Students’ perspectives on curriculum internationalisation policies in transition: Insights from a master’s degree programme in the Netherlands

Although many studies have investigated the overarching benefits of curriuclum internationalisation in various forms, there have been few investigations of students’ perspectives on changing university policies towards internationalisation. In this study, we considered master’s students’ perspectives on two changing internationalisation policies at a Dutch university: (1) the switch to English Medium Instruction (EMI) and (2) the increasing incorporation of internationally-minded materials into the curriculum. Through analysing 138 questionnaire responses, the relevancy of and comfort with internationalised content, the use of EMI, and overall teaching quality was explored. The findings suggested that, although most participants valued their overall internationalised learning experiences, factors such as students’ educational backgrounds and perceived confidence using English influenced the degree to which curriculum internationalisation policies were deemed relevant to students’ lives and careers. This article summarises with suggestions for university staff, programmes, and departments undergoing transition policies towards curriculum internationalisation

The Effects of constructing domain-specific representations on coordination processes and learning in a CSCL-environment

Slof, B., Erkens, G., & Kirschner, P. A. (2012). The effects of constructing domain-specific representations on coordination processes and learning in a CSCL-environment. Computers in Human Behavior, 28, 1478-1489. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2012.03.011This study examined the effects of scripting learners’ use of two types of representational tools (i.e., causal and simulation) on their online collaborative problem-solving. Scripting sequenced the phase-related part-task demands and made them explicit. This entailed (1) defining the problem and proposing multiple solutions (i.e., problem-solution) and (2) evaluating solutions and coming to a definitive solution (i.e., solution-evaluation). The causal tool was hypothesized to be best suited for problem solution and the simulation tool for solution evaluation. Teams of learners in four experimental conditions carried out the part-tasks in a predefined order, but differed in the tools they received. Teams in the causal-only and simulation-only conditions received either a causal or a simulation tool for both part-tasks. Teams in the causal-simulation and simulation-causal conditions received both tools in suited and unsuited order respectively. Results revealed that teams using the tool suited to each part-task constructed more task appropriate representations and were better able to share and negotiate knowledge. As a consequence, they performed better on the complex learning-task. Although all learners individually gained more domain knowledge, no differences were obtained between conditions

Representational scripting to support students’ online problem-solving performance

Slof, B., Erkens, G., & Kirschner, P. A. (2010, July). Representational scripting to support students’ online problem-solving performance. In K. Gomez, L. Lyons, & J. Radinsky (Eds.), Learning in the Disciplines: Proceedings of the 9th International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS 2010) Volume 1 (pp. 476-483). Chicago IL: International Society of the Learning Sciences.This study investigated the effects of representational scripting on student learning while online collaboratively solving a complex problem. The premise here is that effective student interaction would be evoked when the problem-solving task is structured into part-tasks that are supported by providing part-task congruent representations (i.e., representational scripting). It was hypothesized that such an approach would lead to a more appropriate student interaction and as a consequence better problem-solving performance. In triads secondary education students worked on a case-based business-economics problem in four experimental conditions, namely one condition in which the groups received representations that were congruent for all three part-tasks and three conditions in which the groups received one of these representations for all three part-tasks. The results show that using representational sripting indeed leads to a more elaborated discussion about the content of the knowledge domain (i.e., concepts, solutions and relations) and to better problem-solving performance

Coordinating collaborative problem-solving processes by providing part-task congruent representations

Slof, B., Erkens, G., & Kirschner, P. A. (2010, July). Coordinating collaborative problem-solving processes by providing part-task congruent representations. In K. Gomez, L. Lyons, & J. Radinsky (Eds.), Learning in the Disciplines: Proceedings of the 9th International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS 2010) Volume 1 (pp. 675-682). Chicago IL: International Society of the Learning Sciences.This study investigated the effects of representational scripting on computer-supported collaborative solving of a complex problem. The premise was that effective student interaction would be evoked when the problem-solving task was structured into part-tasks supported representations congruent to the part-tasks (i.e., representational scripting). It was hypothesized that this would lead a better coordination of student discussions of the concepts, principles and procedures in the knowledge domain and consequently to better problem-solving performance. In triads, 39 secondary education students worked on a case-based business-economics problem in four experimental conditions. In one condition groups received three representations, each congruent to one of the three part-tasks. In the other three conditions, groups received one of the representations for all three part-tasks, thus a representation congruent to one part-task, but incongruent to the other two. The results show that using representational scripting evoked more communicative activities and led to better problem-solving performance

Matching presentational tools' ontology to part-task demands to foster problem-solving in business economics

Slof, B., Erkens, G., & Kirschner, P. A. (2010, July). Matching representational tools’ ontology to part-task demands to foster problem-solving in business economics. In K. Gomez, L. Lyons, & J. Radinsky (Eds.), Learning in the Disciplines: Proceedings of the 9th International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS 2010) Volume 2 (pp. 16-18). Chicago IL: International Society of the Learning Sciences.Collaborative problem-solving is often regarded as an effective pedagogical method beneficial for both group and individual learning. The premise underlying this approach is that through a dynamic process of eliciting one’s own knowledge, discussing this with peers, and establishing and refining the group’s shared understanding of the knowledge domain, students acquire new knowledge and skills and process them more deeply (e.g., O'Donnell, Hmelo-Silver, & Erkens, 2006). However, due to its complexity (i.e., diversity in concepts, principles and procedures, see Miller & VanFossen, 2008) students in business economics encounter difficulties with acquiring a well-developed understanding of the knowledge domain (e.g., Marangos & Alleys, 2007). When solving problems, students, therefore, rely primarily on surface features such as using objects referred to in the problem instead of the underlying principles of the knowledge domain, and employ weak problem-solving strategies such as working via a means-ends strategy towards a solution (e.g., Jonassen & Ionas, 2008). This hinders students in effectively and efficiently coping with their problem-solving task because the ease with which a problem can be solved often depends on the quality of the available problem representations (e.g., Ploetzner, Fehse, Kneser, & Spada, 1999). To this end, it would be beneficial if students are supported in acquiring and applying suitable representations (e.g., Ainsworth, 2006). Research on concept mapping (Nesbit & Adesope, 2006; Roth & Roychoudhury, 1993) has shown that the collaborative construction of external representations (i.e., concept maps) can guide students’ collaborative cognitive activities and beneficially affect learning. Due to its ontology (i.e., objects, relations, and rules for combining them, see Van Bruggen, Boshuizen, & Kirschner, 2003) a representational tool enables students to co-construct a domainspecific content scheme fostering students’ understanding of the knowledge domain in question. Problemsolving tasks, however, are usually composed of fundamentally different part-tasks (i.e., problem orientation, problem solution, solution evaluation), that each requires a different perspective on the knowledge domain and, thus, another representational tool with a different ontology. To be supportive for problem-solving, the ontology provided in a representational tool must be matched to the part-task demands and activities of a specific problem phase. Otherwise, effective problem-solving may be hindered (e.g., Van Bruggen et al.). The goal of the study presented in this paper is to determine whether an instructional design aimed at providing ontologically part-task congruent support in the representational tools leads to more successful problem-solving performance in the field of business economics

Design and effects of representational scripting on group performance

This study investigated the effects of representational scripting on non-expert student learning while collaboratively carrying out complex learning-tasks. The premise underlying this research is that effective cognitive activities would be evoked when complex learning-tasks are structured into phase-related part-tasks and are supported by providing students with part-task-congruent external representations for each phase; representational scripting. It was hypothesized that this approach would lead to increased individual learning and better complex learning-task performance. In groups, 96 secondary education students worked on a complex business-economics problem in four experimental conditions, namely one condition in which the groups received representations that were part-task-congruent for all three phases and three conditions in which the groups received one of these representations for all three phases (i.e., part-task-incongruent for two of the three phases). The results indicate that groups receiving part-task-congruent representations in a phased order performed better on the complex learning-task, though this did not result in increased individual learning

Fostering complex learning-task performance through scripting student use of computer supported representational tools

This study investigated whether scripting student use of computer supported representational tools fostered students’ collaborative performance of a complex business-economics problem. Scripting the problem-solving process sequenced and made its phase-related part-task demands explicit, namely (1) determining core concepts, (2) proposing multiple solutions, and (3) coming to a final solution. The representational tools facilitated students in constructing specific representations of the domain (i.e., conceptual, causal, or mathematical) and were each suited for carrying out the part-task demands of a specific phase. Student groups in four experimental conditions had to carry out all part-tasks in a predefined order, but differed in the representational tool(s) they received during their collaborative problem-solving process. In three mismatch conditions, student groups received either a conceptual, causal, or simulation representational tool which supported them in only carrying out one of the three part-tasks. In the match condition, student groups received the three representational tools in the specified order, each matching the part-task demands of a specific problem phase. The results revealed that student groups in the match condition constructed more task-appropriate representations and had more elaborated and meaningful discussions about the domain. As a consequence, those student groups performed better on the complex learning-task. However, similar results were obtained by student groups who only received a representational tool for constructing causal representations for all part-tasks

Fostering complex learning-task performance through scripting student use of computer supported representational tools

Slof, B., Erkens, G., Kirschner, P. A., Janssen, J., & Phielix, C. (2010). Fostering complex learning-task performance through scripting student use of computer supported representational tools. Computers & Education, 55(4), 1707-1720.This study investigated whether scripting student use of computer supported representational tools fostered students’ collaborative performance of a complex business-economics problem. Scripting the problem-solving process sequenced and made its phase-related part-task demands explicit, namely (1) determining core concepts, (2) proposing multiple solutions, and (3) coming to a final solution. The representational tools facilitated students in constructing specific representations of the domain (i.e., conceptual, causal, or mathematical) and were each suited for carrying out the part-task demands of a specific phase. Student groups in four experimental conditions had to carry out all part-tasks in a predefined order, but differed in the representational tool(s) they received during their collaborative problem-solving process. In three mismatch conditions, student groups received either a conceptual, causal, or simulation representational tool which supported them in only carrying out one of the three part-tasks. In the match condition, student groups received the three representational tools in the specified order, each matching the part-task demands of a specific problem phase. The results revealed that student groups in the match condition constructed more task-appropriate representations and had more elaborated and meaningful discussions about the domain. As a consequence, those student groups performed better on the complex learning-task. However, similar results were obtained by student groups who only received a representational tool for constructing causal representations for all part-tasks