Critical Communication Research Articles

Deconstructing the traditional classroom through intersections of critical place-based communication

Deconstructing the traditional classroom through intersections of critical place-based communication

Reading Comprehension Ability of Tharu and Non Tharu Students

Reading comprehension is crucial because it enables students to understand, interpret, and engage with texts, fostering critical thinking and effective communication skills. This study investigates the reading proficiency of Tharu and non-Tharu students within a multilingual educational framework. The data was collected from a sample of 30 grade four students (15 Tharu and 15 non-Tharu) who studied at a community school in Kohalpur Municipality, Banke District during the academic year 2080/81 B.S. The researcher employed stratified simple random sampling method to ensure representativeness. Data collection included reading comprehension tests, vocabulary assessments, and other skill-based tasks aligned with the multilingual education curriculum. Basic statistical tools were used for analysis. The findings indicate marginal differences in overall academic performance between Tharu and non-Tharu students. Tharu students showed strengths in specific skill domains such as comprehension of unseen texts and vocabulary application. Despite this, it underscores the influence of educational backgrounds and cultural factors on academic outcomes. This highlights the need for tailored pedagogical strategies for teaching reading in diverse linguistic contexts.

Political Communication of Indonesian Presidential Candidates on Social Media

Social media has become a very important tool in political communication, especially in the face of presidential election contestation. This study aims to analyze Anies Baswedan's political communication on social media ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Using a qualitative approach and content analysis method, this study examines Anies Baswedan's political communication content on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. The results showed that Anies Baswedan raised various themes and main issues in his political communication on social media, such as the economy, education, health, infrastructure, corruption, and environment. He uses a critical and vocal communication style in voicing opinions and criticizing government policies. His communication strategy also includes efforts to image himself as a leader who is vocal, critical, close to the people, experienced, competent, and concerned about environmental issues and sustainable development. Anies Baswedan's political communication on social media received diverse responses from audiences, ranging from support to intense criticism and debate. However, political communication on social media also faces a number of challenges and implications, such as political polarization, the spread of false information, black campaigns, and issues of digital campaign ethics.

ADAPTING TO CHANGE IN THE MODERN WORLD: SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION FOR ECONOMIC AND SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES

The capacity to adapt to change is critical for both individual achievement and societal growth in the quickly changing global scene of today. This study investigates how higher education can provide students with the tools they need to successfully handle difficulties related to sustainability and the economy. Utilizing multidisciplinary viewpoints from the fields of education, economics and environmental studies, this research delves into the tactics and methods used by universities to cultivate flexibility and fortitude in their students. This research attempts to uncover critical competencies and pedagogical strategies that support skill development for solving complex economic and sustainability concerns by looking at case studies and best practices from different educational environments. This research also examines the relationship between environmental sustainability and economic growth, highlighting the value of holistic methods in the creation of curricula for higher education. In the end, this study adds to the continuing conversation about the role of higher education in equipping students to prosper in a changing, globally interconnected world where sustainability and adaptation are essential to long-term success and the welfare of society. Additionally, this article emphasizes the significance of acquiring 21st-century skills for success in the contemporary workforce, including as critical thinking, creativity, cooperation, communication, and technological literacy. In order to successfully solve economic and environmental concerns, the research ends with recommendations for enhancing programmes for skill development, funding faculty development, encouraging multidisciplinary collaboration, and interacting with stakeholders.

Investigating the impact of mobile interaction gamification on 4C skills: Perspective from student at vocational higher education in Indonesia

The realm of education has a highly significant impact on advancing civilization in a country. Various factors have been studied and proven to enhance different skills in the educational sector, including gamification aspects. The popularity of gamification has become a trend as a tool to create an engaging learning environment for students. Students show high interest and engagement when a subject is associated with gamification. While many studies have examined 21st-century skills, precisely the 4C skills of critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, and collaboration, few have yet to explore their connection with gamification, especially in higher education in Indonesia. This study aims to investigate students' opinions about the effects of gamification on 4C skills. The method involved an investigation through questionnaires with 105 students, comprising 25 questions on a 5-point Likert scale, and structured interviews with students meeting specific criteria. The findings indicate that several aspects of the 4C skills strongly relate to students' gaming habits, particularly critical thinking and creative thinking skills. However, gaming habits have a meagre impact on communication and collaboration skills, suggesting that not all components of the 4C skills can be enhanced through gamification. In addition, most of the 4C skills, critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, and collaboration, could see enhanced effectiveness through targeted strategies and practices. Further studies are recommended to explore using practical materials in several courses to test gamification through evaluations or other learning media.

Automatic uncovering of patient primary concerns in portal messages using a fusion framework of pretrained language models.

The surge in patient portal messages (PPMs) with increasing needs and workloads for efficient PPM triage in healthcare settings has spurred the exploration of AI-driven solutions to streamline the healthcare workflow processes, ensuring timely responses to patients to satisfy their healthcare needs. However, there has been less focus on isolating and understanding patient primary concerns in PPMs-a practice which holds the potential to yield more nuanced insights and enhances the quality of healthcare delivery and patient-centered care. We propose a fusion framework to leverage pretrained language models (LMs) with different language advantages via a Convolution Neural Network for precise identification of patient primary concerns via multi-class classification. We examined 3 traditional machine learning models, 9 BERT-based language models, 6 fusion models, and 2 ensemble models. The outcomes of our experimentation underscore the superior performance achieved by BERT-based models in comparison to traditional machine learning models. Remarkably, our fusion model emerges as the top-performing solution, delivering a notably improved accuracy score of 77.67 ± 2.74% and an F1 score of 74.37 ± 3.70% in macro-average. This study highlights the feasibility and effectiveness of multi-class classification for patient primary concern detection and the proposed fusion framework for enhancing primary concern detection. The use of multi-class classification enhanced by a fusion of multiple pretrained LMs not only improves the accuracy and efficiency of patient primary concern identification in PPMs but also aids in managing the rising volume of PPMs in healthcare, ensuring critical patient communications are addressed promptly and accurately.

MuBaBaO: Bridging the Gap between Human and Artificial Intelligence

This paper explores the applications of MuBaBaO Creative Thinking Blocks as an educational tool in the artificial intelligence-driven era. The multidimensional MuBaBaO method diverges from traditional learning methods and emphasizes fostering critical thinking, effective communication, creativity, spatial and emotional intelligence through non-linear pedagogy. By engaging participants in creative and problem-solving tasks using wooden blocks, this dynamic exploratory approach enhances cognitive abilities and prepares students to thrive alongside AI advancements. The paper highlights the importance of developing distinctive human qualities and skills, such as adaptability, imagination, and innovative thinking, to complement the technical knowledge required in a technology-dominated landscape.

Understanding TETRA Radio RF Jamming and Interference: A Comprehensive Overview

This publication provides a detailed examination of the issues surrounding TETRA Radio RF jamming and interference, essential factors impacting critical communication systems. By investigating the root causes, effects, and potential remedies for RF interference, this paper aims to equip stakeholders with a thorough understanding needed to develop effective strategies to mitigate these disruptions in TETRA networks, thereby enhancing their security and resilience.

Reading Comprehension Levels and Skills of Filipino Grade 8 Students: A Basis for Catch-up Friday Activities

Despite the global emphasis on literacy, the Philippines continues to lag in reading proficiency, as evidenced by international assessments. A new program, "Catch-Up Fridays," has been introduced by the Department of Education, providing dedicated time for students to focus on improving their reading skills and addressing gaps in comprehension. This research aims to identify specific areas needing intervention to improve students' reading skills and to enhance their critical 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication. Specifically, this study investigated the reading comprehension levels and skills of Grade 8 students at Baguio City National Science High School, focusing on the impacts of gender and the use of English as a primary language at home. Employing a quantitative descriptive research design, the study assessed 150 students using a questionnaire adapted from the Philippine Informal Reading Inventory (Phil-IRI). Results indicate that most of the students are at the instructional (48.67%) and independent (48.00%) reading levels, with a mean comprehension score of 79%. Gender analysis reveals males generally outperform females, while language analysis shows students using English at home have higher comprehension levels than their peers. The least mastered skill is using context clues, with inferential skills such as predicting outcomes and making inferences also needing improvement. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to address least mastered skills, particularly for students at the frustration level, and highlight the importance of addressing gender disparities and supporting non-English-speaking students.

The Role of Steam Education in Improving Student Collaboration and Creativity: A Case Study in Madrasah

The 21st century is marked by increasing technological progress and productivity. This progress has provided a challenge for the education sector to produce quality young people with adequate skills. This research examines the effectiveness of a learning approach that integrates a multi-subject called STEAM, namely science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, to improve 21st-century skills. These skills include collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and communication, known as the 4Cs. As a case study, this STEAM learning was given to students at two State Madrasahs in West Java. To achieve this goal, mixed methods were used. The research combined qualitative and quantitative approaches. A qualitative approach was used to observe phenomena experienced by students, learning design, and implementation. Moreover, a quantitative approach was used to analyze the impact of STEAM learning on student skills. The STEAM learning design was delivered in three learning meetings. Research findings show that the STEAM learning model by using a multi-subject approach could significantly improve students' collaboration skills. However, it did not significantly improve students’ critical thinking, creativity and communication skills. Meanwhile, student responses showed positive results on the implementation of this model. Factors that were considered to influence the implementation of this model are: Duration of learning, literacy skills and student learning experiences, as well as teacher competencies.

Surgical Intraoperative Handoff Initiative: Standardizing Operating Room Communication Using SHRIMPS.

Operating room (OR) handoffs are not universally standardized, although standardized sign outs have been proven to provide effective communication in other aspects of healthcare. We hypothesize that creating a standardized handoff will improve communication between OR staff. A frontline stakeholder approached our quality improvement team with concern regarding inadequate quality surgical technician handoffs during staff changes. An audit tool was created for a pilot cohort of 23 cases to evaluate surgical technician handoffs from May 2022 to November 2022. Handoffs occurred in 82.6% of cases. Elements of handoff varied significantly, with an average of 34.4% completion of critical handoff elements. Audits were reviewed with stakeholders to develop a standardized communication checklist, including domains regarding sponges, sharps, hidden items, replaced items, instruments, implants, medications, procedure overview, and specimens. An acronym of these domains, SHRIMPS, was affixed to each OR wall. In the initial Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle, piloted in urology, general surgery, and neurosurgery, 100% of the 15 observed cases included handoff, averaging 76 seconds per handoff. Additionally, 100% of cases announced a handoff to the surgeon, and all elements were addressed 99.6% of the time. Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle 2 involved implementation to all service lines. Of the 68 cases observed, 100% included handoff, averaging 69.4 seconds per handoff, with 98.2% of elements addressed, though only 97.1% of handoffs were announced. Little communication standardization exists within the OR, especially regarding intraoperative staff changes. Implementation of a standardized handoff between surgical technicians resulted in substantial improvement in critical communication during staff changes.

EQUIPPING STUDENTS FOR A DYNAMIC FUTURE

The ever-changing landscape of the 21st century requires a shift in educational focus beyond traditional subject knowledge. This paper explores key considerations for designing effective curricula, emphasising the crucial role of basic skills and 21st-century competencies, fostering a lifelong learning mindset, and preparing students for an increasingly interconnected world. Building strong literacy, numeracy, and digital skills is the foundation for communicating effectively, thinking critically, and navigating the digital world. Developing key 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication will enable students to tackle complex challenges, work effectively in teams, and express themselves clearly. Encouraging creativity, innovation, and adaptability enables students to think outside the box, embrace new ideas, and thrive in an unpredictable future. Fostering a growth mindset and self-directed learning skills empowers them for lifelong learning and continuous skill development. While subject-specific knowledge remains valuable, this paper emphasises the need for a holistic approach that integrates these essential skills and mindsets. In addition,recognizing the importance of social-emotional learning and global citizenship highlights the need to prepare well-rounded individuals for success in an interconnected world. This includes understanding diverse cultures, promoting responsible global citizenship, and encouraging sustainable practices. By incorporating these elements into curriculum design, we can equip students with the skills and attitudes necessary to navigate the complexities of the future, become responsible, engaged, and lifelong learners, and contribute meaningfully to a globalised society.

The impact of ChatGPT on teaching and learning in higher education: Exploring the dual perspectives of participants who were students and teachers

AbstractThis study explored the perceived impact of integrating Generative Artificial Intelligence Systems (GenAI) such as ChatGPT into a postgraduate Master of Education program, drawing on the dual perspectives of participants who were students and educators teaching students at different levels of education in England. Using the Situated Expectancy‐Value Theory and Activity‐Centered Analysis and Design theoretical frameworks, the findings revealed opportunities, benefits, and challenges. Benefits included personalized learning and efficiencies in course design while the challenges consisted of ethical concerns, holistic skill development and problem solving. The surprising outcome of this study was the strong emotive anxiety around using AI and GenAI in participants’ academic and personal lives. A balanced, critically reflective approach can help realize ChatGPT's educational potential while navigating implementation barriers and associated challenges. Participants insights can add to the dialogue negotiating ways of effectively integrating GenAI into the higher education curriculum.Practical Takeaways Foster collaboration: Educators and students should work together to develop critical evaluation skills, ethical frameworks, and adaptive strategies for responsible GenAI use. Prioritize ethical considerations: Promote ongoing reflection on the personal and academic implications of GenAI, including potential biases and impacts on equity. Balance innovation with traditional skills: Emphasize that GenAI augments, rather than replaces, core academic skills like critical thinking, source verification, and effective communication. Align with student values: To sustain engagement, connect GenAI's use with students' immediate goals, future aspirations, and the potential to improve their learning experiences and outcomes.

The Effect of Linguistic Landscape in Project-Based Learning on Students'Vocabulary Mastery: A Pre-Experimental Study

Based on the 21st century there are 6 skills of students that need to be developed such as: Critical thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, Culture/Citizenship, and Character education/connectivity. To achieve proficiency in a language, it is crucial to develop strong communication skills. For young learners, a good starting point is to focus on memorizing vocabulary, since this will enhance their fluency in speaking. Teaching vocabulary to young learners is challenging, though, as the teacher must utilize an effective teaching method that accommodates the needs of each student. This study focused on the effect of linguistic landscape in project-based learning on students’ vocabulary mastery. This study was conducted at SD Negeri 1 Banjar Jawa, the method used by the researcher was pre-experimental with pre-test and post-test as the instruments to collect the data. The result of this study demonstrated that using the linguistic landscape in project-based learning has a major impact on students' vocabulary mastery. Based on the findings of the pre-and post-tests, students' post-test scores increased significantly after their treatment. Students in class V.B. enthusiastically engaged in the project-based learning process, following its phases and ending in the creation of a linguistic landscape as a final product over the course of six meetings.

Bridging the Healthcare Skill Gap: A Higher Education Perspective: A Data Base Research.

There is a rising demand for highly qualified workers in today's ever-changing healthcare job environment. Recognizing higher education's critical role in closing the healthcare skill gap is critical for the long-term growth and prosperity of individuals, healthcare organizations, and the larger economy. Within the healthcare sector, education emerges as a pivotal mechanism to address the prevailing skill gap. Universities and colleges offer a wide range of academic programs meticulously designed to cultivate critical thinking, problem-solving capabilities, effective communication, and collaborative teamwork among students. Furthermore, higher education institutions actively collaborate with healthcare employers to tailor specialized programs that precisely align with the requirements of various healthcare roles. This paper delves into the multi-faceted ways in which universities and colleges can significantly contribute to mitigating the healthcare skills gap. The author emphasizes the critical role played by education in bridging this gap, ensuring that the healthcare workforce is suitably equipped to navigate the swiftly changing job market. By promoting partnerships with industry stakeholders, developing pertinent academic curricula, and offering continuous professional development opportunities, educational institutions empower individuals and healthcare organizations to excel within the dynamic landscape of healthcare delivery.

A return of dominant paradigm in China: making Alibaba a development solution for rural China and the globe

ABSTRACT In 2011, Alibaba launched the Taobao Villages initiative, which enables rural e-commerce and connects rural sellers with urban buyers, highlighting the role of e-commerce platforms in reducing rural poverty. This approach was later integrated into national rural development policies. As the Digital Silk Road initiative progresses and Alibaba expands globally, Taobao Villages’ development experience is being promoted worldwide. Using Taobao Villages as a case study, this paper integrates the agrarian question in Marxian political economy with critical development communication studies. It explores why rural areas’ underdevelopment is perceived as a problem solvable by digital platforms, why this development approach emerged in post-socialist China, and its potential impacts. This paper argues that the Taobao Village exemplifies a dominant paradigm of development communication, produced by Alibaba, development experts, and government officials through shared knowledge practices. It examines the texts, intellectual frameworks, and diffusion processes involved in this knowledge production by employing critical discourse analysis. The study highlights how Taobao Villages reinforce the notion that informatization facilitates marketization, thus perpetuating and adapting three mainstream rural development ideas in post-socialist China. The underlying issue of rural China’s underdevelopment, the privatization and capitalization of rural social reproduction driven by China’s neoliberal globalization, sets the stage for another wave of digital labor exploitation. Furthermore, the widespread neoliberal ideology that advocates using e-commerce to foster social development creates internal challenges and generates external pressures within China.

The Synergy of Media and Language Literacy to Foster Kazakh Students’ Critical Thinking and Communication

The Synergy of Media and Language Literacy to Foster Kazakh Students’ Critical Thinking and Communication

Integrated STEM Teaching: Innovative STEM Training for Preschool and Primary School Teachers

The effective implementation of STEM education relies on qualified and well-educated teachers who employ good practices for integrated STEM education. Quality STEM education equips children with the necessary skills to address 21st-century challenges, playing a critical role in developing critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and responsibility. In this context, preschool and primary school teachers were recommended to attend STEM Professional Development (PD). This study aimed to determine the impact of the EarlySTEM Leader Teacher PD Program on teachers' ability to design STEM lesson plans, using mixed method. Researchers analyzed the STEM lesson plans prepared by preschool and primary school teachers (n=33) who participated in the integrated STEM PD program. All participants who met the graduation criteria were included in the study. The plans were evaluated using the Authentic Problems of Knowledge Society (APoKS) rubric. The findings showed that the Integrated STEM PD program positively influenced teachers' lesson planning skills, specifically when writing the APoKS. The implications of the study were discussed in detail.

RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF EFFICIENCY INDICATORS OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURES IN THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

The efficiency indicators of the functioning critical information infrastructures in the communication system are analyzed based on the architectural concept of future networks. The object of the study is hardware and software complexes critical information infrastructures for special purposes. Critical information infrastructure represents information and telecommunication communication systems, the maintenance, reliability and security which are necessary for the safe operation special-purpose enterprises. In order to avoid the occurrence of various security and reliability incidents, the studied critical infrastructures communication systems require constant analysis and updating operating rules. The subject of the research is a method for calculating quality indicators of the functioning of critical information infrastructures in communication systems. In this work, using the example of a communication system based on modern technologies, the sequence of actions for analyzing threats to the security of a critical information infrastructure facility is considered. The purpose of the study is to develop a new approach for creating methods for calculating indicators of efficiency, reliability and information security systems. Based on the analysis of the work, a method for calculating efficiency indicators critical information infrastructures of communication systems is proposed and important analytical expressions for further research are obtained. As a result of the study, the main conclusions of the study were obtained, which can be implemented and used in critical infrastructures of communication systems to calculate the quality of functioning public computer and telecommunication systems.

The technology of "Debate" in history lessons: the conditions of occurrence, the technique of conducting, educational opportunities.

The integration of debate as a pedagogical technology in educational settings has gained significant attention for its potential to enhance critical thinking, communication skills, and student engagement. This paper examines the historical development of the "Debate" methodology in classroom settings, focusing on the conditions that facilitated its emergence and the management techniques required for its successful implementation. It explores the educational opportunities provided by debate, including fostering a deeper understanding of subject matter, promoting active learning, and encouraging diverse perspectives. Through a comprehensive analysis of case studies and existing literature, this study identifies best practices for managing debate technology in lessons and highlights the impact of debate on student learning outcomes. The findings underscore the importance of structured debate formats, teacher facilitation, and supportive classroom environments in maximizing the educational benefits of this interactive teaching approach.