2,094 research outputs found

    An experimental study on the influence of instructional mobile applications in enhancing listening comprehension of rural students in India

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    IntroductionMobile learning (M-learning) is integral to language education, offering accessibility, portability, and diverse resources. It offers real-life language use with synchronous learning, flexibility, and an opportunity to engage with the global community. It allows learners to practice language skills from anywhere. This study aims to evaluate linguistic instructional mobile applications' effectiveness on listening comprehension among Indian rural students.MethodsPedagogic mobile applications were employed in an experimental study with 149 tertiary-level students from rural colleges in Tamil Nadu, India. Participants were divided into control (n = 75) and experimental (n = 74) groups. Pre and post-tests assessed listening comprehension levels, considering demographic variables. Different types of audio files were used in the intervention to improve the listening skills of the experimental group.ResultsStatistical analyses, including paired t-tests, independent t-tests, and ANOVA, revealed significant improvement in listening skills for the experimental group. Gender, locality, and parental income were considered as significant variables, showing that students from diverse backgrounds benefited from mobile applications.DiscussionThe results indicate that M-learning effectively aids rural students in overcoming language barriers, emphasizing the potential of mobile applications in language education

    Exploring the Factors Influencing the College Studentsā€™ Engagement in Mobile Learning in Palestine

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    This study aims to explore the factors influencing studentsā€™ engagement in mobile learning at Palestine Technical University Kadoorie. It utilizes a mixed research approach that combines both quantitative and qualitative designs. The study sample consists of 37 college students from two different faculties: Arts and Educational Sciences, and Applied Sciences. Data were collected using a pre-existing scale for engagement and its factors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 students who completed the scales. The findings showed a statistically significant difference in the total engagement scores, specifically in the emotional engagement dimension. However, there was no statistical significance found in the social, cognitive, or behavioral domains. Factors related to instructors are influential factors in student engagement and have been found to be statistically significant. Qualitative findings supported the quantitative results for this question, which showed subthemes of instructor-related factors such as instructor presence, motivation, teaching strategies, and technical environment. Researchers recommend that policymakers and educators prioritize the engagement factors of students in mobile learning. One of the limitations is the generalizability of this study. The participants who were surveyed were exclusively sourced from two departments within one university. To broaden the scope, we suggest that future research include individuals from various disciplines, universities, academic institutions, and students

    How Can Teachers of English Achieve Equity in their English Classrooms? A case study on how teachers use intersectionality and intersectional pedagogy in the English classroom to address educational inequalities and facilitate their pupils' differing needs.

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    An intersectional perspective refers to how different aspects of a person's social, racial, and political identities interact to create discrimination. There has been extensive research on the concept of intersectionality, in terms of how different forms of oppression interact and work together in complex ways to create different outcomes for individuals and groups; however, little is known about what intersectional interventions and strategies work to increase pupil attainment and aspirations in English classrooms. Additionally, there is a lack of empirical data which is necessary to substantiate intersectionality theory when it comes to English classrooms predominantly composed of working-class pupils. Therefore, the findings of this thesis are of interest not only to teachers and schools but also to education policymakers because they build on the small number of qualitative studies exploring the relationship between English and intersectionality and extend this literature by improving our understanding of this relationship. In this thesis, I explore how teachers use intersectionality and intersectional pedagogy in the English classroom to address educational inequalities and facilitate pupils' differing needs, resulting in a sense of inclusivity and equity for all pupils. This thesis therefore uses intersectionality to irradiate the experiences of Teachers of English in predominantly working-class school contexts, and the impact intersectionality and intersectional pedagogies have on teaching quality for pupils from different genders, races, and social backgrounds. Qualitative interviews with 20 Teachers of English and two focus groups with six teachers each were conducted to investigate this issue, and thematic analysis was applied to analyse the data. Intersectionality theory was used to give voice to the voices of teachers as they navigate the curriculum and the classroom to provide a more equitable education for their pupils. Intersectionality theory also helps teachers to ensure that the invisible voices in their classrooms are heard by ensuring that race and ethnicity, gender, social class, disadvantage, disability and more of these many diverse voices are heard in the English curriculum which then will be reflected in their lesson planning. As well as knowing their students, having a thorough understanding of their cultural background and being able to engage in sometimes sensitive and difficult conversations with students, the findings show that embedding intersectionality in the English curriculum and English classrooms requires deliberate practice and planning by teachers. This deliberate practice is necessary to create an inclusive learning space that challenges the traditional power structures within the English classroom. Through this practice, teachers can focus on the various identities and experiences of their students to ensure that all voices are heard and valued. In addition, the findings suggest that if intersectionality strategies and interventions they are adopted more widely they can assist teachers and schools in finding common ground and understanding across different educational settings. To address underachievement and educational inequality, classrooms should be more equitable in order to create an environment that fosters a sense of diversity and inclusion so that pupils of all racial, social, and economic backgrounds can succeed. This will directly benefit pupils from working-class backgrounds

    Supporting Academy Football Coaches to Develop Psychological Attributes in Male Academy Players

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    The overarching purpose of this thesis was to support academy football coaches to better facilitate the psychological development of young players. To achieve this purpose, three empirical studies were conducted, each with a respective aim. Study one (Chapter 3) aimed to first identify the key psychological attributes to develop within young academy players. Building on study one, study two (Chapter 4) aimed to explore the coaching strategies that can facilitate the development of each psychological attribute, and also to examine the observable behaviours that indicate that the attribute is developed. Finally, study three (Chapter 5) aimed to apply the knowledge constructed in study one and two by designing, delivering, and evaluating a sport psychology coach education and support programme at a case study football academy. Study one (Chapter 3) interviewed nine academy coaches who worked within a category one football academy, with eight psychological attributes constructed from thematic analysis of the interviews: commitment to develop, confidence, coping with the demands of high-level sport, drive to achieve goals, emotional control, resilience, self-aware and reflective, and strong work ethic. The findings provide greater direction for the attributes to develop in academy players but also indicate that current frameworks may not fully capture the key psychological attributes players need to develop in order to successfully progress out of the academy. Study two (Chapter 4) interviewed twelve, category one and two, academy football coaches to explore the coaching strategies used to develop each of the eight psychological attributes identified in study one. Fifty-two coaching strategies were constructed across the attributes providing academy coaches with a catalogue of user-friendly strategies to support their playersā€™ psychological development with. Study two also identified behaviours that indicated the successful development of each attribute, knowledge that can help coaches to observe, intervene, monitor, and assess the psychological development of their players. Study three (Chapter 5) involved the design, delivery, and evaluation of a 14-month coach education and support programme with a case study academy: Dock FC. Summary coach interviews indicated that the programme was well received and helped increase awareness and to some degree their application of strategies to support the psychological development of their players. An indirect approach to the programme was taken to reflect the landscape of psychological support in academies present at the time of the study. Summary player focus groups, along with the coach interviews and researcher reflections indicated that this approach worked well, offering a tangible approach for sport psychology practitioners to adopt, more readily, in football academy environments. The research within this thesis offers empirically informed knowledge which extends the extant literature significantly. The thesis provides novel information on: (a) the key psychological attributes to prioritise the development of in the modern-day academy football player; (b) coaching strategies to support the development empirically informed psychological attributes; (c) behavioural indicators of successful psychological development; and (d) the real-world application of supporting academy coaches to develop targeted psychological attributes in the modern-day academy football academy. The insights provided in this thesis may help improve the holistic development that young football players receive throughout their football academy journey.<br/

    Design Knowledge for Virtual Learning Companions from a Value-centered Perspective

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    The increasing popularity of conversational agents such as ChatGPT has sparked interest in their potential use in educational contexts but undermines the role of companionship in learning with these tools. Our study targets the design of virtual learning companions (VLCs), focusing on bonding relationships for collaborative learning while facilitating studentsā€™ time management and motivation. We draw upon design science research (DSR) to derive prescriptive design knowledge for VLCs as the core of our contribution. Through three DSR cycles, we conducted interviews with working students and experts, held interdisciplinary workshops with the target group, designed and evaluated two conceptual prototypes, and fully coded a VLC instantiation, which we tested with students in class. Our approach has yielded 9 design principles, 28 meta-requirements, and 33 design features centered around the value-in-interaction. These encompass Human-likeness and Dialogue Management, Proactive and Reactive Behavior, and Relationship Building on the Relationship Layer (DP1,3,4), Adaptation (DP2) on the Matching Layer, as well as Provision of Supportive Content, Fostering Learning Competencies, Motivational Environment, and Ethical Responsibility (DP5-8) on the Service Layer

    Netspeak in Studentsā€™ Academic Writing: A Case in the Philippines

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    The study explored the presence of Netspeak in senior high school studentsā€™ academic writing. Several studies have revealed that studentsā€™ writing in a face-to-face setting has been observed to be declining, and a limited body of literature explored this phenomenon during a pandemic where classes were largely done virtually. With teachers complaining on the dominance of Netspeak on studentsā€™ written communication skills, the study explored whether this phenomenon becomes more evident during the pandemic. The researchers analyzed their academic writing outputs and examined the presence of Netspeak. A total of six (6) writing prompts was completed by 62 students and was given weekly through Canvas, the schoolā€™s learning management system. Through discourse analysis, the study revealed that studentsā€™ written communication responses showed forms of Netspeak which can be categorized into orthographic deviations, neosemanticism, neologism, and social media expressions. The researchers further argued that the presence of Netspeak could be attributed with so much language creativity and freedom that students enjoy over the Internet amplified by the pandemic. With so many factors involved in the conduct of the study, further studies should explore how students can lessen the use of Netspeak, especially in the field of academic writing

    A Critical Review Of Post-Secondary Education Writing During A 21st Century Education Revolution

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    Educational materials are effective instruments which provide information and report new discoveries uncovered by researchers in specific areas of academia. Higher education, like other education institutions, rely on instructional materials to inform its practice of educating adult learners. In post-secondary education, developmental English programs are tasked with meeting the needs of dynamic populations, thus there is a continuous need for research in this area to support its changing landscape. However, the majority of scholarly thought in this area centers on K-12 reading and writing. This paucity presents a phenomenon to the post-secondary community. This research study uses a qualitative content analysis to examine peer-reviewed journals from 2003-2017, developmental online websites, and a government issued document directed toward reforming post-secondary developmental education programs. These highly relevant sources aid educators in discovering informational support to apply best practices for student success. Developmental education serves the purpose of addressing literacy gaps for students transitioning to college-level work. The findings here illuminate the dearth of material offered to developmental educators. This study suggests the field of literacy research is fragmented and highlights an apparent blind spot in scholarly literature with regard to English writing instruction. This poses a quandary for post-secondary literacy researchers in the 21st century and establishes the necessity for the literacy research community to commit future scholarship toward equipping college educators teaching writing instruction to underprepared adult learners

    Language-as-skill Approach in Foreign Language Education: A Phenomenological Study

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    The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand foreign language educators\u27 lived experience of language-as-skill that focuses on language use. The central research question explored the foreign language educators\u27 experiences and perspectives on the concept of language acquisition as a type of skill acquisition. In addition, the researcher investigated foreign language educators\u27 language-as-knowledge and language-as-skill methodologies. This study also aimed to discover how the language-as-skill with advanced technology could be a way to address the contemporary challenges in foreign language education for learners and improve learners\u27 communicative competence to thrive in a globalized world with diversity. A transcendental phenomenological study design was selected to explicate the essence of human understanding. At this stage in the research, skill acquisition views Language learning as other cognitive skills development, such as how people learn to play the piano or drive a car. The theory guiding this study was DeKeyser\u27s skill acquisition theory, which explained the relationship between skill development and Language acquisition. In this study, 10 foreign language teachers from a local language training school became participants in semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis. Data that were collected from the interviews, documentation, and observations were reviewed, grouped, coded, and reported as faithfully as possible to the participants\u27 experiences and perceptions of this phenomenological study

    Speculative futures on ChatGPT and generative artificial intelligence (AI): a collective reflection from the educational landscape

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    While ChatGPT has recently become very popular, AI has a long history and philosophy. This paper intends to explore the promises and pitfalls of the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) AI and potentially future technologies by adopting a speculative methodology. Speculative future narratives with a specific focus on educational contexts are provided in an attempt to identify emerging themes and discuss their implications for education in the 21st century. Affordances of (using) AI in Education (AIEd)and possible adverse effects are identified and discussed which emerge from the narratives. It is argued that now is the best of times to define human vs AI contribution to education because AI can accomplish more and more educational activities that used to be the prerogative of human educators. Therefore, it is imperative to rethink the respective roles of technology and human educators in education with a future-oriented mindse

    ā€œSo what if ChatGPT wrote it?ā€ Multidisciplinary perspectives on opportunities, challenges and implications of generative conversational AI for research, practice and policy

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    Transformative artificially intelligent tools, such as ChatGPT, designed to generate sophisticated text indistinguishable from that produced by a human, are applicable across a wide range of contexts. The technology presents opportunities as well as, often ethical and legal, challenges, and has the potential for both positive and negative impacts for organisations, society, and individuals. Offering multi-disciplinary insight into some of these, this article brings together 43 contributions from experts in fields such as computer science, marketing, information systems, education, policy, hospitality and tourism, management, publishing, and nursing. The contributors acknowledge ChatGPTā€™s capabilities to enhance productivity and suggest that it is likely to offer significant gains in the banking, hospitality and tourism, and information technology industries, and enhance business activities, such as management and marketing. Nevertheless, they also consider its limitations, disruptions to practices, threats to privacy and security, and consequences of biases, misuse, and misinformation. However, opinion is split on whether ChatGPTā€™s use should be restricted or legislated. Drawing on these contributions, the article identifies questions requiring further research across three thematic areas: knowledge, transparency, and ethics; digital transformation of organisations and societies; and teaching, learning, and scholarly research. The avenues for further research include: identifying skills, resources, and capabilities needed to handle generative AI; examining biases of generative AI attributable to training datasets and processes; exploring business and societal contexts best suited for generative AI implementation; determining optimal combinations of human and generative AI for various tasks; identifying ways to assess accuracy of text produced by generative AI; and uncovering the ethical and legal issues in using generative AI across different contexts
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