Collaborative learning in creative writing: A teacher’s perspective

This study aims to determine how the impact of collaborative classes on creative writing and how these classes improve students' abilities in achieving learning outcomes. The research question that exposed is how do teachers perceive teaching creative writing through collaborative project. Collaborative learning offers a number of opportunities for students to learn interpersonal skills and character and teamwork by participating in task-oriented learning groups, so that although the content or learning materials continue to develop, collaborative groups are still able to develop various skills that can prepare students to pursue career. The method used in this study is descriptive qualitative. The primary data in this study were taken from interviews with lecturers in creative writing courses. From the analysis it can be seen that collaborative learning engages all students from diverse backgrounds personally and actively, inviting each individual to contribute knowledge and perspectives to the world of education from their own unique lives and also from their academic and vocational experiences.

Multiclass Interactive Martial Arts Teaching Optimization Method Based on Euclidean Distance

Aiming at the problems of low optimization accuracy, poor optimization effect, and long running time in current teaching optimization algorithms, a multiclass interactive martial arts teaching optimization method based on the Euclidean distance is proposed. Using the K-means algorithm, the initial population is divided into several subgroups based on the Euclidean distance, so as to effectively use the information of the population neighborhood and strengthen the local search ability of the algorithm. Imitating the school's selection of excellent teachers to guide students with poor performance, after the “teaching” stage, the worst individual in each subgroup will learn from the best individual in the population, and the information interaction in the evolutionary process will be enhanced, so that the poor individuals will quickly move closer to the best individuals. According to different learning levels and situations of students, different teaching stages and contents are divided, mainly by grade, supplemented by different types of learning groups in the form of random matching, so as to improve the learning ability of members with weak learning ability in each group, which effectively guarantees the diversity of the population and realizes multiclass interactive martial arts teaching optimization. Experimental results show that the optimization effect of the proposed method is better, which can effectively improve the accuracy of algorithm optimization and shorten the running time of the algorithm.

Student’s Learning Profile as a Tool of Personal Learning Logistics

Increase of complexity and uncertainty as well as demand for personalization (including in education) urges universities to pay attention to educational subjectivity and its development; to transfer towards individual / collective-individual educational navigation and flexible systems of educational programs management (including formation of temporary learning groups, supply of required educational resources in due time, protocols of appraisal and mutual offset of educational results), what determines the relevance of the research. Usage of logistic approach enables to distinguish the pedagogical and management objectives of educational activity organization as well as to facilitate personalization of education. The article considers an educational profile as an instrument of personal educational logistics in digital educational environment, presents the preliminary terms “digital track”, “portfolio”, “profile”. The authors also dwell on the requirements to educational profiles development and scenarios of handling them in digital educational environment taking into account domestic and global experience of educational profiles’ implementation.

Investigating the Impact of Gamification in Children Using GSR

This study aimed to investigate the impact of game-based learning on student performance. For this reason, an empirical study was conducted which comprises the comparison of traditional learning and game-based learning. The participants were lower primary school students of age group 6-8 years. GSR NUL-217 logger sensor was used to record the physiological signals of each participant in real time. An Android-based game intervention named “KidsZoneApp” was developed which included mathematics and English lesson plans according to the student's curriculum. The collected log data was used to calculate the changes in different dimensions of completing the task. ANOVA yielded a very significant difference between game-based learning and traditional learning groups. Overall, the results showed that game-based learning contributed to increased students' performance levels. Significantly, students under game-based learning completed the task in lesser time as compared to traditional learning.

Conservation agriculture innovation systems build climate resilience for smallholder farmers in South Africa.

Introduction of Conservation Agriculture (CA) and associated climate-resilient agriculture practices within an innovation system approach, and using farmer-level experimentation and learning groups as the primary learning and social empowerment processes, has created a sustainable and expanding farming alternative for smallholders that is improving their resilience to climate change substantially. Through a knowledge co-creation process, smallholder farmers in the programme have adapted and incorporated a wide range of practices into their farming system, including minimum soil disturbance, close spacing, improved varieties, judicious use of fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides, crop diversification, intercropping and crop rotation as well as fodder production and livestock integration. They have organized themselves into learning groups, local savings and loan associations, water committees, farmer centres and cooperatives and in so doing have created innovation platforms for local value chain development. They have built ongoing relationships with other smallholders, NGOs, academic institutions, government extension services and agribusiness suppliers, and have promoted CA tirelessly within their local communities and social networks. To date, this is the most successful model for implementation of CA in smallholder farming in South Africa and, through networking and upscaling activities, is being promoted nationally as a strategic approach to smallholder adaptation and mitigation programming, in line with the Africa climate smart agriculture (CSA) Vision 25×25 (NEPAD, Malabo, June 2014).

Non-formal adult education coordinators as developers of educational activities and community interaction

The growing importance of communities and community interaction is witnessed by the growing interest in these areas: in the emphasis on community development and in the need to bring educational and social services closer to local communities, both at the level of the European Union and at the political level of each of its member countries. Analyzing the community interactions active involvement in community functions, concern and trust in its people, and a look into the future are emphasized. The choice of the research methodology was determined by the aim of the research – to reveal the functions of non-formal learning coordinators of adult learning in municipalities as those of the developers of learning and community developers through their work experience. The analysis of the data highlighted the role of coordinators as community activators and community developers, bringing together adult learning groups, involving young people, gymnasium students, and volunteers in the implementation of training, through local non-formal education providers.

Student-Centered Group-Based Learning System

This study developed a student-centered group-based learning system. The system requirements were gathered from relevant literature on pedagogy and WebRTC. The study identified social loafing as a major drawback of most student-centered learning groups. The system was designed using block, architectural pattern, flow-chart, use-case, sequence, class and architectural-context diagrams and the system’s application logic was implemented using ASP.NET C#; HTML, JAVASCRIPT and BOOTSTRAP for the front-end and SQL for the database, HangFire and SignalR for the reminder and texting system. SendGrid API for reminders and OpenVidu Media server for video and audio-calling. The system has been tested and proven to be effective in providing different forms of communication and structure to group-learning that reduces social loafing, and can be recommended for tertiary institutions who want to promote a better student-student relationship for improved learning.

Implementation of evidence-based guidance for dementia palliative care using participatory action research: examining implementation through the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR)

Background The importance of providing evidence-based palliative care for people with dementia is increasingly acknowledged as important for patient outcomes. In Ireland, evidence-based guidance has been developed in order to address key features of dementia palliative care, including the management of pain, medications and hydration and nutrition. The aim of this study was to identify and explore the factors affecting the implementation of evidence-based guidance on dementia palliative care. Methods The Consolidated Framework for Implementation (CFIR) guided a mixed-method pre-post study. One guidance document pertaining to the management of pain, medication or hydration and nutrition was implemented in three long-term care facilities. Participatory action research in the form of work-based learning groups was used to implement the guidance, drawing on a situational analysis (pre-implementation). Staff questionnaires and audits were conducted pre- and post-implementation while champion interviews were also conducted post-implementation. Results Features of the guidance, the inner setting components such as readiness to change, and the process of implementation were most frequently identified as impacting implementation. Components of the outer setting, such as external policy incentives and individual characteristics, featured less commonly. Data from qualitative interviews revealed that the guidance was perceived as advantageous or complimentary to previous care provided. Within the inner setting, leadership and support from other colleagues facilitated implementation. However, limited availability of other healthcare professionals to assist with carrying out guidance actions presented a barrier in some facilities. The external facilitators of the work-based learning groups (WBLGs) were perceived as experienced and encouraged active participation and reflection on practices. Despite the challenge of releasing staff to attend the WBLGs, quantitative data demonstrated reduced staff de-motivation amongst those who did attend was noted post-implementation (pre-Mdn = 19.50 versus post-Mdn = 22.00, U = 497.00, p = 0.07). Conclusions A situational analysis informed by the CFIR framework in conjunction with a participatory action research approach helped to advance the implementation of the guidance. The progress of implementation depended on the extent to which evidence-based care was previously being implemented at each site. Post-implementation analysis using CFIR identified challenges to address in future projects such as staff cover and timing of training to facilitate attendance for staff with different working hours. Facilitators included multidisciplinary engagement with the intervention and champions at each site to support the implementation process.

Covid-19: Cabaran dan Inisiatif dalam Mendepani Pelaksanaan Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Teradun

Perubahan kaedah pengajaran guru sejak dunia dilanda pandemik Covid-19 memberi kesan yang besar kepada sistem pendidikan negara. Para guru perlu melaksanakan pengajaran dan pembelajaran (PdP) teradun melalui penggunaan media digital dengan kaedah tradisional secara dalam talian sebagai mekanisme utama penyampaian ilmu. Oleh itu, kajian ini dilaksanakan bagi mengupas cabaran guru dan inisiatif kerajaan dalam pelaksanaan PdP. Reka bentuk kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kualitatif dengan menganalisis dokumen melalui sumber data kajian-kajian lepas, catatan perkembangan pembelajaran teradun daripada kumpulan-kumpulan e-didik di bawah KPM, telegram, laman web, petikan dan berita dari seluruh Malaysia dan luar negara. Cabaran utama yang ditemui adalah berkaitan dengan capaian internet terutama bagi mereka yang tinggal di kawasan pedalaman. Cabaran lain pula ialah terdapat keluarga yang kurang berkemampuan dan sukar menyediakan kemudahan data dan gadget kepada anak-anak untuk meneruskan PdP secara maya. Antara inisiatif KPM terhadap murid yang tidak mempunyai capaian internet untuk melayari Google Classroom (GC), mereka boleh menggunakan WhatsApp. KPM dan Uniceff juga menyediakan bahan pengajaran yang dibina menggunakan Google Slide bagi murid bermasalah pendengaran dan pembentangan boleh dibuat dengan sarikata. Selain itu, kerajaan juga memudahkan penggunaan GC melalui penubuhan akaun email e-didik. Kajian ini memberi implikasi kepada guru-guru agar memantapkan pengajaran teradun melalui teknologi digital secara kreatif dan inovasi dengan menghadiri kursus dan latihan dalaman secara talian. Ibu bapa dan guru juga perlu melakukan anjakan paradigma untuk menguasai ilmu pengetahuan terknologi terkini bagi menangani masalah ini. KPM perlu menggubal atau menambah baik kurikulum pendidikan sesuai dengan pembelajaran teradun ini. The change in teachers' teaching methods since the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the country's education system. Teachers need to implement blended teaching and learning (T&L) through the use of digital media with traditional online methods as the main mechanism of knowledge delivery. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the challenges of teachers and government initiatives in the implementation of T&L. The design of this study uses qualitative method by analyzing documents through data sources of previous studies, the records of learning development blended e-learning groups under MOE, telegrams, websites, quotes and news from Malaysia and abroad. The main challenge used is related to internet access for those living in rural areas. Other challenges are also found in underprivileged families and it is difficult to provide data facilities and gadgets to children for T&L virtually. MOE provides initiative for students who do not have internet access to browse Google Classroom (GC), they can opt to use WhatsApp. MOE and Uniceff also provide teaching materials that use Google Slides for students with hearing problems and presentations that can be made with subtitles. In addition, the government also uses GC through the establishment of e-learning email accounts. This study has implications for teachers to strengthen blended teaching through digital technology creatively and innovative with live courses and training. Parents and teachers need to make a paradigm shift for the latest technological knowledge for this problem. Hence, MOE needs to formulate or improve the education curriculum in accordance with this blended learning.

Gaining Momentum Around Advancing Age Inclusivity

Have you already experienced some success with age friendly initiatives at your institution but are wondering how you might broaden your reach? Fostering connections across disciplines and units on your campus as well as with organizations in your community is the key to gaining momentum and advancing age inclusivity. This presentation will discuss strategies for connecting and engaging faculty, staff, students, and community members in age friendly programs and practices. We will share examples and tips for supporting others to be more age inclusive in their teaching, research, and community engagement. We will share ideas from the AFU toolkit for creating learning groups, collaborative community events, and intergenerational exchange as well as our own experience which has demonstrated that many smaller efforts over time can go a long way toward building momentum and creating a more age inclusive campus.