Flexible curriculum design for quantitative skills development: Building on the insights gained during COVID-19

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, technology-enhanced learning and its relation to student engagement, and the necessity of good student-staff relationships for creating a successful education environment were evident. The COVID-19 pandemic forced higher education to adapt to a challenging technology-led learning environment that demanded, inter alia, high levels of flexibility and human-centredness. Valuable lessons were learned that highlighted new perspectives on curriculum design and delivery in a normalised, technology-driven environment. Against the background of COVID-19-related literature on teaching and learning, the authors reflect on their insights regarding curriculum design and delivery of two quantitative skills modules during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impact on further curriculum planning. The focus of the article is on the intentional flexibility built into curriculum offerings during 2020-2022. The study reviewed flexibility on three levels, namely student, facilitator (staff) and delivery levels, through a multi-method research methodology. Quantitative data related to the academic performance of 2 949 students enrolled for the two quantitative skills modules from 2020 to 2022. Qualitative data related to themes through thematic analysis of student and facilitator surveys, focusgroup discussions and semi-structured interviews. The improved student academic performance reported by the study could be attributed to, amongst other factors, 1) flexibility of the selected delivery option, 2) positive staff and student experiences and engagement, and 3) intentional inclusion of activities promoting student-staff relationships. The good academic results obtained during the pandemic led to important curriculum decisions for a normalised future for these modules, which will be built on flexibility and human-centredness. Among these decisions is to continue presenting the modules in an online environment, even though traditional face-to-face teaching options are available.

Self-Directed Learning Predicts Online Learning Engagement in Higher Education Mediated by Perceived Value of Knowing Learning Goals

Online education has made it possible to implement the "classes suspended but learning continues" policy during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the intangible sense of the online educational setting requires self-directed learning (SDL) and may force students to know the goals of learning that may impact their engagement. To understand the effect, based on situated expectancy-value theory, this study considered SDL as attitude and approach and constructed a research model to explore the mediating power of perceived value of knowing learning goals (PVKLG) related to participants' online learning engagement during the COVID-19 lockdown. Data were collected from 497 higher education students in China. After the confirmatory factor analysis with structural equation modeling, the results reported that SDL attitude and approach positively predicted learning engagement mediated by PVKLG. The results suggest that only when students have a high level of PVKLG will they be able to regulate their learning process through the two types of SDL and enhance their engagement in online learning contexts during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Evolving Perception Regarding Online Learning and Teachingin the COVID-19 Era of Graduate Students with diverse educational backgrounds enrolled inMaster's Health Professional Education Program of a Pakistani University

Objective: To analyze the evolving perception of graduate students of Masters in ‘health professional education with diverse educational backgrounds regarding online learning and teaching. Study Design: Mixed-method' study of Convergent Parallel Design. Place and Duration of Study: Riphah University, Rawalpindi Pakistan, Dec 2021 to Feb 2022. Methodology: Twenty-five graduate students of Masters in ‘health professional education' with diverse educational backgrounds answered semi-structured questionnaires at the end of 2 online teaching sessions. Results: The mean scores of 3 domains of ‘student's perception of learning, ‘contents and teaching strategies and ‘educational environment' in 1st vs second online sessions were as follows, respectively: (4.37 0.42 vs 4.09, 0.45;p-value 0.04), (4.40 0.47 vs 4.29, 0.58;p-value 0.44) and (4.43 0.43 vs 4.23 0.69;p-value 0.36). The students agreed that the contents covered, teaching strategies and education environment were satisfactory, and the perception was not statistically different between the two sessions in these domains. In contrast, students' self-perception of learning was more satisfactory in the first online session. Conclusion: The graduate students of Masters in ‘health professional education' with diverse educational backgrounds were satisfied regarding the contents covered, teaching strategies and education environment in two online teaching sessions. In contrast, their perception of their learning depreciated in the second online teaching session.

The Effectiveness of Using H5P for Undergraduate Students in the Asynchronous Distance Learning Environment

As the COVID-19 pandemic caused many schools to go online, asynchronous distant learning has become popular. One of the main challenges of asynchronous distance learning is keeping students engaged and motivated, as they do not have the same engagement with their peers and teachers as in traditional face-to-face learning environments. HTML 5 package (H5P) is an interactive learning tool that has the potential to fill this need due to its numerous immediate interactive features, such as interactive videos, pop quizzes, and games during media playback. This study investigates the effectiveness of using H5P and Moodle in asynchronous distance learning environments for undergraduate students. The data collection methods included pre-and post-surveys for Moodle and H5P and the questions related to the student perspectives towards H5P features. The technology acceptance model (TAM) is employed to find student satisfaction. The results of this study suggest that both the H5P and Moodle could be valuable tools for making E-learning more effective. The interactive and engaging nature of H5P can provide students with a more enjoyable and effective learning experience, helping to keep them motivated and engaged throughout their studies.

Medical Students' Participation in Social Studying and Learning during COVID-19

COVID-19 transformed the medical school learning environment. How social studying and learning (SSL) may have changed was considered worthy of exploration. This study describes the effect of the learning environment transformation on how SSL is conducted by medical students and the reasoning behind any changes. A post-positivist stance was adopted with a mixed method convergent-parallel approach. An online survey explored the participation rate and nature of SSL and how these related to literature-identified underpinning factors that influence participation in SSL. A follow-up interview explored the survey responses. A total of 87 survey responses were collected. Following exclusion of incomplete responses, 57 responses were analysed, and nine follow-up interviews were conducted. Cross-tabulation and logistic regression were conducted to analyse the quantitative data and thematic analysis was conducted to analyse the qualitative data. No significant difference was observed in SSL participation rate during COVID-19. Students transitioned from in-person to Zoom meetings for sensibility, ease and convenience. Students continued participating in SSL for motivation and began participating for accountability, focus and replacement of lost social interaction. The same content was studied using a wider range of activities. Significant decreases were observed in students' perception of the effect of a range of factors. The observed changes to SSL during online learning suggest that SSL is integral for many medical students and will be adapted as required. Given that medical school will always involve some periods of online learning, understanding of the nature of and driving factors behind how medical students engage in SSL during online learning may enable medical educators to support all aspects of student learning.

Evaluation of Hybrid Learning and Teaching Practices: The Perspective of Academics

This paper presents a study on the evaluation of hybrid learning and teaching practices by academics. A mixed research method involving a questionnaire survey and a focus group interview was employed to gather academics' feedback on their experience in delivering hybrid instruction in a synchronous manner in which on-site and remote students attended classes simultaneously, their students' hybrid learning effectiveness, and their suggestions for improvement. The questionnaire was administered to 76 academics from a university in Hong Kong where hybrid learning and teaching were implemented, and the focus group interview involved 10 academics. The findings reveal that the participating academics perceived themselves as having an overall high degree of readiness to handle technical issues. They expressed that the students from their hybrid classes had lower levels of interaction, engagement, and motivation than those from traditional face-to-face classes. The participants also reported their challenges regarding hybrid learning and teaching, including heavy workload for lesson preparation and face-to-face and online classroom management, unfamiliarity with interactive teaching design suitable for hybrid classes, and difficulties in monitoring students' learning process. They provided suggestions for the improvement of hybrid classes, ranging from the provision of technological support to professional development for enhancing students' online interaction and engagement. These findings contribute to revealing academics' experience in practising hybrid learning and teaching and identifying ways to address their challenges.

An Ethos of Wander Time: Staying with the Trouble to Make Sense during Crises

Amidst a steady clamor about "learning loss" during the pandemic, a minority of educators have cautioned we must, in the words of Donna Haraway, "stay with the trouble," giving children space to grieve, explore, and make sense of a new reality. In this paper I interrogate what it means to stay with trouble and specifically call for what I refer to as "wander time" to stay with trouble in schools. With the phrase wander time, I reference the 40 years the Ancient Israelites spent wandering the desert after they left Egypt as slaves and before they founded a nation in Israel. Taking a phenomenological approach, I then illustrate the practical implications and the potential of wander time through a study of my then preschool-age son's yearlong self-directed and adult supported multimedia exploration of Transformers (vehicles in popular culture that transform into robots with human-like personalities). I document how through this exploration, my son articulated fears, stayed with, and made sense of troubles. I close by analyzing the pedagogy of wander time to suggest practical implications for schools.

The effectiveness of interactive training and microlearning approaches on motivation and independent learning of medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: Journal of the Association for Programmed Learning

In the COVID-19 pandemic period, most students felt lonely, accordingly their motivation for self-learning was low. The study aimed to increase their enthusiasm for work, and to improve their learning of biochemical subjects in the medical education programme during the pandemic period. Small parts of educational materials (microlearning) were presented in different formats such as videos, interactive education exercises, game-based quizzes and final exam was taken. The achievement of learning objectives of the course was evaluated by a survey. Students participating in daily activities gained higher self-confidence in learning and their final exam grade was higher compared to non-participating students (7.35 ± 1.37 vs 7.06 ± 1.88, p = 0.038). Most of the students agreed that daily activities (52%) increased their motivation to work. This approach might be proposed as a practice that supports distance learning, or even traditional education, especially in medical education that includes complex issues.

Applying Nurse Practitioner Student Reflections in Design of Telehealth Curricula

Telehealth demand increased precipitously among all populations, particularly Medicare beneficiaries with complex care needs, during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Current nurse practitioner (NP) graduates require practice readiness in telehealth when transitioning to advanced practice. Competency-based education models integrate progressive, multimodal evaluation of core practice competencies, including telehealth. Self-reflection supports student acquisition of new competencies. Thematic analysis of guided reflections after a pilot gerontologic robot-enabled telehealth simulation identified curricular opportunities in a primary care NP program. NP students' perceived challenges in communication and adaptation to virtual patient presence were considered in building integrated telehealth curricula in clinical courses applying the 4Ps of Telehealth Education (Planning, Preparing;Providing;and Performance Improvement) framework.

Investigating boredom within the context of sixth-grade mathematics classes

This dissertation examined how the perception of the achievement-emotion of boredom impacted the academic agency of sixth-grade mathematics students. The study for this dissertation was completed during the Covid 19 pandemic. Through an explanatory sequential mixed methods study, sixth-grade mathematics student volunteers from a Midwest middle school responded to survey items on achievement-emotions as well as shared their perspectives about their perception of boredom in three mathematics settings: classroom, studying and/or independent learning, and testing. Eleven of the 69 sixth-grade mathematic students participated in three rounds of data collection: the AEQ-M Survey, homogenous focus group discussions, and individual interviews. A repeated measure within-subject ANOVA was used to analyze the quantitative data from the survey. The results of the focus group discussions and the individual interviews were coded and organized into themes of control and value.The results show that sixth grade mathematics students perceived boredom in all three classroom settings: classroom, studying and/or independent learning, and testing. While discussing the perception of boredom, the sixth-grade mathematics students used descriptors of control and value, such as mathematics skills, executive functioning, intentional distractions, persistence of time, along with positive and negative appraisals. While discussing the perception of boredom, the same students used descriptors of value, such as positive and negative appraisal as well as influencers, those people in a sixth-grade mathematics student's life that influenced their beliefs about the value of mathematics. Different mathematics settings elicited distinct achievement-emotions, along with varying levels of perceptions of those achievement-emotions. Perceptions of boredom differed greatly as demonstrated by discussions comparing their ability to stay awake in class due to boredom and compared to persevering while studying independently. In this study, the perception of boredom was identified by the participants prior to, during, and/or after a test. The participants discussed patterns of behaviors consistent with control-value theory and with the process of self-regulation. These patterns worked together to create a triad for boredom agency-a course of action for sixth-grade mathematics students to pursue while striving to achieve academic goals, all while being confronted with the perception of boredom. This study identifies implications for future research, considerations for high stakes testing, as well as a reflection on how teachers of sixth grade mathematics students can help to scaffold the development of academic agency when their students are facing boredom. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS' EXPERIENCES AND PERCEPTIONS ABOUT FLIPPED CLASSROOM APPLICATIONS USED IN GEOMETRY LESSONS

The purpose of the study was to investigate the experiences and perceptions of middle school students about the flipped classroom applications used in geometry lessons. The research was designed as a case study. Data were collected through field notes, focus group interviews, and semi-structured interviews. The sample consisted of 26 eighth-grade students studying in a state middle school in Turkey. Within the scope of the flipped classroom, lecture videos and summaries, multimedia activities, and exercises were sent to the students through the Education Information Network (EIN) lesson module. The results indicated that students could control their learning at their pace and the lesson module were generally comprehensible. Moreover, the in-class activities enabled students to learn mathematics in a meaningful and in-depth manner. There was enough time for the application and implementation of classroom tasks. Furthermore, students learned better by getting support from their friends in the group, the interaction between student-student and student-teacher improved, and they were actively involved in the lessons. Additionally, students' bias towards mathematics decreased.

Children's engagement in self-learning modules (SLMs) amid the pandemic: a predictive analysis on the role of internet access, household food security, and parental involvement to modular classes

This study examines essential factors that affect children' quality of response towards a non-traditional learning platform specifically, self-learning modules (SLMs) as Philippine public school's mode of service-learning delivery. Our objective is to determine the predictive power of access to internet, household food security, and parental involvement on the level of students' engagement in these modular classes amid the health crisis. Drawing online responses from parents of public-school students (n=359), our regression analysis confirms the viability of our model F(3,355) = 19.2, p<.001. While we found that food security and parental involvement are predictors of students' satisfactory engagement in their SLMs, internet access is not. Therefore, our model suggests that children with parents who take time to be involved in their studies and who reside in households with enough food are more likely to engage positively in their modular classes, whether or not the household has access to the internet.

Entrepreneurially Minded Learning in the Unit Operations Laboratory through Community Engagement in a Blended Teaching Environment

Online and blended learning opportunities in Chemical Engineering curriculum emerged due to COVID-19. After eight weeks of in-person Unit Operations Laboratory sessions, a remote-learning open-ended final project was assigned to student teams. The assignment involved aspects related to entrepreneurially-minded learning (EML) and community-based learning (CBL). Results show correlations between self-directed learning and the EML framework. Continuous support and involvement of a community partner correlate to students' motivation, critical for successful remote-learning implementations in engineering education.

Pods in Action: Southern Nevada Urban Micro Academy. A Microschool Offered Personalized Learning for Students, Support for Educators--and a Glimpse into Gaps in Policy

In response to concerns about the children of first responders needing a safe, supervised place to learn in the midst of COVID-19 school closures, the City of North Las Vegas funded education nonprofit Nevada Action to set up a microschool. Students left the school district to learn at the microschool, which received from the city facilities, funding for personnel, support from city employees, and marketing support. The microschool created small, personalized learning environments for children in grades 1-6, with a curriculum that provides individualized support and a focus on creating strong relationships with parents and families (grades 7-8 were added in 2021). It was open to all North Las Vegas residents and children of first responders--healthcare workers, police, and firefighters--throughout the greater Las Vegas Valley (which includes areas outside of North Las Vegas). This report offers a glimpse into the Southern Nevada Urban Micro Academy (SNUMA). This program presented a unique example of how local governments can use technology to create new learning options outside of local school districts that meet the needs of their communities.

Impact of E-Learning on INTTIC Students during the COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic forced much of the world into lockdown. For that reason, INTTIC switched from blended learning to total e-learning. In this paper, we explore the impact of e-learning on INTTIC students during the COVID-19 lockdown. To this end, we focus on four main variables: the effectiveness, the cost, the flexibility, and the independent work involved in e-learning. Our results show that e-learning cannot be entirely effective without the teacher's online interaction. It is budget-friendly because students can save on transportation, food and daily school expenses, and it offers students a large degree of flexibility. Nevertheless, almost all students struggle to complete their homework on a deadline. The main causes could include the psychological aspects of lockdown, the lack of prior experience with total e-learning, and a need for teachers' supervision. Future research should study the impact of e-learning on teachers during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Emerging Trends of Psycho-Technological Approaches in Heutagogy

The epidemic of COVID-19 has disrupted education in over 150 nations and harmed 1.6 billion children. As a result, a number of nations have introduced some type of remote learning employing technology and students were encouraged to engage in self-determined learning. Many Educational Institutions that previously resisted changing their traditional pedagogical method were forced to use online teaching and learning exclusively. Internet-educated kids who have never encountered this issue are unfamiliar with it. As a result, they are confronted with a number of psychological issues and are negatively impacting the health, social, and material well-being of children globally, with the poorest children, such as homeless children and children in detention, being the hardest hit. As a result, the editors came to the conclusion that it would be beneficial to issue a call for papers in order to discuss the difficulties and opportunities associated with the practise of heutagogy from the psychological and technological vantage points indicated in the title. [This book was published by Tamil Nadu Open University.]

"I Did Not Sign Up for This": Student Experiences of the Rapid Shift from In-Person to Emergency Virtual Remote Learning during the COVID Pandemic

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to explore students' experiences of the emergency virtual remote teaching, which was implemented as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: 439 students enrolled at a community college in Canada responded to a survey that had Likert-scale and open-ended questions. Anderson's model for online learning was used as an analytic lens to gain insight on student experiences. Descriptive statistics were used to make meaning of the data. Thematic analysis was done on student responses to open-ended questions. Results: Findings were organized according to Anderson's six factors in online teaching, namely: (a) Independent Study, (b) Peer, Family, & Professional Support, (c) Structured Learning Resources, (d) Community of Inquiry, (e) Communication, and (f) Paced, Collaborative Learning. The study revealed both challenges and opportunities that students experienced during their transition to emergency virtual remote learning. Conclusions: The invitation to students to share what worked--and what didn't--yielded a wealth of specific suggestions for engaging students, promoting accountability, and supporting collaborative learning. Implication for Practice: This study looked past anticipated pressure points to reveal critical teaching factors that challenge--or enable--students as they transition to emergency virtual remote teaching. Post-secondary instructors would be well served to consider how they promote self-efficacy, provide access to supports, fashion an online learning environment, develop community, communicate expectations, and encourage collaboration.

The Role of Self-Directed Learning in the Relationship between Motivation and Academic Self-Efficacy of Teacher Candidates in Turkey

This study investigated the relationship between motivation and academic self-efficacy of teacher candidates during the COVID-19 pandemic period. In addition, the mediating role of self-directed learning skills was also explored. In this study that is based on a correlational design, data were collected from 992 teacher candidates studying in various undergraduate programs of 48 different faculties/colleges of education in Turkey. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and bootstrapping method. According to the findings, the significant relationships among the variables show that high motivation of teacher candidates is necessary for high academic self-efficacy, and their academic self-efficacy increases even more when they have self-directed learning skills. As a result, during the pandemic candidate teachers with high self-directed learning skills were able to keep their motivation and maintain their academic self-efficacy at a high level. Accordingly, such results could be useful for improving teacher training policies and program content during the pandemic.

Readiness for Online Learning among Foreign Language Undergraduates in a Private University in Malaysia

Increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia forced the authority to enforce the Movement Control Order since March 2020. This order requires students in Malaysia to remain at home while learning via distance and online learning modes. This study aimed to assess the readiness of Foreign Language (FL) students in Malaysian private university in transition from face-to-face learning to online learning. This study employed quantitative research whereby the data was collected from 120 FL students using an online questionnaire. Computer/internet self-efficacy, self-directed learning, learner control, motivation of learning, and online communication self-efficacy are the five variables used to assess online learning readiness (OLR). The findings showed that most FL students are ready to learn online during the pandemic. Results show that the computer/internet self-efficacy the most significant OLR variable. According to the results, students were confident in obtaining any information on the internet and using the online learning platform in their studies. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the research adds to fundamental understanding of students' perceptions on shifting from face-to-face learning to online learning, as well as examining online learning readiness in language learning setting.

The Promise and Challenges of Pandemic Innovation in High Schools

In summer 2020, the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE), with support from the Barr Foundation, began observing and learning from students, parents, and educators in New England high schools as they navigated the uncertainty of the pandemic. The authors wanted to see what challenges and opportunities they faced, the ways in which they adapted to disruptions, and the new strategies and capacities that took hold. After more than a year of disruption, the boundaries of what it means to "reinvent" high school stretched, and in some systems, the momentum for change accelerated. Students and teachers learned to work in new ways and reached new understandings about each other. When COVID wanes, schools will encounter a host of new and complex demands as they make sense of the pandemic's challenges and opportunities, including addressing unfinished learning, spending a tidal wave of federal funding, and navigating continued calls for racial and social justice amid a national culture war. The path forward raises a host of critical questions: (1) Will school systems leverage momentum from the pandemic to remake high school? If so, what adaptations and innovations will they embrace? And which students will benefit from these shifts?, (2) How do school system leaders, educators, families, and students redefine success in high school? To what extent and how are these aspirations reflected in the adaptations and innovations that school systems embrace?, and (3) What opportunities and obstacles do school system leaders, educators, families, and students confront as they seek to chart a new course to high school? How can they avoid the pitfalls that threaten to stall progress, especially for the most marginalized students? As the pandemic endures, and as we emerge from it, CRPE will continue to investigate whether and how the trends described lead to a more equitable, student-centered high school experience. In this effort, Think Forward New England explores not only what shifts emerge postpandemic but also why, for whom, and with what effect.