scholarly journals Public libraries as places for self-directed lifelong learning: narratives of empowerment

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuko Yoshida ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Civic Awareness

Introduction. The purpose of this study is to explore how library-based study groups in Japanese public libraries serve as arenas for citizens’ self-directed learning, and the role played in the lives of the group members. Method. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four participants, focussing on the backgrounds and interests of the study group members. Analysis. Categorical content analysis was implemented to clarify the three research questions 1) Recognition of public libraries as a place for self-directed learning and citizens’ empowerment, 2) Relationships with other group members and 3) Affiliations with public libraries. Results. The groups provided arenas in which members could pursue self-directed learning; develop meaningful adult relationships; and through which they could affect positive change in their communities. Conclusions. The study groups were perceived as tools for self-realisation and libraries as places where study group members could satisfy their intellectual needs. Participation in the study groups also fostered group members’ civic awareness and gave them outlets for civic engagement related to the promotion of literacy and, more broadly, education.

Introduction of Problem Based Learning (PBL) as a Supplementary Tool to Enhance Active Learning in Physiology – A Study in a Medical College of Southern Kolkata

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (40) ◽  
pp. 3483-3488
Author(s):  
Pandurang Narhare ◽  
Padmakar Sasane ◽  
Revathi Mohanan ◽  
Mriganka Baruah
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Active Learning ◽  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Problem Based Learning ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Clinical Scenarios ◽  
Directed Learning

BACKGROUND The motivation to learn begins with a problem. The ideology of problem-based learning (PBL) is to encourage the students to think beyond the books and apply the basic knowledge to various clinical scenarios. Problem based learning has been a concept in existence for decades, yet its implementation in medical education is limited. So the study on PBL was taken up to know analytical skills, comprehensive understanding of disease process and inculcate the practice of self-directed learning in physiology. METHODS This was an educational interventional study carried out on 60 first MBBS students chosen by simple random sampling. Students were further randomly divided into two groups containing 30 students in the control group and 30 students in the study group. Control group was taught by didactic lectures. 10 clinical scenarios were given to study group and discussions were conducted under the moderation of faculties. Objective evaluation was performed using pre-test and post-test examination for both groups. Subjective evaluation of attitude in study group towards PBL was recorded using self-developed questionnaire using Likert’s scale. Data was analysed by using paired students t test. RESULTS The mean pre-PBL (9.83±4.88) and post-PBL scores (15.61 ± 2.99) in study group were significant (p < 0.00001). The comparison of mean scores of postdidactic lectures (12.88 ± 3.13) in control group and post-PBL (15.61 ± 2.99) in study group were significant (p < 0.001). Subjective evaluation using Likert’s scale revealed increased interest in active learning, better confidence, communication, comprehension, and motivation amongst the PBL group. CONCLUSIONS From the results of this study, it can be concluded that problem-based learning is a good supplementary tool in teaching physiology, and it can be included in the regular medical teaching programmes so that the students have a better understanding of the various challenges in the field of medical education and research so that newer strategies for better health care provision can be planned. KEYWORDS Active Learning, Medical Education, Problem Solving, Self-Directed Learning

scholarly journals Self-directed Teacher Professional Development in Saudi Arabia: EFL Teachers’ Perceptions

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1359
Author(s):  
Hamad I. Alshaikhi
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Teacher Professional Development ◽  
Workplace Learning ◽  
Learning Context ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Teacher Professional

This study explores Saudi EFL teachers’ perspectives, attitudes and experiences with regards to their teacher professional development (TPD) with special emphasis on workplace learning and self-directed initiatives. Using semi-structured interviews and reflective essays, the study managed to highlight a thriving workplace learning context in which teachers are involved in many forms of self-directed learning, including experiences stemming from the dailiness of the everyday realities of their schools. Data showed that Saudi EFL teachers are committed professionals who are well aware of a variety of TPD resources and opportunities; some of them are institutionalised while the majority are self-directed by teachers themselves beyond any institutional requirement. The study revealed that many participants had high preferences for self-directed learning over institutional provisions for its embeddedness in their context, the nature of their specialisation, and for the changing nature of their profession. Networking, collaboration, reflection and collegiality are some of the main features of self-directed learning as reflected in teachers’ current practices.

scholarly journals STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON LEARNING LISTENING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY-BASED TOOL

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pham Kim Chi
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Listening Skills ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Close Attention ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Pedagogical Tool ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Efl Students

<p>Using technology tools in the classroom can now be facilitated students' engagement and self-directed learning to support a learner-centred environment in educational contexts under varied perspectives. In language learning, evaluating a particular language skill focused on technology is crucial in students' experience. EFL students face several difficulties as noise, accent, vocabulary, and pronunciation while listening. Therefore, employing listening with technology is significantly necessary to enhance students' listening skills. However, rare research has provided the students' reflection under constructivist perspectives after studying with the technology-based listening tool. Thus, the current study narrows this empirical gap. Semi-structured interviews and observation were instruments employed to collect data. Using thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006), the results of this study indicated that five themes were individualised listening, collaborative learning, self-directed learning, consideration of errors, and pronunciation improvement. Students were more engaged when listening to tasks independently, considering their errors for further improvement, and self-directed learning in this study. Additionally, they mostly perceived themselves to improve their listening and pronunciation in the future. Teachers should pay close attention to speakers' voices, accents, and feedback when designing and implementing tasks to maximise learners' listening learning process. This study has implications on using BookWidgets as a potential pedagogical tool for English courses.</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0781/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

scholarly journals Determination of Innovation Indicators in Teaching-Learning Activities of Curricula and Their Application in Art University

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Setareh Mousavi ◽  
Mohammadreza Nili ◽  
Ahmadreza Nasr ◽  
Mohammad Masoud
Keyword(s):  
Art Education ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Competency Based ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
Innovation Indicators

The present research mainly aims to determine the innovation indicators for teaching in Art University. Qualitative and quantitative methods have been used. The data were collected from semi-structured interviews and Self-made questionnaire. The findings reveal that the most important innovation indicators consist of: Competency-based Art education, Acquaintance with framework of appreciating the art works, Self-directed learning, Choice-based art education Attention to Aesthetics, Experimental leaning through Art Education, Developing Different Approaches to Making Art, Provides the excellent opportunities to learn personal and professional skills, Stress on the description, explanation, critical process cooperative exploration-based learning activities, application of new teaching methods and the application of innovation indicators for “teaching-learning activities” is less than medium.

scholarly journals Towards an Open Medical School without Checkerboards during the COVID-19 Pandemic: How to Flexibly Self-Manage General Surgery Practices in Hospitals?

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 743
Author(s):  
Héctor Guadalajara ◽  
Álvaro Palazón ◽  
Olatz Lopez-Fernandez ◽  
Pilar Esteban-Flores ◽  
José Miguel Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Surgery ◽  
Teaching Style ◽  
Teaching Styles ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Teacher Involvement ◽  
Teaching Hospitals ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Clinical Culture ◽  
Directed Learning

Background: Can we create a technological solution to flexibly self-manage undergraduate General Surgery practices within hospitals? Before the pandemic, the management of clerkships was starting to depend less on checkerboards. This study aims to explore undergraduates’ perceptions of doing rotations in teaching hospitals using different teaching styles and elicit their views regarding the options of managing practices to design a mobile app that substitutes for checkerboards. Methods: In this sequential exploratory mixed methods study, 38 semi-structured interviews at a teaching hospital were conducted. The data was used to survey 124 students doing their rotations in four teaching hospitals during the first wave of COVID-19. Results: 21 themes highlighted concerns related to the practices, the teacher involvement in the students’ education, and the students’ adaptation to clinical culture. The students reported positive perceptions concerning self-managing and organizing practices via a mobile application. However, problems emerged regarding transparency, the lack of feedback, and the need for new tools. Regarding the teaching styles, the facilitator and personal models were perceived as optimal, but the personal style had no effect on using or not using a tool. Conclusions: A mobile-learning application designed like an educational opportunities’ manager tool can probably promote self-directed learning, flexible teaching, and bidirectional assessments. However, teachers who employ a personal teaching style may not need either checkerboards or a tool. This solution supports teaching at hospitals in pandemic times without checkerboards.

scholarly journals Breaking the Secrets behind the Polyglots: How Do They Acquire Many Languages?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noprival Noprival ◽  
Zainal Rafli ◽  
Nuruddin Nuruddin
Keyword(s):  
Educational Institution ◽  
Natural Process ◽  
National Language ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Language Environment ◽  
Media And Technology ◽  
Study Participants

In this study, participants acquired three types of language, those are regional, national and foreign ones. The purpose of this research was to explore how Indonesian polyglots acquire several different languages. We collected data through demographic questionnaires and semi-structured interviews obtained from nine participants. Four salient themes and sub-themes that emerged in this research were (a) mastering languages through instructed learning (learning in formal educational institution and learning in informal educational institution), (b) gaining extra amounts of languages input beyond the classroom (getting more access to a national language environment and getting more access to foreign languages environment), (c) learning languages autonomously (self-directed learning through printed resources and self-directed learning through media and technology), and (d) acculturating with a new language group in society. The findings indicated that the polyglots acquired several different languages through a natural process, a learning process, and a mixture of both naturalistic as well as instructed experiences.

scholarly journals Dynamics of the subject development of students and study groups at different stages of educational process in university

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.S. Iarotskaia
Keyword(s):  
Study Groups ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Small Study ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Collective Activity ◽  
Group Members ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Development Of Students

This article is devoted to the problem of subject development of students in uni- versity. A small student study group is explored as an environment for the subject development of students and a community that has its own potential to become a collective subject. The level of subject development, interconnection-interdepen- dence of group members, ability of group subject to implement different forms of group collective activity and to manifest as a subject of self-reflection are inves- tigated as essential characteristics of a small study group’s subjectity. An average and percentage indicators of the level of students’ subjectity development at dif- ferent stages of educational process in university are revealed on a sample of 24 small student study groups (N = 364 full-time students, age of respondents is from 17 to 25 years). The study of the correlation between the level of students’ subjec- tity development and subject characteristics, the level of subjectity development of their small study groups allowed to identify and to describe the qualitative fea- tures, the dynamics of the subject development of small study groups and students in the period of six-year education.

scholarly journals At the Intersections: International and Multicultural Higher Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (Winter) ◽  
pp. 96-99
Author(s):  
Lauren Chow
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Development Theory ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Significant Bias ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Balanced Model ◽  
Different Origins ◽  
Analyze Data

Within the United States, the areas of international and multicultural higher education have similar goals but different origins, and there have been historical areas of tension between the two even as many scholars and practitioners have sought ways to link them. Much literature on the intersections between the two areas was published in the 1990s and early 2010s, but the landscape of higher education has shifted significantly in recent years; furthermore, most previous research focused on theoretical reasons for why the two areas did not intersect and offered broad suggestions for how they could be merged. This study investigated research questions related to what the language used by international and multicultural offices to describe their work can reveal about how they partner or compete to create inclusive institutional environments, using the lens of Kretzmann and McKnight’s assets-based community development theory. The study used content analysis to analyze data collected from the websites of ten institutions in Massachusetts. Key findings include a slight bias towards international offices in asset-based framing and a significant bias towards multicultural offices in deficit-based framing. These findings largely reflect old tensions between the two areas despite nearly three decades of scholarship on the topic and significant changes in climate for higher education, demonstrating the need for a more intentional dialogue between these areas and a balanced model of framing both areas’ work. This research is currently being expanded upon using semi-structured interviews with administrators who work at the ten institutions used in the content analysis.

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