Lessons Learned From a Rural Classroom Study: Transitioning From Concrete to Virtual Manipulatives to Teach Math Fact Fluency to Students With Learning Disabilities

As the use of technology has become more prevalent within the educational environment over the past decade, the emergence of the use of virtual manipulatives to support student learning in math has made transitioning to technology-infused math instruction unavoidable. Students in rural areas, however, have tended to receive far less technology-infused instruction due to the many challenges faced by rural schools that can adversely affect academic opportunities and disrupt equity in learning and teaching. In the current paper, we report on a classroom study conducted to examine whether the previously proven effects of concrete manipulatives can carry over into those of virtual manipulatives when teaching math fact fluency in multiplication and explored the potential for virtual manipulatives in rural classrooms from the teacher’s perspective. Quantitative and qualitative results both indicated a promising potential for usage of virtual manipulatives, with meaningful implications for practitioners. The educational implications for designing and planning effective instruction incorporating virtual manipulatives are discussed.

Incorporating gender issues into the classroom: Study on the teaching of gender-related courses in the general curriculum of Taiwan’s universities

Gender equality is a universal and local issue. National policies have been initiated to ensure gender equality and to safeguard human rights on campus. Gender-related courses have been developed in the general education centers of various universities to allow the concept of gender equality to take root and flourish in these universities and to establish just and safe university campuses in Taiwan. This study examines the introduction of gender issues into the general curriculum of universities and discusses its implications for teaching practice and the establishment of gender-equal university campuses. After reviewing related literature, the following recommendations are made for the teaching of gender issues in universities’ general curricula: (a) teaching must be devoid of gender discrimination, (b) gender awareness for teachers, (c) consideration of gender differences in the teaching field, (d) implementation of reverence for justice in the teaching field, (e) increasing students’ awareness of gender equality, and (f) fostering a teaching atmosphere of mutual respect.

Geneticus Investigatio: a technology-enhanced learning environment for scaffolding complex learning in genetics

Bioscientists such as geneticists and molecular biologists regularly demonstrate the integration of domain concepts and science inquiry practices/skills while explaining a natural phenomenon. The complexity of these concepts and skills becomes manifold at the tertiary undergraduate level and are known to be challenging for learners. They learn these in silos as part of theory classes, practical labs, and tutorial sessions while in an industry, they will be required to integrate and apply in a given authentic context. To support learners in this process, we have designed and developed Geneticus Investigatio (GI), a technology-enhanced learning (TEL) environment for scaffolding complex learning in the context of Mendelian genetics. GI facilitates this complex learning by the integration of domain concepts and science inquiry practices through inquiry-driven reflective learning experiences, which are interspersed with inquiry-based learning steps in an authentic context along with metacognitive reflection. In this paper, we present two cycles of iterative design, development, and evaluation of GI, based on the design-based research (DBR) approach. In the first DBR cycle, we identified the pedagogical design features and learning activities of GI based on an exploratory study with bio-science instructors for facilitating complex learning. We then report a pre-post classroom study (N = 37) in which we investigated the learning and perceptions of usability and usefulness of GI. The results indicate high learning gains after interacting with GI and learner perceptions that activities in GI help learn concepts and inquiry practices along with its integration. It is followed by the identification of interaction and other difficulties by the learner, which were triangulated with different data sources. It provided insights into the pedagogical and design changes required in GI. The revised version of GI was evaluated with a quasi-experimental classroom study (N = 121). The results indicate that the drawbacks of the previous version of GI were addressed. The main contributions of this research are a pedagogical design for facilitating complex learning and its implementation in the form of GI TEL environment.

Dimensions in Teaching Skills and Learning Skills

Teaching skills and learning skills existed even in the ancient times, though the terms were coined at a later stage. Dire necessity forced the ancient man to learn skills like hunting animals for food. As mankind was heading towards new civilisation, teaching skills found a place in society. Saints demonstrated skills in education as well as in warfare to princes. These teaching skills and learning skills have taken new dimensions to cater the needs of changing trends in all fields. Teachers exhibit skills like classroom management, use of black board and skill of explaining. Drastic changes have taken place in learning skills as well. Some people like craftsmen learn skills without formal education. But modern education demands organised classroom study. So, students have to acquire learning skills like concentration, punctuality and discipline. However the modern trends and necessities in education require constant developments in teaching skills and learning skills. The learning process has no end. It starts from childhood and lasts till death. This paper deals with various aspects of teaching skills and learning skills which are inevitable in education.