Toward a Predictive Model of Community College Student Success in Blended Classes

This retrospective study evaluates early semester predictors of whether or not community college students will successfully complete blended or hybrid courses. These predictors are available to faculty by the fourth week of the semester. Success is defined as receiving a grade of C- or higher. Failure is defined as a grade below a C- or a withdrawal. Method: Seven variables available to faculty are considered: gender, degree sought, students’ academic level, attendance for the first 4 weeks of face-to-face classes, scores on orientation extra credit assignments, grades on the first quiz, and grades on an early semester reflective essay. Logistic regression is used to evaluate the power of seven variables to predict successful course completion in 15 sections of two business courses: Introduction to Marketing and Marketing Research. Three hundred forty-three students were included in this study. Results show that completion of optional extra credit assignments offered during the first 2 weeks of the semester and performance on the first quiz are significant predictors of successful course completion. These results suggest that students’ self-regulation skill or learning presence in the community of inquiry model is a strong predictor of student success. A faculty-based model like the one presented here can help faculty to enhance their students’ chances of success by highlighting factors that predict successful course completion early in the semester.     

The effect of randomly assigned advisor’s department on student outcomes

Mentors have the potential to influence important academic and career outcomes. I examine the impact of one type of mentor – academic advisors – on student outcomes at the United States Air Force Academy. Exploiting the random assignment of advisors to first-year students, I find that these mentors influence students in different ways. Male and nonwhite students earn higher grades in courses in their advisors’ academic department, providing evidence that they are more likely to study and/or seek extra help because of their advisor. Advisor’s department is not associated with improved grades for female students; however, they are more likely to declare a major in their advisor’s department. I believe this provides unique evidence on the influence of academic advisors at academic institutions.     

MOTIVATIONAL BELIEFS AND LEARNING STRATEGIES IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Students enter college chemistry courses with different sources of motivation, appropriate or inappropriate assumptions about their probability of success and how to study. This study is theoretically aligned with self-regulated learning research. Clearly, academic performance is closely related to student motivational beliefs and learning strategies. This study investigated the motivational beliefs and learning strategies of 2 years of college students in the second semester of organic chemistry. Responses to the Motivational Beliefs and Learning Strategies Questionnaire indicated that student self-efficacy was highly correlated with academic performance (semester grades). Gender differences were quite pronounced. Male academic performance was associated with intrinsic motivation as well as the importance placed on the learning task. Test anxiety was negatively associated with male grades. Extrinsic motivation was negatively correlated with female grades. Responses to students’ sense of control over learning, the value of the learning task, and self-efficacy were significantly higher for males compared to females. Faculty who attend to these different patterns may influence beliefs as well as learning strategies. Correcting erroneous assumptions about how to learn chemistry may help students shift both their attitudes and their learning practices. The notable gender difference suggests that female chemistry students may especially profit from focused faculty intervention.     

Exploring differences between self-regulated learning strategies of high and low achievers in open distance learning

Open distance students differ in their preparedness for higher education studies. Students who are less self-regulated risk failure and drop out in the challenging milieu of open distance learning. In this study, the differences between the application of self-regulated learning strategies by low and high achievers were explored. A multi-method research design was applied. Quantitative data were statistically analysed by factor analysis (n = 246) and effect sizes. Medium to small effect sizes were found in quantitative data. Qualitative data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. Low achievers rated their self-regulatory behaviour higher than high achievers, yet qualitative data revealed that high achievers are more self-regulated. The value of this research lies in the identification of low achievers’ use of self-regulated learning, and recognising the need to create awareness of the self-regulated learning skills necessary to support these students.     

Differences in students' metacognitive strategy knowledge,motivation, and strategy use: A typology of self-regulated learners

Metacognitive strategy knowledge, motivation, and learning strategies play an important role in self-regulated learning (SRL). However, little is known about different profiles of self-regulated learners in schools that prepare students for the university entrance certificate. The aim of this study was to examine intraindividual differences in the patterns of students' SRL. In this 2-wave longitudinal study, 897 students were involved. Latent class analyses revealed four-cluster solutions at the beginning as well as at the end of the school year. Maximal self-regulated learners with the highest levels on all cognitive, metacognitive, and motivational components of SRL reported the highest grades in the academic subject of German (first language) at both measurement points, followed by motivated and strategic learners. Students with a low level on several SRL components reported the lowest grades. Further, the results indicated changes in profiles of SRL over time.     

University students' depression: a cross-cultural investigation

Australian, Iranian and Portuguese university students (n?=?967) completed the University Students Depression Inventory (USDI) in English, Persian and Portuguese languages, respectively. A series of MANOVA analyses were used to examine differences in depression symptoms as an effect of the country and demographic variables. Interactions were also examined. The results indicated that country, gender and year level had some impact on the depressive symptoms of the university students. Australian students were more depressed than the Iranian and Portuguese students, while Iranian students were more depressed than the Portuguese students. Sub-scales of USDI – Lethargy, Motivation and Cognitive/Emotional – were also used to compare the depressive symptoms of students. The Australian female students reported a significantly higher level of lethargy than their male counterparts. Similarly, the first-year male students from Iran were significantly more lethargic than the first-year Iranian female students. Iranian and Portuguese male students, compared to the female students of these countries, experienced a lower level of motivation. The Australian and Iranian students, compared to the Portuguese students, reported a significantly higher level of cognitive and affective symptoms. The scores on the Cognitive/Emotional sub-scale increased with the year level. Differences among students' depression are described and implications discussed.     

Gender Differences in the Use and Effectiveness of Personal Response Devices

The use of personal response devices (or “clickers”) in the classroom has increased in recent years. While few quantitative studies on the effectiveness of clickers have been published, it is generally reported that clickers have been well-received by the students who use them. Two separate populations (Winter 2006 and Spring 2006) of engineering students were given clickers to use during a general chemistry class. Clicker use was compared to student grades for each course. During both terms, a higher percentage of female students than male students “actively participated” in the lectures, where active participation was defined as answering more than 75% of the clicker questions over the course of the term. Active male students earned final grades about 10 points higher than non-active male students. Active female students, however, scored only about 5 points higher than non-active female students. Student learning was assessed by comparing performance on exam questions and clicker questions with similar content. Students who answered clicker questions correctly were 11–13% more likely to answer the corresponding exam questions correctly than were students who did not answer the clicker question. In this paper, we demonstrate the effectiveness of clicker use in the classroom and examine gender differences associated with this use.     

The Synergistic Effects of Self-Regulation Tools and the Flipped Classroom

ABSTRACT

Students at open-enrollment institutions enter college with a wide range of academic preparedness and are often required to take developmental classes to increase their academic skills to be successful in higher education. Further, few students possess self-regulated learning skills to aid in their learning. Researchers posited that academically at-risk students benefit from gains in self-regulated learning skills when a modeling and scaffolding approach is used to implement self-regulated learning tools. Self-regulated skills coupled with an active learning environment like the flipped classroom provide positive synergistic effects for academically at-risk students. This study compared several iterations of the flipped classroom in a general chemistry class at an open-enrollment college where high school class rank and mathematics placement level varied significantly. The results of the multiple regression analysis indicated that mathematics level and class rank were significant when predicting overall course grade regardless of the learning environment. The results of a paired-samples t test did not reveal a significant difference upon addition of note-taking and exam wrappers in a flipped classroom learning environment. However, students graduating high school in the top third, middle third, and bottom third of their graduating class increased their overall course grades in a flipped classroom using self-regulated tools by 7%, 3%, and 6%, respectively. To enhance the quantitative results, the author provides student comments on note-taking and the use of exam wrappers.     

Group composition and its effect on female and male problem-solving in science education

Background:?Cooperative learning may help students elaborate upon problem information through interpersonal discourse, and this may provoke a higher level of thinking. Interaction stimulates students to put forward and order their thoughts, and to understand the ideas or questions of their peer learner. However, partner gender is an important variable in cooperative learning. Previous research indicates that female students profit less than male students from mixed-gender cooperative learning in physics, especially where problem-solving is involved. Female and male students have different communication styles. For example, male students tend to give their opinions and explanations directly, while females tend to avoid presenting their opinion and are more likely to initiate cooperative problem-solving by asking questions.

Purpose:?The main aim of this study was to ascertain whether partner gender influences female students' learning to solve science problems and the role female communication style plays in the cooperative learning process.

Sample:?A total of 62 high schools students (31 female, 31 male) from three schools in the Netherlands participated in the study. Students were selected from three physics classes in grade 10, with a mean age of 15.6. Students came from various family backgrounds.

Design and methods:?An experiment was carried out to test the effect of group composition on female and male students' cooperative problem-solving in science. The students were randomly assigned to dyads and three research conditions: 15 mixed-gender pairs (MG); eight female–female pairs (FF) and eight male–male pairs (MM). Students were given training in how to solve a problem as a team, and how to complete the answer sheet. All students solved the same problems in four 50-minute sessions. In each session, students were asked to solve three new and moderately structured problems working together. Each dyad had a university student as an observer. The observer's task was to log the students' time on task and to document the interactions between the students. The observers did not interfere with the communication between the students during problem-solving.

Results:?Analyses of pre- and post-test performance revealed that female students in the MG condition did not learn to solve physics problems as well as male partners or as female students in all-female dyads. Analyses of interactive behaviours showed that female students in the MG condition devoted less time to actively seeking solutions and spent more time asking questions than their male partners.

Conclusions:?Difference in solution-seeking behaviour could explain an important part of the difference in problem-solving performance between the female and male students in this study. Female students in the all-female dyads did not differ in interactive behaviour or post-test performance from males. They had a more balanced interactive style than females in the mixed-gender dyads. Suggestions for further research are discussed. It would be interesting to examine if the findings of this study carried over to areas in which females are traditionally more comfortable, such as biology.     

Grades and Withdrawal Rates in Cell Biology and Genetics Based Upon Institution Type for General Biology and Implications for Transfer Articulation Agreements

General biology courses (for majors) are often transferred from one institution to another. These courses must prepare students for upper division courses in biology. In Colorado, a Biology Transfer Articulation Agreement that includes general biology has been created across the state. An evaluation was conducted of course grades in two upper division biology courses at University of Colorado Denver (UCD) (N = 2129) based upon course grades in general biology and the type of institution where general biology was taken (2-year school, 4-year, in-residence at UCD, Advanced Placement [AP] credit, College Level Examination Program [CLEP] credit, or International Baccalaureate [IB] credit). Students who transferred general biology credits received lower grades in upper division biology courses and withdrew from upper division biology courses more frequently. The root causes for these disparities in student outcomes should be investigated further using demographic data and qualitative data. The study should be expanded to all Colorado institutions to ensure the effectiveness of the Biology Transfer Articulation Agreement.     

The development in self-regulated learning behaviour of first-year students in the lowest level of secondary school in the Netherlands

This study focuses on development in self-regulated learning behaviour of students in the first year of the lowest level of secondary school in the Netherlands. Students from low socio-economic backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, are overrepresented at this level and their motivation has often been reported to be quite low. Furthermore, the percentage of dropouts is highest at this level: three times higher than in more academically oriented levels. 735 students filled in a questionnaire at the start, the middle and at the end of the school year. Development in self-regulated learning behaviour was best explained by the degree to which students intrinsically valued school work.     

女博士生学术表现比男博士生好还是差?——基于全国博士毕业生调查数据的分析

女博士生在追求科研卓越的道路上较男博士生面临着更多的困难和挑战,“其学术表现比男博士生好抑或差”是博士生教育领域一个亟待回答的基本问题。对此议题进行研究,一方面有助于我们关注、了解和认识女博士生群体在接受博士生教育的过程中可能存在的特殊之处;另一方面有助于为我们制定男女博士生差异化指导政策提供实证依据。本文运用标准负二项回归等分析技术对“2017年中国博士毕业生调查课题”的8207份博士生数据进行分析发现:在学术产出方面,女博士生的国际/国内期刊论文数量及专利数量均比男博士生显著更低;在按期毕业方面,女博士生延期毕业的概率比男博士生要显著高出18.48个百分点,其延期时长也比男博士生显著更长。     

The metacognitive control components of self-regulated learning

The paper describes the role of metacognitive control activity in self-regulated learning. Metacognitive components are seen as necessary but insufficient for self-regulated learning, and given special status in maintaining system efficiency. Students who can protect their intentions to learn in school from competing goals or interests, as well as distracting stimuli, are likely to accomplish school tasks adequately even if their grades fall short of perfect. Task accomplishment is important to continued motivation for schoolwork, and is also a gauge by which teachers evaluate students. A theory of the psychological processes that define volition provides a useful framework for interpreting data from various classroom investigations. Directions for future experimental research are discussed.     

如何提高学生的在线自我调节学习？ ——基于先前在线学习经历与家庭背景的比较

在线教学中学生要具备一定的在线自我调节学习能力才能取得好的学习成效，而学生的在线自我调节学习受诸多因素的影响。本研究从先赋性背景和后致性学校过程性因素的视角，基于“新冠疫情期间研究型大学本科生学习体验调查”项目中某大学的数据，考查学生家庭背景和先前在校在线学习经历与在线自我调节学习的关系。研究发现：家庭背景和先前在校的在线学习经历都显著影响学生在线自我调节学习，且先前在线学习经历的影响独立于家庭背景。超过七成的学生在新冠肺炎疫情前有过在线学习经历，且主要是来源于本校的正式在线学分课。这一研究结果的实践启示是：高校可以通过提供正式在线学习的机会抵消学生家庭背景的负面作用来培养学生的在线自我调节学习，这将有助于他们应对紧急情况下大规模在线教学时可能面临的挑战。     

Self-regulated learning and students’ perceptions of innovative and traditional learning environments: a longitudinal study in secondary education

This study investigated the relationship between the development of students’ self-regulated learning and students’ perceptions of the learning environment in terms of autonomy support, the emphasis on relevance and collaborative learning. In addition, we compared innovative learning environments that aim to enhance self-regulated learning with traditional learning environments. Questionnaires for measuring self-regulated learning and perceptions of the learning environment were administered by 648 students. Self-regulated learning was measured at the start of secondary education and again half way through the first year. The results point to the importance of how students perceive the learning environment for self-regulated learning. There was a positive relationship between autonomy support and relevance and self-regulated learning. Furthermore, students in innovative environments perceived more autonomy support, more emphasis on relevance and more collaborative learning than those in traditional environments. Students in innovative environments, however, reported no more self-regulated learning than students in traditional environments.     

Views of Omani post-basic education students about religious and cultural tolerance

The study aims to investigate the views of Omani post-basic education students (Grades 10–12) about religious and cultural tolerance. The sample consisted of 1390 male and female students in grades 10, 11 and 12, from four of Oman’s seven regions. A questionnaire was used to gather data, which consisted of 27 items divided into five domains. The results showed that students place a strong emphasis on the importance of religious and cultural tolerance, both within Oman society and worldwide. They are also not in favour of any type of aggression, religious and cultural symbols or the fuelling of disagreements between religions or cultures. The results also indicated that female students are more strongly concerned with tolerance than males, grade 12 students more concerned than those in grades 10 and 11, and students from Muscat more concerned than those in other less urban areas.     

网络教学平台辅助的自主协作学习在经济类基础课程中的应用

文章作者在实践过程中主张以课堂教学为中心,在网络教学平台中放置多元化的资源和媒体,为学生提供自主学习的环境和手段,同时注重教师的引导和监控职能。结合多元化的考核方式,分析表明这种教学方法的效果是正面的和明显的。     

小学生自主学习能力与父母教养方式调查研究

为了解小学生自主学习能力和父母教养方式的基本状况以及二者之间的关系,并为家庭教育提供依据,该研究采用问卷调查了湖北省省委和政府所在社区某重点小学三年级和五年级学生。结果表明:三年级学生的自主学习能力显著高于五年级;父母对女孩积极的教养方式多于男孩,父亲对高年级的孩子采用更多积极的教养方式,而母亲对不同年级儿童教养方式无显著差别;父母教养方式对自主学习能力有一定的预测作用。因此得出结论,自主学习能力和父母教养方式存在相关。所以家长应该积极调整教养方式,以促进孩子自主学习能力的发展。     

Under pressure: How faculty gender and contract uncertainty impact students’ grades

Although rising average grades appear to be common at post-secondary institutions in the U.S., there is still little work examining mechanisms driving this increase in grades. This paper uses data from a public research university to examine one mechanism in particular: instructor level incentives that are linked to gender and contract status. We hypothesize that instructors with more job uncertainty due to their rank will be most incentivized to award higher grades, as this may lead to better evaluations of teaching and an increase in retention probability. Our results indicate that students receive higher grades when their class is taught by a female instructor with more job uncertainty than if the class were taught by a tenured female faculty member. These higher grades appear to reflect more lenient grading rather than better preparation for follow-on courses. However, for students taking classes with male instructors, there is no significant difference across instructor rank in grades received. Our results have important implications for thinking about the role faculty contracts may play in affecting grading distributions.