Higher Education Classroom Research Articles

A comprehensive objective and subjective assessment survey of indoor environmental quality in higher education classrooms in a hot arid climate

A few research studies about IEQ in university classrooms are reported from the hot arid climate despite the severity of this climate. In the reported study, the indoor conditions of university classrooms from a hot arid climate were evaluated considering the collective effect of the four main factors of IEQ, which are the thermal, visual, acoustic, and indoor air quality. The physical measurements were conducted for air temperature, globe temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, illuminance, sound pressure, and carbon dioxide levels. A questionnaire collected the students' sensation, satisfaction, and preferences of the classrooms' environments. The results reveal the sensitivity of the students' environmental experience to the thermal and acoustic conditions. In light of this, a novel IEQ model that considers the air temperature and sound pressure level has been proposed. The model is statistically reliable as it has an RMSE of 0.002. Griffith's method was used to calculate the comfort temperature at 23.0 ± 2.5 °C with a slope of 0.5/K. The findings of this study attempt to fill a gap in the knowledge regarding the IEQ conditions of university classrooms from the hot arid climate.

Reflecting on The Impacts of Strengths-Based Teaching on Students' Self-Efficacy in Higher Education Classrooms

In this manuscript, two professors sought to reflect on personal discoveries from their recent research collaboration examining the relationship between strengths-based teaching and students’ self-efficacy. The findings of their study indicated that educators in higher education institutions who employ a strengths-based teaching approach that focuses on students’ capabilities, opportunities, and possibilities while creating a growth mindset, resiliency, and agency can improve students’ self-efficacy. As educators, we regularly engage in reflective practice to enhance and improve our teaching strategies. Through reflection, we were able to examine the revelations from our research and explore how we could effectively implement these practices in our teaching to highlight our students’ strengths and help them build a foundation for lifelong learning and improved self-efficacy. Keywords: strengths-based teaching, self-efficacy, higher education, research collaboration, reflective practice

Implementing translanguaging strategies in the English writing classroom in higher education

Abstract Over the past two decades, translanguaging has become a powerful concept in applied linguistics, enabling teachers and students to respond to linguistic and cultural diversity in the classroom. However, how teachers and students prepare for translanguaging pedagogy and practice in writing has so far received less attention (Huang & Chalmers, 2023). Therefore, this systematic review focuses on the application of translanguaging strategies in the English as a Foreign/Second Language (EFL/ESL) writing classroom. Following the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews, this study searched five databases to obtain articles spanning from 2013 to 2023. We reviewed 23 articles focusing on translanguaging, writing and higher education. Our results show that (1) most studies were conducted in North America and Northern Asia, with qualitative studies being predominant; (2) most researchers implemented translanguaging interventions in the EFL/ESL classroom to study the impact of translanguaging on students’ English writing skills; (3) students applied translanguaging strategies during the writing process to communicate with others on content and vocabulary; (4) translanguaging strategies provided teachers with diverse perspectives and enhanced students’ various skills; (5) the use of digital resources and different types of activities contributed to the application of translanguaging in the writing classroom, but students’ limited language skills in their L2 but also in their L1, and their uncertainty about their linguistic identity limited implementation of translanguaging in the English writing classroom. This systematic review points towards the need for educators to consider the various factors, functions and applications of the use of translanguaging strategies in English writing classrooms.

Exploring dialogue in virtual simulation in nursing education – An observational study

ObjectivesSimulation is an important learning activity in nursing education. There is little knowledge about dialogue and communication between students and facilitators in a virtual simulation setting. The current study, conducted in Norway, explores the dialogic teaching approaches applied by facilitators in a virtual classroom and adapt an analytic tool from a physical classroom in lower education to a virtual classroom in higher education. MethodsSixteen virtual simulation sessions of groups with nursing students were video-taped. The videos were coded with a coding scheme developed for physical classrooms and adapted to the virtual setting. The dialogic approaches from the facilitator were analysed using descriptive analysis. ResultsThe most frequently used approaches from the facilitator were categorized as listening (“Modelling prompts and body language to encourage continuation”) and asking (“Big questions”). The most frequent pattern seen in the use of dialogic approaches fall under the category listening. ConclusionsThe coding scheme is suitable to analyse facilitators' dialogic approaches in a virtual setting in nursing education. Further research should examine how the facilitator can strategically deploy dialogic approaches in other types of simulations with students. InnovationThe coding scheme was developed from lower to higher education, and from a physical to a virtual setting.

On the Use of an Online Polling Platform for Enhancing Student Engagement in an Engineering Module

Students’ engagement is a fundamental challenge in large classrooms in higher education. In recent years, innovative technologies such as electronic learning and online polling platforms have made learning more engaging, effective, and interactive. By using these platforms, educators can create more inclusive and enriching learning environments. This paper presents a novel approach in which an online technology is employed to enhance students’ learning experience. In this approach, features of an online polling platform, i.e., Slido, are employed to enhance students’ engagement in an engineering module, i.e., ‘Mechanics of Solids’, which is recognised as a fundamentally challenging module with difficult subjects. This study investigates how the interactive features of such technologies, such as real-time polls, question and answer (Q&A) sessions, and quizzes, can provide a more active and practical learning environment by improving student engagement in the classroom. In total, six online polls were designed: one for ice-breaking, two on the topics of shear forces and bending moment, two on stresses, and one on deflection. Each poll was presented to the students, and they participated in them by scanning a QR code or typing the poll’s code online. The rate of students’ participation in polls is extensively discussed to show the effectiveness of the proposed method. The findings of this study show a significant increase in student participation in classroom activities compared to traditional methods. Student feedback also indicates a positive learning experience with the use of the proposed approach. It is shown that the proposed approach has the potential to transform the way engineering students engage with challenging subjects, leading to enhanced learning outcomes and a more positive learning experience.

Flipped classroom in higher education. Analysis of a research methods course in Educational Psychology

La necesidad de innovación educativa se fortaleció debido al confinamiento generado por la pandemia. Desde entonces algunas metodologías de enseñanza y aprendizaje existentes mejoraron, como es el caso del Aula Invertida, la cual, a diferencia de un enfoque “tradicional”, permite una participación activa por parte de las/los estudiantes y puede ser aplicada en ambientes presenciales, en línea o híbridos. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar una experiencia de aplicación del Aula Invertida en un curso de métodos de investigación en psicología educativa. Además de la aplicación de este enfoque, esta experiencia incluye la percepción de las/los estudiantes por medio de un cuestionario cuantitativo y entrevistas a través de grupos de enfoque. Participaron 39 estudiantes de licenciatura en Psicología Educativa. Los resultados de la aplicación del aula invertida indican, por parte de las/los estudiantes, que hay mayor participación, se favorece la autorregulación, tienen una percepción positiva del aula invertida considerando tanto ventajas como desventajas de su aplicación. En cuanto a la enseñanza, se consigue la innovación educativa ya que se utilizaron metodologías activas, apoyadas con las nuevas tecnologías y se obtuvieron sugerencias para posterior uso de este enfoque en educación superior.

Wargames as Pedagogical Tools: Using Wargames for Higher Education

Wargames and crisis simulations can be useful pedagogical tools when deliberately used. This paper explores the spectrum of pedagogical objectives; what use are wargames for learning? What types of objectives can they explore? How do you align the learning objectives with the right type of game? The paper leverages Bloom’s Taxonomy of learning as a method to guide game selection according to the desired classroom learning objective. For each type of game, the paper identifies lessons from higher education classroom use that others should consider before applying their own wargame.

Case Study of Innovative Second Language Learning Activities for Saudi Women Undergraduates Learning English

Gardner described second language (L2) instrumental motivation, where the learning goal is practical application, and Dörnyei described L2 motivation based on the learner’s vision of their future, ideal L2 self. In the Arabic-speaking Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Vision 2030, a new countrywide strategic plan, emphasizes English mastery for business and provides new vocational avenues for women. KSA women now have instrumental L2 motivation for occupational purposes but lack models on which to base their future ideal L2 selves. While they face additional barriers to L2 acquisition due to an ineffective L2 learning environment (L2LE), and societal features that dissuade Saudis from interacting with each other in English, educational technology such as the Padlet could be used to surmount those obstacles. This case study presents an innovative, student-centered use of Padlet to teach speaking strategies (SSs) to an L2 female KSA higher education class while avoiding direct L2 dialogue and maintaining L2 motivation (n = 33). Students were provided an instructor-led lesson and offered the choice of either using the Padlet or doing a similar individual audio activity. Thirty students participated in five SS lessons, and by the third lesson, Padlet was the activity of choice, with 97%, 83% and 77%, choosing it over the audio activity for lessons three through five, respectively. Qualitative responses consistently supported that the Padlet was successful at increasing student-centered collaborative applied peer learning in this female KSA higher education classroom without requiring direct interaction in the L2, and keeping L2 motivation levels high.

Implementing Wordwall in Teaching Sampling Techniques for Higher Education Students

This research aimed to determine the use of the Wordwall in online learning on sampling techniques material for higher education students. The use of this application was reviewed through test results and questionnaires. This research used combination research by combining quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques. The subjects of this research were 53 students from Teachers College in Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) that took Statistics for Educational Research course. The result displayed that the quizzes given on Wordwall can help students to learn about sampling techniques and materials with positive responses. Good feedback from students showed that they felt happy in doing the learning activity on Wordwall. There were almost 90% of students who said that they enjoyed the learning. In the end, Wordwall is recommended to be implemented in higher education classrooms.
 Keywords: higher education students, teaching sampling techniques, wordwall

Faculty Opinions of AI Tools: Text Generators and Machine Translators

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools recently became a prominent concern in higher education classrooms. Many teachers have implemented the technology into their assignments, while others are strictly against this technology’s use for assignments. Either way, students have found ways to use it in their academic careers. Though research on the power of AI in the workplace exists, research is lacking in its appropriate use in higher education. Universities need to define AI’s role on campus and establish guidelines on how these tools may or may not be used and how faculty can recognize misuse, specifically related to academic integrity. This study aimed to determine how faculty view AI as a part of undergraduate literature, language, and linguistics programs. From the interview study, common themes emerged, including implementation, academic integrity, the human aspect of linguistics, and the future of AI writing tools. Interviewed faculty also stated that those in higher education must tread carefully through this strong intersection between technology and the arts to use AI responsibly, strategically, and ethically. KEYWORDS: Artificial Intelligence (AI); Artificial General Intelligence (AGI); Linguistics; Higher Education; ChatGPT; Machine Translation; Academic Integrity; Ethics

Editor’s note: Unveiling the Pedagogical Advantages of Linguistic Landscapes: Insights from Secondary School Students, Teachers, and Field Experts

This monograph extends an invitation for the continued exploration of Linguistic Landscape (LL) as a valuable instrument in secondary and higher education classrooms. The research presented here underscores the benefits of LL in both foreign language and global citizen education (GCE) settings. This volume comprises a collection of five articles that delve into the utilization of LL as an educational tool, along with an interview featuring four LL experts. The articles within this collection offer diverse perspectives stemming from various educational contexts, including secondary school students, in-service secondary school teachers, and university lecturers.

Post-secondary classroom teaching quality evaluation using small object detection model

The classroom video has a complex background and dense targets. This study utilizes small object detection technology to analyze and evaluate students’ behavior in the classroom, aiming to objectively and accurately assess classroom quality. Firstly, noise is removed from the images using a median filter, and the contrast of the images is enhanced through histogram equalization. Label smoothing is applied to reduce the model’s sensitivity to labels. Then, features are extracted from the preprocessed images, and multi-scale feature fusion is employed to enhance semantic expression across multiple scales. Finally, a combination loss function is utilized to improve the accuracy of multi-object recognition tasks. Real-time detection of students’ behaviors in the classroom is performed based on the small object detection model. The average head-up rate in the classroom is calculated, and the quality of teaching is evaluated and analyzed. This study explores the methods and applications of small object detection technology based on actual teaching cases and analyzes and evaluates its effectiveness in evaluating the quality of higher education classroom teaching. The research findings demonstrate the significant importance of small object detection technology in effectively evaluating students’ learning conditions in higher education classrooms, leading to improved teaching quality and personalized education.

대학 ChatGPT 활용 교육 운영을 위한 교수자 역할 탐색

대학 ChatGPT 활용 교육 운영을 위한 교수자 역할 탐색

Guidelines for culturally and linguistically responsive instruction in higher education

AbstractGiven the internationalization of higher education and the increasingly diversifying student population in higher education institutions worldwide, it is critical to reevaluate the teaching and learning environment in higher education classrooms. Although inclusion and inclusive pedagogy emerged as essential orientations in education, gaps in educational opportunities, access, and achievements persist. This practical guide is intended to inform and promote inclusive pedagogy, specifically for culturally and linguistically diverse students in higher education settings across various disciplines. The guidelines for culturally and linguistically responsive instruction in higher education offer a brief outline of the theoretical foundation and practical self‐reflective questions with recommended strategies to implement in curriculum, assessment, and instructional designs. With the hope of providing a welcoming classroom for culturally and linguistically diverse students where their knowledge and experiences are valued, the article ends with discussions to establish a more inclusive higher education learning ecology.

The Digital Story Tool For English Language Classroom in Higher Education

This paper describes the design of educational digital story tool for English language classroom in higher education to support and overcome students' learning difficulties. The method in this research is a literature study which aims to reveal and explain theories that can answer the research objectives.The method in this research is a literature study which aims to examine a research problem. Lecturers can choose a digital story tool pratform that is able to create an interactive and innovative class atmosphere with the application such as storybird, StoryboardThat, and Klynt.

A pedagogy of liminality: towards visual poetry as a practice in decolonising creative writing pedagogy

ABSTRACT This article explores what we perceive as a lack of visual poetry studies in creative writing classrooms, largely due to its characteristic incompatibility to familiar literary devices, analytical tools, and ways of reading. While our inquiry initially sought to provide an approachable visual poetry curriculum for creative writing teachers, our doing so prompted us towards theoretical frameworks that take seriously subject matter oft-misunderstood as unfit for traditional educational practices, turning to how decolonial theorising might inform our pedagogy. From there, our priorities stayed rooted in decolonising pedagogy, working to de-center traditional forms of literary knowledge and support lesser-known, borderless, ‘in-between’ spaces – spaces effectively considered in visual poetry’s liminality between visual art and written word. Working to equip ourselves with new poetic conceptions of language and image, we aim to consider visual poetry in a way that renders it more approachable and theoretically considered for the higher education classroom setting.

Teaching About and Through Human-Centered Design in Higher Education Classrooms: Exploring Instructors’ Experiences

Teaching About and Through Human-Centered Design in Higher Education Classrooms: Exploring Instructors’ Experiences

Effects of an Informal Place-based Educational Program on Knowledge and Perceptions of Invasive Species Management

Invasive species can generate negative impacts environmentally, socially, and economically. The interplay between human and natural systems renders management a complex problem that must be addressed by decision-makers. Perceptions of invasive species issues varies depending on an individual’s access to information. Although invasive species and their management are often discussed in formal higher education, not all members of the population have access to a formal educational setting. Informal educational experiences may be a mechanism to reach out to community members in a more accessible and perhaps engaging way than traditional higher education classroom experiences. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an informal, place-based educational program on perceptions and knowledge of invasive species and their management within the community. Place-based education is a pedagogy connection local places with intimate knowledge of the systems, processes, and outcomes that give it meaning to human and non-human species. First, we organized and administered short walks in two central Texas, USA, parks with conversational lessons and hands-on learning experiences. Second, we administered a follow-up retrospective-reflective survey to measure participants’ knowledge and perceptions of invasive species management and postwalk/lesson changes in them. We also compared between the treatment group of participants versus a control group within the community who did not participate in the informal lessons. Fifty-two people participated in both the educational program walks and testing over the course of 1 year, and 63 people were included in the follow-up retrospective-reflective survey control group. Results indicate a statistically significant positive change in knowledge and perception categories within the treatment group. Post hoc results indicate a positive change in knowledge and perceptions in our sample as a function of treatment group members’ age and income, respectively. The methodology used in this study was simple and inexpensive. Hence, our approach could be easily replicated in other areas to educate community members.

Belonging in remote higher education classrooms: The dynamic interaction of intensive modes of learning and arts-based pedagogies

In this paper, the authors explore the conditions that support belonging in remote VU Block Model® teaching. They examine the role of arts-based, embodied pedagogy in promoting engagement in learning, connection between students, and between students and teachers, and in an environment in which vulnerability and risk-taking in learning is valued. A discussion of belonging in higher education and the practice of embodied learning is followed by the reflections of seven participants. These participants were students in a remotely taught, arts-based higher education block unit, which had been mindfully adapted to retain the embodied nature of delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. After students’ participation in focus group interviews, the lead author constructed found poetry from their comments and reflections. This found poetry forms the dataset through which the questions of belonging are explored. The researchers found that when explored through the lens of the Community of Inquiry Framework, embodied and arts-based practices provided opportunities for students to develop a sense of belonging, deepen understanding of lived experiences, and realise higher education and career goals. This study elevates the voices of students, providing opportunities for higher education teachers to consider the importance of belonging for student success in remote, intensive, and on-campus modes of delivery.

Reproductive justice and critical communication pedagogy: an analysis of the overturning of Roe V. Wade

ABSTRACT In this article, we provide an overview of the overturning of Roe v. Wade and consider its implications for communication classrooms in higher education. We assert that we as communication educators have a moral imperative to consider the role of intersectionality and reproductive justice in our teaching philosophies and implementation, and to do so, we discuss the interrelated nature of intersectionality, reproductive justice, and critical communication pedagogy.