scholarly journals First-Year Life Science Students’ Understanding of the Role of Plants in the Ecosystem—A Concept Network Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 369
Author(s):  
Ilona Södervik ◽  
Maija Nousiainen ◽  
Ismo. T. Koponen
Keyword(s):  
Network Analysis ◽  
Life Science ◽  
First Year ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Language Of Science ◽  
University Life ◽  
Verbal Problem

The purpose of this study is to increase the understanding about undergraduate life science students’ conceptions concerning the role of photosynthesizing plants in the ecosystem, utilizing a network analysis method. Science learning requires the integration and linking of abstract and often counterintuitive concepts successfully into multifaceted networks. The quality of these networks, together with their abilities to communicate via the language of science, influences students’ success in academic, verbal problem-solving tasks. This study contributes to investigating students’ understanding, utilizing a modern network analysis method in exploring first-year university life science students’ written answers. In this study, a total of 150 first-year life science students answered two open-ended tasks related to the role of photosynthesizing plants in the ecosystem. A network analysis tool was used in exploring the occurrence of different-level science concepts and the interrelatedness between these concepts in students’ verbal outputs. The results showed that the richness of concept networks and students’ use of macro-concepts were remarkably varied between the tasks. Higher communicability measures were connected to the more abundant existence of macro-concepts in the task concerning the role of plants from the food-chain perspective. In the answers for the task concerning the role of plants regarding the atmosphere, the students operated mainly with single facts, and there were only minor interconnections made between the central concepts. On the basis of these results, the need for more all-encompassing biology teaching concerning complex environmental and socio-economic problems became evident. Thus, methodological and pedagogical contributions are discussed.

scholarly journals Communities of practice for international students: An exploration of the role of Peer Assisted Study Sessions in supporting transition and learning in higher education

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy Chilvers
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Students ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Independent Study ◽  
First Year ◽  
Legitimate Peripheral Participation ◽  
Community Practice ◽  
Mutual Engagement ◽  
University Life

There is growing interest in understanding how international students can best be enabled to adjust to, participate in and learn within Higher Education (HE). This paper explores literature and examines findings from exploratory interviews in a UK institution in order to investigate the contribution the Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) scheme makes to this process.Interviews with international students were analysed using Lave and Wenger’s (1991) social-learning model, Communities of Practice (CoP), for exploring the role of PASS in supporting international students’ transition and learning in HE. Using themes of community, practice and participation, findings illuminated the role of PASS in providing international students with an intermediary CoP, providing transition support into the CoP on their course and university life. PASS facilitated their social integration with students of other nationalities, developing relationships with peers and PASS leaders, contributing to an increased sense of belonging to a community. Through the mutual engagement of attendees and leaders, students developed shared language, values and practices relating to their discipline and studying in UK HE. Established PASS leaders shared first year experiences with ‘newcomer’ international students, supporting their transition into UK HE culture and enabling their legitimate peripheral participation to develop further. Participation in PASS fostered students’ engagement with learning activities and independent study habits. Limitations to the study and suggestions for further research are discussed.

scholarly journals The provenance of Neo-Babylionian legal documents from ‘Kish’ outside the Ashmolean Museum Collection

1970 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 35-46
Author(s):  
Roman Deiksler
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
First Century ◽  
Museum Collection ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Legal Documents ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Town

This article shows the significance of the Social Network Analysis method in the study of Judea in the first century AD. The author presents the method and then shows its application on the example of the role of individual cities of Galilee. The situation concerns the time of the Jewish uprising in Galilee over a period of several months (autumn 66 - July 67 AD). After analyzing the situation in Galilee based on the works of Joseph Flavius, a graph was generated using the Ucinet computer program. The use of SNA in the study of the importance of individual cities in Galilee drew attention to the town of Gamla, which Joseph Flavius considered the most important fortress in this area. In addition, the graph showing the visits of individual insurgents to the cities of Galilee showed that Sepphoris was visited by both supporters and opponents of Joseph Flavius. Despite the fact that the inhabitants supported the Romans, they did not give up any rebel who visited them. The study confirmed the usefulness of the SNA method in undertaking subsequent analyzes of the works of Joseph Flavius.

FIRST YEAR LIFE SCIENCE STUDENTS DEEP LEARNING APPROACH: A PRELIMINARY REPORT

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Leiva-Brondo ◽  
Jaime Cebolla-Cornejo ◽  
Rosa Peiró ◽  
Ana María Pérez-de-Castro
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Preliminary Report ◽  
Life Science ◽  
First Year ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Science Students

scholarly journals COMPARISON STUDENT LEARNING APPROACH OF FIRST YEAR LIFE SCIENCE STUDENTS

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Leiva-Brondo ◽  
Jaime Cebolla-Cornejo ◽  
Rosa Peiró ◽  
Ana María Pérez-de-Castro
Keyword(s):  
Student Learning ◽  
Life Science ◽  
First Year ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Science Students

Teaching physics to life science students - Examining the role of biological context

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine H. Crouch ◽  
Kenneth Heller ◽  
N. Sanjay Rebello ◽  
Paula V. Engelhardt ◽  
Chandralekha Singh
Keyword(s):  
Life Science ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Teaching Physics ◽  
Biological Context

scholarly journals Teaching Mathematics to Non-Mathematics Majors through Problem Solving and New Technologies

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Marina Marchisio ◽  
Sara Remogna ◽  
Fabio Roman ◽  
Matteo Sacchet
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
First Year ◽  
Teaching Mathematics ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Mathematics Majors ◽  
Scientific Disciplines ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Students Attitudes

The role of mathematics in several scientific disciplines is undisputed; work and everyday life take great advantage of its application. Nevertheless, students often tend to not particularly like it and to consider it of little interest. It is also believed that only people with a certain attitude are capable of mastering the subject. In consideration of this, we aimed to help science students develop mathematical competences by designing a course specifically oriented to applications and problem solving. We administered our course to students attending the first year of a program in biotechnology, asking them to work with technologies instilling curiosity and interest, thus achieving a better proficiency as a consequence. Two questionnaires, along with access and proficiency data, allowed us to collect information about students’ attitudes, beliefs, and activity, which we analyzed by means of descriptive statistics. The promotion of the interaction among learners made them active users of the contents, thus allowing for the adaptation of their learning paths according to their personal necessities, as well as the development of teamwork skills and flexibility. Finally, students recognized the usefulness of the problem-solving approach and the role played by software.

scholarly journals The regional economic spatial pattern of Northeast China and its economic integration trend based on network perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 251 ◽  
pp. 01109
Author(s):  
Liu Fuxiang ◽  
Yu Zitong
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Economic Integration ◽  
Regional Integration ◽  
Modified Gravity ◽  
Northeast China ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Northeast Region ◽  
Intensity Matrix

Based on the modified gravity model and social network analysis method, the paper constructed the economic linkage intensity matrix of 34 prefecture-level cities of Northeast China and analyzed the density and structure of urban linkage networks. The results show that at present, the urban linkage network in the Northeast region is getting closer, and the radiation role of core cities is gradually increasing. However, the degree of regional integration in Northeast China is not high, and some remote cities are still semi-isolated from the network.

scholarly journals Conceptualizing A Program Aimed at Empowering Beginning International Health Science Students for A Successful Transition to University

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-43
Author(s):  
Joy Cayetano-Penman ◽  
Gulzar Malik ◽  
Kerry Hampton ◽  
Yaping Zhong
Keyword(s):  
Academic Success ◽  
International Students ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
International Health ◽  
Health Science ◽  
First Year ◽  
Academic Expectations ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Health Science Students ◽  
University Life

International health science students face many challenges at the beginning of their courses, including a lack of awareness of cultural differences, adjusting to academic expectations, communication difficulties, clinical placement challenges, financial pressures, maintaining cultural and religious practices, discrimination, and emotions such as loneliness and being homesick. This study aims to assist beginning international students enrolled in health sciences programs to adapt to university life and achieve academic success by expanding their coping abilities and self- management strategies. A survey approach was used to evaluate the pilot program named EMPOWERMENT. All first-year international students who participated in the EMPOWERMENT program were invited to complete a post-training questionnaire after the program. The results revealed that increased resilience and improved skills to manage stress were the most frequently reported outcomes of the program. In acquiring these important skills, the students valued the opportunity to share their experiences and learn from each other.

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