Quality Learning Materials Research Articles

Socio-Cultural, Educational, and Psychological Barriers in ESL Learning: A Qualitative Study of Senior High School Students

This qualitative study explores the complex issues faced by the Senior High School students in learning ESL. Using the interviews and focus group discussions, this study aims at finding out the students’ experience, perception and challenges relating to their English accent. Ten male and twenty female students from the socio culturally and linguistically diverse school in Cotabato City Division volunteered for the study, offering information on the socio cultural, educational, and psychological aspects affecting their ESL learning during the academic year 2022-2023. The study shows that low students’ interactions in English beyond the classroom, the preferred use of students’ native language patterns, and inadequate amounts of exposure to English contexts are specific socio-cultural factors. Learning difficulties include; the imbalance in teachers’ competency, instruction, and teaching methods, and student supplies. On the psychological level, students have anxiety, unstable motivation, and problems with self-efficacy, which provides a meaningful addition to learners’ difficulties. Thus, this study recommended the need to tackle these challenges by increasing the training of teachers, developing quality teaching and learning materials, and providing effective learning conditions. These include promotion of English in contextual setting, computer aided instruction, offering counseling and psychological services to boost the learners’ morale. The findings of this study are hoped to help educators, and relevant stakeholders understand the best practices on how to help ESL learner Senior High School Students to break barriers and succeed academically and in their future careers as the world becomes a global village.

Designing Creative Music Education Materials for School Children in Malaysia: Implication for policy and teaching practices

The Malaysian Ministry of Education aspires to produce knowledgeable, creative and innovative music pupils, teachers, educators, researchers, material writers, and curriculum designers. Thus, there is an urgency to advocate new and current ways of attracting 21st century pupils to learn music. This study involves designing educational music teaching materials and approaches. It also evaluates the effectiveness of musical creativity, engagement, and learning outcomes through musical experience, music composition, and music appreciation. The findings of this study provide insights on ways that will help policymakers, curriculum designers, and music teachers in Malaysia to develop quality teaching and learning materials for future music education.

Analisis Perbandingan Fungsionalitas dan Keluwesan antara Perplexity dan Phind.Com dalam Memenuhi Kebutuhan Belajar Mahasiswa di Lingkungan Perguruan Tinggi

This study aims to analyze the comparison of functionality and flexibility between Perplexity and Phind.com in meeting student communication needs in a university environment. In an increasingly advanced digital era, the use of artificial intelligence-based applications is very important to support the learning process and student communication. Perplexity is known for its fast and accurate search capabilities while Phind.com superior personalization and flexibility in the delivery of information. This research uses a mixture of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods. A survey was conducted among 200 students and semi-structured interviews were also conducted among 10 students at Hasanuddin University who had used the Perplexity application and Phind.com. Data collection techniques used in this research are questionnaires, interviews with informants who are considered competent and in accordance with the topics discussed. The results of this research show that Perplexity and Phind.com. has different functionality and flexibility in meeting student learning needs. In the case of researchers, Perplexity excels at providing access to quality and diverse learning materials and features that support independent learning. Meanwhile, Phind.com excels in providing an active discussion forum and learning community, as well as features that support collaboration and interaction between students. Both applications have their own advantages and disadvantages. The right application for students depends on their individual learning needs and learning style.

West African College of Surgeons Basic Ophthalmology Resource: Development and Initial Evaluation

Purpose: To describe the process of development of the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) Basic Ophthalmology Educational Resource and to report the feedback from the first five cohorts to utilise the resource at the commencement of their training in ophthalmology. Methods: After initial meetings topics considered essential foundations for training in ophthalmology were identified. Faculty members subsequently searched the internet to identify suitable online open source learning materials relevant to each topic, which were then collated and cataloged. Where suitable quality learning materials could not be identified, materials were created or re-used from existing WACS courses. Following the creation of the resource, questions were developed for a summative assessment, taken by learners upon completion of the resource. Results: The resource went 'live' on 10th July 2019. As of March 2024, a total of 203 learners in 5 cohorts had completed the course. The feedback responses of 150 (74%) learners from the first 5 cohorts are described in this report. Regarding their overall assessment of the course, 64 (43%) learners rated the resource as very good', 63 (42%) as 'good', and 23 (15%) as 'satisfactory’. Most (>98%) respondents reported that the course met their expectations and that the content was relevant to their learning needs. Conclusion: The WACS Basic Ophthalmology Resource appears to be a valuable opportunity for acquiring foundational knowledge.

Beyond the classroom: Students’ perspectives on e-learning portal in blended and online learning

Evaluating the e-learning portal is essential to ensure the success of online teaching and learning activities. The portal should be assessed regularly to determine its value as a tool to support learning. This study aims to investigate students’ perspectives on using the e-learning portal as a blended and online learning activity. A survey involving two cohorts of students from a public university in Malaysia was conducted in 2016 (n = 805) and 2020 (n = 1027). The survey required the students to evaluate the use of the e-learning portal in blended and online learning, regarding their self-learning experiences, learning performances, quality of learning materials, quality of communication, and their level of interest in using the portal. The findings revealed that the majority of the students from both cohorts were generally positive about using the e-learning portal to support their learning. However, it is interesting that both cohorts preferred face-to-face instruction over online learning. Hence, future research should widen the scope of the study by analysing the perspectives of course instructors, administrators, and other relevant learning support agencies.

Konsep Dasar Inovasi Pendidikan Dan Pembelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam

One very important component in the formation of generations is Islamic religious education (PAI). This research is a literature study with a qualitative approach. This research aims to understand the basic concepts of PAI education and learning innovation. The Qur'an, al-Hadith, philosophy, history, psychology, sociologist, scientific, and technological education are the pillars or foundations of education. Nurturing human beings intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually is the main goal of education. Educational principles are frameworks that include information about the quality of learning materials that have been informally evaluated as guidelines. The four principles that must exist in education are humanism, humanization, humanities, and humanity. PAI learning is one of the subjects taught in schools, madrasahs, and pesantren. PAI teachers can use basic learning strategies such as determining the beginning of learning, mastering the material, choosing media methods and models, and assessing learning outcomes.

Implementasi Aplikasi Exambro Sebagai Pengawasan Penilaian Hasil Belajar Peserta Didik di SMA Negeri 1 Wangon

This research illustrates how the internet has provided unlimited access to vast educational and information resources. Educators and Learners can access learning materials, scientific journals, textbooks, and other online resources relevant to the learning topic. This eliminates geographical limitations and allows schools with limited resources to acquire quality learning materials. This study aims to determine the implementation of the exambro application as a supervision of the assessment of student learning outcomes at SMA Negeri 1 Wangon. Through the Exambro Application implemented at Wangon State High School, it can be an application to supervise students in the process of assessing learning outcomes. The type of research used is qualitative descriptive. The instruments used are observation and interviews. The results showed that this Exambro application can minimize cheating on students. The use of the Exambro application has advantages, but there are still disadvantages in the process of using it. That way educators must carefully prepare this application before sharing it with students. To create good internet utilization through this exambro application in supervising the assessment of student learning outcomes at Wangon State High School

PROBLEMATIKA PEMBELAJARAN DARING DI MASA PANDEMI COVID-19

The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the emergence of accelerated learning that was previously carried out attractively to be courageous in order to suppress the increase in cases of the Covid-19 virus. This study describes what learning problems are faced by students and also lecturers in the Department of Education, Cenderawasih University. The research method used is descriptive quantitative with indicators including, encouraging learning strategies and clarity, quality of learning materials, student involvement and activeness in the brave class (student engagement) and achievement of course learning achievements (CPMK) as a form of evaluating brave learning during the Covid pandemic -19. The results showed that from a student's point of view, learning courage during the Covid-19 pandemic at JIP Cenderawasih University was still not effective and efficient. Some of the reasons behind this are that there are still many students who do not have gadgets as learning media and it is difficult for students to get internet access.

BLENDED LEARNING: PELUANG DAN TANTANGAN PELAKSANAANNYA PADA SEKOLAH DASAR

This research aims to explore the opportunities and challenges in implementing blended learning in elementary schools in Samarinda during the new normal period, using library research or literature review methodology. The main focus is to provide a comprehensive understanding of how blended learning can be implemented effectively, taking into account factors such as infrastructure readiness, teacher competency, and student engagement and motivation. The research results show that implementing blended learning in elementary schools offers valuable opportunities such as greater personalization of learning, development of student independence, integration of active learning through a combination of in-class and online methods, improvement of students' technology skills, and flexibility in accessing materials. However, this method also faces significant challenges, including limited access to technology among students, the need for more intensive teacher training, challenges in motivating students, and difficulties in assessing learning and ensuring the quality of online materials. The conclusions of this study underscore the importance of effectively addressing these challenges to create a conducive learning environment. Strategies that involve improving technological infrastructure, continuous teacher training, development of quality learning materials, and effective motivational approaches for students are needed.

Development of Learning Materials through CTL with Karo Culture Context to Improve Students’ Problem Solving Ability

The study aims to: 1) develop valid, practical, and effective quality learning materials for class VII SMP Berastagi 1 Program that focuses on the contextual teaching and learning model with the Karo cultural context (CTL-KCC); and 2) examine the enhancement of students' math problem-solving abilities as a side effect of using CTL- KCC learning materials. This research is development research using a 4-D development model consisting of four stages: define, design, develop, and disseminate. This research yielded learning materials such as learning implementation plans, student books, student worksheets, and mathematical problem-solving ability tests.The following conclusions were uncovered as a result of the research:1) In regards to their respective criteria, CTL- KCC learning materials had also met the valid, practical, and effective criteria.2) The N- gain value during the first trial of 0.30 for the "medium" criteria enhanced to 0.47 for the "moderate" criteria in the second trial, indicating an improvement in students' ability to solve mathematical problems using CTL-KCC learning materials.

Relevansi Open Educational Resources (E-Book) dalam Penghematan Finansial Mahasiswa

This study focuses on the role of Open Educational Resources (OER), specifically e-books, in student education. With the rapid development of technology, educational institutions are expected to keep up with the advancements in order to provide quality learning experiences. OER, including e-books, are freely available resources that offer cost-saving benefits to students. By accessing OER, students can save money that would have been spent on textbooks and other learning materials. This is particularly beneficial for financially disadvantaged students who may struggle to afford expensive textbooks. Additionally, OER availability can help bridge the educational gap between students from different backgrounds, ensuring equal access to educational resources. The study adopts a qualitative approach, utilizing observation, interviews, and documentation as data collection techniques. Through interviews with respondents, it was found that OER, especially e-books, are highly relevant in terms of student financial savings. By reducing the cost of textbooks and learning materials, students can save money and access quality learning materials on par with their peers. Overall, OER plays a significant role in minimizing financial burdens and promoting equitable education for all students.

Challenges of Junior High School Chemistry Learners in an Enriched Virtual Mode

This study identified the experienced challenges of junior high school chemistry learners of private and public schools in parts of Nueva Vizcaya in the enriched virtual mode. A qualitative approach was used to describe the lived and actual experiences of the learners. Responses gathered from the Google Form link of the four open-ended questions were coded, clustered into categories, and derived into emerging themes. Results from the learners’ responses revealed three emerging themes regarding their challenges—pedagogical, technological, and sociological. Pedagogical challenges revolved around their learning environment, inability to understand the lesson, quality of learning materials, limited access to learning resources, and overloaded lesson activities. Problems with technological insufficiency and technological literacy were under technological challenges and time management, lack of interest, lack of confidence, too many social media distractions, lack of support, difficulty in establishing connection and communication, and compromised health and wellness of the learners were among the specific sociological challenges. In conclusion, the unprecedented uncertainties brought by the sudden shift of learning modalities brought immense difficulties on the part of chemistry learners. Keywords: pedagogical challenges, technological challenges, sociological challenges, distance learning modalities

The EU Accessibility Act and Web Accessibility Directive and the implications for Digital Teaching and Learning Materials

The European Accessibility Act and the EU Directive on Web Accessibility require that the online experience be made more accessible and inclusive for everyone. Currently, the focus is primarily centered on websites and online services associated with the public sector. However, as these online products and services improve these same legal requirements are likely to also impact digital teaching and learning materials created for and by educators in the coming years. There are many online and on campus courses (accredited and unaccredited) available to help to guide and inform educators on the importance of using high quality digital materials that are truly accessible. Many courses also provide the instruction that is necessary in creating such digital resources. However, a “knowing-doing” gap still prevails. This article discusses the impact of the new regulations associated with the European Accessibility Act and the EU Directive on Web Accessibility for the education sector in Ireland and provides some recommendations on what can be done to address the “knowing-doing gap” and support faculty to create high quality digital teaching and learning materials.

An Analysis of Using Movies to Enhance Students’ Public Speaking Skills in Online Class

Despite the importance of public speaking skills, unfortunately, research about public speaking classes mainly focuses on the attempt to minimize the students’ anxiety and discomposure. Whereas other crucial issues need to be investigated such as the quality of learning materials in public speaking classes having poor quality and students’ difficulty in speaking naturally. This research aimed to investigate the usage of movies in enhancing students’ ability to deliver speeches. The participants of this study are 67 students majoring in English Language and Literature consisting of 46 females and 21 males. All participants were taking the listening-speaking class and public speaking class. This study adopts the mixed-method approach. Firstly, to see the progress of students’ public speaking skills, we conducted a pre-test and post-test which were analyzed based on a scoring rubric proposed by Joe et al. In addition, questionnaires were distributed to understand participants’ perceptions after learning about public speaking through movies. Lastly, a semi-structured interview was done to enrich the discussion. The results showed that movie clips are effective in increasing students’ interest in following an online class because the lesson felt contextual. The participants’ public speaking skills also improved as students can apply the strategies to attract audiences.

Changing methods of teaching and learning, and assessment in the new normal in undergraduate medicine

The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the way we live and work, including the way we educate and train medical students. In the new normal, it is important for medical schools to adapt their methods of teaching and assessments to ensure that students are prepared for their future role as clinicians providing effective and empathetic care to their patients and communities. The paper discusses the ways in which the learning environment has changed for medical students as well as some of the challenges and ways forward in the new normal. The use of online platforms to conduct virtual lectures, seminars, and tutorials enabling students to learn from anywhere, at any time, and at their own pace is one of the major changes we saw; which also saw poor quality learning material being developed. We also saw some schools employing simulation-based learning to provide students with hands-on training in a safe and controlled environment. Both virtual platforms and simulation were used in student assessments in a few healthcare training institutions during the pandemic. The key to successful learning in the new normal is to anchor teaching-learning activities in a systematic way using best evidence medical education. A blended learning approach can provide students with the benefits of both online and in-person learning, while also accommodating the needs of students who cannot attend in-person classes in the new normal. Learning from the mistakes and if we consider some of the approaches adopted during the pandemic as pilots, educators can build a robust learning environment to ensure that medical students receive the best possible education and training, while also reducing the risk of exposure to future pandemics and ensure the continuity of learning.

A PERAN LPP TVRI SEBAGAI TELEVISI EDUKASI MELALUI PROGRAM BELAJAR DARI RUMAH SELAMA PANDEMI COVID-19

This research started from an interest in TVRI as a public media to help the public related to the condition of distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic, which during this pandemic makes everyone in the world, especially in Indonesia, require all activities carried out at home, one of which is learning. The problem in this research is how LPP TVRI Role as Educational Television Through Home Learning Program During THE COVID-19 Pandemic. The research paradigm used is post-positivism with qualitative approach and descriptive method. Data obtained through in-depth interviews and documentation such as photographs, personal documents and official documents to be used as supporting data on this research. Problems are analyzed using the function of mass communication. The results showed that LPP TVRI is able to provide quality content and learning materials to be aired to the community, especially school children through the Learning from Home program. This can be achieved because of the role of supervision, interpretation, relationships, and the dissemination of values. The conclusions in this study are from the four indicators drawn from the function of mass communication that LPP TVRI has a role in the supervision of broadcast content, interpretation in the dissemination of audience insights, relationships in uniting indonesian society in an educational impression, as well as the spread of noble values implied and express in the content of Learning from Home.

Modern interactive teaching methods in the field of algorithmization and software testing as a concept for improving the effectiveness of the educational process

It is determined that the implementation of the concept of modern higher education requires in-depth analysis of training in all areas of higher education, which contributes to the creation of new approaches to organizing the educational process in higher education using modern teaching methods, including active and interactive methods. Based on the analysis of special literature and generalization of practical experience of training in higher education, several active teaching methods were considered, focused on the active participation of the student in self-development, taking into account their personality. It is emphasized that the organization of interactive learning involves: solving creative problems, modeling of life situations, joint problem solving and more. The analysis proved that the use of active and interactive teaching methods in the training of future professionals contributes to the activation of students' cognitive activity, as well as the quality of learning material and teamwork skills, achieving a level of high professional competence.

Еxploring e-learning critical success factors in digitally underdeveloped countries during the first wave of the COVID-19

ABSTRACT Regarding the fact that the entire spring semester in higher education was based on online teaching realized at the state University of East Sarajevo, and that the students thus gained a completely new experience, the aim of this research is to identify and study the e-learning critical success factors (CSF) on the basis of the students' perceptions. A number of 356 students of all 17 faculties with in the University participated in the research. The students' attitudes were collected by the instrument containing 36 items, constructed on the basis of a comprehensive review of previous researches of the e-learning critical success factors and semi-structured interview with the students. Seven factors were extracted and studied by the factor analysis: quality learning materials, student's attitude toward e-learning, teacher's attitude toward e-learning, technological support, classroom interaction, student's activities and teacher's attitude towards students. In response to the pandemic, universities are expected to change their traditional concept of learning and offer models of distance learning in the future. Therefore, the results of this research may be of key importance for the selection and implementation of the appropriate e-learning applications and platforms.

An analysis of teaching and learning materials for literacy instruction in Kano State, Nigeria: curricular relevance, cultural responsiveness and gender equity

AbstractHigh quality teaching and learning materials (TLM) are essential for early literacy learning. The purpose of this study was to determine if the TLM used in schools in Kano State, Nigeria, were culturally appropriate, gender balanced and relevant to the Nigeria Universal Basic Education Curriculum, with particular emphasis on primary reading. Using a researcher‐adapted rubric, lesson plans, textbooks and reading books from 10 private and public schools located in urban and rural areas in Kano were evaluated. The TLM were rated as moderately relevant to the Primary 3 English studies curriculum, which focuses on literacy development. However, the materials were generally not culturally responsive to this region and displayed only emergent gender balance. We conclude with recommendations for policy and practice, including the greater involvement of stakeholders from this region in materials development to support early literacy teaching and learning.

Using Quality Teaching and Learning Resources for Effective Integrated Science Education among Senior High Schools in Ghana

The study examined the use of quality teaching and learning resources and how these affect the teaching and learning of Integrated Science. A total of 172 randomly selected second year Senior High School (SHS) students and 25 Integrated Science teachers purposively sampled served as the subjects for the study within six districts in the Central Region of Ghana. Questionnaires were used to collect the students’ and teachers' needed data. This study's key findings revealed a lack of teaching and learning materials and the stereotyped nature of Integrated Science teachers' methods of teaching. It was noted that access, selection and usage of good and quality teaching and learning materials and methods influenced learning outcomes of students in SHS Integrated Science. However, it was observed that both government and private school teachers used similar teaching methods in delivering the Integrated Science content. It was concluded that for successful teaching and learning of Integrated Science, the challenges should be addressed by SHS education stakeholders. As a result, the paper recommended possible solutions that would ameliorate the challenges hindering the teaching and learning of Integrated Science.