Revealing Impact Factors on Student Engagement: Learning Analytics Adoption in Online and Blended Courses in Higher Education

This study aimed to identify factors influencing student engagement in online and blended courses at one Australian regional university. It applied a data science approach to learning and teaching data gathered from the learning management system used at this university. Data were collected and analysed from 23 subjects, spanning over 5500 student enrolments and 406 lecturer and tutor roles, over a five-year period. Based on a theoretical framework adapted from Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework by Garrison et al. (2000), the data were segregated into three groups for analysis: Student Engagement, Course Content and Teacher Input. The data analysis revealed a positive correlation between Student Engagement and Teacher Input, and interestingly, a negative correlation between Student Engagement and Course Content when a certain threshold was exceeded. The findings of the study offer useful suggestions for future course design, and pedagogical approaches teachers can adopt to foster student engagement.

Quality of L2 Input and Cognitive Skills Predict L2 Grammar Comprehension in Instructed SLA Independently

Input is considered one of the most important factors in the acquisition of lexical and grammatical skills. Input has been found to interact with other factors, such as learner cognitive skills and the circumstances where language is heard. Language learning itself has sometimes been found to enhance cognitive skills. Indeed, intensive contact with another language has been found to sometimes boost cognitive skills, even in intensive instructed settings, such as immersion programs (bilingual advantage hypothesis). In this paper, we report a cross-sectional study to assess grammar learning of 79 fourth grade German students learning L2 English in two immersion schools. Verbal teacher input was assessed using the Teacher Input Observation Scheme (TIOS, Items 14–25), and the learners’ L2 grammar comprehension was tested with the ELIAS Grammar Test II. Cognitive skills, including phonological awareness, working memory, and non-verbal intelligence, were determined using standardized assessment procedures. The results show that verbal input quantity and quality correlated significantly with the learners’ L2 grammar comprehension. None of the cognitive skills moderated the effect of input on grammar comprehension but all predicted it independently. The combination of L2 input and phonological awareness was found to be the most robust predictor of L2 grammar comprehension.

Automated Evaluation ofTelugu Text Essays Using Latent Semantic Analysis

The most productive strategy to improve students' ability to write is to have direct and as much as possible teacher input. However, the workload of the teacher is greatly increased. Automated systems are increasingly required to help students write essays. In the field of educational assessment technology, automated test evaluation is becoming more and more common. We present a framework that is modelled on the programme, following which the school-teachers in the BPDAV School and Govt. High School Hyderabad, Telangana, India present the automatic evaluator of student essays in the Telugu language. Language skills; the structure of the essay and the contents that fit the subject are the principal requirements for evaluating the essays. In this context, we have established a scheme focused on latent semantical analysis and the theory of rhetorical structure. The method has been evaluated in more than 600 different essays, written in different manuscripts by schoolchildren. Overall 0.82 with the teacher's assessment was achieved in our method.

Understanding participation in CALL vocabulary tasks through complexity theory

This study explored participation by Japanese university English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners in Computer Assisted Language Learning/Mobile Assisted Language Learning (CALL/MALL) vocabulary tasks through the lens of Complexity Theory (CT). CT, which studies how complex systems are influenced by changes in interconnected variables (Larsen-Freeman & Cameron, 2008), has been advocated as an approach that aligns well with Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and CALL research (Godwin-Jones, 2019). In this study, CT was applied to action research involving learners using smartphones to create game-based vocabulary quizzes. It aimed to understand how the context, personal attributes, and in-class interactions affected participation and learning outcomes. The results show the variability and nonlinearity of learners’ language development, the importance of initial conditions, and the vital role of teacher input. It also demonstrated that there are various ways to successfully complete a task, so viewing tasks as dynamic systems may be a fruitful approach.

Explicit phonetic instruction vs. implicit attention to native exposure: phonological awareness of English schwa in CLIL

The present study aims at determining whether instruction in the form of explicit phonetic training and of implicit exposure to native input impacted Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) students’ phonological awareness of the occurrence of English schwa in unstressed syllables of content words (bacon). Four intact CLIL groups were administered a perception task immediately before and after an intervention period of one month in which two groups underwent explicit instruction on the incidence of reduced vowels versus full vowels in English disyllabic words while another group was exposed to native input in their CLIL sessions. A fourth CLIL group with neither explicit intervention nor native teacher input served as control group. All four groups tended to judge both schwas and full vowels as correct in the pre-test, indicating that they were not knowledgeable of the general pattern of vowel reduction occurrence in unstressed syllables in English prior to intervention. In the post-test, the three experimental groups significantly improved their ability to identify full vowels as incorrect, the groups receiving explicit instruction exhibiting higher gains than the group which was implicitly exposed to native input.

Evaluasi Program Pembelajaran Metode Ummi dalam Meningkatkan Kemampuan Membaca Al-Qur’an di SMP

The aims of this research is to analyze context, input, process, and product of Tahfidz Al-Qur’an program at SMP Muhammadiyah 1 Gamping. The type of this research is evaluative research with a qualitative approach and use an evaluation model of CIPP (Context, Process, Input, Product)by Stufflebeam. Data collection techniques with observation, interview, and documentation. Analysis of this data using data reduction and conclusion. The results of this study are (1) in the context component, the goals and objectives of Tahfidz Al-qur’an program have been a means category that has a purpose to inculcate the Quranic values and familiarize the atmosphere of the Qur’an in life. (2) in the input, the component shows that the input of teachers, methods, and facilities have been a quite good category, but in teacher input still lack educator to guide tahfidz to be more effective in guiding, while input means to study Tahfidz still less comfortable because there is no place specifically so as not to disturbed student concentration (3) in the process component shows that the implementation schedule is held every day, the target of memorization is 2 juz, but in the achievement of the target, not all student can achieve 2 juz (4) in the product, component shows the results and impact of the Tahfidz program can be categorized well. And the completeness of the achievement of Tahfidz Al-Qur’an program has a value 50 % and categorized “means”.

Pelatihan Penyusunan Proposal Penelitian Tindakan Kelas bagi Guru-guru Fisika di Kabupaten Hulu Sungai Tengah

Kegiatan pengabdian ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan pemahaman dan kemampuan guru-guru fisika di Kabupaten Hulu Sungai Tengah tentang penyusunan proposal Penelitian Tindakan Kelas (PTK). Peserta yang terlibat dalam kegiatan pengabdin ini merupakan anggota Musyawarah Guru Mata Pelajaran (MGMP) fisika Kabupaten Hulu Sungai Tengah. Tahapan yang dilakukan pada pengabdian ini terdiri atas dua tahap, yaitu penyampaian materi dan praktik penyusunan proposal PTK. Materi yang disampaikan adalah konsep dasar PTK dan analisis masalah pembelajaran, metodologi PTK, menganalisis data dan interpretasi hasil, dan merancang proposal PTK dengan metode ceramah. Hasil pengabdian ini adalah bertambahnya pemahaman dan kemampuan guru tentang penyusunan proposal PTK. Hasil kegiatan pengabdian ini dapat dijadkan sebagai bahan masukan guru untuk meningkatkan kompetensi profesionalisme guru dengan melakukan PTK. This service activity aims to improve the understanding and ability of physics teachers in the Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency regarding the preparation of Classroom Action Research (CAR) proposals. Participants involved in this community service activity were members of the Physics Teachers Meeting (MGMP) physics at Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency. The stages carried out in this service consist of two steps, namely the delivery of material and the practice of preparing a CAR proposal. The material presented is the basic concept of CAR and analysis of learning problems, CAR methodology, analyzing data and interpretation of results, and designing CAR proposals using the lecture method. The result of this dedication is the increasing understanding and ability of teachers regarding the preparation of PTK proposals. The results of these community service activities can be used as teacher input to improve teacher professional competence by conducting CAR.

RANCANG BANGUN SISTEM INFORMASI BIDANG KESISWAAN BERBASIS ANDROID PADA SMKN 8 PADANG

The Student Field is an important unit for every school in Indonesia, especially for SMKN 8 Padang. The role of student affairs helps schools to deal with various types of violations that students do in the school environment in the teaching and learning process including student absentee management, as well as managing extracurricular activities that interest students. The Student Information System Field of SMKN 8 Padang is based on Android, with this information system users can access anytime and anywhere regarding the rules and regarding extracurricular activities. If students are found committing a violation, they will be directly inputted with the android by the teacher who found the violation committed by the student, and the teacher input the student's attendance. Users who have logged in can enter their own extracurricular interest. All data inputted with Android will be stored on a web server based on Codeigniter framework programming using a MySQL database. The results obtained from the implementation of this student field application are to facilitate the SMK Negeri 8 apparatus, especially in the student field, to record students who commit violations, students who take extracurricular activities and absenteeism that were previously done manually now become digital using mobile phones that can be taken anywhere.Keywords: Information System, Android, Web Programming, CodeIgniter.

Constructivism and the Classroom Curriculum

Constructivism suggests that humans construct knowledge and meaning from their experiences. So an individual’s knowledge is a function of one’s prior experiences, mental structures, and beliefs that are used to interpret objects and events. The present study tries to seek for what constructivists believe regarding curriculum development; they claim that learners construct their own reality or at least interpret it based upon their perceptions of experiences, What someone knows is grounded in perception of the physical and social experiences which are comprehended by the mind (Jonasson, 1991). Feature of this approach is that it does not adopt doctrinaire allegiance to particular levels of teacher input ( as can be the case with teaching through discovery learning , or direct instruction) but rather the level of teacher guidance (a) is determined for particular learning activities by considering the learners and the materials to be learnt ; (b) shifts across sequences of teaching and learning episodes, and includes potential for highly structured guidance and, as well as more exploratory activities. When understood in these terms, constructivism provides a sound theoretical basis for informing teaching at all levels, and in all disciplines. If our efforts in reforming education for all students are to succeed, then we must focus on students. The study concluded that teachers need to reflect on their practice in order to apply these ideas to their work and that constructivist teachers encourage students to constantly assess how the activity is helping them gain understanding.

The Role of Student-Led Social Media Use in Group Dynamics

In recent years, teachers and researchers have begun to investigate and make use of the role of new technology and social media in language classrooms. This study focuses on the role of student-led social media, completely free of teacher input, and the influence and perceived positive effects it can have on group bonding and cohesion. It found that participation in a class LINE group was utilized for a variety of practical and personal purposes, which was seen by the students to have had a positive effect in terms of building relationships and providing a supportive and enjoyable information network of peers. This can be said to have led to a more cohesive and bonded group that felt engaged and committed to the class. 本論は学生主導のLINEグループが果たす役割について、日本の2つの大学における必修コミュニケーション英語クラスの1年生を対象に調査した。結果として、学生が自主的に始めたLINEグループは、実践的で個人的な多様な目的に機能を果たし、学生同士の協力的なネットワークができ、授業への貢献度が上がるという点で、全体的に明確な効果があった。これらの結果は、日本人の集団への帰属性という見地から、学生主導のLINEグループの作成が帰属集団となり、そこに力学的結束力を生み出すという観点を示唆している。