The Constructive Overlap: A Study of Multiplex Ties in Students’ Study-Related Networks and Academic Performance

This article adds to a growing body of literature on how various types of social relations can work synergistically to promote students' academic success. Students’ study-related social networks affect academic outcome in higher education. The network literature in education generally explores students’ various relations separately, rather than their multiplex relations or when individuals share several relations. This approach risks missing the full complexity of the student experience. The aim of the present study is to add to the discussion on student social networks and attainment in higher education by further exploring multiplex relations maintained in a specific study program, in which a large share of students in the cohort commute. A survey was distributed to students in one cohort (n = 146). The findings revealed that, in this cohort, students’ friendship, working and learning networks overlap substantially, and that centrality in the friendship and in the student multiplex networks was positively and significantly related to academic outcome, whereas centrality in the working and learning networks was not. Points for future research are suggested, and practical implications for those supporting student learning in higher education are discussed.

School-Related Variables as Correlates of Quality Leaning Outcome of Senior Secondary School Students

This study attempts to examine the extent to which school-related variables such as teacher's quality, classroom ergonometric affects the Quality Leaning Outcome of senior secondary school students. The study was a survey research design. Data was collected from 385 senior secondary school students of government-operated secondary schools in Calabar, Cross River state, using a structured questionnaire. The purposive sampling technique was used in selecting the samples from the study area. Collected data were screened and checked for errors. The data was then analysed using descriptive and parametric statistics at 0.05 significant level. Out of the 385-instrument distributed, 376 was returned and used for analysis. From the interpreted data, the result revealed that high teacher quality statistically significantly differs from low teachers' quality in terms of Quality Leaning Outcome of secondary school students. This result is because the calculated t-value of t (374) = 3.57 was higher than the critical t-value of 1.96 at p < .05. This result means that the high quality of teachers affects student academic outcome. Also, the result revealed that classroom ergonometric significantly relates to quality of academic outcome. Because the calculated r-value of 0.170* is greater than the critical r-value of 0.098 at 0.05 level of significance with 374 degrees of freedom. With these results, we can conclude that school-related variables significantly relate to quality academic outcome. Hence, there is a need for improvement in school variables in schools in the study area.

Adolescents Develop Their Identities Amidst Adversities

Adolescence is a somewhat turbulent phase of life to many. This paper explores the challenges of 6 Malaysian adolescents aged between 13 and 17 from low socioeconomic background in developing their identities. In depth semi-structured interviews were carried out. Family problems, peer pressure, and learning difficulties were among the main issues encountered. This study revealed that although the respondents’ families’ socio-economic status had affected them, it is not the determinant to their success nor failure. This study also suggests that a sound identity development and academic outcome could be achieved with relatively good parental involvement, well perceived expectations, fitting in with group of friends as well as a healthy surrounding

SELF-REGULATED LEARNING THROUGH EPORTFOLIO: A META-ANALYSIS

Purpose – A consensus has been reached regarding the need for a paradigm shift in the English as Second Language (ESL) classroom. The literature has shown that self-regulated learning (SRL) has been substantiated as beneficial for students in language learning. It is believed that SRL promotes learner autonomy and successful academic outcome. Despite SRL being a quite popular strategy and is heavily researched, its functionality through the medium of ePortfolio is uncertain. Therefore, this research attempts to analyse how SRL contributes to positive academic outcome using ePortfolio as a medium. Methodology – A meta-analysis was carried out to identify the patterns and gaps in this research area. The results indicated that, out of 204 studies found in the database, only nine met the criteria used in this study. Findings – Findings from this meta-analytic research found that all nine studies included in this review emphasised different research methods and reported significant changes in the students’ academic outcomes. Eight studies were quantitative in nature, with only a single study being qualitative. Based on our interpretive findings, three themes were discovered in this study which are metacognition, collaboration and motivation. Significance – By understanding the roles played by SRL, this study hopes to provide insights to those who would like to use ePortfolio as a medium to promote self-regulated learning. It also gives a clearer view on how ePortfolio as a tool can promote SRL and the result of the meta-analysis may benefit other researchers in helping them to transfer what is applicable in their study. Keywords: Self-regulated learning, ePortfolio, meta-analysis.

End-user satisfaction of technology-enabled assessment in higher education: A coping theory perspective

The current study examines students’ coping process of a forced technological intervention in academic outcome assessment in a higher education setting. A mixed-method approach was used to study 246 post-graduate students’ post-usage behaviour of electronic tablet-PC exams and examined their end-user satisfaction. This is an empirical study grounded in the Coping Model of User Adaptation (CMUA). Respondents of the study comprise of post-graduate students, who were exposed to an innovative digital device for writing descriptive exams as a substitute to the conventional paper-mode exam. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Nvivo. Findings indicate that problem-focused coping has a significant influence on end-user satisfaction, and on the contrary emotion-focused coping is insignificant among the students. The study offers insights into those institutions, which are aspiring to advance with similar interventions in academic outcome assessment. The study contributes to the literature on technostress, coping strategy, and end-user satisfaction of ICT.

Investigating the Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Academic Outcome in Mathematics

This study mainly aims to investigate the correlation between the learners' self-efficacy and their academic outcome in term of their assessments' results based on the teacher-learners partnership's repetitive attempts online homework approach. The present study relies on a survey of 75 students who enrolled in Calculus I module at Taylor's University using a 27 item-questions survey questionnaire together with all their different types of assessments' results. The data are analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient to determine the association between learners' self-efficacy and their academics outcome. Findings illustrate that students' self-efficacy and their academic outcomes are significantly correlated in this online homework partnership ambient. The statistical results also demonstrate that there is a very strong and significant relationship between students' quiz, test, and final examination results towards their overall academic result.

Student Accountability for Objective Evaluations of Faculty

ABSTRACT Student Evaluation of Faculty (SEF) is an important component of the US educational system and an indispensable tool to keep track of the faculty’s role to make the institution’s academic practice more engaging, objective and effective. SEF also allows institutions to assess faculty performance, future career stability, advancement and promotion. Unfortunately, SEFs generally exempt students from any responsibility in their own academic outcome. The article presents an analysis of a study based on a modified version of the current SEF form utilised by the Bronx Community College. This modified form includes questions about a student’s responsibilities, to measure their accountability making the evaluation more objective using a descriptive research design method. Results confirmed that students must play an active part in the process by assuming their own responsibilities of regularly and timely attending class, increasing study time, utilising the resources of tutoring, faculty office hours, and extended recitation to improve their own outcome and produce a valid faculty evaluation.

Examining Career and Academic Outcome Expectations of Turkish High School Students

This study aimed to examine career and academic outcome expectations of high school students. Data of the research designed in the survey model were collected from 695 students attending ninth to twelfth grades of high schools that offer academic and vocational education in city center of Niğde in the Central Anatolian Region of Turkey in the academic year of 2018-2019. 56% of the participants are female and 44% are male. The measures used in the research are academic outcome (5 items) and career outcome (4 items) expectation subscales of the Career Outcome Expectations and Exploration Intentions Scale developed by Betz and Voyten (1997) and adapted into Turkish language by Büyükgöze-Kavas (2011) and the Personal Information Form developed by the researcher. Independent groups t-test and one-way ANOVA analysis techniques were utilized in data analysis. It was found in the data analysis that high school students’ scores of career and academic outcome expectations differed significantly by gender, type of school, and grade level. While girls were found to have higher mean scores of career and academic outcome expectations than boys, the students of Anatolian High School that provides academic education had higher mean scores of career and academic outcome expectations than the vocational high school students. Furthermore, ninth-grade students were found to have higher mean scores of career and academic outcome expectations than other grade levels.