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Higher Learning Research Communications

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Articles 151 - 180 of 237

Full-Text Articles in Education

Students' Gender Bias In Teaching Evaluations, Narissra Punyanunt-Carter, Stacy L Carter Sep 2011

Students' Gender Bias In Teaching Evaluations, Narissra Punyanunt-Carter, Stacy L Carter

Higher Learning Research Communications

The goal of this study was to investigate if there is gender bias in student evaluations. Researchers administered a modified version of the teacher evaluation forms to 58 students (male=30; female=28) in a basic introductory communications class. Half the class was instructed to fill out the survey about a male professor, and the other half a female professor. Researchers broke down the evaluation results question by question in order to give a detailed account of the findings. Results revealed that there is certainly some gender bias at work when students evaluate their instructors. It was also found that gender bias …

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Editorial, The Editors Sep 2011

Editorial, The Editors

Higher Learning Research Communications

This Special Issue of Higher Learning Research Communications (HLRC) is dedicated to research in content language integrated learning (CLIL) and English-medium instruction (EMI). A we make our way in the 21st century, higher education institutions are faced with multiple challenges as they try to prepare future professionals. Issues such as globalization and internationalization, technology, access to information, interculturality, and the like pose challenges for future generations. And, higher education institutions play a fundamental role in shaping how that future will look like. In the face of multiculturalism and the communication barriers that are bound to happen, many countries and educational …

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Introduction To The Special Issue On English Medium Instruction As A Major Driver In The Internationalization Of Higher Education, Victoria Bamond, Birgit Strotmann Sep 2011

Introduction To The Special Issue On English Medium Instruction As A Major Driver In The Internationalization Of Higher Education, Victoria Bamond, Birgit Strotmann

Higher Learning Research Communications

This volume of HLRC is dedicated to the emergent and rapidly growing interest in English Medium Instruction as a major driver in the internationalization of higher education. It focuses on sharing knowledge and experience in CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) and EMI (English Medium Instruction) from different universities in Eastern and European countries as a means to reflect and improve upon teaching and learning.As editors, we would like to kick this volume off with a review of one of the most comprehensive and relevant publications on the topic in recent times, The Higher Education Language Landscape: Ensuring Quality in …

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Book Overview And Q&A With David Marsh, Victor Pavón-Vázquez, And María Jesús Frigols-Martín: Review Of The Book 'The Higher Education Language Landscape: Ensuring Quality In English Language Degree Programmes', Victoria Bamond, Birgit Strotmann Sep 2011

Book Overview And Q&A With David Marsh, Victor Pavón-Vázquez, And María Jesús Frigols-Martín: Review Of The Book 'The Higher Education Language Landscape: Ensuring Quality In English Language Degree Programmes', Victoria Bamond, Birgit Strotmann

Higher Learning Research Communications

The purpose of this essay is to serve as an introduction to the Special Issue on English-Medium Instruction (EMI) and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL): Challenges and Opportunities. The guest editors provide a general overview of the book, The Higher Education Language Landscape: Ensuring Quality in English Language Degree Programmes, written by Marsh, Pavón-Vázquez, and Frigols-Martín (2013), as well as general impressions about its contents. The book is one of the few publications currently available on CLIL and EMI. It also includes short biographical information about the book authors and a Q&A, where they answer questions about the book …

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Linguistic Outcomes Of English Medium Instruction Programmes In Higher Education: A Study On Economics Undergraduates At A Catalan University, Jennifer Rose Ament, Carmen Pérez-Vidal Sep 2011

Linguistic Outcomes Of English Medium Instruction Programmes In Higher Education: A Study On Economics Undergraduates At A Catalan University, Jennifer Rose Ament, Carmen Pérez-Vidal

Higher Learning Research Communications

Globalisation and international mobility in the 21st century has led to the internationalisation of the English language (Crystal, 2003). Research regarding linguistic gains at university levels is however extremely scarce. This study aims to address this gap of knowledge and provide some answers as to how much linguistic gain can be expected after one year of English medium instruction. Two groups of undergraduate students enrolled in different levels of English medium instruction (EMI) were given a pre and post-test over a 1 year period. Results were analysed statistically; significant gains were found only in the semi- immersion group in the …

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Realizing Internationalization At Home Through English-Medium Courses At A Japanese University: Strategies To Maximize Student Learning, Yukiko Ishikura Sep 2011

Realizing Internationalization At Home Through English-Medium Courses At A Japanese University: Strategies To Maximize Student Learning, Yukiko Ishikura

Higher Learning Research Communications

In 2009, the Japanese government launched the Global 30 (G30) Project, a new initiative to internationalize universities. Selected universities had to create English-medium degree programs at undergraduate level in order to stimulate “internationalization at home.” The G30 Project represented a major shift in the focus of internationalization efforts from quantitative to qualitative outcomes. Using a case study approach, this paper investigates one G30 program and the attempts made to open up English-medium course offerings to the wider student body. It explores two related issues: level setting and student attrition. A mixed methods approach was used with data gathered from students …

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Making The Match Between Content And Foreign Language: A Case Study On University Students’ Opinions Towards Clil, M. Teresa Martín De Lama Sep 2011

Making The Match Between Content And Foreign Language: A Case Study On University Students’ Opinions Towards Clil, M. Teresa Martín De Lama

Higher Learning Research Communications

The present article intends to show the positive evaluation of post-graduate university students at a Spanish university after the curricular integration experience and the application of CLIL scaffolding techniques. It also aims to identify areas of methodological improvements and recommendations in the application of CLIL in the referred programme as well as in higher education contexts. The researchers used a cross-sectional study to survey the students’ opinion on ICL after the integration of the syllabus of one foreign language subject and another content subject in a post-graduate degree at a private Spanish university in Madrid (Spain). The results point to …

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Editorial, The Editors Sep 2011

Editorial, The Editors

Higher Learning Research Communications

This issue of Higher Learning Research Communications (HLRC) features research focused on faculty development from scholars across both sides of the Atlantic. The opening piece, Enhancing faculty performance through coaching: Targeted, individualized support, describes the culture within a US-based higher education institution, where emphasis is given to supporting faculty. One of their latest approaches has been to implement coaching as a means for professional development, with positive results.Promoting critical thinking skills has always been a challenge for higher education professionals. Different models and techniques have been researched and described in different contexts. And, as higher education makes its way into …

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Faculty Perspective On Competency Development In Higher Education: An International Study, Paloma Julia Velasco, Begoña Learreta, Claudia Kober, Irene Tan Sep 2011

Faculty Perspective On Competency Development In Higher Education: An International Study, Paloma Julia Velasco, Begoña Learreta, Claudia Kober, Irene Tan

Higher Learning Research Communications

The purpose of this research is to establish common ground on how faculty development should be instituted and the needs it should address on an international level, with its major focus being the development of competencies. A survey was developed and distributed to a sample of 764 university teaching professionals. Results show that 90% find that it is either important or very important to develop competencies in higher education, and that 73% find they are well or very well trained in developing and assessing competencies, particularly with regard to applying theoretical knowledge in practice, teamwork, and oral and written communication …

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Instructional Design And Facilitation Approaches That Promote Critical Thinking In Asynchronous Online Discussions: A Review Of The Literature, Laura A. Schindler, Gary J. Burkholder Sep 2011

Instructional Design And Facilitation Approaches That Promote Critical Thinking In Asynchronous Online Discussions: A Review Of The Literature, Laura A. Schindler, Gary J. Burkholder

Higher Learning Research Communications

Asynchronous online discussions (AODs) are often used to promote critical thinking in online courses; however, recent research suggests that levels of critical thinking in discussions remain low. Furthermore, there is a lack of consensus in the literature about the definition of critical thinking and many of the existing studies focus on one specific cognitive construct. Therefore, it is unknown which instructional approaches have the strongest empirical support for promoting critical thinking across multiple cognitive constructs. The purpose of this article is to present a review of the literature related to instructional design and facilitation approaches that promote critical thinking in …

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Enhancing Faculty Performance Through Coaching: Targeted, Individualized Support, Laurie Bedford, Melissa Mcdowell, Lyda Ditommaso Downs Sep 2011

Enhancing Faculty Performance Through Coaching: Targeted, Individualized Support, Laurie Bedford, Melissa Mcdowell, Lyda Ditommaso Downs

Higher Learning Research Communications

Coaching in higher education is a relatively new field; although, it has been taking place in educational institutions for some time, even if it was not labeled as such. This paper describes the faculty development filosophies of a US-based higher education institution with a strong culture of supporting faculty and promoting social change. A coaching model was implemented as a means for professional development. It was designed to be facilitated through a peer relationship and it offers problem-focused, contextualized opportunities for faculty to collaborate, thus making the experience and outcome more meaningful. The coaching model is individualized, confidential, non-evaluative, and …

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Motivational Issues Of Faculty In Saudi Arabia, Peter John Anthony, Akram Abdulcader Sep 2011

Motivational Issues Of Faculty In Saudi Arabia, Peter John Anthony, Akram Abdulcader

Higher Learning Research Communications

This study focused on the factors that affect motivation of faculty in Saudi Arabia. It included two surveys and open-ended queries to a focus group of five academic managers and 25 faculty members of varying nationalities, rank, and institutes in Saudi Arabia. The research showed that the faculties in Saudi Arabia’s higher education industry feel disconnected from the program development. The faculty members did not feel motivated to participate in the development and improvement of the academic program due to: (a) lack of monetary and non-monetary incentives, (b) management not involving faculty in decision-making, and (c) lack of recognition and …

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Communicative Differences Between Domestic And Foreign Instructors, Narissra Punyanunt-Carter, Jason Wrench, Stacy L Carter, Daniel Linden Sep 2011

Communicative Differences Between Domestic And Foreign Instructors, Narissra Punyanunt-Carter, Jason Wrench, Stacy L Carter, Daniel Linden

Higher Learning Research Communications

The objective of this study was to investigate college students’ perceptions of their foreign and domestic classroom instructors. Two hundred and eleven college students participated in the study. The potential participants were approached and offered extra credit to participate, and all needed to have at least one domestic instructor and one international instructor during the semester of the research study. Participants filled out a series of measures first examining their personal levels of individualism/collectivism and ethnocentrism, followed by a set of questions related to the participants’ perceptions of their international instructor and then about their domestic instructor. To ensure that …

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A Teaching Model Proposal For Adult University Students, Ana Cruz Chust Sep 2011

A Teaching Model Proposal For Adult University Students, Ana Cruz Chust

Higher Learning Research Communications

Due to the increased enrollment of students over 25 years of age in higher education institutions, this study focused on interviewing faculty members in order to understand the characteristics and special aspects related to teaching and learning adult students. Two data gathering techniques were employed: individual and group interviews, both semi-structured. In selecting participants, purposive sampling was used. Results revealed that college teachers have been updating and modifying their teaching strategies to meet the needs of these nontraditional students. Findings suggest teachers are sensitive to these students’ needs, and their teaching strategies seem to incorporate adult education approaches. This study …

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Editorial, The Editors Sep 2011

Editorial, The Editors

Higher Learning Research Communications

This issue of Higher Learning Research Communications (HLRC) features research focused on some of the challenges colleges and universities are facing in this new century, as the world becomes more and more technology focused and internationalized. New learning and teaching paradigms in higher education institutions across the globe highlight the need to constantly innovate educational programs in order to remain relevant and accessible across disciplines and frontiers alike.An entity that has been ahead of its times for decades has been the International Baccalaureate (IB). As Dr. Ian Hill and Dr. Susan Saxton explain in their article, “The International Baccalaureate (IB) …

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Blended Language Learning: An Effective Solution But Not Without Its Challenges, Christopher Johnson, Debra Marsh Sep 2011

Blended Language Learning: An Effective Solution But Not Without Its Challenges, Christopher Johnson, Debra Marsh

Higher Learning Research Communications

The study discussed in this investigation is part of a larger collaborative initiative between Laureate Education and Cambridge University Press (LEP-CUP collaboration). This second phase of the research, completed in 2013, aimed to further explore the conclusions from phase 1 and set out to identify effective and appropriate best practice blended learning models within the network. A study was set up with 36 teachers, all experienced ELT teachers with differing levels of experience in blended language teaching, who took part in extended focus groups discussions sessions prompted by a series of questions. Responses from these groups of teachers indicated that …

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Comparing Student Perceptions Of The Classroom Climate Created By U.S. American And International Teaching Assistants, Kevin R. Meyer, Yuping Mao Sep 2011

Comparing Student Perceptions Of The Classroom Climate Created By U.S. American And International Teaching Assistants, Kevin R. Meyer, Yuping Mao

Higher Learning Research Communications

Previous studies have revealed that American undergraduate students complain about International Teaching Assistants’ (ITAs) lack of English proficiency and rate ITAs lower than American Teaching Assistants (ATAs) on teaching evaluations. This study investigates student perceptions of classroom climate to discover how ITAs might overcome students’ ethnocentric preconceptions. Survey results from 485 undergraduate students found that student perceptions of classroom climate differed significantly with ITAs as compared to ATAs. Student perceptions of classroom climate also differed significantly by the biological sex of the student. The biological sex of the TA did not have a significant impact on student perceptions of classroom …

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Education For Sustainable Development In Higher Education: State-Of-The-Art, Barriers, And Challenges, Gonzalo Fernandez-Sanchez, María Olga Bernaldo, Ana Castillejo, Ana María Manzanero Sep 2011

Education For Sustainable Development In Higher Education: State-Of-The-Art, Barriers, And Challenges, Gonzalo Fernandez-Sanchez, María Olga Bernaldo, Ana Castillejo, Ana María Manzanero

Higher Learning Research Communications

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is a new educational paradigm that allows Universities to lead and respond to social needs towards a more sustainable life. The ESD is a global preparedness and complex phenomena in relation to the effects of human activity on the environment, society and economy in spatial (global, regional and local) and temporal dimensions (learn from the past, act in the present and anticipate the future). This essay provides an important synthesis of the vast literature in recent years in relation to ESD. It analyzes the areas and elements to be integrated into the application and integration …

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The International Baccalaureate (Ib) Programme: An International Gateway To Higher Education And Beyond, Susan E. Saxton, Ian Hill Sep 2011

The International Baccalaureate (Ib) Programme: An International Gateway To Higher Education And Beyond, Susan E. Saxton, Ian Hill

Higher Learning Research Communications

The aim of this article is to present the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme and briefly outline its core components, followed by a review of what authoritative reports identify as skills for the future, esteemed by universities and the job market. There is a striking match between these skills and IB outcomes; thus, DP graduates perform well in higher education and add to the reputation of those institutions. After a review of the literature, the authors found the IB Diploma Programme has been studied in many countries by both consultants and educational agencies, and also by a wide array of universities …

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Editorial, The Editors Sep 2011

Editorial, The Editors

Higher Learning Research Communications

Retention and persistence are at the forefront of attention by students, parents, and state and federal lawmakers. We continue several decades of increasing education costs and the perception of steadily decreasing returns on investment of time and money required to achieve a higher education credential. Thus, a special issue devoted to retention is timely. Included in this special issue of the Higher Learning Research Communications journal are a number of thought pieces and literature reviews that represent diverse perspectives on retention.Dr. Watson Scott Swail provides a provocative essay, A Different Viewpoint on Retention, in which he challenges readers to reflect …

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A Different Viewpoint On Student Retention, Watson Scott Swail Sep 2011

A Different Viewpoint On Student Retention, Watson Scott Swail

Higher Learning Research Communications

Although student retention, persistence, and graduation is a high priority for institutions and policymakers, graduation rates are not improving. Nowadays, more students from first-generation and low-income backgrounds have access to traditional higher education. In this essay, the author argues that an educational system that fails to prepare many students for higher education and the growing costs of attending college are making it more and more difficult for many students to persist and graduate. He concludes by stating that ultimately, we might need to decide, on a policy basis, who we want to go to college, who we want to succeed, …

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Common Ground: Addressing Attrition Across Diverse Institutions In Higher Education, Rebecca L. Jobe, Jim Lenio Sep 2011

Common Ground: Addressing Attrition Across Diverse Institutions In Higher Education, Rebecca L. Jobe, Jim Lenio

Higher Learning Research Communications

Student attrition is an ongoing concern in American higher education, where institutions are being increasingly held accountable for the success of the students they admit. While differences across diverse institutions exist, research suggests that there are many similarities regarding issues related to student persistence and success. In fact, this common ground presents an opportunity for common solutions. The variety of higher education institutions utilizing knowledge gained through institutional initiatives continues to identify new, better ways of serving students. This article sheds light on the known differences between institution types while recognizing the common goals of improving student persistence. The article …

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International Perspectives On Retention And Persistence, Gary Burkholder, Nicole Holland Sep 2011

International Perspectives On Retention And Persistence, Gary Burkholder, Nicole Holland

Higher Learning Research Communications

Access to higher education globally is increasing dramatically; attainment of tertiary degrees is a high priority, as educational attainment is associated with increased personal incomes as well as growth of the middle class in developing countries. The purpose of this essay is to briefly examine retention and persistence issues from a global perspective, review some retention strategies that have been employed at schools outside the United States, and to identify several key factors that related to retention and persistence globally, including access, infrastructure, financial consideration, and readiness for tertiary education. There exists an opportunity to utilize knowledge gained in the …

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Best Practices In Doctoral Retention: Mentoring, Judie L. Brill, Karen K. Balcanoff, Denise Land, Maurice Gogarty, Freda Turner Sep 2011

Best Practices In Doctoral Retention: Mentoring, Judie L. Brill, Karen K. Balcanoff, Denise Land, Maurice Gogarty, Freda Turner

Higher Learning Research Communications

The aim of this critical literature review is to outline best practices in doctoral retention and the successful approach of one university to improve graduation success by providing effective mentorship for faculty and students alike. The focus of this literature review is on distance learning relationships between faculty and doctoral students, regarding retention, persistence, and mentoring models. Key phrases and words used in the search and focusing on mentoring resulted in over 20,000 sources. The search was narrowed to include only doctoral study and mentoring. Research questions of interest were: Why do high attrition rates exist for doctoral students? What …

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Keeping Students In By Sending Them Out: Retention And Service-Learning, Iris Mae Yob Aug 2011

Keeping Students In By Sending Them Out: Retention And Service-Learning, Iris Mae Yob

Higher Learning Research Communications

This review of recent literature examines the research on the impact of service-learning on student retention. The theoretical framework of the review draws on both Tinto’s model of student attrition and Knowles’s theory of adult learning, which together suggest that academic and social integration, active participation and engagement in learning, and application and relevancy of the subject-matter under study are key factors in student success. The role of these factors has been confirmed in a growing body of research around learning experiences in general and, as this review shows, particularly in service-learning experiences. Suggestions are made for how future research …

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Editorial, The Editors Aug 2011

Editorial, The Editors

Higher Learning Research Communications

This issue of Higher Learning Research Communications (HLRC) features research and teaching proposals from both sides of the Atlantic. In a globalized and interconnected world, cooperation among researchers and higher education professionals is paramount. Equally important, as Steven Maranville argues in this issue’s featured essay, is recognizing being a scholar and researcher means being first and foremost a thinker. Higher education institutions are sanctuaries of knowledge, and faculty members are key in promoting understanding and the free flow of ideas among teachers and students.In the information Age, online tools have proven vital precisely in promoting knowledge and cooperation across oceans …

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Multimedia Content Production Inside The Classroom. A Teaching Proposal For Journalism And Audiovisual Communication Students, Eva Herrero Curiel, Nieves Limón Serrano Aug 2011

Multimedia Content Production Inside The Classroom. A Teaching Proposal For Journalism And Audiovisual Communication Students, Eva Herrero Curiel, Nieves Limón Serrano

Higher Learning Research Communications

The main objective of this article is to present and describe two multimedia experiences carried out during two practice groups in the Journalism and Audiovisual Communications program. Thirty students participated in Experience A during 14 teaching sessions, and the experience required each student to record a 3-minute interview of someone newsworthy within academia and, then, create a short documentary piece of up to 5 minutes. Experience B focused on content curation using Storify, and the ultimate goal of the practice exercise was to produce a story from different multimedia contents found within the platform. A SWOT analysis after integrating both …

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People Power – Computer Games In The Classroom, Ivan Hilliard Aug 2011

People Power – Computer Games In The Classroom, Ivan Hilliard

Higher Learning Research Communications

This article presents a case study in the use of the computer simulation game People Power, developed by the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict. The principal objective of the activity was to offer students an opportunity to understand the dynamics of social conflicts, in a format not possible in a traditional classroom setting. Due to the game complexity, it was decided to play it in a day-long (8 hour) workshop format. A computer lab was prepared several weeks beforehand, which meant that each team of four students had access to a number of computers, being able to have the game …

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Emotional Intelligence Vs. General Intelligence: Aspects To Consider In Teaching, José L. Martínez-Rubio, Esther Moraleda, Blanca Rodríguez, Lourdes García-Salmones, Manuel Primo Aug 2011

Emotional Intelligence Vs. General Intelligence: Aspects To Consider In Teaching, José L. Martínez-Rubio, Esther Moraleda, Blanca Rodríguez, Lourdes García-Salmones, Manuel Primo

Higher Learning Research Communications

The main objective of this study was to analyze the way in which emotional competencies (EI) in students are linked to general intelligence (IQ), and how the crossing of the two measurements determines their academic performance. To conduct this research, two tests were applied. First, the TEIQue (Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire) assessment was administered and, secondly, the R scale of the PMA Test (Primary Mental Abilities). The sample consisted of 58 university students between 18 and 51 years old, of which 76% are women and 24% are men. The results show that there is no direct relationship between emotional intelligence …

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Improving Bilingual Higher Education: Training University Professors In Content And Language Integrated Learning, Birgit Strotmann, Victoria Bamond, José M. López Lago, María Bailen, Sonia Bonilla, Francisco Bonilla Montesinos Aug 2011

Improving Bilingual Higher Education: Training University Professors In Content And Language Integrated Learning, Birgit Strotmann, Victoria Bamond, José M. López Lago, María Bailen, Sonia Bonilla, Francisco Bonilla Montesinos

Higher Learning Research Communications

Few studies have been conducted at the tertiary level on Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). The current study aims to gather and share preliminary data concerning CLIL in higher education at several universities in different countries. A questionnaire and brief description of the project and its objectives were emailed to all teachers at a Spanish university listed as having taught content courses in English in the last academic year, and to all the Language Center directors within the network with instructions to pass the questionnaire along to the CLIL teachers at their respective universities. The questionnaire was answered by …

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