Academic School Research Articles

School environmental factors, pupils’ characteristics, and academic performance: The case of junior high school pupils of the Krachi west district of Ghana

BackgroundData suggest that Ghana has made significant improvements in the educational system, resulting in some accomplishments. Nonetheless, pupils’ academic performance at the junior high school level and in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) remains poor nationally. Some factors have been identified to influence poor academic performance in some parts of Ghana, but none in the Krachi West district. Thus, it has become imperative to determine the local factors accountable for this trend and identify the most appropriate localised solutions. Materials and methodsAn embedded research design was employed to ascertain the influence of pupils’ characteristics and school environment factors on academic performance. In all, 361 participants (325 BECE candidates, 12 teachers, 12 head teachers and 12 PTA/SMC Chairpersons) were selected using cluster sampling, simple random and purposive sampling across 12 schools in the district. The academic performance of pupils was assessed using scores from six (6) subjects in the standardised district-level mock examination. ResultsBased on the examination scores, half of the pupils performed poorly in the six subjects. Even though from the quantitative study, pupils’ characteristics had no significant influence on academic performance, school location (β = −3.29, p < 0.01), school type (β = 1.15, p < 0.01), and school environmental factors (β = 0.807, p = 0.024) were significant predictors of academic performance in the district. Pupils in private schools were thrice more likely to achieve average academic performance than pupils from public schools (OR = 3.2, CI = 1.06–9.47). Also, schools with good environmental factors were twice as likely to have average academic performance than schools with poor environmental factors (OR = 2.2 CI = 1.11–4.52). ConclusionWhile school environment factors and pupil characteristics have a relationship with academic performance as suggested by the ecological theory, it was established in this study that only school location, school type and school environment factors were the significant predictors of academic performance in the Krachi West District. Therefore, education stakeholders need to consider these predictors when coming up with integrated but local strategies to improve pupils’ academic performance in that district.

Faculty’s Role in Creating a (Remote) Sense of Community Among Faculty and Facilitating Contexts of Care for Students

Objectives: This qualitative study employed a sensemaking approach to understand faculty members’ sensemaking of their roles during the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergency transition to remote teaching and learning. Methods: An email invitation to participate in the study was sent to faculty who taught in an MBA program during both the 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 academic school years. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 14 faculty members who self-selected to participate in the study. Results: Two salient themes emerged from the research: &lt;em&gt;creating a (remote) sense of community among faculty&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;facilitating contexts of care for students&lt;/em&gt;. These findings highlight the mission-central importance of faculty, the role of teaching, and the need to support faculty as they support students in higher education. Conclusions: As a result of the emergency transition to remote teaching and learning, faculty gained an increased awareness of the importance of human connection and interaction, which made them develop a whole-person approach both to colleagues and students. Implications: How well institutions plan for and support their faculty during times of crises will influence the institution’s capacity for student support and the personal impact of the crisis on faculty.

Practices of Internal Quality Assurance Process: Examining Lived Experience of Secondary School Academic Members of Staff within Njombe Region, Tanzania

Practices of Internal Quality Assurance Process: Examining Lived Experience of Secondary School Academic Members of Staff within Njombe Region, Tanzania

Implementation of Tech Tools in ESP Training from Learners’ Perspectives in Vietnam

The use of technology in ESP training has become increasingly prevalent, offering potential benefits such as enhanced engagement, interactivity, and personalized learning experiences. However, despite the growing availability and advancements in tech tools, there is a need to investigate the specific implementation of these tools in ESP training from the learners' perspectives and with more empirical evidence. Hence, this study aims to (1) explore the learners' experiences by using tech tools in ESP training at Ho Chi Minh University of Banking (HUB), and (2) examine students’ attitudes towards these innovations. 40 non-English-majors participated in the study during the second semester of the 2023-2024 academic school year. Final test analysis (ANOVA) and questionnaire survey were exploited for data collection and data analysis. The results showed that tech tools not only were beneficial to enhance students’ performance in ESP training but also enhanced learners’ engagement and confidence towards the learning process. This means that in order to suit varied learning needs and improve various aspects of different skills in English language learning, a wide range of tech tools should be combined rather than using only one kind of technology over the whole course so that we can ensure positive learning outcomes in the ESP educational settings.

Does School Academic Selectivity Pay Off? The Education, Employment and Life Satisfaction Outcomes of Australian Students

ABSTRACT The long-term benefits of academically selective schools have not been thoroughly explored in the Australian context. This research draws on data from a longitudinal study of Australian young people (n = 2933) and utilises Nearest-neighbour matching techniques to explore whether individuals who attend academically selective schools have better outcomes than those who attend non-selective schools. This research explores a range of post-school outcomes, including engagement in education or employment, years of education and life satisfaction. Participants who graduated from academically selective schools reported slightly higher general life satisfaction scores. Limitations around the available data and measures used for identifying selective schools are discussed, but these results indicate that attending an academically selective school is not associated with major benefits for individuals. We argue that academically selective schools contradict the principles of inclusive and equitable education which underpin Australia’s school system. The results speak to policy makers who play a key role in evaluating and regulating selective processes.

Perancangan Dan Implementasi Caesar Chiper Untuk Meningkatkan Keamanan Sistem Informasi Akademik Sekolah Berbasis Android

This research focuses on the design and implementation of the Caesar Cipher method to improve the security of an Android-based School Academic Information System. In this digital era, data security is a major concern, especially in school academic information systems that manage important data. The Caesar Cipher method, as a simple and easy to implement encryption technique, is used in this research. The research results show that the implementation of Caesar Cipher has succeeded in increasing data security in the system. While this method does not provide a very high level of security, it can be part of a more complex security approach. Overall, this research shows that the design and implementation of Caesar Cipher is an effective step in improving the security of Android-based school academic information systems.

Exploring the interagency collaboration between a pediatric oncology health care setting and community schools.

Globally, approximately 400,000 youth are diagnosed with pediatric cancer each year. Treatment-related side effects, psychosocial challenges, and frequent school absences may adversely impact learning and the education experience among these youth. Efforts to enhance interagency collaboration between health care settings and community schools are imperative to facilitate school reintegration. The Standards for the Psychosocial Care of Children with Cancer and Their Families outline specific guidelines related to the continuity of education for students impacted by pediatric cancer. In particular, the Academic Continuity and School Reentry Support and Monitoring and Assessment of Neuropsychological Outcomes standards of care highlighted within this article align with extant programmatic efforts for transitioning hospitalized school-aged children back into community schools. This article aims to describe systematic programmatic efforts within hospital-based psychosocial programs that are consistent with the Standards for the Psychosocial Care of Children with Cancer and Their Families, as well as interagency collaboration with community schools to support student-centered education for youth impacted by pediatric cancer. Resources for school psychologists, teachers, hospital-based programs, and others involved in student-centered education for pediatric cancer patients and survivors are presented. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Web Engineering Methods in Building a Web-Based School Academic Information System

The advancement of computer technology has paved the way for the development of computer-based information systems, significantly enhancing the efficiency and speed of data processing tasks. In educational settings, particularly in secondary vocational schools, there is a pressing need to transition from traditional manual data handling methods to more sophisticated, automated systems. This study focuses on the development of an academic web application aimed at improving the data processing quality in a secondary vocational school where data is currently managed manually using paper and pen.The existing manual method of processing academic data could be more efficient, prone to errors, and susceptible to data loss. This antiquated approach hinders the school's ability to manage academic information effectively, leading to delays and inaccuracies in data reporting and access. There is a clear necessity for a system that can streamline data processing, ensure data security, and provide easy access to information.The method employed to design this academic information system is web engineering. Web engineering combines engineering principles, management practices, and systematic approaches to create high-quality web-based applications. The development process includes several critical activities: formulation, planning, analysis, engineering, page generation, and testing. The system is implemented using PHP and MySQL, which were chosen for their robustness and reliability in web application development.The development and implementation of the academic information system have demonstrated significant improvements in data processing quality. The system allows for efficient, accurate, and secure handling of academic information. It facilitates quick accessto data from any location, enhancing the practicality of data management. Testing confirmed that all system functions met the predefined requirements, ensuring that the application operates as intended. The introduction of this web-based system has effectively addressed the deficiencies of the previous manual method, providing timely and accurate reporting. This improvement has enhanced the services provided to students, teachers, and principals, leveraging modern technology to achieve greater efficiency in educational administration.KeywordsAcademic, MySQL, PHP, System Information, Web engineering

Teachers’ Job Satisfaction and School Academic Achievement

The study analyzed the relationship between teachers’ job satisfaction and academic achievement in the elementary schools in Leyte Division, Philippines. The study adopted a descriptive research design. It utilized the job satisfaction survey questionnaire and the National Achievement Test results. The statistical tools included the weighted mean and Pearson correlation coefficient. It was revealed that teachers were satisfied with their job assignments. Whereas, academic achievement showed an average mean percentage score (MPS), indicating an achievement that is moving towards mastery. Moreover, it was disclosed that there was no significant relationship between teachers’ job satisfaction and school academic achievement. To enhance the level of teachers’ job satisfaction and further improve school academic achievement, school administrators may consider strategic initiatives that support teachers’ career development. Thus, it is suggested that school heads should look into the personal and professional well-being of teachers. Future studies, including additional variables such as teachers’ information and communication technology (ICT) literacy skills and ICT facilities, should correlate it with school achievement.

Principals’ Management Skills and School Academic Achievement

School management skills are seen as the dominant indicating factors for the success of the school, such as academic achievement. This study examines the relationship between management skills and academic achievement in the respondents’ schools in Leyte Division, utilizing a descriptive research design. Questionnaires and documentary analysis were used in gathering the relevant data. The school principals with at least three years of experience were involved in the study. The weighted mean and Pearson correlation coefficient were used in the data analysis. Results revealed that the principals had very high management skills in technical, conceptual, human relations, administrative and supervisory, resource generation and fiscal management, and networking and linkages. Overall, the school principals possess the necessary management skills to govern the school. On the other hand, the academic achievement of the selected schools was categorized as moving towards mastery. This indicates that the schools had their best practices in place. Moreover, findings showed that there is no significant relationship between management skills and school academic achievement. For the continual improvement of quality education, future studies, including additional variables such as schools’ ICT facilities, may be correlated with school achievement.

Https://gurukuljournal.com/virtual-classroom/

Abstract— This research paper presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of a virtual classroom system developed using Java. With the increasing demand for remote learning solutions, the project aims to provide an interactive and collaborative platform for students and instructors to engage in online education. The paper discusses the system architecture, features, implementation details, and user experience evaluation, highlighting the potential of Java-based virtual classrooms in modern education. IndexTerms – Web-Based Application, Event Creation, Event tracking, and School Academic Calendar, MERN Stack.

Pembinaan Akhlak Santri di Pondok Pesantren Darussalam Sengkubang Tahun 2023

The objective of this research is to gather information on the Moral Development Model for Santri at the Darussalam Sengkubang Islamic Boarding School in 2023. The research aims to provide a description and analysis of the method of Moral Development at the Darussalam Sengkubang Islamic Boarding School, the implementation of Moral Development at the Darussalam Sengkubang Islamic Boarding School, and the evaluation of Moral Development at the Sengkubang Islamic Boarding School. This research utilizes a qualitative approach with a descriptive design. The primary sources of data are santri supervisors and female student supervisors, while the secondary sources of data are boarding school leaders, ustadz, ustadzah, and santri residing in dormitories. Data collection techniques involve conducting semi-structured interviews with prepared and developed questions based on the relevant literature. The findings of this research indicate the model for moral development of students at the Darussalam Sengkubang Islamic Boarding School in 2023. The researcher concludes that 1) The method for fostering students' moral development at the Darussalam Sengkubang Islamic Boarding School is consistently implemented through coaching by example, guidance, habituation, and rewards. These methods are employed by ustadz, ustadzah, and male/female student dormitories during the students' tenure at the Sengkubang Darussalam Islamic Boarding School. 2) The implementation of moral development for students at the Sengkubang Darussalam Islamic Boarding School is consistently and continuously carried out by ustadz, ustadzah, and male/female boarding school supervisors. 3) The evaluation of the implementation of students' moral development at the Sengkubang Darussalam Islamic Boarding School is consistently and continuously conducted by ustadz, ustadzah, and male/female student dormitory coaches. Evaluation takes the form of daily assessments during students' participation in learning activities. Monthly evaluations are conducted based on reports compiled by ustadz, ustadzah, while the students partake in academic and Islamic boarding school programs at the Darussalam Sengkubang Islamic Boarding School.

Tuning Data Mining Models to Predict Secondary School Academic Performance

Tuning Data Mining Models to Predict Secondary School Academic Performance

An Analysis of College Students' Employment Prospects: A Comprehensive Survey

In recent years, with the continuous improvement of China's education system, China's higher education has entered the stage of popularization, and the employment of college students has become a key issue of social concern. Through a questionnaire survey, this article finally surveyed 426 college students and 57 people in society. The results show that the most important things for college students when choosing a career are salary, benefits, and work intensity. When choosing a career, they care more about personal feelings. They expect employment cities to be evenly distributed. There is no statistical difference in understanding the society's salary for fresh college students (P&gt;0.05). In terms of abilities valued by employers, the differences between college students and people from society are statistically significant in terms of professional abilities, communication skills, and teamwork (P&lt;0.05), while in terms of academic qualifications, school performance, and personal interests, the difference between the two is not statistically significant (P&gt;0.05). This article believes that college students should increase social practice, grasp social needs, and form a correct view of employment. Society should provide more opportunities for college students to understand jobs and increase work experience. The country should establish relevant policies to encourage college students to form a correct view of employment.

The Influence of Training Programs, Academic Qualifications, and School Principal Leadership on Improving the Competence of Junior High School Teachers in North Sangatta, East Kutai Regency

The quality of education needs to be improved, including the lack of facilities for learning and the professional abilities of teachers. Teachers can enhance their competence through training programs and by improving their academic qualifications, which are expected to have an impact on their competence. School principal leadership plays a role in enhancing teacher competence. The purpose of this research is to determine the influence of training programs, academic qualifications, and school principal leadership on teacher competence, as well as the combined effects of these factors. The research method used was quantitative research, with a population of 321 teachers and a sample size of 106 teachers. Simple random sampling was employed as the sampling technique, and data were collected through questionnaires and documentation, with regression analysis used for data analysis. The results of the research indicate that there is an influence of training programs, academic qualifications, school principal leadership, the combination of training programs and academic qualifications, the combination of academic qualifications and school principal leadership, the combination of training programs and school principal leadership, the combination of training programs, academic qualifications, and school principal leadership on teacher competence. This research concludes that teacher competence in North Sangatta District, East Kutai Regency, is influenced by the training programs attended, academic qualifications, and the leadership of the school principal, all of which contribute to improving teacher competence.

Learning from errors in mathematics classrooms: Development over 2 years in dependence of perceived error climate.

Errors can provide informative feedback and exhibit a high potential for learning gains. Affective-motivational and action-related reactions to errors are two forms of error adaptivity that have been shown to enhance learning outcomes from errors. However, little is known regarding the development and contextual conditions of students' error reactions. A theoretically plausible facilitator to this end is the perceived error climate in the classroom. We investigated how students' dealing with errors develops over time and which role the classroom context in general, and the perceived error climate in particular, has for this development. A total of 1641 students participated in 69 mathematics classrooms in academic secondary schools. Perceived error climate alongside students' self-reported individual reactions to errors were assessed in a 2-year longitudinal study with five measurement points over the fifth and sixth grade. Growth-curve modelling indicated an, on average, negative development of students' individual reactions to errors. This development varied substantially between classrooms and systematically depended on perceived error climate. A more positive error climate was associated with a less negative development of error adaptivity. Taken together, our findings imply a strong need and considerable room for the teachers' support in developing and maintaining adaptive reactions to errors. They also allow for the conclusion that teachers can succeed here by means of realizing a positive error climate in class.

Demographic predictors of public speaking anxiety among university students

Public speaking is a crucial component of many higher education courses and is essential for students’ academic performance and future career success. Despite its importance, public speaking anxiety is a common issue among higher education students, adversely impacting their learning. Addressing this anxiety through targeted interventions, especially for the most at-risk students, is vital. This study provides insights into the demographic predictors of public speaking anxiety, using a sample of 1745 students from a large public university in the Czech Republic. We employed the Personal Report of Confidence as a Speaker in a short form to assess public speaking anxiety levels. Our multivariate regression analysis identified gender, type of high school, and study level as significant predictors of public speaking anxiety, whereas age, nationality, and field of study were not. The study found that women, non-binary individuals, graduates of academic high schools, and bachelor’s students are more prone to public speaking anxiety. These findings highlight the need for targeted intervention and support strategies for students with higher levels of public speaking anxiety.

Can mothers' time preferences predict their children's educational outcomes?

AbstractThis paper studies parents' time preferences and adolescents' future educational outcomes. We combine time preference data on adolescents and mothers, measured in 1966 and 1968, with register data on education and labor outcomes up to 2015. Results show that children of patient mothers have higher grades, are more likely to be enrolled in academic elementary school tracks, and are more likely to attain post‐secondary education. However, the mother's time preferences are not significantly associated with the adolescent's choice of upper secondary school program or completion. The unique Swedish data also allow us to shed some light on potential mechanisms.

Efektivitas Prestasi Belajar Pendidikan Agama Islam Dalam Penerapan Strategi Pembelajaran Berbasis Paikem Guna Mewujudkan Merdeka Belajar

This study aims to determine the development of education in Indonesia has experienced significant progress, especially in the field of Islamic education. The government has taken steps to develop the sector, including regulations and the National Curriculum to set national education standards in Indonesia. The National Curriculum focuses on developing skills and character that can create young people based on the PAIKEM (Active, Innovative, Creative, Effective, and Fun) approach. This research focuses on SD Negeri Dukuh 02 Mojolaban, a formal school located in Geblug, Mojolaban District, Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java Province. The methodology of this study included qualitative research, which aimed to collect data on the quality and performance of Islamic education in schools. This method includes the collection of documentation data and physical data, as well as the collection of qualitative data through interviews with school officials, academics, and teachers. Observational data collection includes observation of the school environment, student participation, student activities, learning process, and what factors need to be considered when collecting data. The implementation of the PAIKEM strategy at SD Negeri Dukuh 02 Mojolaban aims to achieve student achievement. The PAIKEM strategy focuses on creating a conducive learning environment that encourages students to excel in learning.

Effect of School Facilities on Learner's Academic Performance in Science Subjects in Secondary Schools: A Case of Rutsiro District, Rwanda (2021-2023)

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of school facilities on learners’ academic performance in science subjects in secondary schools in Rutsiro district, Rwanda. The following objectives guided the study: The study aimed to investigate the impact of physical facilities and physical instructional materials on students' academic performance in science subjects in Rutsiro district secondary schools. Furthermore, it aimed to investigate the influence of electronic instructional materials on the academic performance of science students in Rutsiro district secondary schools. Environmentalist Bandura's theory of learning, also known as the social cognitive learning theory (SCLT), guided the research. Based on the descriptive research design and mixed-methods approach, the study was conducted in five selected secondary schools in the Rutsiro District. The study's target population consisted of 460 respondents: five head teachers, five directors of studies, 150 teachers, and 300 students. The study involved 214 participants, including 2 head teachers, 2 directors of studies, 70 teachers, and 140 students. Systematic sampling was used to select the five schools, purposive sampling to select the student sample size, and the census sampling technique to select the head teachers and directors of studies. Data was collected using structured questionnaires, interview guides, and documentary reviews. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics. The study found a significant correlation between the availability of school facilities and academic performance. There were positive and significant correlations between academic performance and school facilities in Rutsiro District, Rwanda, and measures of the availability of school facilities were as follows: physical facilities (r = 0.814, p&lt;0.01), electronic and technology facilities (r = 0.826, p&lt;0.1), and physical instructional materials (r = 0.949, p&lt;0.01). The findings from regression analysis revealed that physical facilities have a positive and significant effect on learners’s academic performance in science subjects in Rutsiro district secondary schools (β = 0.814, P value &lt;0.05), The findings from regression analysis revealed that physical instructional materials have a negative and significant effect on learners’s academic performance in science subjects in Rutsiro district secondary schools (β = -0.417, P value &lt;0.05), The findings from regression analysis revealed that electronic instructional materials have a positive and significant effect on learners’s academic performance in science subjects in Rutsiro district secondary schools (β = 0.308, P value &lt;0.05). Teachers, district education officials, and head teachers all agree that school facilities influence academic performance in science subjects positively. Specifically, physical facilities motivate learners and enhance their performance. It was observed that students taught in classrooms equipped with school facilities outperformed those without access. Consequently, the study recommends that science teachers utilize available school facilities for instruction and adapt when materials are unavailable.