Learning Conditions Research Articles

Improving students' processing of history‐related 360° videos through collaboration and emotion regulation

AbstractBackgroundWith the increasing availability of immersive technologies such as 360° videos for educational purposes, research needs to shift from media comparison studies to value‐added studies in order to identify conditions for effective learning with such technologies. For the educational use of history‐related virtual reality media, which are characterized by immersion and emotionalization, instructional approaches that promote cognitive and critical rather than emotional processing of the content are required.ObjectivesDrawing on research on self‐regulated learning, emotion regulation, and collaborative learning, the present value‐added study examines whether (1) strategy training in cognitive and emotion regulation strategies and (2) collaboration can enhance students' cognitive processing of history‐related 360° videos.MethodsIn a quasi‐experimental study with school students (N = 157), we compared the effects of training addressing cognitive and emotion regulation strategies with training focusing on cognitive strategies alone. Before and during each of the two types of training, students were asked to either collaboratively or individually analyse a history‐related 360° video.Results and ConclusionsTraining in cognitive strategies alone promotes cognitive processing of 360° videos, while combined training leads to more emotional processing. Collaboration helps students to analyse a history‐related 360° video in a cognitive and reflective way before training and to acquire the cognitive strategies during the training. After training, however, students who had previously collaborated processed the video more emotionally than students who had previously worked alone. This study highlights the importance of tailored instructional approaches to maximize the educational potential of immersive technologies in history education.

Organizational and pedagogical aspects of interaction between teacher and students in distance learning conditions

The paper examines organizational and pedagogical aspects of interaction between teacher and students in distance learning conditions. Organizational aspects include the need for strict adherence to curriculum, administrative support, use of modern technology, and training for both teachers and students. Pedagogical aspects include the development of key competencies in students, such as focus, mutual trust, mutual assistance, systematic communication and the use of a variety of learning modalities. An example of the structure of a lesson in higher mathematics ("Differential Equations") is presented, where organizational aspects are discussed, such as the preparation of educational material and the creation of a learning environment, as well as pedagogical aspects, such as targeted learning, mutual trust and mutual assistance, systematic communication and feedback, and the use of a variety of learning modalities. The methodological support of the training session is also considered, including basic concepts and definitions, educational material and online resources.

Online control of educational results of the unit “Electricity” in the conditions of blended learning

Abstract The article describes the technology of online control of educational results of the unit “Electricity” in the conditions of blended learning. It was determined that during the online stages of studying unit “Electricity”, reverse communication is an urgent issue when receiving information in a distance format, and online control is designed to support the organization of a modern training session. Three topics have been singled out in the unit, in the context of which it is appropriate to develop control measures. Topic I “Electric Field in a Vacuum” focuses on the study of electric field strength, potential, the relationship between strength and potential, the electric dipole, and the circulation and flow of an electric field. Topic II “Electric Field in a Substance” involves the study of the electric field in dielectrics and conductors in an electric field. Topic III “Electric Current” includes general laws of electric current, electric circuit, current in a circuit with a capacitor, and current work and power. There are outlined the different types of tests: graphical, calculation, animated, audio that form the means of online control in the context of the outlined unit. The developed technology of online control of educational results of the unit “Electricity” provides for an organic combination of the presentation of educational materials with control measures. The research methodology involved the analysis and synthesis of scientific, pedagogical, methodological sources and empirical methods, as well as the analysis of the obtained results. Before the introduction of the developed technology and after the completion of the experimental work, a study was conducted, which included an analysis of the quality of knowledge when studying the specified topic. The obtained results before and after the experiment were tested using the Pearson statistical test χ 2.

Stability and change in achievement goals during the COVID-19 pandemic: Protective factors contributing to motivational resilience

Motivation is the process by which goal-directed behavior is initiated, energized, and sustained. The type of achievement goals endorsed by students is one of the most significant constructs in motivational research in educational contexts. It is often assumed that achievement goal endorsement is stable over time. However, that may have changed given the outbreak of COVID-19. Data were collected from a sample of undergraduate students in China (n = 300) representing various majors and academic classifications. A 2 x 2 achievement goal framework comprising mastery-approach, mastery-avoidance, performance-approach, and performance-avoidance goals was then compared before and during emergency distance education. Our study results revealed that only scores on performance-approach goals decreased significantly across the two learning conditions (t = 11.66, p < .001), suggesting students were less likely to focus on demonstrating competence relative to others during emergency distance education. However, individual differences were detected between high-achievers and low-achievers in terms of performance-approach goal endorsement during emergency distance education. More importantly, scores on mastery-approach goals did not significantly decrease (t = 1.75, p = .08), suggesting students’ intrinsic motivation remained constant during emergency distance education. While technology support did not positively predict mastery-approach goal endorsement during emergency distance education, student-perceived teacher support and physical learning environment were two significant predictors, implying the power of human connection in online learning during COVID-19.

Application of Facial Analysis Based on Convolutional Neural Network and Iterative Decision Tree for Teaching Evaluation in Smart Classrrom

The creation of intelligent classrooms has been expedited by the rapid advancement of the Internet and computer vision, and intelligent teaching has increased the interactivity and effectiveness of learning. Teachers’ teaching and students’ classroom learning state ultimately affect the teaching effect. Students’ facial expressions during class can reflect emotional changes and the current learning state. The computer camera in the smart classroom collects students’ face image data, uses texture-based information, edge-based information, geometric information, and global and local feature extraction to identify and analyze and process the students’ facial expressions. Research has shown that the combination of expression recognition and an intelligent teaching classroom can accurately identify and analyze students’ emotions and learning status, and can effectively evaluate the teaching effect of the intelligent classroom, which helps to improve teaching quality and learning efficiency. Therefore, applying facial expression recognition in the intelligent teaching classroom has far-reaching significance.

Development of a Hint Suggestion System Based on Student's Learning Status in Server Management Exercises

Development of a Hint Suggestion System Based on Student's Learning Status in Server Management Exercises

Stimulus-Stimulus Versus Stimulus-Valence Learning in Evaluative Conditioning: Insights on the Ecological Conditions of Unconditioned Stimulus Revaluation Effects

Previous research into the influence of postconditioning revaluation of unconditioned stimuli (USs) on evaluative conditioning (EC) effects produced inconsistent results. One potential factor determining the sensitivity of EC to US revaluation is whether conditioned stimuli (CSs) get linked to valence (stimulus-valence learning) or the specific USs (stimulus-stimulus learning). The present research tested the ecological conditions of stimulus-valence learning and thereby US revaluation. In a sequential procedure, Experiment 1 paired CSs with either different USs of the same valence (one-to-many pairings) or the same US repeatedly (one-to-one pairings). Although EC effects were equally large, US revaluation effects and memory for CS-US pairings were reduced for one-to-many compared to one-to-one pairings. Experiments 2 and 3 presented one-to-many pairings in a forward versus backward manner but found the two versions of a sequential pairing procedure equally effective in inducing stimulus-valence learning. We present potential learning mechanisms underlying the outcomes and discuss approaches to their investigation.

Contextual modulation of human associative learning following novelty-facilitated extinction, counterconditioning, and conventional extinction.

The expression of an association between a conditioned stimulus (CS) and an unconditioned stimulus (US) can be attenuated by presenting the CS by itself (i.e., extinction, Ext). Though effective, Ext is susceptible to recovery effects such as renewal, spontaneous recovery, and reinstatement. Dunsmoor et al. (2015, 2019) have proposed that pairing the CS with a neutral outcome (novelty-facilitated Ext [NFE]) could offer better protection against recovery effects than Ext. Though NFE has been compared to Ext, it has rarely been compared to counterconditioning (CC), a similar procedure except that the CS is paired with a US having a valence opposite to the US used in initial training. We report two aversive conditioning experiments using the rapid-trial streaming procedure with human participants that compare the efficacies and susceptibilities to ABA renewal of Ext, CC, and NFE. Associative learning was assessed through expectancy learning and evaluative conditioning. CC and NFE equally decreased anticipation of the US in the presence of the CS (i.e., expectancy learning). Depending on how the CS-US association was probed, they were either as or more effective at doing so than Ext. All three interference treatments were equally susceptible to context manipulations. Only CC clearly altered the valence of the CS (i.e., evaluative conditioning). Valence ratings after Ext, CC, and NFE, as well as a no-interference control condition, were all equally susceptible to context effects. Overall, the present study does not support the assertion that NFE is consistently more resistant to recovery effects than Ext. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Professional Values of a Modern Teacher as the Basis for Ensuring the Quality of Education During War Conditions

The article substantiates the relevance of the problem, provides a theoretical analysis of scientific sources on the concepts of “values” and “professional values of a modern teacher,” and defines their role in ensuring the quality of higher education during wartime. It was found that teaching in wartime has become a challenge for all the participants in the educational process and a real test for higher education institutions, which enable young people to receive not only knowledge but also psychological support, and maintain a sense of belonging to the Ukrainian community. Ukrainian educators demonstrate lessons of resilience, struggle, and victory to the world daily. Due to their work, Ukrainian youth can continue learning despite numerous challenges and threats. Ensuring access to quality education at all levels has become a priority of state educational policy. This direction includes creating conditions for continuous learning, developing new models of the educational process, supporting teachers and students, and providing access to innovative technologies and educational materials. It is emphasized that the professional values of teachers have gained particular significance in Ukraine's higher education system. Their activities during the war focus on training specialists who uphold and affirm the values of Ukrainian statehood. Teachers not only educate the new generation but also strengthen belief in the future, inspiring active citizenship, readiness to defend their values, and build a peaceful society. Conclusions are drawn that the modern teacher possesses values that determine the success of their professional activities and ensure the quality of higher education. The main values include: respect for the dignity and rights of higher education students, academic integrity, continuous professional growth, innovation and creativity, collaboration and partnership, empathy, and social responsibility; determination, etc. It is worth noting that emotional resilience and balance are crucial for teachers working in wartime conditions.

Exploring Effective Paths for Artificial Intelligence to Empower Freshmen's Autonomous English Learning in an “Internet Plus” Environment

In the environment of "Internet plus", the combination of artificial intelligence technology and education has broken the time and space limitations of autonomous learning, subversively changed the way students learn, and brought more possibilities and challenges to both teachers' "teaching" and students' "learning". It brings more possibilities and challenges for both teachers' "teaching" and students' "learning". This study takes the freshmen non-English majors of Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology as the research object, based on the multiple intelligences theory and the constructivist learning theory, investigates the status and ability of freshmen's autonomous learning of English in the context of the era of "Internet plus", and explores the effects of the learning tools and learning environments supported by the new technology of artificial intelligence on students’ autonomous learning ability and learning effect. It explores the impact of learning tools and learning environment supported by the new technology of artificial intelligence on students’ autonomous learning ability and learning effect, so as to further explore the effective path to improve students' English autonomous learning ability. It provides empirical data support and suggestions for autonomous learning research and university English teaching, and facilitates teachers to make scientific adjustments in the selection of teaching content, monitoring of teaching platforms, design of teaching activities, and application of teaching methods to promote the improvement of students' autonomous learning ability, and at the same time, it also helps students to identify their problems in autonomous learning, find effective paths to solve the problems, and improve their learning efficiency.

Effective blended learning instructional design strategies in medical education

With the rapid development of technology and societal change, a shift from traditional classroom instruction to more diverse educational methods in medical education is necessary. As an effective approach to providing flexibility and accessibility while maintaining the benefits of face-to-face interactions, blended learning, which integrates online and offline learning, has gained attention. This study examines the current status and best practices of the aforementioned blended learning, analyzes its application in domestic and international contexts, and derives effective instructional design strategies. A comprehensive review of previous research and empirical cases reveals a conceptual framework and core principles for designing such blended learning. Key considerations include strategic integration of online and offline activities, facilitation of self-directed learning and interaction, effective use of technology, and continuous quality improvement. Furthermore, we suggest contextually relevant strategies, such as designing curricula focused on clinical reasoning, providing iterative practice opportunities, enhancing reflection, and fostering future competencies. The case analysis establishes that blended learning is implemented in various forms across different medical schools and curricula. Common features include the linkage of online and offline learning, incorporation of learner-centered methods, and emphasis on practical competencies. However, the limited number of cases suggests that generalizations may be premature. Successful implementation requires multifaceted efforts, including gradual introduction, faculty support, flexible curricula, safety measures, and institutional support. Accumulating empirical research and evidence of their effectiveness can facilitate their wider dissemination. This study provides implications and future directions for innovative medical education using hybrid learning.

Task-specific writing anxiety and self-efficacy are separate from general L2 writing anxiety and self-efficacy and they have differential associations with the effects of written corrective feedback in pre-task and within-task planning

This study examines the validity of task-specific anxiety and self-efficacy and the joint effects of task-specific and general second language (L2) writing anxiety and self-efficacy on learning gains resulting from different task conditions formed based on two types of written corrective feedback and two types of task planning. 115 high school EFL learners in South Korea were divided into two groups and received either direct correction or metalinguistic feedback on their wrong use of English articles and past tense in their written narratives. After receiving feedback, each of the two large groups was further divided into three subgroups, each performing a second writing task under three conditions: pre-task planning, within-task planning, and no planning. The learners responded to questionnaires that aimed to measure task-specific and L2 general anxiety and self-efficacy. The results demonstrated that task-specific anxiety and self-efficacy were distinct from general L2 writing anxiety and self-efficacy and that they played different roles in L2 development under the different treatment conditions. Specifically, general L2 writing anxiety was a negative predictor of learning gains regardless of learning condition; task-specific anxiety showed a positive effect in metalinguistic explanation + within-task planning but a negative effect in all other task conditions; neither task-specific nor general L2 self-efficacy was a significant predictor of treatment effects. This study demonstrates the importance of investigating task-specific individual difference variables and shows the differential associations between general and task-specific individual difference variables on one hand and different types of task-based instruction on the other.

Socio-Cultural, Educational, and Psychological Barriers in ESL Learning: A Qualitative Study of Senior High School Students

This qualitative study explores the complex issues faced by the Senior High School students in learning ESL. Using the interviews and focus group discussions, this study aims at finding out the students’ experience, perception and challenges relating to their English accent. Ten male and twenty female students from the socio culturally and linguistically diverse school in Cotabato City Division volunteered for the study, offering information on the socio cultural, educational, and psychological aspects affecting their ESL learning during the academic year 2022-2023. The study shows that low students’ interactions in English beyond the classroom, the preferred use of students’ native language patterns, and inadequate amounts of exposure to English contexts are specific socio-cultural factors. Learning difficulties include; the imbalance in teachers’ competency, instruction, and teaching methods, and student supplies. On the psychological level, students have anxiety, unstable motivation, and problems with self-efficacy, which provides a meaningful addition to learners’ difficulties. Thus, this study recommended the need to tackle these challenges by increasing the training of teachers, developing quality teaching and learning materials, and providing effective learning conditions. These include promotion of English in contextual setting, computer aided instruction, offering counseling and psychological services to boost the learners’ morale. The findings of this study are hoped to help educators, and relevant stakeholders understand the best practices on how to help ESL learner Senior High School Students to break barriers and succeed academically and in their future careers as the world becomes a global village.

The use of alternative methods in working with underachieving students

In a modern school, one of the main tasks is to ensure a high level of student performance and requires constant efforts. This problem concerns such disciplines of the Natural Science direction as physics. Physics lessons include not only complex theory, but also conducting experiments, solving problems. In physics lessons, a high concentration of students is required for more effective assimilation of the material. Unfortunately, in a traditional school, conditions are not always created for this. Taking into account the fact that it is difficult for all students, especially those who are lagging behind, to take up extracurricular activities, we need to implement them. The traditional system may not contribute to not meeting the needs of these students and not increasing their motivation to learn. This paper presents an alternative teaching method in extracurricular activities in the teaching of physics, which successfully integrates into the traditional teaching system and significantly increases the motivation and performance of lagging students. For students who do not have problems with academic performance, the proposed technique further stimulates interest in the subject of physics. The reason for using alternative teaching techniques is related to improving the motivation of students with poor performance to understand and study physics. Since the greatest attention is paid to lagging students in this work, alternative methods make it possible to create favorable conditions for learning and mastering materials in physics. In this technology, non-standard approaches are widely used that allow you to fully reveal the potential of lagging students due to the fact that traditional methods turned out to be ineffective. The relevance of this study is due to the problem of developing methods and techniques for working with lagging students in high school. Currently, the main methods are associated with developing learning, but alternative technologies are becoming more and more important. The advantage of using alternative technologies in extracurricular activities is their ability to surpass traditional methods, and successfully increase the performance of lagging students. Taking into account modern trends and digitalization, alternative technologies promise prospects and provide a wide field for choosing methods in order to improve performance in classrooms. The purpose of this study is to provide modern alternative teaching methods to work with lagging students in school physics lessons, which are easily integrated into the traditional school system. To achieve the goal, the following tasks were set: Analysis of the compatibility of alternative learning technologies with traditional ones. Development of alternative teaching methods for lagging students that successfully integrate into the traditional school system and can be used within the framework of one lesson. Conduct a pedagogical experiment using the methods developed with lagging students, analyze the results and draw conclusions about the compatibility of alternative methods with the traditional school system and their effectiveness for lagging students. The object of the study is the integration of modern methods of alternative learning into the traditional system in order to improve the performance of lagging students. The subject of the study is the degree of integration of alternative teaching methods in a traditional school, based on the analysis of the progress of lagging students before and after the use of these methods. The research methodology involves the development of alternative teaching methods that correspond to current trends and the analysis of the assimilation of the material in physics lessons after their implementation. The novelty of the study is to propose alternative teaching methods that meet current trends in the education system and test them in a traditional school environment. This makes it possible to assess their compatibility with the traditional education system and their effectiveness for lagging students.

TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR ONLINE LEARNING OF FUTURE GEOGRAPHY TEACHERS

The article determines that in the context of reforming modern geographical education, geography teachers face various challenges and problems related to the complication of access to educational services. It is proved that the use of distance learning, which is regulated by state educational documents, is an important mechanism for ensuring the continuity of the educational process. The paper notes that digital skills are an essential part of the professional competence of a geography teacher. Based on the analysis of numerous sources of scientific and pedagogical domestic and foreign literature, the author has developed and proposed his own model of components of technological conditions for the implementation of distance learning in geography, aimed at integrating new technologies. The essence of the components of the developed model is defined and substantiated. The learning management systems, video conferencing platforms and collaboration tools that belong to the software of distance learning in geography are characterised. The features of material and technical support and its components are outlined. The structure of the necessary methodological support and the problems of its development are determined. The importance of security and confidentiality as a condition for online learning is highlighted. Attention is paid to technical support and the main directions of its implementation are described. Attention is focused on the need for systematic and comprehensive compliance with certain technological conditions of distance learning, since its technical, methodological and informational components are integral parts of the online learning environment.

ORGANIZATION-PEDAGPGICAL CONDITIONS OF PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ ABILITY FOR INTERACTIVE DISTANCE EDUCATIONAL COOPERATION

The article justifies the topicality of future teachers’ preparation for work in blended learning conditions, including for organization of interactive distance educational cooperation. Such terms as interactivity and interactive education proposed by domestic researchers are analyzed. The classification of interactive activity forms is proposed.Organization-pedagogical conditions of the development of future teachers’ ability for interactive distance education cooperation are described: the implementation of models of interactive distance cooperation into educational process of a pedagogical university; the combination of various forms of interactive distance education cooperation; the use of active and interactive methods of education; the creation of open dynamic information-educational environment on the basis of equality and equivalence of objects of education, their cooperation and inter education; the use of modern dialogue technologies, modification of traditional forms of pedagogical interaction. The models of interactive distance interaction are characterized: informational, intentional, interactive, and inclusive. Much attention is drawn to the need for combination of different forms of interactive distance educational cooperation: the means of acting and dramatizing; role games; discussions, debates; press-conferences; “Brainstorming”, “Solution Tree”, method “Know / want find out / have found out”; method “Uncompleted Sentences”, “Press”, “Microphone”, sync wine. The peculiarities of active and interactive methods according to the requirements of modern educational process are highlighted. The ways of the creation of open dynamic informational-educational environment on the basis of equality, equivalence of objects of education, their cooperation and inter education are characterized. The examples of using of modern dialogue technologies, the modification of traditional forms of pedagogical interaction in future music teachers’ preparation are given.

Gamification as an e-learning tool: A Literature Review

The purpose of the article is to highlight the status of gamification of the educational process as an element of e-learning. The use of the game space in the educational process requires compliance with a number of specific conditions, so the task of the study is to determine the organisational and functional characteristics of gamification. The methodology involves the use of the principles of qualitative research, which analyses scientific views (53 sources were analysed) on the use of gamification in the educational process. The systematic literature review is conducted using the PRISMA 2020 flowchart, which allowed for a variable selection of sources relevant to the study of the current problem. The results of the study indicate the following trends in the positioning of gamification tools in the e-learning cluster: auxiliary status of gamification (42%), reinforcing status of the game factor (39%), alternative status of game-based learning (15%), negative feedback on the actualisation of gamification (4%). The literature review confirms the trend of involving a game case in the educational paradigm. At the same time, the role and format of gamification does not have a clear algorithm for implementation and functioning in learning activities, which indicates the need to streamline this cluster of e-learning. The scientific and pedagogical discourse today does not have a clear answer to the general positioning of gamification in the educational system. Institutionally, gamification is enshrined in educational strategies due to global trends in the digitalisation of society, but at the organisational and functional level, there are contradictions about the status of the game space in the structure of e-learning. The study identified two cases of game-based learning platforms in the innovative educational space: an autonomous online game-based learning format (54%) and a game tool as an element of the digital learning environment (46%). The scientific novelty of the study is focused on the correlation of indicators of quantitative increase in the level of gamification and qualitative indicators of the effectiveness of this e-learning case. Prospects for scientific research are focused on developing a strategy for the development of gamification in the educational sphere in general and in the context of e-learning in particular. Conclusion. Thus, gamification has gained positions in the e-learning system and is forming its own niche in the educational paradigm. The rapid digitalisation of the socio-cultural space causes the diversity and disorder of the organisation of the e-learning game case (especially in the context of the educational and pedagogical status), which is expressed in the scientific discourse of the last five years.

Innovative teaching methods for developing basic skills in higher education students through real professional contexts

Introduction: The intensification of the significance of educational activity as an indicator of active social development under the conditions of global digitalisation creates prerequisites for actualising the issues of its informational support.Objective: The research is dedicated to analysing the functional capabilities of digitalisation in the context of forming critical competencies of students in conditions close to the realities of professional activity.Methods: The article outlines the functionality of innovative educational systems within the educational institution's information educational environment.Results: The study found that today's students at various levels are ready to implement elements of e-learning, artificial intelligence technologies, and immersive tools. It is proven that the introduction of innovative technological solutions into the educational environment creates learning conditions close to the realities of professional activity, increasing the motivation of students for an effective learning process, stimulating the involvement of reserves in the organisation of the continuous self-education process, and intensifying responsibility and self-organisation. Identified within modern information systems are tools and services that diversify the learning process and increase the effectiveness of the educational process, contributing to the formation of key competencies of higher education students.Conclusions: The research indicates a trend towards increasing the efficiency of student training based on the organisation of independent educational work with the implementation of innovative pedagogical opportunities in the educational process. The study's practical significance lies in determining the potential for improving the quality of education at the national level through modern information technologies

Composition of the Lithuanian Komsomol in June 1940–June 1941

The Lithuanian Leninist Young Communist League (LLKJS) in Lithuania occupied by the Soviet Union was a political structure of the occupation regime, which provided a reserve and assistance to the ruling Communist Party and actively participated in the Sovietisation of the country and indoctrination of the youth in the spirit of Communism. In October 1940, the league was incorporated into the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League (VLKSM) and integrated to the USSR political system. Its aims were to extend the social base of the Communist Party, to exert political influence on youth, and to make the youth serve the occupation policy. With an aim of gaining social support and political influence among the youth, the Communist Party promoted the Komsomol. In summer 1940, fast and uncontrolled growth of its ranks was stimulated. In February 1941, LLKJS raised for itself a goal of making it into a massive organisation capable of embracing and exerting political control over youth. In order to improve the image of the Komsomol and to make its ethnic composition reflect that of Lithuania, joining the LLKJS was particularly promoted among workers, peasants, schoolchildren, Lithuanians, and Poles of Vilnius region. Between November 1940 and May 1941, a campaign of issuing the LLKJS certificates to its members took place, which was a cleansing campaign of the Komsomol on the basis of social and political criteria. This campaign was aimed at integrating the LLKJS into the VLKSM through the process of socio-political validation of its members and exclusion of those members, who were socially and politically hostile or unreliable to the occupation authorities. The campaign helped transform the LLKJS and make its composition similar to that of the VLKSM, and also make LLKJS a political structure, which complied with the needs of the occupation authorities and on which they could rely. Over a period of one year of the Soviet occupation, the ranks of the LLKJS increased 13-fold. Due to the political situation and wish to survive under the occupation, young people of various social groups and nationalities joined the LLKJS. Most of them chose cooperation with the Soviet regime and adaptation to its policies deliberately, others joined the ranks looking for employment or career opportunities, and yet others – seeking better learning conditions or being forced by other circumstances. Cleansing of the ranks of the Komsomol and regulation of its composition changed the social structure of the organisation. The majority of the members of the Komsomol were representatives of working class, peasants and Soviet officials who constituted the social backbone for the Communist Party. People of various nationalities joined the Komsomol. Initially, young people of certain ethnic groups, particularly Jews, actively joined the LLKJS. Later, in order to improve the image of the LLKJS and bring its ethnic composition to that of Lithuania, recruitment of Lithuanians into its ranks was particularly promoted. Although efforts were made for the LLKJS to grow, it did not become a mass organisation and its ranks remained sparse. It was a weak and non-influential political structure, unable to penetrate the youth and win them over. The attempts of the Komsomol to involve young people in the Sovietisation processes and to instil in them the Communist ideology was ineffective. Many young people were opposed to the occupation regime and its political structures. The spirit of opposition to the Soviet occupation was therefore active among the youth and resistance against it was imminent.

How dignity matters for life and lifelong learning: insights from participatory story-telling by university students in South Africa

ABSTRACT The claim made is that dignity matters in both legal and recognitional aspects for flourishing and lifelong learning opportunities for young adults. Dignity is understood here as a foundational capability and functioning to be and to do in ways which matter to a person, requiring the material and non-material conditions which enable and secure equal dignity for each person. The claim is first explored drawing on both the capability approach and conceptualisations of dignity, especially the inflorescent form. Then, to empirically animate the claim, the article draws on a participatory story-telling project undertaken in a South African university in 2020 with graduate students, in which they were co-creators of knowledge. Participants were supported pedagogically in producing their own individual and collective digital stories, focusing on their lived experiences of social justice and specifically of human dignity. The project shows that dignity is an especially important capability for young people’s present and future wellbeing and their aspirations. Dignity is formed in and sustained relationally in collective spaces. Further, dignity enables repair of the injustices of the colonial and apartheid past. If dignity is not fostered in and through education in adult and higher education spaces, education will always fall short of social justice aspirations and lifelong learning conditions.