Examining Higher Education Instructor Perceptions of Roles and Competencies in Online Teaching

Online instructors adopt various roles and perform various competencies in the design and delivery of online courses. In this study, online instructor roles are categorized into eight types including Subject Matter Expert, Course Designer and Developer, Course Facilitator, Course Manager, Advisor/Mentor, Assessor/Evaluator, Technology Expert, and Lifelong Learner. Through survey-based research with 141 online instructors, this study examines competencies that online instructors perform based on various roles. When rating competencies, overall categorical means for all the roles were rated above 4.00, which showed that they used all these roles. The highest rated items and lowest rated items are discussed in addition to the connection between research and practice in online teaching. Online instructors who participate in training and who collaborate with instructional designers rated the frequency with which they perform the competencies to be higher. This study has implications for online instructors, instructional designers, and administrators who design and deliver online learning and offer professional development for online instructors.

El “residente como docente”: estudio fenomenográfico sobre las experiencias docentes en residentes de Medicina Familiar de una Universidad en Chía, Colombia

Los residentes médicos representan un rol fundamental en el proceso de formación de estudiantes, internos y co-residentes, con labores implícitas de docencia en sus obligaciones como estudiantes de posgrado y sin ningún tipo de formación para ello. Previo a la implementación de programas de “residente como docente”, resulta útil indagar sobre las experiencias docentes en contexto, para así desarrollar programas acordes a las características y necesidades del medio. Este estudio buscó identificar las variaciones en las experiencias docentes de residentes de Medicina Familiar de una Universidad en Colombia. Corresponde a una investigación cualitativa con un enfoque fenomenográfico. Participaron 15 residentes de diferentes años de formación. Se identificaron 5 categorías de descripción relacionadas de manera jerárquica y determinadas a partir de 7 dimensiones de variación. Las formas identificadas de experimentar el rol del “residente como docente” son el transmisor pasivo impuesto, el facilitador del conocimiento, el facilitador de la práctica clínica, el role model y el “lifelong learner”. Las variaciones en las experiencias del “residente como docente”, estuvieron determinadas por la interacción de factores personales y contextuales. Se identificó que las categorías de descripción se encuentran interconectadas, con el potencial de avanzar hacia la siguiente categoría. Lo anterior puede ser utilizado como sustrato para el desarrollo de un programa de “residente como docente” orientado a potenciar la transformación hacia las categorías de descripción en los niveles de mayor comprensión del rol, situación deseable en el contexto latinoamericano donde los residentes tienen diversas responsabilidades docentes. medical residents represent a fundamental role in the training process of students, interns and peer-residents, with implicit teaching obligations as postgraduate students and without any type of training for it. Prior to the implementation of a “resident as teacher” program, it is useful to inquire about teaching experiences in context, in order to develop programs according to the characteristics and needs of the environment. This study sought to identify the variations in the teaching experiences in Family Medicine residents in a Colombian University. This is a qualitative research with a phenomenographic approach. Fifteen residents from different years of training responded a semi-structures interview. We identified 5 categories of description related in a hierarchical way by 7 dimensions of variation. The ways of experiencing the “resident as teacher” role are the imposed passive transmitter, the facilitator of knowledge, the facilitator of clinical practice, the role model and the “lifelong learner”. Variations in experiences of "resident as teacher" are determined by the interaction of personal and contextual factors. It is necessary to emphasize that the description categories are interconnected, with the potential to advance to the next category. The above can be used as a platform for the development of a "resident as teacher" program aimed to promote functional academic transformations towards the description categories with deeper understanding of the teacher role, a desirable situation in the Latin American context where residents have diverse teaching responsabilities.

Fostering Enterprise

This chapter uses an evolutionary lens to depict a journey that is also a destination for a lifelong learner passionate about upward mobility in intellectual, psychological, and economic realms. A mainstay of the research endeavors has been the study of innovation and enterprise. Starting as an economist studying the evolution of technologies and industries, the scholarly journey progressed to strategic management to examine firm and industry evolution and then to strategic entrepreneurship to examine individual, firm, and industry evolution. Currently, the research focuses on the interplay of enterprise and markets through an integration of economics, psychology, and sociology perspectives to understand the causes and consequences of enterprising individuals, organizations, and economies.

Approbation of Self-directed Learning by first year medical students: a mixed method study

Background: One of the primary roles played by Indian medical graduates is to be a lifelong learner. For being a lifelong learner, the students should inculcate the habit of Self-Directed Learning (SDL). Lack of SDL skills among undergraduate medical students is a concern, hence the study was planned to introduce SDL in Physiology to phase-1 undergraduate medical students and assess its effectiveness through students and facultys perceptions. Methodology: The project was commenced after obtaining clearance from the Institutional Ethics Committee. The faculty members and students were sensitized on SDL. Feedback questionnaire was framed and the topics for SDL were selected. Six topics were covered as part of the project. The effectiveness of the sessions was evaluated by administering the feedback questionnaire to the students and recording perceptions of the students and faculty on SDL. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data was done. Results: A total of 96 phase-1 students participated in the study. Majority of the students felt that self-directed learning sessions have improved their SDL skills; they are more prepared and aware of their learning strengths and have started taking ownership of their learning. However some students felt the activity was not sufficient and SDL was not useful in improving their analytical skills. Both the students and the faculty were fairly satisfied by this teaching learning innovation. Conclusions: Students and faculty were satisfied with the SDL strategy. SDL has shown to make them independent learner, who are aware of their learning goals and capable of evaluating their learning.

Culturally Responsive Teaching

Twenty-first century teachers face challenges across many disciplines. Teachers are tasked with added roles: resource provider, instructional specialist, learning facilitator, mentor, school leader, and lifelong learner (U.S. Department of Education 2017). Equipping teachers with new learning trends is paramount to student success. Research indicates that the best way to increase student achievement is to have qualified teachers with specialized skills (Sparks and Killion 2007; Gay 2013). Teachers need to cultivate an understanding of cultural diversity in the classroom to effectively promote engagement. This paper will discuss culturally responsive teaching and multiple strategies for preparing teachers with a culturally responsive skills toolbox.

Self-Regulated Learning in Undergraduate Science

Undergraduate science courses are particularly challenging for students transitioning into university. The departure from supportive high school environments can be difficult for students lacking self-directed and self-motivated learning skills. Many high-achieving school graduates entering higher education are surprised to discover they are ill-prepared to be accountable for their learning (Stanton et al., 2015). Over the past two decades, there has been a mounting interest in the pedagogical approaches aimed at equipping students with the capabilities of a lifelong learner (Australian Qualifications Framework, 2013; Oliver & Jorre de St Jorre, 2018; Boud & Dochy, 2010). Consequently, research efforts in higher education have attempted to identify the behavioural strategies and motivational states associated with academic success. Self-regulated learning (SRL) is an umbrella term encompassing the independent and self-directed strategies that allow students to recognise and regulate their learning (Dinsmore et al., 2008). In brief, self-regulation is what a lifelong learner does. In science disciplines, much attention has been directed towards curricula that facilitate the development of SRL in students, such that they become aware of, and maintain control over their learning of complex scientific concepts. This study reviews the current theoretical perspectives, methodological approaches, and emerging trends from research on SRL in higher education science.

Microcredential learners need quality careers and employability support

Providers, industry, and governments have embraced microcredentialing as a solution to the volatility and velocity of changes in labour markets, workplace competencies, and the needs of the 21st century lifelong learner (Oliver, 2019). However, microcredentials do not, in and of themselves, guarantee career or employment success. Seeking a microcredential is one adaptive career behaviour that people might enact in pursuit of their career goals (Lent & Brown, 2013). Similarly, holding a microcredential is one form of employability capital that people might highlight when seeking employment (Tomlinson & Anderson, 2020).

Moving up the ladder of source assessment: Expanding the CRAAP test with critical thinking and metacognition

Information literacy is one of the fundamental skills to acquire to be able to navigate today’s complex information ecosystem, succeed as a lifelong learner, and make critical decisions as an active and informed citizen. Today’s information environment—saturated with misinformation, fake news, misleading information, propaganda, etc.—poses a great challenge to form unbiased views of the world and make sound judgment and decisions.