scholarly journals Assessing University Students' Critical Online Reasoning Ability: A Conceptual and Assessment Framework With Preliminary Evidence

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitri Molerov ◽  
Olga Zlatkin-Troitschanskaia ◽  
Marie-Theres Nagel ◽  
Sebastian Brückner ◽  
Susanne Schmidt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Preliminary Validation

Critical evaluation skills when using online information are considered important in many research and education frameworks; critical thinking and information literacy are cited as key twenty-first century skills for students. Higher education may play a special role in promoting students' skills in critically evaluating (online) sources. Today, higher education students are more likely to use the Internet instead of offline sources such as textbooks when studying for exams. However, far from being a value-neutral, curated learning environment, the Internet poses various challenges, including a large amount of incomplete, contradictory, erroneous, and biased information. With low barriers to online publication, the responsibility to access, select, process, and use suitable relevant and trustworthy information rests with the (self-directed) learner. Despite the central importance of critically evaluating online information, its assessment in higher education is still an emerging field. In this paper, we present a newly developed theoretical-conceptual framework for Critical Online Reasoning (COR), situated in relation to prior approaches (“information problem-solving,” “multiple-source comprehension,” “web credibility,” “informal argumentation,” “critical thinking”), along with an evidence-centered assessment framework and its preliminary validation. In 2016, the Stanford History Education Group developed and validated the assessment of Civic Online Reasoning for the United States. At the college level, this assessment holistically measures students' web searches and evaluation of online information using open Internet searches and real websites. Our initial adaptation and validation indicated a need to further develop the construct and assessment framework for evaluating higher education students in Germany across disciplines over their course of studies. Based on our literature review and prior analyses, we classified COR abilities into three uniquely combined facets: (i) online information acquisition, (ii) critical information evaluation, and (iii) reasoning based on evidence, argumentation, and synthesis. We modeled COR ability from a behavior, content, process, and development perspective, specifying scoring rubrics in an evidence-centered design. Preliminary validation results from expert interviews and content analysis indicated that the assessment covers typical online media and challenges for higher education students in Germany and contains cues to tap modeled COR abilities. We close with a discussion of ongoing research and potentials for future development.

scholarly journals Health Behaviors of Higher Education Students from 7 Countries: Poorer Sleep Quality during the COVID-19 Pandemic Predicts Higher Dietary Risk

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-30
Author(s):  
Chen Du ◽  
Megan Chong Hueh Zan ◽  
Min Jung Cho ◽  
Jenifer I. Fenton ◽  
Pao Ying Hsiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
The United States ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Sitting Time ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Dietary Risk

Health behaviors of higher education students can be negatively influenced by stressful events. The global COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity to characterize and compare health behaviors across multiple countries and to examine how these behaviors are shaped by the pandemic experience. Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in universities in China, Ireland, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, the Netherlands and the United States (USA) were recruited into this cross-sectional study. Eligible students filled out an online survey comprised of validated tools for assessing sleep quality and duration, dietary risk, alcohol misuse and physical activity between late April and the end of May 2020. Health behaviors were fairly consistent across countries, and all countries reported poor sleep quality. However, during the survey period, the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the health behaviors of students in European countries and the USA more negatively than Asian countries, which could be attributed to the differences in pandemic time course and caseloads. Students who experienced a decline in sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic had higher dietary risk scores than students who did not experience a change in sleep quality (p = 0.001). Improved sleep quality was associated with less sitting time (p = 0.010). Addressing sleep issues among higher education students is a pressing concern, especially during stressful events. These results support the importance of making education and behavior-based sleep programming available for higher education students in order to benefit students’ overall health.

scholarly journals Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: E-Learning as a Tool

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 458-463 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Communication Tools ◽  
Modern Education ◽  
E Learning

Recently, the market of E-Learning is soaring and is known as a new paradigm in modern education. E-Learning acts as a medium, consisting of several types of computers and electronic media that are communication tools as well as the Internet, which provides training and informative access on certain subjects. By using E-Learning students can attend online classes anywhere, regardless of time and place. Generally, E-Learning is more geared towards self-training and is ideal for individuals who work full-time but desire to further their studies. Thus, this study has been developed and integrated with factors leading towards the effectiveness of E-Learning as a tool in Teaching and Learning (T&L) approach. A quantitative approach was applied by using a self-administered distribution of questionnaire targeted at higher education students. Therefore, the outcomes of this research will help to provide insightful information to the current education system in Malaysia, particularly in crafting strategies to enhance the learning education for the country in general.

HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF VALUES ON THE INTERNET

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Alves ◽  
Carlos Morais ◽  
Paula Renes ◽  
Luisa Miranda
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Education Students

Exploring the Secret of Successful University Brands

2014 ◽  
pp. 94-108
Author(s):  
Chris Chapleo
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
The United States ◽  
Higher Education Marketing ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Academic History ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Education Marketing ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
Qualitative Exploration ◽  
University Brand

This chapter contributes to the topical area of higher education marketing by exploring how branding adds value to universities. The primary focus of exploring branding concepts associated with successful higher education brands in a UK context was chosen for this work with a view to later comparison with other countries such as the United States, where branding of universities has a longer practical and academic history. The concept of “successful” brands was explored through the extant literature, and the subsequent research identified constructs underpinning a successful university brand. These constructs were then tested among a larger sample of UK university stakeholders. The findings explored the variables associated with successful university brands and suggested significant relationships among these variables. A further stage involved qualitative exploration of current perceptions and practices in HE branding, designed to maintain currency and build ongoing research possibilities. Overall, the chapter offers suggestions for both academia and practice on what underpins a successful university brand, and the variables associated with these brands.

scholarly journals A posthumanist pedagogy using digital text analysis to enhance critical thinking in higher education

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 845-880
Author(s):  
Kieran O'Halloran
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Text Analysis ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Analysis Software ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Digital Text ◽  
The Status ◽  
Project Assignment ◽  
Independent Thinking

Abstract I model a critical posthumanist pedagogy that uses text analysis software and is aimed at higher education students. A key purpose of the pedagogy is to help students enhance empathetic, critical and independent thinking. For their project assignment, the student chooses an unfamiliar campaign seeking to eliminate suffering and extend rights. They gather all texts from the campaign website into a corpus, which thus represents the campaign writ large. Then they use appropriate software to ascertain, efficiently and rigorously, common campaign concerns across this corpus. This puts students in a position to discern any significant concerns in the campaign corpus that are not addressed in text(s) supporting the status quo which the campaign opposes. Should significant omissions be found, students critically evaluate the status quo text(s) from the campaign’s perspective. Since this perspective derives from the student identifying (at least temporarily) with software generated data, it is a posthuman subjectivity. Engaging digitally and empathetically with a campaign’s data at scale for creation of a posthuman subjectivity can broaden awareness of disadvantage, discrimination, and suffering as well as expand horizons. Moreover, at the end of the assignment, the student is expected to formulate their own position vis-à-vis the previously unfamiliar campaign. Conditions have been created then for the student to enhance independent thinking too.

Technology-Mediated Progressive Inquiry in Higher Education

2011 ◽  
pp. 3149-3156
Author(s):  
H. Muukkonen
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Academic Literacy ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Collaborative Processes ◽  
New Knowledge ◽  
Asking Questions ◽  
Use Of Knowledge ◽  
Progressive Inquiry

In higher education, students are often asked to demonstrate critical thinking, academic literacy (Geisler, 1994), expert-like use of knowledge, and creation of knowledge artifacts without ever having been guided or scaffolded in learning the relevant skills. Too frequently, universities teach the content, and it is assumed that the metaskills of taking part in expert-like activities are somehow acquired along the way. Several researchers have proposed that in order to facilitate higher level processes of inquiry in education, cultures of education and schooling should more closely correspond to cultures of scientific inquiry (Carey & Smith, 1995; Perkins, Crismond, Simmons & Under, 1995). Points of correspondence include contributing to collaborative processes of asking questions, producing theories and explanations, and using information sources critically to deepen one’s own conceptual understanding. In this way, students can adopt scientific ways of thinking and practices of producing new knowledge, not just exploit and assimilate given knowledge.

scholarly journals FORMATION OF SOCIAL COMPETENCE OF TEACHING STAFF IN THE MODERN EDUCATIONAL SPACE

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (51) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heorgii Finin
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Social Competence ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Know How ◽  
The Social

The article substantiates the importance of forming the social competence of teachers. It was found that modern society needs specialists who know how to socialize in a fleeting society, people who are creative, active, competitive, competent, capable of change, with flexible critical thinking, to provide socio-pedagogical support of socialization, to form key and subject competencies of general secondary and higher education students.

scholarly journals The Impact of Distance Education on Libraries

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth A. Boyd
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Education ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Theological Seminary ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Way

Technological advances and the Internet have radically changed the way people learn, live, and grow. In higher education, libraries have been challenged to look at how to serve people not only locally but at a distance. At Asbury Theological Seminary these changes have revolved around three issues: providing the same resources online, information literacy, and the importance of collaboration.

scholarly journals Higher Education Students’ Voice in Experiencing Problem Based Learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 87
Author(s):  
Intan Pradita ◽  
Safira Pelita Fadila
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Problem Based Learning ◽  
Discussion Session ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Materials Development ◽  
Development Course

This paper is aimed at describing the students’ perception of the implementation of problem-based learning during the Materials Development course in the eve semester 2018. The participants were 58 students of English pre-service teachers.  The data were collected through the 58 reflective writings at the end of the course, and the observation recording during the group discussion. Through qualitative analysis, there are five positive themes, and two negative themes found in the reflective writings. This study found that among three characteristics of Problem based learning, most of the students perceived positively in stimulating critical thinking and devoting authentic experiences. Whereas, there are also some students who perceived problem-based learning as challenging, especially in technical obstacles such as; the appearing of the lecturer’s stress during discussion session; not engaging friends in a group.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document