This research paper attempts to investigate the organization and effectiveness of vocabulary notebooks by distinguishing several benefits the implementation of this technique brings in the acquisition of technical terminology through an “English for Specific Purposes course”. When tackling with language learning, it is needless to emphasize the noteworthiness and the importance of vocabulary in this process. Appertaining to technical terminology, this plays entirely pertinent. Various studies have concluded that vocabulary notebooks (henceforth VN) efficiently expose different learners’ strategies within this single strategy, which led us to research VN. These research data were obtained mainly by applying the observational research technique, a vocabulary oral and written exam, and a comprehensive questionnaire on the effectiveness of the Vocabulary Notebook. Mechanical Engineering, Textile Engineering, and Hydrotechnical Engineering students at the Polytechnic University of Tirana were selected to obtain the data. The observation is partly overt and partly covert. Students of Mechanical Engineering and Textile Engineering (75 students) are the treatment group wherein the Mechanical Engineering students are an overt group and the Textile Engineering students serve as the covert observational group while on the other hand, the Hydrotechnical Engineering (45 students) students are the control group. The data were obtained during and at the end of the semester. Throughout the observation all along the 1st semester, it was perceived that most of the students organized their VN by utilizing mainly Microsoft Word downloaded on their Smart Phones, while the rest used the traditional paper notebook to organize their technical VN. The organization of the VN reflected the strategies each of the students implemented to learn technical terminology. At the end, students were tested on their acquired terminology through an oral and a short-written exam and then a questionnaire was handed to them. The students of the overt group making use of a digitalized form of a Notebook resulted to have acquired most of the technical vocabulary. In the main, the overt group outperformed the covert group on the acquisition of technical vocabulary, while the control group’s score on the oral exam was significantly below, compared to the all-inclusive treatment group. Students’ questionnaire revealed that overall students had a positive approach to this strategy and they embraced the autonomy acquired throughout the semester by implementing this strategy. With the exception of the effectiveness on vocabulary acquisition, which was on higher levels, this strategy proved itself once again to be an enhancer and promoter of learner autonomy. Keywords: vocabulary notebooks, autonomous learning, technical terminology List of Abbreviations: VN – Vocabulary Notebook, ME – Mechanical Engineering, TE – Textile Engineering

The study investigated the effects of age on self-efficacy among teachers in secondary schools in Kenya. The concurrent triangulation design was adopted. A sample size of 327 teacher participants was obtained using both stratified and simple random sampling techniques. The Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale (TSES) was used to collect quantitative data. In addition, semi-structured interview was used to collect qualitative data. The reliability coefficient for the TSES was α = 0.996. The Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was used to test the hypothesis. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The MANOVA results indicate that the effect of age on teachers’ self-efficacy was not significant, Wilk’s λ (6, 320) = 0.947, p = 0.498. Qualitative results reported a significant effect of age on teachers’ self-efficacy in classroom management. The Kenyan Teachers’ Service Commission should carry out periodical assessment of teachers’ self-efficacy to identify teachers that are vulnerable to low self-efficacy. Keywords: effects, age, self-efficacy, teachers, secondary schools, Kenya

Active teaching-learning methodologies are a reality at the School of Education and Social Sciences of the Polytechnic of Leiria (Portugal), namely through the articulation with institutions of the community. The qualitative research presented in this article intends to analyse the perception of the students who are attending the Higher Professional Technical Course in Sociocultural and Sports Intervention, specifically concerning the importance of these methodologies in a project carried out with the District Hospital of Leiria. During the development of this partnership, 42 students were challenged to collaborate throughout the training process and, at the end, they were asked to write a report, which was considered the data collection instrument. These individual reports include descriptions, analyses and reflections that were processed through content analysis, using categories, and adopting an exploratory approach. The results showed that the students considered that this methodology of teaching-learning allows them to acquire know-what, know-why and know-how competencies. Moreover, they admit that the articulation with external institutions contributes to a better acquisition and mobilisation of practical knowledge that they will be able to apply to different situations, spaces and times in their future professional lives. Keywords: higher education, active teaching-learning methodologies, pedagogic innovation, community intervention, transdisciplinarity

The study examines the use of feedforward-based collaborative assessment (FbCA) for students majoring in foreign languages at a tertiary institution in Vietnam. A mixed-method research approach was utilized to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from 306 English major students and eight teachers. Research instruments such as questionnaires, reflective diaries, observations, and interviews were employed to assess the perceptions of students and instructors regarding the significance of implementing FbCA, its impact on students' learning engagement and academic achievement, and students' expectations for changes in assessment mechanisms to ensure the effective use of FbCA. The findings highlighted several benefits of FbCA in terms of skill, knowledge, and practice development. This evaluation approach enhanced students' learning motivation and positively contributed to their academic performance. However, the qualitative data also revealed various challenges related to the effective implementation of assessment practices and the maintenance of academic integrity. Based on these findings, recommendations were made for improving teaching, learning, and assessment practices. Keywords: academic performance, collaborative assessment, feedforward assessment, foreign language-majored students, learning motivation

Gifted education is of utmost importance in the development and growth of intellectually advanced students; however, it often encounters various obstacles that hinder its effectiveness. This research delves into the perspectives of teachers regarding the overcoming of these barriers to providing effective gifted education. Employing qualitative research methods, a combination of interviews and surveys is conducted to gather valuable insights from a diverse group of teachers. The findings shed light on several challenges faced by teachers, including limited resources, inadequate training, and insufficient support from stakeholders. To address these challenges, teachers put forth potential solutions that could lead to the improvement of gifted education. These solutions encompass enhanced professional development opportunities for teachers, increased funding to allocate resources effectively, and the promotion of collaboration among all stakeholders involved. By effectively addressing these barriers, a more inclusive and nurturing environment can be fostered for gifted students. The study underlines the importance of integrating modules on gifted education into teacher education programs. By incorporating these modules, future educators can be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively support and educate gifted students. Consequently, the implementation of the GATE policy to promote good practice plays a key role in gifted education. Ultimately, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the challenges faced in gifted education and provides valuable insights that can inform policies and practices aimed at supporting the education of gifted students. Keywords: barriers to gifted, gifted learners, teachers' perspectives, teachers’ development.

The United States along with the rest of the world has experienced an unprecedented disruption in daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost everyone has experienced some sort of stay at home order resulting in an economic catastrophe greater than the Great Recession of 2008 and on par with the Great Depression almost a century ago. Educational institutions at both the K-12 and post-secondary levels have not been immune from the shutdown, with many schools closed from mid-March through the end of the 2020 school year. Many schools moved classes to remote, distance delivery platforms. Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers were tasked with creative engaging learning activities online for curricula which is taught in a hands-on contextual learning environment. This paper will present preliminary results from research conducted by a collaborative group of nine researchers from across the United States with collectively over 200 years of career and technical education experience. The conceptual framework used for this study was Danielson’s Framework for Teaching and Enhancing Professional Practice and Foundations of Career and Technical Education including Constructivism. 3,267 participants representing all 50 states responded to the 37-item survey. The research objectives included description of participants and identified challenges to planning and delivery of CTE content when schools were closed, and instruction was moved to remote/distance/online platforms. Participants ranked their challenges as instructors and their perceptions of challenges that were experienced by their students. CTE teachers ranked replicating classroom or lab environments online and lack of experience teaching online as their biggest challenges. The perceptions of the participants concerning challenges for their students included motivation to guide and manage their own learning and students’ access to reliable internet connection. The emergence and prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic added a layer of complexity to educational practice that was not foreseen and for which no intentional preparation had occurred. Understanding how CTE teachers and instructors responded to this call, and the challenges they and their students encountered, is important to efforts to improve practice in the future and to be in a better position should another crisis occur that forces learning to be delivered in alternative formats from that of the traditional face-to-face classroom. Keywords: COVID-19, career and technical education, remote learning

The aim of the study was determining the openness to learning tendencies and metacognitive learning strategies and analysing the predictive relationships between the related variables. The predictive research model was used in the study. Within the research, 499 education faculty students participated. For data collection, “Metacognitive Learning Strategies Scale” and “Tendency to be Open to Learning Scale” were used. The collected data were analyzed using simple linear regression analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. Consequently, it was determined that students frequently use metacognitive learning strategies; their tendencies to be open to learning are at a high level. It was concluded that the tendency to be open to learning significantly predicted the total scores obtained from the metacognitive learning strategies scale. It was concluded that the most predicted variable by the predictive variables together was planning strategies, and the least predicted variable was evaluation strategies. These results show that openness to learning is a vital variable in activating metacognitive learning strategies. Keywords: metacognitive learning strategies, learning tendency, tendency to be open to learning, teacher competencies, teacher education

Still rebounding from the impact of the global pandemic, the higher education sector is being challenged even further by the next wave of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. These technologies have the power to generate in a matter of seconds, quality text, images, music and coding responses to questions or prompts entered into an online chat box. Currently, one of the most accessible and popular text generators is OpenAI’s ChatGPT which was released in November 2022. Early evaluation indicates that the quality of the responses exceed standard pass rates for comparable university assessments. Even if academic protocols mandate that text cited from AI sources should be acknowledged and referenced as any other source material, the speed, accessibility and high quality of the AI material justifies a rethink of the purpose of higher education and a redesign of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. An initial suggestion being promoted in the sector is that learning outcomes and assessments should move away from a focus on content memorisation and recall, to development of higher order thinking skills such as critical analysis, evaluation, resilience, creativity, problem solving, appraising and mastery of verbal communication and computer literacy. This preliminary paper examines some of the literature to date, which discusses potential risks and threats, as well as the opportunities to enhance learning, embedded in this new wave of emerging AI technologies in higher education. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence technologies, generative text software, implications for curriculum, pedagogy and assessment design.

The concept of teacher-student rapport is a relatively new concept that pertains to one of the factors in the classroom setting that promotes learning. It enhances the classroom atmosphere and promotes the well-being of students. The objective of our study was to examine the predictive value of teacher-student rapport in higher education on students’ active participation in class. The study included a total of 1,682 students who were enrolled in classes taught by 50 instructors across three Slovene public universities. Self-reported measurements to assess teacher-student rapport (Instructor-Student Rapport Scale; Bardorfer & Kavčič, 2020), teachers' effectiveness (Student Evaluation of Educational Quality Scale; Marsh, 1982), autonomously regulated behaviour of students (The Self-Regulation Questionnaire-Academic; Ryan & Connell, 1989) measured by the index of relative autonomy (RAI), and participation levels (Participation Scale; Fassinger, 1995b) were used in the study. The findings from the hierarchical linear modelling analysis revealed that teacher-student rapport significantly predicted students’ active participation in class. Establishing rapport between teachers and students therefore presents an effective way of promoting active student participation. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of the study on strategies that teachers might employ to foster rapport with students. Keywords: teacher-student rapport; interpersonal relationships; higher education; active participation; constructivism