Designing IDE Interventions to Promote Social Interaction and Improved Programming Outcomes in Early Computing Courses

As in other STEM disciplines, early computing courses tend to stress individual assignments and discourage collaboration. This can lead to negative learning experiences that compel some students to give up. According to social learning theory, one way to improve students’ learning experiences is to help them form and participate actively in vibrant social learning communities. Building on social learning theory, we have designed a set of software interventions (scaffolds and prompts) that leverage automatically collected learning process data to promote increased social interactions and better learning outcomes in individual programming assignments, which are a key component of early undergraduate computing courses. In an empirical study, we found that students’ interaction with the interventions was correlated with increased social activity, improved attitudes toward peer learning, more closely coupled social networks, and higher performance on programming assignments. Our work contributes a theoretically motivated technological design for social programming interventions; an understanding of computing students’ willingness to interact with the interventions; and insights into how students’ interactions with the interventions are associated with their social behaviors, attitudes, connectedness with others in the class, and their course outcomes.

Analysis of Clinical Experience Using Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory: Postgraduate Medical Surgical Nursing Track Students in Selected Sub-Specialties at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Rwanda

BackgroundClinical experiences provide an opportunity for nursing students to integrate theoretical knowledge into practice, and analyze their learning using a theoretical model. Students do not take this opportunity unless it is intentionally included by the facilitators. These observations from the second cohort of medical surgical nursing students with their facilitators, regarding their clinical training period in selected sub-specialties at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) aimed at developing students’ analytical and observational skills while developing clinical skills.MethodsThe study involved nine medical surgical nursing students who were in different subspecialties at CHUK from 7th January up to the 20th February, 2019. Informed observational approach and concomitant reporting were used to validate their learning and gain clinical experience. The students used Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory to analyze their experience, with the focus on innovative skills.ResultsAll medical surgical nursing students reported that they improved their knowledge and skills during clinical practice, while broadening their outlook.ConclusionKolb’s Experiential Learning Theory is useful in validating and bridging theoretical learning to clinical practice.Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2021;4(3):430-436

PROJECT-BASED LEARNING: A TEACHING APPROACH WHERE LEARNING COMES ALIVE

“Doing projects” is a long-standing tradition in American education. According to Buck Institute for Education (BIE) (www.pblworks.org) the roots of PBL lie in this tradition. But the emergence of a method of teaching and learning called Project Based Learning (PBL) is the result of two important developments over the last 25 years. First, there has been a revolution in learning theory. Research in neuroscience and psychology has extended cognitive and behavioral models of learning—which support traditional direct instruction—to show that knowledge, thinking, doing, and the contexts for learning are inextricably tied. We now know that learning is partly a social activity; it takes place within the context of culture, community, and past experiences.

Proposing a Diversity Intelligence Training Framework for Leaders and Managers to Attract, Maintain, and Balance Mature Workers

The workforce is becoming more diverse with the increasing number of mature workers delaying retirement and working beyond the legal retirement age. Retaining mature workers in organizations can be challenging. Training leaders and managers in diversity intelligence (DQ) has the potential to lead to better and more effective supervision of diverse employees. Competent and skilled managers and leaders who are trained in DQ will be more able to help in the attracting, retaining, and balancing mature workers. The chapter proposes using the three learning processes of enactive, iconic, and symbolic from Bruner's discovery learning theory to teach leaders and managers DQ. The learning outcome is that managers will become mentors and coaches who are equipped to use goal-oriented and transformative processes to supervise the independent, motivated, and proactive adult workers.

Transforming Technology Purpose and Integration

While the shift to emergency remote teaching was sudden and caught many off-guard, the reality exists that we need to better prepare faculty to utilize technology in a meaningful way and integrate it into lessons. This chapter provides an overview of two aspects: 1) preparing faculty for use of technology through a modified transitional learning model so that they are supported with just-in-time professional learning and 2) introducing them to the PICRAT technology framework to assist them in the design of their lessons. Both the model and the framework are constructivist in nature and align with transformative learning theory. Examples of what each of these structures look like are provided within the narrative.

Analisis pelaksanaan mata kuliah pengenalan lapangan persekolahan (plp) secara daring berdasarkan experiential learning theory

PLP merupakan mata kuliah praktik lapangan untuk memberi pengalaman langsung secara komprehensif kepada mahasiswa Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan (FKIP) mengenai dunia persekolahan dan untuk mengembangkan berbagai kompetensi yang dimiliki seorang guru profesional. Dengan adanya pandemi covid-19, PLP dilaksanakan secara daring, sehingga mahasiswa tidak dapat memperoleh pengalaman secara langsung di sekolah tempat pelaksanaan PLP. Praktik ini menjadi kurang ideal untuk mata kuliah PLP. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis hasil refleksi pengalaman mahasiswa peserta PLP secara daring untuk mengetahui penguasaan capaian pembelajaran yang telah ditetapkan, pengalaman-pengalaman positif yang diperoleh dan kendala yang dihadapi mahasiswa, sikap atau nilai-nilai yang berkembang dalam diri mahasiswa, serta pengalaman inspiratif dan niat-niat yang dibangun untuk pengembangan diri yang muncul berdasarkan hasil refleksi. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa mahasiswa dapat menguasai capaian pembelajaran dengan baik dan sangat baik, mahasiswa memperoleh berbagai pengalaman positif dan pengalaman mengatasi kendala yang muncul akibat pandemi, ada sikap atau nilai-nilai yang berkembang dalam diri mahasiswa, mahasiswa memperoleh pengalaman inspiratif, dan muncul niat-niat dari mahasiswa untuk pengembangan diri. Dengan demikian, siklus belajar dalam experiential learning theory dialami oleh mahasiswa peserta PLP daring.School Introduction (PLP) is a field practice course to provide comprehensive direct experience to students of the Teacher Training and Education Faculty (FKIP) regarding school understanding and to develop the various competencies of a professional teacher. In the covid-19 pandemic, PLP has been implemented online, so students cannot gain experience directly at the school where PLP is implemented. This practice is less than ideal for the PLP course. This research aimed to analyze the results of reflections on the experiences of students participating in online PLP to determine the mastery of predetermined learning outcomes, positive experiences, obstacles faced by students, attitudes or values that were developed by students, inspirational experiences, and intentions for self-development that arises based on the results of reflection. This research was a qualitative research. The results showed that students could master learning outcomes well and very well, gained various positive experiences and experiences overcoming obstacles that arise due to the pandemic, developed attitudes or values, gained inspirational experiences, and developed intentions for self-development. Thus, the learning cycle in experiential learning theory was experienced by the students participating the online PLP.