First-year Undergraduate Students Research Articles

Using social media platform X to enhance student medical English learning: an attempt based on design-based research (DBR) in a medical English for specific purposes (ESP) course

This study aimed to (1) elaborate on microblogging-based instruction, which was built on social media platform X and designed based on the four phases of the design-based research (DBR) framework (Amiel and Reeves in J Educ Technol Soc 11(4):29–40, https://www.jstor.org/stable/jeductechsoci.11.4.29, 2008); (2) put microblogging-based instruction into practice in a medical English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course; (3) examine students’ perceptions of the pedagogical value of X platform usage on their learning experiences; and (4) investigate how well microblogging-based instruction enhances the students’ specialised-language performance. On the basis of the four phases of the DBR framework, a study was conducted with students studying a medical ESP course to identify the problems in the teaching practices used in ESP courses. To improve the identified problems, following the second phase, social media platform X was used to supplement ESP face-to-face instruction. Three tasks were designed for the students to do on X. These tasks were implemented and assessed on 19 EFL first-year premedical undergraduate students over 16 weeks at a university in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data collected from the students included a copy version of the ESP final test, a questionnaire, and semi- structured interviews. The results revealed that X-based instruction improved students’ ability to use medicine-specialised language, offered opportunities for students to become more familiar with medicine-specific terms, perceived ability in using writing and reading skills, collaborative learning, and generated thoughtful discussions outside the confines of the classroom. However, the students’ inadequate knowledge of the specialised subject, the stress of making X mandatory, and log- in overload remain key challenges against the effective appropriation of X use in an ESP context.

New Perspectives of Reciprocity in Community-Engaged Learning: A Case Study of a First-Year Post-Secondary Knowledge Exchange Project in an Over-researched Urban Community

This paper describes key discoveries and lessons learned about the practice of reciprocity in community-engaged learning (CEL). We draw from an example of a multi-partner, multi-year, CEL project that addresses a community-identified priority to access jargon-free research findings about their community. Our project benefits community members in an over-researched, equity-deserving, inner-city neighborhood without requiring the direct presence of large numbers of university students in the community. In this collaboration, first-year undergraduate students in introductory academic writing courses at the [Canadian post-secondary institution] create publicly accessible infographic summaries of research articles arising from studies that have taken place in [an over-researched inner-city] neighborhood. First-year students, in their position as novice scholars, bring helpful perspectives to the task of knowledge translation. As apprentice researchers not yet immersed in disciplinary languages, they are cognizant that the specialized types of discourse used in research writing are often not accessible to readers outside the academy. Pairing students with community-engaged researchers leads to multi-directional benefits: students develop their knowledge translation skills in an authentic research writing situation; researchers benefit from publication of supervised, student-authored infographics of their scholarship; and over-researched communities gain access to relevant research findings. A community-embedded institutional unit is crucial to the project’s success, providing the resources, relationships, and boundary-spanning expertise required to ensure this project is successful from the perspective of the community and the university.

A do-it-yourself demonstration of the magnetic force between parallel wires

This paper describes a nearly zero-cost device, manufactured using DIY techniques, intended to reveal the weak magnetic force between two parallel current carrying wires. The device is easily portable to the classroom, requiring a unique auxiliary instrument: a DC power source capable of supplying a few amperes. By changing the electrical connections it is possible to switch quickly between the modes of parallel and antiparallel currents. The device has already been successfully used in the classroom, with first-year undergraduate and final-year secondary school students.

Are smartphone use and nature contact predictive of depression in a UK university population?

PurposeThe number of university students exhibiting mental health concerns have surged considerably in the past decade. Amongst a number of potential contributing factors, this study aims to assess the role of a broader societal phenomenon; the shift in emphasis in our interactions from the physical to the virtual environments. Specifically, a decrease in nature contact and a contrasting increase in smartphone use are identified as two pathways in which this shift may impact negatively on mental health. Previous research evidences both facets as consistent correlates of depression, although limited research extends these associations to the student population or attempts to establish an interaction between the two.Design/methodology/approachThe current study recruited a sample of 380 first-year undergraduate students, via an online survey, to assess if problematic smartphone use (SAS-SV) and nature contact (NCQ) were significant predictors of depression (PHQ-9).FindingsNature contact frequency and smartphone use were significant predictors of depression.Originality/valueThis is the first study to concurrently assess the impact of smartphone use and nature contact in a student population.

What psychosocial support do first year university students need? A mixed creative methods study

Higher education students need help and support to enable them to cope with the challenges of their studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the perspectives of first-year undergraduate students on predictors of psychosocial support in challenging situations. A creative art-based descriptive research design was employed utilising an individual One-Page Profile form to gather data from 240 first-year students from two different universities in Slovakia. Data was collected and analysed using a content-thematic and visual approach. Four significant individual predictors of psychosocial support were identified: emotional, instrumental, informational and appraisal. Emotional support consists of desirable mental health, defined by the students as experiencing happiness, self-satisfaction, self-development, relationships which are satisfying, loving and safe, trust, empathic acceptance, and care from others. Instrumental support varies from personnel up to material resources e.g., people, animals, and assistance such as financial services. The preferred informational support is peer-to-peer counselling, followed by professional counselling. When students describe appraisal support their needs are primarily in the areas of well-being and self-efficacy. The study makes various suggestions on how University staff can provide first-year students with support and counselling in their everyday challenges.

Dukungan sosial teman sebaya dan resiliensi dengan stres akademik pada mahasiswa rantau tahun pertama

The number of universities in Java Island and the uneven quality of universities in Indonesia have resulted in the tendency of students to travel. Both academic and other adjustments, culture shock, communication difficulties can cause stress and anxiety. This also happens to first-year students who are in the stage of emerging adulthood where students will experience transitions that cause change and stress. Among the factors believed to impact academic stress levels are peer social support and resilience. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between peer social support, resilience, and academic stress among first-year students from regional areas. The research sample consisted of 395 first-year undergraduate students (S1) from the University of Muhammadiyah Malang who originated from areas outside Greater Malang. Accidental sampling was employed as the sampling technique. The sampling technique uses accidental sampling. The research design used was correlational with spearman correlation analysis techniques and multiple correlations using SPSS 24. The results showed that the value of sig. F change of 0,142 > 0,05 means that there is no simultaneous or shared relationship between peer social support and resilience with academic stress. The implication of this study suggests that first-year regional students should actively maintain peer social support through frequent communication and engagement in campus activities to alleviate academic stress.

Relationship of emotional intelligence and capability of answering higher-order knowledge questions in physiology among first-year medical students.

Emotional intelligence (EI) has a positive correlation with the academic performance of medical students. However, why there is a positive correlation needs further exploration. We hypothesized that the capability of answering higher-order knowledge questions (HOQs) is higher in students with higher EI. Hence, we assessed the correlation between EI and the capability of medical students to answer HOQs in physiology. First-year undergraduate medical students (n = 124) from an Indian medical college were recruited as a convenient sample. EI was assessed by the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT), a 33-item self-administered validated questionnaire. A specially designed objective examination with 15 lower-order and 15 higher-order multiple-choice questions was conducted. The correlation between the examination score and the EI score was tested by Pearson's correlation coefficient. Data from 92 students (33 females and 59 males) with a mean age of 20.14 ± 1.87 yr were analyzed. Overall, students got a percentage of 53.37 ± 14.07 in the examination, with 24.46 ± 9.1 in HOQs and 28.91 ± 6.58 in lower-order knowledge questions (LOQs). They had a mean score of 109.58 ± 46.2 in SSEIT. The correlation coefficient of SSEIT score with total marks was r = 0.29 (P = 0.0037), with HOQs was r = 0.41 (P < 0.0001), and with LOQs was r = 0.14 (P = 0.19). Hence, there is a positive correlation between EI and the capability of medical students to answer HOQs in physiology. This study may be the foundation for further exploration of the capability of answering HOQs in other subjects.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study assessed the correlation between emotional intelligence (EI) and the capability of medical students to answer higher-order knowledge questions (HOQs) in the specific context of physiology. The finding reveals one of the multifaceted dimensions of the relationship between EI and academic performance. This novel perspective opens the door to further investigations to explore the relationship in other subjects and other dimensions to understand why students with higher EI have higher academic performance.

Boosting First-year Undergraduate Student Motivation for physical fitness workouts through Quality Instruction: A Study at Bahir Dar University

There is a relationship between quality physical fitness instruction and motivation of students for its workouts. However, the degree that quality physical fitness instruction predicts the motivation of students' for its workouts is not examined. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent that quality physical fitness instruction to predict the motivation of first-year undergraduate students for physical fitness workouts. For this, the study used a cross-sectional survey design, collecting quantitative data. The sample included 323 students from 32 sections at Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia, who volunteered to participate in the study. The study used adapted standardized questionnaire for assess the motivation of students and quality of physical fitness instruction. The analysis involves Pearson correlation and multiple linear regressions. The correlation results indicate students' motivation for attending physical fitness course workouts is strongly and directly associated with most quality physical fitness service variables (p&lt;.01). In this study, the regression analysis confirmed that students' identified regulation  and external motivation for physical fitness course workouts was moderately (26.7%), 16% and 10.7% predicted by quality physical fitness instructional service variables (p&lt;.05). This finding suggests that providing high-quality fitness instruction is crucial for enhancing student motivation in exercise programs within higher education contexts.

Applying narrative medicine to prepare empathetic healthcare providers in undergraduate pharmacy education in Singapore: a mixed methods study

BackgroundNarrative medicine demonstrated positive impact on empathy in medicine and nursing students. However, this pedagogical approach had not been evaluated in pharmacy education. This study sought to apply and evaluate the narrative medicine approach in extending empathy in Asian undergraduate pharmacy students.MethodsNarrative medicine was applied through workshops which used narratives of people with different experiences and perspectives. First-year undergraduate pharmacy students who volunteered and attended these workshops formed the intervention group (N = 31) and the remaining first-year cohort formed the control group (N = 112). A sequential explanatory mixed methods approach was adopted in which quantitative methods were first used to measure impact on pharmacy students’ empathy using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy– Health Professions Student (JSE-HPS), and qualitative methods (i.e. group interviews) were then used to assess pharmacy students’ emotional responses to narratives, and the perspectives of pharmacy students and faculty of this pedagogical approach.ResultsThere was no difference in JSE-HPS scores between intervention and control groups across baseline (i.e. upon matriculation), pre-intervention, and post-intervention timepoints. Pharmacy students in the intervention group had lower scores in Factor 3 (“Standing in People’s Shoes”) following the intervention. Five themes, guided by internal and external factors in cognition, emerged from the Group Interviews: (1) incongruence between students’ motivation and faculty’s perception, (2) learning context, (3) academic context, (4) cognitive system, and (5) affective system. Themes 1, 4 and 5 referred to internal factors such as students’ motivation, perceived learnings, and feelings. Themes 2 and 3 referred to external factors including workshop materials, activities, content, and facilitation.ConclusionThis study is the first to demonstrate that pharmacy students engaged with the narrative medicine approach as narratives elicited emotional responses, exposed them to diverse perspectives, and deepened their appreciation of the importance of empathy and complexities of understanding patients’ perspectives. Scaffolded educational interventions using narratives and real-life patient encounters, alongside longitudinal measurements of empathy, are necessary to bring about meaningful and sustained improvements in empathy.

Spirituality and the Health of U. S. College Students: A Partial Replication and Extension

Spirituality has been linked with numerous positive effects, and the university experience is generally viewed as an important time for students to develop their spiritual identities. The purpose of this study was to partially replicate and extend the findings of Nelms et al. (2007) on the relationship between spirituality and the health of university students. In a survey study of 968 first-year undergraduate students in the western United States, we found that spirituality was associated with higher levels of physical health, emotional health, and exercise, and these relationships were generally different for white individuals and men than for minorities and women.

Variations in anxiety and emotional support among first-year college students across different learning modes (distance and face-to-face) during COVID-19.

College students with more emotional support experience lower levels of anxiety and other psychosocial and behavioral problems. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the emotional well-being of college students was additionally challenged by an abrupt shift to distance learning followed by a return to face-to-face classes. In this exploratory study, we compared the levels of perceived emotional support and anxiety among incoming first-year undergraduate students, prior to starting classes, which included different learning modes in five semesters of instruction from 2021-2023 (three distance semesters and two face-to-face semesters). Data from 8659 undergraduate students were extracted from a Mexican state university database, corresponding to students' responses collected during new student orientation week. Participants were students in the arts and humanities (9.7%), social and legal sciences (38%), life and health sciences (28.9%), and engineering and architecture (23.4%). Anxiety levels were measured with the GAD-7 scale, and emotional support was measured using a subscale of the PERACT-R (To go through with resilience) inventory. Comparisons of emotional support and anxiety scores among semesters revealed highly significant differences with small effect sizes. Anxiety levels increased significantly with mean average of 6.65 SD(5.52) during the baseline measure to the highest in 2022-2 to 7.53 SD(5.3) and Emotional Support decreased systematically each semester from baseline mean = 8.03 SD(2.0) to the lowest 7.52 SD(1.8) in 2022-2. The results show that a return to face-to-face classes was associated with increased anxiety levels, whereas levels of emotional support systematically decreased across the five semesters. MANOVA analysis revealed significant differences in anxiety and emotional support scores between semesters, with peaks during the learning mode semester that students returned to face-to-face classes after distance learning even after adjusting for gender. Given that the effect of emotional support on anxiety may be related to success in future educational and professional activities, it is important to develop interventions to restore and increase college students' emotional support levels and develop anxiety management strategies.

Examining the Issues of English-Speaking Skills that University EFL Learners Face

Speaking English is a regular part of the academic routine for EFL students enrolled in Vietnam's top undergraduate English programs. Occasionally, this approach poses numerous issues for first-year undergraduate students at both public and private universities. Despite its significance, not enough information was discovered regarding the difficulties Vietnamese university students have speaking English. One hundred and one students and twelve teachers from six universities participated in the current study, which used mixed methods to investigate the speaking issues encountered by undergraduate students. The outcome demonstrates that English majors at public and private universities encounter numerous difficulties when trying to communicate in the language. But according to this survey, students at public universities have somewhat better English proficiency and experience fewer issues than those at private universities. The participants shared their varied perspectives on how curricula, methods of instruction, and specific institutions might help students overcome their limited proficiency in speaking English. Lastly, the study offers the relevant stakeholders a number of highly detailed recommendations based on the findings.

Parental and Peer Influences on the Choice of Career among First-Year Undergraduate Students

Career decision-making is very crucial among young adults. Some of them may face dilemmas in choosing their desired career path. Parental and peer views play important roles in every aspect of an individual’s life, including academic and personal matters. The present study aims to investigate the influence of parent and peer on first-year undergraduate students’ career choice. This research was conducted by looking at the issue whereby undergraduate students struggled to decide on their future career. The study applied a qualitative method and phenomenological research design involving five first-year undergraduate students from the Faculty of Education. The researcher utilized individual semi-structured interviews as the data collection method. Data gained were transcribed, coded, categorized, and analyzed using the thematic analysis. The findings revealed that parents and peers do influence the career choice of first-year undergraduate students. This research concludes that it is important for undergraduate students to have firm decision-making skills to help them in making good career choice.

Preparedness of Undergraduate Medical Students for Online Learning.

To determine the preparedness of the first-year undergraduate medical students toward online learning. Descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted at theDepartment of Medical Education, Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College, Air University, Karachi, Pakistan, from September to December 2021. The study participants were first-year undergraduate medical students. A pre-validated instrument developed by Lesley University in July 2014 named 'The Prospective Online Student Readiness Questionnaire' was used. Permission was taken via email. The questionnaire has two parts. Section A consists of the demographic characteristics. Section B evaluates the student's readiness for online learning. Data from 81 respondents were collected through an online questionnaire. The results showed that internet self-efficacy, self directed learning, learner control, and learner style have a positive and significant relationship with students' preparedness for e-learning. Students are aware of the use of technology. They could be more comfortable working independently at the beginning of the course. Online environment and communication for learning purposes with peers also appear to be weak areas. Students prefer visual aids for learning, and very few enjoy raising their hands in class to answer questions. They are confident in social communications but need more confidence in using online tools for effective online communication and posting questions on online forums during discussions. Medical students, Online learning, preparedness, Self-efficacy, Self-directed learning.

Intertextualizing Interactive Texts for Teaching Synonyms Using Digital Platforms: An Experimental Study Engaging the First-Year Undergraduate Students

With Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) gaining greater attention in English Language Teaching, more emphasis has been given to teaching content-based vocabulary to students. However sufficient attention has not been given to widening the students' knowledge to make them learn synonyms (equivalent words). In this research, we explore the possibilities of teaching synonyms to First Year College students using Interactive Texts. This is done through the use of Mobiles and other classroom gadgets available. Interactive learning methods utilizing Interactive Texts actively engage the learner’s intellect and emotions by strengthening the connection to the content. Beyond the use of traditional textbooks and methods, this methodology includes a variety of tasks that promote engagement with printed materials, such as Directed Activities Related to Texts (DARTs), as well as mobile-based activities that improve students' reading and comprehension skills. This activity-based instruction introduces students to a variety of vocabulary. It enhances their word power by not only teaching them synonyms but also the application of the same in their real-life situations in the most appropriate way.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Dietary habits and Physical activity in Undergraduate medical students of district Etawah, Uttar Pradesh

Background: The resurgence of interest in the intricate relationship between nutrition and health reflects the escalating burden of lifestyle diseases on the healthcare system. The imperative for medical students to embody a healthy lifestyle is underscored by their pivotal role as future advocates of health promotion. Aims &amp; Objectives: This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding dietary habits and physical activity among undergraduate medical students of district Etawah of Uttar Pradesh. Material and Method: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in UPUMS, Saifai, Etawah and 153 study subjects were recruited using the purposive sampling method. All the first-year undergraduate medical students who had given consent to participate were included in the study. Results: Approximately half of the participants were able to identify healthy foods, with 84.4 percent recognizing the hypertensive risks associated with excessive salt intake. The majority exhibited positive attitudes, such as the importance of daily water consumption (85.7%), awareness that sweet foods/drinks could be detrimental to health (79.8%), and the acknowledgment that fast foods have adverse health effects (70.1%). Conclusion: While a substantial majority of medical students showcased awareness regarding the significance of a healthful diet and regular exercise, the translation of this knowledge into consistent practices warrants attention.

Implementation of educational sequences based on peer assessment for learning key concepts of statistics

This article presents the results of applying an educational sequence implemented with technological support on an LMS and focused on peer assessment that was designed specifically to address key concepts in statistics with first-year undergraduate students. Individualized information is available for a total of n=232 students to support the empirical conclusions that are drawn. Based on the comparison of the peer assessments and the academic performance obtained in the two previous academic years in which a different methodology was applied, differential effects are found in the quality of the assignments presented. This, together with the perception of the learning by the students, suggests the incorporation of peer assessment processes in future curricular design.

Blended Language Learning Strategies used among Religious School Leavers in an English Language Course

Although much research has been done on university students' language learning strategies in EFL and ESL settings, little has been written and said about 21st-century university students and the strategies they use to improve their second language skills. The importance of English in today's world is undeniable suggesting a need to conduct study on the learning strategies used by today's learners, particularly university students, to improve their English language skills. Therefore, the goal of this study is to discover the learning strategies that a group of undergraduates used to learn the language through a blended learning approach. One-to-one semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, students' reflective journals and documentation were used to collect data, which were then analyzed thematically using Nvivo12 software. A total of 12 first-year undergraduate students from a public university participated in this study. Three themes emerged from the data analysis which are the categories of Blended Language Learning Strategies (BLLS) namely, in-class strategies, out-of-class strategies and online strategies. The findings revealed that when using a blended learning approach to learn English, participants employed a combination of strategies in both contexts - inside the classroom and online settings. Implications and suggestions are offered for instructors or language practitioners, specifically in tertiary education settings.

Improving student success and retention in first-year nursing through embedded tutor support

BackgroundNursing students from diverse or equity backgrounds are less likely to possess the required skills to ensure success in their studies. This research explores the impact of embedded support on student learning in a first-year foundational subject, Contexts of Nursing, in an undergraduate nursing degree.t. MethodsThe Embedded Tutor Program offers specialised tutoring support for first-year undergraduate students. Embedded tutors, with backgrounds as registered nurses and academics, provided online one-on-one feedback to students on draft assessment tasks. Outreach contact was provided to students at risk of failing. A Pearson's Chi-squared test was used to assess the impact of tutor support on grade distribution and a paired student t-test was used to assess the difference in cumulative marks for students from equity backgrounds. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Feedback provided by students, tutors and staff in an online anonymous survey was thematically analysed. ResultsThere was a significant grade shift for the 267 students who met with an embedded tutor (p < 0.05). Students who were a member of an Australian Government identified equity group had a significant increase in their cumulative mark if they met with a tutor of 9–17 % (p < 0.05). This improvement in cumulative mark was maintained for students with cumulative equity factors. The overwhelming majority of students who were identified as at risk of failing and met with a tutor following outreach support received a passing grade. Students reported growing skills and confidence in academic literacy was a key benefit of the program. ConclusionA shared approach to delivering education has a positive effect on the experience of learning. The combined efforts of the subject convenor, embedded tutors, and extended student service roles within the University resulted in outcomes that were positive for student learning. Determining student capacity for learning extended beyond a student's consideration of grades or their progression in the program to include the development of self-efficacy.

Mental distress, food insecurity and university student dropout during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: evidence from South Africa.

Student dropout has been a key issue facing universities for many years. The COVID-19 pandemic was expected to exacerbate these trends; however, international literature has produced conflicting findings. Limited literature from Africa has investigated the impact of COVID-19 on student dropout trends, despite the documented devastation, including increased risk of food insecurity and mental distress, caused by the pandemic. This work seeks to understand the impact of food insecurity and mental distress on student dropout during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a cross-sectional research design, first-year undergraduate students from a large South African university were recruited via email to participate in a survey between September and October 2020. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to measure food insecurity and the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS) was used to measure mental distress. Multivariate regression was used to investigate factors associated with student dropout. The student dropout rate was 10.5% (95% CI: 8.2-13.2). The prevalence of severe food insecurity was 25.7% (95% CI: 22.3-29.4) and the prevalence of severe mental distress symptoms was 26.7% (95% CI: 23.3-30.4). Dropout rates and levels of food insecurity were highest among students residing in remote areas during the lockdown at 19.2% and 43.6%, respectively. The multivariate logistic regression revealed that being male increased the probability of dropout almost three-fold (odds ratio (OR) = 2.70; 95% CI: 1.48-4.89, p =0.001)). Being moderately food insecure increased the odds of dropout more than two-fold (OR=2.50; 95% CI:1.12-5.55, p=0.025), and experiencing severe mental distress symptoms increased the odds of dropout seven-fold (OR=7.08; 95% CI:2.67-18.81, p<0.001). While acknowledging that various factors and complexities contribute to student dropout, the increased vulnerability to food insecurity and mental distress, stemming from issues such as widespread job losses and isolation experienced during the pandemic, may have also had an impact on dropout. This work reiterates the importance of directing additional support to students who are food insecure and those who are experiencing mental distress in order to mitigate university student dropout.