The eye-mind of processing written feedback: Unraveling how students read and use feedback for revision

This research aims to promote our understanding of feedback engagement processes in writing tasks using a combination of online and offline measures, including eye-tracking, thinking-aloud, and text-analyses. Study 1 explored how sixteen students read, evaluate, and use feedback for revision. Results revealed three feedback processing strategies: (1) superficial processing (n = 6), which is characterized by reading feedback in a linear way, without critically rereading or revising the text, (2) local processing (n = 6) in which students switched between reading the comments and the commented text, and (3) deep processing (n = 4) in which students integrated the feedback with both commented and uncommented parts of the text and made more substantial revisions. In Study 2, we investigated the local and deep feedback reading strategy in more detail with 41 students using a within-subject design with different types of feedback. Results demonstrated the same strategies among students, but also that the focus of feedback affected students' revision behavior, above and beyond an individual feedback processing strategy. This finding is in line with previous research that emphasized the effects of feedback characteristics on students’ use of feedback. By triangulating various process measures, this research is one of the first that provides empirical evidence for different feedback processing strategies among students. These novel insights in individual feedback engagement processing can be used to extend and refine current theories on how, when, and why feedback works and for whom.     

A systematic review of the role of learning analytics in enhancing feedback practices in higher education

Learning analytics (LA) offers new opportunities to enrich feedback practices in higher education, but little is understood about the ways different LA can enhance feedback practices for educators and students. This systematic literature review maps the current state of implementation of LA to improve feedback practices in technology-mediated learning environments in higher education. We used strict inclusion criteria to select relevant studies that have investigated the role of LA on feedback practices. To identify common features of LA for feedback studies, we coded relevant publications using an analytical framework that identifies four key dimensions of LA systems: what (types of data), how (analytic methods), why (objectives), and how educators and students are served by LA (stakeholders). Based on findings, we propose a conceptual framework that can guide the implementation of LA for feedback systems and also suggest future empirical research in this area.     

高等教育质量评估体系的有效性:中国的问题与对策

高等教育质量评估体系有效性问题实质上是一个政策评估问题。从宏观层面看,高等教育质量评估体系主要指外部质量评估体系,它包括政府评估、质量认证和大学排名等。根据政府介入程度的不同,外部质量保障体系可分为认可型评估和认证型评估。从问责制的视角看,中国实施的第一轮本科教学评估实质上是一种政府对高校的问责制度安排,属于行政问责。第一轮本科教学评估的有效性被认为"一般",基本上被认可,但改进空间巨大。提高中国高等教育质量评估体系的有效性,必须建立社会问责机制。     

高等教育评价方法技术的误用、滥用及其矫正

高等教育评价方法技术是解决高等教育评价问题不可或缺的手段,但国内高等教育评价方法技术的应用水平一直比较低,相关研究也比较薄弱。本文基于对我国高等教育评价实践的观察,总结、分析了高等教育评价方法技术运用中存在的问题,提出了提高高等教育评价方法技术运用水平的若干建议。     

Perceptions of Portuguese undergraduate students about assessment: a study in five public universities

This paper draws upon a broader piece of research on assessment in higher education, particularly focusing on issues regarding the fairness and effectiveness of the assessment methods and their implications for the learning process. The perceptions of undergraduate students are analysed taking into account the effectiveness and fairness of both traditional and learner-centred assessment methods, as well their influence on the learning process. In total, 624 students participated in this study in five Portuguese Public Universities in different areas of knowledge and programmes. Data were collected through questionnaires. Findings suggest that assessment is seen as more effective and fairer when it is done through the use of learner-centred assessment methods rather than by traditional assessment (e.g. written tests or exams). The students also claim that they devote more time to study when assessment is performed through learner-centred assessment methods than by traditional ones. The most used assessment methods are written tests and oral presentations in group. However, differences in the programmes were identified as well as differences according to gender. Implications of the findings for assessment and for the teaching and learning process are discussed.     

An Australian study of possible selves perceived by undergraduate engineering students

In this study, we worked with second-year engineering students at an Australian university to examine previously identified threshold concepts within the theoretical framework of Possible Selves. Using workshops as the context for intensive work with students, students were encouraged to consider their future lives and work, including their engineering fears, expectations, and aspirations. The findings revealed many students to have a poor understanding of the realities of engineering work. Moreover, perceived gaps between self-efficacy and the requirements of engineering work appeared to be motivating if students deemed it possible to reduce the gap, but demotivating if they identified a characteristic over which there was perceived to be no control. The study suggests that these engineering students needed more opportunities to explore both the roles of engineers and their own possible selves. Overall, the findings indicate that higher education students may need encouragement and support to explore potential future roles, and they strengthen calls for further research in this area.     

Examining student immobility: a study of Irish undergraduate students

This paper explores student mobility among Irish higher education students. It specifically focuses on the profile of ‘stayers’, that is, students who have no plans to study abroad, thus addressing an underexplored topic in existing literature on student mobility. The article aims to identify factors that impact on students’ decisions not to pursue study abroad. Drawing on a national survey of students, Eurostudent V, the findings demonstrate that immobility is predicted by mother’s level of education and family income, showing the salience of socio-economic factors. Age and language proficiency are also visible factors, with the main obstacles to mobility being finances, language barriers and not wanting to separate from family and friends. Trends are also visible in the education institution a student is enrolled in, with those in institutes of technology more likely to be immobile than those in universities.     

Understanding feedback: A learning theory perspective

This article aims to review literature on feedback to teachers. Because research has hardly focused on feedback among teachers, the review’s scope also includes feedback in classrooms. The review proposes that the effectiveness of feedback and feedback processes depend on the learning theory adhered to. Findings show that regardless of the learning theory effective feedback is goal- or task-directed, specific, and neutral. In addition, four rules of thumb were formulated that reflect what a majority of learning theories suggested as effective for learning. Finally, some feedback characteristics were considered effective from only one learning theory. The article shows that feedback processes are complicated and many variables influence and mediate the processes. Most reviewed studies did not investigate the whole feedback processes, and therefore, we suggest that future research is needed to further understand feedback.     

Can students within higher education learn to be resilient and,educationally speaking,does it matter?

This paper presents a critical appraisal of resilience and its associated concepts within the context of higher education. It addresses wide‐ranging definitions of resilience, encompassing endurance and adaptability, and seeks to understand how these definitions impact on the learning experiences of students. As theoretical and empirical work on resilience has burgeoned in terms of adolescent experiences of education, the rise of interest has not been matched by that in studies of adult learning, particularly within university settings. This is despite the growing importance of retention studies, which have clear and important links to how well students manage their learning ability in adversity. Realization of the potential embodied in this concept to alter for the better, together with ways of conceptualizing learning and teaching, however, will remain constrained unless teachers within higher education pay attention to the resilience narratives that individual students present, and how teaching strategies can affect their learning trajectories. The paper examines some factors that impact on students’ learning within higher education, and theorizes how teaching and assessment may be adapted to promote resilience in all its forms.     

Higher education expansion and low-income students in Taiwan

In this paper, we report on a study of 1510 undergraduates from five national universities in Taiwan, and we show that compared to “non-prestigious” universities, a larger proportion of students at prestigious universities come from middle and high socioeconomic classes and a smaller proportion experience financial insecurity These results are timely in the wake of Taiwan's expansion in the number of universities and of university students. At non-prestigious universities, a higher percentage of students experience economic constraints, spend several hours per week engaged in paid employment during their university studies, and have parents who did not go to college. These different characteristics of the student bodies at elite and non-elite institutions of higher education may create quite different university contexts, which may in turn affect students’ college experiences, professional choices, and opportunities in the future.     

基于利益关系人的高等教育效率探讨

随着我国高等教育步入大众化阶段,提高高等教育效率有其现实和长远的战略意义。目前,我国高等教育存在效率低下的现象。基于利益关系人的角度,我国目前高等教育在大众化背景下更应该致力于如何提高高等教育效率。     

A case study on project led education in engineering: students' and teachers' perceptions

This paper explores the extent to which students and teachers are able to acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses of a shift in the approach to teaching and learning from a traditional, teacher-centred perspective towards project- and learner-centred education. It reports on a case study aimed at exploring students' and teachers' perceptions of a project-led education course carried out at an engineering course at a Portuguese university. Data were collected through questionnaires, letters and interviews. Findings suggest, in spite of some negative experiences and final results for some of the students, a clear recognition of the benefits of a project-based approach to both the teaching staff as well as the students. Both are able to identify interdisciplinarity, high student motivation and the acquisition of soft skills as key features of project-led education.     

增强高职生思想政治教育工作实效性的对策研究

当前高职院校学生思想政治教育工作实效性不强。建议从培养造就一支高效的专业思想政治教育工作队伍、精心创设网络工作载体和五大项目、健全思想政治教育工作机制等方面人手,提高高职思想政治教育工作实效性。     

工程教育与师范教育专业认证体系比较研究

教育部出台的师范专业认证实施办法引起高校的普遍关注,然而师范专业认证在具体实施方法、标准、程序中还存在许多问题。我国工程教育专业认证经过数十年发展,已形成具有中国特色专业认证体系,实现专业人才培养质量的国际实质等效性。文章通过比较分析师范专业与工程教育专业在认证主体、政策、程序、指标与标准方面的异同点,结合师范专业认证的不足,从认证主体机构性质、三级认证体系完善、认证工作基础强化、认证标准多方覆盖等方面,为我国师范专业认证体系发展完善提出建议。     

高职教育改革与通识教育

职业教育与通识教育是高职教育不可或缺的两个属性,在具体操作过程中,不能简单地做加减法,而是要将通识教育与职业教育融合起来,在职业教育中体现通识教育的要求,使高职教育的两种属性在教育的过程中相辅相成,协调发展,共同完成高职教育的培养目标。     

“大学之道”：中国古代高等教育的纲领

“大学之道,在明明德,在新民,在止于至善。”这一理念贯穿中国高等教育历史发展的过程,是古代高等教育的纲领。成均、私学、太学、书院可分别代表古代大学发展的四个阶段,“大学之道”理念蕴涵在其中的每一个阶段。     

"大学之道":中国古代高等教育的纲领

"大学之道,在明明德,在新民,在止于至善."这一理念贯穿中国高等教育历史发展的过程,是古代高等教育的纲领.成均、私学、太学、书院可分别代表古代大学发展的四个阶段,"大学之道"理念蕴涵在其中的每一个阶段.     

从一流大学到高等教育强国：我国高等教育发展战略的转变

建设高等教育强国标志着我国高等教育发展战略由重点建设到全面发展的转变。建设高等教育强国是我国建设人力资源强国、人才强国和创新型国家的必然要求。建设高等教育强国的目标就是建立一流的现代高等教育体系,重点是促进高等教育的协调发展。     

谈高职教育的人文精神整合

高等职业教育作为我国高等教育的重要组成部分,它同样具有为社会和为人的发展服务的两大基本功能。而我国现行高职教育普遍存在重专业知识传授,轻人文科学教育的现象,人文教育是成人教育,科学教育是成才教育,只有将二者有机整合才是成功的职业教育。     

可以把国学列为一级学科吗

当前中国发展"国学"牵涉的方面很广,有文化上的问题,有历史上的包袱,有时人的心态,甚而有关当下国内学术和文教的整体(不只是体系)问题。我近年在国内用中文发表的文字牵涉到的方面相当广,也和这问题有些关联。2009年岁末我回美国家中度假,收到学术界同仁电子邮附寄的南开大学刘泽华先生等具名的一篇"宣言"式的文字:《把国学列为一级学科不妥》。以我在英美学术界工作三十多年的背景,反思近百年来中国受西化影响下所建立的教育和学术体制,认为从(一)在邓小平先生领导下中国近三十年来改革开放的实际经验,(二)近十多年来中国高校的演变与现状,和(三)西方近数十年来"后现代主义"对"现代主义"的批判的视野来看,刘先生等的看法还有可商榷的地方。本文略为论列。