Using student feedback about the learning environment as a starting point for co-construction

The context in which learning takes place, or learning environment, is pivotal to a positive learning experience for students. Although numerous studies have established strong links between a positive learning environment and a range of student outcomes, far less research has examined how teachers might establish such an environment. Amidst growing acknowledgment that opportunities for the co-construction of learning and assessment design could provide a means of developing a more positive learning environment, this case study examined one such journey. Using a case study approach, we argue that student feedback involving a learning environment survey provides a valuable starting point for including students in co-construction and classroom improvement. Our findings indicate that teachers can improve the learning environment by involving students in meaningful co-construction through open tasks.

Interferences in Writing Skills Performance of BA Students Enrolled in Norwegian Didactics

This article investigates different types of language errors performed in a written summative exam by ten BA students enrolled in an elective Norwegian Didactics course in Romania. The corpus comprising the students’ exam papers was analysed qualitatively to identify various types of errors. The theoretical model suggested by Gass & Selinker (1994) was used to discuss issues of error analysis. A survey was then conducted to receive student feedback on the reported errors in the texts. Findings indicate that students make both inter-lingual and intra-lingual errors and that error analysis can be helpful when designing L2 Norwegian instructional materials. Keywords: error analysis, foreign language teaching, language transfer, language distance, writing skills, Norwegian, Romanian.

Podcasts

Podcasting, as an educational tool, is becoming increasingly prominent. This research sought to understand how podcasting could be used to support active student engagement in higher education, coming largely from a constructivist learning theory perspective. The case study focused on the practical implementation of student-created podcasting in a blended learning context. Data was gathered in the form of student feedback and interviews. Overall findings were that the students did find the experience engaging and appreciated the variety of learning opportunities. It will be necessary for instructors to ensure that students understand how to create quality podcasts and also recognize their responsibility to deliver quality content to their peers.

Self-Assessment of Competencies by Bachelor Students in Computer Science

Competency achievements in a Computer Science Bachelor are studied using self-assessment by graduating students at Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University. Changes across the two ‘pandemic’ years 2020 and 2021 with respect to subsidiary, satisfaction and competencies are analysed. One goal was to identify which competencies may have suffered due to the different number of online semesters. The data shows very few significant differences by type of competencies. Larger differences may be due to a change in lecturer. Difference in satisfaction in some subsidiaries is found. Students from the 2021 group feel that their grades reflect their actual knowledge less than the 2020 group. The methodology presented here provides a valid tool for long-term quality assessment based on student feedback. There are limitations based on the data elicitation. Students are not required to take the survey. Self-assessment is not considered to be sufficient for a validation of achieved competencies. However, it reflects satisfaction and perceived quality. Autovalutazione delle competenze da parte degli studenti di laurea in informatica. I risultati di apprendimento in un Corso di Laurea di primo livello di informatica sono analizzati nel presente contributo utilizzando l’autovalutazione degli studenti laureati all’Università della Cooperative State University del Baden-Württemberg (Germania). Vengono analizzati i cambiamenti nella progressione di competenze acquisite nei due anni di pandemia (2020 e 2021) in ordine a sede universitaria, livello di soddisfazione e risultati di apprendimento. Un obiettivo era quello di identificare le competenze maggiormente influenzate dall’utilizzo della didattica a distanza. I dati mostrano scarse differenze in ordine al tipo di competenze acquisite. Le differenze più significative sono correlate al cambio di docente. In alcune sedi si rilevano differenze nella soddisfazione degli studenti. Gli studenti del cluster 2021 ritengono che la loro valutazione rifletta le loro conoscenze realmente acquisite, a differenza del cluster di studenti del 2020. La metodologia illustrata nel presente contributo fa riferimento ad uno strumento utile per la valutazione della qualità degli apprendimenti basata sul feedback degli studenti. Le limitazioni connesse allo studio riguardano le modalità di rilevazione dei dati. Gli studenti non sono tenuti a partecipare allo studio. L’autovalutazione non è sufficiente per convalidare le competenze acquisite, consente però di rilevare la soddisfazione e la qualità percepita dagli studenti.

Evaluation of the use of the Moodle Platform for Fundamental Physics Lectures at University

Almost all countries in the world use E-Learning as a teaching medium. Moodle is a Learning Management System (LMS), a free, open-source platform designed to assist educators in creating online courses with dynamic interaction opportunities. In this study, an evaluation of the use of Moodle was carried out, especially in fundamental physics courses (Newton's Law). Evaluation is given by distributing online questionnaires using Google Forms as a database to store answers, collect feedback, and as statistical software to provide analysis of the effect of using Moodle according to students' opinions or perspectives. The study results show that students experience problems in taking tests/quizzes using SEB due to the instability of the internet signal. One of the reasons is that students also have to join the exam zoom simultaneously. Meanwhile, the Newton's Law material provided is very contextual and rich in sample questions, including providing student feedback which is considered good.

Implementation of a secure room booking system at the University of Manitoba Libraries

Providing group study rooms is an important service offered by a university library to support learning and collaboration. A good room booking system should be convenient for students to use and would require a minimum involvement of library staff regarding managing bookings and keys. This article studied the implementation of the Juno Secure Room Booking system at the library to replace LibCal, which is a popular room booking system used by a large number of university libraries in North America. This article discussed the advantages that the Juno system has compared to LibCal, the design of an online booking website using the Juno Application Programming Interface (API), and the enhancement the library designed and developed based on student feedback. This article also discussed how the library successfully engaged a college to use this system to manage study rooms for classes and exams.

No syllabus, no problem

The intimate relation people have with food provides unique opportunities for teaching. In this field report, I will describe and reflect upon the method of student-centred learning I use in a first-year university course entitled Food, Agriculture & Society. The aim of the course is to provide students with a broad understanding of how food and agriculture have shaped society and can contribute to a more sustainable future. Consistent with food pedagogy, a premise of the course design is that the intimate relation students have with the food they eat reflects their personal values and responsibility for their choices. An innovative element of my approach is that I co-create the syllabus. The course starts by writing the word “Food” on the blackboard. I then facilitate a multi-step process with students to co-create the syllabus. For most of the course, students lead the preparation and delivery of lectures on their selected topics. In this report, after describing the course design, I reflect upon my approach in relation to the tenets of food pedagogy, as well as discuss student feedback and my experience of teaching the course.

Using Technology as a Novel Method to Develop Students’ Clinical Reasoning Skills Through Virtual Collaborative Learning in Scriptwriting

One of the most important skills students need to learn in applying pharmacotherapeutics is clinical reasoning. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of virtual collaboration in scriptwriting as a teaching approach to develop clinical reasoning skills. Data was from student feedback (n=102). Discussing conceptual questions in a collaborative learning environment with peers proved to support the development of clinical reasoning skills as the activity increased interactivity, improved understanding and retention. Findings show that the development of clinical reasoning skills were enhanced with the use of scriptwriting as a virtual collaborative activity.

Ultrasound Curriculum Integration Review and a Survey of its Utility in Regional Medical Campuses

to guide procedures. As the technology becomes more portable and affordable, schools have increasingly utilized this technology in training physicians. Ultrasonography may be especially useful in rural settings to fill the limitations that rural hospitals have in terms of imaging. The mission of many regional medical campuses is to train physicians to work in rural or underserved communities. Given this goal, we wanted to explore how regional medical campuses are utilizing ultrasound preclinically and determine the best approach for developing a standardized ultrasound curriculum, keeping regional medical campus resources in mind. A literature review of medical schools’ preclinical ultrasound curriculum was completed, and information was collected regarding curriculum programming, faculty, assessment, and student feedback. Based on data from this search, a fourteen question Qualtrics survey was sent out to regional medical campuses with questions regarding the use of ultrasound in their own preclinical curriculum. Of the 11 campuses that responded, 10 (90.9%) indicated that they include ultrasound in their curriculum. Respondents from nine of these schools progressed through the survey and information regarding topics covered in ultrasound curriculum, teachers of curriculum, patients used, ultrasound equipment used, and assessment of student knowledge all varied among medical campuses. The data suggested that regional medical campuses are focusing on similar aspects of ultrasound curriculum however, a standardized curriculum does not currently exist to ensure that all students are receiving similar ultrasound training.