Influence of Redesigning a Learning Environment on Student Perceptions and Learning Strategies

In society, there is a growing need for graduates who possess competencies consistent with deep learning. This means that, amongst other competencies, graduates should be capable of dealing with the complexity of the tasks in which they will engage in professional situations. We tried to increase the depth of students learning by changing the format of a so-called assignment-based learning to a problem-based learning course. The goals of this research were to determine if students, firstly, perceived the redesigned course as being more challenging and, secondly, adjusted their learning strategies towards deeper learning. Participants were two groups of second-year International Business Studies students attending the International Business Strategy course in consecutive years. Students perceptions of the learning environment and their learning strategies were measured in both the original (n = 406 students) and the redesigned course (n = 312 students) using the Ramsden Course Experiences Questionnaire and the Biggs Study Processes Questionnaire. In contrast to our expectations, the results indicated that the students from the redesigned course showed a higher degree of surface learning and a lower level of deep learning than the students from the assignment-based learning course. Additionally, the students perceived the new learning environment to be less positive in terms of the clarity of its goals, the usefulness of the textbook and the workload. Improvement in terms of students perceptions of the learning environment and their learning strategies could be expected to be fostered by the implementation of a more advanced staff development program, focusing the curricular assessment system on problem-solving skills, supporting the students in the development of the skills necessary to cope with the demands of the redesigned course, and giving them more opportunities to experience this instructional approach.     

Toward an Understanding of Authentic Learning: Student Perceptions of an Authentic Classroom

Advocates of educational reform often describe classroom instruction as inauthentic. That is, most classroom learning activities are structured around artificial contexts for learning, and students only engage in tasks and remember information at superficial levels. Some teachers are attempting to break traditional classroom practices by creating authentic contexts for learning. To date, most of the research on authentic classrooms has described the processes teachers have used to develop the classroom environment (learning activities, resources, etc.); however, few have examined authentic classrooms from the students' perspective: “What do students think about authentic classrooms?” The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine a unique learning environment at a large, Midwest high school to understand how students perceived that environment. Most of the students reported a positive experience and described the classroom as fun and exciting with real-world relevance. However, there were several students who did not share these views, and many students were not successful.

     

Learning Environment Perceptions of European University Students

This article describes a study of the experiences of 610 Dutch students and 241 European students who studied at least three months abroad within the framework of an international exchange program. The Dutch students went to a university in another European country and the foreign students went to a Dutch university. Using a new questionnaire called the Inventory of Perceived Study Environment (IPSE), students, perceptions of eight characteristics of the university learning environment were measured concerning the home university, the host university and the ideal learning environment. With this instrument, the learning environment can be described in terms analogous to the learning strategies performed. Large differences were found between the different countries in university learning environments, but students from different countries had strikingly similar opinions concerning their desired learning environment. There was a strong preference for activating instruction with a low threshold in teacher-student interaction and more room for student alternatives.     

Teaching Learning Strategies to Increase Success of First-Term College Students

In this study, the authors examined the effect of taking a learning strategies course on grade point average, retention, and graduation rate of 351 first-year students over their first 4 terms in comparison with 351 matched non–course takers. The course taught 4 learning strategies and 8 substrategies to help students overcome procrastination, build self-confidence, take responsibility, learn from lecture and text, prepare for exams, write papers, and manage their lives. First-year students who took the course in their first term had statistically significantly higher grade point averages in each of their first 4 terms. They also demonstrated statistically significantly higher retention rates and were six times more likely to be retained. In addition, they had statistically significantly higher graduation rates than did their matched controls. In particular, graduation rates were 50% higher for students initially in academic difficulty. These findings reveal the value of teaching learning strategies to first-year students by means of a structured course based on educational psychology. This research holds potential importance for other universities and colleges seeking to improve the performance and persistence of first-year students.     

Multiculturalism Incorporated: Student Perceptions

Multicultural education has transformed higher education both in terms of research and in terms of student experiences. Given the complexity of our institutions, the overall effects of these transformations are mixed. Building on the successes and strengths of multicultural education as it is currently incorporated in institutions and programs will involve better understanding how it is perceived, positively and negatively, by those who are experiencing it first hand. In this article we seek to contribute to this reflection through a discussion of a survey of students’ perceptions of multiculturalism in a large first-year program in a research university. Patrick Bruch is Associate Professor of Writing Studies in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He received a B.A. in English from Western Michigan University and a Ph.D. in English from Wayne State University. His teaching and research focus on struggles for equality within and through higher education. Jeanne L. Higbee received her B.S. in Sociology from Iowa State University and earned both her M.S. in Counseling and Guidance and Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She currently serves as Professor and Senior Advisor to the Center for Research on Developmental Education and Urban Literacy, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota. Her research interests are related to student development and the access and retention of student populations that traditionally have been underserved in postsecondary educational institutions. Kwabena Siaka is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Educational Policy and Administration at the University of Minnesota.     

越南留学生汉语学习策略分析

本文根据目前在广西学习汉语的留学生以越南人为主的情况，用Oxford的语言学习策略量表（SILL）对越南留学生进行问卷凋查，以了解他们学习汉语时使用学习策略的情况。对调查结果的分析表明，越南留学生使用最多的是元认知策略和社交策略，其次是补偿策略和认知策略，使用比较少的是情感策略和记忆策略。本文还对越南留学生为何如此选择学习策略的原因作了初步分析。     

高职院校学生自主学习研究

自主学习是一种学习态度,又是一种独立学习的能力。高等职业院校的教育目标是培养学生的创新精神,提高学生自主学习能力、实践能力和获取知识的能力,形成终身学习的意识。培养高职院校学生学会学习是知识经济时代和学习化社会所赋予的任务,而强化高职院校学生自主学习的能力是实现这一任务的基础和保证。为此,文章通过对高职院校学生自主学习能力的现状分析,提出了进一步培养高职院校学生自主学习能力的相应对策与措施。     

高校学生评价问题及教学策略

分析了目前高校学生学业评价存在的问题,认为只有构建多元化学生评价体系,才能充分发挥学生评价对教学的促进作用,提出了基于多元化学生评价体系的教学改革策略.     

非英语专业词汇学习策略及教学策略调查

通过问卷调查和词汇量测试,运用定量的方法研究了非英语专业学习者词汇学习策略的使用情况和对教学策略的认同度,并分析了词汇量大的学生与词汇量小的学生在以上两个方面的差异。     

探讨学习策略,促进学生对学习策略的应用

本文分析了适合大学生的学习策略,探讨了促进大学生应用学习策略的方法,进而指出学习策略应成为学校教育过程中的一项重要内容。     

Student perceptions of classroom feedback

Feedback to students has been identified as a key strategy in learning and teaching, but we know less about how feedback is understood by students. The purpose of this study is to gain more insight into lower secondary students’ perceptions of when and how they find classroom feedback useful. This article draws on data generated through individual interviews with 11 students representing four lower secondary schools (grades 8–10, aged 13–15) in Norway. Feedback types are identified from students’ perceptions, coded and indexed. A feedback typology is designed to provide a framework which can be used to reflect on useful classroom feedback based on lower secondary school students’ perceptions.     

学习策略与大学英语教学

在过去的几十年中,国外研究者对学习策略进行了广泛地研究,确定了学习策略的概念,并对学习 策略做了分类研究,引入了元认知概念,提出了元认知策略。笔者归纳分析了这些理论,总结了他们的特点,并参 照这些理论同时结合教学实际设计了访谈项目,通过访谈发现了大学英语教与学中存在的问题,提出了解决的办 法,指出了学习策略,尤其是认知策略和元认知策略在大学英语教与学中的重要作用。     

普通高校大学生太极拳学习策略及其运用

学习策略对学习活动有至关重要的影响。以实践调查研究为依据,通过探索性因素分析的方法确定了大学生太极拳学习策略的认知策略、元认知策略和资源管理策略,并结合教学实际提出促使大学生在学习太极拳中建立良好学习策略的建议。     

公安院校英语自主学习策略培训的实证研究

本文是一项关于培养公安院校学生英语自主学习能力的策略培训的研究。笔者根据调查问卷的结果分析、设计适合警校学生的学习策略培训内容。经过策略培训实验,实验班学生在自主学习能力和英语水平方面都有着显著变化,这表明了该培训模式的有效性。     

浅析大学英语教学中的学习策略

长期以来,我国高校的英语教学主要采用以教师讲授、学生接受为主的教学方法,难以有效地提高学生的语言实践能力。本文旨在强调语言学习策略在大学英语教学中的重要性,探讨语言学习策略的定义和分类,并提出了一些对学习策略的教学与培训的可行性建议,目的是帮助学生有针对性地调控学习策略,提高学习效率。     

高职学生英语词汇学习策略运用调查

英语词汇是学习英语的基础,词汇学习策略的掌握影响着学习者的学习效果。全文通过对高职院校二年级学生词汇学习策略的问卷调查,用统计软件SPSS分析了词汇学习策略与成绩的相关性以及各策略的使用平均数。分析显示,猜词策略和产生焦虑感与词汇学习呈极其显著相关。认知策略使用率最高,元认知策略使用率最低。教师应培养学生选择正确的词汇学习策略,学生应积极主动调整策略。     

专科学生英语词汇学习策略

文章通过问卷调查和词汇测试练习,运用定量分析的方法研究了非英语专业专科学生英语词汇学习策略的使用特点和词汇策略与词汇成绩的相关性,并对专科英语词汇教学提出建议。     

Equivalent but not the Same: Teaching and Learning in Full Semester and Condensed Summer Courses

Research on teaching and learning in condensed-course formats is varied and difficult to generalize. We analyze this research and identify factors that may account for the varied findings. Additionally, we present a mixed methodology study of 20 matched-pair courses (i.e., full and condensed formats) from 11 disciplines which examines student learning and student and faculty perception data. We find that faculty and students perceive condensed courses as more effective, but that student learning varies depending upon the measures used to assess it. We conclude by considering the implications of our study for teaching and assessment practices.     

非英语专业学生学习策略研究

英语学习策略问题已成为当今英语教学研究中的焦点问题。通过对怀化学院部分非英语专业学生学习策略的现状调查,阐释了对大学生进行学习策略培训的必要性,最后根据大学生英语自主学习策略培训的原则,探讨了采取何种方法进行大学生学习策略培训。