Practical Course Research Articles

Identify The Relationship Between Scientific Writing Skills and Cognitive Skills During Laboratory Activities

The lack of understanding about how scientific writing skills influence students' cognitive skills during laboratory activities. This study aimed to assess scientific writing skills and cognitive skills and explore their relationship among 49 first-semester science teacher candidates enrolled in a practical course on measurement tools and methods from February to June 2023. Cognitive skills were evaluated using reported response scores. Descriptive analysis revealed a spectrum of scientific writing skills, ranging from excellent to poor, among the participants, alongside generally low cognitive abilities. However, upon conducting correlation tests, it was found that there was no significant relationship between the ability to write reports and the response values (Sig = 0.117 0.05, rcount = 0.227 rtable = 0.281). The research findings suggest that scientific writing skills exhibit variance across different practical subjects, and notably, the ability to write reports does not appear to correlate with response scores. These insights shed light on the complex interplay between scientific writing proficiency and cognitive abilities during laboratory activities, urging further exploration into pedagogical strategies to enhance both skill sets in science education

Mapping Competencies and Recommendations for Educating Nursing Students (CARES): Reviewing Palliative Care in a Baccalaureate Nursing Program.

The Competencies and Recommendations for Educating undergraduate Nursing Students (CARES) was originally designed for nursing students' palliative and end-of-life care education. The competencies were later revised to align with the 2021 American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials core competencies for baccalaureate nursing education. This project aimed to (1) review the courses in an accelerated baccalaureate nursing program for alignment with CARES, (2) determine any gaps, and (3) make program recommendations. The CARES competencies and Essentials were mapped according to the nursing program's 12 core curriculum courses and evaluated. Three CARES competencies were not met, and 12 were partially met. Areas of improvement were identified across the curriculum. Results of the mapping included palliative concepts needing earlier program introduction, reflective journaling was recommended for clinical practice courses, and incorporation of palliative care simulations was proposed to bridge the gaps.

Construction of an Evaluation Indicator System for Civic and Political Applications in Professional Practice Courses Based on CIPP: Taking the VBSE Practical Training Course as an Example

This study takes the virtual business society environment (VBSE) practical training course as a case study and applies the theoretical framework of the context, input, process, product (CIPP) model to construct an evaluation indicator system for the application of civic and politics in professional practice courses. The context evaluation is measured from the support of the VBSE practical training course into course civic and politics, teachers’ cognition, and the integration of course objectives; the input evaluation is measured from the matching degree of teachers’ civic and political competence, and the matching degree of teaching resources; the process evaluation is measured from the degree of implementation of civic and politics teaching and the degree of students’ acceptance; and the product evaluation is measured from the degree of impact of civic and politics teaching.

From "Practice" to "Practicality": A Case Study on the Implementation of Comprehensive Practical Activities Course

The practical nature of comprehensive practical activities dictates that real improvements in student abilities and quality can only occur through genuine engagement in activities. Issues such as securing time and balancing with other disciplines are inevitable conflicts in the school system. Integration is a necessary path for the effective implementation of comprehensive practical activities. This article, based on a case study, shares some approaches and reflections on guiding students in practical activities, seeking constructive feedback on the less mature aspects.

The Practical Path of Labor Curriculum in Compulsory Education in China from the Perspective of Overlapping Influence Domain Theory

Since the new curriculum reform, labor education has gradually shed its marginalized position in the “five educations,” and the labor curriculum has become an independent course officially separated from comprehensive practical activity courses. Exploring the practical path of labor curriculum in compulsory education in China has become the primary task of labor education in China. Based on the practical situation of labor curriculum in compulsory education in China, drawing on the theory of overlapping influence domains, and from the perspective of collaborative education among family, school, and community, this paper proposes a curriculum practical path of “school-led” family-school-community collaboration and a curriculum practical path guided by “student-centered” sentiment, in order to provide references for the practice of labor curriculum in compulsory education in China.

Using Two-Way Immersion Program in Teaching English in Kazakhstan: Teachers’ View

The Program of Two-way immersion is a form of integration students from two different groups and contemporary studying of two languages and subjects on these languages. The method as a method was appeared in Canada in the early 1960s. The program of TWI adherence to the following criteria: 1. The number of students is the same in two group; 2) groups gathered into one group according to the main subjects; 3) all main subjects are taught in two languages simultaneously. Two types of TWI program: 50\50; 90\10. This qualitative study aims to examine teachers’ views on the implementation the bilingual program into educational process of Kazakhstan. The literature review showed that Two-way immersion program is one of the innovative methods within the trilingual education of Kazakhstan, that not sufficiently studied and approved. It was hypothesized that TWI program makes an effect on trilingualism of Kazakhstan. For checking the awareness of this program, it was conducted an experimental work in Karaganda Buketov University, Kazakhstan. (103 teachers from the faculty of foreign languages, within five departments: Department of foreign philology; Foreign languages department; Department of translation theory and practice; Department of the theory and practice of foreign language training; Department of the practical foreign language course)The results demonstrate that this program is not sufficiently studied, becomes relevant in the educational process and informative, as well as to create the necessary methodological recommendations. The usage of TWI program improves the system of bilingual education in Kazakhstan, expands the level of professional readiness of teachers and students, develops high levels of academic competence and motivation.

Competency assessment in pediatric dental practice: A study on recent dental graduates in integrated curriculum.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between various independent variables, such as cumulative grade point average (CGPA), socio-economic backgrounds, anxiety levels, and the self-rated competency levels, across six domains outlined by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) of recently graduating dental students during pediatric patient care. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia. It included 74 participants (37 final-year dental students and 37 dental interns). Multiple logistic regression was employed to analyze the association between various independent variables (including CGPA, grade point average [GPA] in didactic, practical, and clinical courses, socio-economic backgrounds, gender, and self-reported student anxiety) and self-rated ADEA competency in pediatric dental practice within general dentistry (p<0.05). Final-year dental students were 28.5 times more likely to be competent in professionalism (C2) than interns (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=28.54, p=0.001). In professionalism (C2), males were 91% less likely to be competent than females (AOR=0.09, p=0.001). A high GPA in didactic courses increased the likelihood of competence in health promotion (C4) by 3.4 times compared with an average GPA (AOR=3.41, p=0.071). Regarding the establishment and maintenance of oral health (C6B), final-year dental students were 4.4 times more likely to be competent than interns (AOR=4.41, p=0.013). This study identified key factors affecting clinical competency during pediatric patient care among newly graduating dentists. It highlighted the influence of gender differences, academic performance (GPA), and anxiety levels among graduates as significant predictors.

Enhancing Descriptive Statistics Learning through Project-Based Learning (PjBL) for Islamic Education Management Students

Educational statistics is a crucial course that students of Islamic Education Management must master. However, students whose majors are not directly related to mathematics often face difficulties in learning educational statistics. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a learning model that can improve students' understanding and is applicable to practical courses such as educational statistics. One promising alternative is the Project-Based Learning (PjBL) model. This study was conducted at IAIN Takengon Aceh and involved 23 fourth-semester Islamic Education Management students in the 2023/2024 academic year. The research data were collected in the form of video recordings, photos, and final project reports. The data were analyzed using qualitative techniques and presented through narrative description. The results showed that the PjBL model is effective in promoting an understanding of descriptive statistics, fostering collaboration, and providing opportunities for students to develop problem-solving skills

Isolation and identification of primary cells: A comprehensive primary cell culture experiment for graduate students.

Experimental teaching is an important part of postgraduate training in basic and clinical medicine. While primary cell isolation and identification are among the most important research techniques for medical graduate students, most graduate students do not understand and master these techniques before starting their research experience. In particular, many students lack training in this field, and high-quality teaching and learning materials are still very sparse. Here, we designed a practical experiment course for graduate students engaged in research. The target students usually have research projects involving primary cell culture in their future research, making the course highly applicable for the students. The lab exercise focused on the methods of primary cell isolation (including mechanical grinding method, explant culture method and enzymatic digestion method) and identification (including flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining). It aimed to help students master the conceptual, principle, technical, operation, and analytical skills related to primary cell culture and contributed to their foundation for future research. Students generally reflect that they have initially mastered the isolation and identification of primary cell culture as a result of the course. Student feedback also indicates significantly increased confidence in the practical application of primary cell culture in the future. Here, we provide our experience for others who may want to implement similar courses.

Mapping the postwar legacies of eugenics in socialist countries: a conceptual history of eugenics in Hungary

The paper aims to understand the various legacies of eugenics in the postwar period to recognize both the continuities and discontinuities of eugenics with an approach which is both conceptually sound and historically correct. Building on earlier work of Lene Koch, the paper endeavours to chart the historical trajectory of eugenics by examining how its definition and those of its related or oppositional concepts have evolved within selected lexicon entries across various stages of the century. The inclusion and publication of a concept within a lexicon indicate its significance, linguistic vitality, and prevalence in public discourse. These entries serve as a window into the contemporary understanding and application of concepts over an entire century, offering insights into the practices of eugenics as interpreted by the authoritative scholars of the era. Additionally, these lexicon entries offer more than just a mirror to the past’s prevailing attitudes. The very act of articulating a concept may be viewed as a pivotal element in social struggles, influencing the course of eugenic practices and their interpretations. Both conceptual history and discourse analysis share common ground in their perception of concepts, considering the use of language as a social activity endowed with performative capabilities. They recognize that language does not merely reflect reality but can actively shape it, playing a significant role in societal dynamics and power relations. The Hungarian lexicon entries on eugenics reveal notable disparities in the identified content, the periodization, and the evolution of changes when compared to Lene Koch’s earlier study on Scandinavian eugenics. In Hungary, the concept of eugenics underwent significant changes over four successive periods. The history and interpretation of eugenics can vary significantly from one country to another. Different nations have had their unique experiences and trajectories with the eugenics movement, which have been shaped by their specific cultural, political, and social contexts. These variations emphasize the importance of considering the localized and historical perspectives when examining the concept of eugenics.

FORMATION OF STUDENTS’ READINESS FOR PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY IN THE PROCESS OF PRACTICE ACCORDING TO THE PROFILE OF THE FUTURE

Team Actuality. Practice according to the profile of the future profession plays an exceptional role not only in instilling theoretical information, but also practical abilities and skills in the training of future sports coaches. The purpose of the research – to substantiate the theoretical foundations of the formation of the components of professional readiness of students in the process of practice according to the profile of the future profession. Research methods: general scientific – analysis, comparison, systematization, generalization of scientific and methodical literature, pedagogical testing; methods of mathematical statistics. 50 students of the specialty 017 "Physical culture and sports" of the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine took part in the testing. Research results and key conclusions. The modern view on formation of readiness of students' for professional activity in the course of practice according to the profile of the future profession. The structure of the coach’s readiness for future professional activity as a set of motivational, creative and reflective components is substantiated. Emphasis is placed on the fact that from today’s standpoint it is important to develop new approaches to the content and organization of industrial practice, which stimulate student activity to master professionally oriented knowledge, skills and abilities. It is shown that there is a need for theoretical justification of the form, content (diagnostic, organizational, communicative and motivational functions) and structure of production practice, as a necessary condition for the formation of readiness of future coaches for professional activity.

Bridging the gap in medical education: comparing analysis of light microscopy and virtual microscopy in histology.

This study aims to investigate the impact of virtual microscopy (VM) and light microscopy (LM) on the satisfaction of second-year medical students and how they affect student performance in different educational settings. The research involved 94 second-year students from Izmir Democracy University's School of Medicine, with criteria requiring enrollment in the 2021-2022 academic year and attendance of at least 80% in histology practical course. A paired two-tailed t-test was used for comparison, with a researcher-designed questionnaire for data collection. Cronbach's alpha was 0.894 for the LM questionnaire, and 0.918 for the VM questionnaire, indicating high level of reliability. LM scored higher in the questionnaire (p = 0.010), but VM showed higher exam averages (p = 0.013). The study found VM more effective in exams, with students showing high satisfaction with LM. VM's accessibility to histological preparations and its impact on learning levels and board exam success rates were noted. The study concludes that while VM is becoming essential in histology education due to its positive impact on exam performance and accessibility, LM remains highly valued by students for its hands-on experience and satisfaction levels.

The Role of Artistic Practice and Practical Experience in Higher Art Education: Analysis of Methodologies and the Structure of Practical Courses

The Role of Artistic Practice and Practical Experience in Higher Art Education: Analysis of Methodologies and the Structure of Practical Courses

Distance Education through the Perspective of Students of Anesthetic Technician, Emergency Medical Technician, and Medical Imaging Technician Programs

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the distance education process through the perspective of associate degree programs and to identify crucial issues for potential future pandemics. Methods: The study group (n=166) consisted of associate degree students of the Anesthetic Technician, Emergency Medical Technician, and Medical Imaging Technician Programs. Data were collected through an electronic questionnaire regarding main headings: 'Theoretical Courses, Practical Courses, and Professional Development', 'Course Participation and Motivation', 'Measurement and Evaluation', and 'Student Suggestions for Distance Education'. Questions and statements were scored by 5-point Likert. Results: When the effects of distance education ‘on the level of internalization of the profession’ and ‘on the effect on professional competencies’ were assessed, the scores of Medical Imaging Technician Program students were lower than the scores of Anesthetic Technician Program students and Emergency Medical Technician Program students (p

The effect of an evidence‐based practice course on students' lifelong learning skills and problem‐solving skills: An educational intervention study

AbstractIn this study, the aim was to investigate the effect of an evidence‐based practice course on the lifelong learning skills and problem‐solving skills of health science students. A prospective one‐group pre‐test–post‐test design. The universe of the study consisted of 189 students from Cankiri Karatekin University. Student information form, Jefferson lifelong learning skill scale, Problem‐solving inventory (PSI) were used as data collection instruments. The sample of the study consisted of 156 students who completed the 14‐week course and fully completed the pre‐test and post‐test. For data analysis, IBM Corp. Released 2013. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. package program was used. While 84% of the students said that they had never heard of the term EBP before, 91.7% of those who knew the term said they had heard it in their field courses. The lifelong learning skill scale total score change of the students, the PSI total score change of the students after the 26‐h EBP course were statistically significant. EBP is very important for health science students to increase their problem‐solving success and lifelong learning skills, and it should be integrated into the curriculum.

Navigating the digital frontier: transformative technologies reshaping public administration

We are witnessing unprecedented, swift transformations across all industries in the current era. Advancements in information and communication technology have provided us with a tremendous opportunity for change. Our research delves into the profound impacts of digital transformation, extending beyond the public sector to encompass a variety of fields. The public sector, in particular, is experiencing its own set of transformations and changes. Our research offers an in-depth analysis of digital transformation in the public sector, with an emphasis on the key technologies driving this evolution. These include artificial intelligence and machine learning, the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, big data and analytics, digital twins, robotic process automation, augmented reality, and the metaverse. We thoroughly conceptualize these technologies, assessing their relevance and impact on the public sector. Moreover, we identify the potential challenges and present diverse global examples. Our findings reveal that technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning (including Generative AI, ChatGPT, and Google Gemini/Bard), IoT, cloud computing, big data and analytics, digital twins, robotic automation, and augmented reality are pivotal in enhancing or creating new value propositions. These technologies have shown remarkable efficacy in elevating the quality of services between individuals and governmental entities, reducing burdens, boosting efficiency, and profoundly transforming public administration and political science. Moreover, aligning these technologies with institutional requirements is essential for successful transformation. Nevertheless, it is noted that these technologies will also refine the competencies of human resources in public administration. Implemented practices reveal that civil servants need higher expertise and improve their skill sets compared to past benchmarks. Based on these insights, we advocate for higher education institutions and other bodies responsible for public sector human resource development to integrate more practical and theoretical technology-focused courses into their curricula. A comprehensive review of the existing literature indicates a scarcity of studies that holistically investigate these technologies and assess them through the lens of field experts, researchers, and policymakers. Our study addresses this gap and contributes significantly to understanding these technologies’ transformative potential.

Practice Courses Reform of Agriculture-Related Majors Under the Background of Farming and Reading Education—Taking&amp;lt; Skills Practice in Vine Yard &amp;gt; as an Example

Cultivation culture is a precious wealth developed and inherited in the long-term agricultural activities of our country. The combination of cultivation culture and labor education into practice courses can effectively realize the cultivation of contemporary college students&amp;apos; labor spirit, make labor education more practical. In view of the problems existing in the teaching of practice courses of agriculture-related majors, taking the course of “Skills Practice in Vine Yard” as an example, this paper probes into the establishment of teaching objectives, the reform of course contents, teaching methods and examination methods, etc. Promote the cultivation of new agricultural talents through these measures.

The application of blended teaching in medical practical course of clinical skills training

BackgroundBlended teaching is an effective approach that combines online and offline teaching methods, leading to improved outcomes in medical education compared to traditional offline teaching. In this study, we examined the impact of blended teaching in clinical skills training, a medical practice course.MethodsThis study involved forty-eight undergraduate students studying clinical medicine in the fifth semester at Wuhan University of Science and Technology. The students were divided into two groups: the control group, which received traditional offline teaching, and the experimental group, which received hybrid teaching. Following the completion of the 4-month course, both groups underwent the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) to evaluate their proficiency in clinical skills. Furthermore, the experimental group was given a separate questionnaire to gauge their feedback on the Blended Teaching approach.ResultsBased on the OSCE scores, the experimental group outperformed the control group significantly (P<0.05). The questionnaire results indicated that a majority of students (54.2%, 3.71 ± 1.06) believed that blended teaching is superior to traditional offline teaching, and a significant number of students (58.3%, 3.79 ± 1.15) expressed their willingness to adopt blended teaching in other courses. Furthermore, students in the experimental group displayed varying levels of interest in different teaching contents, with emergency medicine (79.2%), internal medicine (70.8%), and surgery (66.7%) being the most popular among them.ConclusionsThis research demonstrates for the first time that blended teaching can achieve a good pedagogical effectiveness in the medical practice course, clinical skills training and practice. Moreover, in different teaching contents, the teaching effects are different. In the content of Emergency Medicine and Surgery, which is more attractive to students, the application of blended teaching could result in a better pedagogical outcome than other contents.

Teaching Reform and Exploration of Practical Courses Based on Programmable Control

As the country continues to promote the development of intelligent manufacturing, all industries are carrying out enterprise automation upgrading, the Pearl River Delta Intelligent Manufacturing Conference held in March 2024 provides a direction guide for each enterprise on how to integrate the intelligent manufacturing technology into each link and provide direction guidance for enterprises to create new models and new business formats. College teachers, in focusing on the teaching process, should closely match the enterprise and social needs and cultivate excellent students. As the core controller of automation control, the application of programmable controllers in teaching is particularly important. In practical classes, by setting progressive difficulty, project guidance, team collaboration, and other links, students can master the automation equipment design of programmable control in repeated practice.

Construction of a virtual usability laboratory for conducting user tests during remote attendance

One of the educational challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic was the adaptation of theoretical-practical or practical courses to virtual formats. In this context, the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) course in the Systems Engineering Program at the University of Cartagena faced the challenge of developing user testing, involving conducting tests with end-users in a controlled environment or usability laboratory. This article contributes by presenting the design and implementation of a virtual academic usability laboratory for conducting user tests. The proposed laboratory was built and evaluated based on practices undertaken by students in the aforementioned HCI course. This laboratory aims to serve as a reference for conducting usability tests in both academic and business settings.