Home Learning Research Articles

Exploring the Trajectory of Home Learning Environment for Preschoolers in Bangladesh

Exploring the Trajectory of Home Learning Environment for Preschoolers in Bangladesh

Digital vs formal teaching of vaginal breech delivery: Which is the residents’ choice?

Objective(s)A critical area of obstetrics that demands proficient training is the management of breech deliveries. There was a notable decline in the number of vaginal breech deliveries in the following years, establishing CS as the preferred method of delivery for such cases. Cohort studies using targeted screening and skilled practitioners demonstrated little differences between the two delivery. Skills acquisition at the patient’s bedside is very difficult to obtain, particularly in the youngest trainees. Simulation teaching has largely become a part of the training curricula for many obstetrics and gynecology residency programs. Study designThis was a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-center study. Residents were randomly assigned in two groups with similar characteristics. Group A attended a formal lecture. Group B received the study material and recording of the lecture as digital home learning. Lecture and simulation focused on vaginal breech delivery. After one month both groups underwent a simulation test addressed to assist a vaginal breech birth. Four supervisors evaluated all videos. Time needed for birth, and evaluation scales as Objective Structured Clinical Examination were recorded. A questionnaire was completed online using Google Forms with 6 questions. The primary outcome was to compare the evaluation for each item and globally within groups. A secondary outcome was the evaluation of questionnaire results within the two groups. ResultsThirty-two participants were recruited and randomized. None of the participants withdrew from the study. For the primary outcome, all examined variables (Time, Rumping, Legs, Body, Arms, Head, Total Point) did not present differences in supervisors’ evaluations. For the secondary outcome, Group B showed higher values in two questions. Conclusion(s)The major finding of our study is that digital learning and formal lecture presented similar results on resident knowledge. Teaching programs involving mannequin simulation − both high and low fidelity − are reproducible and efficient for skill retain in obstetric emergencies, particularly in low incidence emergencies. The main limitation of our study was the small sample size. In addition, it is possible that a scenario without deviation or a lecture more focused on possible deviation from normal could modify residents’ results facing breech delivery.

Examining the Home Learning Environment Practices for Emergent Bilinguals: Insights from Parental Survey

This study aims to investigate the general practices of bilingual students’ home learning environments and to compare the variation in practices as a function of parents’ length of stay in the USA, educational levels, and household income by analyzing the results of a large-scale parental survey in an urban area in the southwestern United States, serving a predominantly Hispanic student population. The data consisted of 959 parents’ responses. The findings show that parents’ practices of engagement in students’ learning, discussions for students’ future, emotional support, students’ media consumption, disciplinary practice, and support for students’ autonomy vary in multifold ways as a function of their backgrounds. For example, while most parents, regardless of their background, were not prone to supporting children’s autonomy when deciding children’s routines at home, those with higher educational and income levels tend to more frequently participate in children’s classrooms or discuss children’s college entrance and career paths. The study discusses the implications of the findings and limitations.

Playful activities mitigate relations between parental mental health difficulties and child verbal outcomes.

This study examined the role of parental involvement in the home learning environment in the association between parental mental health and child cognitive performance. In a sample of 174 three- to five-year-old children (52% female, 97% White, 7% Hispanic, 2019-2022), playful activities moderated the relation between parental general depression and child verbal reasoning and acquired verbal knowledge. However, there was no evidence that parental involvement moderated the association between parental mental health and child spatial reasoning. These results improve our understanding of the pathways by which parental mental health, even in a non-clinical community sample, relate to child outcomes and raise the possibility of leveraging playful activities as one mechanism to alleviate the potential role of parental mental health difficulties.

Growing Our Roots

This study examines early language and literacy from Indigenous perspectives, addressing the educational gap for Indigenous children. Through an Indigenous methodology, 22 participants revealed themes on culturally responsive education, cultural identity, tradition preservation, and addressing intergenerational trauma. Findings emphasize the need for equitable practices and suggest ways to enhance Indigenous language and literacy learning in homes, schools, and communities.

An early parenting intervention focused on enriched parent-child interactions improves effortful control in the early years of school.

This study examined long-term mediating effects of the smalltalk parenting intervention on children's effortful control at school age (7.5 years; 2016-2018). In 2010-2012, parents (96% female) of toddlers (N = 1201; aged 12-36 months; 52% female) were randomly assigned to either: standard playgroup, smalltalk playgroup (group-only), or smalltalk playgroup with additional home coaching (smalltalk plus). Multi-informant data indicated that smalltalk plus had unique indirect effects on children's effortful control, through parents' capacity to 'maintain and extend' children's focus during joint interactions. Possible mediating pathways via parent verbal responsivity, home learning activities, and descriptive language use were not supported. When parents received a structured playgroup program with additional home coaching, sustainable benefits were evident in children's self-regulation, assessed in the early school years.

A Toolkit Intervention for School–Aged Jamaican Students: Strategy for Collaborative Involvement During the Pandemic

The Ministry of Education and Youth, Jamaica, designed Home Learning Kits (HLKs) for students in Grades 1–6 to address learner disengagement due to the change in classroom settings because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This intervention required a collaborative approach by diverse educational stakeholders for the production, distribution, collection, implementation, and bi–directional return of the kits. This novel approach to learner engagement prompted a need to understand the implementation of the HLKs and their use by students. Using a convergent explanatory mixed method approach, the sample included 167 of 400 schools and approximately 36,000 students islandwide. The quantitative data was analysed descriptively and thematically for the qualitative data. Overall, the results revealed the need for better collaborative efforts to execute the HLK intervention. The findings are significant to assist the Ministry of Education to implement policies and further initiatives for transformed educational outcomes.

Synergistic Effect of Learning Environments, and Familial Factors on Generation Z Learners’ Academic Achievement in Science

This descriptive-predictive study examined the interplay among learning environment factors (school, home, and community), familial factors (socioeconomic status and family relations), and academic achievement of 186 randomly selected Generation Z (Gen Z) learners. Factorial analysis demonstrated significant impacts of school and home learning environments on science academic achievement, while the community environment, in isolation, lacked significant effect. Interaction effects emphasized synergies between school and community, as well as school and home environments. However, there was an absence of a three-way interaction, suggesting limited combined impact. Analysis of data further unveiled a significant, large main effect of family relations on academic achievement, while economic and social status showed no significant impact. The interaction between family relations and social status was statistically significant which indicates a more substantial combined influence on science academic achievement than individual factors. Multiple linear regression analysis identified four significant predictors – positive family relations, higher family social status, and robust home, and community support – contributing to a model explaining 49.4% of variance in their science academic achievement. These results emphasize the importance of nurturing home and community environments, alongside fostering strong family relationships, as pivotal factors in Generation Z learners' academic pursuits.

Effect of the Partners in Play Intervention on Parents' Autonomy-Supportive Guiding Behaviour and Children's Self-Regulation.

Compelling evidence supports the foundational importance of early self-regulation (SR). It also supports parents in the home environment as having the foremost influence on early development. Yet, prevailing approaches to support early SR growth have tended to leverage early education and clinical settings. Partners in Play (PiP) was developed as a sustainable approach for parents to learn how and when to support children through experiences of self-regulation challenges in the home learning environment. This study reports the first randomised control trial evaluation of the PiP program, with 21 parent-child dyads (consisting of twelve girl-mother dyads, eight boy-mother dyads, and one boy-father dyad; mean child age = 4.12 years, SD = 0.65). Dyads were randomised to a PiP intervention group (n = 10), which entailed four online parent information sessions and four out-of-home guided practice dyadic play sessions across 8 weeks, or an active control group (n = 11). The primary outcome was parent autonomy support, and the secondary outcome was child SR. Results indicated a significant increase in parents' use of autonomy support and a non-significant but moderate-sized effect on child SR. This innovative proof-of-concept program and evaluation provides a roadmap for effecting change in parental support during children's play, to the prospective benefit of important abilities such as child SR. Analyses show promise for a parent-based model toward parent behaviour change and child SR improvement.

Long-Term Mandatory Homeschooling during COVID-19 Had Compounding Mental Health Effects on Parents and Children.

Most studies have linked mandatory homeschooling during COVID-19 to mental health harm in parents and children, while a minority have found non-significant or beneficial effects. Past studies have not measured mandatory homeschooling continuously over an extended period; consequently, they could not capture compounding mental health effects, which may explain conflicting results. We asked whether children's cumulative time spent homeschooled during COVID-19 school closure mandates caused compounding harm for parent and child mental health, and whether parent employment, child internet access and educational support from schools (live and pre-recorded online classes, home learning packs) impacted this relationship. We aimed to identify the families at greatest risk of mental health harm during mandatory homeschooling and the educational support that may have mitigated this risk. Couples completed retrospective, cross-sectional survey questionnaires assessing parent depression, anxiety and stress, child internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and the family's homeschooling experience. Data were analyzed using mediation analysis total effects, ordinary least squares regression and simple slopes analysis. Both parents and children experienced compounding mental health harm during mandatory homeschooling. Live online classes protected parents and children, while home learning packs protected children. Unexpectedly, reliable internet access and the employment of both parents placed children at greater risk. Findings suggest that long-term mandatory homeschooling during COVID-19 placed families at greater risk of mental health harm. To protect family mental health during homeschooling mandates, schools should provide children with evidence-based educational support.

Homing into school to create the ideal classroom: young people want to combine the best of home and school learning environments

ABSTRACT We asked 28 young people (16–18 Years old) from two schools in Lancashire to reflect on their COVID-19 experience and Co-Design the ideal learning environment. In this paper, we present young people’s vision for the ideal classroom that combines the best of the home and school learning environments. Young people would like to have flexible furniture arrangements, with space for group and individual activities, a bespoke learning environment that can be appropriated and adjusted according to individual preferences (e.g. sound, light, temperature, ventilation levels). Furthermore, they aim for comfortable environments with earth colours, natural materials and a direct connection with nature. We argue the importance of taking young people's perspectives presented here to inform future policy, the design of learning spaces and school rebuilding programmes.

Pelayanan Holistik Rumah Cerdas Di Desa Tamanrejo, Kecamatan Limbangan, Kabupaten Kendal

Evangelism through holistic smart home services is very effective. Because in the process children are blessed and parents are also blessed. The Smart House in Tamanrejo Village in December 2023-February 2024 involves more than 10 members from STT Christ Alfa Omega Semarang. Coordinated by one person to organize the teaching planning. Before the implementation began, one of the representatives met with the head of the local RT to coordinate with the residents regarding the implementation of the smart home. Then after it is agreed. The coordinator divides tasks for the teaching team in teaching. In teaching in a smart home, the place used is one of the homes of residents who are willing to use it. It was agreed that the study house would be held once a week on Fridays at 16.00-17.00 WIB. In implementing the learning house, the teaching team provides teaching in accordance with the curriculum that has been created. Then after carrying out these activities, the teaching team also visited the children's parents. In this case, pre-evangelism can be carried out through curriculum studies in the home learning about character building. Apart from that, through visits to the families of the children being taught.

Informing Teaching and Learning Practices in Higher Education: Reflections from Engaging in Home-Schooling

Using a collaborative autoethnographic approach, this paper draws on the experiences of four multi-disciplinary Australian academics who engaged in home-schooling during the 2020 and 2021 COVID-19 lockdowns to answer the research question, ‘how might our experiences of engaging in home learning inform our practice in higher education?’ The reflections encompassed our experiences in engaging with unfamiliar technology, equity issues, pedagogical aspects of online delivery, teacher presence, communication, well-being and our own cognitive and emotional responses. We considered the implications of this rich learning experience for our own learning and teaching practice as university academics. Our key findings are the need for a consistent, scaffolded, and supported approach to delivery of technology, consideration of its affordances, a flexible approach to student engagement that considers equity and contextual issues, and a focus on well-being and support. Limitations of this study include the single institution focus and the limited generalisability of auto-ethnographical research.

Profiles of young children's home environment and association with their development.

This study aimed to identify profiles of young children's early home environment and explore their association with development in motor, inhibitory control, language, and emotional competence skills. The sample included 2,158 children (51.4% male), 35.47 months old on average. Four home environment profiles emerged: high support and high discipline (HS-HD), high support and low discipline (HS-LD), average support and average discipline (AS-AD), and low support and low discipline (LS-LD). Notably, children from higher socioeconomic status (SES) families were more likely to be associated with HS-HD and HS-LD profiles. Girls exhibited a higher likelihood of belonging to the HS-LD profile. Utilizing regression analyses, children showed the highest motor, inhibitory control, language, and emotional competence development when they were in the HS-LD home environment profile. A concerning finding is that high discipline from parents was negatively associated with children's development, despite providing a high-quality physical environment. The text highlights the positive implications of providing a high-quality home learning environment and offers constructive recommendations for improving practice and future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Investigating measurement of the home learning environment in early math intervention studies

Investigating measurement of the home learning environment in early math intervention studies

Post-Entry Changes: Unraveling Home Base Diversity and Learning Effects on Commitment Increases

Post-Entry Changes: Unraveling Home Base Diversity and Learning Effects on Commitment Increases

INKUBATOR KREATIF DESIMINASI AUGMENTED REALITY DOLANAN ANAK BERBASIS BUDAYA NUSANTARA

The LUKU community is a group of children located in Sarekan Hamlet RT 05, Plembutan, Canden, Jetis, Bantul. Luku itself stands for Put All and Read a 15-minute Book. The children collected in this community are in the age range from early childhood to junior high school. LUKU was formed on the basis of reasons during the COVID-19 pandemic and the home learning policy made children often focused on gadgets and lacked developmental stimulation according to their stage of development. Even though it is the age of these children that the stimulation of creativity is needed. The needs analysis in the LUKU community is that there is a need for developmental stimulation that hones creativity and is also connected to technology (because these children generally have gadgets, but have not been developed optimally according to children's creativity). Therefore, a service program was carried out to stimulate the creativity of the children of the Luku Community through traditional augmented reality-based games. Some of the stages that have been running include socialization, self-learning, and mentoring. The children and parents of the luku community participated in this activity very enthusiastically and always actively participated. Keywords: Creative Incubator, Traditional Games, Augmented Reality

How and When Does Early Home Learning Environment Improve Children’s Kindergarten Academic Skills? The Roles of Language Ability and Self-Control

ABSTRACT Children’s academic skills, particularly in the early stages of life, are significantly shaped by the support and resources available in their home learning environments. However, the underlying mechanisms by which the home learning environment influences children’s academic skills are not fully understood. To address this gap, the present study used multiple regression analysis to explore how the family environment of U.S. children (N = 805) at 36 months old affected their academic skills at 5 years old. The result showed that children’s language ability may potentially serve as a mediating mechanism that links the home learning environment and children’s early academic skills. Furthermore, the study suggests that children’s self-control provides an important mechanism that moderates the relationship between the home learning environment and children’s language ability. The findings provide compelling new insights into how and when the home learning environment affects children’s early-stage academic skills.

Empowering oral proficiency in a large-scale class: video-recorded oral presentations and mobile-assisted peer assessment in a Chinese Middle school

In an era of rapid technological advancement, this 10-week quasi-experimental study conducted within a Chinese middle school EFL context examined the incorporation of video-recorded oral presentations and mobile-assisted peer assessment, aiming to evaluate how these digital tools influence students’ speaking proficiency and their perceptions towards them. The study was conducted on two classes of 47 students each, wherein the experimental group received training on utilizing the digital tools of video presentations and mobile-assisted peer feedback, while the control group solely followed traditional teacher-led assessment methods. T-tests were utilized to analyze differences in test scores on standardized English proficiency exams between the two groups, supplemented by semi-structured interviews to elicit deeper insights into student perspectives and attitudes. The quantitative results showed the experimental group exhibited substantially higher English speaking proficiency scores compared to the control group in the standardized tests administered. Integrated with the qualitative findings, while students generally had highly positive perceptions towards utilizing the digital tools and recognized substantial learning benefits, some concerns emerged regarding the learning process. In light of this, providing not only cognitive but psychological guidance and support for students is critical for the ongoing success of this digital intervention. Moreover, maintaining open communication with parents is key to gaining their trust and nurturing a supportive home learning environment, which encourages students’ smooth adoption of digital learning tools with parents’ help and supervision. While strategically combining video presentations and peer feedback within the digital educational landscape shows promise for enhancing oral proficiency, further research should examine diverse student populations and backgrounds.

Supporting parents in facilitating computational thinking for young children through loose parts construction play

AbstractComputational thinking (CT) as an essential problem‐solving and thinking skill for all students has been the focus of much interest from education systems all over the world (Chen et al., 2023). Unplugged activities like constructing and play with loose parts provide a low‐cost solution to naturally weave in learning of CT skills for young children at home and formal learning environments. Such activities provide opportunities particularly for children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to access learning of CT skills so they will not be left behind. This article describes the pilot study of a programme that introduced an open‐ended construction play activity using loose‐parts to parent–child dyads from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, with the aim to support parents in facilitating play interactions in ways to promote CT skills for their children using question cards. The cards contained questions that parents could use to foster CT skills like decomposition and algorithmic thinking in their play interactions. Focus group discussions were held before and after the play sessions and parents in the study reported more confidence in supporting their children in play and learning of 21st century skills of teamwork, collaboration and CT skills. The results demonstrate the potential of unplugged pedagogy for promoting CT skills for young children especially in the home environment through engagement with families, with implications for home–school collaborative learning environments and parent education. Recommendations for practice and research are provided accordingly.