Academic Year Research Articles

Sigma Gamma Epsilon chapter and student awards for academic year 2023-2024

Sigma Gamma Epsilon chapter and student awards for academic year 2023-2024

Factors Influencing Task-Based Learning Motivation in English for Presentation Course among Thai Undergraduates

Engaging students in active learning environments like task-based presentations can be challenging, as several factors influence their motivation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing motivation in task-based learning in the English for Presentation course. Thirty undergraduate students who enrolled in the English for Presentation course in the second semester of the 2022 academic year at a university in Bangkok, Thailand, were purposively selected as the participants for the study. The research instrument was the minute paper that students were asked to write about their thoughts and feelings in response to the presented task, which required them to work independently, in pairs, and in groups. The study revealed that students' intrinsic motivation, English proficiency, task relevance, instructor support, and task variety were the factors that influenced their motivation in task-based learning in the English for Presentation course. The study found that the intrinsic motivation of the students was the most significant factor in the English for Presentation course after considering each factor. The findings of this study are valuable to all stakeholders in the learning and teaching process in order to create successful strategies, raise motivation, and promote positive attitudes about English learning and teaching in Thai context.

The Effect of Digital Stories on 4th Grade Students’ Fluent Reading Skills

This study aims to determine the effect of the digital stories on the fluent reading skills of primary school 4th-grade students. A quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test control group was used in the study. The participants comprised 46 4th-grade students from the villages of the Silvan district of Diyarbakır Province. Twenty-three students formed the control group, and 23 formed the experimental group. The study was conducted in eight weeks in the 2022-2023 academic year. In this process, first, students' fluent reading skills were measured before the treatment. Then, eight reading passages were prepared in digital story format and used in Turkish lessons. When the treatment ended, the fluent reading skills of the students were measured again. Independent Sample t-test was used to determine significant differences between the experimental and control groups. The results indicated no significant difference between the initial fluent reading levels of the groups. In this context, it can be said that the use of digital stories in reading activities improves students' fluent reading skills.

The Examination of In-Service Training Programs via Distance Education in Turkey According to Teachers' Opinions

The aim of this study is to determine teachers' satisfaction with in-service training programs organized through distance education and their opinions about the program. In this research, the survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was used. The sample of this study consisted of 955 teachers working in kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools and high schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in Eskişehir province, in Turkey, in the 2020-2021 academic year. Stratified sampling was used in sample selection. In the study, Satisfaction Questionnaire for In-Service Training Programs Implemented by the Ministry of Education through Distance Education, In-Service Program Evaluation Questionnaire Implemented by the Ministry of National Education Through Distance Education were used. 921 scales and surveys collected for data analysis were evaluated. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) analysis program was used to analyze the data. The analysis results were tabulated and the data obtained were interpreted with numbers (N) and percentages (%). Descriptive analyzes were used in the research. It has been concluded that the 54.6 percent of the teachers are satisfied with the in-service training courses implemented through distance education so far. In addition, it has been revealed that teachers' opinions about in-service activities organized by the Ministry of National Education through distance education are positive.

Empirical Study on Attitude towards Making Decision to Select Mathematics for First-Degree Program

Recently debatable arguments have existed regarding the perceived lack of numerical skills among the graduates from the Humanities and Social Sciences. In response to this concern, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculties of Art in national universities in Sri Lanka have taken measures to more opportunities to undergraduates to bolster their numerical proficiency. This is achieved through the incorporation of mathematics course units for their degree programs along with the main subject streams. The study focuses on factors that affect the undergraduates’ attitudes towards making the decision to select the subject mathematics for their first-degree program. A sample survey was carried out using structured questionnaire and stratified random sampling technique was utilized to select a sample size of 352 from the undergraduates belongs to Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in University of Sri Jayewardenepura. The binary logistic regression model is utilized, and the study revealed that self efficacy, mathematical anxiety, and interest in mathematics are significantly affected students’ attitudes on counting mathematics course units for their degree program. The student who has self-efficacy is 1.03 times more likely to select mathematics course unit at the first academic year than other students. A unit increase of mathematics anxiety with all other factors remaining constant, the odds of a student selecting the mathematics course decreased by 11.2%. When one-unit increases in the interest in mathematics of students the odds of selecting mathematics course unit is 1.06 times more likely to than other peers. These insights suggest that educational institutes, particularly those in the humanities and social sciences, should prioritize enhancing students ‘numerical skills. This can be achieved by providing valuable consideration aimed at refining their curriculum and support mechanism, increasing awareness programmes about the importance of studying mathematics course units within their degree programmes and conducting programmes to reduce mathematics anxiety while fostering an increased interest in mathematics.

Assessing student readiness for mobile learning from a cybersecurity perspective

This research aims to measure student readiness in implementing mobile learning from a cybersecurity perspective. Using a quantitative method with a survey approach, the participants in this research were 150 students of the electrical engineering study program at Padang State University in Indonesia, who were randomly stratified to ensure a balanced representation of the academic year. The research is an online objective test related to cybersecurity topics. The data analysis technique used is quantitative descriptive. The analysis results show that system updates are the only indicator with a “good” awareness level, while other indicators are at the “sufficient” and “poor” levels, indicating the need for further improvement. These findings underscore the importance of integrating cyber security education in mobile learning curricula to increase student readiness to face evolving cyber threats. Thus, this research recommends developing specific training programs and adding comprehensive cybersecurity material to the curriculum to equip students with the skills necessary to maintain cybersecurity effectively.

Effect Of Academic Year And Major On Nutritional Knowledge In Division II Female Athletes

Effect Of Academic Year And Major On Nutritional Knowledge In Division II Female Athletes

Analysing the Influence of Students’ Resilience on their Mathematics Academic Performance in Mezam Division, Cameroon

The main objective of the study was to analyse the influence of students’ resilience on their Mathematics academic performance in Mezam Division in Cameroon. The study adopted the causal comparative research design. The study was carried out using seven functional public secondary schools in Mezam Division for the 2023/2024 academic year, with first cycle students (Forms 1 to 5) constituting the population of the study. With the help of the Krejcie and Morgan Table, a sample of 368 students was drawn from an accessible population of 8813 first cycle students. The proportionate stratified random sampling technique was used to select this sample for the collection of data. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was vetted by three experts and its test-retest reliability index established as 0.87. The data collected were analysed using frequency counts, means, Pearson product-moment correlation, one sample t-test and regression analysis. The findings of the study revealed that students in Mezam Division exhibit significantly low resilient abilities in Mathematics. The findings also revealed that there is a moderate positive correlation (0.587) between students' resilience and their Mathematics academic performance. Furthermore, the regression analysis indicated that approximately 34.4% of the variations in students' Mathematics academic performance can be accounted for or predicted by their resilience. It was recommended that educators and policymakers need to focus on nurturing, developing and fostering students' resilient abilities through targeted interventions and teaching strategies.

Combined Association of Depression Interms of Gender Along with Academic Classes of Students

Every person have life experiences with variety of shifts ,turning points and stress during advancement phase of their life. College students are especially susceptible to stress since they are going through both personal and social changes. Among college students depression is becoming more and more prominent globally. The objective of this study was to show depression association interms of gender college students over the academic years (1st year and second year)students. In First year class out of 58 males (Non depression 12 and with depression 46) and out of 42 female (Non depression 22 and with depression 20) and in second year out of 42 males ( Non depression 19 and with depression 23 and out of 58 females (Non depression 41 and with depression17), Our result showed that depression is significantly associated with gender of students along their different academic classes (1st year and 2nd year ) chi square 29.72 (p<0.05).

The Implementation Result of Comparative Method in the Instruction of Rural Development for Political Students at the Faculty of Education, Souphanouvong University; Academic Year 2020-202

The Implementation Result of Comparative Method in the Instruction of Rural Development for Political Students at the Faculty of Education, Souphanouvong University; Academic Year 2020-202

The Adoption of Holacracy in Higher Education: A Scale Development Study

This study aims to develop a valid, reliable, and convenient data collection tool to measure the level of faculty members’ adoption of the holacracy model in university administration. The data of this study were obtained from faculty members working in the faculties of education of state universities in Türkiye in the 2020-2021 academic year. Participation in the study was completely voluntary. The data were collected from a sample of 268 people. Within the scope of the research, the Higher Education Holacracy Scale (HEHS) was used as a data collection tool. The researcher developed the draft form of the HEHS in line with the literature on holacracy. The draft form was presented to 14 experts, one of whom was an expert in measurement and evaluation. Thus, the content validity of the research was ensured. As a result of the analyses, it was determined that the variance explained was 63.228%, the structure consisted of three components, and the fit index values were at a good level. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted for the validity of the scale, and Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient was calculated for reliability. Item-total correlations examined the discrimination of the scale items. After the analyses, it was determined that this 25-item scale, which is in harmony with its theoretical foundations, is a valid and reliable scale suitable for measuring faculty members’ opinions.

On the Importance of Extracurricular Physical Education Activities in the Physical Education of Students of Higher Education Institutions

The article presents material on the organization of extracurricular activities in physical education at a higher educational institution. The relevance of this topic is due to structural and substantive changes in undergraduate educational programs and work programs in physical education, which have led to an increasing role of extracurricular activities in the formation of student's physical culture competence. This circumstance requires consideration of issues of planning, organization and methodological support of this type of pedagogical activity. The purpose of the study is to identify the organizational and educational aspects of student sports and wellness activities conducted in their free time from study at the university. As an example of the organization of extracurricular work carried out by teachers of the Department of Physical Culture and Sports, a number of physical culture and recreation and sports events held at the Omsk State Agrarian University named after P. A. Stolypin are proposed. The analysis and generalization of pedagogical experience in the higher education system, data from literary sources on the problems of physical education of students allowed us to make practical recommendations on the basics of planning, goal-setting and organizational features of extracurricular activities in physical culture. The possibility of increasing the effectiveness of this activity is emphasized due to the uniform distribution of activities throughout the academic year, attracting students with different levels of physical, sports and technical readiness and motivation in the field of physical culture and sports to participate. In addition to the calendar plan, the organizers for each event must define a goal, develop a program, create a festive atmosphere, ensure the safety of spectators and participants, and create conditions for informational coverage of the planned event.

Surface and deep learning: a blended learning approach in preclinical years of medical school

BackgroundSignificant challenges are arising around how to best enable peer communities, broaden educational reach, and innovate in pedagogy. While digital education can address these challenges, digital elements alone do not guarantee effective learning. This study reports a blended learning approach integrating online and face-to-face components, guided by the Student Approaches to Learning framework.MethodsThis study was carried out investigating learning in first and second year medical students over two academic years, 2019/20 and 2020/21. We evaluated: (1) comparison of students engaged with blended learning and traditional learning; and (2) student learning engaged with blended learning approach over a two-year preclinical curriculum. A revised two-factor study process questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) evaluated students’ surface/deep learning before and after an academic year. Learning experience (LE) questionnaire was administered over the domains of learning engagement, and outcomes of learning approach. In-depth interviews were carried out to understand the context of students’ responses to the R-SPQ-2F and LE questionnaires.ResultsThe R-SPQ-2F analysis indicated first year students maintained deep learning but second year students became neutral across the academic year, regardless of learning approach, with workload contributing to this outcome. R-SPQ-2F sub-scales showed that students engaged with blended learning maintained an intrinsic interest to learning, as compared to traditional learning which led to surface learning motives. The LE questionnaire showed students engaged with blended learning had deeper subject interest, and more positive perceptions of workload, feedback, and effectively developed skills and knowledge. However, peer interactions from blended learning were significantly lacking. In-depth interviews revealed that the flexibility and multi-modality of blended learning enabled learning, but the best use of these features require teacher support. Online interactions could be cultivated through intentional institutional efforts.ConclusionsThis study highlights the importance of designing blended learning that leverages technology-enabled flexibility while prioritising collaborative, learner-centred spaces for deep engagement and knowledge construction.

Self-perceived oral health and happiness

In recent years, studies investigating psychological states such as happiness in individuals’ health have increased. Aim: This study investigated a possible association between self-perceived oral health and happiness in university students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in a cohort of university students who entered in the 2016 academic year at the Federal University of Pelotas, located in southern Brazil. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, including demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, psychosocial traits, and oral health-related questions. Happiness was measured through a question accompanied by the Faces Scale of Andrews and Whitey. Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to assess the association between the exposure variables (oral health measures) and the outcome (happiness). Results: The prevalence of happiness was 48.6%. A significant association between happiness and oral health, including satisfaction with dental appearance (PR 1.86; 95% CI 1.73-2.01), oral health-related to quality of life (PR 1.19; 95% CI 1.09-1.31), and halitosis (PR 1.10; 95% CI 1.01-1.20), was found. Conclusion: Individuals who reported dissatisfaction with dental appearance, an impact on oral health-related to quality of life, and halitosis perceived themselves as unhappy.

Psychological Anxiety of COVID-19 Pandemic and its Effect on Academic Performance of University Students

The problem and the aim of the study. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a worldwide emergency, with consequences for more than just physical health, including mental health and educational outcomes. University students are particularly vulnerable since they are dealing with a number of challenges at once, such as the health effects of the pandemic both directly and indirectly, the sudden shift to online schooling, and doubts about their future employment opportunities. Critical to understanding the far-reaching effects of the pandemic on student lives, learning processes, and mental health is research into COVID-19-related psychological anxiety and its impact on academic performance in higher education. This research subject seeks to investigate the extent to which college students are anxious about the COVID-19 pandemic and how this unusual stressor affects their participation in class, grades, and general satisfaction with their education. By looking at it from this perspective, we may identify the many ways in which the epidemic has affected the future generation of researchers and professionals, and then develop strategies to help them cope with the difficulties they will face. Research methods. The study employed a correlational descriptive approach to investigate the psychological distress caused by the COVID-19 epidemic and its influence on the academic performance of university students in Jordan. The sample consisted of 300 undergraduates (male and female) from the College of Educational and Psychological Sciences at Amman Arab University in the 2021–2022 school year, with the entire student body serving as the population. The survey tool was distributed online via social media, leading to 379 respondents, and a chance sample was used because it was feasible to reach a large number of participants—especially during the pandemic. Results. The study results show a detailed range of stress and worry, with average scores varying from 2.8 to 4.1 among 25 items. Major concerns involve social isolation, indicated by an average score of 4.1 for feeling alienated because of social distancing measures, and academic disruptions, with an average score of 4.0 for experiencing a lack of control over academic life owing to the pandemic. There is a significant gender gap between the reported levels of anxiety and its effect on academic performance; 40% of female students and 30% of male students express high levels of anxiety, and the average academic impact score for female students is 3.0 while the average score for male students is 2.5. The data also shows that anxiety levels and the detrimental effect they have on academic performance are getting worse over the years, with fourth-year students having the worst levels of anxiety (45%) and the greatest academic impact score (3.5). The findings highlight the importance of providing students with personalized support to help them cope with the psychological effects of the pandemic. Scientific novelty: Novelty resides in the study's exhaustive examination of COVID-19's psychological effects on Jordanian university students, with a particular emphasis on anxiety levels and how they relate to academic achievement. By looking at the effects of the pandemic across genders and academic years, it shows how anxiety levels rise over time and how there are clear differences between the sexes. The study offers important insights into the many ways in which the pandemic affected students' academic performance and mental health by using a large sample size, a correlational descriptive approach, and social media to reach a wide audience during the epidemic.

Perceived academic anxiety and procrastination among emergency nursing students: the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation

Abstract Aim Explore the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies used by nursing students between academic anxiety and procrastination. Design: A descriptive correlational design was used. Setting: This study was carried out in the faculty of nursing at the University of Alexandria. Sample: The participants in this study were all students enrolled in emergency nursing during the second semester of the academic year 2021–2022 and a convenience sampling of 654 nursing students. The Sobel test was used as a statistical method to determine the significance of a mediation effect by assessing whether the relationship between perceived academic anxiety and procrastination was significantly reduced when cognitive emotion regulation was included, using coefficients and standard errors from regression models to calculate the test statistic. Tools: Academic Anxiety Scale, Academic Procrastination Scale, and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire were used to collect data. Results The study found that 46.5% of students reported high anxiety levels, with 40.1% perceiving moderate anxiety and only 11.3% experiencing low anxiety. Moreover, 80.4% of nursing students showed moderate academic procrastination. There is a positive correlation between procrastination and academic anxiety, with Adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies mediating this relationship, according to the Sobel test. Conclusion Based on the results, it can be concluded that there is a complex causal and effect relationship between academic anxiety and procrastination. Nursing students may resort to academic procrastination as a means of coping. Therefore, reducing anxiety, correcting maladaptive behaviors, and enhancing adaptive cognitive and emotional regulation strategies could effectively reduce academic procrastination.

Practicing intentional mentorship: An unfinished journey of a language teacher educator and her (future) mentees

AbstractAs a language teacher educator (LTE) at a Doctoral Universities ‐ High Research Activity (R2) institution, this invitation to document how the first author (Gloria) has come to (re)construct and (re)negotiate her identity as an LTE is both timely and necessary, as the academic year 2024–2025 marks her 17th year at her institution. In this conceptual feature article, she begins this narrativized journey as one way to reflect on who she is and who she has become as an LTE, and she has invited four of her former mentees (Silvia, Marie, Shannon, and Sarah) who have become her co‐authors and co‐editors in various publication opportunities. Using poetic and narrativized writing, Gloria and her mentees share snapshots of their reflections and reflexivity in working together to understand and define intentional mentoring practices. The authors conclude with their own definitions of intentional mentoring practice and invite the journal audience to collectively engage in our unfinished journey.

Perceived stress and burnout syndrome in chiropractic students at a South African university during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Higher stress levels may be associated with decreased academic success and physical and psychological well-being in chiropractic students. This study aimed to determine the perceived stress and burnout of chiropractic students at the University of Johannesburg during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a quantitative, exploratory study utilizing a self-administered online questionnaire distributed to chiropractic students (n = 246) at the university. The questionnaire consisted of 3 main components: demographics, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS). Data were analyzed utilizing exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach alpha for reliabilities, and descriptive statistics for mean scores being interpreted using subscales pertaining to the 2 survey tools. The response rate was 63.82% (n = 157) with the PSS-10 indicating participants obtained a total mean score of 25.08 (average stress). For the MBI-SS categories, participants scored 18.96 out of 30 for exhaustion, 10.31 out of 30 for cynicism, and 22.46 out of 36 for professional efficiency; higher scores of exhaustion and cynicism and lower scores of professional efficiency are indicative of higher degrees of burnout. Statistically significant differences for both tools were noted in relation to age and academic year with higher values indicated with increased age and progression in the program. The results indicate that chiropractic students experienced moderate levels of stress but higher burnout than other health sciences student populations when compared to current literature. Age and progression in the program appear to have a negative influence on both these factors.

Pengaruh Metode Brainstorming Terhadap Keaktifan Belajar Siswa pada Mata Pelajaran Pendidikan Agama Kristen di SMP Negeri 1 Saipar Dolok Hole Tahun Pembelajaran 2023/2024

The research aims to determine the positive influence of the brainstorming method on students' active learning in Christian Religious Education subjects at SMP Negeri 1 Saipar Dolok Hole for the 2023/2024 academic year. The research hypothesis is that there is a positive influence between the brainstorming method on students' active learning in Christian Religious Education subjects at SMP Negeri 1 Saipar Dolok Hole for the 2023/2024 academic year. The population of all students at SMP Negeri 1 Saipar Dolok Hole for the 2023/2024 academic year who are Protestant Christians is 46 people. This research is population research. The research instrument is a closed questionnaire. The results of data analysis obtained: The value rcount=0.535>rtable=0.291 shows that there is a positive relationship between the brainstorming method and students' active learning in Christian Religious Education subjects. Regression equation. Hypothesis test Fcount=17.68>Ftable=3.23 then H0 (null hypothesis) is rejected and Ha (alternative hypothesis) is accepted. The research concluded that there was a positive and significant influence between the brainstorming method on students' active learning in Christian Religious Education subjects at SMP Negeri 1 Saipar Dolok Hole for the 2023/2024 academic year.

Pengaruh Model Pembelajaran PAIKEM Terhadap Motivasi Belajar Pendidikan Agama Kristen dan Budi Pekerti siswa kelas XI SMA N 1 Parlilitan Tahun Ajaran 2023/2024

The research aims to find out how much influence the model hasPAIKEM learning towards learning motivation for Christian Religious Education andCharacteristics of class XI students of SMA Negeri 1 Parlilitan for the 2023/2024 academic year. The research hypothesis is that there is a positive and significant influence between PAIKEM learning model on motivation to learn Religious Education Christianity and Character, Class XI students of SMA Negeri 1 Parlilitan, Academic Year 2023/2024. Descriptive and inferential quantitative research methods. Whole population Class XI students of SMA Negeri 1 Parlilitan for the 2023/2024 academic year who are religious There are 150 Protestant Christians. Random samples (random sampling) namely 25% of the total population, namely 38 people. The research instrument is: closed questionnaire. The results of data analysis obtained: a) rcount = 0.554> rtable = 0.320 and tcount=3.993>ttable=2.02809 shows that there is a positive relationship and significant relationship between the PAIKEM learning model and learning motivation Christian Religious Education and Character Education for class XI students of SMA Negeri 1Parlilitan Academic Year 2023/2024. b) Regression equation Y  25.88 0.404X c) The determination test revealed that the magnitude of the effect was 30.69%. d) Hypothesis test is obtained Fcount=15.933>Ftable=3.23 then H0 is rejected and Ha is accepted. Research concludes that there is a positive and significant influence between the PAIKEM learning model and educational learning motivation Christian Religion and Character, Class XI students of SMA Negeri 1 Parlilitan Tahun Teachings 2023/2024.