scholarly journals IDENTIFYING HIGHER EDUCATION FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS REPORTED EXPERIENCES STUDYING DURING THE PANDEMIC

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanna Ruhalahti ◽  
Teija Lehto ◽  
Susanna Saarinen ◽  
Leena Katto
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Well Being ◽  
First Year ◽  
Digital Learning ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Learning Skills ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Educational Challenge ◽  
Directed Learning

<p>The pandemic situation is having been a challenge for many students. The students starting their higher education at the beginning of 2021 were facing a new kind of educational challenge due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to gain insights into first-month studies during the exceptional times. The focus was on Finnish higher education first-year students’ (n=154) reported studying experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were bachelor’s degree students who started their higher education studies in January 2021 in the middle of the exceptional pandemic situation caused by COVID-19. Studies during their first months have mainly been organised online, and there have been specific restrictions related to study arrangements. The study used an inductive content analysis to find out the positive and negative impacts of studying during exceptional times. The data for this study was drawn from an online questionnaire. The results indicated that students’ own resources and capacity played an important role in terms of positive or negative study experiences: good study motivation, good distance-learning skills, and self-directedness helped to cope with the exceptional situation, while insufficient distance-learning skills or challenges in self-direction caused difficulties and dissatisfaction among other students. Whereas, teachers’ digital pedagogical skills play a significant role, as the results of this study indicated. In addition, to teaching and learning activities, higher education institutions need to reflect on how student services, counselling, and peer support can be provided remotely. The findings of this study suggest that it is important to pay attention to students’ well-being and self-directed learning skills in digital learning communities and environments. In addition, the study it´s part suggests strengthening teachers’ competencies related to digital pedagogical competencies together with workload allocation and study scheduling. Also, there are a need to deepen learning community building and self-directed learning skills as a part of pedagogical support.</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0781/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

scholarly journals Challenges and Opportunities of Asynchronicity: Task-Based Approach After COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Līga Beļicka ◽  
◽  
Tatjana Bicjutko
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Asynchronous Learning ◽  
First Year ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Professional Contexts

The fast transition to fully online studies due to the pandemic made the universities around the world question many of their accepted notions on teaching foreign languages in general and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) methodology in particular. Putting stress on the synchronous remote teaching and learning has proven to yield a reductionist perspective missing asynchronicity, the dimension which makes reconsider the whole educational process. With its shift from the sole focus on learning terminology to training skills in authentic professional contexts, the task-based approach has long excelled in meeting the diverse needs of students. Thus, the research question is how well task-based teaching (TBT) solves the problems raised with asynchronous learning in a university ESP course. The research of available literature on TBT yielded the framework for constructing an extended task applicable in the advanced medical English. The case study with 120 first-year students of medicine organised around an informational interview with health professionals demonstrated easy adaptability of the task to the asynchronous nature of the educational process. Personal observations by the course instructor, summaries of student-conducted interviews, and student written feedback proved the responsiveness of the method to the learners’ needs and the potential of the approach in terms of motivation. The emphasis on self-directed learning, however, threatens the systematicity of the acquired language skills, as a more controlled teaching environment would not allow “skipping” any learning step. Additionally, TBT does not solve the problem of the voluminous teaching load.

scholarly journals CONSIDERATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL REFLECTION SKILLS IN FIRST-YEAR ENGINEERING INFORMED THROUGH STUDENT PERSPECTIVES

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth DaMaren ◽  
Danielle Pearlston ◽  
Stephen Mattucci
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
First Year ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Learning Skills ◽  
Student Activities ◽  
Academic Settings ◽  
Directed Learning

Reimagined curriculum models offer new possibilities for embedding durable competencies into the curriculum, including critical reflection, which promotes the development of self-directed learning skills. However, students often perceive these skills as unimportant with pre-existing biases focusing on technical content as the core of engineering.  The primary goal of this work was to identify key considerations when integrating critical reflection into engineering curricula, specifically in the context of first-year engineering, to promote the development of student self-directed learning skills.  This work was framed within the Students-as-Partners (SaP) approach, where two undergraduate students worked in collaboration with the instructor. To gather information regarding student perceptions of critical reflection, focus groups were conducted for first-year engineering students and students familiar with reflection.  Qualitative thematic analysis was performed on the focus group data and key insights were identified and categorized into five themes: approaches, supporting students, evaluation and framing, development pathway and value, and reflection for engineers. Suggested learning outcomes, student activities, and evaluation methods are proposed. These findings are applicable to implementing reflection across a variety of academic settings, as they highlight main considerations and challenges faced with reflection from the perspective of students in multiple programs. 

scholarly journals Vector AR3-APP – A Good-Practice Example of Learning with Augmented Reality

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-64
Author(s):  
Karin Langer ◽  
Stefanie Lietze ◽  
Gerd Ch. Krizek
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Augmented Reality ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Digital Learning ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Augmented Reality Application ◽  
Directed Learning

AbstractAfter a discussion about the possibilities and status of augmented reality in education, a good practice example of an augmented reality application is presented. This case study examines the use of an augmented reality app in higher education to support abstract STEM content, such as vectors. Based on this example, the implementation of such apps in didactic concepts and self-directed learning will be discussed. Furthermore, aspects of integration into digital learning and teaching will be addressed.

scholarly journals Supporting First-Year Students During the Transition to Higher Education: The Importance of Quality and Source of Received Support for Student Well-Being

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 64-75
Author(s):  
Rebecca Maymon ◽  
Nathan C Hall ◽  
Jason M Harley
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Well Being ◽  
First Year ◽  
Staff Support ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Transition To Higher Education ◽  
Sources Of Support ◽  
Traditional Assessments ◽  
Support Family

The present exploratory study evaluated perceptions of actual support received in relation to stress and well-being among first-year students attending Canadian and U.S. higher education institutions (N = 126). Given that traditional assessments of received support account only for how often support was received, the present research examined unique effects of support quality in addition to frequency with respect to four distinct sources of support (family, friends, faculty/staff, institution). Following from empirical confirmation of received support frequency (RSF) and received support quality (RSQ) as distinguishable constructs, RSQ was found to significantly mediate effects of RSF across varied well-being outcomes (e.g., stress, burnout, quitting intentions) in relation to family, faculty/staff, and institution support. Overall, study findings highlight the importance of evaluating the quality of support received by first-year students during the transition to higher education and show faculty/staff support to be an important contributor to student well-being.

Academic staff perspectives on first-year students’ academic competencies

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 630-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana-Kristin Mah ◽  
Dirk Ifenthaler
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
First Year ◽  
Technology Proficiency ◽  
Learning Skills ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Competencies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the expectations, perceptions and role understanding of academic staff using a model of academic competencies (i.e. time management, learning skills, technology proficiency, self-monitoring and research skills). Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten members of academic staff at a German university. Participants’ responses to the open-ended questions were coded inductively, while responses concerning the proposed model of academic competencies were coded deductively using a priori categories. Findings Participating academic staff expected first-year students to be most competent in time management and in learning skills; they perceived students’ technology proficiency to be rather high but their research skills as low. Interviews indicated a mismatch between academic staff expectations and perceptions. Practical implications These findings may enable universities to provide support services for first-year students to help them to adjust to the demands of higher education. They may also serve as a platform to discuss how academic staff can support students to develop the required academic competencies, as well as a broader conversation about higher education pedagogy and competency assessment. Originality/value Little research has investigated the perspectives of academic staff concerning the academic competencies they expect of first-year students. Understanding their perspectives is crucial for improving the quality of institutions; their input into the design of effective support services is essential, as is a constructive dialogue to identify strategies to enhance student retention.

scholarly journals Self-directed Learning in Secondary Education During Remote Study Process. Case Study in Latvia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gatis Lāma ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environment ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Digital Learning ◽  
Digital Environment ◽  
Spatial Presence ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Learning Skills ◽  
Study Materials ◽  
Digital Skills ◽  
Directed Learning

Due to rapid technological changes and innovations, by graduation students have to be equipped with skills necessary for lifelong learning. There is an increasing potential for students’ further development in the digital environment. In high school, it is necessary to build and improve the students’ skills of self-assessing their own learning needs, as well as setting educational objectives and measuring their success. The importance of self-directed learning has increased particularly in the context of COVID-19. In many countries, educational institutions are closed and studying process is remote, reducing the level of teacher involvement and increasing pupils’ own responsibility for their learning outcomes. Changing the classroom from direct spatial presence to the digital environment also changes learning opportunities and increases the importance of digital skills. It is therefore necessary to identify whether pupils possess the necessary self-directed learning skills for the purpose of learning, selecting activities and study materials, managing time, structuring the learning environment, skills to communicate and collaborate and assess their performance, as well as the digital skills needed to organise the digital learning environment and identify the major challenges in remote learning. The results of the study show that pupils have assessed their self-driving learning skills as sufficient, however, as well as that the learning process has been challenging and has created motivational, self-discipline and socializing problems.

scholarly journals Principles of Organizing Self-directed Learning of First-year Students within the Flipped Classroom Technology

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 80-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Borzova
Keyword(s):  
Flipped Classroom ◽  
Russian Language ◽  
Classroom Technology ◽  
First Year ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Russian Language

The quality of professional education depends on the effectiveness of educational technologies. The Flipped Classroom technology is being  successfully tested at the Russian Language Department of Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service within the “Russian Language and  Culture of Speech” course. The article analyzes the experience of teaching with the use of the Flipped Classroom technology; it discusses the  special features of teaching first-year students, and the principles for  organization of self-directed learning process. In flipped learning, self- directed learning is the dominating type of educational activity. Teachers  must prepare their students for self-directed learning in the Moodle electronic educational environment, they must motivate them to independently master  the theoretical material and to do the practical and controlling assignments  and tests. In mixed education, self-directed learning helps to intensify the  educational process; forms first-year students’ self-education skills; develops  such important personal qualities as independence, activity,  consciousness and responsibility. When organizing self-directed learning of students, special attention should be given to the development of practical assignments for testing and control. In teaching the “Russian Language and  Culture of Speech” course, the following interactive and electronic tasks are  used to form skills and abilities in a reproductive, reconstructive, and creative performance: essays, glossary, mutual reviews, business games, projects, etc. Active methods of control and an electronic survey at the end  of the course facilitate the optimization of the self-directed learning process. Considering the special features of mixed education of first-year students,  the author defines the main principles for organizing self-directed learning.  They are continuity and systematicity; regularity and rhythm; intensity and  optimality of workload; interactivity, individualization, feedback and control;  effectiveness of activity; development of self-educational skills and such personal qualities as independence, activity, consciousness and responsibility. 

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