Implications For Education Research Articles

Exploring EAP students' perceptions of GenAI and traditional grammar-checking tools for language learning

The rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools (e.g. ChatGPT) has elicited mixed reactions among English language instructors and learners. This study explores how first-year students in an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course at a Hong Kong university perceive GenAI and traditional grammar-checking tools (e.g. Grammarly, MS Word). We employed a qualitative methodology grounded in the interpretivist paradigm, conducting semi-structured interviews with 14 students. The findings revealed the students perceived GenAI tools to be more comprehensive and authoritative, as they provide detailed explanations and contextual insights that enhance language proficiency. However, they also noted concerns about overreliance, data privacy and equitable access to premium features. The study examines the ethical and pedagogical implications of integrating GenAI tools into higher education, highlighting their potential and the necessity of institutional guidance. It contributes to the ongoing discourse on the role of GenAI in academic writing instruction.

Integrating augmented reality in EFL reading comprehension: a mixed-methods study

Reading comprehension presents persistent challenges for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners, yet augmented reality (AR) tools offer promising opportunities to augment reading support. This mixed-methods study investigated the efficacy of AR applications for improving reading comprehension among 98 intermediate-level EFL students (ages 22-36). It also explored six EFL teachers’ perspectives on their use of AR in the classroom through semi-structured interviews. One-way ANCOVA was used to quantitively examine the effects of AR applications on learners’ reading comprehension and thematic analysis was utilized to analyze the data of the interviews. The quantitative results showed the effectiveness of thoughtfully designed AR applications for enhancing EFL reading comprehension. The qualitative findings of the interviews indicated that teachers valued AR technology as an effective and beneficial tool for EFL learners. They recognized its potential for facilitating deep learning of language skills, enhancing learners’ positive attitudes, and increasing their willingness to use AR-based approaches in EFL classes. However, teacher perspectives highlight the complexities and challenges of implementing emerging AR technologies in EFL contexts. The findings of the study called for adopting AR technology to enhance language learning experience, increase learners’ engagement, and create a more favorable environment for language learning. Practical strategies for integrating AR in EFL contexts and pedagogical implications for reading comprehension are discussed.

Strategies and practices for organizational learning in integrated care

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify important strategies and practices supporting inter-organizational learning (IOL) in integrated care. The two research questions ask how organizational network architectures can help involved organizations overcome the barriers of IOL in integrated care (RQ1) and what design recommendations can strengthen the processes of IOL in integrated care (RQ2).Design/methodology/approachThis study applies a qualitative design to analyze an improvement initiative in a regional, integrated care service for elderly patients with multiple illnesses in Norway. An inductive thematic analysis for the triangulating of qualitative data from different sources was applied. Patterns within the data were organized into themes, categories and subcategories. No software was applied.FindingsThe identified characteristics of the organizational network architectures supporting IOL in integrated care in the case under study were: equality of the involved parties, shared goals, recognition of expertise and the abilities to coordinate, design IOL processes and make joint decisions (RQ1). The categories of practices supporting the process of IOL were: insight into complex realities, contradictions, iteration, motivation and prototypes (RQ2).Originality/valueThis study offers much-needed insight into a successful approach for IOL in integrated care. The results offer strategies to be considered when building organizational networks for the improvement of integrated care and relevant practices useful when designing IOL processes in such care services. We believe such knowledge has important implications for policymakers, frontline personnel, education, research and leaders.

Exploring secondary school teachers' creativity in differentiated instruction (DI) practices across Indonesian EFL classrooms

The emergence of social, technological, and other aspects of life leads to increasing complexity in EFL instruction, requiring teachers to modify their instructions and accommodate students' learning needs through differentiated instruction (DI). DI requires that teachers diversify their instruction to optimize it. However, many teachers regard DI as challenging, requiring advanced teaching skills and creative thinking. Thus, this qualitative study aimed to investigate how teachers express their creativity in DI education and which areas of creativity need to be addressed. The data was collected by observing teaching performances and interviews with six Indonesian EFL secondary school instructors. The DI-Quest instrument was used for observation, and the English Language Teaching Creativity Scale (ELT-CS) was used to build the interview guide. The findings revealed diverse types of creativity in five dimensions: motivation, originality and elaboration, brainstorming, fluency and flexibility, and press and materials. However, teachers experienced difficulties articulating the creative aspect of autonomy in DI classrooms. Some pedagogical implications are addressed, particularly in teacher professional development programs.

Noticing ‘them things that may have gone amiss otherwise’: exploring social work placements in schools in England

ABSTRACT Schools play a crucial in the lives of children, families and communities and are increasingly used by social work programmes in England for practice learning. This qualitative study involved in-depth semi structured interviews with ten social work students who had undertaken at least one placement in a school in England. The aim of this study was to understand social work students’ experiences of placements in schools and to explore the benefits and challenges associated with school-based placements. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, manually coded and analyzed for broad themes. The findings indicate a lack of clarity about the roles and tasks expected of student social workers in schools and highlights some benefits for children and families. Implications for social work education and practice are identified.

Effects of processing tasks on children's learning of second language words

This study investigated the impact of different semantic tasks (pleasantness-rating and translation reading-aloud) and structural tasks (letter-counting and word-copying) on Chinese-speaking children's learning of English words. Participants' memory of first language (L1) counterparts for second language (L2) words and learning of L2 word phonology and phonology-meaning mapping were respectively assessed via the L1 free recall, L2 free recall, and picture-cued L2 recall tests. Logistic mixed-effects regression modeling yielded the following findings. First, pleasantness-rating and letter-counting had minimal impact on the acquisition of L2 word knowledge, except that letter-counting significantly facilitated the recall of L2 word phonology. Second, translation reading-aloud and word-copying positively influenced L2 word acquisition, although the former did not significantly affect phonology learning. Third, translation reading-aloud outperformed pleasantness-rating when it came to recalling L1 counterparts and learning L2 word phonology and phonology-meaning mapping, and word-copying was more effective than letter-counting in the learning of L2 word phonology and phonology-meaning mapping. These findings partially support the transfer appropriate processing (TAP) framework and confirm the predictions of the processing-resource allocation (TOPRA) model, although some divergent results—most likely attributable to methodological difference—were observed. Additionally, these results offer valuable instructional implications.

Investigating the relationships between language mindsets, attributions, and learning engagement of L2 writers

Despite the growing interest in unveiling the effect of attributions on L2 learning, there is a dearth of literature on the relationships between attributions and other motivational factors to better explain the motivation of second language (L2) learners. To fill this gap, this study examined the antecedents (language mindsets) and consequences (learning engagement) of students’ attributions to their writing achievement with a sample of 242 second-year students from a Chinese high school. Structural equation modeling results demonstrated the positive associations between growth mindset and internal attributions (i.e., ability and effort) and between fixed mindset and external attributions (i.e., context and luck) to their writing achievement. Further, internal attributions were positively associated with behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement, whereas external attributions were negatively related to these three types of learning engagement, with context attribution showing no relationship with behavioral engagement. In terms of the indirect effect, only one path from fixed mindset to emotional engagement via luck attribution was evident. The study contributes to the literature by exploring the nuanced relationships between language mindsets, attributions, and learning engagement in L2 writing learning, based on which pedagogical implications and suggestions for future research are proposed.

Co-development of senior primary students’ computational thinking concepts and practices: Implications for teaching and learning

Co-development of senior primary students’ computational thinking concepts and practices: Implications for teaching and learning

Pre-Service EFL Teachers’ Beliefs about Reflective Practice in the English Language Teacher Education Program: A Life History Study

This study examined pre-service EFL teachers’ beliefs about reflective practice in the English language teacher education program using a life history study. The study involved seven pre-service EFL teachers taking their master’s program in English language teacher education at a private university in Jawa Tengah, Indonesia. The research used a life history study which is a qualitative research design. The research instruments were reflective essays containing the past and present experience dealing with reflective practice, and a life history interview. The findings highlighted more positive beliefs than negative ones. Positive beliefs considered reflective practice effective for increasing EFL pre-service teachers’ pedagogical competence, critical thinking, and professional development. The negative beliefs viewed RP as time- and energy-consuming and could be confusing without any focus on writing. As the pedagogical implication, reflective should focus on a particular issue, be guided with practical guiding questions, not be rigorous about how often and how to do it, and provide some alternatives based on the need and conditions of the (pre-service) EFL teachers.

The effects of working memory training on working memory, self-regulation, and analogical reasoning of preschool children.

This study examined the effects of working memory training (WMT) on WM and fluid intelligence. A novel four-pronged model of mediated learning, cognitive functions, task characteristics and metacognition is presented as a conceptual basis for the Modifiability of a Working Memory Program (MWMP). Our basic assumption is that increasing WM depends on a synchronized combination of the four components. A group of typically developed preschool children (n = 62) participated in the experimental group, receiving the MWMP. They were compared with a control group (n = 56) of preschool children who engaged in a substitute program. This comparison allowed us to discern the specific effects of the MWMP. All participants received tests of WM, self-regulation and analogical reasoning before and after the intervention. The MWMP was administered to children in the experimental group for 10 weekly sessions, each lasting 40 minutes, in small groups of two children. The children in the control group engaged in didactic activities that were part of a school curriculum routine for kindergartners for the same length of time. We used ANCOVA analysis to compare the Treatment x Time with age and socioeconomic status as covariates. The findings revealed a higher improvement in some WM and self-regulation tests among children in the experimental group compared to those in the control group. However, no significant transfer effects were observed in analogical thinking. The findings confirm the effectiveness of a non-computerized WMT among kindergartners and support our four-pronged theoretical model. We also discuss earlier findings on far-transfer effects and educational implications. We suggest that future WM studies adopt the following: (1) the development of training methods that are theoretically anchored; (2) training procedures should not rely heavily on computerized exercises but can be adapted to group characteristics, educational settings and cost-effectiveness aspects; (3) varying the task characteristics and training strategies to stimulate task-intrinsic motivation; (4) identifying training strategies to produce cognitive improvements underlying WM; (5) intervention should target individuals in early development as much as possible; (6) development of training procedures that facilitate motivation; and (7) providing empirical evidence of far-transfer effects for WM training. The empirical evidence should link gains in WM capacity and achievements in academic and other life domains.

The Relationship Between Internalizing Syndromes and Morbid Curiosity and Cyber Aggression in Adolescents

Background: Adolescence is a period marked by biological, psychological and behavioral changes, which evoke intense emotional responses in teenagers. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between internalizing syndromes and morbid curiosity, and cyber aggression among adolescents. Methods: The study population included all male and female middle and high school students in District 3 of Tehran during the academic year 2021-2022. A statistical sample of 375 individuals was randomly selected through cluster sampling. The research utilized the cyber aggression scale for adolescents by Alvarez-Garcia cyber aggression scale for adolescents, the Achenbach and Edelbrock internalizing syndromes scale and the scrivener morbid curiosity scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software, version 26 and AMOS software, version 24. Results: The results showed a significant structural relationship between internalizing syndromes and cyber aggression, as well as between morbid curiosity and cyber aggression. However, internalizing syndromes and morbid curiosity accounted for only 4.8% of cyber aggression. Conclusion: These findings have implications for adolescent counseling, psychotherapy, education, training and correctional and rehabilitation centers.

The Role of Corrective Feedback in Second Language Acquisition within the Saudi Educational Context

This paper is a review of previous research that examines the role of corrective feedback in second language acquisition, specifically in Saudi educational settings. It provides a theoretical background on the definition and types of corrective feedback, as well as different perspectives from researchers on whether or not it improves second language learners' linguistic input. The researchers investigate the problems caused by insufficient corrective feedback in various Saudi educational settings, indicating a lack of awareness and ineffective approaches taken by educators in addressing second language learners' errors. They also emphasize the significant value of corrective feedback in the Saudi context. Therefore, this review aims to provide essential information that should be considered by second language teachers and researchers. Additionally, it highlights potential pedagogical implications that should be addressed in the future to resolve certain challenges related to corrective feedback.

Design and usability evaluation of a mobile app for elementary school inquiry‐based science learning

AbstractTeachers often struggle to implement inquiry‐based science teaching. To support them, IndagApp—a 3D educational app that offers curriculum‐aligned, inquiry‐based lesson plans—was designed. The app is rooted in the inquiry phases recommended in best‐practices literature, which arguably align with most international standards. This study describes IndagApp and evaluates its usability with fifth‐graders from two elementary schools in Spain (N = 43). The system usability scale (SUS) and the Pictorial‐SUS were used to collect students' feedback on usability. Both frequentist and Bayesian analyses were conducted to compare the mean SUS score with established benchmarks for usability. The results showed that IndagApp had high usability ratings, with most students rating it as the “Best imaginable” or “Good.” The mean SUS score was 84.816, which was significantly higher than the benchmark score of 68. There were no differences in usability between girls and boys, and students in private and public schools. These findings suggest that IndagApp is a valuable resource for inquiry learning in elementary grades and has significant implications for science education and science teacher professional development, as it helps teachers adopt reform‐oriented teaching practices that align with the curricular standards and goals.

English teachers’ professional identity incorporated with perceived anxiety in the context of flipped teaching: Scale development and model extension

AbstractResearch examining teachers’ professional identity in the online context has recently increased; however, there have been few attempts (if any) to design a scale to assess foreign language teachers’ professional identity integrated with technology use in the flipped context. There have also been no extensions to the professional teacher identity model for flipped language teaching incorporated with psycho‐emotional factors. The current study first developed and validated an instrument for English teachers’ professional identity of technology integration in the flipped context (ETITF) to fill in the research gap that the majority of existing instruments for teachers’ professional identity have not considered the characteristics of technology integration in the flipped teaching environment in the subject area of English. Additionally, this present research also attempted to extend the professional teacher identity model by investigating the influence of the psycho‐emotional factor, namely, perceived anxiety of flipped teaching on professional teacher identity coped with technology in the flipped context by English teachers. Grounded by the identity theory and technology acceptance model, 233 in‐service English teachers from mainland China served to explore the constructs of the ETITF and the model extension with perceived anxiety. Results of exploratory factor analysis, first‐order, and second‐order confirmatory factor analysis supported a three‐dimension scale with 15 items: task perception (TP), motivation (M), and teacher self‐efficacy (SE). The results of the study revealed that the ETITF is valid and reliable that could be used by researchers, educators, and education institutions to gain a greater understanding of English language teachers’ professional development and can serve as a tool to support the procedures of developing teacher identity integrated with technology in the flipped context with specific items related to English teaching. The results of structural equation modeling indicated that task perception significantly predict English teachers’ motivation, while motivation showed positive influence on in‐service teachers’ self‐efficacy. This developed tool of ETITF and the extended professional identity with technology incorporation model may contribute to the development of flipped language teaching, which may provide implications for English educators and researchers to facilitate teachers’ effective technology integration in flipped English teaching.

Alternative-academic careers of LIS in China: Trends, challenges, and opportunities

This study investigates the state of alternative-academic careers (alt-ac) in Library and Information Science (LIS) within China, based on the transformation of the LIS academic market over a 5-year span (2018–2022). The study employs a unique dataset of job postings collected through first-hand field investigations and meticulous manual preprocessing. A comprehensive analysis of the dataset was conducted using a combination of the BERT-BiLSTM-CRF model for named entity recognition, social network analysis for examining interdisciplinary interactions, and descriptive statistics for characterizing the distribution and trends of alt-ac positions. The results reveal that alt-ac positions account for 48.3% of the total demand in the field, distributed across nine categories: academic research institutions, government departments, military organizations, public libraries, and others. Each category exhibits unique developmental patterns. Over 20 distinct alt-ac roles were identified, such as data librarians, competitive intelligence specialists, transformative OA agreement negotiators, and scholarly communication experts, highlighting the ongoing emergence of new positions in response to institutional evolution. Descriptive statistics showed that the demand for alt-ac positions was notably concentrated in economically advanced regions, with the East China region accounting for 32.58% of the total positions, surpassing the proportions in North China (26.22%) and South China (13.86%). Social network analysis revealed substantial interdisciplinary interactions between LIS and other areas, such as computer science and public administration, suggesting potential opportunities for collaboration and competition. The findings emphasize the growing significance of alt-ac in China’s LIS field and provide insights into the dynamic landscape of the academic job market, offering implications for LIS education and workforce development strategies.

Strong service orientations and fostering self-sufficiency: How librarians approach reference work in Lahore, Pakistan

Orientations to reference and information service are the values, attitudes, and beliefs that librarians have about reference work. These orientations reveal the cognitive and emotional aspects of the work to complement the behavioral aspects that have been extensively studied. In this Q methodology study, the orientations to reference and information service of 22 librarians in Lahore were studied. Librarians sorted statements about reference and information service and explained their rationale. Card sorts were analyzed statistically, and interviews provided qualitative data to interpret the quantitative findings. The orientations of these librarians include two strong service orientations—one focusing on providing information and the other on communicating well—an orientation focused on fostering user self-sufficiency, and a possible orientation on inspiring users. These orientations reflect to some extent the literature on reference and information service and previous studies of librarians conducted in other countries. The unique nuances of these orientations, however, demonstrate the importance of continuing to study the orientations of librarians in different regions and cultures. These findings have implications for research, LIS education, and practice relevant to scholars and practitioners in all countries.

Risks of AI-Assisted Learning on Student Critical Thinking

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has increasingly become a transformative force in the education sector, offering unprecedented opportunities to enhance learning experiences and outcomes. This study examines the potential adverse effects of AI-assisted learning on critical cognitive skills, particularly critical thinking and problem-solving, within the context of Albania's educational landscape. Employing a quantitative methodology, a survey of 53 students was conducted across various educational institutions in Albania to gather data on their experiences and perceptions regarding AI-assisted learning. The findings indicate no significant difference in critical thinking skills between students with prior exposure to AI tools and those without. However, there is a statistically significant negative correlation between reliance on AI tools for assignments and students' problem-solving skills, suggesting that excessive dependence on AI can hinder the development of independent problem-solving abilities. Conversely, a strong positive correlation was found between the frequency of AI tool usage and students' perceptions of academic performance and assignment efficiency, highlighting the potential benefits of AI in enhancing these aspects of the educational experience. These results emphasize the need for a balanced integration of AI tools in education to ensure they complement rather than replace traditional learning methods. The study's findings have significant implications for educators and policymakers, suggesting that while AI can enhance certain educational outcomes, it is essential to address its potential risks to promote the development of essential cognitive skills. Future research should focus on larger, more diverse samples, incorporate objective measures of cognitive skills, and explore the long-term impacts of AI-assisted learning.

Pragmatic Competence in an Email Writing Task: Influences of Situation, L1 Background, and L2 Proficiency

The study examines a corpus of 306 request emails written by 32 English-speaking (ES) teachers and 121 L2 learners from distinctive L1 backgrounds (i.e., Chinese, French, Spanish) and with different levels of L2 proficiency. Pragmatic competence is analyzed through the coding of direct and indirect request strategies used in formal and informal email writing. Findings reveal the influences of communicative situation, L1 background, and L2 proficiency on pragmatic competence in email writing. First, L2 learners show a significantly lower degree of situational variability compared with ES teachers. Second, L1 backgrounds have a significant impact on L2 writing performance. Third, L2 learners with higher English proficiency tend to use more indirect request strategies, but they have not developed pragmatic competence to adjust their usage across written contexts. Findings are discussed in relation to pedagogical implications for developing writing competence of L2 learners, which should be attuned to diverse rhetorical expectations and individual needs.

What and how? Or why and for whom? A content analysis of middle school general music literature

The purpose of this content analysis is to analyze available peer-reviewed middle school general music literature to determine the ways in which middle school general music has been conceived of in extant literature in the United States. The researchers performed a content analysis of peer-reviewed empirical and practitioner articles relating to middle school general music ( N = 45), creating a coding scheme of categorical clusters that related to the Association of Middle Level Education’s position paper: This We Believe. Content coding revealed curricular content (78%) and pedagogical practice (42%) as the most common topics. Several topics were underrepresented in the literature including student opinion/voice (11%), inclusive practice (18%), adolescent development (20%), cultural awareness (18%), classroom culture (20%), and teacher preparation and development (16%). These findings may have important implications for preservice music teacher educators preparing teachers for the context of middle school general music, as well as for researchers within this domain.

Becoming and being a critical language teacher educator: A duoethnography

AbstractLanguage teacher educator (LTE) identity development is an emerging field exploring how LTEs learn to teach and negotiate their identities and how their identity construction processes help teacher candidates learn. The complexity of the issue has prompted researchers to explore their professional journeys and experiences in various contexts from differing perspectives. Still, the field is constantly evolving as LTEs strive to understand the multifaceted nature of the profession and its implications for teacher education. Within this perspective, through a duoethnographic study, in this research the authors aim to explore how they construct, negotiate, and enact their critical LTE identities and agency as two Turkish‐speaking, mid‐career English language teacher educators situated currently in two different higher education institutions in Türkiye. The researchers collected lengthy personal narratives recounting their experiences and thematically analyzed them through iterative coding. Three major themes concerning their meso and micro contexts emerged: their trajectories in becoming LTEs, issues of belonging and marginalization, negotiating their LTE identities, and exercising agency. Their narratives indicate how they followed different trajectories to become teacher educators, were positioned as others in their institutional settings, legitimized their LTE identities in time, and became empowered to practice their aspired identities. Despite being marginalized in different contexts, their narratives show they have consistently created counter‐hegemonic discursive and experiential spaces in their classrooms and institutional contexts as micro‐level policy‐makers enacting their critical LTE identities.