Study Skills Research Articles

Peculiarities of developing deaf and hard-of-hearing students’ study skills in the digital learning environment based on gamification

Introduction. The article focuses on the problem of designing educational procedures aimed at developing skills of information searching on the Internet for deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) technical university students. The purpose of the research is to reveal the peculiarities of developing deaf and hard-of-hearing students’ study skills in the digital learning environment based on gamification. Materials and Methods. The authors used theoretical (analysis, comparison) and empirical methods including observation; V. K. Gerbachevsky’s survey to evaluate the level of aspiration after the game; a questionnaire designed for this study. Experimental study was conducted with the use of the original game. The Wilcoxon test was chosen as a statistical criterion for verifying the reliability of data matches and differences. Results. The results showed positive dynamics in the target skills, and the feedback received from the students was positive. The analysis of the personality motivational structure that arose during the game allowed the authors to identify factors that positively influenced the use of gamification for teaching DHH students. Observation identified challenges in conducting a group game for this category of students. Conclusions. The obtained results proved gamification to be effective to develop DHH students’ information search skills in a digital environment.

Embedding academic literacies and skills into courses through graduate competency maps

The University of Bedfordshire will launch our updated Curriculum Framework in autumn 2024. A core feature will be for all courses to include a Graduate Development Pathway which spans pre-arrival, induction, first assessment, on course teaching, and beyond graduation. A central part of the pathway is a universal ‘learning to learn’ six-week induction that addresses the development of core academic literacies and skills. This is then followed by course specific graduate competency maps that outline how institutional graduate competencies are developed across units within a course. Institutional graduate competencies such as ‘communication’, ‘problem solving’, and ‘digital learning’ align to topics historically supported by our Learning Development Team. As such, it is pivotal that the Learning Development Team is involved in the development of these maps. Our approach to developing Graduate Pathways will therefore position Learning Developers at the heart of curriculum co-creation. Course teams will work in partnership with our Learning Development Team (along with Careers and Employability Advisors) to develop graduate competency maps. This empowers Learning Developers to draw upon their expertise and support the embedding of academic literacies and skills across the institution. This both positions and recognises the LD team as institutional experts in ‘learning to learn’ and mitigates the need for our LD Team to ‘fight against the notion that we are teaching ‘study skills’ in a deficit way’ (Hood, 2023, p.200) as often still seems to remain the case in the HE sector. I foresee (and hope) that ‘Learning Development for the future’ will see more universities introducing similar processes that facilitate and empower Learning Development teams to share their expertise. This in turn would mean the ‘third space’ (Holley and Biggins, 2023, p.84) typically occupied by Learning Developers will become increasingly expansive in the future.

The rise of study skills at Strathclyde (and our part in its downfall): a bildungsroman

In 2012, three members of staff were recruited by the University of Strathclyde to sit in a room and talk to students. That was the whole of the plan. That is not how this story ends. The talking was supposed to ‘help’ students to do things ‘right’. That is not what we spoke about. That year, the student-facing part of the Centre for Academic Practice and Learning Enhancement (CAPLE) established in 1987, which at its height consisted of six permanent academics with varied research interests within the, then emergent, field of Learning Development (LD), was replaced by a generic Study Skills Service, staffed by LD practitioners with a considerable collective experience and who shared a vision that was more critical and looked to a more authentically (learning) developmental approach (Asher, 2024). In so doing, the university had created a service model which we would spend the next nine years dismantling (or, to be more accurate, redeveloping). What follows is our story. The story of how the Learner Development Service (LDS) came into being, and how the spaces and places we have inhabited (both hostile and hospitable) have shaped our practices (Gravett et al., 2023) and how, in June 2022, we took up residency in a dedicated LDS Centre designed by us for us. To date, we have occupied three physical locations and been positioned under three different university services. These spaces and places have defined what we could do but they have also informed the design of our current physical, virtual and conceptual environment, as this paper details. This session highlighted the need for Learning Development practitioner resilience and perseverance in difficult circumstances. It foregrounds the usefulness of initiating, developing, and nurturing productive and mutually rewarding professional relationships with academic departments, course leaders and individual academics in order to advance the growth of Learning Development provision in institutions.

Agents for curriculum change: the role of Learning Development

Learning Development (LD) can rightly see a role as positive institutional change agents. However, this perception can often be frustrated by external interpretations about the value of study skills (Richards and Pilcher, 2023), which could go some way to perpetuating something of an identity disconnect, where others may often continue to perceive LD as remedial (Bishop et al., 2009). This session aimed to inspire a sense of where opportunities may lie for challenging perceptions with LD as change agents, using our institutional experience of having made some significant headway in influencing wholesale curriculum change. The workshop was an opportunity for exploratory discussions, with participants sharing their experiences of participation in curriculum change initiatives or challenges faced in trying to engineer this role. It considered ways to seize and make the most of other opportunities, such as student guidance on Artificial Intelligence, to be similarly influential. Based on our experience of a new curriculum framework, discussions explored challenges the LD team faced in seeking, in the first instance, to have a significant role in the process, achieving this and the inherent frustrations nevertheless. With participants, we discovered how LD can seize opportunities through recognising the role LD can play, such as defining pedagogical concepts of resourcefulness and resilience, which was inherent in the curriculum design. Group activities explored the challenges in trying to influence curriculum change, shared successes and considered whether this is an effective use of LD time. Group investigations also looked at the importance of collaborating with academic developers, and how this can help address and evolve perceptions of LD as change agents, given that staff educational development can be assumed to be the more natural agent for progressing institutional curriculum change and why an LD presence can bring a unique perspective.

Drawing a line in the sandbox: balancing exploration and instruction in AI playgrounds

Following the release of ChatGPT and similar generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools, many universities have committed to helping their students become AI literate (see for example Russell Group, 2023). The means of providing this support vary, ranging from optional, asynchronous guides to taught instruction embedded within courses. One popular format is the ‘AI playground’: practical sessions encouraging students to experiment with different AI tools, often with minimal instruction given by the facilitator. Yet how much instruction is too much or too little? Some leading voices in AI pedagogy place an emphasis on exploration and self-discovery, encouraging students to set their own goals and play with AI tools rather than walking them through specific tasks (Mollick, 2023). Minimising instruction, however, may sometimes clash with students’ needs. Recent research indicates that many students feel overwhelmed and anxious about AI, and a lack of confidence may hold some back from simply diving in on their own terms (Tierney and Peasey, 2023). In order to find a balance between exploration and instruction, this paper presents different formats of AI playgrounds with varying levels of instruction, run by the Study Skills team at the University of Bristol during the 2023/2024 academic year. Using feedback from student attendees, we identify some specific areas of AI use in which students value facilitator instruction, and at what stages the facilitator should minimise their own intervention. With these findings, we present a potential model for introductory AI playgrounds for use and adaptation by other HE practitioners.

Awareness and use of spaced studying and self-testing: a replication-extension

Study skills are important for success in college. However, students may not be aware of or willing to use effective strategies such as spaced practice and self-testing. This replication-extension study of Susser and McCabe (Susser and McCabe in Instr Sci 41:345–363, 2013) supports their original findings regarding spaced practice and extends the investigation to self-testing. Using the same survey method as the previous researchers, we found that college students showed awareness of the efficacy of spaced practice over massed practice and reported using it in ideal situations. Students reported greater use of spaced studying when a test was difficult, more heavily weighted, or over material of future use. Greater metacognitive self-regulation and elaboration was related to greater reported use of spaced practice. Extending beyond the original study to look self-testing, students were aware of the usefulness of self-testing. Similar to spaced practice, students reported being more likely to use self-testing for more difficult tests and heavily weighted tests. Those with greater metacognitive self-regulation were also more likely to report greater use of self-testing, although greater elaboration was not correlated with reported use of self-testing. Students with a higher GPA were also more likely to report spaced studying and self-testing. Findings suggest that students do know about some effective study strategies. Use of effective strategies may be helpful but students do not report using them in all settings. Educators may be interested in creating circumstances that encourage students to use effective strategies.

Relationships between self-efficacy and learning approaches as perceived by computer science students

Optimizing learning outcomes in university students necessitates an understanding of the processes that drive high-quality learning outcomes. This study investigates the motivational factors and learning methodologies perceived by computer science students during an introductory course. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 171 computer science students asked to complete a psychometric instrument (“Study Skills Inventory for Students”) during the first year of their university studies. Two major theoretical frameworks in educational psychology, namely students’ self-efficacy and learning approaches were tested relative to a factor structure obtained from learning situations. The findings supported self-efficacy and three learning approaches among computer science students. Models for deep, surface, and strategic learning approaches suggest that students with higher self-efficacy tend to adopt a deeper approach to learning. Conversely, students with lower self-efficacy were more inclined toward surface learning methods. Furthermore, a link was identified between strategic learning approaches and students’ experiences within their learning environments. The results substantiate earlier research and align with learning approach theories. The findings indicated that, in higher education settings, focus should be directed toward understanding the motivational factors influencing students and their learning approaches for educational outcomes.

PHÂN TÍCH THỰC TRẠNG VÀ SỰ KHÁC BIỆT CỦA CÁC NGUYÊN NHÂN LÃNG PHÍ THỜI GIAN VỚI KẾT QUẢ HỌC TẬP CỦA SINH VIÊN

To address the causes of wasting time that have or do not have an impact on students' academic achievement, this study was conducted utilizing quantitative research methods, alongside a variety of research methods, such as document research, an exploratory survey of 307 students, an official survey with 6,670 statistically valid student’s responses, interviews, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), scale reliability analysis, descriptive statistics, and inferential statistics. Consequently, all of the 11 causes of wasting time that belong to the two categories of objective and subjective causes are at the influential level. Whether in the group of objective or subjective causes, reasons related to the use of technology are the leading cause of wasting students' time. In addition, the study also found that there is a significant difference between student's academic results, with the main trend of students with fair academic performance having more wasted time when compared to groups of students with good and excellent grades. Therefore, to have good learning results, students need to study and practice time management skills to increase the efficiency of time use and avoid time-consuming factors.

Factors Shaping Academic Study Skills of University of Rwanda Undergraduate Students

This study examined factors that shape study skills of University of Rwanda undergraduate students, specifically at the National Police College. Using a qualitative cross-sectional design, the study involved 60 homogeneously sampled students from a total of 398 across three programs. Data was collected through focus group discussions and analyzed thematically. The findings identified both positive and negative influences on students' study skills under three key categories. Institutional factors include the living environment, rules and regulations, teaching methods and examination timetables. Student-related factors encompass individual personality traits, social media usage, demographic characteristics and challenges related to English language proficiency. Teacher-related factors involve practices, such as prohibiting note-taking in class, providing only soft copies of notes before sessions and not incorporating additional reading materials into assessments. There is a clear need for a holistic approach to enhance students' study skills, considering the diverse influences at play. A close collaboration between UR and NPC should be established to tackle challenges related to quality learning. Additionally, University of Rwanda should initiate a comprehensive campaign across all its colleges to raise awareness about the importance of study skills in higher education.

Expecting better: effectively conveying time allocation expectations to students

ABSTRACT We report on an intervention targeted to enhance the amount of time students spend on independent study, exploring the influence of peers and lecturers. Participants reflected on the independent study time spent on their past assessment before receiving clear time allocation advice from a lecturer or a peer, or no communication (control). Participants then reported on the time they planned to spend on their next assessment, as well as completing measures of self-esteem, academic self-efficacy and willingness to engage with study skills development. Results revealed that participants planned to spend more time on their next assignment, compared to their last, across all experimental conditions (peer, lecturer, and control). Participants in the lecturer advice condition reported greater self-esteem and academic self-efficacy compared to participants in the peer advice condition. We consider the importance of student self-reflection on increasing intended independent study and the importance of lecturer advice for enhancing student self-esteem and self-efficacy.

Level of Gamification Instruction in Language, Literacy, and Communication Domains for Kindergarten

This study aimed to assess the level of gamification instruction in language, literacy, and communication domains for kindergarten, in private schools, in a highly urbanized city in Central Philippines during the school year 2023-2024. Data for this descriptive study was collected from 34 kindergarten teachers using a self-made data-gathering instrument that underwent a stringent validity and reliability test with scores of 4.51 and 0.848, respectively. The results reveal that teachers’ level of gamification instruction was generally very high. Subsequent analysis indicated no significant difference in the level of gamification instruction in auditory perception and discrimination, oral language, alphabet knowledge, and study skills when grouped by age, area of concentration, length of service, and number of trainings attended. Meanwhile, a significant difference was observed in auditory perception and discrimination, visual perception discrimination, alphabet knowledge, and study skills when grouped by highest educational attainment. Likewise, there was a significant difference in visual perception and discrimination when grouped by highest educational attainment and length of service. Hence, this study recommends professional development for younger teachers, tailored gamified activities pieces of training, and the creation of a climate conducive to learning in the research environment. Keywords: Gamification Instruction, Language, Literacy, Communication, Kindergarten

Developing a foundation information and academic skills programme for potential Student Nursing Associates.

This article outlines the development of 'Prepare to Progress', a preapplication programme for potential Student Nursing Associate (SNA) applicants at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Created collaboratively by the Trust's Library and Knowledge Services and Professional Education teams, the programme aims to provide realistic course expectations, teach study skills and boost confidence in using library services. Evaluation results indicate increased understanding of the SNA course, improved application decision-making, and enhanced academic confidence among participants. The programme demonstrates the valuable role of library services in preparing healthcare support workers for further education and addressing library anxiety. The study suggests benefits for both participants and library services.

Peran Konselor dalam Membantu Siswa Mengatasi Stres Akademik: Pendekatan Bimbingan Konseling

Academic stress is a significant problem experienced by students at various levels of education. Academic stress can have a negative impact on students' well-being and their academic performance. Individual counseling has been recognized as an effective approach in helping students overcome academic stress. This research aims to determine the role of counselors in helping students overcome academic stress: a counseling guidance approach. This research is qualitative research. The results of the analysis show that there are several individual counseling strategies that are effective in dealing with academic stress in students. These strategies include relaxation techniques, time management, developing study skills, social support, self-regulation, and developing adaptive thinking patterns. Previous research also shows that individual counseling conducted by trained and experienced counselors has a positive impact on reducing academic stress and improving student well-being. This research has important reinforcement for counseling practitioners and researchers in the field of education. By understanding effective individual counseling strategies, counseling practitioners can develop appropriate and scalable interventions to help students cope with academic stress. In addition, this research also identifies research opportunities that could provide opportunities for further research in this area.

The impact of distance learning on tourism and hospitality education during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Region VI, Western Visayas

This study investigates the impact of the shift from face-to-face to distance learning during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on tourism and hospitality education in colleges and universities in Region VI, Western Visayas. It compares the effects on academic performance and learning styles of students in different educational modes. The research employs a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative descriptive methods, using mobile and electronic online surveys with 292 participants from tourism and hospitality courses in Region VI. The study examines how students coped with the sudden use of technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), and their readiness for this abrupt shift. The pandemic led to psychological effects on students' academic performance as the educational system transitioned from traditional in-person learning to utilizing hardware, software, and learning resources to maintain effective education. The results indicate that academic motivation was "Average," study skills were "Moderately Low," and academic stress was "Average" across higher education institutions. A hybrid model of education and digital learning emerged, widening educational gaps due to the sudden shift in classroom activities. The pandemic reshaped national education delivery, affecting millions of private and public education students due to institutional closures. Students relied on on-hand modules and online learning through flexible or blended learning approaches, significantly impacting tourism and hospitality education and different educational modalities.

Study skills needs to be more than mindmaps and flashcards

Our school career culminates in a set of exam results, but if students want to do well, attending lessons is not enough: the implicit expectation is that all students will reinforce learning independently outside of the classroom. Really effective learners employ effective independent study techniques, but when, how and where do they learn to do this? Currently there is no coherent consensus on how we should teach young people to become effective independent learners. Most schools, as far as it is possible to know given the scant research, do not teach study skills effectively – using one off sessions or PSHE sessions simply to teach strategies (Purdie & Hattie, 1999 & a very unscientific social media poll, 2024). Many students, as they move through the educational system, need to make significant behavioural changes to the way they learn independently To support students in this I have developed a curriculum that draws on a wide range of psychological domains to help students not only learn effective study techniques, but also to help them develop more helpful study habits. Whilst ever evolving and difficult to evaluate, the feedback from students and parents has convinced me that the course curriculum is impactful, enabling students to tackle independent study, revision and exams with confidence.

Teachers’ perspectives and approaches on the transition to high school

Transition is about change, and change comes with its challenges. School transitions are challenging events in students’ educational paths, with possible negative effects on their development. The transition from middle school to high school is one of the most difficult, generating many school dropouts. Recovering from disrupted educational trajectories and early school leaving raises significant challenges in adult continuing education. The study aimed to identify the teachers’ perspectives regarding the students’ transition to high school, the difficulties and the support activities at their disposal. 1373 teachers from the West Romania responded online to Akos and Galassi questionnaire in June 2023. The results indicate that teachers perceive significant challenges in the transition to high school, especially in the academic and organisational dimensions. Rural support programmes focus more on participation in education away from home and supporting students and parents. Urban programmes emphasise academic support through study and organisation skills training sessions for students. The implemented support activities, in spite of being quite diverse, are not congruent enough with the perceived difficulties. To foster more successful transitions, the support activities should be more structured, implemented jointly by high schools and secondary schools, and customised according to the school and social context.

Student Co-Creation of Resources in a Second Year Linear Algebra Course

In this project, we investigated how designing their own tutorial questions could help level 2 mathematics students negotiate the often-challenging transition from level 1 in the Scottish curriculum. One student from the level 2 linear algebra course at the University of Aberdeen volunteered to create practice questions on topics of linear algebra they selected. Through analysis of the participant’s interview, we showed, in accordance with the literature, that the activity benefited them in terms of study skills (motivation, focus, independence), in terms of mathematics learning (deep learning and mathematical knowledge construction). We also found that the activity had contributed to improving the volunteer’s resilience to learning mathematics, and their sense of legitimate participation in the mathematics community. This has not been discussed in the literature and is a significant finding considering the known difficulty for mathematics students, in particular women, to feel they ‘belong’. This research further suggests that if the activity took place in groups, it could also help develop a peer-support community which students could rely on to negotiate the transition to level 2.

A - 42 Exploring Emotional Regulation Difficulties and Achievement-Oriented Parental Psychological Control as the Moderators of the Association between Academic Enablers and Academic Skills in Hispanic Adolescents

Abstract Objective This study explored how emotional regulation difficulties and parental psychological control (achievement-oriented) moderate the association between academic enablers (motivation, engagement, study skills, interpersonal skills) and academic skills (reading, writing, mathematics, critical thinking). Method Responses from 157 adolescents (average age = 12, 63% Hispanic, 46% female) using the Academic Competence Evaluation Scales, the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale, and the Achievement-Oriented Psychological Control measure were analyzed using the PROCESS macro conditional analysis model 3 in R (Hayes, 2013). Results Results indicated that emotional regulation moderated the association between academic enablers and academic skills and that this moderation was further moderated by psychological control, F(7, 149) = 63.5, p < 0.00. Specifically, the academic enablers-skills association was stronger for adolescents experiencing higher emotional regulation difficulties and psychological control, Tb7 = 0.0046. Probing the interaction using a modified pick-a-point approach revealed that the conditional effect of the interaction between academic enablers and emotional regulation difficulties on academic skills was significant at the 84th percentile of psychological control, θXW → Y|(Z = 3.11) = 0.0076, p = 0.0075. Alternatively, probing the interaction using the Johnson-Neyman technique revealed that the conditional effect of the interaction between academic enablers and emotional regulation difficulties on academic skills was significant when parental psychological control was greater than or equal to 2.49. Conclusions The study highlights the importance of academic enablers in skill development, especially for adolescents who experience moderate to high emotional regulation difficulties and parental pressure to succeed. Targeted interventions to improve adolescents’ emotional regulation capabilities and lessen controlling parent–child dynamics could be crucial.

Investigation of Music Teacher Candidates’ Motivation and Study Skills in Voice Education Course

Investigation of Music Teacher Candidates’ Motivation and Study Skills in Voice Education Course

Developing Transcreation Skills in Translation Studies: Training University Lectures to Address Demands for Creative Translation

The relevance of transcreation skills goes beyond mere translation strategy to a more sought-after service, that help equip translators with relevant employability skills. Nevertheless, the concern for the high demands of translators who possess these skills calls for a thorough training of future translators to acquire these skills. On the other hand, this will be possible if translator educators are already equipped with these skills. As such, this study aims to explore how translation educators, specifically, university lecturers can be prepared to effectively address the growing need for transcreation skills. The research further explores practical techniques and approaches aimed at teaching instructors to successfully impart transcreation abilities and adequately equip students for employment in creative translation. In order to achieve the objective of this research, a quantitative research methodology was adopted, and an online research questionnaire was also utilized. Moreover, a total of ninety-seven (97) study participants were included in the online survey to express their perspectives on how the university lecturers can be trained to address demands for creative translation. The participants' replies, which constitute the primary dataset for this study, were presented and subjected to thorough analysis. Additionally, these replies provided additional clarification on the two fundamental study hypotheses. The study results highlighted several fundamental elements connected with transcreation skills, including bilingual proficiency, creative writing, cultural sensitivity, and multimedia proficiency. Based on the analyzed data, the research revealed that adoption of practical strategies and methodologies such as professional development, inclusion of transcreation projects in translation training module, collaboration with industry experts, and technology integration helps to train translation educators to effectively teach transcreation skills. The study, however, recommends combination of these identified strategies for effective training of university lecturers.