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number: /2023
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 3,104
English-medium instruction (EMI) has been considered a key strategy in internationalizing the education system in many countries. Its popularity has brought both benefits and drawbacks to the learners. This study was aimed at investigating the positive and negative effects of EMI programs at a university in North Central Vietnam from students’ perspectives. The study involved 137 participants, who were studying in an English as medium instruction program in a university in Vietnam. An explanatory mixed-methods approach was used in data collection through a questionnaire and follow-up interviews. From the data analysis, it was found that EMI courses benefited their learners in terms of job opportunities, English language proficiency, and social skills. However, the results also indicated that EMI students faced many difficulties relating to teaching and learning methodology and psychological issues during their learning process. Different pedagogical implications are put forward to improve the quality of EMI programs in the Vietnamese context.
number: /2023
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 1,242
The Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST) is an important instrument to measure students’ approaches to learning. However, the construct validity of the measurement used is not always sufficiently evaluated. The aim of this study was to examine the construct validity of ASSIST with 1155 Senior One students studying in 17 Malaysian Independent Chinese Secondary Schools (MICSS). The Rasch model was employed, focusing on local independence, dimensionality and measurement invariance analyses. The results confirmed the three-factor structure of ASSIST and supported the unidimensionality of the three scales. There was also no evidence of a violation of the principle of local independence for all pairs of item residuals and negligible evidence of differential item functioning (DIF) on gender and course. These results indicate that ASSIST has good construct validity and can be used as a tool for measuring students’ approaches to learning. Using the Rasch model, measures are of an interval scale, and empirical evidence about the item clusters, dimensionality and measurement invariance can be determined. Additionally, issues pertaining to dimensionality, item dependency and non-equivalency across subgroups can be detected at an early stage of the instrument development to be addressed properly in the subsequent instrument administration.
number: /2023
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 2,426
Despite Zimbabwe being a signatory to various international gender equality treaties and protocols, rural female students’ progression in education at one secondary school remains a mirage. In this context, this study sought to explore factors influencing rural female students to either progress or not in secondary school education. Data generation, analysis, and discussion were grounded in an emancipatory paradigm and qualitative approach. Against this background, the researchers used document analysis, interviews, and focus group discussion in sourcing information. As sources of data, thirty rural female students and five class teachers from one secondary school were purposively selected to form the sample for the study. Generated data were analyzed and discussed according to themes derived from the research questions. In this context, results from the analyzed and discussed data revealed numerous gender-related policy guidelines that advocate for rural female students’ progression in secondary school education. It was also noted that socialization was the protagonist in influencing rural female students on whether to progress or not to progress in secondary school education. In addition, the findings revealed that female students encounter multi-faceted obstacles in their progression in secondary school education. Therefore, from these results, the researchers concluded that multiple obstacles make rural female students’ progression in secondary school education a mirage. In this context, researchers recommended that parents or guardians transform their mindsets toward the rural female students’ progression in secondary school education and beyond.
number: /2023
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 1,954
Online universities have been overgrown since the 1980s due to technological development. When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, traditional universities and colleges were forced to shift to online learning. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive bibliometric of online university research from 1997 to 2021 based on retrieval of the Scopus database. The bibliometric analysis revealed the number of publications, the most prominent countries, authors, journal sources, and critical articles based on citations and the most relevant research topics. Since the first paper was published in 1997, annual publications in online university research have increased rapidly to 1.5 - 2 times every five years. The United States, Spain, and Korea are the top three countries regarding the number of Online university studies. However, it is the authors from Korea who have the most publications. These findings could provide information to researchers and practitioners to better understand Online universities in the experiential and digital era.
number: /2023
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 1,092
Implementing a policy to enhance continuous training for professionals in the Cuban educational system has prompted a diagnostic assessment of the university model and, more specifically, the English language education program. One of the proposed solutions to graduate competent professionals in this language is to improve the English training process in higher education. A management study was conducted to accomplish this goal. This study focuses on the Language Centre of Pinar del Rio University. It aims to present the key aspects of the English training process management that have led to its improvement. The research employed theoretical methods such as historical-logical, analysis-synthesis, modelling, and empirical methods such as document analysis, observation, and group interviews. The study involved 135 students starting the policy, 21 English teachers from the language centre, and 20 from non-English subjects. The findings highlight the essential aspects of management that have contributed to improving English language education at the university.
number: /2023
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 1,126
This study aimed to assess the level of understanding of critical literacy learning among 4th-grade teachers in Madiun City. The research was conducted at the Madiun City Education Office between March and July 2022, using a quantitative survey method. The study population comprised all 4thgrade teachers in elementary schools within the city, with a sample size of 108 teachers selected through simple random sampling using Slovin’s formula. Data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed through descriptive statistical techniques, including data editing, tabulation, analysis, and conclusion. Results indicated that the overall understanding of critical literacy learning among 4th-grade teachers in Madiun City was good, with the highest level of understanding found in the classification aspect and the lowest level of understanding found in the explaining aspect, categorized as very good and fair, respectively. To enhance the critical literacy understanding of 4th-grade teachers in Madiun City, collaboration among teachers, school principals, and the Madiun City Education Office is necessary.
number: /2023
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 1,628
The research was conducted to study the effects of Self-Instructional Materials (SIM) Volume I and II on student learning at Dagapela Middle Secondary School in line with the mandates of the Ministry of Education amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Students ranging from pre-primary to class 10 participated in the study, and data was collected using survey questionnaires and interviews (N=53, with items rated at σ=0.7). The study followed a mixed method approach (Parallel Convergent Mixed Method) combining quantitative and qualitative data. The findings were integrated from both data analyses. The results indicate that secondary grade students were comfortable using SIM for their learning, while lower primary grade students experienced more challenges than opportunities due to the lack of guidance from teachers and support from parents. The study concludes that independent learning materials should be developed for secondary and upper-primary students, aligned with their learning abilities and resource materials. However, similar materials for lower primary students may be ineffective.
number: /2023
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 1,384
In Vietnam, the state budget is the main source of funding for the operation of public higher education institutions. With a limited state budget that is divided among many equally important spending purposes, the portion of the state budget devoted to higher education needed to be more modest. This makes it even more important to manage this scarce resource effectively. This paper addresses the performance-based allocation of state budgets for higher education. It employs a non-parametric method of evaluating relative efficiency using the two-stage data envelopment analysis CCR model under constant returns to scale to evaluate universities’ performance. The estimation results on a sample of 29 universities under the Ministry of Education and Training management for the academic year 2019-2020 show that the effective universities belonged to all single-disciplinary ones. Management was an important factor leading to the difference in efficiency scores between universities under study.
number: /2023
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 1,916
Inclusive education for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) relies on the active involvement of parents. However, in Vietnam, research on the difficulties and needs of parents in accessing reference materials remains limited. This study aimed to examine the challenges and requirements of parents in obtaining guidelines for children with ASD in inclusive schools. An online survey was conducted with 109 parents of elementary school students with ASD to investigate this issue. The findings indicate that, in the existing guidelines, much of the information on autism symptoms, signs, and causes are primarily obtained from social media sites and unreliable sources. In contrast, parents expressed a desire to access materials developed by autism experts in a video format that is easy to comprehend and implement.
number: /2022
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 2,356
The current study has derived inspiration from the design thinking approach as one of the pedagogical means to respond to the need for teaching, learning, and assessment in the twenty-first century. Specifically, the study was intended to explore strategies to implement design thinking’ in designing and delivering lessons in higher secondary-level biology classrooms. The study employed a participatory design approach which involved the participation of the researcher with the selected teachers in the co-design of biology lessons. This study was carried out over two weeks in one of the higher secondary schools in Samtse district, Bhutan. Hence, data for this study was obtained from the researcher’s qualitative notes based on field engagement with three piloted teachers, and teaching observations. The data from observation field notes were presented in narrative descriptions, to provide rich descriptions of classroom activities and tasks, teacher and students’ classroom interactions, and the design thinking process followed in the teaching and learning process. Findings revealed that both teachers and students have positive perceptions about the application of design thinking in biology class. The application of design thinking in biology class offers an opportunity for students to learn through the highest degree of collaboration, interaction, and creative thinking, unlike in a conventional classroom. Additionally, this offers an opportunity for building a foundation for teachers and educators to revitalize educational practices to prepare students to thrive in the modern era, by equipping students with the tools and capacity for innovative and creative thinking and the ability to solve problems.