Technical University Students Research Articles

Teaching English at Tertiary Level: Motivating Students of Technical Study Programs

Student motivation has always concerned foreign language instructors. It has become more topical in recent years, after the introduction of COVID-19 restrictions, and the new global phenomenon known as remote learning. Previously, it has been claimed that teachers should pay greater attention to intrinsic motivation (e.g., curiosity, autonomy, interest in the subject, novelty), as only intrinsically motivated learners are kept motivated throughout the whole course of learning. It has been proven that extrinsic motivational factors (e.g., awards, positive feedback, good marks, pressure from the family) are inadequate to keep learners motivated over a long period. Still, psychologists suggest that both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation must be activated to ensure an efficient learning process. The present research is aimed at investigating the view of the learners of technical study programs on intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors as regards foreign language learning, the interrelation between the teacher’s character, studying environment, classroom management, and family involvement in the studying process and motivation, as well as to investigate the factors that motivate the technical students to learn and kept them motivated in the remote learning setting. The author of this research surveyed 140 students of Riga Technical University of the technical study programs. The results showed that both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are essential for student motivation in the post-pandemic time. However, in a crisis situation, even self-motivated students appear to lose their intrinsic motivation and seek support from families, peers, and teachers to stay motivated. The challenging, entertaining, and engaging tasks, good classroom management, and the application of digital teaching methods are appreciated by students in these times.

Content Framework for Modern Vehicle Technology Integration into Motor Vehicle Mechanic Work Curriculum in Technical Colleges in Gombe State, Nigeria

The main purpose of this study was to develop a content framework for inclusion of Modern Vehicle Technology into Motor Vehicle Mechanics Work MVMW curriculum in Government Science and Technical Colleges (GSTC) in Gombe State in order to enhance knowledge, attitude and skills for self-employment in modern vehicle maintenance and repairs and employable skills among MVMW trade students in technical colleges. The study was guided by 4 research questions. The population consisted of all the 30 MVMW trade teachers in Gombe State. The study adopted developmental research which was aimed to improve the current MVMW trade curriculum. A structured questionnaire was developed by the researcher with four point rating scale. The questionnaire was validated by four (4) experts from different field of Automobile Technology and trial tested on MVMW trade teachers. Mean and standard deviation was used to answer the responses while factor analysis and Cronbach Alpha was used to determine the validity and reliability of the instrument. The findings revealed that MVT content has four (4) units: these include: Introduction to MVT, Safety Rules and Regulation on MVT, Instrument for MVT Engine Testing and Measurement, It was recommended that: National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) should integrate these elements into the MVMW trade curriculum. Curriculum planners should adopt these clusters in designing the MVMW trade curriculum among other.

Financial literacy of technical university students: self-assessment of the state and dynamics of its development

Introduction. In the context of the rapid development of digital financial technologies, an increase in banking services and fraudulent schemes, the problem of a low level of financial illiteracy among the population is becoming acute. Proper management of your own finances is useful knowledge that will help you achieve financial well-being and stability. Poor understanding of trends in the global economy and country development plans; response to advertising without critical thinking, recalculation of numbers, inability to see hidden commissions and other negative factors leading to loss of capital, all this is the reason for the formation of financial competence of the younger generation. The purpose of the study is to analyze technical university students’ self-assessment of their financial literacy. Materials and methods. The research material was based on survey data from 230 students of the Stupino branch of the Moscow Aviation Institute (Russian Federation). Statistical differences were assessed using the χ²-Pearson goodness-of-fit test. Results. It was revealed that digitalization and lockdown contributed to increasing the motivation of technical university students to master financial literacy: 99.1% of students use financial services, 76.1% of respondents are aimed at increasing their level of financial literacy and are ready to gain knowledge as part of the course program (54.3%) or through the introduction of a separate subject (36.1%) and only 9.6% of respondents believe that studying personal finance management issues at the university is maximized. The analysis showed that in a comparative analysis of respondents’ answers in 2020 and 2023, statistical differences are significant (χ²obs > χ²cr) for almost all questions of the second module. Thus, the observed value of the Pearson criterion χ²obs = 7.33 exceeds the critical value χ²cr = 3.84 at the significance level α = 0.05 by almost two times for questions about the key rate of the Central Bank. Students are interested in the discount rate, understanding its role in solving financial issues. For the group of issues related to investing in financial markets, statistical differences are also significant (χ²obs = 27.8 при χ²cr = 11.07, α = 0.05). Respondents in 2023 are showing greater interest in trends in the stock, foreign exchange and other markets. There are also significant statistical differences in the group of questions about acquiring knowledge in the field of financial literacy (χ²obs = 22.79, χ²cr = 5.99 at a significance level of α = 0.05). Engineering students surveyed in 2023 are ready to study personal finance management in college. Conclusion. The study showed the feasibility of introducing elective classes on financial literacy at a university, where innovative approaches using quest technologies, master classes, and intellectual and entertaining quizzes can help engineering students overcome gaps in managing their own finances.

Zkušební komise pro učitelství na středních školách v Praze

This article describes the legislative and organisational development of examinations of fitness to teach at secondary schools. Such exams were administered to students of universities and technical universities by the Examination Committee for Teaching at Secondary Schools in Prague in 1850–1950. A committee that examined in the Czech language was established in 1871 by splitting from the German-speaking committee. Since 1870, these examinations had to be taken also by candidates wishing to teach at Realschulen (practically oriented secondary schools). In 1911–1948, these examinations had to be taken by university students who wished to teach at any type of a secondary school.

Assessing Stress Levels and Coping Mechanisms among Vocational and Technical College Students：A Case of XXX College, China

Stress is a prevalent issue among college students, exacerbated by academic demands, workload, time pressure, and future career concerns. Vocational and technical college students face additional stressors related to specialized programs, including technical skills training and industry expectations. This study focuses on stress levels and coping mechanisms among students at the XXX College in Guangdong, China, using a qualitative approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with 35 participants, revealing academic pressure, financial concerns, and personal/social challenges as significant stressors. Coping mechanisms included seeking social support, engaging in recreational activities, practicing mindfulness, and seeking professional help. The findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions and support systems to enhance student well-being and academic success in vocational and technical education.

Advantages and disadvantages of digital reading: technical university students’ perspective

The article considers implementation of the state strategy for digital transformation of the Russian education, in particular, the integration of digital reading in the educational space of technical universities. It determines the ongoing scientific discussions about digitalization and its impact on such cognitive processes as perception, interpretation, and assimilation of information by university students. Reading is fundamental to learning and education. Therefore, it is relevant to analyze digital reading in the academic environment including its learning potential, as well as advantages and disadvantages. Although many domestic and foreign authors have written about digital reading, there is a lack of empirical studies analyzing the impact of modern technologies on readers’ perceptions of digital resources. Our article aims to fill this gap. The goal is to determine the technical university students’ attitudes towards digital reading, its advantages and disadvantages. We also identify methods for enhancing the use of digital reading in the university’s educational environment. Our pedagogical research employs such empirical methods as questionnaires, pedagogical observation, and interviews in the form of free frontal discussion. Quantitative and statistical analyses are used to process and interpret the obtained data. The novelty consists in digital reading as a new educational technology and the readers’ attitude towards it. The study involves 1st to 3rd year students from Bauman Moscow State Technical University (n = 222). The data obtained do not only identify the students’ assessments of the digital integration in the Russian higher education, but also outlines ways to optimize the use of digital technologies in the educational process. The study shows that the shift from traditional print media to digital reading has both advantages and disadvantages. It requires students to communicate with interactive multimodal texts on digital media, which can affect their cognitive, emotional, volitional, and physical development. This places special demands on the competence of university teachers.

Prevalence of smoking and consumption of nicotine-containing products among students of medical and technical universities (PROTECT)

BACKGROUND: The article presents data of the study “Prevalence of smoking and consumption of nicotine-containing products among students of medical and technical universities” (PROTEСT), carried out in 2023 at North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov and Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University (LETI) named after V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin).
 AIM: To study the prevalence and patterns of consumption of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, attitudes to smoking behaviour.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of a random sample of student groups included 1105 respondents.
 RESULTS: The average age of respondents was 20.7 ± 2.0 years, 44.3% were men. 6.8% of participants smoked cigarettes; more often men than women (9.4 vs. 4.7%, p 0.01). The prevalence of nicotine-containing products consumption was 15.7%. There were no differences by gender (men 15.7% and women 15.8%). The use of a combination of cigarettes and nicotine-containing products was noted by 6.6% of students, which led to increase the tobacco smokers number to 13.4%; and the number of people consuming nicotine-containing products to 22.4%. The main reason for starting smoking/consuming nicotine-containing products was the example of friends (in 35.8 and 34% of cases). The reason for the start of smoking and consuming nicotine-containing products were problems in school and family among 21.1% of women and 6.6% of men (p 0.05), and nicotine-containing products by 16.0% of women and 5.7% of men (p 0.05). The majority of consumers of cigarettes and nicotine-containing products combination (38.4%) use them in a 20/80 ratio. Among the respondents, the proportion of smoking relatives is 40.3%, friends — 66.2%, classmates/dormitory neighbors — 71.9%.
 CONCLUSIONS: A reduction in tobacco smoking and an increase in the proportion of people using nicotine-containing products and their combination with tobacco, as well as the absence of gender differences in nicotine-containing products consumption, indicates a change in the smoking behavior of students and increases the risk of developing nicotine addiction and harmful health consequences. Differences in the motivation for starting smoking/using nicotine-containing product among men and women requires more detailed study.

The Application of Digital Transformation in Accounting Education: A Case Study of Internet + Technology Improving Academic Performance

This study aims to evaluate the impact of the application of Internet + technology in accounting education on academic performance, with a special focus on the academic performance changes of 2022 accounting students of Ningxia Vocational and Technical College of Finance and Economics. The study adopted a quantitative analysis method to evaluate the effects of these technologies by comparing and analyzing students' scores before and after receiving Internet + technology teaching. The data was collected from the school's student status management system, covering the performance records of 124 students. SPSS software was used for data processing and analysis, and the academic performance before and after the technology application was compared through Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. The results show that the average score of students increased significantly after the application of technology, from 48.27 points to 85.40 points, indicating that Internet + technology has played a significant role in improving academic performance in accounting. This performance improvement is attributed to the flexible learning resources, enhanced interactive learning environment, and practical learning materials provided by Internet+ technology. Research also explores the potential of these technologies to improve the quality of teaching and develop students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Based on these findings, the study recommends that educators integrate Internet+ technology in accounting course design and calls for future research to expand the sample scope and use qualitative methods to gain an in-depth understanding of students' feelings and feedback on digital learning tools. Overall, this study highlights the importance of integrating digital technology into accounting education and provides empirical support and reference direction for other educational institutions to implement teaching reforms in similar fields. As technology continues to develop, the education field should continue to explore and adapt to new technologies to prepare students for the needs of the future accounting industry.

Toolkit for creating a safety culture for future railway workers

JSC ‟Russian Railways” is carrying out comprehensive work to reduce injuries to zero, including by increasing the level of professional training of employees. Safety culture as a derivative of the international movement Vision Zero, has become an important part of the occupational safety management system in Russian Railways and has radically changed the approach to the identification and prevention of injuries in railway transport. Students of transport technical schools and universities should join the Vision Zero international movement at the stage of education, that is, much earlier than the actual start of work. To do this, it is proposed to introduce a system of annual labor protection months in educational institutions, which will become the basis for the formation of a safety culture. Conducting such months gives the student the opportunity to take part in them for several years in a row, at the beginning of training to a greater extent as a listener and spectator, but at senior courses, to act as a lecturer, organizer and participate in more significant events.Constant work on the formation of a ‟correct” understanding of the importance of compliance with the safety standards and rules of future railway workers will become the basis for the eradication of injuries due to unfair compliance with the requirements of labor protection instructions.

Safety Awareness in Auto Mechanics Workshop among Technical College Students in Lagos State

The study investigated the safety awareness in auto-mechanics workshops among Technical College Students in Lagos State. The study adopted the survey type of descriptive research. The population of the study consists of eighty (80) technical college students in three technical colleges in Lagos state. Data were collected with the use of instrument namely: Safety Awareness in Auto Mechanics Workshop Questionnaires (SAAWQ). In the date processing the simple percentage and frequency counts were used to quantify and to analyse the responses. The result of the study showed that accidents prevention does not occur by itself, that it is the duty of the students, the teachers, instructors and administrators to be educated on why and how accidents happen. Also, the need to develop and adhere to safe working habits. Findings showed that using wrong tools to work, worn out tools, poor safety rules among others can cause accidents in the workshop. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the well planned workshop should be provided with standard facilities. Regular training and retraining program should be given for both teachers and students. Also, government must always visit the technical colleges and provide enough money for the school.
 
 Received: 15 January 2023 / Accepted: 29 February 2024 / Published: 6 March 2024

ABOUT THE FEATURES OF INNOVATIVE METHODS OF TEACHING RUSSIAN SPEECH TO STUDENTS OF NON-PHILOLOGICAL SPECIALTIES

The article discusses current issues of methods of teaching Russian as a foreign language. A variety of methodological approaches and methods, the use of various pedagogical technologies that help solve problems aimed at systematizing and adapting existing knowledge in all aspects of language (in the sociocultural sphere), the main types of speech activity in the educational and scientific spheres ( reading, listening, speaking, writing) helps improve your skills, develop skills in working with special text, and teach the basics of professional oral and written communication. At the present stage of development of methods of teaching RFL, control problems remain relevant for the most objective assessment of the knowledge of students of technical universities, forms of control are constantly being improved.

The implementation of a practice-oriented approach in teaching students of technical universities based on the development of a digital twin of the information system of an industrial enterprise

Introduction. In teaching future engineers and mechanics, difficulties arise when they study such disciplines as Theoretical Mechanics and Strength of Materials. As a rule, this is due to the need to consolidate students’ acquired theoretical knowledge. However, carrying out a sufficient number of strength tests of products is associated with significant financial costs, so it is often economically expensive to obtain results by implementing physical experiments, and in some cases it is simply impossible. In this regard, for teaching it is advisable to use accurate distributed dynamic mathematical and software models of objects, that is, digital twins. Materials and methods. As a prototype of a digital twin, an information system of an industrial enterprise was considered, designed to monitor the stress-strain state of a beam using strain gauge data. 198 students and 8 teachers from the Faculty of Mechanics and Technology and the Faculty of Automation and Computer Engineering of the Novosibirsk State Technical University (Russian Federation) took part in testing the methodology. Methods of mathematical statistics: Pearson's chi-squared test, survey and correlation analysis. Results. As a result of the introduction of teaching methods based on the use of a digital twin, situations were created that required students to critically analyze and include metacognitive skills. The implementation of practice-oriented training when working with a digital twin of an information system of an industrial enterprise has an impact on the academic performance of students (χ2 = 4.08; p < 0.05) and allows students to firmly consolidate the acquired theoretical knowledge and practical skills, which will subsequently allow the formation of sustainable professional competencies. Scientific novelty. The study revealed that learning using a digital twin contributes to a more controlled passage of the curriculum by students, develops qualities such as self-control and self-discipline, and stimulates cognitive interest in a specific academic discipline and the educational process in general. Practical relevance. The main advantage of introducing a digital twin of an industrial enterprise information system into the learning process is the effectiveness of this approach in terms of consolidating and developing practical skills among students. In addition, teaching using digital twins is particularly useful for preparation activities in high-risk industries, where practice at real-life facilities is impossible or difficult.

Use of Chat GPT in English for Engineering Classes: Are Students’ and Teachers’ Views on Its Opportunities and Challenges Similar?

Mobile technologies have become increasingly important in the field of education, providing innovative ways to engage students and enrich their learning experiences. ChatGPT is an innovative tool that can be used in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) classes to engage students, enhance their knowledge and skills, and add variety and interest to the traditional process of learning engineering English, whether accessed through computers or mobile devices. In light of this, the study aims to investigate and compare the attitudes of technical university students and teachers towards using ChatGPT in English classes, as well as their perspectives on academic integrity issues and the strategies they employ when using ChatGPT. The study involved 22 teachers and 60 students from a Ukrainian university. Quantitative research, which involved collecting data through surveys, showed that students exhibited positive attitudes, while teachers took a more neutral approach. Both groups agree that ChatGPT plays a supplementary role in enhancing both hard and soft skills, as well as English language communication skills. However, they emphasized its impact on the development of research skills. The study highlights critical issues related to academic integrity, specifically the differing perceptions of possible violations between students and teachers. The authors present ideas on integrating ChatGPT into ESP classes, enabling teachers to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) tools for language learning and adapt to changing educational landscapes. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating ChatGPT effectively into engineering English classes to support students’ learning. While emphasizing the importance of guidelines for academic integrity, it also advocates for the creative use of AI tools by teachers and students. Addressing the disparity in attitudes suggests providing teacher professional development to ensure proficient use of AI tools.

Methods of professionally-oriented teaching of physics to students of technical universities

Methods of professionally-oriented teaching of physics to students of technical universities

Combined Online-Discussion as a Tool for Formation of Future Engineers’ Reflexion under Conditions of Education Digitalization.

The article analyzes the influence of training based on combined (combining asynchronous and synchronous forms in one pedagogical technology) online discussions (OD) on the formation of reflexion of future engineers. The relevance of the problem is revealed. It is conditioned by toughening requirements to reflexive abilities and network communicative competences of modern technical specialists in the conditions of digitalization of education, networking and socio-technical transformation of engineering activity. The algorithm of realization and stage-role structure of asynchronous and synchronous OD are presented. The four-stage technology of pedagogical application of combined OD combining online-discussions with face-to-face reflexive classes is described, taking into account the mediated nature of learning in the digital environment and psychological features of future engineers related to the specifics of technical thinking. The methodological peculiarities (combination of online discussions with classroom training; stage-role differentiation of online discussions (structuring) on the basis of a scenario plan; use of a facilitation model with partially symmetric interaction of online discussions participants; conducting online discussions in microgroups of 4-6 hours) were identified and the mechanisms of their influence on the effectiveness of combined online discussions in the formation of future engineers’ reflexion were described. Taking into account the above mentioned methodological features, the teacher’s recommendations on the effective organization of the educational process in technical universities on the basis of the developed technology have been formulated. The correlation between the application of the developed technology and the improvement of the subjects’ reflexive skills by 19.67-32.79% was shown and a conclusion was made about its significant role in the formation of a holistic view of the students of technical universities about the discussion as a complex multidimensional category, in which an important role is played by building social interaction with opponents, understanding their position and reaching compromise solutions.

Рpinciples of developing the russian cultural identity of university students in foreign language classes

Relevance. In the context of increasing geopolitical tensions in the world the development of Russian cultural identity of students in foreign language classes is of particular importance. Modern Russian society needs competent, creative and active specialists, whose training will not be relevant and sufficient without acquiring knowledge not only about the culture of the countries of the language being studied, but also about their own culture. In the current situation, a foreign language has priority importance as a means of intercultural communication and generalization of the spiritual heritage of the countries and peoples of the studied and native languages.The Research problem: what are the principles of development of Russian cultural identity that contribute to the formation of foreign language communicative competence? The purpose of the research is to substantiate the implementation of the principles of development of Russian cultural identity of technical university students in foreign language classes that contribute to the formation of foreign language communicative competence. The research methods used include pedagogical observation, study of psychological and pedagogical literature, retrospective analysis of teaching activities, assessment, study of the work experience of teachers of higher educational institutions. The results of the research are the following: the role of a foreign language in the formation of Russian cultural identity of students has been determined; principles for the development of Russian cultural identity of students in foreign language classes at a university have been formulated and examples of their implementation given. Key conclusions: the principles of ethnocultural orientation of teaching and the use of PR technologies in foreign language classes, the purpose of which is the development of the Russian cultural identity of students at a technical university, contribute to the formation of foreign language communicative competence.

Career anchors and value orientations as tools for evaluating soft skills of technical university students in the context of digital socialization

The world system has recently been transformed into a completely new socio-cultural phenomenon called the VUCA world. The abbreviation VUCA can be deciphered as follows: Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity. To survive in the VUCA world, a person needs such personal qualities as speed, dynamism, the ability to constantly change, the ability to adapt, the desire to constantly acquire new knowledge. It remains to be understood how it is possible to determine whether a particular representative of the younger generation has the same soft skills that can help him to survive in the VUCA world in conditions of digital socialization, and how exactly these soft skills are related to the self-determination of this person regarding his future profession. Using ANOVA, it was found that soft skills - “training and education”, “creativity”, “active social contacts” and “self-development” - are able to positively influence the career preferences of technical university students, significantly facilitating their career self-determination in the VUCA world in conditions of digital socialization. We recommend that university teachers develop value motivation areas for students that correspond to the soft skills mentioned above, as vital for the successful existence of young people in the VUCA world in conditions of digital socialization.

On the issue of developing personal and creative abilities of fire-service technical university students

On the issue of developing personal and creative abilities of fire-service technical university students

Prevalence and attitudes of hookah smoking among southern technical University Students Basrah, Iraq

Prevalence and attitudes of hookah smoking among southern technical University Students Basrah, Iraq

Research on safety education management of technical college students in the new era

Research on safety education management of technical college students in the new era