scholarly journals How Generic is I(nformation) T(echnology)?

10.28945/3309 ◽  
2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iwona Miliszewska ◽  
Anne Venables ◽  
Grace Tan
Keyword(s):  
Educational Outcomes ◽  
Environmental Science ◽  
First Year ◽  
Food Science ◽  
Science Students ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
Science Degree ◽  
The World ◽  
It Skills

Victoria University will introduce a generic Science Degree in 2009. Students in the degree will share a common first year and then choose a specialization, for instance biotechnology, chemistry, computing, food science, or environmental science. This paper reflects on the need for the development of enabling information technology (IT) skills among first-year students in the Degree. Many students already use IT to communicate, collaborate, work, and learn. However, they need to learn how to use technology intelligently, creatively, and ethically to accomplish intellectual pursuits; in addition, they should develop these skills at the beginning of their course, so as to optimize their learning throughout their studies and maximize educational outcomes. How could these skills be developed in students of a generic science degree? Are IT skills generic, too? The paper discusses the growing need for the development of advanced IT skills in science students; it shows the disparity between current university practice and the expectations of the world at large; it examines the generic nature and transferability of advanced IT skills; and, it proposes explicit incorporation of these skills into the curriculum of a generic science degree, including suggestions for effective implementation.

scholarly journals Book Review: Planning Academic Library Orientations: Case Studies from Around the World

2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 259
Author(s):  
Holly Luetkenhaus
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
First Year ◽  
Orientation Program ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Online Tutorials ◽  
The World ◽  
The Many

For those engaging with first-year students and planning first-year programs in academic libraries, the library orientation is a key part of the work we do. “Library orientation” is often a catch-all term that is used to describe many types of library activities aimed at new college students, including in-class sessions, tours, online tutorials, and more. For a librarian revising an existing orientation program or starting from scratch, the possibilities are almost limitless, and it can be daunting to weed through the many options and settle on one that works for your library, your institution, and your students.

Impact of Nutrition Education On University Students’ Fat Consumption

2009 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 187-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teri E. Emrich ◽  
M.J. Patricia Mazier
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
First Year ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Fat Consumption ◽  
Nutrition Course ◽  
University Science ◽  
Saturated Fat Intake

Purpose: University science students who have taken a nutrition course possess greater knowledge of fats than do those who have not; whether students apply this knowledge to their diet is unknown. We measured and compared science students' total and saturated fat intake in the first and fourth years, and evaluated whether taking a nutrition course influenced fat consumption. Methods: A sample of 269 first- and fourth-year science students at a small undergraduate university completed a survey with both demographic questions and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire about fats in the diet. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests and independent-sample t-tests. Results: Fourth-year science students consumed fewer grams of total and saturated fat than did first-year science students (p<0.001). Science students who had taken a nutrition course consumed fewer grams of total and saturated fat than did those who had not (p<0.001). Conclusions: Taking a nutrition course may decrease first-year students’ fat consumption, which may improve diet quality and decrease the risk of chronic disease related to fat consumption.

Comparison of concentrations of toxic elements in the hair of first-year students of RUDN University from different regions of the world: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexey Vladimirovich Galchenko ◽  
Elizaveta Ilinichna Sidorova ◽  
Anastasia Alekseevna Sherstneva ◽  
Andrew Anatolevich Skalny ◽  
Julia Nikolaevna Lobanova
Keyword(s):  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
First Year ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
The World

scholarly journals Inventive Thinking 21st Century Skills Among Preparatory Course Science Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-170
Author(s):  
Punia Turiman ◽  
Kamisah Osman ◽  
Tengku Siti Meriam Tengku Wook
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
21St Century Skills ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Higher Order Thinking ◽  
First Year ◽  
Science Students ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
School Location ◽  
Preparatory Course

Inventive thinking is one of the constructs in 21st century skills. The 21st century skills are the skills needed by future workforce in the new global economy that driven by knowledge, technology and innovation. Inventive thinking comprises of six elements which are flexibility, self-regulation, curiosity, creativity, risk taking and higher order thinking. This study aimed to measure the level of inventive thinking among preparatory course science students at two MARA colleges. Besides, this study has also examined the effect of gender and previous school location on the level of inventive thinking. This quantitative approach study employed 21st century skills instrument. Total of 240 respondents of first year students that attended to these colleges have answered the questionnaires. Findings revealed that the levels of all subconstructs in inventive thinking were high except for creativity that revealed a moderate level. Meanwhile, there were no effects of gender and former school location on the levels of inventive thinking. However, these findings have given insight that the level of creativity should be enhanced. Science students should master all subconstructs in inventive thinking in order to become great innovators who can contribute to the nation’s prosperity.

scholarly journals Impact of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on the levels of anxiety, depression, and subjective happiness in Russian first-year students of the Psychology Department

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anton Skolzkov
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Therapy ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
First Year ◽  
Psychology Department ◽  
Subjective Happiness ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
The World ◽  
World Economic ◽  
Effective Program

<p>Social studies show an increasing number of people with anxiety disorders and depression around the world. Selected data on Russia confirm this trend. Despite the overall improvement in the world economic situation in recent decades, the stress level has not decreased. Freshmen are particularly vulnerable to stress. This pilot study assesses the mindfulness training effectiveness, which was aimed at maintaining mental and physical health of Russian students. Participants: 107 freshmen of the Psychology Department of the Ural Federal University named after B.N. Yeltsin. The data collection was completed in November 2019. Methods: A non-randomized controlled trial was conducted using Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) program. Results: MBCT reduced depression and increased subjective happiness among the first-year psychology students. More frequent mindfulness meditation practice and the study of the theoretical materials are associated with higher rates of positive results of the program. Conclusion: MBCT can be an effective program in working with first-year students of the Psychology Department of the Ural Federal University. Nevertheless, an additional research is required before putting the program into practice on a broad basis in Russian universities.</p>

scholarly journals Impact of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on the levels of anxiety, depression, and subjective happiness in Russian first-year students of the Psychology Department

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anton Skolzkov
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Therapy ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
First Year ◽  
Psychology Department ◽  
Subjective Happiness ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
The World ◽  
World Economic ◽  
Effective Program

<p>Social studies show an increasing number of people with anxiety disorders and depression around the world. Selected data on Russia confirm this trend. Despite the overall improvement in the world economic situation in recent decades, the stress level has not decreased. Freshmen are particularly vulnerable to stress. This pilot study assesses the mindfulness training effectiveness, which was aimed at maintaining mental and physical health of Russian students. Participants: 107 freshmen of the Psychology Department of the Ural Federal University named after B.N. Yeltsin. The data collection was completed in November 2019. Methods: A non-randomized controlled trial was conducted using Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) program. Results: MBCT reduced depression and increased subjective happiness among the first-year psychology students. More frequent mindfulness meditation practice and the study of the theoretical materials are associated with higher rates of positive results of the program. Conclusion: MBCT can be an effective program in working with first-year students of the Psychology Department of the Ural Federal University. Nevertheless, an additional research is required before putting the program into practice on a broad basis in Russian universities.</p>

scholarly journals Applying the Rasch model to analyze the effectiveness of education reform in order to decrease computer science students’ dropout

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Takács ◽  
Judit T. Kárász ◽  
Szabolcs Takács ◽  
Zoltán Horváth ◽  
Attila Oláh
Keyword(s):  
Education Reform ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Rasch Model ◽  
Public University ◽  
First Year ◽  
Science Students ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
The Rasch Model ◽  
Analyze Data

AbstractAttrition is an important issue in higher education, especially in the field of computer science (CS). Here, we investigate to what extent an education reform affects the attrition of students by analyzing the pattern of grades of CS students’ academic achievement from 2010 to 2018 by IRT, based on Rasch-model analysis. We analyze data from 3673 undergraduate students of a large public university. In 2016 an education reform—as an intervention—was added to our BSc program: all theoretical lectures became compulsory to attend and we introduced a learning methodology course for all first-year students. According to our results, after the education reform most subjects became accomplishable, and students with lower levels of ability also tried to take exams. We succeeded in retaining 28% of our students. Analyzing students’ results could help administrators develop new programs in order to increase retention.

University Science Students’: Knowledge of Fats

2007 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 154-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Patricia Mazier ◽  
Sheena L. McLeod
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Nutrition Knowledge ◽  
Dietary Fats ◽  
First Year ◽  
Science Students ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Nutrition Course ◽  
Different Types ◽  
University Science ◽  
Senior Students

Purpose: Students entering university often lack knowledge about fats; whether students gain such information during four years at university is unclear. Students’ knowledge of fat in the first and fourth years was measured and compared. The effect of a nutrition course on knowledge was also examined. Methods: A total of 215 science students at a small undergraduate university completed a 15-item, closed-ended questionnaire concerning knowledge of fats in the diet. Results: Fourth-year science students have greater nutrition knowledge of fats than do first-year science students (p<0.005). Given that the majority of first-year students reside on campus and the majority of fourth-year students reside off campus, the purchasing of food and preparation of meals may explain the senior students’ greater knowledge of fat. Students who have taken a nutrition course know more about fats than do those who have not (p<0.001). Conclusions: Taking even one course in nutrition greatly increases nutrition knowledge. Universities could encourage undergraduate students to take a basic nutrition course, which should emphasize the identification and understanding of different types of dietary fats.

Campus bottled water bans, not always the solution

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 987-997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth Choate ◽  
Brittany Y. Davis ◽  
Jacqueline Verrecchia
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Science ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
First Year ◽  
Student Body ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
University Campuses ◽  
College And University ◽  
Negative Perceptions

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify how to reduce bottled water use on our campus, given that the majority of students were bringing it onto campus from outside sources. Bottled water bans have been implemented on several college and university campuses in an effort to reduce the consumption of bottled water and the associated waste. Observations on the campus of Allegheny College demonstrated that while bottled water was being consumed, students were not purchasing those bottles on campus. Design/methodology/approach To identify methods to reduce bottled water prevalence on campus, alter negative perceptions of local tap water and create behavioral changes among student, an environmental science class surveyed the student body. Students were asked about their preferred type of drinking water and why they preferred one type to another, as well as additional questions about reusable bottle ownership and usage. Findings The data identified that disposable bottled water was most commonly consumed by first year students, with rates of use decreasing the longer students are on campus. Many students were concerned about the safety of tap water and did not like the taste. Originality/value As a result of this survey, Allegheny College has increased the number of filtered, bottle refill stations throughout campus and provides a high-quality, metal water bottle to all students upon beginning their first year. Students are also provided information about the safety of Meadville tap water, as well as the environmental and social benefits of choosing tap water over bottled water.

scholarly journals Development of an interactive mathematics learning system based on a two-tier test diagnostic and guiding strategy

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tzu-Chi Yang ◽  
Hseng-Tz Fu ◽  
Gwo-Jen Hwang ◽  
Stephen J. H. Yang
Keyword(s):  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Mathematics Learning ◽  
Learning System ◽  
Learning Performance ◽  
First Year ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Mathematical Skills ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Effective Learning ◽  
Learning Mathematics

<p>Mathematical skills have been recognised as a core competence for engineering and science students. However, learning mathematics has been recognised as a difficult and challenging task for most students, in particular, calculus for first-year students in university. Consequently, the development of effective learning strategies and environments for mathematics courses has become an important issue. To this end, a mathematics learning system based on an instant diagnostic and guiding strategy is proposed to enhance students’ calculus learning outcomes. Moreover, an experiment has been conducted in a university calculus course to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The experimental results show that the proposed approach not only improved the students’ learning performance, but also improved their confidence in learning calculus. Further findings are also discussed.</p>

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