Mediating Role of Teachers’ Effective Communication Skills in the Relationship between Interpersonal Mindfulness and Subjective Well-Being

The purpose of this study is to determine whether teachers’ effective communication skills were a mediator in the relationship between interpersonal mindfulness and subjective well-being. 315 teachers participated in this study which was designed as a correlational model. Personal Information Form, Interpersonal Mindfulness Scale-TR (IMS-TR), Effective Communication Skills Scale (ECSS), Positive and Negative Emotion Scale (PANAS), and Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS) were used to collect data. To determine the mediating role of effective communication skills in the relationship between interpersonal mindfulness and subjective well-being, Bootstrapping method was applied. The results revealed that indirect effect of interpersonal mindfulness on subjective well-being via effective communication skills was statistically significant. Effective communication skills were a partial mediator in the relationship between interpersonal mindfulness and subjective well-being of teachers. Consequently, interpersonal mindfulness may enhance effective communication skills and owing to this rising subjective well-being may grow stronger

Blending Innovative Pedagogy and Technology for Capacity Development of Educators during the Pandemic

The increased use of digital learning environments augments the adoption of open practices in education which contributes to SDG4. The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled an accelerated move towards technology-enhanced learning, prompting educators to re-think and re-design learning environments grounded in innovative pedagogy and technology. In the current scenario it is imperative that educators are offered capacity development opportunities to meaningfully engage in digital and open practices. This paper presents a case study of an online capacity development intervention in OER-integrated technology-enhanced learning (TEL) material creation, implemented with a group of 15 educators selected using the purposive sampling method. It focused on the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of OER-integrated TEL materials by the educators. The intervention comprised a carefully designed learning experience with intensive hands-on activities in a Moodle online learning environment, supplemented with a series of ZOOM-based interactive workshops. The study explored the design strategies that enhanced the creation of OER-integrated TEL materials by the educators, challenges encountered by them and how those were managed, and the effects of the intervention on changing their thinking and practices. Multiple data gathering occurred via questionnaires, discussion forums, reflective journals, and focus group interviews. Primarily, an in-depth content analysis of the qualitative data gathered was conducted. The findings revealed that the systematic learning experience design, which adopted a ‘learning by designing’ approach harnessing the affordances of both technology and pedagogy, empowered educators to become active creators of OER-integrated TEL materials and to take leadership in integrating digital and open practices into teaching-learning processes

Learning Behind the Bars: Implications for ‘Learning-for-Development’

This study aimed to determine the learning patterns and experiences of incarcerated adults within correctional settings and how their prison learning transforms their lives after they are released. In this qualitative research, semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain the opinions of eight formerly incarcerated people who experienced educational practices during their serving time in prison. The snowball sampling technique was used to reach the target group of the study. Thematic analysis method was used during the data analysis process. The results of the paper, which are limited to the opinions of the participants in the study, showed that the change in the educational level of the prison population had led to a transformation in group dynamics among inmates in Turkey. Although former inmates experienced a permanent transformation in their lives after attending literacy courses, they could not carry on their religious practices after being released due to the struggle to make a living. Inmates who were not interested in educational programmes within prison managed their own learning processes as self-directed learners. Moreover, although inmates are certified through vocational training programmes, they have challenges in finding jobs when they re-enter society. Educational disruptions due to Covid-19 demonstrate that it is urgent to transform the prison education system into a technologically enriched learning environment in Turkey

Students' Behavioural Intention towards Adoption of Online Education: A Study of the Extended UTAUT Model

Online education (o-education) is gaining significant attention from education providers, students, and policy makers. This research explored students’ behaviours and intentions towards online education. The present research utilised the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) as a model to investigate these intentions and behaviours. The study incorporated UTAUT predictors along with three additional independent variables. This study adopted a cross-sectional design and used a closed-end questionnaire to collect data from 403 respondents. The data were analysed with SPSS and AMOS by utilising structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques. The results of the SEM analysis indicate that perceived value (PV) and convenience (Cnv) have positive influences on behavioural intention (BI), while perceived risk has a negative impact on behavioural intention (BI). Additionally, facilitating conditions (FC) and behavioural intention (BI) are found to positively influence use behavior (UB). The research findings suggest that demographics, including age, education and gender, influence behavioural intention (BI). The findings of the study have theoretical and practical implications, which are elaborated in the last section of this article

Supporting Student Active Engagement in Chemistry Learning with Computer Simulations

This case study is an attempt to investigate how computer simulations can contribute to engaging students’ active participation in knowledge creation through chemistry learning. Empirical data were collected through interviews, a survey, and a test on secondary school student performance in Rwanda. The findings reveal four main forms of participating in knowledge construction with computer simulations: self-reliance, peer collaboration-reliance, teacher-guided-reliance, and strategic variation-reliance. The study found no statistical difference between male and female students’ preferences while engaging with these forms. There was also no difference in their performance in terms of higher order thinking skills in chemistry learning with computer simulations. Moreover, the findings demonstrated that computer simulations can help students to create multisensory connections enabling them to become actively engaged in chemistry learning through various settings. Consequently, the lines between abstract concepts and their related chemical reactions and processes become closely connected in a virtual reality. Finally, this study suggests a pedagogical strategy that teachers can undertake to support student active engagement in chemistry learning with computer simulations

Involvement of Teachers in Inclusive Schools for Quality Learning Design and Quality Student Learning

Developing quality learning in inclusive schools is an essential issue for educators. Several aspects that need to be considered to create quality learning in inclusive schools are assessment, lesson planning, good classroom management, learning materials and media development, implementation of accessible education using appropriate technologies and evaluation. These aspects are essential parts that must be appropriately addressed to produce quality learning. This study uses a mixed explanatory sequential design. Quantitative research instruments were used to collect data from 100 teachers on teacher involvement in quality learning in inclusive schools. The results of this study describe the condition of teacher performance in inclusive schools in developing quality learning. Involvement and collaborative efforts between teachers appear below. In this case, knowledge is more of a differentiating factor determining who does what in the learning and design process, while the universal learning rules are still not being fully implemented. This condition may influence the quality of learning for students with disabilities. It is hoped that future research will examine teachers’ attitudes and increase their efforts in developing quality learning for students with disabilities. Moreover, the principles of implementing UDL need to be integrated into the inclusive education curriculum in Indonesia

Effectiveness of In-Person and Virtual International Mobility Scholars Programme on Career and Professional Development

International mobility programmes, both in-person and virtual, aim to build human capital. Though there is evidence of their impact on skill development, there is scant research on career and professional benefits. Moreover, because virtual mobility is a new concept, there has been little investigation into how this mode affects the perceived benefits. Using the lens of human capital theory, this study explores outcomes of in-person and virtual mobility in the Queen Elizabeth Scholars-Advanced Scholars programme, which includes doctoral, post-doctoral and early career scholars. Through interviews with 23 scholars, we explore the perceived impact of the programme, considering mode of delivery, on the career and professional development of scholars. Despite challenges with the unexpected shift to virtual mobility during Covid-19 lockdowns, both in-person and virtual mobility scholars reported benefits to their career and professional development. These results suggest that virtual mobility may be considered as a viable option to enhance the flexibility, inclusivity, and accessibility of such programmes.

Effectiveness of Digital Technologies in Inclusive Learning for Teacher Preparation

In this research, digital technologies that will potentially be useful for teachers in an inclusive educational space were considered. The combined classification of digital technologies of inclusive direction, including software and hardware in three main areas, is offered: for training and repetition; to help with learning; and to expand learning opportunities. The authors developed and theoretically substantiated a model for preparing pre-service teachers to use digital technologies in an inclusive educational space. The effectiveness of the developed model was tested through a pedagogical experiment that involved three tests based on criteria. The effectiveness of the authors’ model was confirmed by the sign test at the significance level of 0.05