Making Content Easier or Adding More Challenge in Year One University Physics?

This paper argues that lecturers may provide insufficient challenge when teaching first year university physics courses, which may contribute to unsatisfactory learning outcomes. Comparisons in learning outcomes between a traditional teaching group and a constructivist orientated teaching group were investigated along with lecturers' and students' perceptions of those courses by interview and survey. Three main findings emerged from this study. The lecturers emphasised the students' poor physics background and adopted strategies to diminish the possible cognitive challenge in their teaching design. However, the students' concerns about the difficulty of the course seemed to be very minor. Finally, this study found that a teaching strategy of increasing the cognitive challenge for the students was likely to encourage an adoption of a comprehension learning approach, highlight the needs for learning university physics, and to promote cognitive engagement and learning commitment.     

Modelling and coaching of relevant metacognitive strategies for enhancing university students' learning

Recent developments in strategy instruction research suggest that learning in a particular discipline is enhanced by guiding students through the development of content-relevant metacognitive strategies. The potential of such an instructional approach for university settings is discussed in this paper, and is supported with evidence from an experimental field study. The study, conducted with 28 experimental and 28 matched control students over 13 weeks of an introductory computer science course, involved (a) students' development of a metacognitive strategy relevant for computer programming, (b) modelling and coaching procedures with complete explanations about strategy use, and (c) a socially supportive learning context. The instructional method had significant short-term and long-term effects on students' cognitive and affective learning outcomes.     

Review Article

Abstract

The Department of Business and Management Studies in the Crewe+Alsager Faculty of Manchester Metropolitan University runs a large HND course in Business Studies and Finance. As student numbers have increased on the HND course, tutors have needed to seek strategies for the management of effective teaching and learning with large student numbers.

This paper reviews those strategies in relation to lectures, seminars, reading and information sources and assignments. Individual tutors have evolved different strategies using a mix of control and independence strategies as appropriate to their module and its learning objectives.     

Spontaneous Collaborative Learning: A New Dimension in Student Learning Experience?

‐ Many studies have reported positive effects of cooperative learning methods on student achievement. In all such cases, cooperative learning experiences were initiated and structured by teachers, and designed according to special task and reward structures. The present study discusses a different kind of cooperative learning, Spontaneous Collaborative Learning (SCOLL), which is not structured by the teachers, but is student‐initiated. The characteristics of such a learning experience are described, and its effects on the learning strategies adopted by students, the quality of the students’ learning outcomes are examined. Quantitative and qualitative data from 39 Hong Kong tertiary (physiotherapy) students showed that SCOLL, as compared to individual preparation, promoted the engagement of a deep approach incorporating high level cognitive strategies, and in turn learning outcomes reflected in a higher structural complexity of assignments than those approaches and outcomes of students who worked individually.     

网上学习:学习真的发生了吗?——跨文化背景下中英网上学习的比较研究

随着网络教育在我国的迅速发展,提升网络教育质量已成为教育工作者和研究者的关注焦点,网上教与学成为网络教育研究的重中之重。在网络教学实践中,学习者是如何在网上进行学习的？这一过程中,真正的学习发生了吗？本文试图从三个部分探讨这一问题。第一部分从信息时代的知识观和学习观出发,结合儿童学习对网上学习的启示,总结了网上学习发生的条件以及网上学习方式的三个典型特征。第二部分剖析了当前我国学生网上学习的主要特点,按照本文提出的网上学习发生的条件考察真正的学习是否发生。然后在中英两国网上学习的对比中,考察中英学生网上学习方式的差异,以及中英教师在学习材料选择、导学方式上的差异。第三部分在分析和比较的基础上,借鉴英国网上导学的有效经验,为我国的网络教师提出有利于变革学生网上学习方式的策略性建议。     

应用技术培养反思性学习者

本文首先介绍了什么是反思性学习——它的优点以及如何改变教师和学生的角色,接着阐述了这种方法应用于网上学习所需的三种技术,即学习内容、博客、即时信息。论文以英国开放大学的硕士课程为例,分析了这些技术的应用。评价表明,学生们认为这种学习尽管费力,但很刺激。让学生自己决定学习内容也受到一些学习能力强的学习者的欢迎。所有学习者在体会到反思性学习方法的优点之前,都需要获到一些支持,也需要经过一段时间的适应。博客是一种常用的反思载体,即时信息也常被用于社会的交往联系。尽管这些课程的教学完全是通过网络进行的,但随时可以获得在线教师的辅导也是学生们取得良好学习成效的必要条件。     

Active teaching to manage course difficulty and learning motivation

Given the recent reported common occurrence of mediocre or substandard academic performance by students in colleges and universities, it has become essential to identify pedagogical factors that might lessen or reverse this trend. Kolb’s experiential learning, Pintrich’s student learning motivation, and cognitive load theories were used as a framework to assess active teaching moderation of the effects of course difficulty on course performance and learning motivation. Hierarchical ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to analyse the data. Research subjects were recruited from a medium-sized historically Black college and university (HBCU) students enrolled in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and Business (i.e. management, economics, or accounting) classes. Active teaching was a positive predictor of course grade and learning motivation. Course difficulty was a negative predictor of course grade. Interaction analysis revealed that increases in active teaching reduced (i.e. moderated) the negative relationship between course difficulty on both course grade and learning motivation. Overall, the findings suggest that student learning outcomes are certainly a function of pedagogy (e.g. active teaching), psychological/affective (e.g. learning motivation), and learning content complexity. Active teaching environments should (1) address both cognitive load and emotional responses attributed to difficult coursework, and (2) provide efficacy building opportunities during instructional delivery.     

The problem-based Learning Approach as an enhancement factor of personal meaningfulness of learning

Does the problem-based learning (PBL) approach contribute to personally meaningful learning? This study used a double-cohort design to explore the question by focusing a PBL singlecourse, which was compared to a conventional one. Consecutive sampling of medical students was obtained for both groups. Student outcomes measured were Course Valuing Inventory (CVI), affect, and preceptorship appeal responses. Paired tests showed significant increases in CVI scores from start to end of term in the PBL group only. Significant trends were observed in the relationships between experiencing the PBL approach and CVI score level, positive affect mode, and strength of preceptorship appeal. Stratified analysis did not detect confounding effects on the outcome measures from background course experience, learners' characteristics, or time trend. The findings suggest that the PBL approach can improve the quality of the learning environment in both cognitive and emotional ways for most students.     

Do students value feedback? Student perceptions of tutors’ written responses

The topic of feedback to students is an under‐researched area, and there has been little empirical research published which focuses on student perceptions. This study explores student perceptions of written feedback and examines whether feedback received demonstrated a student‐centred approach to learning. A multi‐method approach of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis was used to survey 44 students in the faculties of Business and Art & Design. Student responses show feedback is valued, but believed tutor comments could be more helpful. Survey results indicate that students may need advice on understanding and using feedback before they can engage with it. Content analysis of feedback samples and student responses uncovered four main themes of feedback considered unhelpful to improve learning: comments which were too general or vague, lacked guidance, focused on the negative, or were unrelated to assessment criteria. It is suggested that by focusing on messages conveyed by their writing, providing feedback set in the context of assessment criteria and learning outcomes, and by ensuring that it is timely, tutors could greatly improve the value of feedback.     

导学教师应该导些什么

在我校六位一体的导学群体系中,各级导学教师尤其是三级导学教师有着非常重要的作用。导学教师应当对学生的人生目标、学习目标起引导作用,提高学生的整体素质;应当在学习方法上引导学生,调动学生学习的内驱力;还应当引导学生潜能的发挥,促使学生超越自我,拓展发展空间。     

Implementation of a peer‐led team learning instructional approach in an undergraduate organic chemistry course

This study focuses on the implementation of a peer‐led team learning (PLTL) instructional approach for all students in an undergraduate organic chemistry course and the evaluation of student outcomes over 8 years. Students who experienced the student‐centered instruction and worked in small groups facilitated by a peer leader (treatment) in 1996–1999 were compared with students who experienced the traditional recitation section (control) in 1992–1994. Quantitative and qualitative data show statistically significant improvements in student performance, retention, and attitudes about the course. These findings suggest that using undergraduate leaders to implement a peer‐led team learning model that is built on a social constructivist foundation is a workable mechanism for effecting change in undergraduate science courses. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 39: 606–632, 2002     

Helping students become better learners: a case study in teacher education

The aim of this project is to increase teacher education students' understanding of the learning process by focussing on their own learning experiences. 67 preservice teacher education students in 4 classes completed measures of academic locus of control and study processes before and after a semester course in a specially designed programme in Educational Psychology. The programme focuses on students taking greater responsibility for their own learning by exposing them to a variety of learning experiences. These experiences include negotiation of the curriculum, peer discussion and teaching, learning contracts, self, peer and collaborative assessment and critical reflection on these and other learning experiences by means of an ongoing learning log.Results indicate an increase in academic locus of control for one class, and an increase in deep motive, achieving strategy, deep approach and deep achieving approach to learning for the whole group. These outcomes are discussed in terms of the congruence between these changes and the particular learning experiences to which the students were exposed.     

From the outside in: tutor perspectives of student transformative experiences within Indigenous Studies health education

ABSTRACT

While more is becoming understood about the effects of Indigenous Studies health curricula on student preparedness and attitudes toward working in Indigenous health contexts, less is known about how tutors in this space interpret student experiences and contribute to the development of preparedness. Reporting on a qualitative study, this article provides insight into tutors’ perceptions of tertiary first year health students’ transformative experiences in an Indigenous Studies health course. Twelve Indigenous and non-Indigenous tutors were interviewed about their teaching experiences within this context. Framed by Mezirow’s transformative learning theory, thematic analysis findings suggest tutors observe several precursor steps to transformative learning including disorienting dilemmas, critical reflection on assumptions, exploration of new roles, and trying on new roles. The content of these themes extends our understanding of how these precursor steps manifest, and the elements related to this. Findings also suggest tutors vary in their identification, interpretation and response to many of these pedagogical entry points. Within this learning context, the concept of teacher/student relationship is suggested as playing a meaningful role in the positioning and efficacy of tutors. This impacts tutors' understanding of transformative learning, the social construction of students, consequent interpretations of student experiences, and means of facilitating cognitive and affective learning. We propose a reconceptualisation of thinking around teaching in this space, with a focus on both further development of educator capabilities and student curricular opportunities to promote transformative learning appropriate to the stated goals of the Australian Indigenous Studies learning and teaching context. The findings indicate that institutional investment in the development of educators in this space remains vitally important.     

Tutoring deaf students in higher education: a comparison of baccalaureate and sub-baccalaureate student perceptions

Seventy-three deaf college students completed a survey examining perceptions about tutoring outcomes and emphases, characteristics of tutors, and responsibilities associated with learning through tutoring. The comparisons revealed that while baccalaureate and sub-baccalaureate students have many similar perceptions about tutoring, there are also some striking differences. In particular, as compared to the sub-baccalaureate students, baccalaureate students have a stronger preference for focusing on course content and for working with tutors who actively involve them during the tutoring sessions. In addition, baccalaureate students prefer to decide the focus of the tutoring themselves while sub-baccalaureate students tend to leave the decision to the tutor. The results of the analyses with three scales measuring perceptions of tutoring dimensions are summarized and recommendations for the selection and preparation of tutors, as well as for future research, are provided.     

建构主义学习理论在商务英语口语课中的运用

传统的商务英语教学出现的教学效果是大部分的学生并不具备在真实商务语境下顺畅地交流。如何使学生能够在学完商务英语口语课程后具备用英语交易的能力,运用建构主义学习理论结合案例模拟教学不失为一种有效的方式。     

Effects of tutoring in phonological and early reading skills on students at risk for reading disabilities

This study examined the effectiveness of nonprofessional tutors in a phonologically based reading treatment similar to those in which successful reading outcomes have been demonstrated. Participants were 23 first graders at risk for learning disability who received intensive one-to-one tutoring from noncertified tutors for 30 minutes, 4 days a week, for one school year. Tutoring included instruction in phonological skills, letter-sound correspondence, explicit decoding, rime analysis, writing, spelling, and reading phonetically controlled text. At year end, tutored students significantly outperformed untutored control students on measures of reading, spelling, and decoding. Effect sizes ranged from .42 to 1.24. Treatment effects diminished at follow-up at the end of second grade, although tutored students continued to significantly outperform untutored students in decoding and spelling. Findings suggest that phonologically based reading instruction for first graders at risk for learning disability can be delivered by nonteacher tutors. Our discussion addresses the character of reading outcomes associated with tutoring, individual differences in response to treatment, and the infrastructure required for nonprofessional tutoring programs.     

Cognitive Tutors: Lessons Learned

This article reviews the 10-year history of tutor development based on the advanced computer tutoring theory (J. R. Anderson, 1983, 1993). We developed production system models in ACT of how students solved problems in LISP, geometry, and algebra. Computer tutors were developed around these cognitive models. Construction of these tutors was guided by a set of eight principles loosely based on the ACT theory. Early evaluations of these tutors usually, but not always, showed significant achievement gains. Best case evaluations showed that students could achieve at least the same level of proficiency as conventional instruction in one third of the time. Empirical studies showed that students were learning skills in production-rule units and that the best tutorial interaction style was one in which the tutor provides immediate feedback, consisting of short and directed error messages. The tutors appear to work better if they present themselves to students as nonhuman tools to assist learning rather than as emulations of human tutors. Students working with these tutors display transfer to other environments to the degree that they can map the tutor environment into the test environment. These experiences have coalesced into a new system for developing and deploying tutors. This system involves selecting a problem-solving interface, constructing a curriculum under the guidance of a domain expert, designing a cognitive model for solving problems in that environment, building instruction around the productions in that model, and deploying the tutor in the classroom. New tutors are being built in this system to achieve the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards for high-school mathematics in an urban setting.