A Qualitative Approach to Educational Research: Language Courses in English Studies

This paper reports on a qualitative study focusing on the role of language awareness in university language courses that form part of English Studies (ES). Language constitutes the subject matter of students’ discipline and the ES degree is the initial training for future language teachers and other language-related professionals. Therefore, the models and views of language presented at university will influence graduates’ future professional practice. This study focuses on how language awareness is approached in language classes and on lecturers’ and students’ views of language and learning. This article will discuss how a qualitative methodology was used to find out about participants’ practices and views on language and learning, through immersion in a university language course over a term. Using a descriptive-interpretive paradigm, data were gathered from classroom observations and interviews, and analysed through the combination of ethnography and discourse analysis. This paper presents the methodological underpinnings of this research, decisions on the selection of data, interaction with participants, researcher’s stance, and warranting. Through the understanding of participants’ practices and views, this study provides a picture of how language awareness is approached in a university language course

Accessibility And Academic Libraries: A Comparative Case Study

Although individuals with disabilities represent more than 22% of the Canadian population over the age of 15, they remain underrepresented in higher education, and especially in the university setting. Although some library and information science (LIS) research has focused on creating accessible webpages, resources for individuals with print disabilities, and the physical infrastructure of libraries, few studies have included the perspectives of disabled individuals themselves or attempted to understand how libraries are conceptualizing disability and accessibility. By incorporating a disability-studies lens into this study, we can develop a more comprehensive understanding of the obstacles that arise in the pursuit of university education for students with disabilities, and perhaps of the ways in which academic libraries may address some of these obstacles. This dissertation, then, examines what Canadian academic libraries are doing to support university students with disabilities and how students are experiencing services in practice. To answer these questions, a comparative case study was conducted across two provinces, focusing on one institution in Ontario and one in Québec. Ontario has developed the most comprehensive accessibility legislation in Canada over the last decade, while Québec’s legislation remains relatively unknown and weak. At each institution, data was collected from a variety of sources: interviews with library staff members; survey with students registered with Disability Support Services; interviews with a selection of students; examination of library policies and reports; and a physical and informational audit. Analysis was carried out using grounded theory, interpretative phenomenological analysis, and thematic analysis. Key findings suggest that while academic library staff members have good intentions and often support disabled individuals on a one-to-one basis, there is a lack of awareness about accessibility needs and about how services and resources might be adapted to accommodate more users. Students highlight positive experiences in interacting with library staff, but they face a variety of obstacles in accessing spaces, resources, and information about accommodations or accessible services

The Reading-Writing Relationship in a Multiple-case Study at Universidad Nacional de Villa María: A Transverse Nature

Maestría en InglésThis thesis aims to contribute to the understanding of how reading and writing are intertwined in reading-to-write tasks, a requirement in most L2 academic contexts. Even though writing from sources is part of students’ academic lives, they tend to have difficulties in source-based writing assignments. The purpose of this research study is to explore the relationship between reading and writing in the process of summary-analysis writing of English Language IV students at the Teacher Training College at the National University of Villa María, Córdoba, Argentina. To that aim, a mixed research design was adopted and data were collected by means of participants’ reading comprehension tests, summary-analysis essays, a survey, written reports, and interviews. Findings reveal that the participants’ perceptions and behaviour are correlated and that reading is put to extensive uses when students carry out writing assignments viz., to develop ideas, to include sound arguments, and to proofread. Results also indicate that the evidence for the correlation between the students’ perceptions and their writing performance is insufficient. Similarly, this study does not confirm the impact that reading comprehension may have on learners’ written performance as other research studies have shown. Writing from sources proved to be challenging for these EFL undergraduates at an advanced level of language proficiency, especially as to how to establish connections between different source texts. Other problems that summary-analysis essays posed arose from the selection, organisation and flow of ideas, rhetorical control, summarisation, proofreading, and language use. The joint undertaking by reading and writing is necessary if L2 students are to acquire academic literacy.Fil: Camusso, Paula Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Lenguas; Argentina

Student nurse selection and predictability of academic success : the Multiple Mini Interview project

BACKGROUND: With recent reports of public enquiries into failure to care, universities are under pressure to ensure that candidates selected for undergraduate nursing programmes demonstrate academic potential as well as characteristics and values such as compassion, empathy and integrity. The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) was used in one university as a way of ensuring that candidates had the appropriate numeracy and literacy skills as well as a range of communication, empathy, decision-making and problem-solving skills as well as ethical insights and integrity, initiative and team-work. OBJECTIVES: To ascertain whether there is evidence of bias in MMIs (gender, age, nationality and location of secondary education) and to determine the extent to which the MMI is predictive of academic success in nursing. DESIGN: A longitudinal retrospective analysis of student demographics, MMI data and the assessment marks for years 1, 2 and 3. SETTINGS: One university in southwest London. PARTICIPANTS: One cohort of students who commenced their programme in September 2011, including students in all four fields of nursing (adult, child, mental health and learning disability). METHODS: Inferential statistics and a Bayesian Multilevel Model. RESULTS: MMI in conjunction with MMI numeracy test and MMI literacy test shows little or no bias in terms of ages, gender, nationality or location of secondary school education. Although MMI in conjunction with numeracy and literacy testing is predictive of academic success, it is only weakly predictive. CONCLUSIONS: The MMI used in conjunction with literacy and numeracy testing appears to be a successful technique for selecting candidates for nursing. However, other selection methods such as psychological profiling or testing of emotional intelligence may add to the extent to which selection methods are predictive of academic success on nursing

Study of the impact federated erubrics on assessing competences in the practicum

Presentation Research of the Practicum and externships has a long history and involves important aspects for analysis. For example, the recent changes taking place in university grades allot more credits to the Practicum course in all grades, and the Company-University collaboration has exposed the need to study in new learning environments. The rise of ICT practices like ePortfolios, which require technological solutions and methods supported by experimentation, study and research, require particular examination due to the dynamic momentum of technological innovation. Tutoring the Practicum and externships requires remote monitoring and communication using ePortfolios, and competence-based assessment and students’ requirement to provide evidence of learning require the best tutoring methods available with ePortfolios. Among the elements of ePortfolios, eRubrics emerge as a tool for design, communication and competence-assessment. This project aims to consolidate a research line on eRubrics, already undertaken by another project -I+D+i [EDU2010-15432]- in order to expand the network of researchers and Centres of Excellence in Spain and other countries: Harvard University in USA, University of Cologne in Germany, University of Colima in Mexico, Federal University of Parana, University of Santa Catarina in Brasil, and Stockholm University in Sweden(1). This new project [EDU2013-41974-P](2) examines the impact of eRubrics on tutoring and on assessing the Practicum course and externships. Through technology, distance tutoring grants an extra dimension to human communication. New forms of teaching with technological mediation are on the rise and are highly valuable, not only for formal education but especially in both public and private sectors of non-formal education, such as occupational training, unemployed education and public servant training. Objectives Obj. 1. To analyse models of technology used in assessing learning in the Practicum of all grades at Spanish Faculties of Education. Obj. 2. To study models of learning assessment measured by eRubrics in the Practicum. Obj. 3. To analyse communication through eRubrics between students and their tutors at university and practice centres, focusing on students’ understanding of competences and evidences to be assessed in the Practicum. Obj. 4. To design assessment services and products, in order to federate companies and practice centres with training institutions. Among many other features, it has the following functions CoRubric(3) 1. The possibility to assess people, products or services by using rubrics. 2. Ipsative assessment. 3. Designing fully flexible rubrics. 4. Drafting reports and exporting results from eRubrics in a project. 5. Students and teachers talk about the evaluation and application of the criteria Methodology, Methods, Research Instruments or Sources Used The project will use techniques to collect and analyse data from two methodological approaches: 1. In order to meet the first objective, we suggest an initial exploratory descriptive study (Buendía Eisman, Colás Bravo & Hernández Pina, 1998), which involves conducting interviews with Practicum coordinators from all educational grades across Spain, as well as analysing the contents of the teaching guides used in all educational grades across Spain. 55 academic managers were interviewed from about 10 faculties of education in public universities in Spain (20%), and course guides 376 universities from 36 public institutions in Spain (72%) are analyzed. 2. In order to satisfy the second objective, 7 universities have been selected to implement the project two instruments aimed at tutors practice centers and tutors of the faculty. All instruments for collecting data were validated by experts using the Delphi method. The selection of experts had three aspects: years of professional experience, number and quality of publications in the field (Practicum, Educational Technology and Teacher Training), and self-rating of their knowledge. The resulting data was calculated using the Coefficient of Competence (Kcomp) (Martínez, Zúñiga, Sala & Meléndez, 2012). Results in all cases showed an average experience of more than 0.09 points. The two instruments of the first objective were validated during the first half of 2014-15 year, data collected during the second half. And the second objective during the first half of 2015-16 year and data collection for the second half. The set of four instruments (two for each objective 1 and 2) have the same dimensions as each of the sources (Coordinators, course guides, tutors of practice centers and faculty) as they were: a. Institution-Organization, b. Nature of internships, c. Relationship between agents, d. Management Practicum, e. Assessment. F. Technological support, g. Training and h. Assessment Ethics. Conclusions, Expected Outcomes or Findings The first results respond to Objective 1, where we find different conclusions depending on each of the six dimensions. In the case of internal regulations governing the organization and structure of the practicum, we note that most traditional degrees (Elementary and Primary grades) share common internal rules, in particular development methodology and criteria against other grades (Pedagogy and Social Education ). It is also true that the centers of practices in last cases are very different from each other and can be a public institution, a school, a company, a museum, etc. The memory with a 56.34% and 43.67% daily activities are more demands on students in all degrees, Lesson plans 28.18% 19.72% Portfolio 26.7% Didactic units and Others 32,4%. The technical support has been mainly used the platform of the University 47.89% and 57.75% Email, followed by other services and tools 9.86% and rubric platforms 1.41%. The assessment criteria are divided between formal aspects of 12.38%, Written expresión 12.38%, treatment of the subject 14.45%, methodological rigor of work 10.32%, and Level of argument Clarity and relevance of conclusions 10.32%. In general terms, we could say that there is a trend and debate between formative assessment against a accreditation. It has not yet had sufficient time to further study and confront other dimensions and sources of information. We hope to provide more analysis and conclusions in the conference date.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Spanish Plan of R+D+i Excellence (2014-2016) No. EDU2013-41974P

Quest for Knowledge and Pursuit of Grades: Information, Course Selection, and Grade Inflation at an Ivy League School

This paper exploits a unique natural experiment — Cornell University’s 1996 decision to publish course median grades online - to examine the effect of grade information on course selection and grade inflation. We model students’ course selection as dependent on their tastes, abilities, and expected grades. The model yields three testable hypotheses: (1) students will tend to be drawn to leniently graded courses once exposed to grade information; (2) the most talented students will be less drawn to leniently graded courses than their peers; (3) the change in students’ behavior will contribute to grade inflation. Examining a large dataset that covers the period 1990-2004 our study provides evidence consistent with these predictions

Western Educational Longitudinal Study (WELS) Baseline Survey of Freshmen Entering Western in the Fall, 2010: Descriptive Statistics

The Fall, 2010 Baseline Survey of Freshmen Entering Western continues the Office of Survey Research’s (OSR) efforts to collect information on all students prior to the start of their academic careers at Western Washington University. This survey represents the initial contact in a longitudinal process that makes possible additional inquiries of students at the end of their sophomore year, when they graduate from the university, and one to two years after graduation. The Freshmen Survey is designed with three purposes in mind: (1) to provide baseline observations of students prior to their Western experience which can be used to forecast and enhance student success; (2) to provide data that can assist university assessment and accreditation services; and (3) to assess student needs based upon their self-reported characteristics, perceptions and concerns. To accomplish these purposes, the Freshmen Survey integrates questions into five major sections: Pre-collegiate engagement and experiences; the college application process; familiarity and comfort with Western; academic skills, goals, and expectations; and expenses and employment. The questions on the Freshmen Survey were a mixture of open-ended, numerical, and multiple choice responses. This report lists all questions and reports basic descriptive statistics from questions which lend themselves to numerical analysis. Responses to the open ended questions are available upon request. OSR used a mixture of online and telephone survey methodologies to obtain responses. Incoming freshmen who attended Western’s Summerstart program were provided an opportunity to complete this survey as part of their Summerstart experience. Students not attending Summerstart and those who chose not to complete the survey while at Summerstart were invited to complete the survey online. E-mails were initially sent to the student’s external e-mail address. After the initial e-mail, OSR sent e-mail reminders to non-responders twice. The survey was then left open online until the weekend before Fall quarter courses began on campus. Of the 2,920 Fall 2010 freshmen, 2,427 responded to the survey (a response rate of 83.1%). As with any survey, readers should be concerned with sample selection bias; that is bias which arises because survey respondents are not a random selection of the population of survey recipients. While sample selection bias for Western’s exit survey is mitigated through proper survey techniques and a high response rate, its presence should be considered when evaluating data. Section A of this document compares respondents to all incoming freshmen. Relative to all freshmen, respondents were more likely to be female (61.4% of respondents versus 59% of all freshmen), averaged a slightly higher admission index (57.2 versus 56.7), and were more likely to be first generation college students (32% of respondents versus 30.2% of all freshmen). On the other hand, respondents were nearly identical to non-respondents in measures of age, SAT, and high school percentile. OSR is excited to share its individual survey results with campus researchers so they may answer their own questions. To familiarize readers with the content of the survey, here we make a few observations regarding the survey results. Out of a list of 16 possibilities, the three most important reasons why students claimed to come to Western were the recreational opportunities in the area, Western’s good academic reputation, and Western’s size. Almost two-thirds of students first learned about Western through a relative or friend and almost nine out of ten learned of Western prior to their senior year in high school. Including Western, the median student applied to three colleges and was accepted to two of them. Besides Western, the three schools most commonly applied to were the University of Washington, Washington State, and Central Washington although other common schools include the University of Oregon, University of Portland, Gonzaga, and Seattle University. Among the schools to which they applied, 69% of incoming freshmen claimed that Western was their first choice; the next closest was the University of Washington (14%). Nearly one-third of students claim to be certain about their major and another half of students have some idea of what they will study. About three-fourths of students expect to graduate in four years or less; no students expect to take longer than five years to graduate. Twelve percent of students claimed some positive likelihood that they would transfer from Western prior to graduation and an additional 26% were unsure if they would transfer or not. Among those likely to transfer, the most common reasons given were that Western did not offer a degree program that interested the student, a perceived lack of prestige, and friends/family attend a different school. For students who attended Summerstart, 77% were either “very” or “somewhat” satisfied with their class schedule. For those expressing some level of dissatisfaction, the most common reason given was that needed classes were full. All of OSR’s survey data is linked by a unique student identification number allowing for merging of the survey data with Western’s data warehouse or with data collected by future surveys. Using this identifier, OSR can provide open ended responses or specific data to departments who want to investigate further

Support for graphicacy: a review of textbooks available to accounting students

This Teaching Note reports on the support available in textbooks for graphicacy that will help students understand the complexities of graphical displays. Graphical displays play a significant role in financial reporting, and studies have found evidence of measurement distortion and selection bias. To understand the complexities of graphical displays, students need a sound understanding of graphicacy and support from the textbooks available to them to develop that understanding. The Teaching Note reports on a survey that examined the textbooks available to students attending two Scottish universities. The support of critical graphicacy skills was examined in conjunction with textbook characteristics. The survey, which was not restricted to textbooks designated as required reading, examined the textbooks for content on data measurement and graphical displays. The findings highlight a lack of support for graphicacy in the textbooks selected. The study concludes that accounting educators need to scrutinize more closely the selection of textbooks and calls for more extensive research into textbooks as a pedagogic tool

Data-Driven Decisions for Library Liaisons: Exploring Strategies for Effectively Managing Diminishing Monograph Collections

Many academic libraries have liaison programs as a means of building relevant and useful library collections and to promote library resources to campus users. Librarians have long served as liaisons without the benefit of much data to guide decisions. In this age of library budget cuts, librarians need to make every dollar count. What collection and use data help liaisons build a quality monograph collection that better meets the needs of library users? This article offers some ideas for providing the data needed by liaisons for more informed decision making and collection management and, ultimately, for ensuring that library materials purchased are needed and used.Ye