Educational Practice Research Articles

Enhancing reflective practices in higher education with AI-supported anthropomorphic coaches

This paper reports on a pilot study exploring the use of generative AI and anthropomorphic coaches to enhance students’ reflective practices. Reflective practice is crucial for critical thinking and self-awareness. AI-driven feedback systems and lifelike avatars may create interactive, engaging environments for deeper student reflection. Drawing on observations from an ongoing project using Soul Machines Studio at the University of Auckland Business School, this inquiry considers anthropomorphic AI coaches’ ability to provide timely feedback and support reflective work in postgraduate courses. As a work-in-progress, we describe two use cases: (a) Refining team collaboration through AI-guided reflection and (b) providing feedback on reflective journal writing. We also outline future work on scalability, longitudinal studies, learning management system integration, cross-cultural adaptation, and ethical frameworks. We highlight AI's potential to develop students’ reflective practices and contribute to integrating advanced technologies in education.

Research Dangerously: An Introduction to Pushing Transformative Possibilities in Educational Research and Practice

Research Dangerously: An Introduction to Pushing Transformative Possibilities in Educational Research and Practice

Australian primary school teachers’ responses to students with same-sex/gender parents

ABSTRACT As part of their everyday experiences in schools, primary school teachers will engage with same-sex/gender parents. This study seeks to explore Australian primary school teachers’ experiences in which they have engaged same-sex/gender parents and the ways in which they have responded. Concepts of childhood innocence, hetero-cis-normativity and visibility/invisibility can reproduce cultural norms of ‘mum and dad’ families, but in the real world there is great variation in family make-ups including same-sex/gender parents. Teachers’ decisions about how to respond to same-sex/gender parents vary depending on personal, institutional and/or cultural beliefs and practices. We argue that teachers and schools need time, resources, and support to a) unlearn social norms about ‘family’ and b) to create practices that are socially just for children and their same-sex/gender parents. All children and families should be recognised in education policy and practice.

Bridging the Visualization Gap

The integration of three-dimensional (3D) modelling tools in educational settings promises a transformative shift in teaching complex concepts. Despite their potential, the actual deployment of such tools faces substantial pedagogical and technical challenges, primarily due to the "visualization gap" between traditional 2D resources and 3D constructs. This gap can significantly hinder students' understanding and retention of complex spatial concepts critical in disciplines such as medicine, engineering, and architecture. To address these challenges, this paper introduces the Integrated VR Educational Technology Assessment (IVRETA) framework, designed to evaluate and guides the development of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) tools in education. IVRETA assesses tools across three dimensions: Interaction and Usability, Learning Enhancement, and Authentic Pedagogy and Adaptability. Applying this framework, we evaluate 3D Whiteboard, a practical tool designed to facilitate dynamic interaction with 3D models and enhance educational outcomes through immersive learning experiences. The paper underscores the potential of the 3D Whiteboard in bridging the visualization gap and improving educational practices across various disciplines, demonstrating how IVRETA can guide the assessment and improvement of educational technologies. By providing a robust foundation for the development and enhancement of educational technologies, IVRETA supports ongoing innovation in educational settings.

Developing Online Tutorials Through Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL)

The Four-Component Instructional Design (4C/ID) model facilitates complex learning, while Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) offers a robust framework for collaborative acquisition of knowledge and skills. This study investigates how a collaborative environment, integrated within the 4C/ID framework, can enhance the effectiveness of online tutorial development by learning designers. Employing a qualitative approach, we explored the underlying mechanisms of the design process. Preliminary findings suggest that integrating PAL with 4C/ID improves the quality and engagement of online educational content. This research suggested the potential of collaborative strategies in instructional design, proposing a model that could be beneficial for enhancing future educational practices.

(Re)defining Mobile Learning in the Post COVID-19 and GenAI Era

Mobile learning, thrust into the spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic, has a rich 40-year history with a robust body of research predating 2020. This concise paper revisits mobile learning in light of the accelerated technological advancements and shifting educational practices post-pandemic. By examining the evolution of mobile learning frameworks and integrating recent advancements in AI and wearable technologies, we propose a contemporary redefinition that emphasises an accessible mobile ecology. We further explore the theoretical foundations and emerging scenarios in mobile learning, focusing on authentic learning experiences with current trends.

Optimising Student Preparedness through TEL Pedagogies

This paper explores the implementation of Technology-Enhanced Learning pedagogies across four schools through scalable and cross-disciplinary collaboration at a Western Australian university. Using innovative support initiatives, co-created with academic and professional staff and students, our resources focus on bridging gaps in essential academic and digital literacies and fostering student agency and self-regulation. Grounded in transition pedagogy and adaptive learning, these initiatives enhance preparedness and inclusivity for a diverse cohort of students. We seek to address the lack of student perspectives on generative AI (GenAI) tools available to date, sharing recent data that reveals students' lack of confidence in using GenAI for learning and assessments. This paper explores GenAI’s role in shaping educational practice and provides recommendations to improve its integration. These insights will potentially complement the whole-of-institution curriculum transformation initiative at our university, emphasising the importance of feedback literacy and self-regulated learning in an evolving educational landscape. Our initiatives promote self-regulated and co-regulated learning, to enable students and staff to collaboratively improve the learning process and outcomes. Finally, this paper discusses the challenges encountered, offering actionable insights for institutions aiming to enhance student preparedness through collaboration.

Study on the Practice of Ideological and Political Education in Foreign Trade Correspondence on Teaching in English- Taking the 7C Principleas an Example

In the new era, integrating ideological and political elements into professional courses, strengthening the shaping of students' values, and actively guiding college students to establish correct values. This article analyzes the practice of ideological and political education based on the 7C principles of foreign trade correspondence by English teaching. Starting from the advantages of ideological and political construction in foreign trade correspondence courses, the socialist core values are compared with the "7P principles" of writing in foreign trade correspondence courses. It is found that their content is consistent with the "7C principles", especially the basic moral norms of citizens, namely "patriotism, dedication, integrity, and friendliness", which can be combined with the content of the 7C principles for teaching. During the teaching process, classroom discussion, case analysis, and vivid deduction methods can be used to effectively carry out ideological and political education on foreign trade correspondence by English teaching.

Navigating English Learning with AI: A Qualitative Study of University Students Experiences

The accelerated development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies has had a substantial impact on educational practices, particularly in the field of English education. This study investigateshe experiences of university students at a UIN Fatmawati Sukarno Bengkulu in the process of navigating English learning through AI. The study examines the challenges and benefits those students experience when utilizing the most frequently used AI tools, as well as their perceptions of these technologies. Interviews with nine students in the fifth semester of the English program at UIN Fatmawati Sukarno Bengkulu are conducted using a qualitative methodology. The results indicate that students have a positive attitude toward AI in the context of English learning and employ a variety of AI tools to resolve various aspects of language acquisition. This study is a unique exploration of the manner in which university students simultaneously incorporate multiple AI tools in their English learning, providing new insights into the role of AI in promoting self-directed learning and practical language application. The study offers new insights into the transformative potential of AI in supporting students’ autonomous learning journeys while learning English by providing a comprehensive view of AI’s role in English education.

College Teachers’ Informatization-Based Teaching Ability and Performance

Teachers' informatization teaching ability is vital for integrating modern technology with educational practices, especially as technologies continue to evolve. These skills are critical for advancing the modernization of education and improving teaching quality, particularly in higher education. National policies in China, such as the "Education Informatization 2.0 Action Plan," highlight the importance of enhancing teachers' technological capabilities to meet the challenges of contemporary education. Focusing on the informatization teaching abilities of college teachers in Hunan Province, this research employed a descriptive quantitative method, gathering data from students and teachers at five universities. Significantly low to no correlation was shown between students' evaluations of teachers' technological proficiency and teachers' self-efficacy, though other factors, including in pedagogical strategies and digital resource integration, did not show significant relationships. Although college teachers have acquired basic informatization teaching skills, there remains room for improvement in areas like teaching implementation and evaluation. To address these gaps, targeted training programs, collaborative skill development initiatives, and up-to-date professional development aligned with technological advancements are recommended as strengthening these areas is essential for enhancing teachers' informatization capabilities and supporting the ongoing modernization of higher education in China.

School administrators’ and teachers’ pedagogical responses to demographic change based on their meaning-making of multicultural students in South Korea

ABSTRACT Public schools in South Korea have faced unprecedented changes because of demographic shifts, particularly the influx and growth of three types of ‘multicultural students’: children of married migrant women, foreign workers, and North Korean refugees. In this situation, teachers are challenged to implement educational policies and a standardised national curriculum for those unfamiliar with the Korean language, culture, and education system. This study, conducted between Fall 2022 and Summer 2023, involved interviews with 16 elementary and secondary school administrators and teachers from urban and rural regions. It revealed that teachers’ perceptions and biases about multicultural students significantly influenced their educational practices, resulting from interpretive processes and problematic framing. The data indicate that teachers’ meaning-making and pedagogical responses to multicultural students are insufficient for systematically addressing the structural inequalities and social injustices faced by these students. Ultimately, these teachers’ responses and practices fell short of providing equitable education that South Korea’s multicultural education policies aim for. The study concluded that comprehensive teacher training in cultural competence and bias awareness is essential for bridging the gap between policy and practice. It recommends the development of reflective practices, continuous professional development, and the creation of supportive school environments to enhance multicultural education’s effectiveness.

Future-Oriented Science Learning and its Effects on Students’ Emotions, Futures Literacy and Agency in the Anthropocene

AbstractScience education bears the broader objective of nurturing students today to be scientifically-literate citizens of tomorrow who are able to foresee challenges, invent solutions and make responsible decisions for global issues. As a prelude to the new focus of agency in the Anthropocene, this paper presents an intervention on climate change with upper secondary students in a museum of natural history in England. Instructional strategies such as infusing scenarios and arts into scientific discussions were adopted to induce imagination, future-oriented thinking and emotional responses. Statistical results showed that the intervention significantly enhanced participants’ futures literacy, environmental agency and positive emotions. However, it did not increase their interests in learning science in out-of-school context. Implications of this study will shed light on futurising science and climate education in research and practice.

A tale of two languages: charting Chinese parents’ beliefs about and engagement with Chinese and English language learning

ABSTRACT This study investigates Chinese parental beliefs about and engagement with their children’s Chinese and English language learning in Yinchuan, China, utilizing the theory of planned behaviour as an analytical framework and a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data from 879 parents reveals a strong preference for Chinese language education based on its perceived utility, cultural identity, and socioeconomic returns, contrasting with an ambivalent stance towards English. Qualitative insights highlight the influences of nationalism, anti-Western sentiments, and the COVID-19 pandemic on parental attitudes. These findings underscore the dominance of top-down language policies and societal expectations in shaping parental choices, often leading to contradictions between expressed attitudes and realized engagement. Perceived behavioural control emerges as a critical factor, with parents navigating challenges such as resource limitations, policy instability, and the dynamics of child autonomy. This study offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of parental involvement and the factors shaping language learning priorities, thus contributing to the growing body of literature on language education in China. These findings can inform language education policies and practices, emphasizing the need for accessible home-based resources, cultural understanding, and open dialogue to support effective and equitable language learning outcomes for Chinese children.

Using Large Language Models to Enhance Genre-Based English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Writing: A Path to Sustainable Development

In the context of the evolving digital era, this study introduces a conceptual model that integrates Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into English for Academic Purposes (EAP) writing, leveraging Critical Digital Literacies (CDL). It aims to develop EFL doctoral students' competencies necessary for sustainable development, addressing the gap in current genre-based EAP instruction that often neglects comprehensive ESD competencies such as systems thinking and self-awareness. Utilizing innovative tools like ChatGPT within a CDL framework, the model focuses on both explicit teaching objectives related to genre knowledge and implicit ones tied to ESD. Specifically, the study outlines eight scenarios where GPT technology aids in achieving these pedagogical goals. By implementing this model, we aim not only to enrich the EAP writing curriculum but also to subtly shift educational practices towards embracing the values of sustainability and digitalization.

Impact of Learning Styles on Students’ Retention of Information

This study investigates the impact of Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic (VAK) teaching methods on student retention within the context of China's evolving educational landscape. Acknowledging the country's significant strides in educational reforms and technological integration, the research aims to empirically determine the effectiveness of these teaching methodologies have on enhancing student engagement and information retention. The study is of critical importance as it seeks to inform educational practices and policies, with the goal of improving instructional strategies to align with diverse learning preferences. The research fills a notable gap in the empirical literature regarding the comparative impact of VAK methods on student retention in China, where traditional lecture-based methods are still predominantly employed. Findings from this study could influence teacher training programs and contribute to the development of a more inclusive educational system that caters to the varied learning styles of students. Through a synthesis of existing literature and the researcher's observations of differing engagement and retention rates with traditional versus varied teaching methods, the study provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of integrating visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements into teaching practice. The research aligns with a body of studies that have demonstrated the effectiveness of VAK methods in enhancing learning outcomes, although it acknowledges the variability in outcomes based on context, subject matter, and individual learner differences. This paper also recognizes the importance of ongoing assessment and customization of teaching strategies to meet the specific needs of students in diverse educational settings.

Dynamic or Static Goal Regulation: Implications of Weak and Strong Bonds Between Autonomous/Controlled Reasons and Aims for Achievement Goal Striving

Achievement goals have been key concepts for describing what motivates individuals in educational contexts. While achievement goals have often merely been conceptualized in terms of aspired end-states (aims of goal striving), contemporary research has proposed a more holistic perspective synthesizing these aims alongside autonomous versus controlled reasons derived from Self-Determination Theory into so-called achievement goal complexes. How these aims and reasons align is a matter of further discussion. An overview of empirical studies on goal complexes as well as associations between achievement goals and overarching goal systems reveals that aims differ in whether they show strong communality (static goal regulation) or rather high situational fluctuation regarding underlying reasons (dynamic goal regulation). Particularly, mastery aims show primarily strong bounds with autonomous reasons, whereas performance aims are more ambiguously aligned with underlying reasons. This has implications for the development of an overarching theory as well as for educational practice aiming to foster certain goals and goal complexes. Potential avenues for future research such as further investigations into goal valence, a broader set of aims, the impact of culture, and goal development are discussed.

Optimization Research on Integrating Mental Health Into Ideological and Political Theory Courses Through Deep Learning Network Applications

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of incorporating mental health education into ideological and political theory classrooms using speech emotion recognition technology from the field of human-computer interaction. Mental health education is essential for students' well-being, and this study establishes a theoretical framework for its integration into the curriculum. Utilizing recurrent neural networks (RNNs) augmented with attention mechanisms, the research demonstrates the model's proficiency in identifying subtle emotional cues within speech data. The model achieves an average recognition accuracy of 87.21% on the RAVDESS speech emotion corpus, showing particular strengths in detecting emotions like happiness and boredom. The findings suggest that this technology can be effectively employed to gauge student satisfaction with different teaching methodologies post-integration, offering valuable insights for refining educational practices in ideological and political theory classes through improved mental health education initiatives.

Research on Equity in Early Childhood Education in Western China: A Case Study of Sichuan Province

Abstract: This article investigates the issue of equity in early childhood education in Western China through interviews with ten kindergarten principals from the region. The study reveals several factors impacting educational fairness, including a vague understanding of the concept of educational equity, a lack of equitable practices in education, and the inability to ensure equal educational opportunities. Furthermore, the region faces a severe shortage of early childhood educational resources, instability within the teaching staff, difficulty in maintaining educational quality, and a lack of communication and cooperation among kindergartens. These issues contribute significantly to the imbalance of educational opportunities, severely affecting the normal development of children and the overall quality of preschool education. To address these challenges, the article recommends enhancing policy support to improve resource allocation and optimization, increasing professional training and compensation for teachers to strengthen the practice of equity in education, and raising societal awareness about the importance of educational equity. These measures are crucial for promoting equitable and high-quality education for every child in Western China, ensuring that all children have access to equal and quality educational opportunities.

Students' Perception of Electronic Feedback: Lecturer, Peer, and Self-Electronic Feedback on Writing Academic with Different Students' Writing Achievement

The aimed of the study is to see the Writing is one of the essential skills that need honing through continuous practice. This skill is significant in the workplace, especially since this is the minimum skill needed in the day-to-day business, office, academe, and corporate transactions which is why students in EFL classes should be trained so that English writing proficiency is honed regardless of the socio-cultural background. The study is participated by 30 students through a cluster class from the Universitas Islam Negeri Intan Lampung. The study used a Likert-Scale questionnaire and the data were analyzed using the SPSS version 26 while the reliability and validity were evaluated through Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient. The data about students’ perception of the lecturer’s electronic feedback states that the majority of the students (24% of High students, 30% of Fair students, and 27% Low of students) and the students who received feedback on the perception in peer electronic feedback showed that majority of participants (20% of High students, 27% of Fair students, and 26% of Low students) felt that they received electronic feedback on grammar, organization, and vocabulary. While, the opinions of the participants reveal that the majority of them (17% of High students, 27% of Fair students, and 20% of Low students) felt that they did not receive self-feedback on grammar organization, and vocabulary. 75% of the participants embraces the role of the lecturer in providing electronic feedback and emphasizes the responsibility of the learners in correcting the errors committed by the learners, while 69% of the participants believed that it was important to receive peer electronic feedback, arguing that it was also the peer responsibility to give feedback for the leaners’ errors. Lastly, 75% believed that self-feedback was not too important to improve their language development, arguing that they did not get benefits from self-feedback because they were not sure about the errors they revised. In summary, the study suggests that e-feedback is a valuable tool for improving academic writing in EFL students. It necessitates broader adoption and customization in educational practices while also indicating areas for further enhancement, such as self-feedback and culturally sensitive feedback.

Assessing Teacher Accountability: Development and Validation of the Teacher’s Professional Accountability Scale (TPAS)

This study aims to develop and validate the Teachers’ Professional Accountability Scale (TPAS) constructed by the researcher, which addresses the need for a comprehensive tool to measure professional accountability among Secondary school teachers. Professional accountability is the obligation of educators to adhere established standards and practices with competence and integrity, is crucial for improving educational quality and ensuring favorable student outcomes. A descriptive survey method was employed, and the TPAS was constructed and standardized through a pilot study. The scale consists of 94 items across four dimensions: procedural responsibility, consequential responsibility, instructional responsibility, and school and classroom responsibilities for student outcomes. Item analysis and selection resulted in a final draft of 74 items with satisfactory discrimination power. Reliability analysis using split-half method and Cronbach’s alpha yielded coefficients of 0.85, indicating high internal consistency. Content validity was established through expert reviews, and norms were developed based on z-scores from a sample of 281 Secondary school teachers. The TPAS provides a validated measure for assessing professional accountability, contributing to the advancement of educational research and practice, The study reached some recommendations, including the commitment of the school administration and senior management to the accountability standards reached, and the provision of joint workshops to ensure the efficiency of the implementation of professional accountability standards for teachers.