Search

Giving effective writing feedback can be a challenge for any English instructor. Teaching students how to provide peer feedback can be problematic as well. Both these challenges may seem even more apparent when teaching online during a pandemic. Using Google Docs for collaborative writing feedback is one effective method for addressing both these concerns in a university-based Intensive English Program (IEP). This critical perspective examines how to scaffold collaborative writing feedback remotely using free and widely available platform Google Docs and looks at future use, post-pandemic. In particular, it will share how the authors used Google Docs to track feedback and corrections from instructors to students, set up interactive writing exercises in synchronous courses, and engage in peer-to-peer editing during a pandemic.

Objective: The study's objective is to explore psychological distress (PD) among remote learners during COVID-19. Participants: Female undergraduates matriculated at an NYC college in Winter 2020. Methods: Using the Kessler-6 scale, we defined PD as no/low (LPD), mild/moderate (MPD), and severe (SPD) and assessed if residing in/near NYC modified associations. Results: PD was common (MPD: 34.1%, SPD: 38.9%). Students identifying as Other/Multiracial had lower MPD odds (aOR = 0.39 [0.17–0.88]). SPD was associated with identifying as White (aOR = 2.02 [1.02–3.99]), unbalanced meals (aOR = 2.59 [1.06–6.30]), violence experience (aOR = 1.77 [1.06–2.94]), no social support (aOR = 3.24 [1.37–7.64]), and loneliness (aOR = 2.52 [1.29–4.95]). Among students in/near NYC, moderate/high drug use (aOR = 2.76 [1.15–6.61]), no social support (aOR = 3.62 [1.10–1.19]), and loneliness (aOR = 2.92 [1.11–7.63]) were SPD correlates. Conclusions: PD was high and associated with food insecurity, violence experience, no social support, and loneliness. Living in/near NYC modified drug use, loneliness, and social support associations. Mental health initiatives should address modifiable risk factors to ameliorate pandemic-associated PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integration of project management collaboration software has been suggested for group experiential project courses in advertising, public relations (PR), marketing, and strategic communications. But little research has been conducted on using these tools. This study sought to gauge student perceptions toward the use of project management collaboration software Basecamp on improved experience in group projects, team collaboration, and learning outcomes. A survey of 177 students in seven course sections across two semesters at two universities reveals that most students agree project management and collaboration software is a valuable learning tool. Suggestions for course and program implementation and the self-directed learning model are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational equity serves as a cornerstone for a fair and flourishing society. However, existing research consistently highlights the presence of educational disparities between developed and developing regions. Remote learning, a transformative educational approach altering knowledge dissemination and access, takes center stage. Our study delves into the potential of remote learning to bridge this educational divide. Analyzing students' performance in China's National College Entrance Examination from 2018 to 2020, we exploit the pandemic-induced shift to remote learning as an external catalyst. Employing a difference-in-differences methodology, we gage remote learning's impact on performance gaps across regions. Our findings illuminate a marked enhancement in learning outcomes for students in developing regions, surpassing their counterparts in developed ones. Furthermore, we unearth that the digital divide in access to technological resources constrains remote learning's efficacy in reducing educational disparities. Our study underscores remote learning's implications and underscores the pivotal role of digital technology capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Head-mounted mixed reality interfaces, in which a user perceives a seamless blend of real, virtual or remote content, have great potential in a wide range of educational contexts. In this paper, we explore the use of mixed reality (MR) in piano education. We begin with a review of previous examples of virtual and mixed reality for piano teaching and learning, identifying four major categories of functionality: remote teaching, learning to read musical notation, providing alternative notation systems to Western musical notation, and enhancing users' understanding and experience of music. Following this review, we present an application designed to demonstrate the use of MR for facilitating remote student-teacher piano lessons. Additionally, hand-tracking enables real-time, bi-directional visualization of both the student's and teacher's hand movements while playing, which is a crucial communication channel in piano instruction. We also present the Piano Theory Hub, an interactive area for independent learning and practice designed to compliment remote instructions. The Piano Theory Hub uses MR to provide spatial in situ explanations and exercises on notes, intervals, scales, and chords. User studies were conducted to evaluate both remote and solo aspects of the application. The first study with 10 participants revealed a strong sense of immersion and co-presence with the teacher during remote lessons. Trials also revealed that, in addition to virtual hands, visual highlighting of key-presses was found to improve visualisation of the remote users' play. The second study, with 15 participants found the Piano Theory Hub to be helpful for beginners and some intermediate players, with feedback suggesting improvements in user experience and highlighting the limitations of replacing traditional piano teachers. Our experiments demonstrate that MR can be successfully employed for the following strategies for piano education: hand interaction coaching, flexible virtual hand and piano visibility, augmented feedback including key highlighting, gamified learning elements, and flexible teacher positioning options. Overall, the findings suggest that mixed reality holds promise as an effective tool for remote piano learning and music education, offering immersive and engaging learning experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of Ugandan higher education, this study investigates the revolutionary effects of technology developments in educational leadership on student experiences and outcomes. A purposive sampling strategy was used to select 161 participants from 12 universities in Uganda, focusing on those with significant influence and expertise in educational leadership. Email invitations were sent out explaining the goal and parameters of the research. Four major themes emerged from the qualitative interviews: digital learning environments, data-driven decision-making, remote and blended learning models, and collaboration and communication. The results indicate a paradigm shift toward digital platforms, more dynamic, and individualized learning experiences. Strategic use of data analytics by educational leaders informs decision-making processes, resulting in better academic outcomes and customized interventions. The adoption of flexible learning models, such as blended and remote learning, is a response to changing dynamics in education that is adaptive. A more integrated educational ecosystem is also supported by technology, which improves collaboration and communication. This study shed light on how technological innovations in educational leadership might have a revolutionary effect on students. It is clear that changes in learning environments, decision-making procedures, learning models, and communication techniques from leaders continuing to leverage technology's potential result in a more engaging, inclusive, and productive learning environment for students. In light of the study's findings, we recommend educational authorities keep embracing and advancing technology integration in higher education. To guarantee that educators can effectively use technology to benefit students, this entails providing them with continual professional development to improve their digital literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the COVID-19 crisis manifested, it has drastically changed educational landscapes worldwide, with the Philippines grappling with digital disparities exacerbating inequality. Current studies mainly explored the immediate impact of forced remote learning on academic performance and practical skills. However, there was an underexplored area concerning the effect on recent college graduates' perceived employability and work readiness. This study aims to address this gap, focusing on the Philippines context. Responses from 131 recent college graduates were analyzed, revealing that the forced shift to remote learning significantly contributed to perceived employability (R2 = 0.453) and work readiness (R2 = 0.440). However, examining the demographic profile variables did not substantially influence these outcomes in the hierarchical regression model. This research underscores the critical role of remote learning in shaping career readiness and challenges educators and policymakers to rethink strategies for integrating it into the broader educational framework, offering a lens to understand its long-term impacts on higher education outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examined how elementary educators understood the experiences of Black students during remote learning and subsequently demonstrated empathy for Black students during the 2020–2021 academic year. While there is ample literature on the benefits of empathy on student outcomes, much of this research falls short in capturing the utility and complexity of empathy in remote settings. Moreover, much of the literature on empathy omits the role that identity plays in conceptualizations of empathy. Findings from this study suggest that in order for educators to bypass the physical and psychological distance created by remote instruction, educators must develop innovative and iterative practices that allow them to develop an in-depth understanding of their students, which will allow them to demonstrate appropriate empathic actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundAimMethodsResultsConclusionRecorded consultations are a useful tool for developing consultation skills for general practice speciality trainees (GPSTs). Historical barriers to utility include a lack of recording equipment and trainee discomfort. Widespread use of online communication platforms during the pandemic led to the introduction of the Recorded Consultation Assessment (RCA), prompting an exploration of its impact on GPSTs’ attitudes and acceptability of using recorded consultations for feedback.This sequential explanatory mixed methods study explored attitudes of military GPSTs towards using recorded consultations for feedback to develop consultation skills, and identify factors influencing GPST attitudes.Participants of this study completed a questionnaire, followed by a representative sample focus group. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data, reflexive thematic analysis was employed for qualitative data. Triangulation was conducted using a meta-matrix.Results indicated agreement among respondents on the usefulness of recorded consultations for developing consultation skills, particularly communication skills. Perceived trainer attitudes significantly influence the GPST utility of this tool. The RCA positively impacted attitudes, providing familiarity, free access to easy-to-use online recording platforms, simplified consenting procedures, secure data storage, and improved feedback quality from trainers.Pre-pandemic studies cited equipment access and consent procedures as barriers to utilising recording as a method of feedback. The pandemic and RCA introduced online resources and imperative to utilise this method, resulting in largely positive GPST learning experiences. As we move away from the RCA it is important to retain institutional memory of the benefits gained from feedback using recorded methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Spring 2020, engineering faculty transitioned to emergency remote instruction due to COVID-19. This mixed-methods study was done to understand the correlation between self-regulated learning and how students experienced the emergency transition to remote learning. The participants were from an upper-level engineering course, with 33 students surveyed four times during the semester. Seven students were interviewed after the semester. Findings revealed that during the transition to remote learning, students perceived less change if they had higher degrees of self-regulation. The qualitative analysis also revealed that transparency in learning and teaching also played an important role in students' perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School closures due to COVID-19 have been predicted to have a large impact on pupils' learning and wellbeing. Systematic evidence about teachers' perceptions of what challenges their pupils have faced, and how they have been addressing these challenges, will be important for post-pandemic planning. We interviewed 24 teachers from English state mainstream primary and secondary schools in June 2020 and asked them to describe the impact of partial school closures on their pupils' learning and wellbeing, and how they had been addressing challenges as individual teachers and at the whole school level. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Six themes were identified: (a) pedagogy and process, (b) communication with pupils and families, (c) life at home, (d) the role of parents, (e) a COVID-19 curriculum, and (f) moving forwards and making plans. Teachers reported difficulties in navigating the new form of education and finding the most effective way to teach and engage with the pupils. Pupils' lack of routine and their home environment were seen as influencing their learning and wellbeing. Parents' differing levels of involvement raised concerns about inequality. We discuss the practical implications of how to support pupils' learning and wellbeing both during and after COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NeuroHackademy (https://neurohackademy.org) is a two-week event designed to train early-career neuroscience researchers in data science methods and their application to neuroimaging. The event seeks to bridge the big data skills gap by introducing participants to data science methods and skills that are often ignored in traditional curricula. Such skills are needed for the analysis and interpretation of the kinds of large and complex datasets that have become increasingly important to neuroimaging research due to concerted data collection efforts. In 2020, the event rapidly pivoted from an in-person event to an online event that included hundreds of participants from all over the world. This experience and those of the participants substantially changed our valuation of large online-accessible events. In subsequent events held in 2022 and 2023, we have developed a "hybrid" format that includes both online and in-person participants. We discuss the technical and sociotechnical elements of hybrid events and discuss some of the lessons we have learned while organizing them. We emphasize in particular the role that these events can play in creating a global and inclusive community of practice in the intersection of neuroimaging and data science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus pandemic, beginning in 2020, caused significant disruption to higher education around the globe, forcing instructors into emergency remote teaching. This emergency response created unprecedented adaptation to online and distance education processes and activities. Yet, the ways in which those teaching changes influenced or continue to influence teaching in higher education are unknown. This study explores the changes to faculty teaching practices, and associated learning, as a result of emergency remote teaching and faculty plans to continue or discontinue those practices post-pandemic. Quantitative results indicated practices were largely intended to impact cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social dimensions, social interactions, and learning activities. A significant majority of the practices achieved their intended results and almost two-thirds of the practices will be continued. Qualitative results illustrated a variety of benefits for both students and instructors. These shifts were largely student-centered with noted improvements in areas like flexibility, agency, access, inclusivity, engagement, and connection. Results apply to workplace training and professional development for faculty in higher education and beyond, including ways to engage faculty in valuable teaching practices and support student learning at a distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This program evaluation aimed to investigate the benefits and challenges of an international, intercultural, e-community-engagement experience involving youth and higher education students. The authors sought to understand the meaning that participants would make of an international, intercultural, e-community-engagement experience. Design/methodology/approach: The program evaluation component of this project was qualitative, participatory and action-oriented. It was composed of online reflection sessions with small, international groups of higher education students from Iraq, India, Morocco, South Africa and the USA immediately following each of five interactive exchange sessions with youth from South Africa. It also included one culminating reflection session to which all of the higher education student participants were invited and a written questionnaire that was completed by the youth participants at the conclusion of the project. The reflection sessions were recorded and transcribed. Transcripts and survey data were reviewed for emergent themes. Findings: Cultural exposure emerged as the primary theme with participants valuing the opportunity to learn about different cultures and to connect with individuals from across the globe. Research limitations/implications: This program evaluation was not designed as a generalizable study. This pilot initiative provides evidence of the potential value and importance of international, intercultural e-community-engagement experiences for youth and higher education students. Practical implications: The potential value of technology to build exchange opportunities for young people is immense and largely untapped. International, intercultural e-community-engagement initiatives can be made available to students globally with relatively limited resources. A highly structured and focused plan provides clarity about expectations and requirements for students. A high level of commitment is required by all participants, including the faculty coordinators. Social implications: Although the project was brief, exposure to numerous countries and cultures allowed participants to challenge their assumptions about different peoples and places in the world. The potential benefits for greater compassion and understanding of communities and cultures in an international context are high. Originality/value: This program evaluation contributes to and extends the literature on the possibilities and challenges of international e-community-engagement; it demonstrates the potential for e-community-engagement across multiple countries to broaden students' exposure to and interest in global perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on students, instructors, and educational organisations all around the world. Remote learning was an emergency response by most universities in Ghana during this pandemic to ensure the continuation of their academic calendar. Conducting this study among Ghanaian undergraduate students is crucial because factors like socioeconomic status, technological resources, and individual learning preferences can significantly impact their experience and the perception of remote learning, which may differ from studies conducted elsewhere. Objective: To determine the perceptions and experiences of remote learning among allied health sciences students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 218 second, third, and final year Allied Health Sciences students in the University of Ghana. A questionnaire was used to obtain data concerning health professions students’ perception and experience of remote learning. The readiness of students in respect to the emergency remote learning, attitudes towards remote learning, perception of remote learning, satisfaction, and the level of anxiety was calculated using mean and mean percentages. Kruskal–Wallis test was used to analyse differences between programmes of study and the perceptions and experiences of remote learning. Results: One hundred and fifteen (53.1%) of the participants had moderate perceptions of independence and responsibility in their learning experiences while 80 (36.7%) students reported that their satisfaction levels regarding remote learning was high. Seventy-seven (38.4%) students reported that they had a burden of anxiety. There was no statistically significant difference between anxiety level and programme of study. Conclusion: Ghana Allied Health Sciences students had positive perceptions and experiences towards remote learning. They could adapt to the new teaching method with appropriate technology integration. Despite a number of students who were anxious about using remote learning. Adequate support towards transitioning into the use of technology may be a good consideration.

Purpose: Drawing on the concept of community of practice, the purpose of this study was to explore Brazilian physical education teachers' experiences of nurturing a community of practice online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This was an action research project, and the participants were 13 high school physical education teachers (one of them acted as teacher-facilitator), one critical friend, and one meta-critical friend. Data sources included teachers' online meetings, critical friend conversations, interviews, and the facilitator's reflexive journal. Results: Inductive analysis resulted in four themes: finding emotional and pedagogical support, building a teachers-only space, creating an online group dynamic, and negotiating to research their own practice. The findings are discussed in relation to the characteristics of community of practices and online continuing professional development. Conclusion: Key aspects for future online collaborative continuing professional development are highlighted: (a) teachers-only; (b) by teachers, for teachers; and (c) combination of tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic disruptions to medical educational programs have been felt worldwide. However, little is understood about the experience of Low to Middle Income Countries’ (LMIC) and the impact of ensuing disruptions on medical education. We aimed to develop a collective understanding of this through the perspectives of individual LMIC educators, exploring how they continued to deliver undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in the context of pandemic barriers, by reflecting on their successes and shortcomings. Methods: A phenomenological study was conducted with ten purposefully recruited educators involved in medical education from mainly the Asia-Pacific region. In-depth interviews via web-conferencing were conducted, and data analysed using Braun & Clarke’s (2006) framework. Results: Four major themes were identified: ‘Navigating Change, ‘Altered and Divided Teaching Roles and Spaces’, ‘Curricula Impact’ and ‘Challenges and Affordances of Remote Learning’. Educators described major disruptions to delivering medical education, particularly clinical education. Remote learning was the mainstay of facilitating continued education, often requiring investment into infrastructure that was non-existent pre-pandemic. Conclusion: LMIC educators’ pandemic response have been robust in pursuit of continued medical education. Necessary adoption of online teaching approaches has provided avenues to close healthcare education gaps by facilitating improved reach and quality of medical education in these regions. Building on this requires strategies that meet LMICs areas of need, focusing on capacity building that sustains and grows new pedagogical practices. We must ensure educational advances are equitable and accessible for all, identifying and supporting countries and contexts at risk of being left behind.

Abstract The coronavirus pandemic has compelled a transition to distance and online education, requiring instructors and students to adjust swiftly. During this transition period, it became crucial to prioritize comprehending students’ perspectives and decision-making within virtual educational environments. The present study investigates the strategies a GPCOM (Purposive Communication) instructor employs at a premier university to enhance student autonomy and decision-making through student voice and choice in the online learning environment. Data were collected via a survey comprising Likert scale items and open-ended questions from the 335 participants who participated in the study. The study results indicate that educators significantly facilitate student engagement in expressing their thoughts and ideas, promoting self-discovery, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving. Student preferences noted that active learning, utilization of technology, and engagement in class discussions were prominent options. Several strategies were employed to promote student engagement, such as fostering cooperation, implementing interactive gamification techniques, establishing real-life linkages, facilitating class debates, and encouraging self-directed learning. This study emphasizes the crucial role of instructor assistance in virtual learning while recognizing and integrating student preferences. Doing so aims to create a well-rounded and captivating virtual learning experience.

The Covid-19 lockdown and the implementation of remote learning brought challenges to children with ADHD and their parents. This research aimed to examine the spatial and technical preconditions and quality of support for children with ADHD during remote learning and to determine their mothers’ burdens with the children’s school tasks during the first lockdown. Another aim was to determine the degree of academic accommodation of teaching, the mother’s burden with the school tasks, and the impact of the intensity of the children’s difficulties on mothers’ stress levels. The study had 61 mothers of children with ADHD, aged 30 to 53, as participants. Data were collected using an online questionnaire. The perspective of mothers showed that spatial conditions were not appropriate for holding online classes. Furthermore, teaching materials during online classes were not adapted to the child’s needs, teachers did not send teaching materials through the available online services in a proper manner, and more than a third of the mothers stated that there was no interactive teaching at all and that there was no individual contact with teachers. Most mothers state that they are burdened with the child’s school tasks more than compared to the period before the lockdown. It has also been shown that attention symptoms, lack of academic accommodations, and school workload have statistically significant effects on maternal stress.

Abstract Background In the digital era, developing effective teaching methods is crucial due to the challenges of maintaining students’ concentration amidst distractions. This study assessed the effects of learning-promoting factors both across group boundaries and within RCT learning groups examined in our previous study on the effectiveness of online versus live teaching. Methods The participants’ experiences in the domains of Concentration, Anticipation, Liking and Desire to reuse were evaluated online immediately after a lesson on diagnosing pediatric respiratory issues implemented either in a Live, Live-stream, Vodcast or Podcast setting. The students rated their experiences on a scale of 1–10 with scores above a median of 8 indicating high experience levels in each factor. Learning was evaluated using a Webropol e-Test immediately and five weeks after the teaching session. The 15-minute test, comprised of 10 multiple-choice questions and real-life video scenarios, measured both theoretical and diagnostic skills. The test score scale ranged from − 26 to 28 points. Results High concentration was experienced by 70/72 (97.2%) students in the Live, 41/75 (54.7%) students in the Live-stream, 53/72 (73.6%) students in the Vodcast and 36/79 (45.6%) students in the Podcast teaching groups (P

Abstract Background While minoritized ethnoracial groups were most likely to be in online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of these ethnoracial disparities on adolescent mental health is unclear. Since past studies do not directly examine whether the association between school modality and self-reported mental health outcomes varied by race and ethnicity among U.S. adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study addresses the gap. Methods Adolescents aged 13 to 17 years old (n = 510) were surveyed for self-reports of anxiety and depression symptoms using the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire during Spring 2021. Seemingly unrelated regressions were used to estimate the differential association between school modality and mental health by respondents’ race and ethnicity. Results Estimates without interaction between school modality and race and ethnicity suggested that Latino respondents reported a significantly higher frequency of depressive symptoms than their White counterparts (b = 0.459; p

The coronavirus pandemic has compelled a transition to distance and online education, requiring instructors and students to adjust swiftly. During this transition period, it became crucial to prioritize comprehending students' perspectives and decision-making within virtual educational environments. The present study investigates the strategies a GPCOM (Purposive Communication) instructor employs at a premier university to enhance student autonomy and decision-making through student voice and choice in the online learning environment. Data were collected via a survey comprising Likert scale items and open-ended questions from the 335 participants who participated in the study. The study results indicate that educators significantly facilitate student engagement in expressing their thoughts and ideas, promoting self-discovery, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving. Student preferences noted that active learning, utilization of technology, and engagement in class discussions were prominent options. Several strategies were employed to promote student engagement, such as fostering cooperation, implementing interactive gamification techniques, establishing real-life linkages, facilitating class debates, and encouraging self-directed learning. This study emphasizes the crucial role of instructor assistance in virtual learning while recognizing and integrating student preferences. Doing so aims to create a well-rounded and captivating virtual learning experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphing is a complex and critical skill for behavior analysts. We evaluated the effects of conceptual training modules and feedback checklists on verbal behavior about graphing conventions and adherence to graphing conventions with graduate students in behavior analysis. In Experiment 1, conceptual training increased the accuracy of verbal behavior, though both participants achieved criterion in the absence of instruction for some verbal behavior. When graphing adherence did not meet criterion, feedback checklists were implemented that resulted in criterion performance. In Experiment 2, checklists were provided as the primary intervention. Two out of four participants reached criterion for graphing adherence and verbal behavior with this intervention alone, while the remaining two participants reached criterion after a combination of checklists and conceptual training. This evaluation highlights the utility of a sequential approach to training the component skills of a complex repertoire while assessing conceptual behavior and extension of skill acquisition of the individual learner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the wide-ranging research on technology-mediated learning, which has contributed immensely to a better understanding of how best it can be implemented, lockdowns during COVID-19 times have revived debates on teacher preparedness to adequately engage in this modality of instruction. Research-validated evidence has shown that a complex combination of technology, pedagogy and content is necessary for impactful teaching practices. Thus, the present paper reports on a qualitative study that investigated students' perceptions of their teachers' performance during the lockdown period. Online interviews and focus groups were conducted with a cohort of 30 university students. The students were selected by means of purposeful sampling informed by a set of pre-defined criteria. Overall, the students reported that most of their teachers utilised asynchronous teaching modalities. Also of interest was the finding that a small proportion of faculty varied the instructional deliverable with a clear intent to cater for a wider spectrum of student learning pace and style. Under COVID-19, additionally, distance education was hugely crippled by student psychological ill-being. One of the implications of these findings, among others, is the pressing need, now more than ever, for comprehensive and intensive teacher professional programs focused on technology-enhanced methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 pandemic led to temporary closures of public schools and increased need for technology to support students' access to learning capabilities. The situation created enormous burdens for all education stakeholders with teachers struggling on how to package learning materials that are easily accessible to students at home, and parents struggling to structure a home learning environment to support their children. This research was conducted to develop an understanding of challenges that African Nova Scotian (ANS) parents faced when supporting their learners throughout the COVID-19 crisis. The underlying concern was that COVID-19 related school closures combined with a seismic shift in the learning environment would widen pre-existing achievement gaps among ANS learners. Utilising a methodology framed from a Participatory Action Research perspective, ANS household survey data was collected and analysed. Gaining a better understanding of how ANS students and their support network experienced remote learning is critical for the successful implementation of the current inclusive education policy in the Nova Scotia education system. With an understanding of the challenges faced by ANS learner households and perspectives for the future presented through an ANS lens, our study can help inform a more productive and inclusive public education system in the post-COVID-19 world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of web-based technologies in recent decades has provided ready access to a wealth of on-line educational resources, and despite concerns that availability of on-line recorded lectures impacts on-campus attendance, we believe there needs to be more focus on the learning resources students engage with, along with why and how they use these resources. Our survey of first year science and mathematics students found that more than 80% of on-campus and off-campus students engaged with ≥75% of lectures by attending face-to-face and/or viewing on-line lectures. And when asked about their use of external resources, 80% of students reported using YouTube and/or Open Educational Resources, amongst other on-line resources, to provide increased understanding of content and to view worked problems. Knowing that a large percentage of students will seek out additional on-line resources, we conclude that ensuring all students have well developed on-line search skills and the ability to critically assess the quality of on-line resources are important contributions that teaching staff can make to student learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the stay-at-home order implemented by the New York State Governor, the introductory undergraduate biology courses were changed to an at-home remote learning modality. To provide conceptual learning and hands-on experience, the second semester introductory biology laboratory course utilised a multi-modal learning approach through the use of take-home experiments with virtual labs and meetings. This study aims to determine whether learning outcomes in conceptual understanding, hands-on experience, writing skills, and critical thinking are enhanced. There is little data showing the impact of take-home experiments on learning and in combination with virtual labs. Although student preference is for face-to-face learning, the average lab report, exams, and final grades were significantly increased during remote learning. The grade increase may be due to the repetitive nature of instruction in combination with the independent at-home experiments. This multi-modal approach seems to enhance conceptual learning and suggests that the combination of take-home experiments with virtual learning improves the core learning objectives in the second semester introductory biology labs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of remote learning courses, the humanities instructor struggled more than most to translate the many familiar techniques of close reading to the unfamiliar realm of technology. Oftentimes instructors have depended on facsimiles of traditional methods: a shared passage annotated by the class digitally, or small groups sent to individual breakout rooms which will eventually rejoin the class and share their findings. This article offers a methodology which incorporates the beneficial technologies which were necessary in remote classrooms into the traditional classroom, encouraging students to collaborate and debate through the shared digital annotation of primary texts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this phenomenological study, we explored what and how 15 counselor trainees experienced online learning, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified three emerging themes that illumi- nated the essence of their online learning experiences: (a) multifaceted factors contribute to counselor trainees’ satisfaction with online learning; (b) counselor trainees constantly compare online learning to in-person learning; and (c) counselor trainees’ online learning is interfaced with COVID-19. We also provided implications for counselor educators and supervisors in the light of our findings. Finally, we highlighted the limitations of our study as well as the directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of the general education reform in Latvia in 2020, the new subject of design and technology replaced home economics and technology. This reform changed the content and organization of training, including the structure of assignments; this article outlines a study which develops an approach for structuring learning assignments and creating constraints for the design process and product creation for future design and technology teachers. It also looks at the development of products that require crafting skills in textile techniques. In the remote study process, four open-ended multi-step assignments were validated using the MS Teams platform and the e-study environment. It proved appropriate to develop open-ended assignments that include constraints covering all stages of the design process, including constraints relating to the use of sources of inspiration, materials, techniques, colour and other means of artistic expression as well as volume, timing and location constraints, in order for students to acquire experience in the design process and in creating products. It is important to use a structured design diary form according to the steps of the design process and the specific assignment. If the source of inspiration is an object using the same technique as the product, a condition should be included to make a certain number of changes in order to avoid reproductive work. The findings also show no correlation between investment in making sketches, models and mood boards and created products (n = 16). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, health professional training programs made substantial changes to shift previously in-person student training opportunities to remote settings. Objectives: We present lessons learned from changes made to one community-engaged internship program, Bridging the Gaps (BTG)-Pittsburgh, that should prove helpful in future times of crisis. Methods: BTG-Pittsburgh places inter-disciplinary graduate pairs of students in community-based organizations that serve marginalized populations, to work directly with program participants and develop tangible products aimed to build organizational capacity. Students get additional training on poverty awareness, health literacy, community violence, food justice, trauma-informed self-care, cultural and academic humility, oral health and advocacy. Upon pandemic onset, given increased community need and community partner feedback, BTG-Pittsburgh pivoted quickly, shifting to remote engagement and making critical adjustments to ensure responsiveness to student and community partner needs. Adjustments included: 1) adopting a trauma-informed approach, 2) developing remote mentoring guidance, and 3) doubling site visits to ensure that students and site mentors felt sufficiently supported. Conclusions: Several program and partnership attributes contributed to our overall program success, including a model of reciprocal benefits, providing supports, flexibility, and long-standing relationships. The university's quick adoption of remote technology and each participating school's commitment to supporting the program model, further enabled effective student-organization-program collaboration. These lessons can inform community-partnered experiential learning programs that may need to incorporate remote components moving forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synchronous hybrid learning model, which involves simultaneous face-to-face and remote learning, suffers from a disparity in the lesson experience and outcomes provided by the different learning modes. Moreover, the online medium allows little opportunity for teachers to exhibit non-verbal immediacy behaviours to improve cognitive engagement and motivation to learn in remote students, further exacerbating the disparity. This work describes the implementation of chroma key compositing that livestreamed weatherman style composite videos to remote students over the online medium during hybrid lessons at a lecture hall. A green screen was used to perform background removal and the teacher was digitally inserted in front of the course content in real time, visually mimicking classroom teaching for remote students, without requiring an on-site camera crew. This work also presents an implementation mode that unifies the view of both face-to-face and remote students. Aggregate results of student surveys indicate that more than 80% of remote students perceived significant improvement in visibility of lecture delivery, teacher presence and capture of attention, while 91% of face-to-face respondents indicated that their in-person learning experience was not significantly affected. Categorical data analysis on itemised responses indicates that students who only adopted the remote learning mode have at least a 90% likelihood of moderately or strongly favouring the setup and implementation. As a whole, our results indicate strong evidence that our setup and implementation has significantly reduced the disparity in learning experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant switch to remote learning enabled a natural experiment to observe and compare the self-regulation strategies used by elementary students in hypermedia environments. Specifically, the same participants (N = 48, Mage = 10.75) were observed in two learning contexts: a traditional classroom with their teacher present, and remote learning from home where all learning was conducted and completed digitally. In both contexts, students completed self-report instruments about their perceived self-regulatory behavior and were individually observed completing a research task in a digital context. Observational data was coded using an established framework of self-regulation for learning (SRL) behaviors in computer-based learning environments. Results showed that the context of the learning did not impact the SRL strategies of elementary students, with no significant differences between the self-reporting or observational data in all categories, or in task performance. The level of consistency between the patterns of SRL behavior, self-reporting and task performance in both environmental contexts was a remarkable finding of this study. Surprisingly, despite remote learning demanding higher self-regulatory capacity, results show that elementary students did not automatically acquire or develop self-regulation skills, nor adjust their existing patterns of SRL behavior in this new learning context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the digital era, developing effective teaching methods is crucial due to the challenges of maintaining students' concentration amidst distractions. This study assessed the effects of learning-promoting factors both across group boundaries and within RCT learning groups examined in our previous study on the effectiveness of online versus live teaching. Methods: The participants' experiences in the domains of Concentration, Anticipation, Liking and Desire to reuse were evaluated online immediately after a lesson on diagnosing pediatric respiratory issues implemented either in a Live, Live-stream, Vodcast or Podcast setting. The students rated their experiences on a scale of 1–10 with scores above a median of 8 indicating high experience levels in each factor. Learning was evaluated using a Webropol e-Test immediately and five weeks after the teaching session. The 15-minute test, comprised of 10 multiple-choice questions and real-life video scenarios, measured both theoretical and diagnostic skills. The test score scale ranged from − 26 to 28 points. Results: High concentration was experienced by 70/72 (97.2%) students in the Live, 41/75 (54.7%) students in the Live-stream, 53/72 (73.6%) students in the Vodcast and 36/79 (45.6%) students in the Podcast teaching groups (P < 0.01). High concentration promoted learning the most, resulting in a 1.93 score improvement in the short-term test and a 1.65 score improvement in the long-term test. Among those with high concentration, the average test scores ranged from 21.9 to 23.4, while the range for low concentration was 18.3–20.0. Conclusion: In our study, good concentration promoted higher test scores in comparison with low concentration across all the learning modalities, both in digital and live settings. However, the live teaching modality resulted in the highest levels of concentration. Our results suggest that teachers should use various teaching modalities and utilize related special features to engage learners and maintain their concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While studies have examined the effects of schools offering in-person learning during the pandemic, this study provides analysis of student enrollment decisions (remote versus in-person) in response to schools providing in-person learning opportunities. In Connecticut during the 2020-21 school year, we find that student take-up of in-person learning opportunities was low with students on average enrolled in-person for only half of the days offered, and take-up was even lower in schools with larger shares of disadvantaged students. The provision of in-person learning opportunities has been previously shown to mitigate pandemic learning losses. By exploiting data on actual enrollment, we show that the protective benefits of in-person learning are twice as large as previously estimated once we account for the low rates of student take-up. Finally, we provide evidence suggesting that a key mechanism behind the benefits of in-person learning is alleviating the burden faced by schools and teachers in delivering remote education. First, we show that the benefits to individual students of their in-person learning are substantially smaller than the overall benefits a student receives from their school average level of in-person enrollment. Second, we show that a combination of remote and in-person learning (hybrid) with a full-time on-line presence of students when at home was worse than hybrid learning with students never or only partially online. This second finding is consistent with qualitative evidence showing that teachers found hybrid learning especially challenging when having to manage both in-person and remote students for the entire class period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, first-year lectures in Biological Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) and Mississauga (UTM) were offered via online asynchronous delivery, which challenged the ability of instructors to interact with students and gauge levels of understanding, interest, and engagement. This teaching brief describes one approach used to connect with students and build community in a remote-learning environment. In a low-stakes assessment, students introduced themselves, specified from where in the world they were learning, and were invited to submit photographs from home. Photos were submitted from all over Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and were integrated into lectures with short discussions on the evolutionary history and significance of these places. This exercise was successful in creating community by integrating student experience directly into course material, emphasizing geographic and cultural diversity, and showcasing this diversity for all students, whether learning on campus or abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Private university instructors in Malaysia faced obstacles in their adaptation to the online learning mode while holding their pre-existing academic duties. This research aimed to explore those obstacles, and observe how the instructors tailored their pedagogical approaches. The research employed a qualitative research design. We used convenience sampling to select eight instructors from three private universities in Malaysia using semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that the main challenges were instructors’ own workload and lessened time for professional development, the incompatibility of the provided multimedia with their teaching approaches, as well as the problem with their students’ readiness and participation. It was found that the instructors adapted their pedagogical approaches with a main focus on learners’ cognitive development, and this was hoped to be achieved through their choices of learning tools and multimedia, instructional strategies of collaborative and reflective learning, and consideration of learning outcomes and objectives. The instructors also incorporated their students’ feedback into their content development to increase the engagement. Interestingly, some instructors initiated their own content and approach, while receiving support from their institutes, peers, and other resources. The findings may contribute positively to instructor’s efforts in providing and maintaining an interactive, productive and stable learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Question (1669-6581) is the property of Universidad Nacional de La Plata and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article explores the role of virtual communities of practice in enhancing the doctoral experience, particularly in the contemporary digital era. The author emphasizes the multifaceted benefits, including elevating academic networking, optimizing knowledge management, and supporting the mental well-being of remote learners. The establishment of clear shared objectives, dynamic leadership, and a conducive environment for collaborative innovation are identified as key prerequisites for building successful virtual communities of practice. As remote doctoral education becomes more prevalent, virtual communities of practice not only facilitate academic engagement but also foster mutual support and advocacy among doctoral students. The researcher, as a final year PhD student employed autoethnography as a research method to offer an intimate and reflective exploration of her personal experiences within virtual communities of practice. This unique insider perspective adds depth to the discussion on elevating academic networking, optimizing knowledge management, and supporting the mental well-being of remote learners. Furthermore, her ongoing doctoral research focuses on the socialization process and the development of a sense of belonging among doctoral students. Motivated by her research topics, she commenced her doctoral studies during the epidemic and cultivated the practice of consistently maintaining a researcher’s reflection diary. This perspective article examines her diary, elucidating her experiences, opinions, and feelings. The researcher utilized a thematic approach to thoroughly analyze the author’s research diaries covering the period from December 2020 to August 2023. The article concludes by calling for further research into the professional identity development of doctoral students within virtual learning communities, exploring potential challenges and effective coping mechanisms to achieve inclusive practices in the complex and diverse digital era of academia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of social media on staff and students in Nigerian higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on the challenges and opportunities that emerged. It adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. A purposive sampling technique was adopted to select participants from different higher institutions of learning in Nigeria comprising 100 staff and 300 students. The study utilizes descriptive statistics to summarize quantitative data on central tendencies. It employs inferential statistics to examine relationships between social media use, awareness, availability, challenges, perceptions, and support systems. The study reveals a strong positive correlation (r) between student (0.52) and faculty (0.68) perceptions of educational activities (accessing materials, discussions, collaboration, and learning). However, the higher positive correlation of staff members suggests that their awareness translates more significantly into the actual educational use of social media than students. While findings indicate that the pandemic created opportunities for innovative collaboration and discussion, challenges to the effective utilization of social media in education exhibited significantly lower mean effectiveness scores than the overall mean of 4.5. Significant t-tests and correlation p-values provide evidence that the challenges significantly impacted the effectiveness of the teaching and learning approach. Therefore, educational infrastructural upgrades as well as updating institutional policies to reflect the changes in the digital landscape are crucial steps to ensure the effective use of social media in the event of a sudden global lockdown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While minoritized ethnoracial groups were most likely to be in online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of these ethnoracial disparities on adolescent mental health is unclear. Since past studies do not directly examine whether the association between school modality and self-reported mental health outcomes varied by race and ethnicity among U.S. adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study addresses the gap. Methods: Adolescents aged 13 to 17 years old (n = 510) were surveyed for self-reports of anxiety and depression symptoms using the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire during Spring 2021. Seemingly unrelated regressions were used to estimate the differential association between school modality and mental health by respondents' race and ethnicity. Results: Estimates without interaction between school modality and race and ethnicity suggested that Latino respondents reported a significantly higher frequency of depressive symptoms than their White counterparts (b = 0.459; p < 0.05). Similarly, the estimates without the interaction suggested respondents reporting hybrid learning had a higher frequency of depressive symptoms than in-person learning (b = 0.504; p < 0.05). Estimates with interaction between school modality and race and ethnicity suggested fully online learning was associated with poorer mental health only among White respondents and better mental health among Black respondents. Among adolescents attending school fully online, Black adolescents reported fewer mental health symptoms than their White counterparts (anxiety, b =– 1.364; p < 0.05, and depression, b =– 1.647; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Fully online learning may have benefitted the mental health of Black adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, perhaps because it buffered racial discrimination and social anxiety in schools. Additional interventions should be explored to promote in-person school environments that better support the mental health of Black adolescents. Moreover, prioritizing equitable access to broadband internet will provide better access to online learning and ensure positive mental health, particularly for adolescents from minoritized ethnoracial groups during instances of future pandemics. Future research should continue to consider the race and ethnicity of adolescents to promote mental well-being in schools across learning modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to evaluate the performance of students in a pandemic profile, addressing the main challenges faced by students of technological education in the face of the learning process in the face of the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic. The theoretical-methodological procedures of the analysis of interpretive data of an action-research character are adopted, with a quantitative-qualitative approach with an empirical field at UNINASSAU-Mossoró, with the total sectoral participation of the Nursing class, adults between 18 and 59 years old. Data collection will take place through consultation techniques available documentation and assessment methods made by teachers in the network, with notes and reports already available at the institution for comparative analysis. With this, it is concluded that remote teaching, in view of the challenges faced by students, may be affecting their academic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this instrumental-comparative case study, we analysed how seven US teachers reported co-teaching experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting remote instruction. We sought to understand how co-teaching during the pandemic affected teachers' psychological needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Data collection included: an initial questionnaire, weekly reflections, and semi-structured interviews. We found that special education co-teachers (SE-CTs) reported diminished feelings of competence and autonomy due to scheduling complications and demands associated with meeting the needs of students with disabilities. General education co-teachers (GE-CTs) experienced similar challenges, yet reported experiences of competence and autonomy associated with increased flexibility. SE-CTs with longstanding, trusting relationships with GE-CTs reported feelings of relatedness, which seemed to mitigate some of the threats to competence that we saw otherwise. Although our findings come from a time of crisis across the world, by providing a unique perspective on co-teaching experiences these findings may inform future education research, theory, and practice in K-12 settings considering remote instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research study focuses on the growing concern of academic misconduct in distance education courses. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to measure the impact of introducing webcam recording software as an online supervision tool for high-stakes exams in two separate online courses (Management and Accounting). Results revealed that overall performance decreased following implementation of the software, and persisted after taking potential confounding factors into account. Additionally, the explanatory power of the regression analysis was higher for scores under supervision, which suggests that cheating was occurring before online supervision was introduced. It can be concluded from this study that online supervision is an effective tool to combat academic dishonesty in distance education courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the education field across the globe. This transformation has made education more accessible through the emergence of online distance learning. Therefore, this systematic literature review presents an extensive review and analysis of existing studies on online distance learning in the English as a Second Language context. The study's main aim is to explore the effectiveness of online distance learning in the English as a Second Language context. The significance of the study lies in its potential to inform educational stakeholders about the advantages and areas for improvement in online distance learning for learners and teachers, thus enhancing educational practices and policies. The primary research question guiding this review is: What are the experiences and perceptions of teachers and students regarding online distance learning in the English as a Second Language context? The study follows the PRISMA 2020 statement guidelines for systematic literature reviews, investigating peer-reviewed articles from the SCOPUS and ERIC databases (2019 - 2023). Seventeen (17) studies were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings indicate growing research interest in online distance learning in the English as a Second Language context. Most of the studies employed qualitative design in which university students mainly were used as participants. The findings also provide invaluable insights regarding the benefits enjoyed by both students and teachers from online distance learning. Key benefits derived from students' perceptions are comfort, enjoyable, time-saving, autonomous learning, improved communication, and collaborative skills. Teachers, on the other hand, stated that the benefits they enjoyed through online distance learning were time savings, a positive learning environment, improved teaching efficiency, money savings, and enhanced students' psychological factors. To summarise, these findings suggest that stakeholders should take the appropriate measures to effectively implement online distance learning and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable education for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As remote English language learning has become widespread in the context of the global pandemic, it is essential to understand effective pedagogical practices specifically with the Generation Z population (born between 1997 and 2012) from economically less developed communities. Using a survey research design, the study identified the preferred remote teaching- learning modality and techniques among 75 Generation Z learners. An online survey was administered to randomly selected Junior High School students in the Philippines. The results revealed that synchronous learning was believed to be more helpful in enhancing the students' English language learning, with techniques that encouraged them to speak and practice their grammar. Interactive group activities were mostly preferred by the learners to enhance their viewing, reading, listening, and writing skills. The study concludes with a discussion about teaching-learning techniques for teachers to successfully carry out a meaningful, enjoyable, and engaging learning experience toward effective remote English language learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Diversitas Journal is the property of Diversitas Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)