Assessment of Student Engagement: An analysis of trends

Quality is a multi-dimensional concept and embraces all functions and activities of higher education (academic programs, research, and community services) in all their features and components. Traditionally quality was a measure of resources and reputation. In recent years there has been a shift in emphasis to institutional best practices such as setting high expectations, providing involving settings, inclusive learning environments and forms of pedagogy that enhance student learning and development. The concept of student engagement is thus receiving increased attention globally as it is viewed as an important element in assessing and improving institutional effectiveness. Trend and longitudinal analyses, as employed in this study, allow an institution to monitor change or stability in performance over time. They assist in determining whether a certain policy or initiative prompted desirable change and in assessing the impact of improvement initiatives such as accreditation.

     

烟台大学本科生学习性投入程度调查研究

本文主要针对“NSSE—China量表的信度”和“烟台大学在全国大学中处于怎样的水平”来进行分析和阐述。研究发现,烟台大学在校园环境的支持程度（SCE）上高于全国平均水平,且明显优于“211工程”院校平均水平;在学业挑战度（LAC）、主动合作学习水平（ACL）、生师互动（SFI）三个指标方面与“211工程”院校无明显差别;与地方本科同类院校相比,在教育经验的丰富程度（EEE）和校园环境的支持程度（SCE）上毫不逊色;在学业挑战度（LAC）、主动合作学习水平（ACL）、生师互动方面（SFI）上要低于地方本科同类院校平均水平。     

网络课程学习的参与度研究

专业课程的全英文授课常因阅读量较大、专业词汇难记而使得学生对课程学习的参与度低,学习效果不佳。本研究探索了利用互联网讨论组功能以及英文专业网站论坛来提高学生学习参与度的方法,同时利用Archer提出的反思性模型来研究学生参与教学活动的一系列反思模式。通过讨论内容的统计分析和与参与者面谈的方式,我们考察并提高了网络辅助学习环境中学生对全英文专业课程学习的参与效果。     

大学生学习性投入调查研究

本研究以NSSE-China为调查工具,以福州大学为案例,通过福州大学与985、211院校常模在五大可比指标、主要教育环节上的比较研究,发现福州大学在本科教育方面存在的问题,并就问题进行分析,提出了改进建议。     

高校研究生党建工作的创新性研究

随着我国教育事业的不断发展,研究生数量的不断增加,高校研究生党建工作面临着许多问题。本文提出了应对措施。通过优化高校研究生党组织的设置、丰富党建工作的形式和内容、加强党建的制度建设以及导师对学生的思想政治教育工作,促进高校研究生党建工作的顺利开展。     

学习投入研究的知识图景及趋势——基于科学引文数据库的分析

当前学习投入研究在国际范围内显现出旺盛的学术生命和巨大的发展潜质.以科学引文数据库近四十年的英文文献为依据,使用文献计量方法分析学习投入研究的文献数量、国家地区、主要作者等分布特征,描绘国际学习投入研究的知识图景及中国学者在其中的位置和贡献,发现该领域研究热点集中在建构理论概念、探索影响机制、多元研究对象以及实证研究方法四个方面;具有融合教育心理、高等教育、教育信息技术等多学科研究的稳定知识基础.从发展趋势看,基于"全美大学生学习投入调查"的研究体系正在被重新审视,同时"行为—情感—认知"三维度心理结构已被普遍接受,目前社会文化观正在成为新的研究视角,未来"科学—技术—工程—数学"(STEM)教育中的学习投入问题将受到更高关注.     

The National Survey of Student Engagement: A university-level analysis

The National Survey of Student Engagement has been administered to freshmen and seniors at colleges and universities across the USA and Canada, since the spring of 2000, to gather information about the nature and the quality of their education. After each administration, participating schools are provided with an institutional report, including results for five benchmarks of effective educational practice. The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of these benchmark scores at a particular university. The results of a confirmatory factor analysis suggest that the benchmarks are not valid indicators of students’ perceptions at this school. Discussion regarding uses of national data collections for individual institutions is provided.

     

大学生学习投入的影响因素及其作用机制

采用追踪研究设计,对南京邮电大学2008级学生进行了四次追踪调查。根据相关理论并结合问卷已有的变量,提出影响学习投入的因素(预测变量)主要是:学生人口学变量(性别、来源城乡、社会经济地位、来源高中、学科),学生的认知变量(向学/厌学),学生的感知变量(归宿感、满意度)。利用多层线性模型分析技术构建了学习投入的非线性发展模型进行追踪数据分析。依次构建了无条件非线性发展模型、仅含有人口学预测变量的非线性发展模型和含有全部预测变量的非线性发展全模型,进行预测变量效应的模型检验。结果表明:第一,人口学变量中,性别、学科、城乡、高中类型以及社会经济地位五个预测变量对学习投入的影响各不相同。性别和城乡因素较学科、高中类型和社会经济地位对学习投入的影响大,只有性别、城乡和学科分别对教育经验丰富度、学业挑战度和主动合作学习的变化有影响。第二,学生认知变量(向学/厌学)和学生感知变量(归属感和满意度)对学习投入的水平和大学期间的变化均有正向促进作用。向学/厌学对学习投入的影响最大,归属感影响次之,满意度影响最小;满意度对学习投入的一次增长具有正向促进作用,归属感对学习投入的一次增长具有负向反作用,向学/厌学对学习投入不同维度的一次增长作用不同。第三,模型检验结果提示,还存在影响学习投入水平及变化的其他因素。第四,针对三类变量对学习投入水平及变化的影响机制,提出:人口学特征是认识学生学习投入的基础;学生的认知是学生学习投入的关键;学生的感知是学生学习投入的催化剂;充分利用学习投入作用机制的特点,是学校认识学习投入背后的原因,促进学生学习投入的教育策略与需要把握的原则。     

Promoting Student Engagement Through Evidence-Based Action Research With Teachers

We present findings from a group-randomized teacher action research intervention to promote academic engagement and achievement among elementary school students. Eighteen teachers from 3 elementary schools were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups. Intervention teachers studied evidence-based instructional practices that cultivate academic engagement and conducted an action research project to implement selected practices in their classrooms. Control teachers participated in a self-study group and read about evidence-based practices to promote student engagement. Teachers in the action research group reported using more group-based instruction than self-study teachers. Students with initial low engagement and low reading grades demonstrated greater gains in these outcomes in action research classrooms than self-study classrooms. Implications for teacher development and the promotion of student academic outcomes are discussed.     

An Innovative Course Featuring Action Research Integrated with Unifying Science Themes

In this article, we describe an innovative capstone course for preservice K-8 teachers integrating action research and a unifying theme in science (AAAS in Science for all Americans. Oxford University Press, New York, 1989; NRC in National science education standards. National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1996). The goals of the capstone course are to increase student knowledge of the unifying theme, improve written communication skills, and introduce students to educational research. We provide evidence that each of these goals is met. Student growth in theme knowledge is demonstrated through concept maps, questionnaires, and previously reported assessments. Improved writing ability is demonstrated using the spelling and grammar checking feature of Microsoft Word. The analysis of action research reports demonstrates that students are able to connect their action research project results to previous research.     

The Impact of On-campus Student Growth on First-year Student Engagement and Success

During the past two decades institutions of all types have sought to expand and enhance residential facilities. Institutional focus on scale, configuration, amenities, and academic integration has sought to leverage prior research documenting the multiple and often positive impacts of on-campus residence. Although institutional size has been documented to differentially impact student engagement [Kezar, A. J. (2006). NASPA Journal 43(1): 87–114], few studies, however, have directly explored the effect of residential expansion on student engagement. This study, based on a sample of 731 first-time freshmen explores NSSE results before and after the opening of a residential facility that doubled on-campus living at a single, metropolitan institution. Results indicate limited positive differences after opening, and suggest that structure, in the form of size, does not, in and of itself, contribute significantly to shifting engagement. Additionally, these results suggest an alternative method for using NSSE data in institutional analyses.     

创新型研究生实验教学模式的研究

针对目前研究生实践能力和自主创新能力普遍较弱的情况下,通过对实验教学模式进行深入的研究和探索,提出了一种基于CBL和PBL相结合的改进的实验教学模式,使研究生独立研究和设计,进而逐步具备独立完成科研任务和掌握学科前沿的能力。     

The Construct Validity of Student Engagement: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis Approach

As institutions seek to promote student engagement on campus, the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is increasingly being used to chart progress and compare results using the Five Benchmark Scores. While recent research has begun to decompose the five benchmarks in a variety of ways; few research studies have sought to explore the underlying structure of these five benchmarks, their interdependence, and the extent to which the items do reflect those five dimensions. This study begins to address the instrument’s construct validity by submitting a single, first-time freshman cohort’s NSSE responses to a confirmatory factor analysis, and proposes as an alternative, eight “dimensions” of student engagement that fit this set of data slightly better and in a more useful way. Results have practical implications for institutions utilizing NSSE, but also contain conceptual implications pertaining to the application of these benchmarks.     

Encouraging College Student Active Engagement in Learning: The Influence of Response Methods

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of two student response methods within selected college lecture halls. Kinesiology majors from three universities were asked to respond to questions during two consecutive lectures, one using “clickers” and the other using hand-raising. Participation and comprehension rates were statistically significantly different following the use of the different response methods. Participant survey responses revealed insight into student participation, question presentation, perceived cognitive engagement, and overall learning in traditional lecture settings using the response methods.     

澳大利亚高校学习投入调查实施与启示

作为评价澳大利亚高校教育教学的新方法,高校学习投入调查(AUSSE)从学术挑战、主动学习、师生互动、丰富教育经历、学习环境的支持性以及学习与就业的融合等六个方面揭示了学习投入与成果之间的联系。AUSSE突出了学生在学习过程中的主体地位,打破了传统的教育教学观念,有助于高校真正地了解学生学习情况,为高校教育教学改革提供参考。     

《现代教育技术》公共课课程改革与创新实践研究

我国高师院校开设现代教育技术课程已有二十余载,课程内容日益丰盈,地位不断提升。相比之下,课程内涵建设较为迟缓,这种失衡,导致过去积存在教育技术课程中的定位不清、教学内容不规范、教学方法不科学等根本性问题,变得愈发突出。在师范院校现代教育技术课程教学改革以及教材建设中,作者探索了一套较为成功的做法,并在实践中得以运用。