Collaborative Learning Based on Sophisticated Thinking Laboratory (STB-LAB) and Gather Town as Gamification Tool for Blended Laboratory on Science Undergraduate Student's

Innovation in learning design certainly continues to evolve over time, and so do the needs. Including blended laboratory, which is almost like blended learning, but blended laboratory has characteristics where activities fully use laboratory test results to study theory along with observational. However, blended laboratories must be accompanied by use of the right technology. The presence of the Sophisticated Thinking Laboratory (STB-LAB) in effort to fulfill the implementation of blended laboratory syntactically feels right to be done building collaborative learning and forming collaborative skills of students, and Gather Town as a tool to accommodate blended laboratory is felt very appropriate as a gamification tool. This study aims to find out the implementation of the blended laboratory using STB-LAB assisted by Gather Town as a gamification tool using the Assessment Based on Teaching and Learning Trajectory (AABTLT) with Student Activity Sheet (SAS), and find out the improvement of students' collaborative skills. The results obtained from this study are that all STB-LAB syntax in blended laboratory activities is carried out well, while the increasing collaborative skills results show an increase with very large effect of the Cohen's D Effect Size obtained 2.1 for physics education major and 1.7 for biology education major

Technology-Enhanced Thinking Scaffolding in Musical Education

In pedagogical language, “scaffolding” is frequently used to replace the expression “support in learning”. In didactic terms, the practice in the classroom shows that various types of support, such as the teacher, colleagues, and technologies, contribute to more efficient learning. In terms of technologies, the present study aims to test the role of programming as a scaffolding agent in learning music theory by memorizing and understanding musical notation elements. In this sense, a sample of 87 students (N = 87) from an urban environment in Romania carried out programming activities using the Sonic Pi application in the Music and movement classes, implemented through an educational project with 24 lessons designed for integrated music-programming learning. The study results describe the acquisition of knowledge, in terms of recognition of musical notation elements, achieved under the influence of cognitive capacities scaffolded by digital technologies. Better post-test results and homogeneous variances between and within the three classes of the participant's sample confirm the possibility of achieving technology-enhanced thinking scaffolding in musical education. The results of the music-programming integrated learning framework could be translated into a more efficient use of teaching time and an increased flexibility of interactions

Improving Teachers’ Professional Vision Through a Video-based Reflection Program: A Case Study in Mexican Primary Schools

Enhancing teachers’ professional vision (TPV) may contribute to increasing the quality of teaching-learning processes through higher perceived efficacy, leading to autonomy-supportive environment. This is of particular importance in Physical Education (PE), due to the fact that this subject presents different challenges and more dynamic situations compared to others. One of the latest approaches for enhancing TPV is video-based reflection, which allows teachers to observe recorded lessons and analyze them. The aim of this research was to test the effect of a video-based reflection program on TPV in PE. Two teachers participated in a 3-step video-analysis program consisting of self-reflection, peer reflection, and expert feedback. Notable changes were found in TPV at the end of the 6-month intervention, both in terms of teachers’ selective attention to classroom events and their knowledge-based reasoning. Our findings suggest that video-based reflection programs could represent an important part of any teacher training program aiming to increasing PE teachers’ responsiveness to diverse in-class situations

Grade Point Average: The Relationship with Results of Entrance Assessment, Learning Motivation, Achievement Motivation, and Perception of Teacher Leadership

The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between the Grade Point Average (GPA) of graduates of social majors of National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» (Ukraine) with results of the entrance assessment, learning motivation (educational and cognitive, professional motives and motives for creative self-realization), achievement motivation, perception of teacher leadership. The research was conducted during 2018-2020, calculations were made for a total of 502 respondents with using the correlation and regression analysis. Results of the study demonstrate a significant correlation between the level of academic success and the level of educational and cognitive motivation of graduates (r=0,644, р<0,01). A less strong connection was found between GPA of graduates and results of the entrance examination (r= 0,502, р<0,01). The weakest, albeit statistically significant, relationship is between GPA variables and students’ perception of teacher leadership (r=0.160, p<0.01), as well as between GPA and motives for creative self-realization (r=0,139, р<0,01). The article also carried out a correlation analysis for groups of students by level of education, form of study, majors and gender of respondents. Obtained results are discussed from the point of view of improving the procedure for selecting applicants for admission to the University and improving the educational process

Effect of 2-PL and 3-PL Models on the Ability Estimate in Mathematics Binary Items

The investigation delves into examining the influence of 2-parameter logistic (PL) and 3-parameter logistic models on the ability estimates of students in mathematical binary items. It ascertained the parameters of the items in the 2-PL and 3-PL models. We employed Item Response Theory (IRT) in the design of this research survey, with a sample comprising 1015 senior secondary (SS) students in SS III classes who were analyzed using both models in the investigation. The Mathematics Achievement Test instrument was adapted from the General Mathematics Paper 1 of the Senior School Certificate Examination administered by the West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC). Results indicated that the 2-PL model shows lower difficulty levels but higher discriminatory indices. Statistical analysis revealed a significant (F = 19.52, p < 0.05 and F = 18.52, p < 0.05) effect of both models, respectively, on ability estimates in mathematics binary items among Nigerian secondary school students. We established that item parameters in the 2-PL and 3-PL models significantly affected the ability estimate of Nigeria secondary school students in binary mathematics items, while the 3-PL model provided a better ability estimate than the 2-PL model

Bidirectional Braille-speech Communication System for Deafblind Students

Deafblindness is a type of dual disability wherein both visual and auditory capabilities are significantly impaired. Special communication methods have been developed for the deafblind community, yet these methods require that both people involved have prior knowledge and training to successfully communicate; limiting deafblind people’s social interactions, particularly in academic settings. This paper describes the development of a device that enables two-way communication between a severe to profoundly deafblind user and a hearing person with no prior knowledge of Braille and no additional intermediaries. A Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) scheme for speech recognition was designed and implemented along with the development of an algorithm capable of developing both text-to-speech and Finger-Braille-to-text conversion. Lastly, a system integration via 3D modelling and additive manufacturing was carried out to deliver a functional prototype. The resulting device aims to allow deafblind students to send and receive information entirely in finger Braille, using buttons and vibrotactile feedback, while the hearing tutor receives auditory messages and speaks to reply, making the educational experience as familiar as possible for both parties. Users testing the device achieved an average typing accuracy of over 95% and demonstrated understanding of commands transmitted through the device’s components.&nbsp

Examining Social Media Addiction as a Predictor of Academic Achievement and Academic Procrastination: A Cohort of Undergraduate Students

This study aims to examine the effects of self-control and future time perception on social media addiction and academic procrastination and determine whether social media addiction affects academic achievement through academic procrastination. A total of 559 university students participated. The participants’ most commonly used social media platforms were WhatsApp and Instagram. Path analysis technique was used to analyze the theoretical model. In the theoretical model created to test the 13 hypotheses in the research, future time perception (value, distance, commitment, and speed) and self-control are exogenous variables, social media addiction and academic procrastination are moderating variables, and academic achievement is endogenous variable. According to the research findings, social media addiction is not a significant predictor variable for either academic achievement or academic procrastination. Self-control and speed are significant predictors of both social media addiction and academic procrastination. Commitment predicts social media addiction, and value predicts academic procrastination. On the contrary, value is not a significant predictor of social media addiction, and commitment is not a significant predictor of academic procrastination. Distance is not a significant predictor of social media addiction or academic procrastination

More Pay and Benefits or Better Work-life Balance? Post Pandemic Perspectives on Employee Centricity among University Frontline Staff

The COVID-19 pandemic forced organisations across diverse industries to redraw their business models globally. Businesses crumbled, downsized, lay off workers, streamlined and digitalized their workflow, maintaining skeletal staff to support integral business functions. Remote working and flexible schedules were institutionalized to manage service employees globally. The study conducted a comparative analysis on the effects of work-life balance and employee remuneration on employee job satisfaction and loyalty intentions. The study targeted frontline staff at three public universities in Zimbabwe and 327 valid responses were obtained. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) revealed that employee remuneration, remote working and flexible scheduling had positive and significant influence on employee job satisfaction. Further, analysis indicated employee preference of remote working and flexible work scheduling and over more pay and benefits. The positive impact of job satisfaction on employee loyalty intentions was also confirmed. This study flags the significant contribution of work-life balance by bringing new empirical evidence on the relative significance of remote working, flexible working arrangements and employee remuneration on employee job satisfaction and loyalty intentions in the post pandemic normal.  The study recommends that universities should harness digital technologies to promote sustainable remote working and enhanced employee autonomy.&nbsp

Efficiency Assessment on Codified Knowledge Products: An SFA Approach

Knowledge applied to innovation is increasingly recognized as an explanatory factor of economic growth. Innovation derives from applying knowledge to generate new products or processes. National Innovation Systems (NIS) performs as the formal or informal network of people within institutions, interacting to produce and apply knowledge to innovation. NIS can be understood as two subsystems: one based on scientifical and technological work, producing codified products (publications and patents), and the other centered on practical actions to diffuse, apply, and use knowledge. Our objective is to assess cost efficiency in the production of codified knowledge outputs (CKO), being our unit of analysis NIS (countries). To attain our goal, we apply a Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) to estimate a cost frontier of CKO. The sample is a panel that includes 1189 observations, for 23 years (1996-2019), and 82 countries. Our main results identify determinants and patterns of efficiency and productivity, tendencies, and specifics of countries and groups of them

Digital Classroom Innovations: Leveraging Smartphone-Based Application to Stimulate Students Creative Thinking Skills

Enhancing 21st-century skills, such as creative thinking, is crucial and can be stimulated by integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the learning process. Therefore, this research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an Articulate-based mobile application in helping students improve their creative thinking skills. The quantitative research method uses quasi-experimental models and a one-group pre-post-test design. The research involved 60 students as subjects, divided equally into two groups: the experimental and control groups. The research data was collected through tests of creative thinking skills conducted before and after implementing the smartphone-based application. Data analysis is conducted using the t-test technique to compare the test results before and after the intervention and N-Gain to measure the improvement of creative thinking skills. The research results indicate that implementing application media has proven effective and significantly improves students' creative thinking skills. The implications of this research can be used as a reference for the development of technology-integrated education. Moreover, this research contributes to providing elaboration regarding the role of smartphone-based applications as one of the efforts to enhance students' creative thinking skills in the era of digital education