Evaluation on College Students' Anxiety and Social Media Usage during Shanghai Closure

As COVID-19 mutates, the highly infectious omicron mutants (BA. 5.2., BF. 7) tension shrouded China. Given the internet information explosion and youth social media addiction, observing the mental impact on college students during the 2022 Shanghai closure is worthwhile. A pilot survey study was conducted to explore the anxiety levels of college students during the closure. The sample size was limited to 101 second-year college students. In addition to demographics, the survey involved the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, self-perceived COVID-19 anxiety, frequency of COVID-19 information reception, number of social media accounts, and number of electronic devices. Though 68.4% of students equipped with two electronic devices (N = 95) exceeded the students with only one electronic device, a Chi-square test showed that students with only one electronic device had the highest anxiety index (mean = 50). Further, the Kruskal-Wallis test indicated that the number of electronic devices affected the students' anxiety level (p = 0.027) while social media membership did not (p = 0.565). As a result, it was suggested that social media usage and pandemic information inputs among college students were significant concerns that required special attention from the government, schools, teachers, and families.

Learning with Mobile Augmented Reality- and Automatic Speech Recognition-Based Materials for English Listening and Speaking Skills: Effectiveness and Perceptions of Non-English Major English as a Foreign Language Students

Due to the outbreak of COVID 19, an online bilingual curriculum was conducted via "Google Meet." The learning material was developed and implemented by using a smartphone application, STEMUP, based on augmented reality (AR) and automatic speech recognition (ASR) technologies. This study investigated the oral performance and perceptions of learning with STEMUP of ninety non-English major students from several colleges at a technical university in Taiwan. Data were collected from pre- and post-tests and a questionnaire survey. Results indicated that students significantly improved their oral performance and recorded their positive perceptions. Students' oral performance significantly depended on their English proficiency. Their perceptions were not significant related to their English proficiency, gender, or college. Instant feedback and evaluation provided by ASR technology and online "Google" text-to-speech service both embedded in STEMUP helped students notice, modify and improve their listening and speaking skills. They were satisfied with the bilingual curriculum, which helped them increase understanding about content knowledge by the teacher's explanation in Chinese, and improve English listening and speaking skills by learning with STEMUP. This study is a good start in creating an interactive and communicative learning environment where translanguaging is effectively integrated with innovative technologies.

Mobile Technology Acceptance among Undergraduate Nursing Students Instructed by Blended Learning at Selected Educational Institutions in South India

Background: Mobile phones have become a widely accepted learning mode due to the impact of COVID-19. This study explores the mobile technology acceptance, among nursing students at selected educational institutions in South India. Materials and Methods: Quantitative cross-sectional descriptive design. First-year 176 B.Sc. nursing students who underwent blended learning were selected by the purposive sampling method. The tool "Technology Acceptance Model" was used to collect responses. Bivariate analysis was used to determine the relationship between the demographic and study-related variables with the mobile technology acceptance using SPSS version 25.0. Results: The majority 73.9% of the students belonged to the age group of 18-19 years, females 76.7% and, 98.9% were unmarried. Among the constructs of TAM, a mean (SD) value of 22.08 (2.26) was found for material (mobile device audio/video) characteristics the mean (SD) value was 22.08 (2.26), attitude about use 17.58 (1.95), behavioral intention 17.46 (1.78) and system characteristics 17.21 (2.27). The mobile technology acceptance revealed that 126 (71.6%) strongly agreed, 49 (27.8%) agreed, and 1 (0.6%) was neutral with a mean (SD) of 105.19 (8.68), respectively. A positive correlation was found between the system characteristics, material characteristics, perceived ease to use, perceived usefulness, attitude about the use, behavioral intention with a P value <0.001. There was a statistically significant association between Mobile technology acceptance and time spent by the students for independent studies shown the Chi-square value of 12.7, with P value <0.05. Conclusion: Nursing students had a positive acceptance and behavior toward smartphone use.

Parent Perspectives on Young Children's Changing Digital Practices: Insights from COVID-19

Young children's use of digital technologies has presented challenges for parents, particularly in response to an increased reliance on digital resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. This mixed-methods study explored young children's digital practices within the context of their families and homes. Although this study was originally planned, the timing of data collection meant that it was uniquely positioned to capture parent perspectives as the pandemic and first lockdown was unfolding in Australia. Data was collected through questionnaire (N = 101) and semistructured interview (n = 20) about status and change in children's digital practices, and parents' rules and flexibility in governing these experiences. Quantitative findings suggested children's frequency and duration of digital device use trended upwards during lockdown, and parents were more flexible in their rules about the amount of screen time, as well as when and where children could use digital devices. Qualitative results suggested that, more than a temporary and situational change, for many parents, exposure to new ways of engaging with digital technologies facilitated a shift in their perceptions, leading to greater consideration of quality in their choices for their children. This study highlights the influential role of parents in shaping children's digital experiences. Understanding their perceptions, as well as children's current and shifting digital practices in the home, is important for informing efforts and guidance for supporting young children's safe and effective use of digital technologies.

An integrated multi-criteria decision-making approach for identifying the risk level of musculoskeletal disorders among handheld device users.

In work-from-home (WFH) situation due to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the handheld device (HHD) users work in awkward postures for longer hours because of unavailability of ergonomically designed workstations. This problem results in different type of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among the HHD users. An integrated multi-criteria decision-making approach was offered for identifying the risk level of MSDs among HHD users. A case example implemented the proposed approach in which, firstly, the best-worst method (BWM) technique was used to prioritize and determine the relative importance (weightage) of the risk factors. The weightages of the risk factors further used to rank the seven alternatives (HHD users) using Vlse Kriterijumska Optimizacija Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) technique. The outcomes of the BWM investigation showed that the three most significant risk factors responsible for MSDs are duration of working, poor working posture and un-ergonomic design. The outcome of the VIKOR technique exhibited that computer professionals were at the highest risk among all users. The risk factor priority must be used for designing a working strategy for the WFH situation which will help to mitigate the risks of MSDs.

High Impact for Youth by Youth: Health and Education Programs in Southern Africa

Young people in East and Southern Africa need greater access to reliable information about health and education in order to make informed decisions on health matters--focusing on HIV and teenage pregnancy--and to increase basic education outcomes. Young 1ove organization, established in March 2014 in Gaborone, Botswana, is a grassroots, youth-led, evidence-based movement in East and Southern Africa. Its mission is to connect youth to proven life-saving information. Its core competencies are delivering sensitive information to young people in a credible and relatable fashion, busting myths, changing beliefs and norms, generating demand, and building connection and trust. As a portfolio organization, Young 1ove commits to a few, highly curated programs. It invests in these programs for the long term--testing, iterating, and following the evidence at each step of the program life cycle. This article discusses lessons learned along the way of implementing Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL). TaRL is an education program that supports students who are falling behind in basic literacy and numeracy by grouping them according to ability level, rather than teaching to a syllabus that is often far too advanced for most students. In addition, the program has a menu of fun and level-appropriate activities that are custom-tailored to each group of students.

Addiction to the Smartphone in High School Students: How It's in Daily Life?

Nowadays, the serious situation that affects the entire world goes beyond the social, cultural, economic problems and other conflicts that occur day by day. These were left aside to move to a global alert, we refer to the pandemic crisis that all the nations of the world are facing. Confinement forced people all over the world to stay at home, therefore, communications through electronic devices became very necessary. This study does not seek to analyze the pandemic crisis, its purpose is to analyze the use that students give to their mobile phone, to determine if this has generated addiction, in addition to identifying if use differs in men and in women. Participants were 184 high school students enrolled in a public sector institution in the Port of Veracruz, Mexico. To obtain the data, the SAS-CV test was used. This contains questions related to the profile of the respondent and 10 items in Likert format. It was distributed via electronic devices for their response. The data were statistically analyzed using polychoric correlation matrices and factor analysis with component extraction. The main findings demonstrate the obtaining of three components: physiological, dependence and distraction, which account for 68% of the total variance, and it was also shown that there are no differences by gender.

Syrian Refugees' Acceptance and Use of Mobile Learning Tools during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mobile learning, which is widely used in educational settings during the COVID-19 pandemic, will continue playing a critical role in learning environments in the future. Since the successful implementation of mobile learning in education is largely based on users' acceptance of these technologies, it is essential to understand the factors affecting learners' acceptance of mobile devices as learning tools. This study investigated Syrian adult refugees' acceptance and use of mobile learning tools. The results revealed that Syrian adult refugees were positive about using mobile devices in learning Turkish as a second/foreign language, and there exists a concrete and significant correlation among all the constructs of the mobile learning tools acceptance like Perceived Ease of Use, Contribution to Foreign Language Learning, Negative Perceptions, and Voluntariness of Use. Factors affecting mobile learning acceptance was also investigated in the study, and the results indicated significant differences among the refugees regarding their characteristics such as age, gender, level of education. The results also revealed that while the refugees did better in the tests over time, mobile learning acceptance had no significant effect on foreign language achievement. Depending on these results, it can be suggested that mobile devices should be integrated into the education system as a component of the curriculum.

Mobile Learning and Readiness of Ongoing Foreign Language Teacher Candidates for Future Retrospective Studies

Due to technical advancements, humanity has seen a variety of sociological transformations. In historical terms, the move to sedentary life may be categorized widely into two categories: industrial society and information society. It also indicates that these changes and advances are permanent in the educational and training contexts and that the link between teaching and technology is anchored and evolving. The specific differences of each student will be taken into account in future foreign language classrooms, as well as providing them with an active role, associating their learning, and equipping teachers with technical tools. This may be accomplished by submitting the future approach to educational settings to teacher candidates. The readiness is an essential factor, as the quality of preparation of teacher candidates and technology itself. Further technical breakthroughs have affected our everyday lives, the formation of new vehicles utilized in educational contexts, and the development of new methodologies, including today's smart tablet computers from the abacus. Today's research reflects the need to consider the potential effects of the COVID pandemic from a broader viewpoint. According to this perspective, rather than being viewed as an event, the integration of technology into education should be seen as a process influenced by variables other than only technological development. It is critical to assess the current situation in light of the history of technology and the existing situation in the present and changes throughout time as indicators of future developments. However, the extent of current data on the usage of mobile technology, which falls under the category of mobile technology, limits the reach of a retrospective cohort study (also called a historical cohort study or with a more general name longitudinal cohort study). The purpose of this study is to present data for future Longitudinal Cohort Studies by illustrating the degree of readiness of ongoing Anadolu University, Faculty of Education German as a Foreign Language Teacher Candidates.

EFL Learners' Perceptions Regarding the Use of Busuu Application in Language Learning: Evaluating the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)

After the exceptional circumstances the whole world has experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students have become digital natives who seek learning that overcomes the barriers of place and time. This mixed-methods study aimed at investigating EFL learners' perceptions regarding the application of Busuu in language learning, by applying the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The participants were 58 first secondary stage students in a Saudi private school. An online survey and a semi-structured interview were used to collect data. The results revealed that EFL learners have a positive attitude towards Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL). Additionally, according to the TAM, the participants found the language application Busuu useful and easy to use. They also thought of Busuu as a valuable resource for language learning, which increases their motivation to be autonomous learners. However, in addition to the TAM components, the results also showed that affordance and joyfulness could be strong indicators of learners' acceptance of a particular technology. Moreover, the results revealed that mobile applications might be more helpful for beginner learners than advanced ones. On the other hand, the findings also showed that Busuu might distract learners from doing their homework. Besides, the regular use of Busuu might be harmful to their eyes due to the small mobile screen size. For further research, the recommendation includes a large sample size in addition to a long-term study of EFL learners' perception towards Busuu in normal classroom circumstances.

Doing and Talking: People with Intellectual Disabilities' Handling of Challenges of Remote Communication

This article is about the challenge of communication via smartphones and tablets by people with intellectual disabilities (ID). We will give special attention to persons that struggle with verbal communication. One of our co-researchers, the fourth author, has a severe ID. She cannot read, write or use voice assisted technology in any functional manner. As a result of many years of collaboration, and the need for solutions in connection with the challenges with COVID-19, she and her family have developed ways of remote communication that can be mastered both by the person with an ID and the majority (those without similar disabilities). We call it "doing and talking." Successful remote communication not only depends on technology and how to use it, but also on communication strategies that both work for the person with an ID and the majority. It is often the case that people with ID are expected to learn the skills necessary to adapt to the majority. We will show that success is just as much a question of the majority learning new skills and strategies that can make real inclusion and collaboration possible.

Reopening with Resilience: Lessons from Remote Learning during COVID-19 in Eastern and Southern Africa

The widespread school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the learning crisis for children living in Eastern and Southern Africa. The crisis has also shown the great need to develop resilient education systems that can provide learning when schools are forced to close. Understanding how to provide remote learning equitably utilizing multiple modalities and emphasizing low-tech solutions in Eastern and Southern Africa is critical given the great challenges facing the region in terms of electricity and connectivity access. This report provides a summary of lessons learned in the East and Southern Africa region from remote learning during COVID-19 and provides concrete recommendations on how to increase the resilience of education systems.

Academic Performance and Mobile Technology Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Study

Most North American colleges and universities switched to online courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it is important to explore the impact of the newly remote courses on the academic lives of postsecondary students with and without disabilities and on technology use by students. It is also important to ascertain which newly used technologies are likely to be useful in the future. To do this, we surveyed 121 students with disabilities and 51 without disabilities and asked them about their academic performance and about the smartphone and tablet technologies they used to do schoolwork during the pandemic. Results indicate that most students were having a difficult time with learning and studying and that students with disabilities were experiencing more challenges, including the need to drop courses. The most common problems dealt with concentration, motivation, and discipline. The only positive impact reported relates to flexibility and time management. Approximately 70% of students used some form of mobile technology to do schoolwork, primarily Apple devices. The most common technologies reported by students were: Zoom, Google Docs, and Microsoft Word. Overall, most of these worked well, although over one third of both groups indicated that Zoom worked poorly. Where there were differences between the two groups, results show that the technologies were more problematic for students with disabilities. The variety of smartphone and tablet apps used by postsecondary students during the pandemic suggests that now that they have learned to use these, students will continue to use many of these once the pandemic is over.

Pre-Service Teachers' WhatsApp Preferences in a Mathematics Methodology Course during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The study comprised thirteen pre-service teachers who were purposely sampled. Even though there are different online platforms that the pre-service teachers could have used, they all delivered their lessons through WhatsApp because of the several benefits attached to it such as ease and flexibility to use, low cost of WhatsApp bundles, various functions and the fact that it can be used anywhere at any time. The pre-service teachers faced several challenges during peer teaching using WhatsApp such as lack of smartphones, a flood of messages, human interruption, unavailability of electricity and internet and the nature of mathematics concepts. Difficulty in maintaining discipline, assessing learners' progress was also difficult and it was time-consuming to prepare and deliver lessons using WhatsApp. The pre-service teachers suggested that the prices of online devices such as smartphones and WIFI should be subsidized. In addition, they suggested that lessons should be recorded for the learners and that parents should be involved in their children's learning by encouraging them to provide online tools and educating them on online teaching and learning. The study recommends that pre-service teachers need to be trained on the use of online platforms so that they are equipped for any eventuality such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Epistemic and Mediational Suitability of Tasks Designed in a Mobile Learning Context

The aim of this research is to propose indicators of epistemic and mediational suitability to assess tasks designed in a mobile learning context, using theoretical and methodological elements of the onto-semiotic approach (OSA) and the SAMR model (substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition). With these indicators, 110 tasks designed by two Mexican teachers are evaluated, for the teaching of the natural number in primary education. Some results indicate that the situation-problems addressed the meanings of numerical sequence, operational, ordinal, and measure, and that 56% of the tasks were located at the substitution level. Some implications derived from the research are that the mathematical content can be complemented by including other representations of the natural number and that the design of tasks that are positioned at the modification and redefinition levels should be encouraged. The foregoing serves as a basis for the design and assessment of mobile content for the natural number concept.

Smartphones as Digital Instructional Interface Devices: The Teacher's Perspective

Globally, many nations have put in place policies on technology enhanced teaching and learning in an effort to keep abreast with the rapid advancement in technology. However, the use of technology in education has been slow in many third world countries, inclusive of Zimbabwe. COVID-19 restrictions inadvertently accelerated the adoption of digital instructional interface devices (DIIDs). Smartphones are preferred DIIDs because of their popularity amongst children as well as teachers. However, their successful penetration as DIIDs is largely dependent on teachers' dispositions as key agents of curriculum implementation. Zimbabwe is known to have a 52% smartphone penetration rate for all citizens. The study was therefore carried out to determine the penetration rate of smartphones in science teachers, and also to probe teachers' views on learners being allowed unlimited access to smartphones. The study adopted descriptive survey design from a quantitative research approach. Data was collected from 179 science teachers through a self-developed electronic questionnaire that was administered through the Kobo Toolbox online survey application. Results show that the smartphone penetration rate in science teachers is 87%. Multitasking and indecent exposure are the main forms of learner deviance that make teachers more reluctant to accept smartphones as DIIDs. In the presence of school-wide and classroom policies that cater for both merits of smartphone use and ease of policy enforcement, Zimbabwe science teachers are however ready to fully embrace smartphones as useful DIIDs.

Digital Citizenship in Education and Its Implication

Nowadays, billions of people across the world communicate with one another using a variety of technological means. As a result of this connection, we now live in a digital world where people can learn, work, play, and socialize with ease. Likewise, educators of all skills levels may not understand how to use technology effectively. Hence, both students and teachers need to become a member of a digital citizenry. Findings revealed that in terms of the elements of digital citizenship, teachers are significantly higher than students. The results indicate that students are at risk in this digital environment along with the COVID-19 pandemic. This critical aspect addresses the schools to provide initiative and integrate digital citizenship in the curriculum in order to provide a responsible digital citizen.

Determinants of continuous usage of library resources on handheld devices: findings from PLS-SEM and fuzzy sets (fsQCA)

Purpose>This study aims to investigate the key factors that motivate learners to use handheld devices to access library resources. To do so, this study integrates the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the DeLone and McLean information systems success (D and M-ISS) model.Design/methodology/approach>The relationship between the causes and the outcomes may not be symmetrical. To test this proposition, data were collected from 210 respondents in a Gulf country and analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) and complemented by fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).Findings>The SEM results revealed that three constructs – perceived ease of use (PEOU), service quality (SQ) and system quality (SEQ) are strong drivers of students’ continuous intention to use handheld devices to access library resources. However, perceived usefulness (PU) and information quality (IQ) do not significantly influence students’ intentions. Besides, SQ and PEOU are positively related to PU. Furthermore, fsQCA results show that two different conjunctions, PU*PEOU*IQ*SEQ and PEOU*SQ*IQ*SEQ, cause the students to show a continuous intention to use handheld devices to access library resources.Originality/value>Unlike previous studies on mobile library resource utilization, this analysis extends TAM to investigate the linear additive influence of two basic TAM constructs: PEOU and PU, and three constructs, namely, SEQ, SQ and IQ of the ISS model, on students’ library resource utilization. Furthermore, the findings of SEM were complemented by a set theory-based configuration method, fsQCA, to investigate the asymmetrical, equifinal and configurational causation leading to the desired outcome. The findings of this study have theoretical and practical implications.

Enabling customer co-creation behavior at a distance: the case of patients using self-monitoring handheld devices in healthcare

The inherent feature of inseparability causes significant sufferings for the service sector. In the case of diabetes disease in healthcare, this problem is reduced by asking patients to self-monitor blood glucose at home (SMBG). Despite the task’s importance, many patients do not fully accomplish. This study investigates what factors of patients affect their adherence to SMBG and how physician consultation fosters their adherence. Empirical results show that the adherence level is driven by patients’ capability and self-efficacy, both of which are fostered by the knowledge acquired from physicians. These findings provide insights to support strategies to reduce the service inseparability.

Empowering Latinx Families to Help Children with Mathematics

The authors' experiences with Latinx families confirm research that shows parents are willing and have the desire to help their children with their mathematics schoolwork (Colegrove and Krause 2016). However, structural barriers make it challenging for Spanish-speaking parents to support their children's mathematics learning. For example, districts that offer computer and high-speed internet access fall short when they fail to give technical assistance and instructions in families' native languages (Chandra et al. 2020). Parents cannot then access school communication about academics and parent meetings. When parents cannot participate in their children's learning, this reinforces deficit attitudes that schools have toward immigrant families (Colegrove and Krause 2016). However, social media can support communication with families and increase their mathematics resource use at home. In the United States, 72 percent of Hispanic adults regularly use social media, and smartphones are often their primary means of access to digital resources (PEW Research Center 2019). This article describes the authors' innovative approach to support and empower Latinx families with preschool-age children and leverages their high use of mobile phones by sharing videos modeling conversations about mathematical concepts. To study the usefulness, accessibility, and usability of this approach, they conducted a pilot program with Spanish-speaking families in Massachusetts.