Learning Objectives Research Articles

Grounded governance: Cultivating social justice through community-engaged learning with PEPAKEṈ HÁUTW̱ (Blossoming Place)

By deepening student relationships to local governance systems, they become better equipped to envision and enact the worlds they seek to create. This paper discusses a community-engaged learning initiative facilitated by a University of Victoria instructor that centered on the theme of “Grounded Governance” to anchor student learning about governance and social justice theories, movements and practices. The overall approach draws inspiration from bell hooks who explains the value and significance of engaged learning. Specifically, this paper discusses the experience of teaching place-based learning through engagement with Indigenous-led ecological restoration efforts, including collaboration with PEPAKEṈ HÁUTW̱ (Blossoming Place). The author reflects on community site visits with a W̱SÁNEĆ nonprofit organization to learn about ecological restoration and decolonial governance. This grounded approach to teaching is inspired by Indigenous-led place-based learning. As a collaborative effort between the Studies in Social Justice program, the School of Public Administration and community partners, this pedagogy aims to integrate community-engaged learning more deeply into the study of public administration. Doing so in practice emphasizes relationship-building with local Indigenous-led community organizations while supporting student learning objectives by teaching about social justice through collaborative and meaningful public engagement.

Investigating the Sim-to-Real Generalizability of Deep Learning Object Detection Models.

State-of-the-art object detection models need large and diverse datasets for training. As these are hard to acquire for many practical applications, training images from simulation environments gain more and more attention. A problem arises as deep learning models trained on simulation images usually have problems generalizing to real-world images shown by a sharp performance drop. Definite reasons and influences for this performance drop are not yet found. While previous work mostly investigated the influence of the data as well as the use of domain adaptation, this work provides a novel perspective by investigating the influence of the object detection model itself. Against this background, first, a corresponding measure called sim-to-real generalizability is defined, comprising the capability of an object detection model to generalize from simulation training images to real-world evaluation images. Second, 12 different deep learning-based object detection models are trained and their sim-to-real generalizability is evaluated. The models are trained with a variation of hyperparameters resulting in a total of 144 trained and evaluated versions. The results show a clear influence of the feature extractor and offer further insights and correlations. They open up future research on investigating influences on the sim-to-real generalizability of deep learning-based object detection models as well as on developing feature extractors that have better sim-to-real generalizability capabilities.

Can ChatGPT generate surgical multiple-choice questions comparable to those written by a surgeon?

Background This study aimed to determine whether surgical multiple-choice questions generated by ChatGPT are comparable to those written by human experts (surgeons). Methods The study was conducted at a medical school and involved 112 fourth-year medical students. Based on five learning objectives in general surgery (colorectal, gastric, trauma, breast, thyroid), ChatGPT and surgeons generated five multiple-choice questions. No change was made to the ChatGPT-generated questions. The statistical properties of these questions, including correlations between two group of questions and correlations with total scores (item discrimination) in a general surgery clerkship exam, were reported. Results There was a significant positive correlation between the ChatGPT-generated and human-written questions for one learning objective (colorectal). More importantly, only one ChatGPT-generated question (colorectal) achieved an acceptable discrimination level, while other four failed to achieve it. In contrast, human-written questions showed acceptable discrimination levels. Conclusion While ChatGPT has the potential to generate multiple-choice questions comparable to human-written ones in specific contexts, the variability across surgical topics points to the need for human oversight and review before their use in exams. It is important to integrate artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT with human expertise to enhance efficiency and quality.

Optimalisasi Media Digital Dalam Pembelajaran Ekonomi

Learning media are all types of physical equipment that aim to convey information and create interaction. Media used in learning, such as print and text media, audio media, moving images, multimedia media, and web-based or internet media. This research uses literature review research. In learning economics, optimizing digital media can help students improve their critical and creative thinking skills and increase their ability to learn. Various learning settings can be done using digital media, moving from individual to collaborative between students and students and students and teachers. Digital media in learning is very helpful for teachers and students in the learning process, it makes learning younger, makes the material easier to understand, makes the learning process more efficient, and achieves learning objectives. Teachers also act as facilitators, motivators and role models for their students, encouraging them to work harder in the classroom and utilize the ever-evolving technological media to access information sources relevant to economic learning objectives. By applying digital media in learning economics, students are able to broaden their understanding of economics that covers a wide range of contexts both theory and practice and know the relationship between events that occur in economics

Measuring Teachers’ Motivation Toward Professional Development through Integration of Mobile Technology

The integration of technology in teacher training is an integral part of motivation in the 21st century. The integration of mobile technology in teacher training and professional development can bring about a meaningful change in their career. This study examines how, in the academic environment of Sindh, Pakistan, in-service training sessions contribute to the professional skill development and motivation of instructors. The study has two primary aims. The first involved examining how teacher training programs affected instructors’ willingness to continue in the classroom and to enroll in training programs. The second involved examining how these sessions affected teachers’ ability to advance their careers and develop their confidence and self-efficacy. Data for the study were gathered using a survey research approach. To gather information from 450 teachers in Sindh, Pakistan—both private and public—a structured questionnaire was created. The information gathered from the survey was examined using statistical analysis. The study’s findings demonstrate that in-service teachers are not as motivated or proficient in their professional development as they should be by training sessions through the integration of mobile technology. The main motivators for the instructors to attend these workshops are their financial and social advantages. According to the study, several essential elements of successful teacher preparation are absent from these in-service training sessions. As a result, the study suggests that training programs abandon their conventional methods and modernize to better meet the demands of teachers today through the use of technology, which most teachers avoid using. More than merely formal meetings, training sessions should be scheduled to prepare instructors for actual learning objectives. Future academics of teacher training programs may find value in the study’s conclusions with the application of mobile technology by providing appropriate pre-training sessions for the use of technology.

Application of the PBL Model with Multimedia in Improving Class IV Social and Science Learning Result at SDN Nglanduk 2

Teachers still face various challenges in implementing learning in the classroom. Some of them are students who are less active, lack of use of technology, lack of use of concrete objects, and students' social and science learning outcomes that have not yet reached the criteria for achieving learning objectives. The research entitled "Application of the PBL Model with Multimedia in Improving Class IV Social and Science Learning Result at SDN Nglanduk 2" aims to describe the steps for implementing the PBL model with multimedia in improving Class IV Social and Science learning result and identify whether the PBL model with multimedia can improve learning result class IV. The Problem Based Learning (PBL) model is a learning model whose application uses concrete problems to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills so that it can improve student learning outcomes. Multimedia can attract students' attention and make learning more enjoyable. This research was carried out at SDN Nglanduk 2. The classroom action research procedure used refers to the Action Research methodology, namely 1) Planning, 2) Action (Implementation of Action), 3) Observation (Observation), 4) Reflection (Reflection), which is carried out in 2 cycles. Learning evaluation is carried out after the material is presented to find out to what extent students can understand the material being taught. The evaluation results show that there is an increase in learning outcomes, namely in cycle I it was 40%, up 20% to 60% and cycle II, namely 60%, up 40% to 100%. From this Classroom Action research it can be concluded that the application of the Problem Based Learning (PBL) model with multimedia can improve social and science learning for class IV at SDN Nglanduk 2.

The Tech Core Curriculum: Teaching Technology as a Core Competence

This panel addresses the ALISE Call for Proposals’ “questions of mutual interest” about integrating professional competences into pedagogy by providing interpretations and strategies for including information and communications technology (ICT) core competences into teaching and curriculum at ALA-accredited programs of Library and Information Science. Through an informal roundtable discussion followed by semi-structured and open audience solicitation, four faculty members who teach courses and modules in information technology from two ALA-accredited programs that have recently undergone curricular audits will provide an overview of technology core competences from the American Library Association and the Society of American Archivists (SAA). Discussions will include… Interpretations and interpretive problems with the ALA technology competence and sub-competences. A comparative interpretation of the Graduate Program in Archival Studies (GPAS) Curriculum’s technology competence from the SAA. How instructors have adapted these competences in courses and curriculum. How instructors have addressed student skill gaps and technophobia. A survey of which ALA-accredited programs do and do not have a technology core requirement as well as the types of courses that count for such a requirement. The pros and cons of a technology core requirement for ALA-accredited programs. Strategies for intentionally embedding technology competences in other required courses. A technology competence for programs that prepare information professionals of the twenty-first century appears at once essential and assumed. Previous studies show that graduate programs in library and information science have cut ICT core requirements in favor of embedding technology instruction in other requirements that principally satisfy other competences. Partly this is a solution to economizing core requirements in order to facilitate flexible course paths for students, and partly this is a solution to the vagaries set forth in standardized core competences, which remain media-agnostic.That is, the principles set forth in ALA core competences do not specify the types of technologies to address in any one competence, including the technology competence, making ‘technology’ an overly fungible term that can be applied to almost any instruction or practice. While theoretically media-agnosticism creates continuity with past and present analog means of information practices, all means of information practices are, of course, mediated. The majority of programs seem to make the assumption that ICT competence necessarily implies digital mediation. For larger, digitally focused programs in the iSchool movement, the assumption that ICT competence means digital competence further means that demonstrations and assessments of that competence are already embedded in the majority of courses. Compounding the assumption that digital practice satisfies ICT competence is an assumption of student digital nativity. While research has dispelled the myth of the ‘digital native,’ such a mythos persists in programs’ imaginations of their own graduate students who must de facto navigate sophisticated digital environments in order to participate in graduate programs of the twenty-first century knowledge economy. This roundtable aims at the outset to lay bare the tenuous relationship between standardized competences’ media-agnosticism and curricular assumptions of media-embeddedness. Then, participants will address strategies for curricular demonstrations of technology competence that are intentional, media-situated, student-focused, and strategic. Intentional: Rather than assume technological competence from demonstrated digital, information practices, instructors and programs should produce Stated Learning Objectives (SLO) and aligned assessment mechanisms that ask students to do more than demonstrate technology use. Media-situated: Students should understand that barriers to information access vary not just according to social vectors like race, gender, and income, but also by medium of access, which requires on the part of the student or information professional a media-comparative approach to ICT. Student-focused: Instructors should not assume student digital nativity or proficiency and should instead meet students where they are within a multi-dimensional matrix of technological practices and attitudes. In addition to being good pedagogy, a student-relational approach to technology also models exemplary user services. Strategic: Moving from the myth of the ‘tech savvy librarian’ of the early 00s, which largely relied on assumptions of generational digital nativity, instructors and programs should refocus on a model of the ‘tech strategic librarian,’ one who is not necessarily a coding-multilingual early adopter, but one who understands the stakes and intersections of technocapitalism, information capitalism, library resources, and community users. The highly interactive 90-minute roundtable will begin with a ten-minute introduction from the chair followed by three five-minute, informal statements from the panelists touching on the above topics. Semi-structured discussion from the panel will proceed for the second 25-minute block followed by open-room discussion and audience solicitation for fifteen minutes. This will leave a final 25-minute block for guided audience small-group discussion and reporting mediated by panelists. In small groups, audience members will be asked to generate Stated Learning Outcomes and assessment mechanisms based on the ALA’s technology sub-competences.

Negative and Extrapositive Attitudes Towards Cold-Blooded Tetrapods Among Students of the Secondary Education Course: Ethical and Normative Aspects

The present study represents an empirical research, the purpose of which was to investigate the attitudes towards the species of the Suborder Snakes (Serpentes) and of the Order Turtles (Testudines) among adolescents. We aimed to determining the risks regarding the conservation of herpetophauna. Questionnaires were constructed, adequate to the learning objectives of the subject "Biology and health education" in the respective classes. Students from the seventh, ninth and eleventh grades in two of the schools in the city of Shumen (NE Bulgaria) were surveyed. The total number of respondents was 426, of which 198 were for attitudes towards snakes and 228 were for attitudes towards turtles. The results of the present study showed the problems in the field of protecting of the biological diversity of snakes and turtles in Bulgaria. The attitude toward snakes was clarly negative and that to tortoises was extra positive. A very low level of environmental culture was detected. The vast majority of the recipients insisted on in depth revision of the education plans in Biology. Unfortunately, the analysis of the textbooks content used for the education of the recipients, indicated on insufficient and improper selection of information concerning the reptiles. Since once established, attitudes are difficult to change, the main target group of education efforts must be concentrated on the secondary course students.

LLM-generated competence-based e-assessment items for higher education mathematics: methodology and evaluation

In this article, we explore the transformative impact of advanced, parameter-rich Large Language Models (LLMs) on the production of instructional materials in higher education, with a focus on the automated generation of both formative and summative assessments for learners in the field of mathematics. We introduce a novel LLM-driven process and application, called ItemForge, tailored specifically for the automatic generation of e-assessment items in mathematics. The approach is thoroughly aligned with the levels and hierarchy of cognitive learning objectives as developed by Anderson and Krathwohl, and takes specific mathematical concepts from the considered courses into consideration. The quality of the generated free-text items, along with their corresponding answers (sample solutions), as well as their appropriateness to the designated cognitive level and subject matter, were evaluated in a small-scale study. In this study, three mathematical experts reviewed a total of 240 generated items, providing a comprehensive analysis of their effectiveness and relevance. Our findings demonstrate that the tool is proficient in producing high-quality items that align with the chosen concepts and targeted cognitive levels, indicating its potential suitability for educational purposes. However, it was observed that the provided answers (sample solutions) occasionally exhibited inaccuracies or were not entirely complete, signalling a necessity for additional refinement of the tool's processes.

Serious Game Development for Public Health: Participatory Design Approach to COVID-19 Quarantine Policy Education.

Public health education plays a crucial role in effectively addressing infectious diseases such as COVID-19. However, existing educational materials often provide only foundational information, and traditional group education faces challenges due to social distancing policies. Addressing these gaps, our study introduces a serious game called "Flattening the Curve." This interactive experience immerses learners in the role of quarantine policy managers, offering unique insights into the effects and challenges of social distancing policies. The development of the game adhered to the SERES framework, ensuring a scientifically designed foundation. To achieve its learning objectives, the game incorporated learning and game mechanics including an agent-based infection model, a social distancing policy model, and an economic model, which were developed based on previous literature. After defining a broad concept of scientific and design foundations, we used a participatory design process. This study included 16 undergraduates and took place over one semester. Participants played the game, gave feedback, and answered surveys. The game was improved based on participants' feedback throughout the process. Participants' feedback was analyzed based on the Design, Play, and Experience framework. Surveys were conducted before and after the activity and analyzed to assess participants' evaluation of and satisfaction with the game. The game successfully achieved its learning objectives, encompassing a comprehensive understanding of infectious disease characteristics; the disease transmission process; the necessity and efficacy of quarantine policies and their delicate balance with economic factors; and the concept of flattening the curve. To achieve this, the game includes the following: (1) an agent-based infection model based on the modified Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Hospitalized-Recovered (SEIHR) model with five infectious disease scenarios; (2) a quarantine policy model with social distancing, travel control, and intensive care unit management; and (3) an economic model that allows users to consider the impact of quarantine policies on a community's economy. In response to participatory design feedback, the game underwent meticulous modifications, including refining game systems, parameters, design elements, the user interface, and interactions. Key feedback included requests for more scenarios and engaging yet simple game elements, as well as suggestions for improving the scoring system and design features. Notably, concerns about the fairness of the outcome evaluation system (star rating system), which could incentivize prioritizing economic activity over minimizing casualties, were raised and addressed by replacing the star rating system with a progress-based vaccine development system. Quantitative evaluation results reflect participants' positive assessments of the game through the learner-centric approach. The serious game "Flattening the Curve," developed through a participatory design approach, emerges as a valuable tool for public health education, particularly concerning social distancing policies. The game and its source code are openly accessible online, enabling widespread use for research and educational purposes.

CLINICAL CONFERENCE ON PRACTICAL CLASSES IN DENTAL THERAPY

The modern education reform in Ukraine aims to provide high-quality subject training for specialists while reducing classroom load and increasing access to information. One of the ways to solve this problem is to introduce new, more effective methods and technologies of learning. An essential stage in training of doctors from the first years of study is the formation of clinical thinking, the ability to analyze and synthesize data, determine the criteria for making a diagnosis, and draw up a rational treatment plan. Developing this ability requires knowledge and practical experience, starting in educational institutions and continuing in clinical settings. Technologies and techniques of learning and teaching clinical disciplines are gaining particular relevance and determining importance. The training of dentists at the Department of Dental Therapy of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University always meets the requirements of the times. Special attention is paid not only to the high-quality teaching of the discipline but also to the diversification of the organization of practical classes. The early years of medical specialists' training are crucial for developing clinical thinking. This process hones the ability to analyze and systematize data, define criteria for establishing a diagnosis, and compile a plan of effective treatment. At I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, special attention is given to the qualitative teaching of the discipline and the diversification of the pedagogical process, with the clinical conference playing a pivotal role in this development. At the Dental Therapy Department, the study of the 'Dental Therapy' discipline concludes with a student clinical conference, a good tradition. This conference, held for the 5th-year students in the X semester, involves three groups of students who are currently completing their study of the subject. In each group, a student-curator who represents a specific clinical case is selected. Students present reports with a visual presentation of the patient's clinical condition, the results of the primary and additional methods of examination, differential diagnosis of the disease, the treatment scheme of the patient and its effectiveness. An important stage at the conference is the performance of prepared opponents, who are appointed from among the students of another group. On the eve of the meeting, the opponents directly familiarize themselves with the work of the student-curator, analyze the sequence of the patient's examinations, the correctness of the diagnosis, the preparation of medical documentation, the differential diagnosis of the disease, evaluate the treatment scheme, ask questions and express observations. The lecturers play a crucial role in this process, providing guidance and doing summaries of the clinical conference, ensuring that the learning objectives are met and the student's progress is acknowledged. Clinical conferences, are not just about deepening and systematizing theoretical knowledge or developing clinical thinking. They also provide a unique and invaluable opportunity for students to gain experience in public speaking. This experience, coupled with the development of personal qualities such as communication and cooperation, prepares students for the challenges they will face in their future careers. This holistic approach to medical education is a key part of the learning process, instilling confidence and readiness in the students.

Community college student perceptions of digital anatomy models as a curricular resource.

Digital model platforms and applications are common in anatomy education and continue to grow in number, which suggests that educators and students find use for these tools despite the lack of widely accepted best practices. Consequently, it is a challenge for educators to mindfully integrate digital models into curriculum. This short-term, longitudinal study investigated the effects of integrating a monoscopic digital model as a teaching tool during lectures on reproductive and endocrine anatomy as an intervention in a community college human anatomy and physiology course. Student use and perceptions of digital models were analyzed for correlation with the nature of the course content and the intervention (n = 92). Academic content significantly affected self-reported student use (p < 0.001) as well as student perceived usefulness of the model (p = 0.02). These findings support the conjecture that digital anatomy models may be better for achieving certain specific learning goals opposed to all learning goals. Integration of digital models as an instructional method did not consistently influence student behavior but it made a difference in participant ability to recognize this technology outside of the lecture. Overall, participants had a positive perception of digital models, although they were not perceived as more important than all other curricular resources. Inclusion of monoscopic digital models for teaching anatomy should be considered by educators since teaching with digital models can demonstrate strengths and weaknesses for students within the context the of learning objectives, assisting students to make more informed decisions about effective learning tools.

The Ability of Physical Education Teachers in Implementing Learning at Elementary Schools in Southwest Aceh Regency

Physical education teachers are responsible for preparing quality Learning Implementation Plans and implementing effective learning processes so that learning objectives are achieved. A good Learning Implementation Plan will make it easier for teachers to implement structured and directed learning. Physical education teachers face challenges in implementing effective learning processes. The physical education learning process must actively involve students and train their motor skills. However, in practice, physical education teachers often face difficulties in managing classes and making students actively engaged in learning. The approach used by the author in this study was a mixed-method approach (combined method) with an explanatory sequential design type. The research sample comprised nine physical education teachers working in elementary schools throughout Aceh Barat Daya Regency. The data collection techniques used by the researcher were observation and interview techniques. 1) Physical education teachers' ability to implement learning in elementary schools in Aceh Barat Daya Regency obtained the "Good" category with an average score of 6.5. Teachers can display personality aspects that include indicators of being charming, authoritative, firm, full of calling, and alert. In learning activities, teachers can carry out activities to open lessons, master materials, determine learning steps (activities), evaluate the process and learning outcomes, and close learning well. 2) The obstacles felt by physical education teachers in implementing the learning process at Elementary Schools in Southwest Aceh Regency are related to the limited availability of physical education learning facilities and infrastructure at schools. This has an impact on the less-than-optimal implementation of learning and evaluation activities. In addition, the limited time in learning activities, especially to evaluate the learning process of each student as a whole, so that teachers choose a fast and simple evaluation method. 1) The ability of physical education teachers to implement learning in Elementary Schools in Aceh Barat Daya Regency obtained the "Good" category. Teachers can display personality aspects and implement learning well. 2) The obstacles felt by physical education teachers in implementing the learning process at SD Negeri Aceh Barat Daya Regency are related to the limited availability of physical education learning facilities and infrastructure at the school and limited time in learning activities, especially to evaluate the learning process of each student as a whole.

Adapting to the AI Era: ChatGPT in the Classroom

The emergence of ChatGPT, a conversational AI developed by OpenAI, has raised profound questions about its impact on the traditional university experience. This article addresses the pervasive discourse surrounding ChatGPT by investigating the actual capabilities of AI writing at the undergraduate level. To study the strengths and limitations of AI in the classroom, we conducted a survey experiment involving faculty assessment of essays generated by ChatGPT. Contrary to concerns of diminishing academic rigor and standards, our findings suggest that ChatGPT’s effectiveness is influenced by user knowledge, indicating potential for symbiotic integration into pedagogical approaches. Rather than spell the end of the college essay, we suggest that ChatGPT offers opportunities to open discussions about information literacy and verification of information. For universities, our study suggests revising university AI-usage policies and incorporating AI into teaching and learning objectives.

Discussing the Protagonist Role of Students in Game-Based Learning

In the ongoing process of the digital transformation of society, corresponding competencies are required from children more than ever. The concept of computational empowerment (CE) promotes confident and reflective engagement with digital technology, which often falls short in formal education. This work outlines how both entertainment and serious games can be used to support the cause of CE and what opportunities they offer for more empowering learning in school settings. The use of digital games appears to be a promising way to connect with the lifeworld of young people and thus offering a low-threshold and differentiated starting point. In this context, the focus should be placed on a stronger establishment of the protagonist role to empower students to engage with digital technologies in depth. In the Serious Game Changers project, students created their own educational modules on specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) using digital games and creating new artifacts as learning objects through remixing game elements. In this project, students should be empowered to become active participants by designing with the help of commercial and serious games. Thus giving them their own voice in future (formal) educational settings and promoting future skills in order to make them self-confident 'protagonists' of their surroundings.

Development, dissemination and survey evaluation of layered education for healthcare professionals to support implementation of firearm injury and mortality prevention strategies in emergency care settings, New York, USA

BackgroundThere is consensus on the need and ability to address firearm injury risk in healthcare settings; however, the lack of education for healthcare professionals hinders the implementation of evidence-based firearm...

Bones at Home

Remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a range of pedagogical challenges for anthropology laboratory courses. In biological anthropology courses such as Human Osteology, hands-on experience is essential to achieving learning outcomes, including basic bone and feature (i.e., landmark) identification, identification from fragmentary remains, and age and sex estimation. To address the need for training that includes object-based, tactile (haptic) learning in fields such as biological anthropology and archaeology, all Human Osteology students at Mount Royal University and the University of Manitoba took home plastic model skeletons. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how well remotely educated undergraduates (REUs) met human osteology learning objectives when supported by plastic model skeletons at home. We present the results of a survey designed to test core osteological skills obtained by REUs in comparison with undergraduates educated with in-person laboratory components (IPUs) and experts in the field (zero to four and five or more years of experience). REU scores did not differ significantly from those of IPU or Junior Experts with less than five years of experience. Students performed well in bone identification but were limited in their ability to apply common sex and age estimation methods and to identify incomplete elements. Our findings reinforce the importance of haptic learning and years of experience in human osteological learning. They support the use of take-home models as valuable resources in both remote and in-person undergraduate teaching. This work is a step toward more inclusive universal instructional design that can be applied across various anthropology laboratory courses.

Reading Proficiency Among Grade 7 Learners

Analyzing reading competency in children in Grade 7 provides insightful information on learning objectives, cognitive growth, and the efficacy of literacy training. This information has consequences for teaching practices, educational systems, and individual students. This study assessed the reading proficiency of 146 Grade 7 students using a standardized test. The data were statistically analyzed using the mean, Mann-Whitney U-test, and analysis of variance. Results showed that the overall reading proficiency of the students was at a frustration level. When grouped by three different variables, the students’ reading proficiency stayed at the frustration level across all categories. Furthermore, no significant differences were found in reading proficiency when comparing students based on their profile variables. In this context, this paper ascertained the reading proficiency of Grade 7 learners in a public secondary school in a medium-sized division in Central Philippines for the Academic Year 2022–2023. Data needed for this descriptive study was collected from 146 respondents using a standardized instrument from the Oral Verification Test with one reading passage and a 7-item question. The ensuing analysis showed that the reading proficiency of Grade 7 Learners was at the frustration level, a level that signals a need for intervention, support, and reflection on instructional practices. This result calls for a customized reading plan to bring relevance and answer to the needs of the learners who still have difficulty in their reading proficiency level. Keywords: Language education, reading proficiency, word recognition, reading comprehension, Negros Oriental, Philippines

Feasibility Evaluation and Development of Educational Laboratories: Contribution to Institutional Development

This study aims to optimize the use of educational laboratories as a means of institutional development at the Faculty of Education, Surabaya State University. Using a development research approach with the ADDIE model, this research involved analyzing the needs of the institution, students, lecturers, and curriculum that must be met by the education laboratory. Data were collected through questionnaires and documentation studies, then analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of the laboratory products developed. The results showed that the education laboratory at Faculty of Education has adequate facilities and infrastructure conditions, and the products developed are considered very feasible in supporting learning objectives. Attractive and interactive product design increases student engagement, while the use of appropriate language in the product strengthens the effectiveness of material communication. Overall, the optimization of educational laboratories is proven to not only support the achievement of learning objectives, but also strengthen the institution's reputation in providing relevant and quality education. Continuous evaluation is recommended to ensure the educational laboratory remains adaptive to evolving needs.

Orthrus: Towards Evolutionary and Functional RNA Foundation Models.

In the face of rapidly accumulating genomic data, our understanding of the RNA regulatory code remains incomplete. Pre-trained genomic foundation models offer an avenue to adapt learned RNA representations to biological prediction tasks. However, existing genomic foundation models are trained using strategies borrowed from textual or visual domains, such as masked language modelling or next token prediction, that do not leverage biological domain knowledge. Here, we introduce Orthrus, a Mamba-based RNA foundation model pre-trained using a novel self-supervised contrastive learning objective with biological augmentations. Orthrus is trained by maximizing embedding similarity between curated pairs of RNA transcripts, where pairs are formed from splice isoforms of 10 model organisms and transcripts from orthologous genes in 400+ mammalian species from the Zoonomia Project. This training objective results in a latent representation that clusters RNA sequences with functional and evolutionary similarities. We find that the generalized mature RNA isoform representations learned by Orthrus significantly outperform existing genomic foundation models on five mRNA property prediction tasks, and requires only a fraction of fine-tuning data to do so.