Student Reasoning Research Articles

Validity and Reliability Study of the Indonesian Student Satisfaction with Cultural Simulation Experiences Scale (SCSES) among Nursing Students

Virtual Reality is a technology that can simulate a virtual environment like a real one and make it seem like if users can interact in it. The development of learning to use Virtual Reality has begun to be used as a medium for learning skills to increase students' clinical knowledge and reasoning in nursing practice, so that students can show reasonable learning satisfaction in the learning process. Student satisfaction is needed to determine the effectiveness of using VR in nursing practice. Satisfaction with using virtual reality for student learning experiences can be evaluated using the SCSES (Student Satisfaction with Cultural Simulation Experience Scale), but there is no Indonesian language version for this instrument. This study aimed to translate and adapt the SCSES (Student Satisfaction with Cultural Simulation Experience Scale) instrument in the Indonesia context for nursing students. Methods: The SCSES translation uses the cross-sectional method and in the translation process refers to the five stages of international standard guidelines for translation. Results: The reliability and validity test of the SCSES instrument was tested on 92 Padjadjaran University nursing students. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was carried out to measure construct validity. It was found that all items of the Indonesian version of the SCSES instrument were declared valid with the value of all factor loading items > 0.50 and the Cronbach's α test was performed to measure the consistency of measurements (α = 0.964). Conclusions: The Indonesian version of SCSES has good item validity and reliability as a measure of satisfaction in cultural simulation experiences. .

Exploring student reasoning in statistical mechanics: Identifying challenges in problem-solving groups

Statistical mechanics has received limited attention in physics education research and remains a relatively underrepresented topic even in research on upper-division physics courses. The purpose of this study was to explore potential challenges that physics students encounter when they solve statistical mechanics problems in groups. Adopting a grounded approach, we video recorded and analyzed nine small student groups engaging in collaborative problem solving on the topic. The analysis involved iterative thematic coding, which gave rise to ten emergent categories of challenges. These were later divided into two broad groupings: and . In the first grouping, we list seven identified categories related to the concepts of macrostates and microstates, distinguishable and indistinguishable particles, temperature, entropy, energy, equilibrium, heat bath, the Boltzmann distribution, and the partition function. In the second grouping, we list three categories related to the inappropriate application of common relations, difficulty managing tensions between calculated results and qualitative reasoning, and coming up with definitions of new and inconsistent concepts. Some of our findings are supported by existing research on the topic, and others are previously unreported. Based on our findings, we propose that future research should investigate the relations between the identified challenges on one hand, and students’ epistemological framing, reasoning, and use of multiple representations on the other. Finally, we suggest that teachers should spend time engaging students in a conceptual discussion of the central ideas of statistical mechanics, motivating the choice and pointing out limitations of commonly used toy models, and linking course content to real-world phenomena. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Coaching Teachers in Document-Based History Instruction: Practices That Support Teacher Facilitation of Student Discourse

Instructional coaching is increasingly regarded as an essential feature of professional development, but no research exists on content-specific instructional coaching for history teachers. The study examines data from a coaching program in which history teacher leaders served as novice coaches for their colleagues. We found that coached teachers, as a whole, improved in discussion facilitation. Case analysis of two successful and two less successful coach–teacher pairings revealed that successful coaches were more likely to focus on eliciting students’ argumentative discourse whereas less successful coach planning sessions focused on discrete historical content knowledge and the disciplinary heuristics of historical thinking. It appears that coaching that emphasized a conceptual redirection toward inquiry and a pedagogical toolkit for fostering student discourse was more closely tied to growth in discussion facilitation and opportunities for student historical reasoning than a coaching approach more narrowly focused on historical concepts.

Applying module analysis to the Brief Electricity and Magnetism Assessment

The Brief Electricity and Magnetism Assessment (BEMA) is a multiple-choice instrument commonly used to measure introductory undergraduate students’ conceptual understanding of electricity and magnetism. This study used a network analysis technique called modified module analysis-partial (MMA-P) to identify clusters of correlated responses, also known as communities, within 12214 BEMA responses. MMA-P identifies both communities related to the structure of the instrument and communities related to incorrect student reasoning. Every community resulting from MMA-P came from blocked items; groups of items that all refer to the same physical system. The most prevalent and consistently selected incorrect answers involved the relation of the electric field to the electric potential difference. The community structure identified in the Conceptual Survey of Electricity and Magnetism (CSEM) by a prior MMA-P study on items shared by the CSEM and BEMA differed because of the different incorrect responses available in the two instruments. One pair of items in the BEMA involving the induced electric field by a changing magnetic field showed evidence of students applying a variety of incorrect models; the scores on these items indicate their inclusion in the instrument should be reconsidered. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Using Group History-Taking and Individual Reasoning to Identify Shortcomings in Clinical Reasoning for Medical Students.

It is crucial that teaching faculties determine and remain informed of medical school learners' clinical reasoning competence. We created an innovative assessment method for fourth-year medical students to identify deficiencies in various components of their clinical reasoning ability. This was a cross-sectional observational study of fourth-year medical students' reasoning assessments from 2019 to 2022. Teams of four-five trainees questioned standardized patients in clinical scenarios, including fever, abdominal pain, and weight loss. They then individually documented key information to reflect comprehension of patient problems. Trainees were tasked with differentiating diagnoses and associated statuses and reaching the most likely diagnosis along with two tentative diagnoses. The correlations observed between 2020 and 2022 for abdominal pain were analyzed using student t-tests. A total of 177 students participated in this study. Across the scenarios, there was no significant difference in key information representation scores (56%-58%). Reasoning ability scores were 49% for fever, 57% for abdominal pain, and 61% for weight loss. A comparison between 2020 and 2022 revealed a significant improvement in the objective structured clinical examination scores and differential diagnoses (P < .01). Shortcomings included brief chief complaint duration, lack of detailed presentation, and insufficient description of negative information. Differential diagnosis and diagnostic justification were inadequate for acute and chronic conditions, and disease location clarity within the organ system was lacking. On average, students presented two correct diagnoses. Fourth-year medical students exhibited inadequate reasoning abilities, particularly in fever and abdominal pain scenarios, with deficiencies in hypothesis generation and differential diagnosis. Group history-taking with individual reasoning assessment identified students' shortcomings and provided faculty feedback to improve their teaching strategies.

College Students ' Ecological Environment Moral Education From the Perspective of Ecological Civilization

This article discusses the ecological environment moral education of college students based on deep learning. This article first points out the concept of deep learning and the relationship between ecological civilization and college students' ecological environment morality. Then, it expounds the latest concepts and achievements of ecological civilization in China, analyzes the deficiencies and reasons of current college students' ecological moral education, and clearly points out the significance of strengthening college students' ecological moral education based on in-depth learning. This article focuses on the main contents and principles of setting suggestions of the ecological environment moral education for college students. Finally, it gives the countermeasures for the ecological environment moral education of college students based on deep learning. It focuses on the theoretical realization of college students' ecological environmental moral education from the perspective of deep learning, aiming at promoting the construction of ecological civilization.

Application of regression decision tree and machine learning algorithms to examine students’ online learning preferences during COVID-19 pandemic

The emergence of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) profoundly disrupted the field of education, ushering in an era of widespread online learning adoption. This research paper seeks to investigate the multifaceted factors influencing students' preferences for online learning. Employing data exploration techniques and machine learning algorithms, the study aimed to identify the pivotal variables affecting students' willingness and performance in online educational environments. The research encompassed data collection through designated questionnaires and the application of decision tree-based machine learning algorithms to analyze these diverse factors. Through this approach, seven specific prerequisites were derived, employing multiple linear regression analysis within the decision tree framework, to illuminate the relationships between these factors. Key aspects considered in these prerequisites included factors such as "internet connectivity issues," "COVID-19 pandemic-induced stress," "COVID-19 vaccination status," and "close relatives' COVID-19 infections". Foremost among the reasons for students' reluctance to embrace online learning was the presence of "internet difficulties," including issues like slow connections and frequent disruptions. From the results of this research, it can be concluded that basic computer and internet courses can be beneficial for encouraging online education. Findings of this study underscore the potential benefits of offering basic computer and internet courses as a means to encourage and facilitate effective online education, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Perbedaan Kemampuan Penalaran Matematis Siswa Menggunakan Model Pembelajaran Discovery Learning dan Model Pembelajaran Konvensional pada Tingkat SMP

This research aims: (1) students' mathematical reasoning ability using the Discovery Learning learning model is higher than students' mathematical reasoning ability using conventional learning models in class VII MTs Yaspi Labuhan Deli, (2) the process of solving answers made by students in solving problems in the Discovery Learning learning model and Conventional learning model. This type of research is quantitative research with Quasi-Experimental methods. This research was conducted at MTs Yaspi Labuhan Deli. The sampling technique in this study uses Purposive Sampling techniques, namely class VII-A as a class taught with a Discovery Learning learning model and class VII-B as a class taught with a conventional learning model. The data collection instrument used was in the form of observation sheets and student mathematical reasoning ability test sheets in the form of 3 essay questions. Data analysis in this study used t-Test with Independent Sample t-Test technique with the help of SPSS 20 program. The results of this study showed that the average score of classes taught using the discovery learning model was 78,01 and classes taught using conventional learning models were 72,22. For hypothesis testing carried out using a t-test, from the calculation results obtained a value of (2.664) &gt; (1.66757) with a Sig.2-tailed level of 0.010 &lt; 0.05, which means that rejected and was accepted, so that it is concluded that there is a significant difference in the average mathematical reasoning ability of students using the Discovery Learning learning model and the Conventional learning model. Based on the analysis of the process of completing students' answers to the mathematical reasoning ability test that get Discovery Learning learning is better than students who get conventional learning.

Research on the Current Situation of China’s Higher Education Students Studying Abroad in the Context of Higher Education Internationalization

In the context of education internationalization, the internationalization of higher education has become a major trend in the field of education in most countries, with international student education as the core. This phenomenon promotes cultural exchanges and integration among countries as well as higher education reform, which is of great significance in enhancing the international influence of higher education in each country. However, there are also some challenges faced by higher education students when studying abroad. The article digs into the origin and history of studying abroad, analyzes the current situation and reasons for higher education students in China to study abroad, discusses the opportunities and challenges faced by higher education students in China when studying abroad, and analyzes the trend of studying abroad in China.

Analysis of Patient Information and Differential Diagnosis with Clinical Reasoning in Pre-Clinical Medical Students

Background: The development of clinical reasoning (CR) abilities in Thai medical students during their pre-clinical years lacked well-designed establishment. Methods: This study utilized a pre-test and post-test design without a control group and was conducted at Walailak University, Thailand, in May 2022. We collected participant baseline characteristics and compared scores evaluated by the instructor and participants before and after the intervention. Additionally, we conducted a post-intervention survey on workshop satisfaction, perspectives on CR, and its learning impact. Results: Nineteen third-year medical students were included in the analysis, and twelve (63.2%) were women. The mean age was 20.6 years (standard deviation, SD: 0.5). The total score evaluated by the instructor after the intervention (8.95; SD, 1.81) was significantly higher than that before the intervention (1.68; SD, 0.67), p &lt; 0.001. The total score evaluated by the participants after the intervention (8.22; SD = 1.44) was significantly higher than that before the intervention (2.34; SD, 2.06), p &lt; 0.001. Overall, satisfaction was high. Conclusions: A short interactive workshop effectively taught CR principles and practice to Thai third-year medical students. These findings support the possibility of implementing this in pre-clinical curricula to prepare them for clinical practice.

Extending the covariation framework: Connecting covariational reasoning to students’ interpretation of rate of change

Research on covariational reasoning has continued to evolve as researchers learn more about how students coordinate two (or more) quantities’ values as covarying. In this study, I examine the connection between students’ covariational reasoning and how they interpret the value of a rate of change. The findings suggest that attending to students’ quantifications of a rate of change can provide insight into their covariational reasoning and how we might better support students in reasoning at higher levels. Additionally, this manuscript provides an update to the Carlson et al. (2002) Covariation Framework that includes two additional categories of student reasoning and an additional dimension that describes students’ interpretation of a rate value at each level of the framework.

Effects of Insurgency on Senior Secondary School Students’ Attitude and Achievement in Geography in Maiduguri, Borno State, Northeastern Nigeria

This study explored the effects of insurgency on senior secondary school geography students’ attitude and achievement in in Maiduguri Borno State, Northeastern Nigeria. The study design was survey. The sample consisted of 337 geography students drawn from 20 sampled schools cutting across 98 public and private schools in the study area. Data for the study was collected using Students’ Attitudes towards Geography Scale (SATGS) and students Geography Achievement Test (GAT). The reliability coefficients of SATGS (computed using Cronbach Alpha method) and GAT (computed using Pearson r method) were 0.87 and 0.80 respectively. Data was analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean scores and Chi Square at 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that insurgency had instilled negative attitude in students towards Geography, resulting to students’ devotion of little and insufficient time to the study of the subject. The study further revealed a significant relationship exists between students’ attitude and achievement in Geography. More so, Students’ decision to pursue future careers in Geography did not relate significantly to their grades in the subject. It was concluded that insurgency was the reason for students’ negative attitude towards Geography. Therefore, it was recommended that government should adapt measures to guarantee security of teachers, students and schools’ facilities to improve students’ attitudes and achievement in Geography, and teachers to work hard to restore the status of the subject by adapting innovative instructional methods. Students were encouraged to work extra time at home in studying Geography to cover time lost for school due to insurgency.

Supporting submicroscopic reasoning in students’ explanations of absorption phenomena using a simulation-based activity

The Beer–Lambert law is a fundamental relationship in chemistry that helps connect macroscopic experimental observations (i.e., the amount of light exiting a solution sample) to a symbolic model composed of system-level parameters (e.g., concentration values). Despite the wide use of the Beer–Lambert law in the undergraduate chemistry curriculum and its applicability to analytical techniques, students’ use of the model is not commonly investigated. Specifically, no previous work has explored how students connect the Beer–Lambert law to absorption phenomena using submicroscopic-level reasoning, which is important for understanding light absorption at the particle level. The incorporation of visual-conceptual tools (such as animations and simulations) into instruction has been shown to be effective in conveying key points about particle-level reasoning and facilitating connections among the macroscopic, submicroscopic, and symbolic domains. This study evaluates the extent to which a previously reported simulation-based virtual laboratory activity (BLSim) is associated with students’ use of particle-level models when explaining absorption phenomena. Two groups of analytical chemistry students completed a series of tasks that prompted them to construct explanations of absorption phenomena, with one group having completed the simulation-based activity prior to the assessment tasks. Student responses were coded using Johnstone's triad. When comparing work from the two student groups, chi-square tests revealed statistically significant associations (with approximately medium to large effect sizes) between students using the simulation and employing particle-level reasoning. That said, submicroscopic-level reasoning did not always provide more explanatory power to students’ answers. Additionally, we observed the productive use of a variety of submicroscopic light–matter interaction models. We conjecture that engaging with BLSim provided new submicroscopic-level resources for students to leverage in explanations and predictions of absorption phenomena.

Attention is currency: how surface features of Lewis structures influence organic chemistry student reasoning about stability

Despite representations’ central role in conveying chemical phenomena, mastering them is not trivial, given the wide variety of different conventions to interpret and use them. Furthermore, instructional approaches and materials may overlook explicit discussion on how students should reason with representations. To gather evidence that could guide improvements in teaching strategies and the creation of more effective instructional materials, we explored how students use Lewis structures to make inferences about stability. Through interviews with twenty-eight organic chemistry students, we have captured a range of resources that they employed, including the features of Lewis structures they paid attention to, the conceptual resources they activated, and the sophistication of their explanations. We found that students referenced all the explicit features of the provided Lewis structures but primarily attributed stability to the unique eye-catching features of each representation. Importantly, the surface features to which students attended impacted the conceptual resources they activated and their reasoning. Specifically, some students misapplied chemical principles to make justifications that fit their correct or incorrect claims about stability. Moreover, students primarily relied on lower-level reasoning and heuristics when constructing explanations. These findings underscore the importance of probing student reasoning so that instruction and assessments can be tailored to enhance students' ability to effectively use representations to reason about chemical phenomena. By understanding the reasoning patterns students adopt, educators can develop targeted strategies that promote deeper understanding and productive use of chemical representations.

Reconstructing perspectives: investigating how molecular geometry cards (MGCards) and molecular model building (MMB) disrupt students' alternative notions of molecular structure – a qualitative study

The range of abstract concepts encountered when learning chemistry and the inability of students to make connections between the macroscopic, sub-microscopic, and symbolic representations, used in chemistry teaching, are believed to be the main reasons for students’ difficulty when learning chemistry. Prediction and determination of molecular geometry using the theory of valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) is a sample of the abstract concept that is hard to understand by students who learn chemistry. Students may comprehend these ideas better if the learning process is supplemented with cutting-edge, interactive learning aids. To address the conceptual difficulties that students encounter when learning how to predict the shapes of molecules, a card game (MGCards) has been developed which is supported by simple molecular model building (MMB). The card game allows students to work through the steps required to predict the shape of a molecule in an engaging format. The student learning process is supported by feedback at all stages (if students make a mistake, they receive hints that will help them in the next step of the game). Action research with qualitative methods has been used to design, develop, and evaluate the MGCards. The MGCards and MMB were piloted at the University of Leicester with year one Natural Sciences students and modified based on the feedback received. Both MGCards and MMB were then used as part of the first-year chemistry education programme at Tanjungpura University in Indonesia. The findings of students’ answer analysis (pre- and post-test) in both cycles showed that students had a better understanding after learning with MGCards and MMB. The positive feedback for MGCards and MMB confirmed that these resources were effective in delivering an engaging learning experience. The results suggest that MGCards and MMB play a significant role in enhancing students’ understanding while also keeping them engaged.

Challenges faced by adolescent girls on menstrual hygiene management: School-based study, Siha, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) has received increasing attention as a public health issue globally. Governments and stakeholders have started to engage communities to address barriers and challenges faced by adolescents in and out of school. This study, conducted in Siha District, northern Tanzania, responds to the call for evidence sensitive to local barriers and challenges to inform successful strategies in MHM. Institutional-based cross-sectional study which involved 400 school girls aged 10 to 19 years old who attained menarche were randomly selected in four secondary and advanced level government schools from September 2019 to January 2020. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were employed. A P-value less than 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Among all the girls who participated in the study 30% reported missing school due to menstruation while 56% of the girls reported using toilets as changing places at school. The use of reusable sanitary material was 52% compared with non-reusable materials which was 48%. In urban areas, 34.5% of students reported missing school due to menstruation compared to 25% who reported in rural areas. The findings show that school absenteeism among adolescent girls during menstruation is significantly associated with a headache (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.3 (95% CI:1.32-8.23)) and abdominal waist pain (AOR = 8.50 (95% CI: 6.27-15.56)), lack of changing rooms in school (AOR = 5.85 (95% CI: 4.82-7.93)). In addition, the high cost of sanitary pads was mentioned as one of the main reasons for students not using sanitary pads. This study calls for promoting MHM-friendly practices in schools to create a supportive and conducive learning environment for adolescent girls. Ongoing infrastructure improvements such as the construction of classrooms and toilets in schools should include the construction of proper changing places to reduce the number of adolescent girls who miss school due to menstruation.

Resources for reasoning of chemistry concepts: multimodal molecular geometry

Central to conceptual understanding of STEM disciplines is visuospatial processing. Despite its acknowledged role in assuring learners’ success, less is known about the underlying reasoning students must employ when solving 3-D problems and the ways in which gaining an understanding of this can inform formative assessment and learning in STEM education. Chemists must utilise their spatial understanding when visualising 3-D structures and processes from 2-D representations and so this exploratory practitioner-researcher study sought to identify the ways in which secondary school chemistry students reason when explaining their predictions about molecular geometry, and how the use of certain modalities was linked to assessed accuracy. Coding of students’ verbal and written responses to the research task revealed that students employed multiple reasoning strategies and conceptual resources to facilitate use of analytical heuristics and imagistic reasoning. Analysis of students’ verbal responses and spontaneous gestures provided insight into the extent of imagistic vs. analytical reasoning and the finer-grained conditions which promoted their use. Importantly, it was observed that despite being instructed on the use of VSEPR theory to find analytical solutions, some students exhibited preference for alternative reasoning strategies drawing upon imagistic reasoning; showing more nuanced and varying degrees of accuracy through their verbal responses and representations gestured in 3D space. This work has pedagogical implications as use of specific reasoning strategies and the identification of key conceptual resources is not readily promoted as classroom practice for learning or assessment. This study therefore raises questions and contributes to the evidence base for attending to learners’ visuospatial thinking, as revealed through the multiple modalities they may use to assist and communicate their understanding, and highlights the significance of this to formative assessment in Chemistry and STEM Education.

Student Reasoning Based on Mathematical Ability in Solving HOTS Problems through Differentiated Learning

The mathematical abilities of students with reasoning are closely interrelated. The HOTS-type problem is an effort to improve reasoning ability. The ability of students to solve HOTS questions is still relatively low. Through a differentiated learning model, it is expected to help students in the learning process that suits their needs. The purpose of this study is to describe the application of differentiated learning models and describe the mathematical reasoning ability of students who have low, medium, and high abilities. This type of research is qualitatively descriptive with instruments in the form of observation sheets, questionnaires, test questions and interviews. Data analysis techniques include data reduction, data presentation, and conclusions. Test the validity of data using triangulation techniques. The results of this study show that differentiated learning can improve students' ability to reason. Four indicators of mathematical reasoning are, students' ability to present mathematical problems in the form of written statements, students' ability to make conjectures, students' ability to manipulate mathematics, and students' ability to draw conclusions from problems. Subjects with a high level of reasoning meet two indicators. Whereas subjects with moderate levels of reasoning met only three indicators and subjects with low levels of reasoning met only two indicators. Mathematics teachers should provide learning that is in accordance with the learning style of students and students should also do HOTS type questions more often.

Reasons for Students Interest in Learning Physics Subjects in Senior High School

The purpose of this study was to identify the reasons of students' interest in learning physics in Senior High School. This type of research is descriptive qualitative. The data collection method used includes a questionnaire. The questionnaire is in the form of closed questions with a Likert scale from 1-5 addressed to students. This research was conducted in local schools in the city of Semarang that were selected in accordance with the direction and objectives of this research. School A represents superior schools, school B represents mediocre schools, and school C represents non-excellent schools.The results showed that 1) the highest percentage of interest in learning physics was at School A which was 78.72%. Meanwhile, the lowest percentage of interest in learning physics is 46.83% (School C). The percentages are 67.59%, 56.76%, and 55.56%, respectively.

Collaborative problem-solving design in large-scale assessments: Shedding lights in sequential conversation-based measurement

Collaborative problem solving (CPS) is inherently an interactive, conjoint, dual-strand process that considers how a student reasons about a problem as well as how s/he interacts with others to regulate social processes and exchange information (OECD, 2013). Measuring CPS skills presents a challenge for obtaining consistent, accurate, and reliable scale across individuals and user populations. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)’s 2015 cycle first introduced an assessment of CPS in international large-scale assessments in which computer-based conversational agents were adapted to represent team members with a range of skills and abilities. This study draws on measures of the CPS domain in PISA 2015 to address the challenges and solutions related to CPS item design and shed lights on sequential conversation-based measurement. Specifically, we present the process of CPS item design, the development of scoring rules through CPS conversation paths, and discuss the possible approaches to better estimate CPS beyond item response models.