Developing Instructional Support for MEDSReM-2 Through Human Factors Design Principles

Appropriate instruction is critical for ensuring the MEDSReM-2 system (i.e., smartphone app, blood pressure monitor, online portal) will be easily and effectively used and will, therefore, be more likely to be adopted. We will present our iterative processes for developing instructional support for MEDSReM 2 using human factors design principles (e.g., task analyses, comparative analyses, expert evaluation of mock-ups with screen flows). The instructional supports include user manuals, videos, as well as instructions within the MEDSReM 2 app. We will also highlight design principles used to empower the user and the benefits of using an interdisciplinary approach (i.e., gerontology, cognitive psychology, educational psychology, design, community health) to develop instructional support for older adult users.

Developing Preservice Teachers’ Expertise in Evaluating and Adapting Mathematics Lesson Plans

To provide appropriate and effective instructional supports to students with disabilities, special education preservice teachers require development of expertise in the design and delivery of specially designed lessons. It is critical that special education preservice education programs provide students ample opportunities to learn how to evaluate and adapt lesson plans through the application of the elements of explicit instruction. In this article, we explain how to develop preservice teachers’ expertise in the evaluation and adaptation of mathematics lesson plans with the elements of explicitness to better support students with disabilities. The example activity and assignments provided are anchored in the context of a university math methods course and include all necessary materials.

Scaffolding Multimodal Composition With Emergent Bilingual Students

Digital multimodal composition offers opportunities for emergent bilingual (EB) students to orchestrate semiotic resources in ways that develop their identities, strengthen their understandings of language, and help them to engage with content. To better understand how EBs can participate in varied multimodal composing practices, this study systematically reviews the literature on EBs’ digital multimodal composing in secondary classrooms. More specifically, it examines types of scaffolds, or planned and responsive instructional supports, used by teachers and students, as well as functions for learning associated with these scaffolds. Through an inductive approach, the authors analyzed 74 studies situated in classrooms. Findings showed seven types of scaffolding: collaboration, direct instruction, exemplar texts, translanguaging, discussion, encouragement, and questioning. In addition, eight scaffolding functions emerged that illustrate three major themes of scaffolding identities, scaffolding resources, and scaffolding contexts. The authors then discuss implications for classroom practice, implications for translanguaging and social semiotics theories, and directions for future research.

Building System Capacity with a Modeling-Based Inquiry Program for Elementary Students: A Case Study

Science education in the United States should shift to incorporate innovative technologies and curricula that prepare students in the competencies needed for success in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers. Here we employ a qualitative case study analysis to investigate the system variables that supported or impeded one such reform effort aimed at improving elementary students’ science learning. We found that, while some program design features contributed to the success of the program (i.e., a strong multi-institutional partnership and a focus on teacher training and instructional supports), other features posed barriers to the long-term system-level change needed for reform (i.e., low levels of social capital activation, low prioritization of science learning, and frequent turnover of key personnel). In light of these findings, we discuss broader implications for building the capacity to overcome system barriers. In this way, an in-depth examination of the context-specific barriers to reform in this educational system can inform efforts for future reform and innovation design.

Literacy as a Support for Social-Emotional and Academic Growth

This overview of childhood brain development makes targeted connections between social-emotional learning (SEL) and instructional supports. Emphasis is placed on how interactions between caregivers/teachers, children, and the environment inform early SEL and literacy skill development. Specific attention is paid to delayed social-emotional development and behavior disorders. Multimodal text sets are offered as a way to increase classroom awareness and understanding related to autism, ADD/ADHD, and ODD. SEL resources and support organization information is also provided.

ARGUMENTATION-BASED COMPUTER SUPPORTED COLLABORATIVE LEARNING (ABCSCL): THE ROLE OF INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORTS

This paper investigates the role of instructional supports for argumentation-based computer supported collaborative learning (ABCSCL), a teaching approach that improves the quality of learning processes and outcomes. Relevant literature has been reviewed to identify the instructional supports in ABCSCL environments. A range of instructional supports in ABCSCL is proposed including scaffolding, scripting, and representational tools. Each of these instructional supports are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the extent to which and the way in which such instructional supports can be applied in ABCSCL environments are discussed. Finally, suggestions for future work and implications for the design of ABCSCL environments are provided.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0610/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Psychology Students’ Motivation and Learning in Response to the Shift to Remote Instruction During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic led to dramatic shifts in the teaching and learning of psychology. The purpose of this study was to document the impact of those shifts on undergraduate psychology students’ motivation and self-regulation of learning during the initial shift to remote instruction. Psychology majors (N = 358) attending a public land-grant university in the southeastern U.S. voluntarily completed a survey at the end of the Spring 2020 semester. Closed- and open-ended items assessed students’ self-reported behavioral and psychological wellness, motivation, and learning experiences during the COVID-19 outbreak. A convergent mixed methods analysis was used in which open-ended questions provided context and experiential nuance to quantitative findings. Students reported increases in sleep, social media use, gaming, and procrastination, but decreases in academic motivation and self-regulation (e.g., focusing, juggling responsibilities). Over 75% reported increases in stress, which they attributed most frequently to motivational and academic challenges. Students reported learning less in most of their classes following the shift. They attributed this to numerous internal (e.g., self-regulatory/motivational difficulties) and external (e.g., online delivery modality, changes to workload, poor communication, insufficient instructional accommodations) factors. Although most perceived their instructors as understanding, nearly half reported a decline in instructional quality and communication after the shift to remote instruction. Over one third of students reported feeling less certain about their future educational plans. Implications for the provision of institutional and instructional supports for college students during and beyond the pandemic are provided.