Uses of peer assessment in database teaching and learning

This discussion paper introduces three very different methods and contexts for the use of peer assessment in introductory database classes, each of which is supported by different learning software tools. In the first case study, at Glasgow Caledonian University, Contributing Student Pedagogy is used, where students contribute to the learning of others through the collaborative creation of a bank of self-assessment questions. This is supported by the Peerwise software tool. Secondly, at the University of Strathclyde, students undertake formative assessment of others in providing feedback on an initial element of a larger coursework assessment. A number of virtual learning environments (VLEs) are capable of supporting this method through customisable discussion fora. Finally, at the Abertay University, peer and self assessment are used in a group project to adjust the group grade for individual students. This is effected through the use of the WebPA software tool

Teacher Clarity Strategies of Highly Effective Teachers

Teacher clarity supports both cognitive and affective learning for all learners. The scholarly literature lacks research related to teacher clarity in nonlecture learning environments. The purpose of this qualitative study was to discover teacher clarity strategies that effectively promote student learning, particularly in nonlecture learning environments. The conceptual framework involved cognitive load theory and constructivism. The research questions explored how highly effective teachers experience clarity to promote student learning in nonlecture learning environments and what innovative strategies highly effective teachers practice to ensure clarity in nonlecture learning environments. For this in-depth qualitative interview study, data were collected through virtual synchronous focus groups and interviews with 10 State Teachers of the Year and State Teacher of the Year finalists and analyzed using manual and digital coding of emergent themes. Key nonlecture teacher clarity strategies discovered emphasized the importance of interaction, facilitation, and responsiveness through the establishment of safe and inclusive learning environments, active monitoring of student work and understanding, individualized application of strategic ambiguity, and utilization of technology tools. Further research is recommended in strategic ambiguity, interaction through facilitation, safe and inclusive environments, and teacher clarity through technology tools. By contributing to the body of knowledge of educational practices that improve student learning, my study has the potential to empower individual teachers to benefit all learners, and to support organizations in delivering equitable instruction in diverse secondary school settings

Student Satisfaction with Canvas Use in Face-to-Face Courses at Colorado Mountain College

By examining the relationship between the use of LMS tools and student course satisfaction, institutions can purposefully target areas most in need of improvement. The inconsistency in the application and use of LMS tools has resulted in a fragmenting of the student experience and has had a potentially negative affect on student attitudes toward its use. In order to address these issues and to support CMC’s mission, college leadership has created a minimum usage requirement for Canvas in all credit courses. This evaluation aims to provide insight for improving the use of Canvas tools and increasing student course satisfaction in F2F courses at CMC. Drawing on Tinto’s (1975) model of persistence, the use of learning management systems and resultant satisfaction in the classroom is a contributing factor to a student’s decision to persist in a course. Davis’ (1993) technology acceptance model (TAM) also informed the research as it specifies the causal relationships between several factors, in particular, perceived usefulness, ease of use, and satisfaction. The Context and Product components of the CIPP evaluation model were used to guide the determination of the overall quality and merit of the mandated Canvas usage program. Based on the findings from a quantitative survey, the researcher was able to make six specific recommendations to improve the program centered around increased LMS training and support for faculty and students, the demonstration of a measurable positive impact on student learning for new Canvas tool or functionality adoption, and regular and consistent feedback from faculty and students

Validating the Assessing Student Competence and Knowledge of Social Determinants of Health (ASCK-SDH) Instrument

The impact of the social determinants of health (SDH) on health outcomes is receiving increased attention. Health profession students need to learn about SDH; however, there are no validated tools to measure student competence in assessing SDH. There is a need for a brief, valid instrument to measure student competency and knowledge of SDH. This study is a secondary analysis of data collected pre (N=394) and post (N=387) for an interprofessional learning event. We utilized principal component analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation to determine the internal structure of the tool. The original measure consisted of 11 items; the analysis resulted in two factors. Based on the two factors it was determined the three items from Factor 2 were not contributing to the scale; therefore, they were removed. The final measure, Assessing Student Competence & Knowledge of Social Determinants of Health (ASCK-SDH), consists of eight items rated on a 4-point Likert scale. The measure indicated high internal consistency at pre (Cronbach’s α= 0.81) and post (Cronbach’s α=0.89) tests. The ASCK-SDH tool provides a valid instrument to measure student competence and knowledge about SDH and can be used to assess learning

Validating the Assessing Student Competence and Knowledge of Social Determinants of Health (ASCK-SDH) Instrument

The impact of the social determinants of health (SDH) on health outcomes is receiving increased attention. Health profession students need to learn about SDH; however, there are no validated tools to measure student competence in assessing SDH. There is a need for a brief, valid instrument to measure student competency and knowledge of SDH. This study is a secondary analysis of data collected pre (N=394) and post (N=387) for an interprofessional learning event. We utilized principal component analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation to determine the internal structure of the tool. The original measure consisted of 11 items; the analysis resulted in two factors. Based on the two factors it was determined the three items from Factor 2 were not contributing to the scale; therefore, they were removed. The final measure, Assessing Student Competence & Knowledge of Social Determinants of Health (ASCK-SDH), consists of eight items rated on a 4-point Likert scale. The measure indicated high internal consistency at pre (Cronbach’s α= 0.81) and post (Cronbach’s α=0.89) tests. The ASCK-SDH tool provides a valid instrument to measure student competence and knowledge about SDH and can be used to assess learning

Writing-to-Learn Precalculus

Despite growing theoretical and empirical evidence that writing has the potential to be an effective tool for student learning in undergraduate mathematics, writing-to-learn integration in mathematics is rare. Major deterrents include perceived lack of alignment between writing and learning goals, deficit views of students’ writing abilities, and the absence of a conceptual framework and methodological tools for systematically examining student learning as evidenced in their writings. To address these issues, this embedded qualitative case study offers a conceptual framework for examining student performance relative to task-specific learning goals in students’ written artifacts. The writings of 10 students enrolled in a Writing-Intensive Precalculus course were analyzed from a module on polynomial functions, resulting in 159 items coded using qualitative content analysis to determine the extent to which students’ writingsdemonstrated their performance in relation to learning goals. Students were also surveyed and completed a written reflection regarding which writing activities they determined to be most valuable and how they saw writing as contributing to learning. Findings suggest students are overwhelmingly able to produce complete and correct responses to a variety of writing prompts with a moderate level of depth but are less consistent in producing clear responses. Main findings indicate that the structure of the writing assignment, type of question posed, question focus, and individual student inclinations each play a role in the extent to which learning is evidenced in students’ writings. Further, students generally perceive writing as a valuable tool for mathematics learning and for helping them communicate mathematical ideas, reflect on their understanding of course content, think critically, make connections between concepts, deepen their content knowledge, and retain knowledge. Based on these findings, I suggest a number of implications for those seeking to integrate writing into mathematics courses and offer avenues for future research

Exploring collaboration patterns among global software development teams.

This study examines communication behaviors in global software student teams. The authors of the paper characterize the types of communication behaviors that occur when student teams are engaged in a software development project. The authors present findings from a one-semester study that examined factors contributing to successful distributed programming interactions among students enrolled at the University of Atilim (Turkey), Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, University of North Texas, and Middlesex University (UK). Using content and cluster analyses techniques, we identified distinct patterns of collaboration and examined how these patterns were associated with task, culture, GPA, and performance of collaborative teams. Our results suggest that communication patterns among global software learners may be related to task type, culture and GPA. It is hoped that these findings will lead to the development of new strategies for improving communication among global software teams

Do students and lecturers actively use collaboration tools in learning management systems?

In recent years there has been a large emphasis placed on the need to use Learning Management Systems (LMS) in the field of higher education, with many universities mandating their use. An important aspect of these systems is their ability to offer collaboration tools to build a community of learners. This paper reports on a study of the effectiveness of an LMS (Blackboard©) in a higher education setting and whether both lecturers and students voluntarily use collaborative tools for teaching and learning. Interviews were conducted with participants (N=67) from the faculties of Science and Technology, Business, Health and Law. Results from this study indicated that participants often use Blackboard© as an online repository of learning materials and that the collaboration tools of Blackboard© are often not utilised. The study also found that several factors have inhibited the use and uptake of the collaboration tools within Blackboard©. These have included structure and user experience, pedagogical practice, response time and a preference for other tools

Shared Interests In Live Case-Based Learning – Students’ Dynamic Role In An Innovation Ecosystem

Teaching engineering students to navigate complex innovation ecosystems and deal with wicked problems is vital for contributing to sustainable development. Research shows that case-based learning with real-life challenges boosts motivation and learning outcomes. This paper presents a course that is in the core of an ecosystem where engineering students engage with hospitals, and work on the hospitals’ documented innovation needs. By design, the course setup has a double purpose: in a learning context, the course strengthens intrapreneurship education, with students acting in an empowered role like professional consultants. In an organizational context, the course enhances knowledge sharing, filling in the gap of innovation competences and resources needed to create value and stimulate intrapreneurial initiatives. The ecosystem has evolved as result of an iterated development of the course including the tools and frameworks that empower the students to act as autonomous innovation consultants in constant interaction with the process of mobilizing the case partners. Thus, this paper presents a study based on current experiences and learnings, focusing on the relationship between the facilitation of student empowerment in live case-based learning and the impact on both 1) engineering students’ motivation and learning outcomes; 2) value creation for the participating ecosystem. The paper builds on qualitative data from two sources: yearly follow-up interviews with case partners since 2018, and student reflection reports from 2022

Student-pull instead of instructor-push: in preparation for a student learning dash­board

A typical model of blending in-class learning with technology-enabled student experiences outside class makes use of a course management system (CMS), such as Blackboard. In this model, all the course management work is exclusively performed by the course instructor. Some attempts have been made to steer away from having the online content and activities be created, maintained, and monitored solely by the instructor. Discussion boards, student breakout groups, and student portfolios are examples of shifting some responsibilities to the students. However, the instructor continues to be the main arbiter of these activities, and tools that support student contributions are entirely under the control of the same, monopolistic CMS