scholarly journals Reflection for learning: understanding the value of reflective writing for information literacy development

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela McKinney ◽  
Barbara A Sen

Reflective writing has long been acknowledged as an important aspect of personal and professional development. There is increasing evidence of the use of reflective writing assessments and activities in the context of information literacy (IL) education, particular in higher education (HE). Writing reflectively can help students to understand their own IL development and engage in deeper learning. Students on an undergraduate business intelligence module at the University of Sheffield completed a piece of reflective writing about their IL development as part of the assessed work for the module. This writing was mapped against a model of reflection and a model of IL to understand the depth and spread of reflection offered by these students. The results showed that students had chosen to reflect in some but not all areas of IL, and the depth of reflection was variable. However, the aspects of IL where students were reflective illustrated that the learning outcomes of the module had been met. Mapping reflective statements against models of reflection was found to aid in the analysis and assessment of the reflective writing. The analysis undertaken by the researchers supported their own reflective practice as scholars of teaching and learning.

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Anne Sen ◽  
Pamela McKinney

Reflective writing is a key professional skill, and the University of Sheffield Information School seeks to develop this skill in our students through the use of reflective assessments. Reflection has been used as a means of supporting Information Literacy development in the Higher Education context and recent pedagogical IL frameworks highlight the important role of reflection. This paper presents an analysis of Undergraduate students’ reflective writing on one module. The writing is mapped against two models of reflection to understand the nature and depth of the students’ reflection and through this understand their Information literacy development, with the overall aim of improving the teaching and learning experience for the future. Key findings are that students did reflect deeply and identified a number of ways in which they felt their IL had developed (e.g. developing a knowledge of specialist sources), ways they could have improved their information literacy practices (e.g. through storing information in a more organised fashion), and ways that we could improve our teaching (e.g. by providing appropriate scaffolding for the activities).


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 543-543
Author(s):  
Joann Montepare

Abstract Age-friendly University (AFU) campuses are reshaping how we think about teaching and learning in higher education. In particular, intergenerational classrooms are on the rise as shifting age demographics call for institutions to create new opportunities for older learners and encourage intergenerational exchange. Age diverse classrooms have distinctive needs and dynamics that instructors, and students, will need to learn how to navigate. This presentation will describe outcomes of one AFU institution’s attempt to identify the challenges and triumphs of intergenerational classrooms through facilitated instructor and student reflections in different classrooms over the course of several semesters. Recommendations will be offered for enhancing intergenerational exchange in classrooms across disciplines, as well as evaluating attitudes, logistics, and learning outcomes. Part of a symposium sponsored by Intergenerational Learning, Research, and Community Engagement Interest Group.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sa’adah Hassan ◽  
Novia Indriaty Admodisastro ◽  
Azrina Kamaruddin ◽  
Salmi Baharom ◽  
Noraini Che Pa

<p class="apa">Much attention is now given on producing quality graduates. Therefore, outcome-based education (OBE) in teaching and learning is now being implemented in Malaysia at all levels of education especially at higher education institutions. For implementing OBE, the design of curriculum and courses should be based on specified outcomes. Thus, the challenge for the assessment is that it should be capable of measuring whether intended outcomes have been achieved or not. Likely, by assisting lecturer in preparing examination paper that aligns with the specified outcomes is something that can help to ensure the implementation of OBE. Hence, this paper describes the development of a tool for generating question examination paper based on learning outcomes, called Learning Outcome-based Question Examination paper Tool (LoQET). LoQET is proposed for assisting lecturer in Universiti Putra Malaysia for preparing examination paper based on programme outcomes and learning outcomes set in the teaching plan and assessment entries.</p>


Author(s):  
Alessia Plutino ◽  
Kate Borthwick ◽  
Erika Corradini

This volume collects selected papers from the 9th annual conference in the Innovative Language Teaching and Learning at University series (InnoConf), which was hosted by the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics at the University of Southampton on the 28th of June 2019. The theme of the conference was ‘Treasuring languages: innovative and creative approaches in Higher Education (HE)’. The conference aimed to address the consistent decline in recent years in applications to study languages at UK universities by igniting discussions and seeking innovative and creative approaches to raising awareness about the value of learning languages.


2021 ◽  
pp. 5-19
Author(s):  
Yurii Skyba ◽  
Hanna Lebedynets

Ensuring and improving the quality of teaching and learning, in particular the academics’ potential development, is reflected in strategic European and domestic documents, namely in the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, the Paris Communiqué, the Strategy for Higher Education in Ukraine for 2021-2031 and others. The expediency for academics’ potential development is confirmed by the results of a national survey on the needs for the development of Ukrainian universities in the process of reforming higher education in the context of European integration. The article highlights the problems of academics’ potential development. Based on foreign and domestic experience, the theoretical bases for academics’ potential development, in particular the conceptual and terminological apparatus and structural components of teaching metacompetence are substantiated. The concept «potential of an academic» is defined as a set of intellectual, intangible resources, conditions and opportunities created for the production and accumulation of new knowledge, ideas, technologies, competencies and other productive properties at the university, which combines two levels of connections functioning in unity. The first level of connections are resources that are the result of past and present, and the second – opportunities, i.e. those abilities and connections that are future-oriented, constantly changing, evolving, forming new abilities, characteristics, including elements of the future development. The following components are distinguished in the structure of teaching metacompetence: prognostic; design; objective; innovative; pedagogical partnership; organizational; information and digital; reflexive; linguistic and communicative; inclusive; motivational; health-preserving; emotional-ethical and evaluative-analytical. The development of the above components of teaching metacompetence will help ensure the quality of higher education and increase the competitiveness of the university in the educational services market.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 1425-1431
Author(s):  
Andi Rahman

The current Covid-19 pandemic has had many effects on human life globally, including the implementation of education. This study aimed to obtain the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on learning outcomes in higher education. The research method used is a cross-sectional study. The data were taken from the test results at the end of the lecture, observations, and interviews. The research was conducted at the University of Muhammadiyah Lampung, IPDN Jatinangor Campus, and the Ahmad Dahlan Institute of Technology and Business, with 120 students participating. The data analysis technique used the percentage technique and cross-tabulation. The study results concluded that student learning outcomes decreased in the 2020-2021 academic year compared to the 2019-2020 academic year. The decline in learning outcomes includes knowledge, skills, and psychology. This finding has implications for the understanding of education personnel regarding online teaching and learning design during the Covid-19 pandemic.


Author(s):  
Lucía Herrera Torres ◽  
Laila Mohamed Mohand

Abstract.The university is known for its complexity and continuous change. Junior faculty should be incorporated and adjusted to the university structure and functioning. In addition, they have to implement a set of teaching competencies to promote an effective process of teaching and learning, and the student achievement of specific learning outcomes. For this reason, this paper advocates the need to implement mentoring programs between senior and junior faculty as a process that involves learning, support and mutual enrichment. Thus, two mentoring projects developed at the University of Granada are described. It is shown to be effective in strengthening efforts towards faculty achieving goals and its well-being.Keywords: higher education, faculty, mentorship, teaching competenciesResumen.La institución universitaria se caracteriza por su complejidad y continuo cambio. El profesorado universitario junior ha de incorporarse y ajustarse a la estructura y funcionamiento de la universidad, a lo que se suma que ha de poner en práctica una serie de competencias docentes para favorecer un proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje eficaz y la consecución de determinados resultados de aprendizaje en el alumnado. Es por ello por lo que en el presente trabajo se defiende la necesidad de implementar programas de mentorizacion entre el profesorado senior y junior como un proceso que implica el aprendizaje, apoyo y enriquecimiento mutuo. En este sentido, se describen dos proyectos de mentorización desarrollados en la universidad de Granada. Se pone de manifiesto su eficacia para fortalecer los esfuerzos dirigidos hacia la consecución de una meta y el bienestar del profesorado.Palabras clave: educación superior, profesorado, mentorización, competencias docentes


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hairol Anuar Hj Mak Din ◽  
Khairul Hamimah Mohd Jodi ◽  
Faridah Che Hussain

The Malaysia  Education Blueprint 2015-2025 clearly shows the aspirations of the Higher Education Ministry on the importance of applying national identity among graduates at Higher Education Institutions. In line with the wishes, the course of Malaysia Studies is a major medium for the building of patriotism values among students. Hence, the Malaysian Studies Course was strengthened and used as one of the General Subjects (MPUs) conducted by all Institutions of Higher Learning. All citizens and non-citizens are required to attend and pass the Malaysian Studies Course as a graduation requirement. In order to make the course more interesting and interactive, the Teaching And Learning method is always improved to achieve the predetermined learning outcomes. Thus, a study using a quantitative approach has been undertaken to identify students' responses to the implementation of the Malaysian School of Excellence in KUIS. The Teaching And Learning implementation assessment for this course is based on scoring components, teaching staff and teaching aids. The findings show that Teaching And Learning implemented in Malaysian Studies courses is relevant and capable of applying the elements of identity and patriotism among students. Keywords: Teaching And Learning, General Studies subjects, Malaysian Studies Course


2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie Sonley ◽  
Denise Turner ◽  
Sue Myer ◽  
Yvonne Cotton

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report the results of a case study evaluating the revision of the assessment methods of an information literacy module. The revised assessment method took the form of a portfolio.Design/methodology/approachDuring 2004, all six credit modules at the University of Teesside had to be reviewed and restructured into ten credit modules. Following Biggs' principles of constructive alignment, the tutors looked at the existing module aims and learning outcomes. A review of the literature and previous experience informed the selection of the new assessment method by portfolio. An evaluation of the assessment method was undertaken after the module had run.FindingsThe paper finds that the assessment method had real strengths especially in terms of validity. It was also economical and efficient. Students knew what they were expected to do and where they needed to put in effort.Research limitations/implicationsThe assessment by a portfolio method has been carried out once with a relatively small cohort of students, so the findings can only be regarded as interim.Practical implicationsThe tutors believe that they have created a very useful module with an aligned assessment method which would be of benefit to a much greater number of studentsOriginality/valueThere is a shortage of publications that report the results of the use of portfolios for the assessment of information literacy.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaw Owusu-Agyeman ◽  
Enna Moroeroe

PurposeScholarly studies on student engagement are mostly focused on the perceptions of students and academic staff of higher education institutions (HEIs) with a few studies concentrating on the perspectives of professional staff. To address this knowledge gap, this paper aims to examine how professional staff who are members of a professional community perceive their contributions to enhancing student engagement in a university.Design/methodology/approachData for the current study were gathered using semi-structured face-to-face interviews among 41 professional staff who were purposively sampled from a public university in South Africa. The data gathered were analysed using thematic analysis that involved a process of identifying, analysing, organising, describing and reporting the themes that emerged from the data set.FindingsAn analysis of the narrative data revealed that when professional staff provide students with prompt feedback, support the development of their social and cultural capital and provide professional services in the area of teaching and learning, they foster student engagement in the university. However, the results showed that poor communication flow and delays in addressing students’ concerns could lead to student disengagement. The study further argues that through continuous interaction and shared norms and values among members of a professional community, a service culture can be developed to address possible professional knowledge and skills gaps that constrain quality service delivery.Originality/valueThe current paper contributes to the scholarly discourse on student engagement and professional community by showing that a service culture of engagement is developed among professional staff when they share ideas, collaborate and build competencies to enhance student engagement. Furthermore, the collaboration between professional staff and academics is important to addressing the academic issues that confront students in the university.


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