Effectiveness of the Blended Learning Model to Improve Students’ Achievement of Mathematical Concepts

This study aims to discover the effectiveness of the blended learning model in mathematics learning to improve the achievement of mathematical concepts. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group. The experimental class was taught through blended learning, while the control class was taught through the conventional learning model. The population of this study was the students at State Senior High School 1 Sewon Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The research sample involved 60 tenth-grade students in the 2019/2020 academic year, 30 students in each of the experimental and control groups. The sampling technique used cluster sampling and the data were collected using a test instrument. The validity of the test was measured using the obtained Aiken index (0.80), and the reliability was based on the Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.86). The data were analyzed using t-tests and descriptive statistics. The results of this study showed that the blended learning model is significantly more effective than the conventional learning model in enhancing students’ achievement of mathematical concepts. This means that the application of blended learning in mathematics learning can significantly improve students' achievement of mathematical concepts.

The Effect of E-Learning Sessions on the Development of Reading Comprehension: A Case of EFL Students’ Perceptions at Saudi Electronic University

This study investigated Saudi EFL university students’ perceptions toward the development of reading comprehension through e-learning sessions. A cross-sectional questionnaire was utilized and distributed to a sample of 140 participants at Saudi Electronic University. Descriptive statistics, independent sample paired t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that EFL university students had positive perceptions of the use of online sessions to practice the reading comprehension skill. The majority agreed that reading comprehension strategies such as skimming and scanning were more appropriate to online sessions. E-learning helped these students to be more motivated and created an atmosphere conducive to independent learning. The participants appreciated the role of online sessions in enhancing their reading comprehension skills and facilitating the level of difficulty of any reading passage. Significant differences were identified relating to the respondents’ gender and academic year. Female students were more satisfied with e-learning than male students. It is recommended that in light of the rapid growth of e-learning in Saudi Arabia, educational institutions should provide online learning programs and develop well-structured courses for e-learning implementation.

Teaching and Assessment through Online Platforms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Benefits and Challenges

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has compelled education systems across the globe to fully embrace online learning as an alternative to face-to-face classes. This has resulted in a paradigm shift, in which online teaching and assessment practices continue to gain prominence at the tertiary level. Hence, this study explores lecturers' teaching and assessment strategies for teaching university students through online platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study has used a framework of SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats) analysis as its theoretical base. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with five lecturers from three universities in Gauteng Province, South Africa. The collected data was analysed using content analysis. This study found that lecturers were able to manage the teaching and assessment processes during the COVID-19 school restrictions, using a combination of platforms such as Blackboard-collaborate, WhatsApp, Kahoot, and Google Classroom. The findings also revealed that a wide variety of teaching and assessment methodologies, including small group work, collaborative learning, case methods, discussion posts, multiple choice quizzes, chats, game activities, open-ended questions, and essays were utilized on these platforms. Although the methodologies used for teaching and assessing on these platforms require additional preparation time, they also help increase interaction between students and enable immediate grading of scripts and student feedback. Further findings revealed that online assessment is highly susceptible to test/examination malpractices. This study provided recommendations helpful to policymakers, lecturers, and students regarding online teaching and assessment strategies.

Teachers’ Perceptions of the Transition from Onsite to Online Teaching during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Educational systems worldwide have been affected by government restrictions imposed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, causing the temporary closure of many educational institutions. The new condition has forced teachers to make the transition from onsite to online teaching. The current study used a descriptive method to examine online teachers’ perceptions towards online teaching during the transition to online learning at a center for foreign languages in Vietnam. The results reveal that teachers have a relatively positive perception of online teaching, although many typical problems of online teaching do present themselves and the effectiveness of online teaching does not always compare favorably with traditional classroom teaching. Teachers’ suggestions are significant for improving online teaching quality. Online teaching is highly likely here to stay and will continue to improve. The transition from traditional face-to-face classrooms to online teaching can be successfully achieved and its quality can be ensured if challenges and ways of improving online learning continue to be closely examined.

Project-Based Learning on the Topic of Aromatic Wax Production

Project-based learning is one of the most effective and successful teaching methods for STEM topics. Project-based teaching is an open-ended teaching method that helps teachers stimulate students’ initiative and teamwork skills and promote creativity. Of the interdisciplinary STEM topics, teaching students how to produce aromatic wax proved an interesting topic, causing excitement to students. Through collaborative teaching, this research has shown that students are very interested in learning to produce aromatic wax. The research results also show that there are five factors that greatly affect project-based teaching: (1) Teachers must split the class into groups to implement projects effectively; (2) Topics must be attractive and motivate students to appreciate, explore and produce STEM products; (3) Students must have a positive attitude, unafraid of encountering difficulties and challenges in completing STEM tasks; (4) Students must be competent to implement STEM products; (5) Students must be facilitated by their school and their parents to complete the STEM tasks. The research findings have important implications for proposing a specific project-based learning curriculum on the STEM topic of aromatic wax production.

The Level of Ethical Sensitivity among Jordanian University Students According to their Educational Level & Specialization

This study aimed to investigate the level of ethical sensitivity among Princess Alia University College Students in Jordan and how this is influenced by their educational level and specialization. To achieve the objects of the study, the ethical sensitivity scale questionnaire (ESSQ) was used, as developed by Narvaez (2001). This was used to measure the moral sensitivity of adults and adolescents. It consists of (28) items in seven dimensions, which are the ability to read emotions, to represent the views of others, interest in communication with others, the activation of personal relations, taking into account differences and controlling social prejudice, working to generate interpretations and alternatives, and identifying the consequences of an event and the available options. The sample of the study consisted of (126) randomly selected undergraduate and graduate students. The results of the study showed that the level of ethical sensitivity among Princess Alia University College Students was low, and there were statistically significant differences in the level of ethical sensitivity due to specialization, in favor of humanities students, as well as statistically significant differences in the level of ethical sensitivity due to the educational level, in favor of master’s students.

Business School Student Satisfaction with Emergency Remote Teaching

This study analyzes Peruvian Business School students’ experiences with emergency remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used the critical incident technique (CIT) to explore the salient factors on which students based their satisfaction and dissatisfaction with their online education. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with 27 MBA students. The results comprised 56 incidents – 25 satisfactory and 31 unsatisfactory – in the two major categories of Virtuality and the Teaching-Learning Process. This study contributes a new perspective on online education through the analysis, conducted through CIT, of the Peruvian Business School students’ experiences with online education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the most relevant positive incidents included the recording of classes to review them later; the existence of Learning Management Systems to support the development of online materials; the possibility of entering online classes instead of in-person classes, as well as the flexibility with regard to location. The study allows us to determine several critical aspects in the two identified categories that should be considered when improving future online or hybrid programs.

Beyond Conventional Classroom Learning: Linking Emotions and Self-Efficacy to Academic Achievement and Satisfaction with Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study examined the impact of online learning on students’ mental well-being, distress, anxiety, academic achievement and satisfaction with online learning. A total of 915 undergraduates in Malaysia and Indonesia responded to the Google Classroom Evaluation survey. Results indicated that students’ mental well-being was negatively impacted by financial difficulties, concern that their physical health may suffer due to exposure to Covid-19, and a lack of motivation for online learning. Analysis of emotional factors revealed distress and feelings of nervousness when classes were conducted online. Overall, participants were satisfied with the online learning experience, as was evident from the academic achievement in courses conducted with above average CGPA. Multiple regression analysis indicated that distress, anxiety and self-efficacy in online learning were significant predictors of satisfaction with online learning, with self-efficacy in online learning making the largest contribution. However, academic achievement was not a significant predictor of satisfaction with online learning. It is recommended that higher learning institutions provide counselling, behavioral adaptations and study techniques to support students in managing their distress and anxiety surrounding online learning, which is anticipated to continue throughout 2021 due to the increase in virus cases.

Jordanian EFL Students’ Types of Intelligence in Learning English

The present study investigated the types of intelligence BAU students prefer to use in learning English. This study used a quantitative method for collecting data via a questionnaire. The subjects of the study were 138 Jordanian students at Al-Huson University College, Al-Balqa Applied University. The results revealed that logical-mathematical and linguistic intelligence was the most dominant type of intelligence among the students. However, neither their gender nor their academic degree program had a significant effect on their learning type of intelligence. Nevertheless, the data showed substantial differences among the students in the interpersonal type of intelligence in favor of male students, while these differences were in favor of the females in the intrapersonal type. There were significant differences in the logical-mathematical type of intelligence between the bachelor’s degree students and their diploma colleagues in favor of the bachelor ones. The researcher attempts to shed light on Jordanian EFL students’ types of intelligence and their preferred types when learning English, in hopes that it becomes possible for teachers to recognize the types according to their students’ profiles and help match them with those present or assess whether they need to develop strategies to cover the full spectrum of the types found in MI Theory.

COVID-19 Enforced Shift to Distance Education: Readiness and Challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a worldwide revolution in our understanding of how to conduct education. International lockdowns were the catalyst for a global shift from traditional face-to-face learning to distance learning. This comparative study utilized a mixed method approach to investigate the readiness of Higher Education instructors and students and the challenges arising from the shift to distance education in two different Arab countries, Qatar and Jordan. Generally, the findings gleaned from the questionnaires (230 instructors and 551 students) revealed certain inconsistencies with the findings that emerged from the interviews (18 instructors and 38 students) in terms of both the level of readiness and the challenges faced. The results showed a substantial variation in instructors and students’ readiness at both participating universities. While factors like country, age, gender, specialization, years of experience/year in the program, and the number of online training courses prior to the COVID-19 epidemic proved to cause statistically insignificant differences in instructors and students’ readiness, variables including age, gender and prior experience in online courses were relatively influential for students in terms of the challenges they faced.