Education Graduate Students Research Articles

Experiences from teaching graduate students how to design net Zero Emission Buildings in Norway

Experiences from teaching graduate students how to design net Zero Emission Buildings in Norway

Developing linguistics educators: A qualitative study of graduate linguist professional development

Abstract: In this article, we report on findings from an ongoing study of graduate students in linguistics regarding the approaches they take to develop as professional educators and how faculty and programs in linguistics can better support graduate student teaching professionalization. In focus groups with current linguistics graduate students, we identified three key themes: formal institutional training, mentor relationships (i.e. instructor and TA relationships), and peer relationships. Mentor relationships provide students with a range of experiences and degrees of support across faculty, which influences how they develop as educators. Peer socialization is also a critical component of growth and well-being, providing graduate student teachers with both practical guidance and ongoing emotional support. We illustrate this point with a case study—a weekly teaching journal club for graduate students within our own Linguistics program, which became an important space for pedagogical development. While our results point to graduate student success and resilience through socialization, they also illustrate a common issue of professionalization in academia: students gain professional skills through noninstitutional mechanisms. Teaching professionalization largely falls to the ‘hidden curriculum’, which puts students at a disadvantage, especially those from minoritized backgrounds (Smith 2013). We join other scholars in our field in calling for greater institutionalized mechanisms for professionalization to promote equitable access to vital skills for graduate students (Calhoun 2020). To that end, we conclude by suggesting ways in which faculty and departments can close this gap in graduate training.

Predicting graduate students’ entrepreneurial intentions through innovative teaching in entrepreneurship education: SEM-ANN approach

PurposeEntrepreneurship education (EE) through innovative teaching techniques (ITEE) and entrepreneurial intention (EI) are two essential components of entrepreneurship development. Using the assumptions of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), we took three constructs: attitude (ATT), subjective norms (SUBNs), and perceived behavioral control (PBC), and from the assumption of Human Capital (HC) theory, we constructed another variable, ITEE. Thus, the fundamental objective of this study is to find out the essential predictor of EI between entrepreneurial antecedents (ATT, SUBNs, PBC) and ITEE through an artificial neural network (ANN).Design/methodology/approachUsing the snowball sampling technique, a highly structured questionnaire was sent to respondents. Finally, a sample size of 397 business graduate students was chosen.FindingsThe findings revealed that two dimensions of entrepreneurial antecedents (attitude and subjective norm) positively impacted EI. Furthermore, ITEE partially mediated the relationship between two dimensions of entrepreneurial antecedents (attitude and subjective norm) and EI. Moreover, through ANN, we found that attitude (ATT) was a crucial predictor of EI among business graduate students in Bangladesh.Research limitations/implicationsIn this study, only business graduate students were included as respondents; thus, further research should include students from other departments or disciplines to generalize the findings.Practical implicationsThis study covers numerous actors in terms of practical contributions, including students, academics, the government, and the state. This article should draw the attention of Bangladesh government policymakers regarding the significance of ITEE for developing entrepreneurship. The research framework of this study proposed that ITEE should implement antecedents of entrepreneurship into business education, boosting the ability of students to make judgments, which will also enhance EI in the future.Originality/valueIntegrating the TPB theory with human capital theory represents a significant scholarly advancement in business education for graduate students in Southeast Asia, namely Bangladesh. Furthermore, we developed a novel ITEE scale by synthesizing information from many literary sources, providing valuable insights for future researchers.

Understanding How and When Graduate Student Instructors Break Through Challenges with Active Learning

Understanding How and When Graduate Student Instructors Break Through Challenges with Active Learning

Engendering Agency, Mindfulness, and Critical Thinking in Online Education

Challenges remain in the conduct of graduate education even when Philippine society has already begun its so-called post pandemic recovery. Such challenges include but are not limited to shifting work arrangements, perturbations in personal and family priorities, and everyday socio-economic realities such as the traffic problem and the rising cost of living. Given this backdrop of hard realities and increasing pressure on the individual’s mental space, in which learners attempt to negotiate the pursuit of graduate studies, I draw on my lived experience in teaching graduate students at the Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman and problematize the issues in engendering agency, mindfulness, and critical thinking as desired states of being in an empowered, student-centered learning setting. Utilizing phenomenography, the study probes the approaches that were effective in teaching and learning as well as their challenges and the attendant contexts. I hope to contribute to the academic discourse on rethinking graduate education pedagogy.

Examining higher education through HyFlex

ABSTRACT This design-based research (DBR) study investigated the following research question: How can the HyFlex instructional model be leveraged to create more accessible and equitable education for graduate students? To address this question, the researchers explored two education doctoral courses in the USA, with 37 participants for one semester. The essential elements of the intervention included the following: digital, multimodal tools; equity of online and face-to-face learning environments; and engagement in community. A mixed methods approach to data collection and analysis was utilised in accordance with the DBR framework, including inhibiting and enhancing factors of the intervention, modifications made, unanticipated outcomes, and progress towards the goal. The discussion provides guidance for future implementation of the HyFlex model in higher education.

The Invisible Carework of Anti-racist Pedagogy: The Experiences of Graduate Student Teaching Assistants

In this essay, we discuss our experience as graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) in a first-year writing program with an explicitly anti-racist pedagogy. The growing literature on critical pedagogy focuses on the instructor-undergraduate student dynamic but does not address the necessary role of GTAs in implementing anti-racist pedagogy. We use feminist theory to contend that care is an inherent component of anti-racist pedagogy and that GTAs are integral actors in providing that care. We highlight the indispensable role of GTAs in navigating the complexities of larger classes as anti-racist pedagogy is scaled up beyond the individual classroom and instructor. We conclude by providing three possible solutions to address this challenge.

Construction of a competency evaluation index system for postgraduates of educational technology

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to determine the competency characteristics required for the employment of master’s degree students in educational technology.Design/methodology/approachA combined qualitative and quantitative method was used to consult multiple experts through a modified Delphi method. Competency characteristics were extracted from Chinese recruitment apps, national recruitment websites and university training programs. Ten senior teacher experts who teach educational technology master’s students were consulted through a questionnaire consultation to validate the proposed competency model. The weights of competency characteristics were determined through a combination of the analytic hierarchy process and entropy method.FindingsThe results show that when recruiting educational technology master’s students, more emphasis is placed on operational skills. The majority of companies tend to assess practical abilities rather than theoretical knowledge. Relevant knowledge of educational technology, psychology, computer science and education is considered to be the basic knowledge components of educational technology master’s students, while professional skills are the core skills required for their positions. Therefore, universities need to focus on training, educational technology graduate students in these areas of competence. The study also found that professional qualities (such as physical and mental fitness) and personality traits (interpersonal communication and interaction) receive more attention from companies and are essential competencies for educational technology master’s students.Originality/valueA competence model for educational technology master’s students is proposed, which includes aspects such as knowledge, personal skills/abilities, professional qualities and personality traits. The competence elements included in this model can serve as reference indicators for universities to cultivate the competence of educational technology master’s students, as well as reference points for recruiting units to help them select talents. This represents a new dimension in research related to the employment of educational technology master’s students. The study enriches the research objects and competence dictionary in the field of competence research.

How Do Transnational Distance Education Graduate Students Perceive Quality?

Driven by competition amongst higher education institutions, increasing recognition of the benefits of international academic mobility, and the global pandemic, transnational distance education has accelerated in recent years. Despite its many advantages, quality assurance issues can pose significant obstacles to success. Using a collaborative autoethnography approach, this study aimed to conceptualize quality dimensions from the perspectives of three Greek graduate students shaped by their collective experience at an open university in Canada. The findings suggest that quality encompasses accessibility, learner-centred instructional design, social-emotional support, and applying acquired knowledge and skills in local contexts.

Personalizing first-year writing course design and delivery: Navigating modality, shared curriculum, and contingent labor in a community of practice

This article describes five first-year writing instructors’ experiences with personalizing shared curriculum across three different course delivery formats (face-to-face, hybrid, online). The data is drawn from teaching journals that the co-authors, a non-tenure track, part-time Lecturer and a tenured Writing Program Administrator, and three Graduate Student Teaching Associates completed throughout Fall 2022. The findings illustrate both benefits and drawbacks related to shared curriculum: discussing and troubleshooting curriculum in a community of practice is highly valuable, but separating course delivery from course design is challenging. In our study, those challenges manifested as disconnects between course content and disciplinary identity, as well as personal feelings of failure. On the other hand, the need to personalize shared curriculum across multiple delivery formats proved productive, especially when instructors used asynchronous online materials as a starting point to develop hybrid and face-to-face lesson plans. Ultimately, we advocate for more conversations about how writing programs can support contingent faculty as they personalize shared curriculum through both course delivery and design, and we offer an example of a successful community of practice that revises shared curriculum in response to community members’ experiences with teaching in multiple modalities.

Experiences of Graduate Students of the First Cohort on Cost-Sharing Policies in Saudi Public Universities: Lessons Learned and Recommendations for Policy and Practice

The study aimed at investigating the experiences of graduate students who experience, for the first-time, cost-sharing policies in Saudi public universities. The study used the explanatory sequential mixed methods approach, involving a two-phase data collection. First, quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire administered to graduate students of education from 24 out of the 29 public universities, where 384 participants responded. Then, qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with 28 participants who voluntarily signed up for a follow-up interview. The main findings show that 66.4% of participants support the introduction of cost-sharing in public universities. However, there are no student financial aid mechanisms to guarantee equal opportunity for all candidates. Even though 90.4% of participants pay their due shares on time, students who faced financial hardships were not allowed to register for classes until they paid. Further, except for the contract signed during the admission process, there was no informative and accessible cost-sharing policy document to help potential candidates make the right decision before joining a program. Moreover, the cost-sharing programs are not flexible for working students. Participants’ perceptions on cost-sharing and financial aid mechanisms do not differ based on gender and education level but do strongly significantly differ based on cost-sharing policy support. Based on these findings, the researchers suggest five recommendations for policy and practice for the cost-sharing policy to be effective and equitable for all potential candidates.

인공지능 윤리에 대한 대학원생의 교육 요구 분석

The purpose of this study is to analyze the educational needs of graduate stu-dents regarding artificial intelligence (AI) ethics and to examine whether these educational needs differ according to the frequency of AI use. Participants were 593 graduate stu-dents enrolled in a large university in Seoul, South Korea. We used a self-reported survey to measure students' levels of current understanding and their perceived importance of 22 items related to AI ethical standards. We analyzed the data using the Borich needs as-sessment model as well as The Locus for Focus Model. Our results identified safety, ac-countability, transparency, human rights protection, and non-infringement as the top pri-orities for AI ethics education for graduate students. Accountability emerged consistently and was identified as the top priority for educational needs, regardless of the frequency of AI use. On the other hand, privacy and transparency were found to be more important for those who use AI less frequently, and safety was found to be more important for those who use AI more frequently. Our findings will provide valuable insights for designing and developing AI ethics educational programs for graduate students, ultimately helping them in enhancing their ethical awareness and competence in relation to AI.

Teaching Intersectionality in Instructional Librarianship: Asynchronous Information Literacy Instruction in the Health Sciences

This article explores the topic of intersectionality and its applications in teaching graduate students at a health sciences university. The case study examined the creation of an asynchronous information literacy module that centered intersectionality in the research process. Summative assessment data indicated that students were able to critically reflect on gaps in their knowledge to address health inequities, learn the narratives of multiply-marginalized patients, and make connections between research and intersectional justice. The study also revealed areas for improvement such as restructuring the assessment component of the module to better evaluate student success, strengthening the module as a socially engaging learning space for students, and integrating other metrics to measure the student experience. Findings from this study demonstrate how instructional librarians can create equitable and engaging learning spaces through an asynchronous instruction model as well as teaching intersectionality in STEMM-specific disciplines.

Cultivation Model of Professional Degree Graduate Students Integrating Industry and Education Under Background of “New Engineering”

Due to the weak practical ability, insufficient innovative spirit, and weak professional awareness in the current professional degree graduate student education, this paper has conducted the study on the joint cultivation of the professional degree graduate student integrating the industry and education under the background of the “new engineering”. It has established the cultivation model of the professional degree graduate student with the industry-education integration and collaborative education. Guided by the national major strategies and the economic and social development needs of the Guangdong-Hong KongMacao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the universities, enterprises and governments fully coordinates and cooperates with the cultivation of the high-level engineering talents and scarce talents, which is able to comprehensively improve the practical innovation ability of the professional degree graduate students, and enhance the market recognition of the engineering education, thereby promoting the sustainable development of the engineering education under the background of the “new engineering”.

Leveraging undergraduate learning assistants when implementing new laboratory curricula

At University of California, Irvine, a large-enrollment research university, undergraduate chemistry courses for non-chemistry majors were delivered remotely during the 2020–2021 academic year, with a return to in-person instruction planned for January 2022. Because this return to in-person instruction coincided with the transition of second-year students from general chemistry to organic chemistry laboratory courses, the instructional staff recognized a need for remedial laboratory curricula for students with no prior in-person laboratory experience. Simultaneously, we desired to implement undergraduate Learning Assistants (LAs) in non-chemistry major organic chemistry laboratories for the first time at our university. In this paper, we describe our approach for leveraging undergraduate LAs to (1) test new laboratory curricula and (2) address feelings of comfort and safety for students with no prior in-person laboratory experience. Benefits of our LA program perceived by students include increased laboratory efficiency and improved student learning from near-peer instructors; benefits perceived by LAs include the development of professional skills and teamwork with graduate student teaching assistants. We provide an outline of resources and strategies to enable instructors to simultaneously implement undergraduate LAs and new laboratory curricula.

HESA Graduate Students’ International Involvements and Civic Engagement

This study maps the types of international involvement opportunities available to HESA: Higher Education and Student Affairs graduate students in the U.S.A., as seen through the eyes of the students, and analyzes the impact of these students’ diverse international involvements on their orientation towards social responsibility. The study follows a survey research design. The study’s results indicate low levels of international exposure amongst HESA graduate students across diverse programs, and moderate rates of orientation towards civic responsibility. HESA students’ orientation towards social responsibility can successfully be predicted by a combination of five variables, three of which represent curricular and co-curricular environmental engagements: listening to an international speaker, discussing the ways the U.S. higher education links to the rest of the world, and attending presentations of study abroad students. The findings aim to inform program directors and faculty on existing opportunities for international exposure, on the rate of student involvements in them, as well on the importance of international exposures for their students’ future professional preparation.

Teacher-student relationships and mental disorders of undergraduate and graduate students in online education: A moderated mediation model of mobile phone addiction and hometown setting

To solve the problem of distance education and cope with emergencies, online education has become one of the common educational methods in recent years. ObjectsThis study aimed to explore the relationship between the teacher-student relationship (TSR) and mental disorders of university students in online education. Measures2032 full-time undergraduate and graduate students from a comprehensive university in China participated in the online survey. The Chinese version of the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 Items, the Chinese version of the Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI), and the 7-item Teacher-Student Relationship Perception Questionnaire were administered to the students. ResultsWe found that higher quality of perceived TSR and a lower level of mobile phone addiction were associated with better mental health among undergraduate and graduate students during online education. Mobile phone addiction mediated the relationship between TSR and mental disorders, and hometown setting moderated the relationship between TSR and mobile phone addiction. Specifically, a higher quality of perceived TSR was associated with a lower level of mobile phone addiction. In addition, for students with low-quality perceived TSR, those who came from rural areas had a higher level of mobile phone addiction than those who came from urban areas. In contrast, when students had high-quality perceived TSR, the differences between students from urban and rural areas in mobile phone addiction were insignificant. ConclusionThe results of this study are of great significance in improving the mental health and mobile phone addiction of undergraduate and graduate students during online education and reveal the urban-rural differences in the impact of TSRs during online education.

Addressing challenges and finding solutions: navigating the informal curriculum of publication training within higher education

ABSTRACT The peer-review process used in most academic journals is critical for curating evidence-based knowledge. Although many graduate programmes expect students to engage in the research process, these programmes often do not mandate formal training for the publication process. With few studies examining the graduate student experience in the publication process, the current study sought to help address this gap. Specifically, we used a reflexive thematic analysis approach to look at 18, hour-long, semi-structured interviews with Education graduate students at the master’s and doctoral level. Using a revised version of Kolb’s experiential learning theory to contextualise the results, we highlight three main areas related to participants’ experiences engaging in the publication process: a) experiences and motivations, b) challenges, and c) pathways to publishing. Based on these findings, we offer implications for higher education to support graduate students’ readiness to engage in the publication process as future scholars.

Citizen instructors: Academic citizenship, graduate student instructors, and COVID-19

Academic citizenship entails seeing the academic community as worthy of love beyond what might prove useful for an annual performance review, even amidst a pandemic. The academic community must deserve what Harry Broudy called ‘enlightened cherishing’. Through a qualitative longitudinal study of graduate student instructors (GSIs) at a U.S. public university during the recent pandemic (2020-2022), involving multiple interviews and focus groups, we discovered that the GSIs remained academic citizens during emergency remote teaching necessitated by COVID-19 by adopting the notion of hustle. They were motivated to act with intensified resourcefulness and creativity because of a future-orientation in which a better tomorrow for the community was envisioned. They found more resources than those provided by their university, embraced flexibility, and recognized their students not just as students but as fellow human beings. The academic community, as opposed to the official institution, remained worthy of ‘enlightened cherishing’ because individuals within it could continually show flexibility and empathy in difficult times. To support this hustle, without it leading to burnout, we recommend that academic institutions foster, as an important part of academic citizenship, the virtue of misericordia, which Alasdair MacIntyre calls ‘grief or sorrow over someone else’s distress’—here for students caught up in tragedy.

Conducting a Systematic Literature Review in Education: A Basic Approach for Graduate Students

Though essential for graduate students’ success, academic writing remains complex for a variety of reasons. Lack of institutional support and non-transparent writing practices leave graduate students in education to depend on the support of their academic supervisors. The aim of this paper is to familiarize graduate students with the genre of systematic literature review (SLR), as it is conducted in the field of education, by providing them with a self-paced approach to writing a SLR. This approach contains goals, explanations, and recommended time frames, while at the same time suggesting deliverables to be produced that would facilitate the writing of this important part of their research project.