scholarly journals Self-Regulation and “Time Off”: Evaluations and Reflections on the Development of a Blended Course

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Spadafora ◽  
Zopito Marini
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Academic Experiences ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Capstone Course ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Digital World ◽  
Premier Cycle ◽  
University Course ◽  
The Way

Changes in both the landscape of education and digital technology are giving rise to interesting, innovative, and potentially effective pedagogical possibilities. As educators of the 21st century, we are witnessing continuous changes in the way we teach as well as the way students learn. This study is a part of an ongoing research program aimed at evaluating the pedagogical effectiveness of blended teaching. More specifically, this paper aims to describe some of our reflections as we developed, delivered, and carried out an evaluation of a university course taught using a blended format. Undergraduate students (n=109) in a fourth-year capstone course participated in this study. We report on the students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the delivery method of the course, while focusing on the struggles they encountered, including difficulties keeping up with the course content, particularly on the weeks where the lecture was online, as well as a struggle to stay organized and connected with their peers and their assignments. Self-regulation turned out to be a major determinant of success in this type of course. We conclude with suggestions to improve students’ social and academic experiences as they navigate learning in a digital world. Les changements survenus à la fois dans le paysage de l’éducation et dans la technologie numérique donnent naissance à des possibilités pédagogiques intéressantes, innovatrices et potentiellement efficaces. En tant qu’éducateurs du XXIe siècle, nous assistons à des changements continus dans la manière dont nous enseignons ainsi que dans la manière dont les étudiants apprennent. Cette étude s’inscrit dans le cadre d’un programme de recherche en cours qui a pour objectif d’évaluer l’efficacité pédagogique de l’enseignement hybride. Plus spécifiquement, cet article vise à décrire certaines de nos réflexions au fur et à mesure que nous élaborons, livrons et exécutons l’évaluation d’un cours universitaire enseigné selon un format hybride. Des étudiants de premier cycle (n=109) inscrits dans un tout dernier cours de quatrième année ont participé à cette étude. Nous présentons un rapport sur la manière dont les étudiants ont perçu l’efficacité de la méthode employée pour enseigner ce cours, tout en mettant l’accent sur les problèmes qu’ils ont rencontrés, y compris les difficultés à faire face au contenu du cours, en particulier durant les semaines où les cours magistraux étaient présentés en ligne, ainsi que sur leurs difficultés à rester organisés et connectés avec leurs camarades de classe et avec leurs devoirs. Il s’avère que l’autorégulation est un élément important pour la réussite de ce type de cours. Pour conclure, nous présentons des suggestions pour améliorer l’expérience sociale et académique des étudiants dans leur parcours de l’apprentissage au sein d’un monde numérique.

scholarly journals "Society likes to put people into socially constructed boxes": Exploration of the liminal space through undergraduate students' reflections on disability

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisa Kofke
Keyword(s):  
Transformative Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Transformative Learning Theory ◽  
Liminal Space ◽  
Capstone Course ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Socially Constructed ◽  
Problems And Solutions ◽  
Ideological Change ◽  
Equity And Inclusion

As undergraduate students engage with disability studies coursework, they learn about sociocultural concepts that address issues of ableism, normalcy, equity, and inclusion of disabled people in all facets of society. A transformational ideological change in how students view disability often occurs during these courses. To further explore this phenomenon, I completed a study on the capstone course for a DS minor program at a mid-sized public university. Two research questions asked: 1) How do undergraduate students make sense of and understand disability while completing a DS course? and 2) Which pedagogical decisions made by course instructors promote undergraduate students' development of new understandings of disability? A review of the scholarship on DS pedagogy in postsecondary contexts and the transformative learning theory (Mezirow, 1990) concept of critical reflection situated how these students' perspectives shift over a semester. The weekly reflection assignment of 69 students over two semesters were coded with qualitative methods. Findings include themes related to the process of reflection unearthing realizations and identifying both problems and solutions, connecting to moral obligation. The findings explore connections to the process of reflection while the students were within the liminal space of understanding course content that contrasted their prior assumptions about disability. I discuss implications for postsecondary educational pedagogical methods to understand and utilize the liminal space while teaching DS courses.

scholarly journals Teaching Economics To The Best Undergraduates: What Are The Problems?

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 117-122
Author(s):  
Giuliana Campanelli Andreopoulos ◽  
Alexandros Panayides
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Previous Investigation ◽  
Economic Models ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Teaching Economics ◽  
Introductory Economics ◽  
Difficult Subject ◽  
The Way

Economics is usually perceived as a difficult subject among undergraduate students with negative repercussions on their performance. The literature suggests that the students problems with principles of economics are mainly related to the style and method of teaching together with the course content. Particularly attacked are the chalk and talk type of teaching, the simplicity of economic models, the lack of discussion on current issues, and diversity. In a previous investigation we tried to shed some light on this debate by directly asking students for their opinions on the way introductory economics is taught and we arrived at some unexpected results. The present paper is an extension of our previous study by looking at a further dimension which can be crucial for the explanation of the results: students GPA and we selected the best students.

Proficiency-aware systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob Karolus ◽  
Paweł W. Woźniak
Keyword(s):  
Intelligent Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Physiological Data ◽  
Context Aware ◽  
Stepping Stone ◽  
Digital World ◽  
Proficiency Estimation ◽  
The Way

Abstract In an increasingly digital world, intelligent systems support us in accomplishing many everyday tasks. With the proliferation of affordable sensing devices, inferring user states from collected physiological data paves the way to tailor-made adaptation. While estimating a user’s abilities is technically possible, such proficiency assessments are rarely employed to benefit the user’s task reflection. In our work, we investigate how to model and design for proficiency estimation as part of context-aware systems. In this paper, we present the definition and conceptual architecture of proficiency-aware systems. The concept is not only applicable to current adaptive systems but provides a stepping stone for systems which actively aid in developing user proficiency during interaction.

scholarly journals Building sustainable research capacity at higher learning institutions in Tanzania through mentoring of the Young Research Peers

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Balandya ◽  
Bruno Sunguya ◽  
Daniel W. Gunda ◽  
Benson Kidenya ◽  
Tumaini Nyamhanga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Research Training ◽  
Peer To Peer ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Scientific Presentation ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Young Researchers

Abstract Background Sustainability of research culture in Sub-Saharan Africa is threatened in part by the lack of a critical mass of young researchers with the requisite skills and interest to undertake research careers. This paper describes an intensive mentorship programme combining hierarchical (vertical) and peer-to-peer (horizontal) mentoring strategies among young researchers in a resource limited setting in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods A consortium of three partnering large Tanzanian health training institutions (MUHAS, CUHAS and KCMUCo) and two collaborating US institutions (UCSF and Duke University) was formed as part of the five-year Transforming Health Professions Education in Tanzania (THET) project, funded by the NIH through Health Professional Education Partnership Initiative (HEPI). Within THET, the Community of Young Research Peers (CYRP) was formed, comprising of inter-professional and cross-institutional team of 12 Master-level Young Research Peers and 10 co-opted fellows from the former MEPI-Junior Faculty (MEPI-JF) project. The Young Peers received mentorship from senior researchers from the consortium through mentored research awards and research training, and in turn provided reciprocal peer-to-peer mentorship as well as mentorship to undergraduate students. Results At the end of the first 2 years of the project, all 12 Young Peers were proceeding well with mentored research awards, and some were at more advanced stages. For example, three articles were already published in peer reviewed journals and two other manuscripts were in final stages of preparation. All 12 Young Peers participated in CYRP-wide thematic training workshops on mentoring and secondary data analysis; 11 had undertaken at least three research training short courses in identified areas of need; 9 joined at least one other ongoing research project; 5 made at least one scientific presentation, and 5 participated in at least one submitted grant application. Half of the Young Peers have enrolled in PhD programmes. A collective total of 41 undergraduate students were actively mentored by the Young Peers in research. Conclusion The CYRP has demonstrated to be an effective model for dual vertical and horizontal mentorship in research to young investigators in resource-limited settings. This model is recommended to educators working on developing research competence of early career researchers, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals The Impact of Embedded iPad Use on Student Perceptions of Their Digital Capabilities

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt Elphick
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Student Body ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Digital World ◽  
Key Skills ◽  
The University ◽  
Teaching In Higher Education ◽  
The Impact

Digital capabilities are recognized as key skills that students must possess to learn and work in our increasingly digital world and have been the subject of a growing focus over recent years. Similarly, smartphones and, to a lesser degree, tablets are now ubiquitous within the student body, and many academics are beginning to leverage these devices for the purposes of learning and teaching in higher education. To further explore the possibilities of mobile technology, the iPilot project was created to explore the effects that embedded iPad use had on undergraduate students’ creativity, ability to collaborate with their peers and their perception of their digital capabilities. Focusing on the digital capabilities aspect of the project, this paper explores the results gathered. While the results are mixed, when combined with data taken from the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) Digital Experience Tracker, it does appear that using iPads in the university classroom can have a positive impact on certain digital behaviors and students’ perceptions of their digital skills.

Using metavisualization to revise an explanatory model regarding a chemical reaction between ions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solange Wagner Locatelli ◽  
Bette Davidowitz
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Chemical Reaction ◽  
Chemistry Education ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Explanatory Models ◽  
Explanatory Model ◽  
Future Application ◽  
Correct Figure ◽  
Real Life Situation

The objective of this work was to evaluate the implementation of a metavisual strategy for students to revise and self-regulate concepts arising in a study of a chemical reaction between ions. For this purpose, two chemistry education undergraduate students at a Brazilian public university carried out an investigative activity, involving metavisual steps, to revise explanatory models at the submicro level. Students were given a problem, namely a reaction between ions drawn from a real-life situation and were provided with clay to construct an explanatory model of the submicro level for the initial and final stages of the reaction. The students were asked to compare their clay model with an example of a scientifically correct figure of the submicro level of the reaction generated by the researchers. At this stage students were given the option to reconstruct their model. Data were captured via photographs of the clay models and students’ verbal discussions as they proceeded through the activity. The findings reveal evidence of self-regulation of mental models at the submicro level, from the interaction of prior knowledge, chemical diagrams and discussions and reflections by the pair of students. Difficulties regarding chemical formulae were also observed in relation to the symbolic level. Finally, there are implications for teaching chemistry, since teachers in training need to experience metavisual strategies for future application in their classrooms.

scholarly journals Teaching Idea Generation to Undergraduate Students Within the Time Constraints of a Capstone Course

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shraddha Sangelkar ◽  
Charlotte de Vries ◽  
Omar Ashour ◽  
William Lasher
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
Time Constraints ◽  
Capstone Course

scholarly journals The Relevance Of The Big Five Model To Students’ Adaptation To The Academic Environment Personality and Academic Experiences

Psico ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 31599
Author(s):  
Cristian Zanon ◽  
Alexandra Araújo ◽  
Claudio S. Hutz
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Big Five ◽  
Academic Experiences ◽  
Academic Environment ◽  
Academic Experience ◽  
Questionnaire Data ◽  
Big Five Model ◽  
Academic Adaptation ◽  
Experience Questionnaire

The Big Five has been used as a theoretical framework for the evaluation of the 21stcentury skills and is associated with desirable outcomes. This study evaluates the extent to which the Big Five relates to students’ adaptation to the academic environment. Participants were 845 undergraduate students (60.7% female), aged from 17 to 31 years who answered the Factorial Personality Battery and the Academic Experience Questionnaire. Data reduction analysis at the facet level recovered the Big Five structure and indicated that Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Conscientiousness are, respectively, associated with higher personal, interpersonal, and study related academic adaptation dimensions. Agreeableness and Openness did not cluster with academic dimensions, suggesting lower relevance for academic adaptation in higher education.***A Relevância do Modelo dos Cinco Grandes Para a Adaptação dos Estudantes ao Ambiente Acadêmico***O Big Five tem sido usado como referencial teórico para a avaliação das habilidades do século 21 e está associado a resultados desejáveis. Este estudo avalia o quanto os Cinco Grandes Fatores se relacionam com a adaptação dos alunos ao ambiente acadêmico. Participaram 845 estudantes de graduação (60,7% do sexo feminino), com idades entre 17 e 31 anos, que responderam a Bateria de Personalidade Fatorial e o Questionário de Experiência Acadêmica. A análise de redução de dados no nível de faceta recuperou a estrutura dos cinco grandes fatores e indicou que Extroversão, Neuroticismo e Conscienciosidade estão, respectivamente, associados a dimensões de adaptação acadêmica pessoais, interpessoais e relacionadas ao estudo. A Amabilidade e a Abertura não se agruparam com as dimensões acadêmicas, sugerindo menor relevância para a adaptação acadêmica no ensino superior.

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