‘You need to criticize, not just summarize!’ Investigating ‘Criticality’ in written assignments of postgraduate students

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 61-92
Author(s):  
Josephine Mirador
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1426-1440
Author(s):  
VASILIKI KOUKOUSOURI ◽  
ANDREAS KARAOULANIS

Abstract The purpose of this research is to investigate the views of the postgraduate students of the Hellenic Open University during the 2016-17 academic year on the possibilities of using internet based platforms and computer technology in general for the preparation of their written work in such a distance learning degree. Our sample was students 24 women and 6 men. All students in the same degree in the above mentioned academic year. Students were asked to complete a written questionnaire that was posted on the internet, while they were ensured for their anonymity. Data analysis was done by following a quantitative approach via the usage of the SPSS24 statistical software. The most important findings of the research were that of all forms of internet and computer based technology that was used in order to assist students during their studies, the forum, the emails and the usage of phone conversations with students and lectures were the ones that were mostly related with their written assignments. In terms of their educational needs in general, they were covered by email, forums, telephone communication and they also chose to videoconferencing. Generally speaking, they have shown that internet and computer technology are essential in distance learning education. Finally, students wanted to improve their communication with their lectures, would like to increase their telephone communication with them and to give answers to their questions via the forum usage. Keywords: Internet, communication, e-mail, forum, distance education, Hellenic Open University, telephone


2021 ◽  
pp. 146978742110547
Author(s):  
Shane McIver ◽  
Berni Murphy

Multiple benefits have been attributed to self-assessment and its ability to help develop evaluative judgement among learners. However, student and staff perceptions and what to expect throughout the self-assessment process deserves further scrutiny, particularly at the postgraduate level. To understand how students engage with self-assessment as a new skill, this study examined the experiential observations among postgraduate students and the teaching staff who implemented a self-assessment intervention designed to improve assessment and feedback procedures. Students were invited to self-assess their own written assignments prior to submission. Markers subsequently graded the work, and to provide a useful comparison, incorporated comments regarding the students’ own self-assessment within the feedback. Students from two postgraduate units subsequently completed an online survey ( n = 42) describing their impressions and insights regarding the self-assessment process. To expand upon survey findings, six ( n = 6) were randomly selected to participate in in-depths interviews. Teaching staff were invited to participate in separate interviews ( n = 5). Self-assessment triggered critical thinking and reflection among students and staff alike in different and specific ways. Inductive thematic analysis identified key domains relevant to both cohorts with multiple sub-themes. These related to (a) the ways self-assessment challenged habitual approaches to assessment tasks, (b) the capacity for providing and receiving increasingly meaningful feedback and (c) the need for initial teaching support and resources for ongoing guidance. Educators considering embedding self-assessment will find insights arising from the results useful for unit planning and future assessment design.


2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 40-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Wm. Folkins

A class of 58 students in Introduction to Communication Disorders was divided into eight teams of approximately seven students each. The teams sat together all semester and participated in at least one team activity (team discussions, in-class written assignments, and team quizzes) in every class period. Teams also were used for taking roll and reviewing for examinations. There was no decline in student evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the course or in examination scores when compared to when this course was taught with half the number of students and no teams. Students evaluated the team experience highly and appeared to enjoy competition among teams. Using teams was successful in creating experiences that foster student learning as embodied in Chickering and Gameson’s principles of good practice.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-79
Author(s):  
Megan O'Mahony ◽  
Debora Jeske

The goal of this qualitative study was to examine the experience of study-work-life balance among international students who were separated from their family both geographically and temporally. Using 10 semi-structured interviews with postgraduate students and thematic analysis, several themes were identified. These included boundary management shifts due to study/work demands and time zone differences. In addition, students reported social and personal challenges (in terms of family’s expectations, relationships maintenance, socialization in host country). Temporal boundaries contributed to social withdrawal and isolation among students, many of which were heavily reliant on their own family network for support. The findings strengthen the argument that time difference impacts the boundary management and social experience of international students.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-74
Author(s):  
Md Faizus Sazzad ◽  
Mohammed Moniruzzaman ◽  
Dewan Iftakher Raza Choudhury ◽  
Arif Ahmed Mohiuddin ◽  
Raafi Rahman ◽  
...  

Background: The number of postgraduate students in Cardiac surgical discipline is increasing day by day with incremental proportion are measurably suffering from the unnecessary lingering of the present course curriculum. The primary objective of this study was to find out the last 5 years’ of results of Masters in Surgery course under the University of Dhaka from a student room survey. A secondary objective was to find out positive changes that could show us the way of a step toward up-gradation. Methods: It is a retrospective analysis of all examination results of Cardio-vascular & Thoracic Surgery published since January 2008 to January 2013 from the University of Dhaka with in depth interview of 11 participants. Results: 85.24% students failed to pass part-I of Masters in Surgery for Cardio-vascular & Thoracic Surgery course while, 82.18% in part-II and 71.28% failed to pass the final part. Average 2.51 attempts needed to complete each part of the designed course resulted into lingering of course duration for 42.18 months/student. In the thoracic surgery discipline the number of students alarmingly reduced up to 0% in the recent academic sessions. Conclusions: Masters in Surgery is resulting in unnecessary prolongation of the course. We should step forward to meet the next generation challenge. Journal of Surgical Sciences (2019) Vol. 23(2): 71-74


Mousaion ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kehinde Abayomi Owolabi ◽  
Basirat.Olubukola Diyaolu ◽  
Nurudeen Adeniyi Aderibigbe ◽  
Mudasiru A Yusuf

The advent of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has revolutionised how library resources are made and transmitted to end-users. It has effectively improved the standard of education and research in tertiary institutions worldwide by providing various essential resources, including e-books, journals and databases. However, it has been observed that students still abstain from making the best usage of the digital library, instead using search engines rather than institutional digital libraries. This study investigated the factors influencing the behavioural intention of postgraduate (PG) students to use electronic information resources (EIRs). The Unified Theory of Acceptance of Technology (UTAUT) model was adopted. A cross-sectional research design was used to assess the factors influencing the use of EIRs. A sample of 362 PG students was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation approach. Data were collected from participants via the administration of 400 copies of the questionnaire. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and the Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modelling (CB-SEM) were used to analyse data collected. The findings revealed that performance expectancy (PE) and effort expectancy (EE) were the two constructs that influenced PG students’ behavioural intention to use EIRs. In contrast, social influence (SI) and facilitating condition (FC) did not change the PG students’ behavioural plan to use EIRs. The study recommended the need for adequate training for postgraduate (PG) students on the obligation to accept and use EIRs.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 214
Author(s):  
Anita Jokić

Teaching English as a foreign language is now one of the most important subjects in Croatian secondary schools since English is one of the three obligatory subjects at 'matura' - standardized tests which the seniors need to pass to graduate. Writing is one of the three parts of the EL exam, the other two being listening and reading. When learning a language, students start from listening skill, move on to speaking and reading and finally to most difficult skill to master: writing. Teaching and learning writing faces a lot of challenges since it requires a lot of time to practice and even more to evaluate and monitor progress. Teacher's responsibilities are to regularly provide opportunities to write, encourage students to learn from their mistakes and promote their success. In order to do so, students should be given clear instructions on evaluation/assessment and concise feedback. Since grading written assignments takes up a lot of time, the author proposes rubrics which can be used to assess various types of writing taught at secondary level (description of place/event/person, letters of complaint, job application, invitation, discursive/opinion/for-and-against essay etc.). Author suggests four fixed rubrics and subdivisions: Task completion, Cohesion / coherence, Grammar and Vocabulary. All rubrics and subdivisions are described in the paper. A survey was also conducted on a sample of 140 students and has given an insight into students’ opinion on importance of assessment and feedback and its influence on their progress.


2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
JAVED MUHAMMAD ◽  
NAWAZ MUHAMMAD ATIF ◽  
QURAT-UL-AIN ANSA ◽  
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