Active Learning in Higher Education recent issues

Editorial

Baldwin, L. P. — 2008-06-20

Analysis of academic attitudes and existing processes to inform the design of teaching and learning material repositories: A user-centred approach

King, M., Loddington, S., Manuel, S., Oppenheim, C. — 2008-06-20

The last couple of years have brought a rise in the number of institutional repositories throughout the world and within UK Higher Education institutions, with the majority of these repositories being devoted to research output. Repositories containing teaching and learning material are less common and the workflows and business processes surrounding these types of repositories were unclear. The user motivations to contributing to and downloading from repositories were also unknown. This article reports on two studies: a wide-scale survey carried out with HE staff to identify barriers and incentives to contributing to teaching material repositories; and interviews carried out as part of a workflow study at Loughborough University, to identify existing practice in the creation and sharing of teaching material. Confusion is reported with regard to the difference between a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and a repository. However, many different purposes of a teaching and learning material repository are highlighted. This article discusses how repositories could successfully interoperate with other institutional applications and highlights the benefits of teaching material repositories to the user, through scenarios. Recommendations relating to the key aspects of the design and implementation of a repository service are outlined.

Space matters: Experiences of managing static formal learning spaces

Montgomery, T. — 2008-06-20

Managing the space in which learning takes place is subject to ongoing debate. Spatial management and movement can impact upon the construction of meaning within education and upon the dynamic of learning. It is suggested that there are now different learning goals and expectations and consequently a need for different learning environments. We are urged to break out. Many constraints, however, result in everyday experience not being of high-tech, impressively designed formal and informal spaces. This article contributes to a navigation of the realities of learning space. It recognizes that the literature may be leaving the profession behind and that for many educators the opportunities of design are merely aspirations. Taking as its focal point the small seminar room with sparse furniture, it presents two studies to contribute ideas on how such non-ideal spaces might be managed; one looking at an alternative education space, the museum, and the second drawing on interviews with colleagues about their experiences.

Fostering approachability and classroom participation during the first day of class: Evidence for a reciprocal interview activity

Hermann, A. D., Foster, D. A. — 2008-06-20

Students and faculty often have different goals for the first day of class. While teaching advice books recommend actively engaging students in the course from the start, students often `shop' for classes and report being primarily concerned with gathering practical information. The aim of this article is to introduce a reciprocal interview activity that attempts to achieve both goals by creating a dynamic conversation in which the instructor inquires about the students' goals and expectations and, in turn, the students collectively interview the instructor about his or her goals and expectations. Preliminary findings indicate that students evaluate the activity favorably and feel more comfortable participating in class and more comfortable approaching the instructor about class-related and non-class-related issues after the activity. Additional benefits and uses for both students and instructors are discussed.

The effects of active learning on students' memories for course content

Cherney, I. D. — 2008-06-20

Two studies examined the free recall for course content of 314 American undergraduate students across various course levels. The purpose was to examine how students' memories and level of understanding for introductory materials would differ from those of more advanced classes. Across all class levels, the most frequently listed items were concepts introduced through active learning exercises, followed by videos and lecture materials. Depending on the course level and content, different types of class presentations yielded enhanced understanding of the material. Mean relevance scores were high for materials introduced with video clips in introductory classes, whereas mean scores were high for information introduced by lecture for upper level courses.

Summative and formative assessment: Perceptions and realities

Taras, M. — 2008-06-20

Assessment is critically important to education both for accreditation and to support learning. Yet the literature dealing with formative and summative assessment definitions and terminology is not aligned. This article reports an empirical small-scale study of lecturers in Education at an English university. The research posits that these lecturers, owing to the inconsistencies and infelicities in the literature, will have an incomplete and unharmonious understanding of summative and formative assessment and the relationship between the two. The results show that lecturers' understanding of assessment terminology and relationships reflects the fragmented theoretical and practical frameworks available. This study would seem to signal the need for us all to examine our assessment processes in order to (i) be clear and explicit on what we do, (ii) understand how assessment processes relate to each other, and (iii) evaluate how they impact on our practice and our students.

Editorial

Baldwin, L. P. — 2008-03-04

An investigation of differences in undergraduates' academic use of the internet

Selwyn, N. — 2008-03-04

Based on survey data from 1222 undergraduate students studying at UK higher education institutions, this article addresses students' engagement with the internet as a source of academic information for their studies. In particular the article explores how academic use of the internet is patterned by a range of potential influences such as students' wider internet use, access and expertise, their year of study, gender, age, ethnic and educational background. Analysis of these data suggests that students' academic internet use is most strongly patterned along the lines of gender and subject-specialism rather than other individual characteristics or differences in technology access or expertise. The article therefore considers how these differences can be addressed by those seeking to encourage ICT-based learning across all sectors of the undergraduate population.

Using radar charts with qualitative evaluation: Techniques to assess change in blended learning

Kaczynski, D., Wood, L., Harding, A. — 2008-03-04

When university academics implement changes in learning, such as introducing blended learning, it is conventional practice to examine and evaluate the impact of the resulting curriculum reform. Judging the worth and impact of an educational development is a complex task involving subtle differences in learning. Qualitative methods to explore these deep processes in learning include using interviews, observations and open-ended questionnaires targeting all stakeholders in the process, such as students, teachers, administration and technical staff. These evaluation tasks generate a mass of raw data that many faculty members in higher education are unaccustomed to analyzing. This article provides a framework using radar charts adapted from the field of organizational development. A modified six-zone radar chart was used to assess the extent of blended learning in order to compare changes in the learning environment. Data collection included interviews, classroom observations and electronic records generated during educational delivery over a 1-year period of time. A purposeful sample of online course data was collected by three participating universities in South Africa, Australia, and the United States.

A workshop activity to demonstrate that approaches to learning are influenced by the teaching and learning environment

Kember, D., Leung, D. Y.P., McNaught, C. — 2008-03-04

It is important to demonstrate to those taking courses for new teachers that approaches to learning have a relational nature — that they are influenced by the teaching and learning context. This article describes a workshop activity, based on the Revised Study Process Questionnaire. Workshop participants recorded their approaches to learning in two contexts: how they currently studied as postgraduate students, and how they studied in their most disliked undergraduate course. Analysis of the results from this activity indicates that approaches to learning are markedly influenced by the teaching and learning environment. This provides a graphic demonstration to workshop participants of the importance of their teaching, as it will have a strong influence on the quality of learning of their students. The data from the activity give quantitative evidence of the relational nature of approaches to learning. Further, there appears to be a discipline effect operating with the nature of the typical teaching and learning environment in the arts, humanities and social sciences being more conducive to students cultivating a deep approach to learning.

Integrating progress files into the academic process: A review of case studies

Haigh, J. — 2008-03-04

A literature review of published case studies reporting progress file implementation was conducted with the intent of discovering how this is being interpreted and implemented in higher education institutions. The three studies found were analysed using an ideal type categorization developed by Clegg and Bradley (2006), that is, professional, academic or employment. All three case studies are examples of academics learning through experience about the process of personal development planning and how this integrates with current educational provision. As this is not a static process, an activity theory perspective may be a more useful framework to research how this understanding develops in a particular context. Currently the progress file is a contested object, which has not yet fulfilled its potential to place the student and their individual learning needs at the centre of the educational process.

Are students using the 'wrong' style of learning?: A multicultural scrutiny for helping teachers to appreciate differences

Valiente, C. — 2008-03-04

The literature on learning styles suggests that although the behaviour of some students may appear different from what is defined as a `high-quality learning process', their conduct does not demonstrate an `inferior' approach to learning. Furthermore, existing and emerging academic literature that associates learning theories with the studies of cultural concerns suggests alternative interpretations that may help to develop a richer multicultural learning and teaching approach within Western higher education institutions (HE). This article brings together elements of the theory on learning styles and some elements of multicultural management theory to introduce interpretations that may apply to the emerging UK multicultural universities. It considers the importance of memorization as a tool for learning, and reveals how motivation, communication and collaborative patterns could work differently in different cultures. The comparison between best known Western learning theory and Confucian principles is expected to increase academics' awareness of international students' background. The discussion helps to understand some of the students' pragmatic reactions to the challenges prompted by their studies in foreign countries.

Editorial

Baldwin, L. P. — 2007-11-08

Central issues in the use of computer-based materials for high volume entrepreneurship education

Cooper, B. — 2007-11-08

This article discusses issues relating to the use of computer-based learning (CBL) materials for entrepreneurship education at university level. It considers CBL as a means of addressing the increased volume and range of provision required in the current context. The issues raised in this article have importance for all forms of computer-based learning and also have relevance for emerging technologies in the field. Based on evidence reported in this article, it is argued that, while there is potential for gaining economies of scale by using CBL materials for entrepreneurship education, there are also potential trade offs and conflicts of interest involved in such approaches. The findings also point to the importance of the student perspective for the design and use of CBL materials for high volume entrepreneurship education.

Effects of performance assessment on the achievement and motivation of graduate students

Hancock, D. R. — 2007-11-08

This study explored the impact of performance assessment versus traditional paper-and-pencil assessment on graduate students' achievement and motivation to learn while enrolled in a 16-lesson course on program evaluation methods. Students in two sections of the course were exposed to the same content and instructional methods, with one exception: students in one section were exposed to performance assessment during which they demonstrated their knowledge and skills while conducting a program evaluation in a 4th grade classroom, whereas students in the other section were provided with a written scenario of that 4th grade program and were required to answer questions on a traditional paper-and-pencil test about program evaluation methods. Results revealed that students exposed to performance assessment achieved somewhat higher scores on the final examination and demonstrated significantly higher levels of motivation to learn than did students evaluated by traditional paper-and-pencil tests. Qualitative analysis of the students' written expressions about the course and of their comments from group interviews revealed possible explanations for these outcomes.

Empowering or compelling reluctant participators using audience response systems

Graham, C. R., Tripp, T. R., Seawright, L., Joeckel, Georgel. — 2007-11-08

This article investigates the impact of an audience response system (ARS) on student engagement in undergraduate university courses. A survey was administered to students in a dozen courses piloting the ARS system. On 13 out of 14 measures the majority of students thought the system was helpful. Overall, students were more positive about the use of the ARS in courses that used the tool for formative feedback (empowering) rather than for grading or attendance purposes (compelling). The authors discuss the positive impact of the ARS on the engagement of `reluctant participators' or students who reported that they are least likely to participate in class under normal conditions. Reluctant participators' perceptions of the helpfulness of the ARS were compared to those of non-reluctant participators. Finally, student comments were analyzed to determine why students with the most negative feelings about the ARS felt the way they did and which teaching practices using the ARS were perceived to have the greatest value by the students.

Skills, learning styles and success of first-year undergraduates

Goldfinch, J., Hughes, M. — 2007-11-08

This study investigates the relationships between students' confidence in their generic skills on entry to university, their learning styles and their academic performance in first year. Research based on a large cohort of Scottish undergraduates found that students generally entered university feeling very confident that they already possessed good skills, and there was a suggestion of over-confidence in that those who failed the year entered with slightly higher confidence than other students. However, those students who withdrew during the year had significantly less confidence. The most significant combination of factors in explaining success in first year were a low score on the activist learning style scale and high initial confidence in the skills of self-reliance, time management and teamwork, together with lower initial confidence in written communication skills. The implications of this research are discussed and some suggestions made for improving educational practice.

Conceptions of early leaving: a comparison of the views of teaching staff and students

Young, P., Glogowska, M., Lockyer, L. — 2007-11-08

Recent synthesizing work on the student retention literature suggests two divergent discourses. The first is a discourse of assimilation which locates the problem in individual students' circumstances or abilities. This is challenged by an emerging discourse of adaptation. The new discourse focuses on higher education itself, proposing fundamental changes to adapt universities to a new purpose in a changed society. Here we present findings from interviews with teaching staff, which formed part of a multi-method investigation into attrition. Drawing on Zepke and Leach's (2005) model, we contrast the conceptions of early leaving suggested in these interviews with our previously reported findings from interviews with students who had considered leaving but stayed, and students who had withdrawn. We find staff more likely than students to externalize attrition in terms which problematize students. Students were more likely to focus on issues relating to their experiences of the university.

Editorial

Baldwin, L. P. — 2007-06-12

Developing a research culture in the undergraduate curriculum

Garde-Hansen, J., Calvert, B. — 2007-06-12

A great deal of value is placed on student research within universities, exemplified by the prominent role of the dissertation or extended written work at the end of many programmes, and the more general benefits of embedding research-based learning into a curriculum in order to develop higher-order learning. This article reports on a collaborative problem-based learning (PBL) activity undertaken by staff and students to run an undergraduate conference for first year students on how to develop a research culture. The aim is to better understand how students undertake research and how a research culture might be inculcated much earlier in undergraduate programmes.

Investigating the baseline skills of research students using a competency-based self-assessment method

Bromley, A. P., Boran, J. R., Myddelton, W. A. — 2007-06-12

Recent government-led initiatives are changing the nature of the UK PhD to support the greater development of transferable skills. There are similar initiatives internationally. A key requirement and challenge is to effectively assess the `baseline' skills of a cohort on entry to a research programme and then monitor their progress in personal development. This article describes an innovative methodology that combines competence model and training needs analysis theory to create an effective self-assessment tool: the Development Needs Analysis (DNA), for collection of baseline data. The DNA provides a means for effective self-assessment of skills, and is capable of highlighting particular needs of students grouped by, for example, date of birth and home vs. overseas status. The methodology is broadly applicable in determination of the baseline skills of students and allows practitioners to tailor learning and teaching to the requirements of a cohort.

Integrating web-delivered problem-based learning scenarios to the curriculum

Gossman, P., Stewart, T., Jaspers, M., Chapman, B. — 2007-06-12

This article reports on a small-scale research project (n=56) that investigated student educational gain. For the purposes of this study, gain is defined as an increase in the score that students obtain for pre/post intervention tests. Students received authentic exposure to the process via a web-delivered problem-based scenario. The students were randomly allocated to case and control groups. No statistically significant differences in educational gain were recorded between the two groups. However, the research highlights the requirement to fully integrate problem-based learning (PBL) work into a curriculum. It also confirms findings from other research that students engage well with PBL and enjoy the learning process using this methodology.

Using text messaging to support administrative communication in higher education

Naismith, L. — 2007-06-12

To be effective in higher education, text messaging must be effectively integrated into both the student and staff experience. These user groups provided input into the design of StudyLink, an email to text message service. A small-scale trial was conducted over a period of two academic terms to investigate the feasibility of using this system in a real educational setting. Students reported high satisfaction with the quantity and content of the text messages and tutors reported changes in behaviour that were directly attributable to the use of text messaging. Administrative staff members were able to integrate this service into their current means of communicating with students, though there were some difficulties in composing appropriate text messages. Students were able to effectively receive and act on text messages, but ambiguities introduced with sending text messages were not resolved.

Turnitin(R): The student perspective on using plagiarism detection software

Dahl, S. — 2007-06-12

Recently there has been an increasing interest in plagiarism detection systems, such as the web-based Turnitin system. However, no study has so far tried to look at how students react towards those systems being used. This exploratory study examines the attitudes of students on a postgraduate module after using Turnitin as their standard way of submitting work and getting feedback. Overall, students reacted positively towards the system. However, the study also found evidence of a group of students who were less positive, which seemed to be a result of their insecurity about how to quote correctly.