Learner-Centred Learning Tasks in Higher Education: A Study on Perception among Students

Universities face the challenge of constantly improving the quality of higher education and changing the learning behaviour of students, from passive reactive learning to active self-regulated learning. Learner-centred, constructively designed learning tasks offer a great opportunity here. This paper investigates to what extent the learning process is challenged by these learning tasks, and how these tasks are perceived by the students, using a before and after survey of students studying at bachelor level in business courses at a German university. The paper starts with a short description of constructivism in the context of task design and the main characteristics of learner-centred, constructivist-orientated learning tasks: openness to problems, situation orientation, openness to solution paths, and degree of difficulty. Then the research method used is outlined before the findings are presented. The before and after survey shows that despite an increased complexity and workload, the motivation to deal with topics on the subject remained stable.

INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: IMPLEMENTATION WITH EFFECTIVENESS

The research paper is an attempt to dwell mainly upon Inclusive Education and effective ways to bridge the gap between the abled and differently abled in the same premises/classroom. In the present world, children learn by hit and trial, imitation and many other different ways. Each child is unique and learning index depends upon child’s interests, experiential learning, prior knowledge and child’s response to them. Conventional modes of teaching are therefore witnessing a paradigm shift. Creativity, communication, and learner centred learning are need of the hour. To be in line with the demands, teachers need to comprehend, create and provide spaces to children at right opportune so that learning becomes joyful. This not only holds true for the able children but also for the differently abled. The gap has been bridged a little by what is called inclusive approach to education. It ensures that all children receive the opportunity of being a part of the same classroom with peers; and in the process get the opportunity to learn the curriculum to their optimal potential

An Integral Analysis of Labeling, Inclusion, and the Impact of the K-12 School Experience on Gifted Boys

Gifted learners are frequently marginalized in community classrooms, as they are placed in competition for special education support, with the students who struggle to meet the minimal curricular demands. In this chapter, we describe the practices of identifying and labelling gifted boys, from the perspective of gifted boys attending high school and from the perspectives of a school system. The case discussed is a large urban public school system, which endeavours to effectively identify gifted students and provide them with learner-centred learning environments. We use Wilber's (2000, 2006) Integral model as a conceptual framework to analyze the findings from an empirical study of gifted boys' school experiences (Alisat, 2013). These findings are also supported by our critical praxis, observing and conversing with gifted young people. The Integral Model is a useful framework for understanding the multiple factors impacting gifted students' daily experiences, engagement and achievement.

Flipped classroom approach in EFL context: Some associated factors

Foreign language teaching is one field that is changing and being updated to meet the needs of learners and recent advances lead to consider new perspectives, directions and approaches. As an example of blended learning, flipped classrooms have gained prominence in recent years owing to the interest in crucial impacts of online and learner-centred learning on foreign language learning process. Traditional teaching process is reversed which means that class time is dedicated to homework and activities whereas learners construct their own knowledge at home. In a flipped class, learners are encouraged to improve their critical thinking skills and evaluate their own learning since teachers take a role as a coach and mentor in this process. On the other hand, in a traditional class, the content of the lesson is delivered by the teachers directly and learners are passive receivers of the knowledge in the classroom. Keywords: Biotechnology, teaching biotechnology, thematic content analysis, analysis of articles, academic achievement.

Exploring the Strategies of Raising Motivation among ESL students in a non-English speaking context

Motivation, undoubtedly, plays a very crucial role in any learning process including second and foreign language learning. Such cruciality positions the maintaining and motivation raising in the integral part of learning and more so in the currently growing and more technologically advanced learning environments. This paper conceptually discussed the motivation raising strategies which have been employed toward English as second language (ESL) learners in two different dimensions, which are those strategies which depend on the role of an ESL teacher (i.e. pedagogical and material selection) and those which do not (i.e. parents, school institutions, media, and gender difference). Despite the existence of other external factors, we argue that teacher plays the decisive role on ESL learners’ motivation. From the critical review and more extended discussion, it is found that teacher’s awareness toward the cruciality of students’ motivation influences the strategies used by the teachers in order to raise motivation. The paper also re-emphasises the urgent needs for a more learner-centred learning as it is believed to have positive impact for learners’ motivation. This paper concludes by highlighting the significant contributions of the insights discussed within this study, especially for ESL teaching practitioners.

Layers of Learning in Coach Developers’ Practice-Theories, Preparation and Delivery

Despite the centrality of coach developers to formal coach education settings, only a handful of studies have begun to touch upon the role they play in mediating quality learning, while links between different layers of learning and impact on coach learners remains underexplored. This research explored English coach developers’ understanding of learning, and the learning frameworks taught to them, through unstructured interviews and participant observation of a generic coach developer training course. Three coach developers were observed delivering formal coach education, to elucidate how understanding was applied in practice. Supporting interviews with 16 coaches attending the course gave an indication of reactions to developers’ practice. Combined layers of data were analysed using a three-phase integrated analytic process. In the absence of pertinent evidence-informed coach developer training course design and delivery, implicit ‘practice-theories’, based on participants’ experiences as coaches and coach developers, appeared to inform understanding and practices. Despite acknowledging ‘learner centred’ learning principles, coach developers experienced challenges implementing these in practice and coach learners perceived confusion and contradictions. Findings are discussed in relation to contemporary ideas around coaches’ and coach developers’ learning, to highlight potential ways that coach developers could be more effectively prepared and supported.

Instructional Practices for Addressing Computer Science Standards: Using Computer Kits in Preservice Teacher Education

This article examines the instructional practices used to teach the computer science (CS) standard of computer devices and systems to undergraduate preservice teachers (PSTs). With computer science education (CSE) gaining an international focus, there is a need to explore a variety of instructional practices used to teach these topics. This descriptive, exploratory case study presents an examination of the instructional practices used in a CSE licensure course. In this study, the instructor utilised two commercially available computer kits to provide hands-on, learner-centred learning experiences for PSTs. PSTs perceived these kits to be valuable for learning about computing devices and systems topics and for teaching these topics in their future classrooms. Additionally, results showed that PSTs considered the usability, grade level and ability of the kits to build interest in CS when reflecting on their future use. Limitations to the instructional practices included a lack of transfer to subject areas outside of CS and a lack of focus on the integration between hardware and software.

An Integral Analysis of Labeling, Inclusion, and the Impact of the K-12 School Experience on Gifted Boys

Gifted learners are frequently marginalized in community classrooms, as they are placed in competition for special education support, with the students who struggle to meet the minimal curricular demands. In this chapter, we describe the practices of identifying and labelling gifted boys, from the perspective of gifted boys attending high school and from the perspectives of a school system. The case discussed is a large urban public school system, which endeavours to effectively identify gifted students and provide them with learner-centred learning environments. We use Wilber's (2000, 2006) Integral model as a conceptual framework to analyze the findings from an empirical study of gifted boys' school experiences (Alisat, 2013). These findings are also supported by our critical praxis, observing and conversing with gifted young people. The Integral Model is a useful framework for understanding the multiple factors impacting gifted students' daily experiences, engagement and achievement.

A Competence-based Service for Supporting Self-Regulated Learning in Virtual Environments

This paper presents a conceptual approach and a Web-based service that aim at supporting self-regulated learning in virtual environments. The conceptual approach consists of four components: 1) a self-regulated learning model for supporting a learner-centred learning process, 2) a psychological model for facilitating competence-based personalization and knowledge assessment, 3) an open learner model approach for visual interaction and feedback, and 4) a learning analytics approach for capturing relevant learner information required by the other components. The Web-based service provides a technical implementation of the conceptual approach, as well as a linkage to existing virtual environments used for learning purposes. The approach and service have been evaluated in user studies in university courses on computer science to demonstrate the usefulness of the overall approach and to get an understanding of some limitations.