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• Protocol of exploratory longitudinal RCT investigating standing effects on learning. • Comparison of learning performance between sitting and standing tutorials. • Learning operationalized as discussion quality, concept test scores, and exam grade. • Secondary outcomes: change in physical activity patterns, attendance, and affect. • The multifaceted learning process in a real-world educational setting is addressed. Standing classrooms could potentially counteract excessive sedentary behavior. This paper describes the protocol for an exploratory longitudinal randomized controlled trial aimed at studying the effects of standing during tutorials on learning in undergraduate students. Learning is operationally defined as the use of interactions that are conducive to learning and an improved performance on concept tests. Final examination scores are also used as a measure of learning performance. The secondary aim is to explore the unintended effects of standing tutorials through the students' subsequent physical activity, tutorial attendance, and affect. Participants were randomly recruited to a sitting or standing tutorial for nine weeks. This study addresses learning in a real-world setting and reveals insights on the effects of standing on learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, most universities had to switch to "emergency online learning". At the same time, academics were in search of means to combat "the infodemic", a wave of misinformation rolling over the world, affecting social and political life, and undermining efforts to deal with the pandemic. In the framework of emergency online learning, we propose an educational sciences undergraduate online course addressing fake news illiteracy by giving students an insight into the form and effects of fake news with a focus on framing. The course was built upon current fake news research and the problem-based learning approach. The research questions addressed students' perceptions of critical design elements, their fake news credibility test performance, and their academic achievement. A total of N = 102 undergraduate students participated in the course. Among various design elements, students indicated that online communication and feedback was most appealing. On the other hand, for future course iterations, they suggested improvements to the task descriptions. Fake news credibility decreased significantly (F (1, 36) = 62.64, p < 0.000, partial η 2 = 0.64) and final course papers were on average good to very good, indicating strong academic achievement. The study suggests that problem-based online courses can be appropriate learning environments, even in the context of "emergency online learning" and, furthermore, that they can serve as an instrument for combating fake news illiteracy. • We address emergency online learning and infodemic during Covid-19 pandemic. • We review current literature on online news cognitive processing and problem-based instructional design. • We design, develop and test an educational sciences undergraduate online problem-based course on fake news. • Student feedback on the appeal of certain design elements was mostly positive; improvements of others were suggested. • Student fake news credibility assessment strongly improved; course papers reflected good to very good academic achievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Undergraduate study behaviours, principally lecture attendance and additional study, are shown to predict better student achievement by many researchers. Despite this, there is not much evidence on the determinants of these behaviours. This is the first paper to explore the determinants of study behaviours across multiple subject areas; and is the first to incorporate students’ noncognitive traits into such a model; that the authors are aware of. This enables the formation of policy that can improve academic achievement by encouraging study behaviour. The results show that students’ noncognitive traits, in particular conscientiousness and future-orientation, are important determinants of lecture attendance and additional study hours. In fact, there is very little that explains undergraduate study behaviour besides noncognitive traits. Standard economic factors, such as family income, financial aid and parental transfers, are not predictive of study behaviours. Some comments are provided on a potential behavioural economics approach to encouraging study behaviours. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]