The impact of information and communication technologies on university students: A tentative assessment

Abstract

Practices of knowledge-acquisition, communication and interaction with others have changed substantially with the advent of new, growing, and widespread information and communication technologies. Especially among the younger generations, students' dispositions toward learning are shifting toward a need for greater visual and sound stimuli, faster speed in access to information and reward, shorter attention spans, engagement in multiple tasks while communicating, and greater individual agency in learning. These practices are increasingly prevalent among university students, raising challenges to conventional ways of teaching, particularly excessive reliance on lecturing. Based on the review of existing scholarly and popular literature, this article explores the main characteristics of a new generation of university students in the context of U.S. society, relates these traits and habits to knowledge-acquisition in university settings, and draws several implications for teaching.     

Teaching without a blackboard and chalk: conflicting attitudes towards using ICTs in higher education teaching and learning

This article, derived from a three-year ethnography of distributed medical education provision in a Canadian university, explores the ways in which information and communication technologies are used by teachers and students in their everyday work within technologically rich teaching environments. The environments being researched are two university campuses: a campus at the main university site and a satellite campus in a neighbouring province. The article seeks to contrast dominant, institutional discourses of technology use in higher education teaching with the everyday practices of staff and students. The article concludes that there is a gap between policy and practice in distributed education and that the teaching and learning experience and context of staff and students in different sites need to be analysed in depth, in terms of: whether the experience of learning across sites can be positioned as being comparable; the extent to which technology ameliorates learning and teaching; and understanding the work done by staff.     

对信息与通信技术在教学中作用的反思

信息与通讯技术（ICT）在教学中应用越来越广，但是，技术并没有在教学中发挥人们所想象的那种作用。从教师的角度看，技术革命、技术威胁、技术无用等观念和教师的技术能力在一定程度上影响了ICT的使用以及使用方式；从学校支持的角度看，资金投入、课程安排、职称评定和技术保障在很多时候影响了ICT在教学中的应用；从政策法规来看，知识产权在某些方面阻碍了数字环境中ICT对信息的利用。要充分开发教学中的技术资源，就有必要对技术的本质和怎样利用技术进行反思。     

“留守学生”教育方法初探

本文主要针对近年来出现的“留守学生”教育难的焦点问题,根据其产生的原因,在实际教育工作中探索出了一些具体的经验,总结为“留守学生”教育“三步曲”。     

Educating the educators: developing those who support learning for students with additional learning needs

This article reports findings from a research project which developed and introduced the Enhanced Learning Support Assistant Programme (ELSAP) as a source of professional development for learning support assistants who were supporting students with additional learning needs in a college of further education in England. The purpose of this article is to share findings from the project and to highlight the benefits experienced when learning support assistants can participate in professional development activity. The research project was a mixed methods study with participants drawn from learning support assistants within one college of further education in England. Data were collected throughout the 14‐week intervention. Findings indicate that the programme had a positive effect on participants' confidence, sense of professional identify and of being valued, as well as improving their ability to perform their role.     

Designing a Model for Integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the Iranian Agricultural Research System

Abstract

Capacity Development is needed in the Iranian Agricultural System. Integrating Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the agricultural research system is an appropriate capacity development mechanism. The appropriate application of ICTs and information such as a National Agricultural Information System requires a systemically developed strategic plan, based on identifying and recognizing system-wide organizational implications. In this regard, this paper focuses on the implications of integrating ICTs in the Iranian agricultural research system. To this aim, the authors conducted a survey research study using qualitative analysis of interview data from a select sample of agricultural researchers and agricultural faculty members. After designing an interview protocol and doing interviews with the select sample of agricultural researchers and faculty members (n = 29), a qualitative procedure was used to analyze the data, based on conceptual extraction and thematic categorization of statements. Categories included guidelines, expected outcomes, challenges and barriers of appropriate ICTs integration in the Iranian agricultural research system. In addition, different phases of the ICTs integration process were identified in the form of a pathway diagram. Finally, based on related Iranian lessons learned, which are explained in this research, some appropriate mechanisms for integrating ICTs in national agricultural research system were indicated.     

Preparing a Data Scientist: A Pedagogic Experience in Designing a Big Data Analytics Course

In this article, we present an experiential perspective on how a big data analytics course was designed and delivered to students at a major Midwestern university. In reference to the MSIS 2006 Model Curriculum, we designed this course as a level 2 course, with prerequisites in databases, computer programming, statistics, and data mining. Students in the class were mostly seniors or at the graduate level, and had a strong technical and quantitative background. We include details of concepts covered in the course, as well as summaries of four major sample course assignments used. Some of the concepts covered include large‐scale data collection and management using the Hadoop ecosystem, stream mining, visual analytics, and social network analytics. Besides Hadoop, the course also introduced various IBM and Teradata big data tools. We show how the course modules align with the intended learning goals and course objectives. A post‐course survey indicated that the structure and organization of the course helped students clearly and concisely assimilate the course content.     

Effect of pandemic based online education on teaching and learning system

Coronavirus outbreak mediated pandemic impacted most of the sectors globally. This includes the academic world that consists of millions of enrolled learners and active teachers who previously had regular classes in their institutions, and due to the pandemic, got stuck at the home. To continue the education process, the online class was introduced in most of the countries, including India. In this mode, both teaching and learning happen through electronic devices which are relatively new to the entire teaching-learning community. This study aimed to understand how online classes had fared for the teachers and students in India. Besides, it tried to understand the users’ experience and the unique set of challenges that this mode of education brings.Four separate questionnaires were created for school students, school teachers, college students, and college professors. The questions inquired about various aspects of online classes such as setting up online education at home, knowledge transfer, comfort, evaluation, and future aspects. The questionnaires were circulated electronically as google forms. The responses were received from the teachers (school teachers and college professors considering all courses) and learners (school and college students considering all courses) of various educational institutions across the country. The data was compiled and the results were discussed in two ways, firstly, the perspectives of teaching versus the learning group and secondly, school versus college groups on online versus regular classes. Though online training/distance education is practiced for a long time, the research on the mentioned aspects was limited. This study is the first of its kind which reflects the merits and demerits of the new-normal online education from home in the compiled voice of teachers and learners group in India. The study addresses the participant’s compliments and grievances of online education compared to regular classes. This further enlightens how to improve the technologies to make them use more efficiently. Besides, this study gives a proper framework to modify or create educational policies, laws, and schemes to obtain equal access to resources for all.     

Case report: the impact of a resubmission intervention on level 1 distance learning students

Student retention and success are key performance indicators within higher education. One of the key opportunities to address both of these lies with the support offered to students who fail a module but are entitled to resubmit. This study investigates the value of implementing a resubmission intervention to improve the quantity and quality of student resubmissions on a level 1 distance learning module. The intervention consisted of an online synchronous tutorial session and a supporting asynchronous forum. The effectiveness of the intervention was measured by comparing the resubmission and pass rates to a previous presentation with no intervention. It was found that resubmission and pass rates were higher where the intervention was used suggesting that a resubmission intervention can increase the quality and quantity of submissions. Whilst, these findings are useful, it is important to acknowledge that there are additional factors that can impact the quantity and quality of resubmissions.     

Student activity and learning outcomes in a virtual learning environment

The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between degree of participation and learning outcomes in an e-learning course on medical informatics. Overall activity in using course materials and degree of participation in the discussion forums of an online course were studied among 39 medical students. Students were able to utilise the course material in discussion groups focusing on the lectures, quizzes and students’ own notes. Each student’s data recording of activities and individual participation in discussion in the online course was analysed in order to assess which activities predicted learning outcome. Higher course grades were associated with studying the course material frequently and also with regular participation in reading postings and replying to them. There were no connections between learning outcome and the students’ original contributions to the discussion forums. There were no statistically significant differences between male and female students in how they utilised the various components of the learning material.     

Challenges in the Integration of Multimedia by History Teachers in the North West Province of South Africa

Today’s learners are born into a multimedia world and feel quite comfortable in an electronic learning environment. The high-quality sound, realistic colour images, graphics, narrations, real-time recordings and full motion videos from multimedia, which are integrated in History lessons, are what the learners of today want and need in their learning. In the study on which this article is based, efforts were made to determine the extent to which Intermediate Phase History teachers (Grade 4-6) of schools in the townships and rural areas in and around the Klerksdorp, Rustenburg and Vryburg districts of the North West Province of South Africa were willing to utilise multimedia in their History (Social Science) lessons. The challenges these History teachers experienced when they were faced with the application of multimedia in their lessons are also highlighted. In the last part of the article recommendations are made to serve as future suggestions for History teachers to apply multimedia in the teaching of the subject.     

Examining research on the impact of distance and online learning: A second-order meta-analysis study

Distance learning has evolved over many generations into its newest form of what we commonly label as online learning. In this second-order meta-analysis, we analyze 19 first-order meta-analyses to examine the impact of distance learning and the special case of online learning on students’ cognitive, affective and behavioral outcomes. We examine to what extent distance learning generation level, and instructional setting moderate the influences of distance learning on cognitive, affective and behavioral outcomes. This second-order meta-analyses also analyzes the first-order meta-analyses for methodological quality and robustness. The findings revealed a statistically significant overall average effect size (g = 0.156, p < .001 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.087–0.224) of distance learning impacting cognitive, affective and behavioral outcomes in comparison to face-to-face learning. Meta-analyses on higher education had a statistically significant larger effect size than K-12 education. Limitations, implications, and directions for future research are discussed.     

A research review of e-assessment

The use of e-assessment in higher education is a relatively new educational practice that has been more frequently studied in recent years. This review aims to summarise some research on e-assessment, providing an overview based on articles from three well-established scientific journals. Focusing on research topics, settings for e-assessment and research methods used in the articles, the review reveals a research field with a broad spectrum of inquiries and approaches. Research of e-assessment practices is often conducted as small-scale studies in which the e-assessment task comprises closed questions such as multiple-choice questions. The article discusses the findings to guide future research and concludes that there is a need for more studies on e-assessment in online courses as well as for longitudinal studies.     

Support services for higher degree research students: a survey of three Australian universities

A survey was conducted across three Australian universities to identify the types and format of support services available for higher degree research (HDR, or MA and Ph.D.) students. The services were classified with regards to availability, location and accessibility. A comparative tool was developed to help institutions categorise their services in terms of academic, administrative, social and settlement, language and miscellaneous (other) supports. All three universities showed similarities in the type of academic support services offered, while differing in social and settlement and language support services in terms of the location and the level of accessibility of these services. The study also examined the specific support services available for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) students. The three universities differed in their emphases in catering to CALD needs, with their allocation of resources reflecting these differences. The organisation of these services within the universities was further assessed to determine possible factors that may influence the effective delivery of these services, by considering HDR and CALD student specific issues. The findings and tools developed by this study may be useful to HDR supervisors and university administrators in identifying key support services to better improve outcomes for the HDR students and universities.     

信息与通信技术对高等教育的影响

信息与通信技术的发展速度太快,以至于我们最好采取小规模试验的方式来运用它;信息与通信技术的出现加速了知识界限和大学教育机构界限之间的模糊,加强了高等教育的民主化进程,给大学的性质和生存提出了严峻挑战。但是,传统的高等教育形式和机构并不会被彻底代替,对高等教育的影响在不同学科领域、对于不同的学生群体不一样。     

网络通讯环境下的师生互动变革研究

网络通讯技术不断渗透进教育教学,使得信息时代的师生互动变得丰富而复杂。构建网络通讯技术环境下的师生互动变革理论模型,即将师生互动途径分为同步互动、同步异步共存互动和异步互动三大类共八个层次,越在底层,师生互动强度越高,但互动范围越小。比较研究表明,网络通讯技术实现了随时随地的师生互动,但互动强度不如传统的师生互动。网络教学应尽可能向师生互动强度高的同步视频互动技术方面发展。     

移动学习的内涵、方式及其对远程教育的意义研究

计算机网络已经在教育和企业培训等领域得到广泛应用，并产生了新的学习方式——数字化学习（e-learning)。近几年来，随着无线通信技术的发展和移动计算技术的进步，一个新的概念——移动学习（m-learning)逐渐纳入人们的研究视野，与之相关的理论研究和实践项目正随之展开。本文主要对移动学习的概念，实施的形式以及移动学习对远程教育研究的理论意义等相关问题进行了系统阐述。