Collaborative Learning and Social Media Acceptance for Student Engagement

This study examines the influence of collaborative learning dimensions and social media usage on tertiary students’ engagement via e-learning mode in the time of COVID-19 pandemic situations. The dimensions of collaborative learning are interaction with peers, interaction with lecturers, and knowledge sharing; the social media or technology acceptance dimensions are mainly on the ease of use and the perceived usefulness of this new media platform. Collaborative learning and social media usage are predicted to have influenced students' learning engagement in the online and e-learning mode. 201 Malaysian tertiary students from public and private universities have completed the survey forms via purposive and snowball sampling methods. Descriptive analysis was executed in SPSS, whereas model validation and structural model were analyzed using Smart-PLS 3.3. The results revealed that collaborative learning positively influences the interaction with peers and lecturers and knowledge-sharing behavior. Technology acceptance elements positively affect social media usage. Interaction with peers, social media usage, and knowledge sharing increases tertiary student engagement in e-learning. The only insignificant predictor is interaction with lecturers. This study revealed positive findings that social media usage is the most dominant and high-performance factor impacting tertiary student engagement in e-learning.

The Culture of Couch Surfing Amongst Students

<p>This thesis explores ‘couch surfing’ as it becomes more prevalent within the tertiary student experience. In recent years, there has been a significant decline in the availability of housing in all major cities in New Zealand. Rental accommodations been particularly hard hit with the number of properties available for occupation under increasing demand. Despite this shortage universities have continued to expand, offering an increased number of positions to students. This dichotomy has impacted university students looking for ‘affordable accommodation.’ This has led to a recent surge in students undertaking studies without fixed abodes for either short time periods or in some cases for the duration of the university trimesters or year, commonly referred to as ‘student homelessness.’ The students are faced with a new reality; a reality of relying on short term peer support for accommodation, known as couch-surfing. This research considers the impact of accommodation uncertainty within the tertiary student experience and specifically asks what impact the current global phenomenon of couch surfing is having on either alleviation or amplification of the physical and/or emotional stresses and strains associated with attending university. This study interviews students who have experienced uncertainty around their accommodation arrangements and as a result have engaged in couch surfing practices. The aim of this study is to gain a holistic overview of the impact this experience of uncertainty and temporary accommodation has on a student’s life and uses photography as a tool within human-centred and participatory design approaches to assist in the expression and interpretation of the couch surfing experience during university study. At the outset, more portrait photography approaches such as model headshots are used to illustrate the student couch surfer and their accommodation experience and surroundings with the purpose of capturing the couch surfers in the moment in mind. Following on from this the study introduces the ethnographic method of Photovoice and asks the couch surfing student to record their own accommodation experience through the taking of more self-focused photos that include their surroundings and expressions of the experience. As a final experience, a workshop was designed and facilitated to synergise the student voice on the experiences of couch surfing. This experience was also documented through photography. The culmination of these research approaches is a visual output in the form of a photobook that will showcase the overall narrative of the thesis. The main objective of the thesis and visual output is to explore the lifestyle and experiences of student couch surfers and to visually amplify a collective student voice that speaks to the emergent and unique phenomenon of couch surfing, that has had an impact on their university experience.</p>

The Culture of Couch Surfing Amongst Students

<p>This thesis explores ‘couch surfing’ as it becomes more prevalent within the tertiary student experience. In recent years, there has been a significant decline in the availability of housing in all major cities in New Zealand. Rental accommodations been particularly hard hit with the number of properties available for occupation under increasing demand. Despite this shortage universities have continued to expand, offering an increased number of positions to students. This dichotomy has impacted university students looking for ‘affordable accommodation.’ This has led to a recent surge in students undertaking studies without fixed abodes for either short time periods or in some cases for the duration of the university trimesters or year, commonly referred to as ‘student homelessness.’ The students are faced with a new reality; a reality of relying on short term peer support for accommodation, known as couch-surfing. This research considers the impact of accommodation uncertainty within the tertiary student experience and specifically asks what impact the current global phenomenon of couch surfing is having on either alleviation or amplification of the physical and/or emotional stresses and strains associated with attending university. This study interviews students who have experienced uncertainty around their accommodation arrangements and as a result have engaged in couch surfing practices. The aim of this study is to gain a holistic overview of the impact this experience of uncertainty and temporary accommodation has on a student’s life and uses photography as a tool within human-centred and participatory design approaches to assist in the expression and interpretation of the couch surfing experience during university study. At the outset, more portrait photography approaches such as model headshots are used to illustrate the student couch surfer and their accommodation experience and surroundings with the purpose of capturing the couch surfers in the moment in mind. Following on from this the study introduces the ethnographic method of Photovoice and asks the couch surfing student to record their own accommodation experience through the taking of more self-focused photos that include their surroundings and expressions of the experience. As a final experience, a workshop was designed and facilitated to synergise the student voice on the experiences of couch surfing. This experience was also documented through photography. The culmination of these research approaches is a visual output in the form of a photobook that will showcase the overall narrative of the thesis. The main objective of the thesis and visual output is to explore the lifestyle and experiences of student couch surfers and to visually amplify a collective student voice that speaks to the emergent and unique phenomenon of couch surfing, that has had an impact on their university experience.</p>

"My friends would believe my word": appropriateness and acceptability of respondent-driven sampling in recruiting young tertiary student men who have sex with men for HIV/STI research in Nairobi, Kenya

Background: Tertiary student men who have sex with men (TSMSM) may engage in behaviors that increase their risk of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STI). Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) has become a popular method for discretely recruiting marginalized populations into HIV/STI research. We conducted formative research to assess appropriateness and acceptability of RDS in recruiting TSMSM into a prospective HIV/STI bio-behavioral survey in Nairobi, Kenya. Methods: Between September and October 2020, semi-structured qualitative interviews were held with service providers from organizations that serve MSM (n=3), and TSMSM (n=13). Interviews explored social networks of TSMSM, acceptability of using RDS as a sampling method, potential RDS implementation challenges, and proposed solutions to these challenges. Interviews were done in English, audio-recorded and transcribed then analyzed thematically using NVivo version 11. Results: Service providers reflected that TSMSM had large though concealed networks, thus making RDS an appropriate sampling method. Risk of ineligible persons attempting to participate due to the associated double incentive was noted, and using student identification documents as part of eligibility screening recommended. TSMSM also perceived RDS to be an acceptable strategy based on their large social network sizes (10-40), and the trust amongst themselves. TSMSM were concerned about participating due to the risk of being outed as MSM, seeing as same sex behavior is criminalized in Kenya, and hence emphasized that researchers needed to assure them of their confidentiality, and include MSM as part of the study team to encourage participation. TSMSM suggested coupons should indicate value of reimbursement, be pocket-sized and placed in an envelope to avoid loss, and provide directions to and contacts of the survey site for easy access. Conclusion: RDS was perceived as both an appropriate and acceptable sampling method. Anticipated challenges of RDS implementation were highlighted, and possible solutions to these challenges suggested.

Project BESPOKE (Integrated Bio-Behavioral Assessment of HIV and STI Among Young Tertiary Student Men Who Have Sex With Men in Nairobi, Kenya): A Respondent-Driven Sampling Survey Protocol

Introduction: Globally, men who have sex with men (MSM) are a key population for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. Among MSM, young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). However, there is a dearth of research and interventions targeting HIV/STI prevention among YMSM. In Kenya, there is paucity of knowledge on the burden of HIV/STI and related factors among YMSM, including tertiary student men who have sex with men (TSMSM). The barriers TSMSM experience in accessing and utilizing health services in their learning institutions have seldom been explored. In the context of healthcare providers (HCP) working in tertiary institutions, little is known about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward providing services to TSMSM.Methods: The aims of the study are to: estimate prevalence and correlates of HIV/STI among TSMSM; estimate population size of TSMSM; explore experiences of TSMSM with access and utilization of health services; and assess HCP knowledge of, attitudes toward, and practices in provision of services to TSMSM. A mixed-methods approach will be used in three phases: Phase I—formative qualitative research will be conducted to understand TSMSM social networks, select “seeds”, and explore strategies for implementing a respondent-driven sampling (RDS) survey. Interviews will be conducted with at least three staff who work in community based/non-governmental organizations (CBO/NGO) that serve MSM and at least 10 TSMSM. Phase II—an integrated bio-behavioral assessment (IBBA) will be conducted, where 200 TSMSM recruited by RDS will be offered HIV/STI testing, complete a behavioral survey, and provide information for population size estimation (PSE). Phase III—in-depth interviews will be held with 20 TSMSM selected from 200 TSMSM in phase II, to explore their experiences with access and utilization of healthcare services. Focus group discussions (FGD) will be conducted with HCP working in tertiary institutions to assess their knowledge of, attitudes toward, and practices in providing services to TSMSM. Data collection started in September 2020 and is expected to end by September 2021.Discussion: Findings from this study will be useful in informing HIV/STI prevention programming for TSMSM, by policy makers such the Kenyan ministries of health and education, tertiary education institutions, service providers, advocacy groups, and other interested stakeholders.