Master's Degree Students Research Articles

Enhancing e-learning effectivity through the discussion method combined with e-portfolio assignments for vocational education master students during a pandemic

Discussion is one of the effective methods to make the e-learning condition to be student-centered. However, the use of the discussion method only focuses on specific issues, so that it could not explore broader knowledge and obtain feedback from many sources. The study aims to get the impact of using the discussion method combined with e-portfolio assignments on e-learning during the Covid-19 pandemic in students' perceptions perspective. This research has been carried out with a simple procedure using a survey approach. The research subjects are students of the Vocational Education Master Degree who participated in the Vocational Learning Theory and Strategy course. The research instrument is a closed questionnaire to explore student perceptions, including 8-aspects, using statements with options on a 4-degree Likert scale. The average perception level for each aspect is the total score divide by the total maximum score of the research subjects. Perception is declared good if the ratio is above 80%. The results showed that e-portfolio assignments combined with the discussion method in e-learning gave positive student perceptions. Students feel that e-portfolio is a learning tool that can increase learning effectiveness, provide useful feedback, help carry out self-assessments, increase interaction between teacher and student. The results also show that the students gave positive perception to the e-portfolio as a tool that is easy to use, useful, systematic, motivating, and effectively to improve learning outcomes. In general, this result shows that e-portfolio tools can increase the effectiveness of e-learning.

A Course on Cognitive and Behavioural Interventions for Sleep Disorders within a Master Degree Programme in Clinical and Health Psychology

Given the prevalence of sleep disorders, the efficacy and effectiveness of behavioural/cognitive interventions, mainly CBT for insomnia, we consider that a course on the topic should be introduced within the psychology master degree programmes. Since 2017/18 we are offering the optional course: Psychological Interventions on Sleep Disorders. The present work summarizes the course syllabus and analyses the students' perceptions regarding the first three editions. One hundred and twenty psychology master degree students have voluntarily registered at the course. End-of-semester online institutional anonymous questionnaires were voluntarily completed. Participants were asked to rate the course in a variety of parameters using a 5-point scale (1=minimum; 5=maximum). Ninety questionnaires were completed. Mean scores on each item (addressing: bibliography/other learning materials; quality of learnings; learning results; non-redundancy concerning other courses; theoretical-practical articulation; students’ active participation in the learning processes; development of analytical and critical reflection/thinking skills; overall self-assessment) ranged between 4.23 and 4.46, items’ mean score = 4.35. Students' perceptions on the first three semesters of the course were clearly encouraging. By offering a course on behavioural interventions for sleep disorders at master degree level, we hope to contribute to increase its delivery in health contexts in the near future.

Pathology of “Problem Statement” in Historical Research (Case Study: Master Dissertations in History)

One of the main components and in fact the basic element of research through which the researcher explains the research is problem expression”. Due to the lack of a correct definition of problem expression and its confusion with other components of research, such as the title, subject, and main question of the research, it is often ignored in historical research. This can be mostly attributed to the inadequacy and incorrect definition of the basic concepts of research in the methodological research texts, in particular, historical research that its reflection can be seen in the dissertations of history students. This study seeks to examine the pathology of lack of transparency or deficiency in the concept of problem expression in dissertations and historical researches. The findings of this research show that the lack of correct definition of “problem” in the methodological research texts in history, has led to serious shortcomings in academic dissertations in the field of history.In this research, however, it has been tried, based on the library resources, dissertations collection (GANJ) from IRANDOC site [1], and using the descriptive-analytical method as well as statistical method to analyze the Pathology of “Problem expression” in historical research by the case study of history dissertations of Ferdowsi University graduate master degree students. [1]. ganj.irandoc.ac.ir

ENHANCING LANGUAGE AND CROSS-CULTURAL COMPETENCE THROUGH TELECOLLABORATION

This paper presents an experiment which focused on determining if a telecollaborative project work would help enhance students’ foreign language skills and cross-cultural competence. Students from Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and the Polytechnic University of Valencia worked together during the fall term in 2020, in which 56 Ukrainian and Spanish students were engaged in a telecollaborative programme – 32 were master degree students at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, whereas the remaining 24 were bachelor engineering students at Polytechnic University of Valencia. Our students were engaged in a project work which consisted in the creation of a blog on the topic ‘Sustainable Development Today’. The tools used in this project were mostly Google applications such as Classroom, Hangouts, Blogger, Drive, and Docs. In order to measure their progress, students took pre-tests before the project started and a post-test after its completion. These tests focused on assessing learners’ language competence in English and also their cross-cultural competence. The language test used was designed by Cambridge University Press, whereas the cross-cultural test had been created by the Organizational Behavior Group (Piasentin, 2012). The latter focused on learners’ willingness to engage, cognitive flexibility and openness, emotional regulation, tolerance of uncertainty, self-efficacy, and ethnocultural empathy. As expected, the students who participated in this virtual exchange programme enhanced their competence on both foreign language cross-cultural competences by taking an active part in the telecollaborative project work.

Método clase invertida y desarrollo de competencias estadísticas en estudiantes de maestría

El presente artículo trata sobre la gestión de datos en el proceso de investigación a nivel de estudios de maestría como parte de la formación continua del docente, y tuvo como objetivo determinar la efectividad del método Clase Invertida como estrategia didáctica en la mejora de la competencia estadística en estudiantes de maestría en educación, Universidad de Huánuco (Perú). La metodología utilizada fue la cuantitativa, diseño de estudio cuasiexperimental, con una muestra de 47 estudiantes distribuidos en dos grupos (control y experimental), al inicio se administra una prueba previa sobre conocimientos de estadística descriptiva, el proceso experimental se llevó a cabo en los temas: estimación de intervalo de confianza y prueba de hipótesis, durante ocho sesiones de clase en ambos grupos, al final de la intervención se administra la posprueba. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que las competencias previstas y el nivel de satisfacción fueron más significativo en el grupo experimental. En conclusión, el método Clase Invertida es más efectiva que el método tradicional, para el logro de aprendizajes y el desarrollo de competencias estadísticas de los estudiantes de maestría.
 e los estudiantes de maestría.

Testing the relationships of motivation, time management and career aspirations on graduate students’ academic success

PurposeThis study explored graduate students' academic success by testing a hypothesized model based on the self-determination theory (SDT), which posits that motivation, time management and career aspiration predicts perceived success.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative methodology was employed to garner data from a population of 324 graduate students, and then analyzed using structural equation modeling in R.FindingsIntrinsic motivation was the strongest motivation type that predicted graduate students' perceived success. Time management was another important predictor of perceived success, while career aspiration did not impact students' perception of success. Doctoral students showed significantly higher relatedness when compared to master degree students. In addition, male students showed significantly higher career aspirations than females, while female students showed significantly higher time management than their male counterparts. The results of this study support the SDT as a framework to understand graduate students' academic success.Originality/valueImplementing the research findings may increase graduate students' academic success. This study suggests direct ways of increasing graduate students' achievement through intrinsic motivation, time management and autonomy, as well as reducing amotivation (lack of motivation) to indirectly enhance academic success.

Self-disclosure and its relationship to some psychological variables among graduate students

One of the highest levels of university learning is for postgraduate students studying for the master's and doctorate levels. However, what they are going through from circumstances such as academic, economic and social conditions, as well as the method or outlets for admission that made a number of students characterized by behaviors that were influenced by a number of psychological conditions that accompany them during and before the study. This may make them differ in the disclosure of themselves in proportion to the level of education in which they are, and summarizes the current research problem with the following question: What are the psychological variables that affect the nature of the behavior of graduate students from master's and doctoral degrees? As well as the form of self-disclosure? What is the relationship between them? The two researchers used the descriptive method. The current research community included graduate and postgraduate students in the College of Education for Humanities from Karbala University and for the academic year (2019-2020) prepared a scale of self-disclosure. After verifying the standard characteristics of the indicators of honesty and consistency and the statistical analysis of the scale, the scale of self-disclosure in its final form has consisted of (24) paragraphs distributed over four components: the region (blind, hidden, unknown, and clear), according to a tripartite response to the response is: [applies Always, it applies to me sometimes, never applies to me]. It is given when grades are corrected and when grades are corrected from (1) the lowest degree, and (3) the highest degree. The highest value (72) and the lowest value (24) with a hypothetical mean for each of them (48). Since the current research aims to reveal self-disclosure and its relationship to some psychological variables, so it requires the researchers to prepare an objective form that is honest and consistent, specifying the most common (psychological) variables. The research on the results showed that postgraduate students who have master’s and doctoral degrees have self-disclosure, and there are differences in self-disclosure between the master’s and doctorate studies and in favor of doctoral students. In terms of the type of self-disclosure, it was found: Master's degree students tend to disclose the type of blind and hidden PhD students tend to disclose anonymously Both degrees (master's and doctorate) participate in self-disclosure of a clear type There is also a difference in the psychological variables for postgraduate students studying for master's and doctorate degrees. And that students of MA and PhD degrees are more affected by psychological changes than students. In terms of the effect of psychological variables, it was found: Master's degree students are affected by cognitive variables (remembering and paying attention), sentimental (anger and jealousy), and external psychological control PhD students are affected by cognitive variables (comprehension), emotional (excitement), and internal psychological control. There is a positive relationship between self-disclosure and psychological variables

Knowledge, attitudes and preventive behaviors toward COVID-19: a study among higher education students in Portugal

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and behaviors about COVID-19 among Portuguese higher education students.Design/methodology/approachIn May 2020, all students from a Portuguese University were invited to participate in completing an online questionnaire. A total of 262 students participated. COVID-19 related knowledge, attitudes toward COVID-19 and preventive behaviors were assessed. Differences between outcomes and sociodemographics were analyzed through independent t-tests and the ANOVA. A generalized linear model was calculated to determine the predictive variables of preventive behaviors.FindingsStudents revealed good knowledge about COVID-19, correctly answering 13.06 (SD = 1.25) questions in a total of 14 and favorable attitudes toward preventive behaviors (M = 32.73, SD = 2.88). Students reported always engaging in, on average, 5.81 (SD = 2.61) of the 12 behavior analyzed. Females presented higher levels of knowledge, more positive attitudes and engaged in more preventive behaviors than males. Being a bachelor's (Exp (β) = 8.213, 95% CI: 1.791–37.670, p < 0.01) or a master's degree student (Exp (β) = 7.568, 95% CI: 1.598–35.835, p < 0.05) and having positive attitudes toward preventive behavior of COVID-19 predicted the adoption of those preventive behavior (Exp (β) = 1.340, 95% CI: 1.189–1.510, p < 0.001).Originality/valueThis study provides useful data to plan health education programs about COVID-19 among higher education students. The continuous investment by universities in preventive campaigns is essential to promote good preventive behaviors in the next academic year.

Formation of professional competences among master degree students of pedagogical universities in the process of practice-oriented learning

Introduction. The relevance of the study is due to the need to transform the system of practice-oriented education, to search for effective mechanisms for organizing the educational process aimed at forming the professional competencies of future teachers. The process of preparing master degree students of pedagogical universities for a professional activity must meet the requirements of modern society, the higher education system, the requirements of regulatory documents and professional standards. Materials and methods. The study involved 125 master degree students of the Voronezh State Pedagogical University majoring in “Pedagogical education”. Basic research methods include the analysis of teaching activities, the study and generalization of innovative teaching and management experience, a pedagogical experiment. Pearson’s chi-squared test (χ2) was used to establish statistically significant differences between the control and experimental groups. Research results. Within the framework of the study, a practice-oriented model of formation of professional competencies in master degree students of pedagogical universities and the conditions for its effective functioning was developed and implemented. During the study, criteria and indicators of formation of professional competences among master degree students were determined: motivational (the level of educational and professional motivation), cognitive (professional knowledge, information-communication indicator) and activity-based ones (professional skills, organization, independence), levels of formation of professional competences. The experiment showed that the level of formation of professional competences among master degree students in the experimental group is higher than that of the control group (χ2 = 6.45; p<0.05). Conclusion. The research results can be used in the process of practice-oriented teaching and the organization of educational and on-the-job training of master degree students at pedagogical universities, aimed at forming professional competencies of future teachers. Keywords: activity-based approach, competency-based approach, practice-oriented learning, professional competencies, innovative technologies, practice-oriented learning model

INVESTIGATION OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES OF HIGHER DEGREE STUDENTS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

Research into investigation of the relationship between multiple intelligences of learners and academic performance is germane. This study investigated relationship between multiple intelligences of higher degree students and academic performance. Two research questions and three hypotheses guided the correlational study. Three hundred and thirty Master degree students of the University of Ibadan who are randomly selected made the sample. Three validated instruments: Simple Multiple Intelligence Inventory developed by Gardner (r=0.89), Modified MILHDSQ (r=0.87) and the CGPA of students result for the two semesters was used to collect data that was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The result reveals a very high level of multiple intelligences in the overall mean of 4.34. Students demonstrated very much high intelligence in Logical-mathematical (Xw=4.82), interpersonal (Xw=4.57) and visual (Xw=4.53). Both logical (8.143<0.05) and intrapersonal (19.252<0.05) intelligences are related to academic performance. Moreover, academic performance has high correlation with Logical (0.72) and Linguistic (0.61). This shows a positive correlation between multiple intelligences and academic performance. The result provided opportunity for lecturers’ awareness to observe level of multiple intelligences of students for better guidance to improve academic performance. It is recommended that teaching strategies that will accommodate multiple intelligences be designed by education stakeholders.

Larry Royster's influence on my life and on noise and hearing conservation, as told by one of his students

I first met Larry Royster as a master's degree student in search of a thesis project and research funding, having heard that he was looking for a student to work on a potential grant concerning occupational hearing loss. The day I entered his office at NC State was one of the most impactful of my life, dramatically influencing the trajectory of my university work and professional career. Working with Larry gave me the opportunity to manage and conduct a research project in the textile industry, gain insights into the hearings at the Department of Labor that were to shape the Hearing Conservation Amendment, and to see first-hand how Larry influenced and guided the North Carolina DOL approach to noise and hearing conservation. He was there when I had my first post‑graduate school job offer from E-A-R Division of Cabot Corporation, later Aearo Technologies and 3M, and then became an important friend and collaborator for much of my subsequent research. He chaired ANSI and NHCA working groups and received the ASA Silver Medal and other important society awards. Larry was a friend, mentor, and dedicated scientist whose impact on noise and hearing conservation will be the topic of my talk.

ОРГАНІЗАЦІЙНО-ПЕДАГОГІЧНІ УМОВИ УДОСКОНАЛЕННЯ СИСТЕМИ ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ ПІДГОТОВКИ МАЙБУТНІХ МАГІСТРІВ ПОЧАТКОВОЇ ОСВІТИ ДО ІННОВАЦІЙНОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ

У статті узагальнено різні наукові підходи до розуміння сутності понять «професійна підготовка», «професійна готовність до інноваційної діяльності», «умова», «організаційно-педагогічні умови». Обґрунтовано організаційно-педагогічні умови удосконалення системи професійної підготовки майбутніх магістрів початкової освіти до інноваційної діяльності.

Experience of Intra-University Cooperation in the Process of Creating Professionally-Oriented Foreign Language Textbooks

The article discusses the creation of professionally-oriented foreign language textbooks in the process of interaction between the department of foreign languages and the specialized departments of a technical university. Inter-departmental cooperation is considered as a university resource for improving the quality of higher education; examples of successful interdepartmental cooperation at the Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University are given. It is shown that a characteristic feature of a professionally-oriented textbook of the new generation, created by the joint efforts of the linguistic and specialized departments is the widespread use of the elements of the computer-based learning environment, which contributes to a more effective mastering of the subject content. A list of seven English language textbooks created as a result of inter-departmental cooperation, and a brief analysis of the problems that arose in the process of communication between specialists of linguistic and technical profiles are presented. It is shown that the process of creating foreign language textbooks can be simultaneously used as a practice-oriented interdisciplinary project for master degree students of a linguistic profile who participate in it as developers of the linguistic content of these textbooks. Participation of the postgraduates in this project is supported by the curricular discipline “Interdisciplinary links in higher education” and teaching practice.

Teacher’s Strategies in Improving Student’s Reading Interest

Most of Indonesian students in university had low interest in reading. Thus, the strategies of the teacher were essential to be considered to build up students’ reading interest. The aim of this research was to investigate the teacher’s strategies in university in teaching reading and also tried to explore the students’ response toward the strategies. Therefore, this research used mix method to reveal the result. The participants involved in this research were 50 master degree students in English Education Department in certain University in Yogyakarta. To acquire the distribution of the students’ response toward the teachers’ strategies, this research used questionnaire. Furthermore, to collect the data deeper, this research used in-depth interviews. The finding showed that the teacher could boost students’ interest in reading if the teacher could provide transparent scoring system which could assist them to obtain a reflection. Therefore, indirectly, by using this strategy, the teacher forced the students to read to acquire good score in reading activity. Thus, the teacher could enhance the students’ reading interest if the teacher could combine transparent scoring system and force in reading class.

The DPOBE Model for Organizational Sustainability: An Exploratory Study about its Structure, Pillars and Components among a Group of Master Degree Students

Abstract Research purpose. To get a validation of the structure, pillars and components that seem to be central, and under which, business management and managers need to develop abilities and competences to ensure the sustainability of their organizations according to the ‘DPOBE Model for Organizational Sustainability’ structure. Design/Methodology/Approach. For the validation of the structure, pillars and components and it’s practical application to measure the organization’s sustainability level with the referred model, despite the focus group exercise made in an early stage, it’s also important to get a solid opinion about it among managers and also in academia, specifically among teachers and investigators on management, business administration and economics as well near master and doctorate students in this field. In this paper, we analyse the results obtained in an exploratory study, based on a survey made among students from four different master’s degree in several specific areas of business management from the School of Business Administration from the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (Portugal). Findings. Main results obtained with this exploratory study let the authors be granted with the developments made so far in the model and its structure, pillars and components. However, only with a major collection of opinions (answer to the survey) from the referred groups, it’s possible to define and adjust the final structure and components of the DPOBE Model. Originality/Value/Practical implications. Being an investigation with several years of development, with several articles, chapters of books, master’s degree thesis, congress presentations and papers made so far, only with a solid and validated structure, pillars and components of the DPOBE Model for Organizational Sustainability, it’s possible to go to its aim, the use of it as a quantitative tool to measure the effective organizations sustainability in a way different from other existing sustainability tools and indexes.

Artificial neural network analysis of the academic performance of students in virtual learning environments

Educational institutions continually strive to improve the services they offer, their aim is to have the best possible teaching staff, increase the quality of teaching and the academic performance of their students. A knowledge of the factors that affect student learning could help universities and study centres adjust their curricula and teaching methods to the needs of their students. One of the first measures employed by teaching institutions was to create Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs). This type of environment makes it possible to attract a larger number of students because it enables them to study from wherever they are in the world, meaning that the student’s location is no longer a constraint. Moreover, VLEs facilitate access to teaching resources, they make it easier to monitor the activity of the teaching staff and of the interactions between students and teachers. Thus, online environments make it possible to assess the factors that cause the students’ academic performance to increase or decrease.To understand the factors that influence the university learning process, this paper applies a series of automatic learning techniques to a public dataset, including tree-based models and different types of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). Having applied these techniques to the dataset, the number of times students have accessed the resources made available on VLE platforms has been identified as a key factor affecting student performance. This factor has been analysed by conducting a real case study which has involved 120 students doing a masters degree over a VLE platform. Concretely, the case study participants were masters degree students in areas related to computer engineering at the University of Salamanca.

Freedom of Master's Degree Students to Study in Health Curricula: Switching to Optimized Blended Learning as a Solution!

Summary Objectives: The Grenoble (France) Master's degree in health includes 17 sub-specialty programs, 120 separate teaching units (TUs) and caters for up to 400 students per year. We present the pedagogical transition to blended learning based on flipped classroom initiated in 2010 to overcome the pedagogical limitations of classical lectures. Methods: The pedagogical organization of each TU is based on the weekly and sequential implementation of five sequences. The first three sequences comprise the learning stages of (1) self-learning on knowledge capsules, (2) interactive on-line questions and votes of interest, and (3) interactive on-site training and explanation meetings. The last two sequences include the evaluation stages with (4) positioning tests, and (5) an anonymous evaluation of the TU allowing access to personalized follow-ups. This pedagogical sequence is completed with a final certification on a tablet computer. Results: The systematic evaluation and debriefing sessions of TUs gave us a clear SWOT vision of the revised Master's degree in health. The feedback was very positive from students, teachers, and the institution, which encourages us to move forward in this transition. Nonetheless, some of this positive feedback was unexpected, such as the ease of managing mobile learners (e.g. Erasmus, International internship) or personalized reinforcement. Conclusion: Our results indicate that a switch to blended learning is feasible in a large Master program, with improvements on student/teacher equity and for the institution.

The Notion of Zh.Balasagyn’s Heritage in the Formation of Personality under the Program «Rouhani Zhangyru»

The article describes the role of the system organization of national education and nurturing for the formation of an intellectually educated person who will help the country’s future prosperity and build a future democratic society. The basics of national education in the formation of the younger generation that contribute to the development of national interests of the country is considered in the article. One of the important directions of development of the company’s strategic resources was the need to create new opportunities for the implementation of youth policy and the potential of the young generation. The revival of forgotten national traditions in course with the implementation of the “RUKHANI ZHANGYRU” program are analyzed in the article. The role of studying national values and the great heritage of the people as the genetic code of the nation is important in the formation of a competitive person of the new time, a person with high universal values. The heritage of the great thinker, philosopher, and public figure of the Turkic world, Zhusup Balasagun, plays an important role in the formation of national identity. The “Blessed knowledge” reflects the psychology and wisdom of the Turkic people, the ideals of education, and the wisdom of governing the country. In fact, teaching students the skills and abilities of leadership, management, communication, and pedagogy can be enriched by considering the situations of this work (a distinctive case study). At the same time, the great thinker in the famous legacy emphasizes the importance of human kindness, humility and humanity in building a fair-minded society. The scenarios of classes and the technology of their implementation with the inclusion of situations from the legacy of J. Balasaguni, as well as discussions and techniques for asking effective questions are discussed in the article. 21 students and 45 master degree students took part in the discussion on the evaluation of this methodological approach. Key words: national idea, national heritage, kindness, national feelings, national upbringing.

Validation of a nutrition knowledge questionnaire in Italian students attending the University of Parma.

The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of a self-administered nutrition knowledge (NK) questionnaire for Italian university students. The NK questionnaire included ninety questions on experts' nutritional recommendations, nutritional content of food, health aspects of food and diets, relationship between diet and diseases, and proper food choices. It was administered to the same population under the same conditions on two different occasions with a time interval of 3 weeks between the two administrations. The survey was carried out at the University of Parma (Italy) during the 2018-2019 academic year. Data were collected for 132 bachelor and master degree students attending the University of Parma, either attending or not nutrition classes during their studies (19-30 years, 29·5 % males, 57·6 % with an academic nutrition background). The questionnaire revealed high overall internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α > 0·8) and a good temporal stability with high correlation of the total score (r = 0·835, P < 0·001). Moreover, it showed a good ability to discriminate between subjects with potentially different NK. This NK questionnaire proved to be a reliable, valid and easy-to-use tool for assessing the NK of Italian university students, either with or without nutrition background.

In Memoriam: Professor Ephraim Maurice Sparrow

In Memoriam: Professor Ephraim Maurice Sparrow