Student Access Research Articles

Web-Based System Enhances Extracurricular Management Efficiency in Educational Institutions

Background: The advancement of information technology has significantly influenced educational management, particularly in managing extracurricular activities within schools. Specific Background: Traditional methods of managing these activities often lead to time-consuming processes and ineffective communication, highlighting the need for a more efficient system. Knowledge Gap: While various management systems exist, few specifically address the challenges faced in managing extracurricular activities effectively and transparently. Aims: This research aims to develop and implement a web-based Extracurricular Management Information System (SIMAK) to enhance efficiency and transparency in managing extracurricular activities. Results: Utilizing Agile methodology with the Scrum model and the Laravel framework, the study successfully developed the SIMAK application, which supports activity registration, schedule management, attendance tracking, and student assessments. The implementation of SIMAK resulted in improved administrative efficiency, streamlined processes, and increased transparency in information access for administrators, coaches, and students. Novelty: This study presents a unique approach to extracurricular management by leveraging modern technology and methodologies to address existing inefficiencies in educational settings. Implications: The findings suggest that the SIMAK application not only enhances the management of extracurricular activities but also encourages greater student participation and provides schools with better data for decision-making. Overall, the application significantly contributes to optimizing students' educational experiences outside the classroom, promoting a more organized and transparent approach to extracurricular management. Highlights: Efficiency: Streamlines registration and scheduling processes for extracurricular activities. Transparency: Improves information access for all users involved. Engagement: Increases student participation in extracurricular activities. Keywords: Extracurricular Management, Information System, Agile Methodology, Transparency, Education Technology

E-portfolio in Learning and Assessment of Community Medicine for Medical Undergraduate Students

Background: A portfolio is a specific collection of student work and achievements in various areas. E-portfolio is an electronic collection that serves the purpose of storage and showcase with the ease of access for both students and evaluators. The knowledge and skills regarding immunization in medical students are of utmost importance for the successful implementation and conduction of the Universal Immunization Program in the country. Hence, this study proposed to use e-portfolio for learning and assessment of immunization in medical undergraduates. Aim and Objectives: The aims of this study were as follows: to develop an e-portfolio for learning and assessment in community medicine, to improve the knowledge of immunization schedules of undergraduates using e-portfolio, to improve the vaccination and counseling skills of undergraduates using e-portfolio, and to obtain feedback regarding the e-portfolio from students and faculty. Methodology: This interventional educational study was conducted at a tertiary care medical college including 48 students of Phase III MBBS after informed consent was signed. Prevalidated questionnaire and checklist were used for data collection. Students wrote reflections and uploaded their videos of immunization skills and counseling on the e-portfolio and 5 faculty members assessed the students and provided feedback to students. Feedback on the e-portfolio was taken at the end, and descriptive and qualitative analysis was done. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the institutional ethics committee. Results: The e-portfolio was found to be effective in showcasing the progress and learning of the students. E-portfolio improved knowledge, skills, self-directed learning, and reflective writing. The competency of immunization improved after the use of e-portfolio (P < 0.001). Faculty and students had high satisfaction with the e-portfolio and found the e-portfolio to be innovative, convenient to use, and easily accessible. Conclusions: E-portfolio is user-friendly and effective in imparting and assessing immunization competency. The use of this intervention for other topics is recommended.

EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY IN GHANA: UNDERSTANDING THE CENTRALITY OF TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND

The study aimed to conduct a systematic review of literature on the nature of technology integration in education. The researchers found five major areas in the literature that appeared to give policymakers guidance on how to incorporate technology into the teaching and learning process. These areas were understanding and using new technologies, funding of technologies in education, teacher preparedness in ICT integration, safeguarding ICT and perceived use in school as well as the impact of stakeholders in ICT integration. The study used the narrative review and documentary analysis approach in order to determine the essential factors of a successful technology integration strategy, examine the difficulties educators and learners have while utilising ICT in the classroom and offer recommendations on how to use technology to enhance learning outcomes. The study considered Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by Davis (1989) and the Diffusion of Innovations by Rogers (2003) as the theoretical framework. The study recommends that Ghanaian educational institutions must embrace and successfully integrate technology in the classroom and in larger educational contexts, given the growing reliance of society on digital tools resources. Again, infrastructure in technology such as computers and tablets, consistent internet connectivity, and backup power sources in places with erratic electricity, need to be given a priority by the government and educational stakeholders. Other priority actions required are prioritising community technology centres, giving low-income students access to subsidised internet connection, and supplying subsidised gadgets.

The Impact of State Funding of Higher Education on Employment and Living Standards in Georgia

State financing of higher education is crucial for promoting innovation and competition, as well as guaranteeing equal opportunities and access to education. This financing facilitates the development of students' potential by providing them with the necessary skills and information to enhance graduation rates and social well-being. Scholarships and grants are implemented to improve student access to education by aligning the financial system with the demands of the job market and educational developments. The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of financing higher education in Georgia on employment of graduates and well-being of the population. The results of the survey of entrants and students reveal that public awareness of state-funded higher education programs in Georgia is quite low (47.2%). A large part of the graduates (47,8%) provided with various types of state funding during their studies are not employed in their specialty. The impact of the increase in the expenditure on education on the increase in the income of the population is quite low (0.23%). The research concludes that the allocation of public funds for higher education in Georgia does not effectively match the capabilities of graduates with the demands of the labour market. The reason for the mentioned inconsistency is that the requirements of the labor market were not taken into account when determining the directions to be financed. In addition, it is important to note that the demands of the labor market change every year in accordance with the current challenges, therefore the employer also demands relevant skills immediately, which cannot be met by higher education institutions in a short period of time. Despite the above, the involvement of employers in the process of developing educational programs is low and it is mostly formal in nature. When determining the priority educational programs, there is no periodic revision of the directions so that it is adapted to the demands of the labor market. It is necessary to establish partnership relations between employers, higher educational institutions and the state in order to take into account the requirements of the labor market both in the development of educational programs and in the determination of priority educational directions. Enhancing transparency and emphasising practical training in key areas are essential for enhancing the program's efficacy and enhancing the career chances of graduates. These modifications will provide a more favourable return on investment for state education expenditure. Keywords: higher education, state financing, employment, living standards

Trends in enrolment and academic performance of scheduled tribe students at the undergraduate level in Assam: A decadal analysis

This research work examines the enrolment and performance pattern of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) students at the undergraduate level in Assam for the period of 2012-2022. Based on the enrolment data collected from various ST students, the study examines the gender pattern and course selection of students in different disciplines such as B.A., B.Com., and B.Sc. The study reveals major trends in enrolment increase, gender distribution, and course choices for the decade. Using chi-square tests and comparative performance measures, the study reveals factors that affect academic performance and enrolment. Furthermore, bar graphs and line charts are used to present these trends and to give further analysis. The conclusion of this study provides significant implications for the policymakers and educators who are interested in improving the educational access and opportunities for ST students in the higher education in Assam.

Transformasi Digital: Pemanfaatan Learning Management System dalam Pembelajaran Literasi Al-Qur’an

This research aims to analyze the use of a Learning Management System (LMS) to increase the effectiveness of Al-Qur'an literacy learning and analyze the role of technology in facilitating students' active participation in Al-Qur'an learning. The research method used is descriptive qualitative research using the library research method. The data collection technique is by examining theories from various book literature, journals, and research related to LMS and Al-Qur'an literacy that have been carried out. The sources were taken from books entitled Development of LMS SiCeria (Indonesian Smart Students) and AL-Qur'an Literacy: Tahsin-Tilawah Learning Model Based on Talqin Taqlid. The analysis technique goes through four stages, namely data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and the final step drawing conclusions and verification. The results prove that the LMS for learning Al-Qur'an literacy is one of the innovations in learning Al-Qur'an which is quite effective in the current digital era. By utilizing the LMS feature which can be used to store and create material to be taught, collect student assignments, and share links to teaching media such as videos, teachers can also assess their students' assignments and access them online. The use of LMS in learning Al-Qur'an literacy is very dependent on teacher innovation and student enthusiasm. The results theoretically and practically contribute to teachers and lecturers increasing their innovation in presenting Al-Qur'an literacy learning through LMS. Apart from preparing infrastructure, increasing human resources by providing training for teachers to integrate this LMS in the Al-Qur'an literacy learning process must also be prioritized.

Comparative Analysis of Self-Medication Practices among University Students in Bangladesh and Malaysia

Self-medication is a widely practiced behavior, especially among university students, and is influenced by a variety of socio-economic and cultural factors. This cross-sectional study investigates self-medication practices among university students in Bangladesh and Malaysia, focusing on the prevalence, types of drugs used, reasons for self-medication, and the awareness of its associated risks. A total of 731 students (514 from Bangladesh and 217 from Malaysia) in the study completed a structured questionnaire. The results reveal that self-medication was significantly more prevalent among Bangladeshi students (76.34%) compared to Malaysian students (39.2%). Financial barriers, lack of awareness, and difficulty in accessing healthcare services were the main drivers of self-medication in Bangladesh, while in Malaysia, peer influence and convenience were the primary reasons. The study highlights the importance of targeted interventions to raise awareness about the risks of self-medication and to improve healthcare access for students.

Development of the architecture of the remote access system to educational laboratory equipment using automated solutions

The subject of the study is remote access to Raspberry Pi-based training equipment and remote desktop software. The purpose of the work is to analyze the means of remote control of equipment and develop the architecture of the system of remote access of students to laboratory equipment for the implementation of distance learning. The following tasks are solved in the article: the branches in which application of means of remote access is the most critical are analyzed, among which the special place is occupied by the educational branch; analysis of existing methods of organization of remote access to training equipment was carried out, advantages and disadvantages of each method were allocated; justification is being made for choosing a Raspberry Pi minicomputer as a hardware platform for building remote access systems; describes the architecture of a complex of technical solutions based on Raspberry Pi for remote control of educational laboratory equipment; implementation of applied system of temperature and humidity monitoring using developed approach is described. Research methods include comparative analysis of existing remote control technologies, prototyping and experimental testing of the developed system. The following results were obtained: the feasibility of using the remote desktop approach and AnyDesk software for organizing access was substantiated, a system based on the Raspberry Pi minicomputer for managing equipment and visualizing data was developed, an applied system for monitoring temperature and humidity using Raspberry Pi and AnyDesk was implemented. Conclusions: The proposed approach of using Raspberry Pi and remote desktop software allows students to effectively organize remote access to laboratory equipment from engineering disciplines during distance learning. This solution combines ease of implementation, interaction with real physical equipment and low cost compared to the use of industrial PLCs.

Social Justice Leadership: Creating Equity-Driven Advanced Placement Programs

ABSTRACT A rigorous academic education in high school is one of the most important predictors of college success. The College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) program allows students to earn college credit and/or advanced placement in high school. However, the lack of equitable participation in the AP program has not gone unnoticed by educators, policymakers, or researchers. This qualitative study was designed to fill a gap in the existing research by investigating the implementation of equity-focused AP programs in two urban districts in the Midwest. This qualitative, multiple-case study centered on the voices of 29 participants in two urban school districts who shared descriptions of their beliefs, actions, and reflections about their leadership practices regarding their AP programs. The findings show evidence of community-engaged social justice leadership in the school leaders’ personal beliefs about student access to AP, their situational awareness of their respective school communities, and the equity-focused leadership actions in service of their AP programs. Findings also demonstrated the importance of building the capacity of educators in different roles to engage in leadership activities in service of the equity-focused AP program.

Development of Data-Driven Educational Decision Implementation Guidelines Assisted by Formative Tests in Science Learning

Data-Based Educational Decisions (DDED) is an important part of the learning process where DDED is used to improve the quality of learning. This research purpose to develop Data Driven Educational Decision Implementation Guidelines (DDED) supporting formative tests in IPA learning. DDED is an adaptation of Data Drive Decision Making (DDDM) in learning. DDED is based on Data Drive Decision Making (DDDM), which is a decision-making process that has been widely applied in the world of management. The DDED directs teachers to be adaptive and flexible in implementing various methods, models, teaching materials and learning media based on student access. The development design used is 4D which consists of defining, designing, developing and deploying. The content of the guidelines has been agreed through expert consensus through the fuzzy delphi technique. Fuzzy Delphi Method to create a broad and detailed understanding, especially in education. The consensus indicated that formative tests should include relevant questions and quizzes, comprising both multiple-choice and essay formats, aligning with the principles of DDED. The resulting guideline tests the level of validity and user response. Users respond well to the guidelines developed.

Insights from the Silent: Exploring Deaf Individuals' Perspectives on Using Learning Management Systems for Online Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in the popularity of online learning, offering students greater flexibility and accessibility. However, students with hearing impairments encounter significant challenges in accessing learning materials and communicating with teachers and peers. This study aims to investigate the experiences of students with hearing impairments using a Learning Management System (LMS) for online learning focusing on their challenges they face and the strategies they employ in their learning. The research was conducted using a descriptive qualitative design at private universities in Yogyakarta. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather the data involving three students with hearing impairments who have used LMS in online learning as the participants. The findings revealed the challenges that included the use of multiple applications, lack of understanding on the LMS, lack of LMS notifications, material mismatch, unstable internet connection, tool constraints, lack of inadequate facilities, and there is no training on the use of the LMS. Additionally, the strategies used by the students included self-study, assignment submission via email, asking others for help, using additional apps, using a typist facility, and joining WhatsApp group discussions.

Exploring the Impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence on Higher Education Students’ Utilization of Library Resources

In the field of higher education, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has become a revolutionary influence, shaping how students access and use library resources. This study explores the intricate balance of both positive and negative effects that GenAI might have on the academic library experience for higher education (HE) students. The key aspects of enhanced discovery and retrieval, personalization and engagement, streamlined research processes, and digital literacy and information evaluation potentially offered through using generative AI will be considered. These prospective advantages to HE students offered by using GenAI will be examined through will be examined through the theoretical framework of the Technological Acceptance Model (TAM) introduced by Davis et al. in 1986, which suggests that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are key factors in determining user acceptance and utilization of technology. The adoption of GenAI by higher education students will be analyzed from this viewpoint before assessing its impact on their use of library resources.

Affirmative Action for Black, Indigenous and Quilombola Students at a Brazilian University

Multiculturalism and cultural diversity permeate various sectors of society, including higher education. The educational policies implemented in this sphere appear to promote social and educational equality. The aim of this study was to examine this subject by analysing the affirmative action policy implemented in a Brazilian university. It sought to understand whether this policy has contributed to the access and completion of undergraduate programmes of black and mixed-race, indigenous and quilombola students. The analysis was conducted based on data relating to the access and dropout of students who enrolled in the university through the quota and reservation systems. Data were collected from university administrative datasets and a questionnaire administered to undergraduate course coordinators and students who had benefited from the policy in question and dropped out of university. The findings reveal, on the one hand, an increase in the intake of black and mixed-race, indigenous and quilombola students. On the other hand, a high dropout rate was observed among these students, which may raise the possibility that the policy in question is not completely successful.

Challenges and strategies for navigating Australian healthcare access: experience from Chinese international students

BackgroundAustralia hosts over 680,000 international students, contributing $47.8 billion to the Australian economy in 2023, and Chinese students rank first among all nationalities. However, despite their considerable numbers, research focusing on their access to healthcare services is scant. This study aimed to explore barriers and supports regarding the utilisation of healthcare services among Chinese international students studying in Australia.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted in Chinese between October and December 2023 with 25 Chinese international students (age range, 19–30; female/male, n = 18/7; undergraduate/postgraduate/doctoral, n = 1/18/6) enrolled in three Australian universities to understand the healthcare challenges they encountered and the coping strategies they recommended. These interviews were recorded, and thematic analysis was applied to the interview data. An adapted social-ecological model was used to identify barriers and pragmatic strategies to deal with the challenges at different levels.ResultsChinese international students in Australia faced healthcare barriers at different levels. Individual barriers included language and cultural disparities, lack of knowledge about the healthcare system, and reluctance to seek help. Institutional barriers involved high costs, difficulties regarding appointments, and procedures related to the referral system. Policy barriers included insurance coverage and reimbursement issues. The students interviewed for this study proposed individual-level strategies, such as trying various methods to reduce language barriers, seeking information online, and using online resources and consultations. A central appointment platform and multilingual medical service were recommended from students to medical institutions, while medical service guidance and psychological support were suggested to education institutions. Higher-level strategies were also reported, which were mainly pertaining to insurance terms and coverage for overseas students and improving the accessibility of medical information.ConclusionsOur study identifies barriers to healthcare access for Chinese international students in Australia, including culture-specific challenges. To mitigate these issues, we recommend self-directed health promotion, targeted support by education institutions, enhanced cross-cultural communication and expanded telemedicine by hospitals, and attention to insurance coverage. Future research should explore optimising these approaches to improve support systems and policy frameworks.

Facilitating digital accessibility for students with disabilities into information services at Jordanian academic libraries

PurposeThis study examines the digital accessibility of information services for students with disabilities at the University of Jordan. Despite advancements in disability rights and technology, academic libraries often lag in providing fully accessible digital services.Design/methodology/approachThe mixed-methods research involved quantitative surveys from 173 students with disabilities and a qualitative interview with the head of the information application department, in addition to a focus group interview with 10 students with disabilities. Quantitative analysis included means, standard deviations and four-way ANOVA to identify significant differences in perceptions. Qualitative insights highlighted specific issues and recurring themes, revealing significant gaps in digital accessibility.FindingsThe results revealed a weak level of digital accessibility of students with disabilities to information services in academic libraries in Jordan is very low. The findings indicate a need for improvements in library infrastructure, staff training and policy development. The study also offers insights into challenges in a developing country context and provides recommendations for enhancing library inclusivity and support structures, emphasizing the importance of aligning services with international accessibility standards.Practical implicationsThe findings will primarily be beneficial for library managers to understand their library’s deficiencies and responsibility towards the local community and the enhancement of digital inclusion. This understanding will aid in planning training programs and workshops for employees on supporting students with disabilities. Additionally, it serves as a valuable resource for collaboration between libraries and educators to organize educational sessions for academic librarians in Jordan and other developing nations.Originality/valueIt serves as a valuable resource for collaboration between libraries and educators to organize educational sessions for academic librarians in Jordan and other developing nations. This research adds value to existing literature by highlighting the context in one developing country.

Developing Observation Report Text Teaching Materials Using Flip HTML5 Application

Indonesian language learning implements an independent curriculum, making students the subjects and centers of learning. This curriculum emphasizes developing students' thinking skills in solving problems and projects that can shape character according to the Pancasila student profile and 21st-century skills. In this digital era, education should take advantage of this situation by developing teaching materials, such as converting texts into electronic formats that make it easier for students to access them at school or home. This study aims to produce an e-module of observation report texts for grade X vocational school students. The method used is research and development (R&D) with the ADDIE development model, which includes analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The study results indicate that this e-module is considered very valid by material and media experts and suitable for digital teaching. This e-module can be accessed online, allowing students to learn anytime and anywhere. Expert validation shows that this e-module effectively increases student accessibility and involvement in learning.

Impact of COVID-19 in the web accessibility of higher education institutions: a pending challenge

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic forced educational institutions to close and led to a radical transformation of the global education system. This process of change had to take place in a short period of time and, as a result, methodologies and learning tools were adapted. The closure of educational institutions and the disruption to learning impacted all students. However, vulnerable students, including those with disabilities, were particularly affected due to the lack of preparedness for inclusive learning during the rapid transition to emergency online learning. One of the many challenges faced by educational institutions during this transition was ensuring web accessibility for students with disabilities. However, it appears that some of the positive changes that took place in the education system during the pandemic, such as the enhancement of web accessibility, have been declining recently. The aim of this article is to review how a group of universities responded to the closure caused by the pandemic from the point of view of web accessibility, whether they improved the accessibility of their websites and whether this improvement has been maintained over time. To achieve this, the web accessibility of the home pages of selected universities around the world was evaluated against Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1, for the period from 2018 to 2024. The results show that there was an improvement in web accessibility immediately after the COVID-19 outbreak, but this trend has not been maintained.

K-12 Special Education Accessibility and Instructional Quality Related to the COVID-19 Shift to Online Instruction

ABSTRACT The shift to online teaching dictated by the COVID-19 pandemic was disruptive to all levels of education. Research has shown that access to online instruction was particularly challenging for K-12 students with disabilities and that their teachers were not well-prepared to provide instruction online. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the relationships between special education teacher characteristics and the switch to online instruction related to the COVID-19 pandemic as predictors of quality of instruction, and also to explore how the switch to online instruction was related to teacher and student access to the content and other relevant resources. Using a mixed methods online survey that incorporated a retrospective pretest approach for quantitative data collection, data from 293 special education teachers were used to examine these relationships. Regarding quality of instruction, paired samples t-tests yielded a large and significant drop in Engagement, a smaller drop in Action and Expression, and a small but significant increase in Representation. Teacher experience was significantly and positively correlated with student access to technology. Teachers described poor institutional support for the transition to online instruction and also reported problems with accessibility for their students. Only 22 of the 293 participants reported any prior experience with online teaching. Future research should include development of teacher preparation that includes training in improving Engagement as well as practice with online teaching skills and resources.

Profile Analysis of Hourly, Daily, and Weekly Student Access to Online Asynchronous Courses

Recent global events have led to an increase in the delivery of higher education in an asynchronous online format. These changes have impacted students’ ability to schedule their lives around their education. This study investigates trends in student access to online asynchronous courses. This study utilized learning analytics data from the learning management system for thirty-eight online asynchronous communication courses taught by twelve different faculty members at a large research university in the southwestern United States. A total of 1,384 students were involved in the study. Profile Analyses indicate clear non-linear trends for time of day, day of the week, and week of the semester in student course access. Results indicate those trends vary significantly from a no-effect condition by level of course and gender of student across multiple courses.

Strategies to increase accessibility for students with disabilities in health professional programs: a scoping review protocol.

The objective of this scoping review will be to identify strategies in the literature that may increase the accessibility of health professional programs for students with disabilities. The number of students with disabilities in health professional programs is increasing. However, since students with disabilities experience barriers to education, their retention rates are potentially lower, and their attrition rates are potentially higher compared with their non-disabled peers. Academic and gray literature that identifies strategies intended to increase accessibility to health professional programs for students with disabilities will be included. Only articles published from 2000 onward will be considered for inclusion. This review will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Databases to be searched will include Embase (Ovid), MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), ERIC (ProQuest), and Web of Science. Gray literature will be searched for using Google. Websites of known disability organizations will also be searched. There will be no language limitations. Paired reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts, and then full-text articles. Data will be extracted using a tool developed by the reviewers. The extracted data will be synthesized and reported in tabular format, accompanied by a narrative summary connecting the results to the objective of the review. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/BSYRT.