Teaching In Higher Education Research Articles

Reverse Engineering a Multiple-Choice Test Blueprint to Improve Course Alignment

Large introductory classes typically reflect courses that cover a broad landscape of learning and necessitate assessment formats that are efficient and reliable, making multiple-choice (MC) tests a good option. Designing a good quality MC test requires reflection on the appropriateness of the assessment format, designing a test blueprint, and writing MC questions following item-writing guidelines that align with course learning objectives and teaching/learning strategies. It is a time-consuming endeavour that often requires a group of question writers who are experts in the domain—both of which can be challenging considering the demands of teaching in higher education. Sometimes we want to adopt or adapt existing MC tests that we have access to. I suggest a five-step “reverse engineering” analytical process for selecting questions from existing MC tests to utilize in our course assessment, emphasizing the alignment process. In one of the steps, we will refer to the Taxonomy Table, a practical two-dimensional aid proposed by Anderson and Krathwohl (2001), to select the questions that cover a cognitive dimension landscape. The outcome of this process provides an effective visual representation of the alignment and enables us to decide on the utility of questions for the context of our unit and assessment objectives.
 Keywords: course alignment, assessment, multiple-choice test, taxonomy table.

Rise of Wisdom Pedagogy Research in Higher Education (1980–2022): A Systematic Literature Review

This paper explores: How has wisdom pedagogy research emerged in higher education during 1980–2022? This study is the first to explore the emergence of wisdom pedagogy research in higher education applying Bipartite network analysis for detecting clusters of 24 wisdom pedagogy articles of 53 authors and 161 keywords. Results are visualized with WoS analytics, word-clouds, and with Bipartite network. Wisdom research in higher education is two decades late compared with other disciplines. In higher education n = 524 wisdom, n = 33 wisdom pedagogy publications were detected in the Web of Science Core Collection database. This paper analyzed n = 24 wisdom pedagogy articles published during the 1980–2022 period. There were only two articles found dealing directly with wisdom pedagogy. Therefore, this study has several further research implications for educational researchers. Firstly, they need to conduct a more comprehensive search for wisdom pedagogy models by extending the scope of this study to other databases, books, book chapters, and to conference papers. Secondly, they need to synthesize and theorize their findings by building a wisdom pedagogy model. Thirdly, researchers need to develop detailed guidelines for educational practitioners on how to apply wisdom pedagogy in practice. This study is only at the beginning of this journey. However, it would be important for educating students with wisdom pedagogy in higher education because it would facilitate students’ thinking, judgements, and actions based on their moral and ethical values in a highly interconnected and complex world.

Creating a STEAM project with students as an indicator of the effectiveness of training future biologists

Relevance. In the modern world, biology is becoming an increasingly complex and multidimensional science that encompasses numerous subfields. Therefore, future specialists in this field need to possess not only deep knowledge of core disciplines but also a broad outlook, including competencies in technology, mathematics, and the arts. Purpose. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of training focused on the creation of STEAM projects in terms of training future biologists. Methodology. The methodology of the study included the analysis of 41 projects conducted by 11 teachers of higher educational institutions in Kazakhstan for 5 years. Project classification methods included such aspects as the integration of educational material, problem-solving, search for answers to scientific questions, development of technical devices, cooperation of students, biological content of projects, high involvement and quality of assessment, and creativity. Data collection was conducted through direct observations in classrooms and at events and conducting interviews with teachers. Results. The results showed that specialised teachers of biological disciplines, as a rule, avoided transdisciplinary projects, while teachers of non-biological disciplines often overlooked biological content in interdisciplinary projects. Biology teachers often avoided teaching methods based on device development, but they emphasised high standards of knowledge and fostered a positive perception of their disciplines through projects that involved discussion and meaningful feedback. Conclusions. The research findings indicate that combining conventional teaching methods with integrated approaches to delivering the material can be a way to solidify fundamental biological knowledge necessary for further, more advanced education, and prepare students to apply their knowledge and skills in practical situations. The results obtained can be used in pedagogical practice for the effective implementation of project-oriented learning. Keywords: pedagogy for higher education; interdisciplinary training; integration of educational material; practical training; quality of assessment

Decolonizing Higher Education Pedagogy: From Theory to Practice

While the notion of an anti-racist curriculum is not new, many higher education instructors have not made the transition from a decolonized curriculum to an equally decolonized pedagogy. From a conceptual standpoint, the transition is understood but the actualization of this cyclical process is at times, not as smoothly executed. Deconstructing delivery is a daunting prospect for faculty, especially for those most invested in the content of their practice. As a result, this paper draws upon both evidenced-based practices and the practical application of decolonizing tertiary-level instruction. Utilizing a Transformative Learning lens, this article details the experiences of a college curriculum renewal project and the subsequent considerations and changes in practice that ensued in the adoption and delivery of an anti-racist curriculum.

Reconnecting and Reconstructing: Taking Stock of the STLHE 2022 conference

Academic conferences are key spaces of knowledge sharing and professional development. As a national society which has pledged to undergo “a robust examination of its attention to equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout the organization” (STLHE/SAPES 2021), we undertook an evaluation of the diversity of participants and presentation topics at the 2022 conference. This paper reports on some of the distinctive aspects of the 2022 conference as well as the findings of the evaluation such as diversity of participants by gender and ethnic identity, province, institution type, discipline, and more. While the 2022 conference was unique in many ways due to being STLHE’s first face-to-face conference since 2019, this report provides a useful baseline with which to compare the diversity of participants and presentation topics in future years. The report concludes with additional recommendations for programming decisions to support and evaluate equity, diversity, and inclusivity at future conferences. Keywords: conference, diversity, participation, presentation topics, Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

A model of effective teaching of economics in higher education: the integral role of classroom learning environment, instructional practices, and teacher characteristics

Yidana and Darkwa explore university students’ perceptions of how the classroom learning environment and Economics teachers’ instructional practices promote learning in higher education. The researchers developed and empirically tested a framework that characterises quality Economics instruction. The outcomes of the study suggest that the conceptual framework is valid and reliable and can effectively be used to evaluate quality Economics instruction in higher education. The results indicate key areas that are beneficial concerning student perceptions of teacher effectiveness in promoting student learning. These include planning and preparation, scaffolding of instruction, classroom communication, classroom management, classroom learning environment, and teacher characteristics.

Positive Pedagogies: Co-creation partnerships to support social and emotional learning in higher education

Student mental wellbeing is an area of concern within higher education, and there is increasing recognition that social and emotional learning has a role to play in supporting student mental wellbeing. This is particularly the case for mature and part time students, who, as outsiders in many traditional university settings, can experience feelings of isolation and a negative impact on wellbeing. This paper presents a study in UK higher education which applied humanisation and social and emotional learning as a theoretical framework to accompany a co-creation methodology, in order to develop resources to support the wellbeing of mature and part time students. This resulted in co-created resources for students and practitioners aiming to support Positive Pedagogies in higher education. Evaluation of the resources found the project had a two-fold effect on mature and part time student wellbeing and experience; it positively impacted on student co-creators’ SEL and overall experience and on student users as they associated an emotional connection with the resource because it had been developed by fellow students, which provided them with a greater sense of agency due to the voice given to the co-creators. Similarly, practitioners found that the guidance embedded wellbeing into teaching practice and encouraged the development of holistic skills such as emotional intelligence and resilience. This paper therefore concludes that the embedding of the humanising framework into co-creation practices can work to positively enhance the resultant emotional response and therefore positive wellbeing of students in a higher education setting.

Data Skills for Everyone! (?) – An Approach to Assessing the Integration of Data Literacy and Data Science Competencies in Higher Education

The proficient handling of data can undoubtedly be regarded as a key skill for the future. However, the need for data competencies is not limited to traditional professions in the information technology environment but is rather necessary across industries and work fields. Consequently, there is a call to integrate such Data Literacy and Data Science competencies into higher education teaching across the breadth of study programs. This study, descriptive in nature, sheds light for the first time on the status quo of this integration. For this purpose, a “Data Science Dictionary” has been developed, that structurally maps a corresponding curriculum of the German Informatics Society (GI). Using quantitative content analysis, more than 13,950 distinct modules from three German study programs (Business Administration, Business & Information Systems Engineering, Computer Science) at two different types of universities are examined. As a result of this comparative study, concise “teaching portfolios” are compared between disciplines, whereby the prevalence, proportion, and depth of the competencies integrated into the study programs become transparent. Thus, this approach can provide a basis for discourse on the future integration of data competencies into, e.g., business study curricula; furthermore, it can track the resulting progress in a longitudinal study.

Utilization of Artificial Intelligent (AI) in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education for Global Best Practices

The study examined the utilization of artificial intelligent (AI) in teaching and learning in higher education for global best practices. Two null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted the ex-post facto research design. The population of the study consisted of 3800 students and staff of the University within Calabar campus. The stratified random sampling technique was used to select 208 students and staff from a population of 3800 using proportionality of 1.12% with students and staff as basis of stratification from the population. The sample of this study was two hundred and eight (208) respondents. The questionnaire was designed to measure the two sub-independent variables. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the request questions. While Simple linear regression analysis statistical tool was employed to test the null hypotheses that were formulated to guild the study at 0.05 level of significance. The results of this study shows that there is a significant influence of utilization of artificial intelligent (AI) in teaching and learning in higher education for global best practices and the use of artificial intelligent (AI) in teaching and learning in higher education significantly predict staff and students performance in the university. The study concludes that, there is a significant influence of utilization of artificial intelligent (AI) in teaching and learning in higher education for global best practices and the use of artificial intelligent (AI) in teaching and learning in higher education significantly predict staff and students performance in the university. Based on the conclusion, it was recommended that since there is a significant influence of utilization of artificial intelligent (AI) in teaching and learning in higher education for global best practices, university staff and students should always make use of AI and the university management should put in place AI facilities to increase staff and students .....

Capturing the shifting work of teaching in higher education through postcards of practice

ABSTRACT Amongst the rapid and continual changes occurring in higher education is a heightened emphasis on teaching and the emergence of a quality teaching discourse. In tandem, we are living through a time where not only circumstances, but also new, more complex technologies continue to disrupt and challenge the ways teaching occurs. Despite various initiatives and compliance mechanisms, trust in notions of quality, accountability and scholarship related to teaching in higher education has been questioned. Tensions emerge between the consistency required by institutions and the creativity academics may want to employ in their teaching. Similarly, opportunities for academics to interrogate, discuss and reflect on their teaching can be problematic. In this article, we examine the perspectives of those working amidst these challenges to explore how learning and teaching approaches are changing in the current higher education climate. We draw on data from academic staff working in a faculty of education who shared their understandings through both text and visual responses about their prior, current and imagined future approaches to learning and teaching. We show how academics affectively and reflexively respond to uncertainty and disruption in ways that contribute to understanding and adapting to the challenges of our increasingly digital world.

PROFESSOR VASILY DIMITRIEVICH DIMITRIEV AS A TEACHER OF HIGHER EDUCATION

One of the most important factors determining the development of the Russian society is the state of Russian higher education. The probability of solving problems in this area will be higher when learning from the experience of the past. The activities of outstanding teachers who completed their life path, but left an enduring legacy, can serve as guidelines in this regard. A special place in this galaxy is occupied by Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor of I.N. Ulianov Chuvash State University, V.D. Dimitriev (1924–2013). The purpose of the study is to identify the specifics of V.D. Dimitriev’s work as a teacher of higher education. Materials and methods. The work is based on the author’s personal memories. Reference to scientific literature (monographs and dissertation research) also occupies a certain place. The article uses the methods of analysis and synthesis, as well as the chronological method. Study results. The article analyzes the activities of Professor V.D. Dimitriev as a teacher of higher education. The author characterizes various aspects of V.D. Dimitriev’s work at the Historical Faculty of the Chuvash State University in the late XX – early XXI centuries: work as a lecturer; academic advising to students performing final qualifying works; scientific guidance of post-graduate students. The professor’s communication with colleagues is also in the focus of attention. Conclusions. Working within the walls of the university, reducing the time of V.D. Dimitriev’s own scientific activity, gave him the opportunity to create a scientific school. The conclusion is made about the diverse influence of the professor on students and postgraduates: it concerned not only the research field, but forming a value system for young people as well.

Instructional Strategies for TEFL Online Learning

The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak has led to the closure of educational institutions around the world, prompting the exploration of instructional strategies for online teaching in higher education. This case study develops effective online teaching methods without compromising the quality of student learning. Ideas for online education in developing countries, including maintaining the voice of the instructor, practicing vocal functions, and sharing resources before class, are considered. These strategies support improved student learning, with suggestions for collaboration between the Higher Education Commission and the telecommunications industry to address internet issues. Factors such as student feedback, flexible teaching and grading policies, and support from teaching assistants, play an important role in improving distance learning. TEFL certification is becoming an important component in job applications for teaching English abroad, offering the ability to teach English as a foreign language in various countries.

Instructional Design Models for Digital Learning in Higher Education — A Scoping Review

Instructional design (ID) is a systematic process that is used to develop education and training programmes in a consistent and reliable way. A key challenge faced by educators is selecting an ID model by deciding which ID model will be more suitable in order to achieve an effective digital teaching and learning process. The objective of this scoping review was to present recommendations to select ID models for digital learning in higher education. Nine databases were searched for eligible publications. The search retrieved 643 records. Forty articles were included in this review. Results show that employing a systematic process in instructional design (an ID model) has produced an effective, consistent and reliable digital teaching and learning process in higher education. Selection of an ID model depends on the requirements of the course, timeline, resources available for the design and development of the course and the expertise in the ID process.

Aceptación y uso de la evaluación basada en computadora en estudiantes universitarios

The rapid development of information and communication technologies (ICT) has opened new possibilities for teaching and assessment practices in higher education, including computerbased assessment (CBA). Since the effective development of this depends on student acceptance, the present study analyzed the constructs that affect the intention to use CBA through the computer-based assessment acceptance model (CBAAM) at a private university in Mexico. The methodology was quantitative and divided into two phases: 1) application of an assessment with multiple-choice questions with automatic grading, and 2) testing of the measurement and structural model of the CBAAM instrument with 84 first-semester engineering students. The results indicate that playful perception has a direct effect on the use of CBA, while facilitating conditions, computer self-efficacy, perceived ease of use, goal expectation, social influence, and content only have indirect effects. The acceptance model studied explains approximately 47% of the variation in the intention to use. It is recommended to investigate other variables that affect the purpose of use and to apply the model in other contexts for further confirmation.

Generative AI: is it a paradigm shift for higher education?

ABSTRACT In this special issue, we explore the opportunities and challenges of using Generative AI (GenAI), in particular, text generators in higher education learning and teaching. As GenAI has become increasingly popular with many staff and students, this special issue provides an overview of the current state of the field and offers insights into future research. This introduction paper consists of four parts. It begins by providing an overview of AI and Generative AI, identifying the gap and framing the special issue relating to the gaps. The second part explores the opportunities and challenges of GenAI in higher education, as identified in the literature. The third part provides an overview of the papers included in the special issue. The final part is the self-reflection of the lead author. The special issue aims to serve as a valuable resource for higher education stakeholders, such as students, practitioners, researchers and managers. We hope this collection will help advance knowledge and future research, encourage innovation and inform evidence-based policy and practices in the field of Generative AI in higher education.

One Health Education Nexus: enhancing synergy among science-, school-, and teacher education beyond academic silos.

The fact that the daily lives of billions of people were affected by the medical, social, and political aspects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic shows the need to anchor the understanding of One Health in society. Hence, promoting awareness and deepening the understanding of the interrelation between human health, animal health, and ecosystems must be accomplished through quality education, as advocated by UN Sustainable Development Goal 4. The often-questioned and discussed measures taken by governments to control the global pandemic between 2020 and 2023 can be seen as an opportunity to meet the educational needs of civil society solutions in multi-stakeholder settings between public, universities, and schools. This paper focuses on the integration of One Health principles in educational frameworks, particularly within the context of the higher education teaching framework "Teaching Clinic." This master-level course in the domain of pre-service teacher education serves as a potent vehicle for facilitating One Health Education, bridging the gap between research, higher education, and schools. Through the presentation of two case studies, this article demonstrates how the Teaching Clinic approach fosters interdisciplinary perspectives and provides a dynamic learning environment for pre-service teachers, as well as for pupils involved in the educational process. In both cases, the integration of educational One Health school teaching-learning settings effectively enhanced pupils' understanding of complex topics and engaged them in active learning experiences. Pre-service teachers played a crucial role in developing, implementing, and evaluating these interventions. In Case I, pupils demonstrated proficiency in analyzing data and evaluating mathematical models, while in Case II, the chosen instructional approach facilitated One Health knowledge acquisition and enjoyment among pupils. These results underscore the potential of the One Health Teaching Clinic as a valuable educational framework for enhancing teaching and learning outcomes for pre-service teachers and fostering pupil engagement in socio-scientific One Health-related topics. The discussion delves into the significance of breaking down disciplinary silos and the crucial role of teacher education in promoting a holistic approach to education, emphasizing the intersectionality of One Health Education and Education for Sustainable Development. This article underpins the significance of collaborative efforts across multiple (scientific) disciplines and across secondary and tertiary education levels to reach a nexus. Moreover, it emphasizes the alignment of this approach with the 2030 Agenda, Education for Sustainable Development, and Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting the potential for collective action toward a more sustainable future.

On the anniversary of the President of the Vavilov Society of Geneticists and Breeders, Academician Igor Anatolyevich Tikhonovich

On January 1, 2024, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Igor Anatolyevich Tikhonovich, an outstanding specialist in the field of genetics of plant-microbial interactions, a prominent higher education teacher and organizer of science, turned 75 years old. He has published more than 250 papers in peer-reviewed journals, prepared 10 monographs and textbooks, and received 12 patents. Academician Tikhonovich led the All-Russian Institute of Agricultural Microbiology for more than forty years, which under his leadership developed into a leading internationally recognized scientific school in the field of symbiogenetics. One of the most important conceptual generalizations formulated by I.A. Tikhonovich was the principle of complementarity of genomes. Under the leadership and with the direct participation of Igor Anatolyevich, the formation and development of new Master’s degree programs in agrobiotechnology and molecular biology of plants was started at St. Petersburg State University and the Sirius University of Science and Technology. During the leadership of Igor Anatolyevich, the Vavilov Society of Genetics and Breeders was replenished with new departments and held a number of important scientific events, including the VII Congress of VOGiS and the “Russian Genetic Resources” Forums.Friends and associates, the community of geneticists and breeders of the Russian Federation warmly congratulate Igor Anatolyevich on his anniversary and wish him major scientific discoveries, new pedagogical achievements and the attainment of all his goals.

Evidence map on burnout syndrome in higher education teachers and its relationship with ergonomic and biopsychosocial factors: a scoping review

Objectives. This study aimed to map the evidence on burnout syndrome in higher education teachers and its relationship with ergonomic and biopsychosocial factors. Methods. We performed a scoping review of articles published up to 2021, extracting the location, study design, sample characteristics and assessment methods, and investigated ergonomic and biopsychosocial factors. Results. Eighteen studies were found in 12 countries, and most used a cross-sectional design (n = 17/18, 94%). The Maslach burnout inventory was the most used assessment method (n = 9, 50%). There is a consensus that burnout syndrome in higher education teachers requires more attention, as it can be related to physical, mental and social factors. Conclusions. In the professional environment, physical ergonomic characteristics or those related to work organization deserve greater attention, as well as psychosocial factors, as they are strongly associated with burnout syndrome.

ПРОФЕСІЙНИЙ РОЗВИТОК ВИКЛАДАЧІВ ЗАКЛАДІВ ВИЩОЇ ОСВІТИ В УМОВАХ НЕФОРМАЛЬНОЇ ТА ІНФОРМАЛЬНОЇ ОСВІТИ: ІННОВАЦІЙНІ ПРАКТИКИ

The article analyzes innovative practices of professional development of higher education teachers in non-formal and informal education. The relevance of the problem under study is substantiated in the context of instability and uncertainty. It is emphasized that the continuous professional development of research and teaching staff of higher education institutions is an important component of the professionalization of teaching staff in the field of adult education. It is substantiated that non-formal and informal components of education contribute to the professional development of teachers. The essence of innovations as a tool for the professionalization of teachers in the context of non-formal and informal education, which contribute to professional development, is analyzed. The innovations developed at the theoretical and practical levels of scientific research are characterized. The analysis of individual innovations aimed at promoting the professional development of pedagogical and scientific and pedagogical staff of higher education institutions (on the example of the initiatives of the Department of Andragogy of the Ivan Ziaziun Institute of Pedagogical and Adult Education of the NAES of Ukraine) is carried out. The expediency of expanding the network of centers of andragogical teaching excellence is actualized. Attention is focused, in particular, on the testing of author's trainings and professional development programs, the educational initiative «Corporate Training Cluster», the creation of virtual project teams, the development and implementation of thematic video content, and the testing of scientific and methodological support for the professionalization of andragogues. The significance of the proposed innovations for the professional development of university teachers is outlined and the feasibility of their further implementation in non-formal and informal education is substantiated.

USING AN E-LEARNING RESOURCE TO DEVELOP ACADEMIC WRITING SKILLS

The article is devoted to the problem of integrating ICT in the process of foreign language teaching in higher education and offers a step-by-step description of the pedagogical approach for developing academic writing skills of undergraduate students of the Faculty of World Politics at Lomonosov Moscow State University. The teaching a foreign language for special purposes to future specialists in international relations presupposes not only mastering a vast corpus of specialist vocabulary but also the ability to write professional texts of different genres. The article describes the experience of using the MOODLE e-learning platform which optimises the teaching of foreign language writing skills through collaborative learning and student-to-student and teacher-to-student interaction. By describing different stages involved in preparation of students' research report the paper gives practical recommendations on how to organize Internet-based writing activities and use online learning as an additional tool in regular classes. on “Professional Communication in Politics”, specifying a set of tasks and exercises to consolidate writing skills both in-class and self -study hours, using an electronic educational resource MOODLE. The paper concludes that MOODLE platform is an effective resource that offers a powerful set of web-based tools for a flexible array of activities to improve the quality of English language classrooms and enhance students' learning.