Learning Path Research Articles

Costmap A* Guided Reinforcement Learning Path Planning Method for Complex Environments Navigation

Costmap A* Guided Reinforcement Learning Path Planning Method for Complex Environments Navigation

Challenges and Benefits of Blended Learning in University EFL Reading Comprehension: A Mixed-Method Study

This study investigates the challenges and benefits experienced by students in the implementation of blended learning (BL) in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) reading classes. The research focuses on exploring the experiences of first year university students engaged in BL-based reading comprehension. Using a mixed-method approach, data was collected from 36 participants enrolled in a noncredit reading skills course integrated with a BL platform over 16-weeks. Participants completed a 16-item questionnaire, and a subset of ten students engaged in a focus group discussion to delve deeper into the challenges and benefits of BL. Descriptive statistics (e.g., frequency, percentages) were employed for quantitative data analysis, while qualitative data were analyzed through thematic identification. The findings revealed significant challenges including technology issues, language barriers, and initial confusion with BL tools. Participants emphasized the critical need for reliable technology infrastructure, support for digital literacy, and language assistance to mitigate these obstacles. Despite these challenges, participants acknowledged BL's advantages, particularly its flexibility and accessibility in enhancing reading comprehension. Recommendations arising from the study advocate for personalized learning paths, collaborative activities, clear communication, and ongoing assessment to optimize BL implementation. Thus, this research underscores BL's potential in improving reading skills, highlighting the imperative of tailored support to effectively address implementation challenges. The study could also become more thorough and broadly applicable to other Ethiopian universities by increasing the sample size and extending the intervention period.

Maturing through Learning: A Study of the Concept of Learning in the Analects

Human beings, as historically developing entities, exhibit a development that aligns with societal progress. Achieving the essence of humanity requires attention to both self-development and the establishment of reasonable social norms. As a classic Confucian work, The Analects constructs an ideal of human character and social ethics. It not only envisions the realization of personal ideal values but also proposes a vision for the actual order of society. For the former, The Analects delineates the Junzi personality as an ideal for individuals to strive for. For the latter, it embodies the concept of governing the world with the principles outlined in half of the Analects. In the context of the era, The Analects provides valuable insights into unifying the ideal and the actual aspects of human existence through the path of learning . Only through continuous self-overcoming in the process of learning can one become a constantly evolving historical being, achieving the ideal of the Junzi personality and the unity of inner sage and outer king . Therefore, this paper begins with the concept of learning to examine Confucius s philosophy of learning. Specifically, learning arises through the objectification of the individual and society, and through analyzing these relationships, it generates valuable thoughts applicable to today s context.

English Network Teaching Model and Design of Evaluation System Based on Association Rule Algorithm

This study innovates English network teaching by applying a refined Association Rule Mining (ARM) algorithm. It integrates an “interest” parameter into ARM, dynamically adapting content to individual learners' profiles, improving engagement and outcomes. Controlled experiments, spanning diverse online platforms, validate the ARM model's efficacy by correlating learning content with academic performance, specifically CET-4 and CET-6 scores. Comprehensive preprocessing ensures data quality and privacy, employing techniques like de-identification, data perturbation, and aggregation. Advanced data analysis, including cross-validation and multivariate techniques, bolsters findings' reliability. Results highlight the ARM model's capacity to generate personalized learning paths, transcending conventional methods, and its potential as a cornerstone for data-driven education reforms. Future research will explore machine learning refinements and cultural adaptability to broaden its impact, fostering equitable, high-quality digital English education worldwide.

Cultivating self-efficacy to empower professionals’ re-up skilling in cybersecurity

Purpose The accelerated digital transformation and the growing emphasis on privacy, safety and security present ongoing challenges for cybersecurity experts. Alongside these challenges, the multidisciplinary, everchanging and complex nature of the cybersecurity domain has further challenged the acquisition and retention of cybersecurity talent. Empowering reskilling and upskilling in cybersecurity necessitates efficacious educational endeavours which promote self-confidence and foster a growth mindset. The purpose of this paper is to highlight that cultivating self-efficacy in cybersecurity education can help promote competency development and effectively address the prominent skills gaps. This notion applies equally to both aspiring individuals pursuing a career in cybersecurity and professionals in the field who may wish to better articulate the skills they already possess, the skills they lack and newly surfacing skills that need to be developed. Design/methodology/approach The study discusses the imminent need for adopting a “skills-first” approach in cybersecurity and explores innovative pedagogies and professional frameworks that can inform and frame such an approach. Subsequently, a critical analysis of the importance of self-efficacy towards motivating and supporting upskilling in cybersecurity is performed. A case study is presented, expanding the authors’ previous work on cybersecurity professional development, to demonstrate the mediating role that self-efficacy can play in developing core cybersecurity competencies. The case study presents the design of a new cybersecurity curriculum in the context of postgraduate, synchronous distance cybersecurity education, and it is utilised as a basis to discuss how the proposed curriculum cultivates self-efficacy attitudes. Findings A skills-first approach is becoming the new norm in contemporary workplaces. This work highlights the importance of actively nurturing self-efficacy attitudes through innovative cybersecurity curricula that can be tailored to the learners’ needs, instigating a drive for learning and, ultimately, helping learners effectively upskilling by portraying a self-directed learning path and a professional growth mindset in cybersecurity. Originality/value The authors present the importance of cultivating self-efficacy in higher and lifelong education to foster reskilling and upskilling in cybersecurity. An innovative cybersecurity curriculum was constructed and delivered with a group of learners demonstrating how self-efficacy can be leveraged through interactive, reflective and self-assessment educational activities that enhanced motivation and self-awareness, curiosity, attention to detail and resilience – key skills for a successful career in cybersecurity.

Construction and Innovative Exploration of Personalized Learning Systems in the Context of Educational Data Mining

This study examines the current research on educational data mining, educational learning support services, personalized learning services, and personalized learning paths in education. The authors aim to integrate personalized learning concepts into traditional support services by drawing on the latest theoretical and practical research. Using multimodal data fusion techniques, the study conduct exploratory analyses on various data types, including learner academic performance, psychological assessments, learning behavior, and physiological information. This leads to the construction of a personalized education learning support service model. The model focuses on objectives such as monitoring learning behavior, identifying preferences, recognizing abilities, optimizing paths, and recommending resources. The goal is to provide learners with sustained support services throughout the personalized learning process, addressing individual needs, fostering enthusiasm, and maintaining long-term motivation.

Meaning-making and transformative engagement – notes on Gunther Kress’s social semiotic and multimodal approach to learning

Abstract Against the background of a longstanding collaboration between Gunther Kress’s research group in London and my own research group in Stockholm, I reflect, in this paper, on the role of Kress’s ideas in our joint development of a social semiotic, multimodal, and design-oriented approach to learning, an approach which sees learning as performative, and as an activity in which learners create their own learning paths. I first discuss how, for Kress, this path has three elements, the affordances of the learning resources available to the learner, the learner’s ‘interest’ which turns aspects of these resources into ‘prompts’ for learning, and the learner’s active interpretation and transformation of these aspects, the results of which can then be recognized and valued as ‘signs of learning’. However, recognizing learning also needs to take account of the dimension of time, so as to make it possible to assess whether learners have gained knowledges and skills they did not have at an earlier stage. I then discuss the role of context in Kress’s thinking about learning. For Kress, context is another vital aspect of a social semiotic theory of learning. On the one hand, Kress focuses here on the specific, unique contexts in which individual learners create their own learning paths. On the other hand, he recognizes that signs will always carry social and political relations. Reflecting on the dynamic relation between individual learners and the way institutions regulate ways of learning, I discuss both the continued role of institutional learning contexts and their hidden curricula, and the way emerging technologies facilitate individual learning paths and interactive, participatory forms of learning.

The empowerment of AIGC technology in high school English education

The application of AIGC technology in high school English teaching creates a rich virtual language application environment and diverse learning platforms for students. These multimodal activities not only provide tailored learning paths but also, through in-depth data analysis and effectiveness evaluation, support the implementation of adaptive learning. While fostering independent thinking among students, they also assist in integrating English learning into their daily lives. This advancement not only optimizes the allocation of educational resources in underprivileged western regions, promoting an overall improvement in educational quality, but also confers profound significance on education.

Retraction Note: Network learning path of university political education based on simulation data and sparse neural network

Retraction Note: Network learning path of university political education based on simulation data and sparse neural network

Artificial intelligence and work transformations: integrating sensemaking and workplace learning perspectives

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the process of initial sensemaking that organizational members activate when they reflect on AI adoption in their work settings, and how the perceived features of AI technologies trigger sensemaking processes which in turn have the potential to influence workplace learning modes and trajectories.Design/methodology/approachWe adopted an explorative qualitative and interactive approach to capture free fantasies and imaginative ideas of AI among people within the industry. We adopt a conceptual perspective that combines theories on initial sensemaking and workplace learning as a theoretical lens to analyze data collected during 23 focus groups held at four large Swedish manufacturing companies. The data were analyzed using the Gioia method.FindingsTwo aggregated dimensions were defined and led to the development of an integrated conceptualization of the initial sensemaking of AI technology adoption. Specifically, sensemaking triggered by abstract features of AI technology mainly pointed to an exploitative learning path. Sensemaking triggered by concrete features of the technology mainly pointed to explorative paths, where socio-technical processes appear to be crucial in the process of AI adoption.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies that attempts to explore and conceptualize how organizations make sense of prospective workplace learning in the context of AI adoption.

Understanding crisis perception and organizational learning – A case study of school organizations in the COVID-19 pandemic

The research investigates the organizational dynamics of learning-in-crisis (LiC) in five Hungarian education institutions in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on digital competence building, and the influence of organizational perception of contextual factors. The path of organisation-level learning that takes place as a result of the crisis event was analysed along two factors: the extent of perceived impact and the relevance of the rare event. Results of the qualitative, interview- and observation-based research show that learning willingness is different in the face of an identical external impact, influenced by organizational and financial capacity, as well as autonomy and stakeholder maturity for change. The depth of learning is related to the strategic and cultural fit with the sought-after competence, as well as field of knowledge and the presence of parallel crises.

Assessing English Language Proficiency: A Case Study of English Version Students of Higher Secondary Level of Bangladesh

Assessment is an integral part of language learning. Language proficiency can be judged by a well-organised evaluation procedure. A systematic assessment process paves the path of successful language learning. The main focus of this study is to explore the current English Language Assessment practice in Higher Secondary institutions located in Dhaka city. Five teachers and five students have been chosen for the investigation. Qualitative research method has been used to explore the assessment procedures the teachers use to assess class XI students’ English language skills such as reading, writing, speaking, and listening and what type of challenges teachers and students encounter during assessment. Though these institutions follow national curriculum of Bangladesh, their mode of instruction is English. Since curriculum plays a vital role in learning outcome, it should be based on learners’ needs and make them competent to cope up with the globalised world. The results of this study unveil the participants’ attitude, opinion and interest regarding the challenges, problems and opportunities of English Version Institutions. However, a remarkable number of researches have been conducted to change the language assessment system, its impact and possibilities in developed countries but there is rarely any research that focuses on the impact of such assessment system in the developing countries like Bangladesh.

TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS BASED ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES: AN ANALYTICAL REVIEW

AI technologies are already beginning to change the learning process, they contribute to the creation of a personalized learning path; help to analyze educational metadata almost instantly; provide access to big data, helping in solving various professional tasks and problems. The purpose of this article is to provide an analytical review of examples of the use of artificial intelligence technologies in language teaching and to create a typology of AI-based technological solutions that have been actively used in the educational process over the past five years. The proposed typology of AI-based technological solutions used in teaching a foreign language is based on areas of didactic activity and didactic tasks that can be effectively solved with the help of AI. Under the directions of didactic activity, we mean: teaching and learning of foreign languages; management of the educational process, including the analysis of educational analytics, the development of an individual learning path, the creation of recommender systems; organization of the educational process, that is, control and assessment, providing feedback and reflection, developing didactic materials for adaptive online courses and intelligent learning systems.

Impact of Personalized Learning Paths on Student Motivation and Achievement in Online High School Programs in Pakistan

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of personalized learning paths on student motivation and achievement in online high school programs in Pakistan. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Tailored learning experiences boost intrinsic motivation by offering autonomy and relevance, while goal-setting and progress tracking contribute to improved academic performance and engagement. These findings highlight the potential of personalized learning to meet diverse student needs and enhance educational outcomes in Pakistani online high school settings. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Self-determination theory (SDT), social cognitive theory (SCT) & constructivist learning theory may be used to anchor future studies on the impact of personalized learning paths on student motivation and achievement in online high school programs in Pakistan. Implement ongoing professional development programs for educators to effectively implement and support personalized learning strategies. Develop and advocate for educational policies that support the implementation of personalized learning paths in online high school programs. Policies should address funding allocations, technology infrastructure upgrades, and guidelines for equitable access to personalized educational resources.

The project-based learning model of training engineers: exploring opportunities for building an individual learning trajectory from the students’ and instructors’ perspectives

Introduction. The project-based approach into engineering training is an innovative education practice that exemplifies the UNESCO strategy for implementing such practices in education worldwide. The motivation of the study is justified by the fact that the implementation of project-based learning involves building a student learning trajectory, which meets demands for competitive specialists in the automotive industry. The research aimed to investigate opportunities for building students’ learning paths in correlation with the formal performance of the project-based learning model and to elicit issues for its improving. Materials and methods. The study used analysis of previous research and formal performance indicators of the project activity at the Mechanical Engineering Center, where pilot engineering training was launched at Togliatti State University (TSU, Russian Federation). To collect empirical data, an online survey was administered among 118 engineering students (its reliability reached Cronbach’s alpha 0.84), and unstructured and focused interviews among student advisors and project supervisors were conducted. Methods of descriptive statistics and IBM SPSS Statistics 23 package were employed to process the obtained quantitative data. Research results. Quantitative performance indicators of the model demonstrate overall positive dynamics in engineers’ training from 2017 to the present. The study discovered project satisfaction at the Mechanical Engineering Centre (74.1%) and the majority of students (71.9%) evaluate positively project opportunities. The correlation between the project role and the awareness of project opportunities was found (r = 0.23; p < 0.05): all student advisors considered project activity as an opportunity to develop their learning trajectory. However, 14.9% of participants did not consider such project prospects. The focused interview clarified reasons for this choice. Conclusion. The study shows that the correlation between the positive dynamics of formal indicators and assessments of the opportunities of building an individual learning trajectory reveals the need to improve the introduced model in terms of finding the optimal balance between the number of projects and their quality. The study prospects include the formation of students’ readiness and internal motivation for participating in engineering projects. The TSU experience in evaluating the opportunities of forming students’ learning paths through project participation can be helpful for other Russian universities where project-based learning is implemented.

The Application of Information Technology in Teaching at University and College Levels in the Context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), characterized by rapid advancements in Information Technology (IT), the integration of these technologies into higher education has become imperative. This paper explores the transformative impact of IT on teaching methodologies at the university and college levels. Through a comprehensive review of literature, case studies, and qualitative analysis, the study examines how institutions are leveraging IT tools such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and immersive technologies to enhance learning experiences. Key findings highlight the benefits of IT adoption, including improved student engagement, personalized learning paths, and the cultivation of future-ready skills essential in a digital economy. However, challenges such as infrastructure readiness and faculty training remain significant barriers. By addressing these challenges and embracing innovative teaching strategies, higher education can effectively navigate the complexities of the 4IR, ensuring graduates are equipped to thrive in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.

Learner agency and its types; application in the language learning environment

The article examines student agency as the student’s resource or asset that influences the formation of an individual learning path in foreign language acquisition. Two types of resources are identified: personal – individual characteristics of the student’s intellectual cognitive development, acquired skills, knowledge – and external, economic and social resource, – social, family and educational environment as well as networks. The influence of changes taking place in the learning environment, in particular in language acquisition, and the impact of transformational competencies on the formation and development of agency, student agency, and co-agency are highlighted. Sociological and socio-psychological approaches to defining the concept of agency and the different contexts in which student agency is formed and developed – moral, social, economic, and creative – are outlined. Student agency is defined as an initiative, conscious, self-regulated activity of students aimed at choosing their own learning path in order to achieve personal goals. The types of co-agency within the educational ecosystem are considered; four levels of systemic interaction of educational process stakeholders are distinguished: student-teacher, student-peer, student-family, and student- wider community, and their influence on the formation and development of student agency is emphasized. Based on the theory of structuration and metacognitive strategies that learners favour in the process of organizing language acquisition, the types of student agency used in the language learning environment are differentiated: collaborative, technological, culture-oriented, research, reflexive, self-directed, and action-oriented. The prospect for further research consists in establishing a correlation between the types of student agency and learning tasks in the language classroom

Strengthening inclusive leadership: insights from a professional development programme for school and childcare leaders

This study aims to answer the following research question: What were the participants’ perceptions of how their engagement in a professional development programme contributed to their advancement in inclusive leadership behaviour? To this end, we followed 17 school and childcare leaders collaborating in Dutch child centres for education and childcare, who participated in a dedicated professional development programme on inclusive leadership. The programme which consisted of four sessions, spread over five months, was tailored to develop inclusive leadership, and built upon six design criteria derived from literature. Data analysis was conducted by triangulating qualitative and quantitative data from interviews and pre- and post-programme self-evaluations. The main finding suggests that participants’ involvement in the professional development programme resulted in an augmented awareness of their role in creating an organisational climate through inclusive leadership, which was manifested through an increased application of inclusive leadership behaviours. Organising collective learning was considered a crucial element, recognising that the role of a school leader is sometimes perceived as isolated. Self-regulated learning via learning logs and reflective interviews provided opportunities for learning through reflection and showed that participants follow their own unique learning paths, tailored to their individual needs and contextual factors that they deem important.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence in a Morphology Course - An Analytical Study of University Students’ Perspective

This paper focuses on scrutinizing the attitudes and opinions of English as Foreign Language (EFL) learners on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in a morphology course in higher education in Lebanon. Specifically, it examines AI as a pedagogical tool in classrooms to provide learners with personalized learning paths centered on their needs and strengths, offer automated feedback on activities and assignments, supply study resources and extra material, furnish adaptive assessments, and most importantly, identify common errors in students’ responses that allow instructors to acknowledge the learning gaps and tailor their teaching strategies accordingly. It also aims to determine the students’ perspectives on AI’s potent role in learning. In this exploratory study, a mixed-method design and a convenient sampling of participants were utilized. A total of 62 EFL students at the public university in Lebanon participated in the study. To describe and quantify their perceptions of integrating AI in a morphology course, an online survey, including closed-ended and open-ended questions, and two focus group discussions were administered. The overall qualitative and quantitative analyses of the data indicated that Lebanese EFL students have positive attitudes towards integrating AI in a morphology course as a pedagogical tool and as a fundamental part of the teaching strategies in EFL higher education classes since it provides a good source of information and aids in the teaching and learning process. However, the findings also revealed the need to train teachers and students to use AI technologies, keeping in mind the potent role of the instructor in class.

Construction of a new lifelong education system based on vector analysis algorithms for information age services

AbstractIn today's rapidly evolving society, the establishment of a learning society is paramount. The lifelong education system (LLES) plays a crucial role in enriching individuals' intellectual and emotional landscapes, fostering continuous growth, and instilling the habit of lifelong learning. However, traditional lifelong education systems often have limitations regarding accessibility, openness, and resource‐sharing, limiting opportunities for lifelong learning and dampening enthusiasm for it. To address these limitations, it is hypothesized that integrating information technology, specifically vector analysis algorithms, into lifelong education systems can revolutionize the learning experience (LE). By leveraging the power of the internet and advanced algorithms, it is expected that a new LLES can offer a superior online learning environment, enriched resources, and intelligent data analysis capabilities, thereby facilitating more effective lifelong learning. The methodology involves the development and implementation of an information age service based on vector analysis algorithms within the lifelong education framework. This study aims to provide learners with enhanced access to high‐quality online learning resources while offering intelligent data analysis to optimize learning pathways. With the continuous development of Internet technology, information technology has been applied to various fields. Information age services (IAS) based on vector analysis algorithms (VAAs) will be combined with LLES. Technology will be utilized to the maximum to provide lifelong learners with a high‐quality online learning environment, online learning resources, and intelligent data analysis to help learners better conduct lifelong learning. Experimental results comparing the new LLES with traditional approaches demonstrated significant improvements. The new system enhanced the matching of teaching materials by 31.8%, offered a wider and more convenient learning path, and provided access to a greater variety of teaching resources. Moreover, learners using the new system exhibited an average learning increase of 7%. The integration of IAS based on VAAs into lifelong education represents a substantial advancement. This innovative approach offers superior teaching resources, educational methods, and learning opportunities, empowering individuals to embrace and sustain lifelong learning journeys more effectively in the digital age.