Capturing Student Achievement and Learning Pathways at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County

In 2015, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) recognized the need to capture knowledge, skills, and abilities acquired by students in both co-curricular and curricular endeavors not being captured in any identifiable way. The Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer desired to document competencies gained by students in the variety of contexts on campus and to track student, faculty, and staff achievements in a way that would both benefit each individual while also supporting the mission of the institution. This vision led to the adoption of a digital badging initiative resulting in a scalable process for implementing new badges throughout the university community. UMBC's digital badging program became the springboard for the institution's entrance into the Comprehensive Learner Record (CLR) realm whose objective is to capture all credentials earned by students, whether they be awarded before, during, or following their tenure at the institution.

The Characteristics of Innovative Teachers: The Relationship Between Science Teachers' Views on Student Achievement and Learning and Teaching Motivation

Determining teachers’ views on student success and learning is considered important in terms of increasing the level of students' learning. The motivation people have can affect their attitude toward their job. This becomes even more important in teachers, who have a significant impact on an individual’s life. It is therefore seen as important to determine teachers' teaching motivation. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between secondary school science teachers' views on student achievement and learning and their own level of teaching motivation. This research used the correlational survey method, a method in quantitative research. The sample group consisted of teachers (124 female and 39 male science teachers) working in Izmir. Two data collection tools were used in the study: the ‘Teacher Motivation Scale’ and the ‘Teachers’ Opinions Scale about Student Achievement and Learning’. Participants’ demographic information was obtained using a ‘Personal Information Form’ designed by the researchers. According to the results of the study there was no difference according to gender variable but there was a significant difference in favor of science teachers who had a Bachelor’s degree between the groups. The study showed that as the age and teachers’ years of service increased, their views on student achievement and learning become more negative. According to the results it is recommended to organize well-planned inservice training to increase the teaching motivation and conduct in-depth research to understand the relationship among teacher beliefs, practice, and school context.

Factors that support the development of exemplary school library programs

This paper will examine a wide range of studies related to the factors that support the development of exemplary school library programs and then focus on the context for Ontario, Canada. In 2003, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (as cited in IASL, 2008) reviewed research studies to answer the question “What effects do school libraries have on student achievement?” and they concluded that “school library characteristics may account for up to 8 percent of the variance in reading-related test scores” [emphasis added] (p. 1). Consequently, it is important to identify the characteristics that make a school library exemplary although they are not always indicative of student achievement and learning.

Analisis Kesulitan Belajar Pendidikan Agama Islam (PAI) Serta Cara Mengatasinya

Difficulty of student learning is an obstacle experienced by students in their efforts to learn the subjects they learn in school, or things that can lead to failure of learning progress. Teachers play an important role in terms of helping students overcome learning difficulties, improving student achievement and learning outcomes, as a teacher's teaching reference so that it is better to be material for students in facing and overcoming student learning difficulties, and for schools contributing important information that is good for schools in order improvement of the teaching and learning process of Islamic Religious Education. How to overcome the results of this article are obtained that the results show that: (1) Choosing the PAI learning method appropriately, so students do not get bored and bored with PAI subjects, especially reading and memorizing the Qur'an. (2) The use of varied media both originates from print media, electronics and so on to support the learning process. (3) Always provide motivation to students after completing learning activities and strengthen the spirit in their souls so that the student is happy with the teacher and his brain becomes easy to accept the lesson.

Lessons for Latin America from a Comparative Education Approach: South Korea’s K-12 Education System

South Korea is well known for its outstanding performance on international assessments of student achievement and learning. Both public and private investments are often considered key factors in this success. This paper describes the historical factors that gave rise to the current system. The paper also highlights certain features of the education system that might be useful for policymakers in Latin American and the Caribbean.

Manajemen Pembiayaan Bantuan Operasional Sekolah Dalam Meningkatkan Mutu Pendidikan Pondok Pesantren

<em>Financing is one of the keys to implementing an education. One source of funding sourced from the government is the School Operational Assistance (BOS) program. The purpose of this study was to: (1) describe the distribution of BOS funds in the education of Islamic boarding schools in the Ministry of Religion Office in Malang Regency, (2) explain the supervision of BOS funding in Islamic boarding school education, (3) describe the implications of BOS funding in improving quality Islamic boarding school education. This study uses a qualitative approach with a type of case study research. Data collection techniques used were observation, interviews, and documentation. Data is analyzed by reducing relevant data, describing and drawing conclusions. The results showed that, (1) the distribution of funding for BOS funds in the education of Islamic boarding schools in the Malang Ministry of Religion Office was carried out in accordance with the flow, (2) supervision of BOS funding in improving the quality of Islamic boarding school education was carried out according to the time of disbursement at the time of reporting of BOS funds, namely by direct and indirect supervision, (3) Implications of BOS funds in improving the education quality of Islamic boarding schools, namely: improving student achievement and learning outcomes and increasing teacher welfare.</em>

In a range of meaningful contexts: 25 years of struggle for meaning in mathematics teaching

The use of meaningful contexts has been a given in New Zealand’s mathematics curricula for the last 25 years. They hold a privileged position, but there has been little examination of why they are given this position either nationally or internationally, even though there is solid evidence that the use of contexts and word problems in mathematics is not without implications for equitable access to mathematics, student learning, and assessment of learning. So what are the affordances and constraints of taking the meaningful context approach to mathematics? What has been the impact of taking this approach on student achievement and learning? These are important questions given The New Zealand Curriculum is ten years old and a curriculum review is looming. These questions are being raised to start an essential debate for mathematics education in New Zealand, one that needs to take place prior to any curriculum review so an informed decision on the place and nature of meaningful contexts in future mathematics curricula can be made.

A Systematic Review: The Relationship between Learning Styles and Creative Thinking Skills

Creative thinking skills have become necessary and desirable competency for any professional. Learning styles are a reflection of the habitual behavior determining distinct preferences in a given learning situation. Evidence has suggested that there is a kind of relationship between these two variables. However, existing research on this has been rather minimal. It is worth noting that systematic review is used in this study for the exploration and determination of the relationship between learning styles and creative thinking skills. Five electronic databases were applied with a focus on studies that focused on the relationship between learning styles and creative thinking skills. Seven studies were finally included. Four key themes explain the results: Evolution of Creative Thinking in Academic Progress, Main Learning Styles, Learning Styles and Student Achievement, and Learning Styles and Creative Thinking Skills Correlation. The conclusion reached was comparative studies were able to illuminate on the existing relationship between learning styles and creative thinking skills. Nonetheless, more research needs to be carried out to determine the extent of this relationship or rather to enhance its significance.