Programs For Students Research Articles

DIGITAL LITERACY TUTORING PROGRAM IN HIGHER EDUCATION: EMPOWERING STUDENTS IN THE DIGITAL AGE

This essay reports on the experience of implementing a digital literacy tutoring program for university students, detailing the first seven meetings. Digital literacy emerges as an essential skill in contemporary society, driven by the omnipresence of information and communication technologies (ICT) (Araújo; Glotz, 2014). The program, structured in teaching units, covered everything from basic resources to advanced platforms, seeking to train students in the critical use of digital technologies. The teaching methodology, focused on active participation and collaboration, included dialogued presentations, debates and group exercises. The results demonstrate a significant increase in students' digital skills and a greater awareness of the ethical and responsible use of technologies. The experience reinforces the importance of digital literacy in the university context, preparing students for the challenges of the digital age and thus contributing to digital inclusion.

7216 Absence Of Weight Gain In C57Bl/67 Female Mice On A High-Fat Diet Protects The Skeleton From Bone Loss

Abstract Disclosure: C. McAndrews: None. C. Chlebek: None. S. Costa: None. C.J. Rosen: None. Background: Obesity is associated with both systemic metabolic changes that increase the risk of comorbidities and reduced bone quality that increases the risk of fracture. The effects of high-fat diet consumption have been well studied in preclinical models where high-fat diet-feeding induces obesity, but there have been no studies to investigate the effects of high-fat diet-feeding in animals that do not become obese. Therefore, we characterized components of systemic metabolism and bone mineral content in non-obese C57Bl/6J mice that were fed a high-fat diet. Methods: Female C57Bl/6J mice aged 8 weeks received either a high-fat (60% kcal fat, n = 31) or control (10% kcal fat, n = 17) diet for 12 weeks. Body composition, areal bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral composition (BMC) were assessed after the feeding period using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (Faxitron UltraFocus-DXA). Glucose (GTT) and insulin (ITT) tolerance testing were performed at the conclusion of the study. Changes in body weight were calculated as the difference between baseline and experiment end. High-fat diet-fed animals were classified as obese (HFD-O, n = 24) if they weighed more than 25 g or had greater than 25% body fat as evaluated via DXA, and were otherwise considered non-obese (HFD-NO, n = 7). In a small subset of animals, subcutaneous inguinal fat pads were harvested and weighed (n=5-7/group). Differences between groups were assessed with one-way ANOVAs and Tukey post-hoc analyses. Results: HFD-O mice weighed more than HFD-NO and control animals, whereas the body weights of HFD-NO mice were not significantly different from control (p < 0.001). Fat percent was increased in HFD-O mice compared to HFD-NO and control animals (p < 0.001). Subcutaneous inguinal fat mass was increased in both HFD-O and HFD-NO mice compared to control (p < 0.001). Fasting blood glucose did not significantly differ between groups. Glucose tolerance was worsened in both HFD-O and HFD-NO mice compared to control (p < 0.001), but there were no significant differences in insulin tolerance between groups. BMD was decreased in HFD-O mice compared to HFD-NO and control animals (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: The consumption of a high-fat diet in mice induces deleterious metabolic changes irrespective of weight gain. However, high-fat diet-induced bone loss does not occur in the absence of weight gain. These findings suggest that certain adipokines derived from larger adipose depots may drive high-fat diet-induced bone loss and warrant further investigation. Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the 2023 Endocrine Society Research Experiences for Graduate and Medical Students (REGMS) Program. Presentation: 6/1/2024

Perencanaan Strategi Pemasaran Pondok Pesantren Darul Ilmi Wal Amal

The purpose of this research is to determine the strategic positioning and alternative marketing strategy that can be carried out by Darul Ilmi wal Amal Islamic Boarding School. The method used in this research is a descriptive method with a qualitative approach. The data analysis used is SWOT analysis (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat) which is measured through internal factors (Internal Strategic Factor Analysis Summary/IFAS) and external factors (External Strategic Factor Analysis Summary/EFAS). The results obtained from IFAS and EFAS show that Darul Ilmi wal Amal Islamic Boarding School is in quadrant I, which is a position that shows a strong organization with great opportunities. The strategy that is in accordance with this position is a development strategy (progressive/aggressive/expansion) which includes preparation towards a muadalah-based boarding school; expansion of promotion by involving various related parties and using various effective methods; expansion of cooperation with various related parties, especially in admitting new students, education and training; determining affordable prices/fees, scholarship programs for students and organizing the learning process based on the different academic abilities of students in the form of study groups.

E-Textbooks as a Teaching Aid at a University of Technology in South Africa: A Cultural-Historical Activity Theory Analysis

The past two years saw a rapid proliferation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in higher education. Digital technologies and environments offer many affordances. New digital literacy practices in universities have implications for teaching and learning. E-textbooks, in particular, act as mediating tools that can facilitate teaching and learning through developing students’ understandings of scientific concepts. This paper positions e-textbooks as mediators of learning, rather than merely objects of learning. There is thus a need to understand the mediating role of e-textbooks that lecturers draw on in their teaching. While much research was conducted on students’ use of e-textbooks, relatively little was conducted on lecturers’ use of e-textbooks in engineering education. The current study aimed to answer the following research question: What are lecturers’ perspectives on the use of e-textbooks to facilitate learning in engineering? To address this question, data were collected through five individual interviews conducted with engineering lecturers working in the Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) of first-year students from three engineering departments (chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and nautical science) at a university of technology in South Africa. The data were analysed using thematic content analysis with the help of ATLAS.ti. Data analysis was guided by a theoretical framework that drew on the cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT). In this study, the focus was on e-textbooks as pedagogical tools within engineering teaching and learning. The findings provide insight into how lecturers incorporate e-textbooks into their teaching, but also reveal the extent to which new digital literacy reading practices remain unfamiliar to engineering lecturers. CHAT enabled the identification of a critical insight, namely, the tension between mediation and division of labour. This highlights important aspects of the discourse surrounding seamless technology integration in higher education. The discussion points to the need for an expansive transformation regarding the use of e-textbooks as important mediating tools for teaching and learning.

Impact of the Campaign for All ABC educational program and learning in students with incomplete schooling in an educational unit, Santa Elena

The general objective of this research was to determine the level of impact of the ABC Campaign Educational Program on learning in students with incomplete schooling, in an educational unit, Santa Elena, it is of a basic type with a correlational design. The data collected through the survey technique by means of questionnaires as instruments applied to a sample of 30 units of analysis, among students of both sexes of the levels of literacy, Basic Education, Intensive Higher Basic Education, Intensive High School of an educational unit of Santa Elena, the reliability is high for both instruments as can be evidenced in the Cronbach's Alpha. The results determined that the level of Impact of the ABC Campaign Educational Program on learning in students with incomplete schooling, demonstrating its impact at a high level with 93%, as well as for learning characteristics in students with incomplete schooling, 90% at a high level, the characteristics of the ABC Campaign Educational Program on academic performance in students with incomplete schooling 93% at a high level and 100% for motivation in students with incomplete schooling.

Introduction of an Online Mentoring Program for Final Professional MBBS Students

Background: Mentoring helps in the personal and professional development of mentees and helps them develop self-confidence in their work. Final-year undergraduate medical students face many challenges but they also have to gain the confidence to start working independently and plan their careers in the near future. In the coronavirus disease scenario, many of these challenges were amplified, and final-year students were in greater need of mentoring. Even though mentoring had been introduced under the new curriculum in 2019, formal online mentoring programs were nonexistent in most Indian medical colleges. Therefore, it was aimed to implement and evaluate an online mentoring program for final-year undergraduate medical students. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted with 16 mentees allotted to the principal researcher. A needs assessment survey was conducted before finalizing the program. A mentoring module was designed, and subsequently, five rounds of individual mentoring sessions were conducted on “Google Meets.” Feedback was obtained from the mentees and analyzed. Results: Most mentees (93.8%) agreed that an online mentoring program should be introduced. The mentees were satisfied with the online mentoring program (5-point Likert Scale; median = 4) and felt that they had received motivation and gained confidence to overcome challenges. The majority of the respondents (80%) felt supported during mentoring, whereas 86.67% agreed that they were able to harness their positive attributes and started working toward their goals. Conclusions: The online mentorship program was successful in improving the confidence of the medical students in dealing with academic and nonacademic issues.

Using a Hybrid ESP Program for Enhancing University Students' Academic Achievement and Learning Satisfaction

Using a Hybrid ESP Program for Enhancing University Students' Academic Achievement and Learning Satisfaction

Reducing COVID-19-Induced Educational Slumps—Training Preservice Teachers to Be Children Coaches: An Evaluation of Effects in Elementary Schools

The school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have had significant side effects, particularly on the psychological well-being of pupils. This situation poses great challenges for teachers in schools. At the same time, teacher education students have to be prepared for this situation by being trained to deal with difficult situations and pupils with symptoms of psychological disorders. Furthermore, they need to adequately address the increasing heterogeneity in terms of their pupils’ learning standards. To meet these challenges, the teaching project “CaBire” was called into being. As part of this project, teacher education students first receive theoretical input to act as socio-psychological coaches for children. After the training phase, students offer support to pupils at schools. This practical phase is accompanied by coaching-supervision seminars led by psychology teachers at the university. Both the practical phase, as well as the accompanying seminars at the university can be credited to teacher education students’ studies. Here we report a good-practice example and an evaluation of this teaching concept based on data of a mixed-method design. The results are promising and point towards a beneficial program for both teacher education students and pupils.

The Impact of Peer-Led Learning Groups on First-Year Medical Students.

Active learning and peer instruction contribute to positive learning outcomes. We developed a 25-week, question-based program for first-year medical students (MS1). Senior students developed weekly question and answer sets. Second-year peer educators helped MS1s learn to collaboratively problem solve by working through the questions and answer explanations. Controlling for average MCAT 2015 score, attendance significantly correlated with improved academic performance in basic science coursework (beta = 0.196, p < .001) and one organ systems module (beta = 0.104, p = .033). Academic outcomes and an 83% sustained participation rate point to the benefits of peer-led, positive learning environments.

Positive behavior support in school – a quasi-experimental mixed methods study and a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundWhile positive school climate is important for students’ well-being and mental health, school personnel may experience challenges in creating a nurturing school climate. School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SW-PBIS) has shown positive effects on school climate and children’s prosocial behaviors, but fewer studies have been conducted in a European context.AimThis project aims to investigate the effectiveness of SW-PBIS program for students’ social-emotional skills and academic achievement as well as teachers’ and students’ perceptions of classroom learning environment. Furthermore, the study intends to evaluate how school-level factors mediate or moderate the effects of the intervention. In addition, the study includes a qualitative evaluation of the dynamic interaction processes that occur during program implementation in local school contexts.MethodsData on school- and individual-level measures are collected in intervention and control schools. With regard to challenges in retaining control groups over extended time periods, two waves of recruitment are used. In the first wave, an active control group is used and data are collected during three time points. In the second wave, a wait-list control group will be used and data will be collected during two time points during one school year. Hierarchical regression analyses will be conducted to explore the effects of SW-PBIS on the outcomes of the study. An ethno-methodological approach will be applied to provide a detailed examination of the social interactional and meaning-making practices of different school implementation teams, and the negotiation of normative expectations and rules of conduct in peer-teacher-student interactions in different classrooms.DiscussionThe study is expected to contribute to knowledge on the effects of the SW-PBIS program and how these effects may be mediated or moderated by school-level factors. Combining quantitative and qualitative methods to explore the significance of school contexts in the implementation of the SW-PBIS program constitutes the strength of the study. The challenge in the study is the extended period of implementation of SW-PBIS, which entails difficulties in retaining a control group over the required time period. Therefore, two waves of recruitment are used, encompassing different procedures of allocation to intervention or control group.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06270914 on the 22nd of February, 2024 (retrospectively registered).

ОБ ИНДИКАТОРАХ ФИЗИЧЕСКОЙ КУЛЬТУРЫ ШКОЛЬНИКОВ И СТУДЕНТОВ (обзор)

The article analyzes the effectiveness of indicators of physical education programs for schoolchildren and students. It has been established that in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the educational process, it is necessary to develop standards for assessing changes in the indicators of general physical preparedness of students from the beginning to the end of the school year. The evaluation of schoolchildren mastering the physical education program exercises requires justification for the use of special tests and standards for assessing sports movements, as well as control exercises when performing certain sections of the program.

The Coordination between Arabic Studies Programs and Job Prospects for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students in Chennai City

In the rapidly evolving landscape of education, it's essential to adapt strategically to changing trends and job opportunities for graduates. The Master's Program in Arabic Language is taking proactive steps to ensure the curriculum remains relevant to the demands of the job market. This study aims to assess the alignment between the curriculum and job requirements for graduates and postgraduates, the time taken to secure employment, the skills utilized in Arabic teaching roles, and the adequacy of the curriculum in preparing graduates for the challenges of the professional world. Utilizing a qualitative descriptive approach, data was gathered from alumni and employers between 2018 and 2022 through questionnaires, interviews, and group discussions. Analysis of the data revealed that 69.9% of graduates found their work aligned with the curriculum, with 39.2% working as Arabic language teachers, 20.3% in Computer, Media and MNC Companies and 28.4% are working outside the education sector. The average time to secure employment was less than six months, with technology-based teaching skills being the most impactful. Recommendations include adapting the curriculum to embrace technology in Arabic teaching, enhancing research methodology, and encouraging publication of articles and books to meet the demands of the digital era and the labour market.

Peningkatan Kemampuan Guru Reguler dalam Deteksi Dini dan Pengembangan Program Belajar Siswa Berkebutuhan Khusus di Surabaya

Inclusive education remains a challenging program to implement ideally, requiring ongoing management to continuously foster inclusivity in schools through various efforts. This service program aims to enhance the understanding of regular teachers in inclusive schools regarding the characteristics, early detection skills, and the development of learning programs for students with special needs. This is based on the principle that each student has unique needs, with some requiring special assistance from accompanying teachers. The program uses a needs analysis method, involving interviews and questionnaires to identify the needs of the teachers. Based on the analysis results, intervention objectives are set and a training program is designed. The intervention was conducted over two days: the first day focused on psychoeducation about inclusive education and understanding the characteristics of students with special needs, while the second day consisted of training in early detection and the preparation of specialized learning programs. The results of the intervention showed an improvement in teachers' ability to identify students' functional difficulties in physical, cognitive, and behavioral aspects. Teachers were also able to classify the characteristics of students with special needs and develop appropriate learning programs. This psychoeducation and early detection skills training effectively equips teachers in inclusive schools to be more optimal in identifying and designing learning programs for students with special needs.

The Rural Youth Public Health Summit: A Pilot Pathway Program for Rural Adolescents.

There is a pressing need to increase the health care and public health workforce in rural communities across the United States. In Colorado, many of the rural communities are medically underserved, lacking resources and employment prospects to appropriately address the health needs of its communities. A potential strategy to address these medically underserved areas and the public health workforce shortage is to develop pathway programs for rural adolescents into health-related careers. The Rural Youth Public Health Summit (Summit) was a pilot pathway program for rural secondary school students hosted at a 4-year public university. The planning and formation of the Summit were done through the collaboration of school administration and teachers, university faculty and staff, educational non-profits, and health care and public health professionals. The Summit's goals were to increase awareness and interest in public health careers and to further partnerships between a university and rural secondary schools. Participants included 22 secondary school students and 10 chaperones from rural schools. Throughout the 2-day Summit, participants engaged in campus tours, a keynote speaker, workshops facilitated by faculty and public health professionals, and an overnight stay in the dorms. Despite some limitations, the Summit showed promising results as a pilot program in its ability to conduct planning, outreach, recruitment, and facilitation of a pathway program to connect rural adolescents to college education and career opportunities in public health.

Inspiring Careers in Mental Health: Piloting a Pipeline Program for Underserved High School Students.

Given mental health workforce shortages, academic psychiatry departments have a compelling interest in developing pipeline programs. This article examines a pilot program for high school students within an academic psychiatry department, assessing whether it successfully informs students about mental health career options and increases their interest in them. The authors recruited all program participants in 2022 and 2023 during data collection. The program served as an intervention, teaching participants about mental health career options, clinical practice, and client experiences via presentations from psychiatrists and other mental health professionals. Participants completed a pretest at the start of the two-week program and a posttest at the end. On both the pretest and posttest, participants rated their agreement with 22 statements relating to mental health career knowledge, attitudes, and interest. The authors analyzed the data using dependent means t tests. The program increased participants' knowledge of the roles and paths to pursuing different mental health careers. It also increased participants' belief that they could pursue a mental health career. The program improved some but not all measured attitudes toward mental health and mental health careers. In 2023, the program increased participants' likelihood of pursuing a mental health career. A pipeline program for underserved high school students delivered by an academic psychiatry department is feasible, and it was effective in changing attitudes and increasing the likelihood of pursuing a mental health career.

Financing Higher Education in Kenya, 1960-2012

In the last two decades or so Kenya has witnessed increased demand for university education. This has forced education planners to experiment with a number of strategies to admit these increased numbers of qualified students to existing public universities. These strategies have seen remarkable flexibility in public university programs and admission requirements. Some of these strategies include: evening programs, weekend programs, holiday programs, and open and distance learning programs. But one which has raised enough public attention is the variedly labeled parallel, module two or self- sponsored students programs. Although this program has substantially increased access to public university education in Kenya, it has equally been criticized particularly on its ability to deliver quality university education. The argument has been that the programs were primarily tasked with the purpose of raising income and ensuring institutional survival in the prevailing harsh economic conditions. What is however unknown is the extent to which the program has promoted quality training for students and improved skills for public university academic staff. The brief paper seeks to address this gap. The paper is extensive review of secondary data and personal observations. The paper concludes that the introduction of cost sharing and the increasing need for the universities to fundraise to effectively meet the budgetary deficits has negatively affected the quality of public university education in Kenya

The Impact of a Metacognitive Intervention on Student Experiences and Success in an Academic Probation Program for First-year Students

First-year students often struggle with self-regulated learning, particularly in monitoring and accurately assessing their level of understanding and translating that into appropriate preparation for rigorous post-secondary coursework. When their academic struggles become extreme, they can be placed in probationary programs. An intervention involving weekly reflective surveys focused on study strategies and metacognitive skill development was integrated into one such probationary program for first-year students. During the intervention, a slightly higher rate of successful completion of the program was observed compared to previous years. The self-reported experiences and patterns of engagement of the students suggested that the intervention positively impacted metacognitive skill development and additionally provided evidence of the importance of motivation at various points throughout the process. Identifying appropriate timepoints for intervention can better prepare stakeholders to support those students who may not be retained.

Program pembelajaran bagi peserta didik autis di Raudhatul Athfal Maestro NU Purbalingga

The study conducted at Raudhatul Athfal NU Maestro Purbalingga outlines the learning program for autistic students in group A as well as the problems faced by teachers in the 2022/2023 school year. This type of research is descriptive qualitative. The subjects of this study consisted of a class teacher and a group A student who had been detected as autistic. Data collection was done through interviews and observations. The data obtained was tested for validity by increasing persistence, triangulation, and using reference materials. Data analysis techniques were carried out by collecting data, reducing data, presenting data, and drawing conclusions. Without special preparation, autistic students joined their classmates. Teachers use various learning approaches, such as games and movements, and adjust their schedules accordingly. Due to limited electronic means, learning media is more traditional. Standardized adjustments for autistic children are used to conduct holistic evaluations. The absence of special preparation, the absence of a dedicated space, and the difficulty of handling and evaluating autistic students, which interferes with the overall learning process, are the main obstacles.

A Dedicated Graduate Certificate in Health Equity: A Novel Approach to Increase the Future Physician Capacity to Address Health Inequities.

Pervasive health inequities require new approaches to medical education to equip future physicians to address unjust disparities in health outcomes. Few curricula exist that focus on development of competencies and leadership skills in health equity, and little is known about the content that should be included. Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine developed and implemented the Graduate Certificate in Health Equity (CHE) to address this educational gap. The CHE proposal was approved in summer 2019, enrollment began in October 2019, and the first course was offered in February 2020. The CHE includes 11 objectives, and programming spans medical school years 2 to 4. Students must complete 2 foundational courses, 2 health equity-focused electives, and a health equity immersion experience. Seventy-three students have enrolled since the CHE launched in academic year 2019 to 2020. In year 1, 14 third-year students enrolled in an inaugural condensed version and 16 second-year students enrolled in the full program. In subsequent years, 16 students (year 2), 15 students (year 3), and 12 students (year 4) enrolled. To date, 38 medical students have graduated. The CHE has engaged 16 community partners, including community health centers, immigrant and refugee services, rural health programs, and the LGBTQI+ community, as lecturers and hosts for immersion experiences. Future work will focus on updating objectives and developing a rigorous evaluation scheme. The CHE team members will follow up with graduates to determine how the CHE influenced their care for marginalized and minoritized patients, ability to identify and address systemic and structural barriers, and career development. The CHE is a potential model for other institutions to adapt and implement. Accruing a critical mass of institutions with health equity-focused programming for medical students is necessary to develop future leaders in health equity.

Management of Tahfidz Quran Programs in Shaping Elementary Students' Character

The current study intends to analyze the management of the Tahfidz program in shaping students' character. The non-mulazamah program became the subject of the study. A qualitative approach using a case study method was employed in this study. Data collection techniques included interviews, observation, and documentation. Data were generated from the analysis process, comprising data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The results showed that the management of the Tahfidz program was successful in shaping students’ characters based on four indicators. First, in the planning stage, the madrasah conducted a need analysis and prepared stakeholders to ensure proficiency in reading the Qur'an, creating an ideal learning environment. Second, in organizing the Tahfidz program, the madrasah had a clear purpose, well-defined job responsibilities, and adequate facilities to support the program. Third, the Madrasah leaders implemented a situational leadership style during the program's execution. Finally, in the control phase, the management team ensured that the program produced quality outcomes, with many students surpassing the expected targets. The study indicates that the Tahfidz program nurtures students’ characteristics such as discipline, responsibility, independence, and compliance.