Investigating Flipped Learning: Student Self-Regulated Learning,Perceptions, and Achievement in an Introductory Biology Course

In flipped classrooms, lectures, which are normally delivered in-class, are assigned as homework in the form of videos, and assignments that were traditionally assigned as homework, are done as learning activities in class. It was hypothesized that the effectiveness of the flipped model hinges on a student’s desire and ability to adopt a self-directed learning style. The purpose of this study was twofold; it aimed at examining the relationship between two variables—students’ perceptions of the flipped model and their self-regulated learning (SRL) behaviors—and the impact that these variables have on achievement in a flipped class. For the study, 76 participants from a flipped introductory biology course were asked about their SRL strategy use and perceptions of the flipped model. SRL strategy use was measured using a modified version of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ; Wolters et al. 2005), while the flipped perceptions survey was newly derived. Student letter grades were collected as a measure of achievement. Through regression analysis, it was found that students’ perceptions of the flipped model positively predict students’ use of several types of SRL strategies. However, the data did not indicate a relationship between student perceptions and achievement, neither directly nor indirectly, through SRL strategy use. Results suggest that flipped classrooms demonstrate their successes in the active learning sessions through constructivist teaching methods. Video lectures hold an important role in flipped classes, however, students may need to practice SRL skills to become more self-directed and effectively learn from them.     

面向培养高校学生编程能力的游戏化学习应用模型构建

当前,高校以学习者为中心大力推进教育教学改革,传统的教学方法难以满足学习者对编程课程学习的个性化需求.传统课程实践环节中的编程练习较为单调乏味,很难激发学习者学习编程的兴趣,学习者甚至会对编程学习产生负面的情绪.本研究面向培养计算机编程能力提出一个基于计算机游戏的学习模型,该游戏模型以"面向对象程序设计"课程为例面向在...     

认知水平与计算思维间的隐含关系挖掘--基于编程行为表征视角

随着人工智能时代的来临,编程教育日益受到重视。学生在编程过程中的行为,实质上反映了其对利用计算工具解决问题的认知水平,也映射出其计算思维的发展过程,挖掘三者间的隐含关系有助于通过优化编程任务设计改善对学生计算思维的培养。基于认知目标分类和计算思维三维框架构建映射关系,以Scratch可视化编程任务作为研究案例,采用编程操作视频分析与学生访谈相结合的方法,从编程行为表征的视角对认知水平与计算思维间的隐含关系进行挖掘后发现:一方面,认知水平与编程行为之间存在密切关系,知道与理解是编程行为的基础性认知,应用与分析是编程行为的核心,评价推动学生对编程行为的反思,而创造可激发编程行为产生新的作品。另一方面,在编程活动中,学生的认知水平与计算思维的发展彼此关联且相互促进,编程行为中的低阶认知目标的达成是形成计算观念的基础,编程实践引发的高阶思维认知需求可促进学生对计算思维的领悟。因此,应当遵循认知水平与计算思维的发展规律,有针对性地将面向各类认知目标的编程任务嵌入到教学设计中,方可有效实现利用编程教育对学生计算思维的培养。     

项目驱动的程序设计课程改革与实践

程序设计类课程是计算机专业基础课程,也是非计算机本科的基础选修课程。通过分析语言教学现状,针对传统程序设计课程中学生参与度不高的问题,提出基于项目驱动的团队协作教学模式。课堂教学以网络爬虫系统设计为模拟项目,通过改变语言教学体系,不仅激发了学生学习兴趣,而且提高了学习效果,有效培养了学生的计算思维与综合协作能力,使学生课堂参与度接近90%。     

Flipping the classroom and instructional technology integration in a college-level information systems spreadsheet course

The purpose of this research was to explore how technology can be used to teach technological skills and to determine what benefit flipping the classroom might have for students taking an introductory-level college course on spreadsheets in terms of student achievement and satisfaction with the class. A pretest posttest quasi-experimental mixed methods design was utilized to determine any differences in student achievement that might be associated with the instructional approach being used. In addition, the scalability of each approach was evaluated along with students’ perceptions of these approaches to determine the affect each intervention might have on a student’s motivation to learn. The simulation-based instruction tested in this study was found to be an extremely scalable solution but less effective than the regular classroom and flipped classroom approaches in terms of student learning. While students did demonstrate learning gains, the process focus of the simulation’s instruction and assessments frustrated students and decreased their motivation to learn. Students’ attitudes towards the topic, their willingness to refer the course to others, and the likelihood that they would take another course like this were considerably lower than those of students in the flipped or regular classroom situations. The results of this study support the conclusion that a technology enhanced flipped classroom was both effective and scalable; it better facilitated learning than the simulation-based training and students found this approach to be more motivating in that it allowed for greater differentiation of instruction.     

An IRS-facilitated collective issue-quest approach to enhancing students’ learning achievement,self-regulation and collective efficacy in flipped classrooms

Flipped classrooms have been recognized as a potential approach that enables students to have flexible time to learn before the class as well as more opportunities to apply knowledge and to interact with peers and the teacher in the class. On the other hand, researchers have pointed out the challenge of engaging students in self-regulated learning and active participation in flipped classrooms. In this study, an Instant Response System (IRS)-facilitated collective issue-quest strategy is proposed for engaging students in active and self-regulated flipped learning. Moreover, a quasi-experimental design was conducted with undergraduate students in an internet marketing course in northern Taiwan to investigate the impacts of the proposed approach on the students’ learning achievement, self-regulation, learning satisfaction and collective efficacy. The experimental results revealed that the learning achievement, collective efficacy and satisfaction of the students who learned with the proposed approach were significantly better than those of the students learning with the conventional flipped classroom approach. Moreover, in the “environment,” “task strategies” and “help seeking” dimensions of self-regulation, the former had significantly higher ratings than the latter. This study contributes analysis results that highlight the benefits of implementing the IRS-facilitated collective issue-quest approach in the flipped classroom. The results of this research may provide a valuable reference for future studies and practice in the field.     

An interactive problem-posing guiding approach to bridging and facilitating pre- and in-class learning for flipped classrooms

ABSTRACT

Educators have indicated that a good flipped learning design has the potential to enable teachers to use the class time effectively for conducting higher-order thinking activities and enhancing the interactions among peers and teachers. Several previous studies have also pointed out the importance of employing proper learning strategies, such that students’ learning performance would meet the expectations of both the pre- and in-class activities of flipped learning. In this study, an interactive problem-posing guiding strategy was proposed to guide students to understand the concepts of problem-posing by the use of multiple choice options before class, and to engage them in effective problem-posing activities during class. To examine the effectiveness of the proposed learning mode, a flipped learning system was developed and an experiment was conducted in a natural science learning activity in an elementary school. The participants were two classes of fifth graders of an elementary school, a total of 56 students, with one class as the experimental group and the other as the control group. The students in the experimental group adopted the interactive problem-posing guiding strategy in the flipped learning mode, while the control group used the conventional flipped learning mode. The experimental results confirmed that the flipped learning activity with the interactive problem-posing guiding strategy was more effective in terms of learning achievement, self-efficacy, and deep approaches to learning science in the natural science course than the conventional flipped learning method. It also confirmed the importance of integrating the stepwise learning strategy (e.g. guided problem-posing and collaborative problem-posing) into flipped learning to support students’ pre- and in-class learning.     

The effect of simulation games on learning computer programming: A comparative study on high school students’ learning performance by assessing computational problem-solving strategies

Computer games are quickly gaining momentum by enabling new approaches to teaching and learning experience for programming courses in K-12 curriculum. However, it remains unclear if the game interface and elements created by using three-dimensional (3D) virtual worlds combined with visual programming languages or a visual programming environment can affect students’ learning performance. This quasi-experimental study presents evidence about how a game can assist boys and girls to gain a greater understanding on skills related to CT for developing, implementing and transforming their solution plans into code based on their computational problem-solving strategies. A total of fifty (n?=?50) high school students who volunteered to participate in this study divided into a control group (n?=?25) and an experimental (n?=?25) group that used Scratch and OpenSim with the Scratch4SL palette, respectively to propose their solutions for the same problem-solving tasks via a simulation game. The study findings indicate substantial differences and important points of view about students’ learning performance by assessing their computational problem-solving strategies. Students from the experimental group performed significantly better both in measures of problem-solving and algorithmic thinking. Mean scores on post-questionnaires from the experimental group revealed improvements higher than their control group counterparts in two aspects. First, students of the former group created more complete computational instructions with rules to be specified and delivered the learning goals. Second, students of the same group proposed and applied more correct computational concepts and practices in code. Finally, this study discusses the implications for designing learning experiences using OpenSim with Scratch4SL.     

Investigating the effects of gamification-enhanced flipped learning on undergraduate students’ behavioral and cognitive engagement

ABSTRACT

In recent years, flipped learning has attracted much attention around the world. This instructional approach is appealing because it can free up class time for knowledge application activities with help from the instructor and peers. However, its implementation can be fraught with challenges. Student disengagement in out-of-class activities, for example, is one of the major challenges of flipped learning. The purpose of this study is to examine whether gamification can enhance student engagement in a flipped course. A comparison study was conducted, involving two classes of undergraduate students in an Information Management course. The results indicated that students in the gamification-enhanced flipped learning group (n?=?48) were more likely to complete the pre-class and post-class activities on time than those in the non-gamified flipped learning group (n?=?48). Students in the gamification-enhanced flipped learning group also produced higher quality artifacts than the non-gamified flipped learning group in the pre-class thinking activities. Moreover, students in the gamification-enhanced flipped learning group scored significantly higher in the post-course test than did their non-gamified counterparts.     

The effectiveness of the student response system (SRS) in English grammar learning in a flipped English as a foreign language (EFL) class

ABSTRACT

Flipped classes are well-known for reversing the typical in-class lecture and out-of-class homework structure by instructing students to learn by themselves from on-line learning materials and inviting them to ask questions based on their individual difficulties in class. Many attempts at integrating this teaching method into English as a foreign language (EFL) classrooms have proven to be beneficial to students’ learning achievement and motivation. However, there is little research on how to organize interactive, engaging and effective in-class activities for an EFL flipped classroom. In this study, a student response system (SRS) is proposed to support teachers in organizing in-class activities in a flipped class. To investigate the effectiveness of this approach, a quasi-experiment was conducted in an EFL classroom in an engineering school. The experimental group used the SRS to do in-class activities while the control group followed the conventional method. The results showed that the use of the SRS increased students’ learning motivation and self-efficacy in learning English grammar and improved their participation and engagement in the in-class activities of the flipped learning process. Furthermore, the questionnaire results showed that students accepted the SRS as an instructional method in an EFL flipped class. However, the use of the SRS was not effective in improving students’ grammar learning achievement.     

Exploring the characteristics of an optimal design of non-programming plugged learning for developing primary school students’ computational thinking in mathematics

Existing computational thinking (CT) research focuses on programming in K-12 education; however, there are challenges in introducing it into the formal disciplines. Therefore, we propose the introduction of non-programming plugged learning in mathematics to develop students’ CT. The research and teaching teams collaborated to develop an instructional design for primary school students. The participants were 112 third- and fourth-grade students (aged 9–10) who took part in three rounds of experiments. In this paper, we present an iterative problem-solving process in design-based implementation research, focusing on the implementation issues that lead to the design principles in the mathematics classroom. The computational tasks, environment, tools, and practices were iteratively improved over three rounds to incorporate CT effectively into mathematics. Results from the CT questionnaire demonstrated that the new program could significantly improve students’ CT abilities and compound thinking. The results of the post-test revealed that CT, including the sub-dimensions of decomposition, algorithmic thinking, and problem-solving improved threefold compared to the pre-test between the three rounds, indicating that strengthened CT design enhanced CT perceptions. Similarly, the students’ and teacher’ interviews confirmed their positive experiences with CT. Based on empirical research, we summarize design characteristics from computational tasks, computational environment and tools, and computational practices and propose design principles. We demonstrate the potential of non-programming plugged learning for developing primary school students’ CT in mathematics.

     

Effects of implementing flipped classroom elements and dynamic in‐class discussion on student performance

In a Food Processing–Unit Operations course, students learn the basic equipment that comprises unit operations and techniques commonly used in the food industry to prepare, process, and preserve a variety of food products. Due to the complexity of these operations, students frequently struggle with applying food processing principles to predict how unit operations influence the physical, biochemical, sensory, and nutritional properties of foods. This study is designed to evaluate how pre‐class readings and in‐class group activities improve the students’ learning in a Food Processing course. The survey after the exams shows that 48 and 60% of students agree that reading assignments and in‐class group activities help them understand the course material better, respectively. The mean value of exam scores shows that the students in the intervention section (Spring 2018) had significantly higher scores (88.4%) than that of the two previous sections without intervention (77.6%, Spring 2016 and 82.8%, Spring 2017) (P < .05). It is concluded that using a flipped class element like providing reading assignments and quizzes before the lecture can be an effective preparation technique for students as well as providing the instructors with critical insight into the students’ level of understanding before the lecture. This allows the instructor to focus time spent in class on areas in which students struggle the most.     

Learning sorting algorithms through visualization construction

Recent increased interest in computational thinking poses an important question to researchers: What are the best ways to teach fundamental computing concepts to students? Visualization is suggested as one way of supporting student learning. This mixed-method study aimed to (i) examine the effect of instruction in which students constructed visualizations on students’ programming achievement and students’ attitudes toward computer programming, and (ii) explore how this kind of instruction supports students’ learning according to their self-reported experiences in the course. The study was conducted with 58 pre-service teachers who were enrolled in their second programming class. They expect to teach information technology and computing-related courses at the primary and secondary levels. An embedded experimental model was utilized as a research design. Students in the experimental group were given instruction that required students to construct visualizations related to sorting, whereas students in the control group viewed pre-made visualizations. After the instructional intervention, eight students from each group were selected for semi-structured interviews. The results showed that the intervention based on visualization construction resulted in significantly better acquisition of sorting concepts. However, there was no significant difference between the groups with respect to students’ attitudes toward computer programming. Qualitative data analysis indicated that students in the experimental group constructed necessary abstractions through their engagement in visualization construction activities. The authors of this study argue that the students’ active engagement in the visualization construction activities explains only one side of students’ success. The other side can be explained through the instructional approach, constructionism in this case, used to design instruction. The conclusions and implications of this study can be used by researchers and instructors dealing with computational thinking.     

应用型本科大学物理实验课的常见问题与解决方法的探讨

针对应用型本科大学物理实验课存在的基础知识不熟悉和学生实验过程缺乏独立思考的两个常见问题,从多方面、多角度分析了原因,提出了开设单独的绪论实验课、课前预习微视频和翻转课堂等解决方法.通过实践证明,引入单独绪论实验课、课前预习微视频和翻转课堂等方法,能明显有效地提高学生的自主学习能力和动手能力,并极大地提高了大学物理实验...     

编程软件、学业水平对初中学生计算思维发展的影响研究

近年来,计算思维的培养受到国内外广泛关注,一线教师纷纷尝试应用各种编程软件来发展学生的计算思维。为了解不同编程软件、学业水平对学生计算思维发展的影响,本研究以成都某初中七年级共187名学生为研究对象,进行了为期3个月的准实验研究,探讨不同编程软件、学业水平、学生性别等条件下学生计算思维发展的差异。研究发现:(1)不同学业成绩水平的学生在编程软件的选择方面有不同的需求。对于学业成绩水平较低的学生,可视化编程优于代码编程,而对于学业成绩水平较高的学生,编程软件的影响并不显著。(2)学业成绩水平对学生计算思维的发展有显著影响,并呈较强的正向相关。(3)不同性别学生之间计算思维的发展并无显著差异。基于这些研究结果,本文针对初中编程教育,从编程软件的选择、教学策略的运用、教学实践的任务设置等方面提出了促进学生计算思维发展的三条建议。     

Exploring the Relationship Between High School Students’ Physics-Related Personal Epistemologies and Self-regulated Learning in Turkey

This article reports on an empirical exploration of the relations and strengths among Turkish grades 9–11 students’ (n = 209) personal epistemologies (justification of knowledge, certainty of knowledge, source of knowledge, development of knowledge), self-regulated learning (extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation, rehearsal, elaboration, organization, critical thinking, metacognitive self-regulation), and achievement in physics (course grades). Established instruments were used to collect data on these students’ beliefs about knowledge and components of self-regulated learning (SRL) such as goal orientations (extrinsic and intrinsic motivation) and learning strategies, critical thinking, and metacognitive regulation. Results from structural equation modeling revealed that students’ personal epistemologies directly influenced their motivation (extrinsic and intrinsic goal orientations), rehearsal and organization strategies, and metacognitive self-regulation to learn physics. Furthermore, students’ personal epistemologies indirectly (mediated through motivation beliefs) influenced rehearsal, elaboration and organization strategies, critical thinking, and metacognitive self-regulation to learn physics. Students’ ideas about knowledge and knowing about the source and development of knowledge significantly contributed to students’ self-regulatory skills and physics course grade. Implications and future directions are discussed.     

Relations among Epistemological Beliefs,Academic Achievement,and Task Performance in Secondary School Students

Students with differing profiles of epistemological beliefs—their beliefs about personal epistemology, intelligence, and learning—vary in thinking, reasoning, motivation, and use of strategies while working on academic tasks, each of which affect learning. This study examined students’ epistemological beliefs according to gender, school orientation, overall academic achievement, and performance on two differently structured academic tasks. Epistemological beliefs in fixed and quick ability to learn, simple knowledge, and certain knowledge differed significantly as a function of gender, school orientation, and levels of academic achievement. These beliefs, particularly the belief in simple knowledge, significantly predicted overall performance and reflective judgment scores on the ill‐structured task but not on the well‐structured task. Implications concerning the relations among epistemological beliefs, reflective judgment, gender, school orientation, task structure, and achievement are discussed.     

Gender differences in an introductory programming course: New teaching approach,students’ learning outcomes,and perceptions

This study reports on gender differences in an introductory programming (IP) course that uses a new teaching and learning approach based on the ADRI (Approach, Deployment, Result, Improvement) model. The teaching materials of the IP course were redesigned based on the new approach. The grades of the final exam were compared to determine the impact of the new teaching and learning approach on genders. A survey was conducted to collect students’ feedback. The responses of the survey were compared for each question among genders and T-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyse the data. The results show that female students performed better in the high achiever category and male students performed better in the medium and low achiever categories in the final exam. The survey responses indicated that male students were more satisfied than female students with the new teaching and learning approach. The four stages of the ADRI approach support students’ cognitive gains and engagement. The students’ retention was higher which supports students’ affective engagement in the IP course. Overall, both the female and male students appreciate the ADRI approach in the IP course.     

人工智能教学如何培养高中生的计算思维?——基于人工智能案例驱动的Python编程教学的实证研究

目前利用编程教学培养计算思维已经取得共识,人工智能案例驱动的编程教学解决了单纯的编程教学枯燥乏味、难以激发学生兴趣的难题。依据人工智能案例驱动的编程教学理念,在分析计算思维、Python、人工智能案例三者关系的基础上,提出了人工智能案例驱动的Python编程教学培养高中生计算思维的教学模型。以"有声小说"为人工智能案例驱动的Python编程教学案例,进行了具体的教学设计。研究采用准实验研究法,通过三个月的跟踪观察,辅以作品分析、学习成绩分析和访谈来考察人工智能案例驱动的Python编程教学对学生计算思维的影响。研究表明,人工智能案例驱动的Python编程教学对高中生计算思维的培养具有显著的促进作用。基于研究结果,提出了以下六条实施建议:要厘清教学内容、教学方式及教学目标之间的关系;关注所教知识背后的思维、方法与观念;引导学生对核心概念的理解与迁移;精讲知识并注重能力的培养;关注个体差异并循序渐进;重视情境对于学习的重要性。     

基于 OBE 的《Java Web 应用程序开发》课程改革

为提高《Java web 应用程序开发》课程的达成度和改变“一试定结果”的考核方式,根据 OBE 的教育理念和《Java web 应用程序开发》课程在河南工业大学软件工程专业课程体系中的地位及其所支撑的毕业指标点,制定课程目标、课程大纲,设计“以学生为中心”的课前准备、课堂教学和课下自学教学过程,以及全程化多维度的课程考核方式和评价办法。通过各个教学环节的设置和实施,充分调动学生自主学习能力,使学生有兴趣学,能自学,思中学,做中学。实践证明,在 2016 级比 2015 级学生平均绩点低的情况下,该课程 3 个目标达成度分别提高了 0.3、0.1 和 0.2。