigates how digital solutions, specifically an online adaptive reading technology (OART), can mitigate these divergent forces. The OART is a self-paced software solution that mimics an offline textbook with functionality (e.g., quizzes, progress indicators) that adapts to student needs and facilitates class preparation in an interactive manner. Drawing on empirical evidence from a multiclass field study, the findings indicate that the technology improves student perceptions of engagement with the course and their academic performance. Notably, however, these benefits primarily arise when students take an “all-in” approach, and complete the material in its entirety, even when compared with students who completed most of the material. These findings offer both theoretical and practical implications for key stakeholders.


Author(s):  
Anil Kumar ◽  
Poonam Kumar ◽  
Suvojit Choton Basu

Over the years instructors and administrators have worked together to provide education to students in academic institutions. The role of the participants in this educational system were well-defined. Instructors and administrators were responsible for the dissemination of knowledge and the methodology used was simple: the instructor transferred the knowledge to the students. The merging of computers and communications technology is transforming the way we teach and learn. Physical classrooms are being replaced by electronic classrooms. The roles of the participants are being redefined where the instructor is becoming a facilitator in the electronic classroom and students are participating in these classes from anywhere and at anytime. Questions that arise for universities include: Is this the future of higher education? Will electronic classrooms replace traditional classrooms? In this study we explore and discuss the perceptions of students in a mid-western rural university regarding virtual education. Implications for the participants in the educational system are also discussed.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document