Undergraduate Skills Research Articles

Mindfulness Meditation For Anxiety And Stress Reduction For Nursing Students

Location: Dewberry Hall The activity being showcased is the introduction of Mindfulness Meditation (MM) into the undergraduate nursing curriculum. This was brought to the nursing curriculum as a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project to provide the students with the skills needed for anxiety and stress management. In addition, this practice may assist with reduction of the physical and emotional effects of chronic stress. The MM teaching modules were given to students in undergraduate skills labs classes over a period of 4 weeks with one module opening each week. The modules targeted multiple learning styles by including Kaltura videos, journal articles, YouTube videos, one-page handouts, and weekly suggestions for skills practice. All learning modules included an evidenced-based foundation relevant to nursing practice as well as a new mindfulness technique each week. The DNP student was in class during week 5 to practice the skills outlined in the modules with the students. An acceptability survey was given upon completion of the project to assess student and faculty acceptability of the curriculum. Collaboration with the School of Nursing faculty was essential for the success of the implementation of the modules into the skills lab courses. The DNP student and skills lab faculty worked as a team to determine optimal placement within the course curriculum and plan for student engagement.

Integrating information literacy training into an inquiry-based introductory biology laboratory

ABSTRACT Information literacy is an essential skill for biologists; however, most biology curricula do not intentionally integrate information literacy into classroom and laboratory exercises. There is evidence that developing information literacy skills in undergraduates improves their research skills, writing, and GPAs. Our objective was to integrate information literacy skills into a first semester introductory biology laboratory with a multi-week, inquiry-based module that leverages primary literature. Here we describe the module, which challenges students to develop and test a hypothesis related to parental care behaviour in birds. Students form hypotheses based on literature searching done during librarian-led information literacy sessions, produce an annotated bibliography, collect and analyse video data of barn swallows feeding their offspring, and present their findings. Analysis of students’ annotated bibliographies indicates that 83% of the referenced papers were appropriate for developing their specific hypotheses. The key elements ofa successful information literacy training plan include faculty-librarian collaboration, multiple classroom or laboratory sessions that introduce or utilize information literacy, and relevance ofthe information literacy training to an assignment. By introducing information literacy early inbiology curricula, departments can develop tiered information literacy plans that incorporate opportunities for students to use and refine these skills throughout their studies.

An effective teaching strategy for engineering mechanics to develop structural optimization modeling skills of undergraduates

In this paper, a teaching strategy which effectively enhances the students’ ability to solve practical problems is developed, and thus it can provide a potential tool for engineering mechanics teaching. Through organically integrating optimization theory into mechanics modeling, students’ skill of structural optimization modeling is improved, which help them understand basic concepts involved in mechanics and mathematics and master a general method for practical problem solving. The corresponding course unit is designed to instruct students to perform structural optimization modeling for a series of similar but non-identical mechanics problems, which can motivate them to actively explore the essential relationship between mechanics equations and mathematical models. The effectiveness of the proposed strategy is demonstrated by the “six principles” for designing thought-revealing activities and the feedback from all participants in the course.

"Developing Experimental Design and Analysis Skills in Undergraduates": IUPS Teaching Satellite Meeting, Brazil, August 2017.

This workshop was held at the Teaching Satellite Meeting of the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS), August 5-8, 2017, in Buzios, Rio de Janiero, Brazil. The satellite meeting was attended by physiology educators from across the globe, of whom 34 attended this workshop. The aim of the workshop was to explore how experimental design is taught to students of physiology in different institutions, to consider the aspects that students find challenging, to share good practice, and to think about how experimental design teaching could be improved. Through small-group discussions that were then shared with the whole group, participants were challenged to develop the outline of a research project to investigate a broad topic and then to identify the challenges that students might face if they were given that task. Finally, the group thought about what, in practical terms, could be done to help develop experimental design skills in undergraduates. The outcomes of the discussions are summarized in this report.

Producing scientific posters, using online scientific resources, improves applied scientific skills in undergraduates

ABSTRACTTo succeed, undergraduate science students need to both acquire knowledge, and learn to apply it effectively. Here a novel 1st year undergraduate module (incorporating blended learning, applied bioinformatic skills and scientific posters) is described and its effectiveness evaluated (quantitatively and qualitatively). The aims were to engage students and teach applied skills through a process-oriented guided-inquiry learning (POGIL) based project, utilising common online tools. Given a nucleotide entry and utilising the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) platform students had to identify a specific human syndrome. Students then retrieved and summarised key scientific data, presenting it as a scientific poster. The module effectiveness was demonstrated by the students ability to acquire knowledge (content) and apply it (process), by finding and extracting data from online databases. Assessment included evaluation of the students ability to analyse, visualise and explain acquired data as a scientific poster. Module evaluation used qualitative students surveys and quantitative assessment (pre- and post- module, multiple-choice quiz, assessing content or process specific knowledge). The module led to a significant increase in students applied, process specific, knowledge and enhanced their learning experience. This module demonstrates a successful method for incorporating applied learning into an undergraduate module, developing multiple applied professional skills.

Design of an Applied Chemistry Comprehensive Experiment of Control and Sealing Using Peanut Shell

In order to further improve the comprehensive experimental skills of undergraduates, this paper designed a comprehensive experiment of the peanut shell as raw material, through physical crushing, sieving profile plugging particles into a certain size, evaluate it as profile control agent plugging effect. This experiment uses the abandoned peanut shells as raw materials for the experiment as a particle profile control agent, the main components of natural organic compounds such as cellulose, lignin, conducive to the late degradation, does not damage the oil and gas layer, to help practice concept of green environmental protection of oil and gas field development, at the same time combining experiment skills and field profile control operations, improve the students' professional skills, ability to adapt and samples from oil field.

Do bicycling experiences and exposure influence bicycling skills and attitudes? Evidence from a bicycle-friendly university

Life changes are often associated with changes in travel behavior, due to a break in habitual travel cues and the introduction of a novel travel context. Universities provide a particularly appropriate setting to examine how these life changes can bring about changes in travel attitudes, norms, and skills – which together form a psychological construct called “motility” that describes the capability for travel. In this study, I pool data from seven years of the University of California, Davis’ annual campus travel survey to create a longitudinal panel, and use a retrospective survey to collect the bicycling behaviors, attitudes, and skills of undergraduates every year since they graduated from high school. I find that, on average, UCD undergraduates’ pro-bicycling attitudes decrease slightly over time while bicycling skills increase substantially throughout college. I then use the retrospective panel data to estimate a statistical model to analyze the influence of bicycling exposure and experiences on skills and attitudes. I find that riding a bicycle at any point during college increases both pro-bicycling attitudes and bicycling skills, while exposure to high levels of bicycling appears not to influence attitudes or skills. This study provides confirmatory evidence for the motility approach and suggests possible policy avenues, such as incentivizing short-term bicycle use in order to shift perceptions and attitudes about bicycling, with the intent of fostering a positive feedback cycle between greater bicycling attitudes and skills and increased bicycle use.

Curriculum changes to improve software development skills in undergraduates

Recent feedback from alumni and industry advisers indicated a need for computer science majors at Western New England University to get greater exposure to software development tools, software desi...

Generic Skills of The Undergraduates: A Case Study of Faculty of Built Environment in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Higher Learning Institution in Malaysia has emphasised on the acquisition of generic skills of graduates’ prior employment. The growing number of unemployed graduates is partly due to their poor generic skills. Thus, the purpose of this research is to identify the level of generic skills among undergraduates of Faculty of Built Environment in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai, Johor, Malaysia. Questionnaires were distributed to undergraduates from 4 programmes which are Quantity Surveying; Landscape Architecture; Urban and Regional Planning and Construction. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that students’ level of generic skills are relatively high among the four programmes with an exception to Quantity Surveying undergraduates whom scored moderately. It is recommended that future research should focus on investigating generic skills of undergraduates from different faculties in UTM as to provide a comprehensive generalisation of UTM’s undergraduates’performances.

Data Analysis and Data Visualization as Active Learning in Political Science

ABSTRACTWhile data analysis and the related skills of data management and data visualization are important skills for undergraduates in the field of political science, the process of learning these skills can also be used to develop critical thinking, encourage active and collaborative learning, and to apply knowledge gained in the classroom. Drawing on our experiences using data work in upper-level courses in International Relations and American Politics, we discuss how data work and quantitative analysis can be incorporated into subject-based (i.e., nonmethods specific) courses, and how it can also enhance critical reasoning skills. An evaluation of this approach using direct and indirect assessment is included.

Training of medical students in communication skills for health education

Background: Basic medical graduate must possess skills of communication in health education for health promotion. There is a little scope for formal training in communication in health education in the current curriculum. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the communication skills of undergraduates in health education and to assess the role of modular training in improving their communication skills. Materials and Methods: An interventional study conducted in a medical college in South India. A total of 88 2nd year medical students underwent four theory classes on health education. They were subsequently divided into two groups of 44 each. The intervention group underwent modular training for four sessions of 2 h duration each which included demonstration, video play, focused group discussion, and role play. The control group underwent repeat theory classes. All the students performed health education session of 15 min duration and were assessed by standardized blinded assessors using a questionnaire. Proportions and Z-tests were applied using SPSS (17.0). Results: Majority of the students in both the groups performed well in verbal communication skills such as clarity of speech (72.3% in control and 89.7% in intervention group) and being audible (84.1% in control and 89.7% in intervention group). Both the groups lacked non-verbal skills of interaction and involving the audience in discussion (45.5% in control and 43.6% in intervention group). There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in any of the parameters. Conclusion: Communication skills in health education among 2nd year medical students are poor. Short-term training has no effect in improving their communication skills.

Impact of community based training on medical undergraduates skills upgradation regarding infant and young child feeding practices: A mixed method study

Background: Despite various reforms brought in health care service delivery there is always a gap between community and health care providers. Hence there is a need to explore the successful strategies to reorient the medical students towards public health relevant community needs. Objective: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and impact of community based field training imparted among medical undergraduates to identify problems related to infant and young child feeding practices and design appropriate interventions. Material and Methods: This study is a mixed method study where improvement of knowledge were assessed quantitatively through quasi experimental pre-post study design. Difference in cumulative score obtained after training was compared using student's t test. Perception of students and mentor's views on this approach in terms of benefits and challenges were explored during in-depth interviews. Transcripts of qualitative interviews were analysed using manual content analysis. Results: Total of 781 infant and young children from 30 villages were surveyed by 36 medical undergraduates. There was significant improvement in knowledge on feeding practices from the baseline [baseline mean (SD) score: 3.3 (1.5); post training mean (SD) score: 6.5 (1.1), p

Developing Competence in Basic Writing Skills: Perceptions of EFL Undergraduates

English language course materials in EFL contexts are tailored to enhance the proficiency levels of receptive and productive skills of undergraduates. These course materials are designed in the form of worksheets to fulfil the aims and objectives of communicative/task based syllabus. During the process of completing these tasks/activities, students are expected to actively engage in writing words and meaningful sentences. In order to understand the effectiveness of their writing skills, the researchers administered a 30-item questionnaire to EFL undergraduates studying at Aljouf University, Saudi Arabia. This study focused on eliciting the perceptions of EFL undergraduates on various aspects related to writing proficiency. A total of 52 male students participated in responding to the questionnaire. The findings of our study reveal that translating strategies often impede progress in the writing skills development.

On the “Five-in-One” Training Model of Vocational Key Skills for Undergraduates

There are five interested parties in the training of vocational key skills for undergraduates, and they are separately educational institution, family, student, enterprise and government. If there is missing of any party, the training will be significantly impacted. The development of vocational key skills for undergraduate needs the buildup of “Five-in-One” training model, organizing all the parties involved and performing their own functions.

Improving the Ability of Undergraduates’ Innovation by Reforming Experiment of Electrotechnics

Experiment is a significant section in training the innovation ability and practical skills of undergraduates. Analyzed the necessity of reforming electrician experiment teaching and combined with the experience in our experiment teaching center, the article proposed some specific measures which were described as following: reforming experimental teaching method to discover a new way for training innovation ability; designing innovative experiments to stimulate students’ consciousness of creation and innovation; opening the labs to cultivate independent students; completing the system of experiment examination, encouraging students to participant in science and technology contests or research projects; changing the traditional teaching concept for modern experiment teaching goals, improving the innovation ability of teachers.

Designing Economics Electives with a Significant Writing Component

This paper presents a design for the structure and assessment of a research paper assignment in an upper level economics elective with a significant writing component. Writing component design focuses on what graduating economics majors should be able to do with the knowledge they acquire in the major and on their ability to create original analysis and empirical models in courses with and without an econometrics prerequisite. The author provides writing workshop and minimal marking approaches to improving the writing skills of undergraduates. Finally, the paper presents the link between main modules of the course and proficiencies we expect from graduating majors.

Expectations and fulfillment of course engagement, gained skills, and non-academic usage of college students utilizing tablets in an undergraduate skills course

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to compare the expectations and fulfillment of undergraduate students enrolled in a skills class that utilized iPads in the classroom. Pre- and post-surveys were administered to students at the beginning and end of the semester. A series of t-tests (n = 78) showed the tablet did not meet their expectations in terms of course engagement and benefits/skills they anticipated receiving from class activities and coursework. However, their non-academic use of the iPad, for both entertainment and social media purposes, was higher than they predicted. The qualitative portion of the study resulted in three themes: acceptance of tablet technology, student excitement and engagement, and how teacher preparation and proficiency with the technology affects classroom usage. This study suggests a need for teacher training in application selection and ample in-class device usage.

Self-Perceived Entrepreneurship Skills for Undergraduates of Private University in Malaysia

This study was conducted on a random group of undergraduates in one of the private university in Malaysia to assess the self-perceived entrepreneurial skills of the undergraduates. As there was no standard instrument for this purpose, a simple questionnaire consisting of twelve questions was devised and used. The results were analyzed and reported by running the data in a few common statistical tests including the one-sample t-test, independent samples t-test and the one-way ANOVA. The perceived entrepreneurial skills were compared among the academic age groups and between genders. The study concluded that students in the private university are moderately confident that they are equipped with entrepreneurial skills to face the challenges upon graduation and in life. There were observable effect of the university endeavor in instilling entrepreneurial skills among its students specifically in term of the students' perception of themselves equipped with these entrepreneurial skills. Students were also found to be more confident that they were having more entrepreneurial skills as they mature through the academic years. Males were found to be more entrepreneurial compared to females. Future works along the line include expanding the survey to more samples from other universities and longitudinal study after graduation.

Can we shift more library costs to students?

Purpose The purpose of the study is to discuss Questia, a library database that is marketed directly to student users. Design/methodology/approach Opinion piece. Findings From a student’s perspective, Questia is very useful. It would not be a useful addition to undergraduate libraries, even if site licenses are available. Research limitations/implications It would be interesting to design a study to compare library skills of undergraduates who are subscribed to Questia with those who participate in traditional library instruction sessions. Practical implications It is suggested that Questia should be recommended to an undergraduate student who is struggling with basic research skills or who is especially pressed for time. Originality/value There are no scholarly articles discussing Questia after 2012.

Relation between Moral Maturity Perceptions and Information Literacy Skills of Undergraduates

Relation between Moral Maturity Perceptions and Information Literacy Skills of Undergraduates