Immersive virtual reality versus webcam in an online language course

This paper investigates the differences between Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) and the webcam (WBC) in the context of a Spanish distance-learning course. Two specific objectives were set: (1) to determine the existence of a relationship of dependence between the device used and the oral interaction, and (2) to analyse the existence of a dependency relationship between the device utilised and the perception of copresence. To that end, online courses and semi-structured interviews were conducted. Regarding the first objective, there is a higher chance of speaking exchanges between student-tutor and tutor-student when using WBC. As for the second objective, we did not have sufficient feedback to determine whether the perception of copresence varies depending on the two profiles. However, the analysis indicates that non-verbal communication was essential for IVR volunteers to experience copresence. The conclusions suggest that the IVR could be more appropriate than WBC for socio-constructivist and communicative teaching pedagogies2.

Video-based, student tutor- versus faculty staff-led ultrasound course for medical students – a prospective randomized study

Background Ultrasound education is propagated already during medical school due to its diagnostic importance. Courses are usually supervised by experienced faculty staff (FS) with patient bedside examinations or students among each other but often overbooked due to limited FS availability. To overcome this barrier, use of teaching videos may be advantageous. Likewise, peer teaching concepts solely with trained student tutors have shown to be feasible and effective. The aim was to evaluate 1) objective learning outcomes of a combined video-based, student-tutor (ViST) as compared to a FS-led course without media support, 2) acceptance and subjective learning success of the videos. Methods Two ultrasound teaching videos for basic and advanced abdominal ultrasound (AU) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) were produced and six students trained as tutors. Fourth-year medical students (N = 96) were randomized to either the ViST- or FS course (6 students per tutor). Learning objectives were defined equally for both courses. Acquired practical basic and advanced ultrasound skills were tested in an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) using modified validated scoring sheets with a maximum total score of 40 points. Acceptance and subjective learning success of both videos were evaluated by questionnaires based on Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model with scale-rated closed and open questions. Results 79 of 96 medical students completed the OSCE and 77 could be finally analyzed. There was no significant difference in the mean total point score of 31.3 in the ViST (N = 42) and 32.7 in the FS course (N = 35, P = 0.31) or in any of the examined basic or advanced ultrasound skill subtasks. Of the 42 ViST participants, 29 completed the AU and 27 the TTE video questionnaire. Acceptance and subjective learning success of both videos was rated positively in 14–52% and 48–88% of the rated responses to each category, respectively. Attendance of either the student or faculty tutor was deemed necessary in addition to the videos. Conclusions A ViST versus FS teaching concept was able to effectively teach undergraduate students in AU and TTE, albeit acceptance of the teaching videos alone was limited. However, the ViST concept has the potential to increase course availability and FS resource allocation.

Assessment partnerships from the start: Building reflective practice as a beginning paramedic student competency

IntroductionThe ability to critically self-evaluate is fundamental to professional health roles. Reflective practice is now a recognised feature of the professional capabilities of registered paramedics in Australia, which has implications for both education and industry when determining competency. Reflective practice currently receives little priority in teaching, often appearing late in curriculum and not usually linked to high stakes assessment. It is argued that sustainable reflective practice skills should appear earlier and include opportunities for active student involvement in decisions regarding their learning. Student-tutor consensus assessment (STCA) is a reflection-in-practice technique providing a structured approach for critically appraising practice, while calibrating judgement with assessors. We evaluated the experiences of a cohort of newly commencing undergraduates within a fundamentals of paramedic practice subject. MethodsStudents were invited to complete a questionnaire relating to their perceptions and experiences after participating in the STCA approach. Results88 responses were collected which indicated broad agreement regarding the value to learning and recognition for the importance of reflective practice skills to future professional roles. ConclusionStudents readily embraced the principles of reflective practice and were able to effectively contribute to high level decisions regarding their work despite having only recently commenced the program. In addition, the high levels of broad agreement for the value of the STCA approach, suggest reflective practice and critical thinking-based assessments have a more important role to play in paramedic education.

The grey space in the middle: Using drawing to meet the object half way

Through the concept defined by David Bowie as the 'grey space in the middle', a theoretical space through which the meaning and worth of a piece of art is defined, this text looks at how Martin Morris and Paddy Molloy teach and develop processes towards drawing on the Illustration Animation BA (Hons) course, part of the Design School at Kingston School of Art (KSA), Kingston University. Their pedagogic process is examined through a set of six images made by three different students (covering life drawing, copying, memory drawing and Virtual Reality [VR]) alongside the respective students' responses to their work and their experience of drawing the images. Through the mental and physical space between observer and object in which new ideas are generated and filtered through the myriad of internal and external processes involved with drawing, Morris and Molloy analyse and investigate this 'grey space' with the aim to quantify the interaction and outcomes that occur between viewer (student/tutor) and object (drawing) and furthermore consider insights gleamed from the process and questions raised. By sharing these observations this paper seeks to demonstrate that the interaction that happens in this theoretical space between viewer and object, which is the malleable mental and physical space between, can be considered as fundamental to both the development of visual communication and how we come to read works of art. This can be applied to the teaching of drawing enabling students to gain insight, ask questions, inform their understanding of draughtsmanship and discover their individual voice.

Investigating Transformation in Tutoring Sessions

The focus of this paper is to investigate the process of becoming an effective student tutor based on perspectives from other student tutors and my own self-reflection, while working at Kanda University of International Studies. The data on which this research is based was from a survey for student tutors registered in the spring semester of 2018. The survey consisted of questions about student tutors’ motivation and approaches to their tutoring sessions, individual interviews with current tutors and weekly written reflections on my own sessions. It discusses challenges that those student tutors faced such as differences in tutoring style, personal English levels, motivation and tutor autonomy. It also explores the reasons why peer tutoring programs are highly beneficial to students. This paper also offers suggestions for future student tutors and tutees as well as for school administrators. Peer supported learning has been studied by many researchers and the benefits are well documented: improving relationship building skills, self-esteem, social competence and psychological well-being (Briggs, 2013). However, there has only been limited research analyzing how student tutors and tutees have changed over the course of their sessions and created a deep positive learning relationship. When I first became a student tutor, instructors who were in charge of this tutoring program shared a lot of information with us, such as sample questions to ask students and materials to use in sessions. Administrative support given by the instructors was very helpful but it was slightly too general and I struggled with how to improve my sessions. After discussing the situation with professors at my institution, I obtained many useful ideas and significantly improved relationships with my students. This paper discusses my experiences as a peer tutor and the process of how I became a more efficient tutor while investigating how other peer tutors struggled and improved their tutoring skills.

Review of interactive methods of teaching physics at medical University

The article is devoted to the analysis of the literature on the methodology of teaching physics in high school in the section on the application of interactive teaching methods. The review of lecture, practical and seminar forms of contact interactive educational activity of students is presented. Specifically, the actual conceptual approach, based on the principles of the methodology of fundamental disciplines to the organization of educational activity of students, as a research partnership of student-tutor, is presented. The conceptual approach is developed in the context of requirements of modern educational standards of formation of students’ professional competencies. By order of the Ministry of education and science of the Russian Federation, the Federal state educational standard of higher education defines research activity as one of the main types of professional activity, to which graduates who have mastered the speciality program in medical specialities are prepared. Graduates who have mastered the program of the specialty, will have to solve professional tasks of a research sector, which are determined by the Federal state educational standard of higher education including, as an analysis of scientific literature and official statistical surveys, participation in statistical analysis and public presentation of the results, participation in solving individual research and scientific-applied problems in the field of health diagnosis, treatment, medical rehabilitation and prevention. Thus, the role of the educational departments of educational institutions, where students study the sections of such fundamental Sciences as physics and mathematics, the methodology of which is scientific research, increases significantly. Realization of the educational potential of the methodology in basic Sciences is available in the professional research tasks in conditions of a new conceptual approach to the organization of training of students in the sections of these Sciences. The format of the prolonged interactive research partnership student-tutor at all stages of educational activity is considered as effective one for the students’ training for the solution