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Full Issue: Journal On Empowering Teaching Excellence, Volume 7, Issue 1, Spring 2023

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

The full-length Spring 2023 issue (Volume 7, Issue 1) of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version (with downloadable EPUB format) here.

The Spring 2023 issue presents research and guidance on topics related to student self-reflection, participatory learning, and returning to the in-person learning following the COVID-19 pandemic. The first article takes a critical approach to understanding pedagogy with adult learners by involving students in the creation of course syllabi as a way to challenge ideologies related the roles of instructor and students. The second article blends research and narrative to explore how the experiences of …

Improving My Course In Brightspace D2l, Jason Howell, Jana Swartwood

Academy Resources

Prof. Jason Howell, Director of the Institute of Design, Experience and Art, and professor of graphic design, shares best practices for using Brightspace by D2L. He begins with his approach to continuous improvement at the course level, how faculty and students may make use of various features, how faculty can manage their course shells, and ends with a wish-list for system improvement. Prof. Howell takes questions from the audience to round out his presentation.

Jana Swartwood, Executive Director for Online & Lifelong Learning continues the presentation by offering ways that faculty may improve their use of Brightspace: (1) Copying components, …

The Virtual Classroom: What Can Be Learned From The Covid-19 Lockdown, James L. Nations

Senior Theses

This paper seeks to examine the teaching practices utilized during the initial COVID-19 lockdown in higher education. This forced switch to the virtual classroom forced many professors to make innovative changes to adapt to this change in teaching modality. These changes can now be examined and evaluated for potential future application. By reviewing the current literature, performing an analysis of grades from Fall 2017 through Summer 2022, and interviewing select professors at the University of South Carolina, this paper seeks to illuminate some of the potential issues that arise when adapting in-person curriculums to the virtual classroom as well as …

Developing Career Pathways In Uas For Non-Traditional Students Through Collaborative, Online Learning Environments, Kimberly Luthi, Christian Janke

Publications

The integration of drone technologies through online simulation platforms and uncrewed system scenarios offer opportunities to introduce STEM concepts from the fields of robotics, computer science, mechatronics, and aviation. New software technology developments will increase student engagement in STEM education and support learning of uncrewed systems applications and operating competencies. The use of drone simulation software creates a collaborative environment for group activities and sharing of results with peer review.

Shift To Online Learning: Response Of Pakistani Visual Art Teachers During Pandemic And Post-Covid Era, Tauseef Hussain Mr, Nimra Akram Miss, Rabiya Asim Ms, Amina Sarfraz Cheema Ms, Kiran Zohra Ms

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study aims to investigate the response of Visual art teachers to educational lockdown and shift to online learning at art institutions. The study employed qualitative phenomenological research design to investigate visual artists i.e., painters, sculptors, textile designers, graphic designers, and performing artists who were faculty members in five leading art institutions of Lahore. Data were collected by conducting a total of 15 interviews from each mentioned discipline. These interviews were conducted preferably in their studios, at their homes, or at times online through WhatsApp video calls. The data was analyzed thematically by using NVIVO 12 software.

Findings – It …

Supporting Students With Disabilities Through The Intentional Integration Of Instructional Technology, Shalika C. Robie

Michigan Reading Journal

No abstract provided.

Envisioning Online English Teaching In Indonesia: A Digital Autoethnographic Account, Muhalim Muhalim

The Qualitative Report

The onset of the global pandemic has become a radical turn of brick-and-mortar schooling to online distance learning. In this respect, continuous dialogue, and evaluation around the issue of online learning should be nurtured, particularly from actual pedagogical practices. Drawing on a digital autoethnographic account of the author, this article explores everyday online English teaching in tertiary education. I collected data using textual, visual, and aural experiences, corroborated by Zoom auto-recorded chats and screenshots as the artefacts of my online learning and teaching activities. The data were analyzed using the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework that focused on social, cognitive, …

Thinking Global, Acting Local, Ali Gohar Qazi

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

Ongoing or continuous professional development is essential for teachers to develop and maintain the knowledge base required to produce more powerful learning outcomes among their students. Research has shown that professional development is more effective and meaningful to teachers when it is content focused, involves active learning and collective participation, and when it is sustained in duration, instead of being top-down, episodic, or delivered as ‘one-shot’ training workshops.

Lessons We Learned From Avatars: Cultivating Meaningful Preservice Teacher Online Experiences During Covid-19 And Beyond, Kristin M. Murphy, Janna Jackson Kellinger

Pedagogy and the Human Sciences

Like flight simulators used to train airline pilots prior to flying an actual airplane, mixed reality simulations provide an opportunity to interact with avatars in order to practice newly learned behaviors in an online environment. As teacher educators, we have used mixed reality simulations as a part of our coursework for the past five years. In this article, we discuss implications and lessons learned for teacher education practice and research in the online environment during COVID-19 and beyond based on our experiences using mixed reality.

Boyer Model Of Scholarship In Practice, Tony Shannon

International Journal for Business Education

The four types of scholarship in the Boyer framework are relevant to teaching or training at any level of post-secondary education, both directly in terms of knowledge and indirectly through the impact of enthusiasm [2,9]. This outline is a simplified introduction to the salient features of the system, with some general examples of what each type could mean in practice. The boundaries of the types are fluid and can overlap in theory and in practice [4,6].

Lumina Review Of Learning Frameworks: Tools For Building A Better Educational Experience, Tony Shannon

International Journal for Business Education

A reason for summarising this document (Travers et al, 2019) is that the Lumina Foundation in the USA is one of the few educational think-tanks which seems to be aware of the effects on the workplace from the exponentially accelerating growth in soft-computing, especially artificial intelligence, which will be seen in the next fifteen years (cf. Jankowski and Marshall. 2017).

Summary Of And Comments On Strengthening Skills: Expert Review Of Australia's Vocational Education And Training System, Steven Joyce

International Journal for Business Education

The following extracts have been compiled in this order to give a feeling for the total report (168 pages). The order of what follows is quite different from Joyce. It has been summarised this way for the benefit of readers who are not involved in the VET sector on a day-to-day basis. Most of the data are from 2017-2018. The summary is by Tony Shannon; it has no official status. To give perspective to this important report, the summary and comments are in three parts, namely,

• A general view of Australian Vocational Education & Training
• Recommendations – road map
• Some …

Report Of The Independent Review Of Freedom Of Speech In Australian Higher Education Providers, Tony Shannon

International Journal for Business Education

This summary does not claim to be preferred in any way to a reading of the complete report with its succinct and simple recommendations, including “A Model Code for the Protection of Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom in Australian Higher Education Providers”. The review is an important document for all institutions dedicated to teaching, particularly at the tertiary level, in having a shared understanding of freedom of speech within an institution.

The Review involved a two-stage consultation process with universities and other stakeholders between November 2018 and March 2019, and it also considered recent pertinent debates in Canada, New …

Course Re-Design: What’S New On Campus, Jim Gigantino, David Jensen, Kathryn Zawisza

TFSC Publications and Presentations

In a session designed to impact how you think about designing your classes, Dr. Jim Gigantino, Interim Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, will lead a discussion of the new modes of delivery that will be available on campus and some information about the mixed mode pilot that will be undertaken in the fall of 2023.

Dr. David Jensen, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, will discuss a course he designed to be taught in a mixed mode form and share how he has been using the materials the last couple of semesters. He will provide examples from his class along with …

Utilization Of Simulation Software To Enhance The Learning Experience For Students At The Worldwide Campus, Kimberly Luthi, Christian Janke, Yuetong Lin

Publications

The purpose of this presentation is to introduce benefits, best practices and examples of simulation software in online course environments. The research team does not have any affiliation with the introduced software platforms.

Critical Teaching Behaviors: Defining, Documenting, And Discussing Good Teaching, Claudia Cornejo-Happel

Publications

What does “good” teaching mean, and how can we know it when we see it? Perhaps you have grappled with these questions at some point in your career, either as an instructor wanting to document or grow your teaching effectiveness or as a peer or administrator trying to provide guidance to or assess the teaching of others.

This book serves three purposes: a condensed, evidence-based guide to effective teaching; a resource on creating a focused teaching narrative and teaching portfolio; and a toolkit that equips faculty to conduct peer observations, student midterm feedback, and productive conversations related to teaching.

The …

What Kind Of Pedagogies For The 21st Century?, Cynthia Luna Scott

International Journal for Business Education

Since the emergence of a global movement that calls for a new model of learning for the twenty first century, it has been argued that formal education must be transformed to enable new forms of learning that are needed to tackle complex global challenges.

Reflective Journals, Tony Shannon Am

International Journal for Business Education

A reflective journal helps to think honestly about one’s actual thinking. This can be uncomfortable at first!

Uk Universities Face Their Toughest Test, Andrew Jack

International Journal for Business Education

The School of Oriental and African Studies seemed a symbol of stability when it celebrated its centenary in 2016 by taking over and renovating the University of London’s imposing Senate House building in central London. It was a bold move to lure the best students. But just three years later its future has become much shakier, with its undergraduate intake down 40 percent and a £7m operating deficit. “The competition is brutal,” says Professor Stephen Hopgood, Soas’s international pro-director. “We are small and specialist, and if undergraduate fees are cut, it’s going to be very hard for an institution of …

The Futures Of Learning 3: What Kind Of Pedagogies For The 21st Century?, Cynthia Luna Scott

International Journal for Business Education

Since the emergence of a global movement that calls for a new model of learning for the twenty first century, it has been argued that formal education must be transformed to enable new forms of learning that are needed to tackle complex global challenges. Literature on this topic offers compelling arguments for transforming pedagogy to better support acquisition of twenty-first century skills.

Revisiting Cybersecurity Awareness In The Midst Of Disruptions, Avideh Sadaghiani-Tabrizi

International Journal for Business Education

The awareness of cybersecurity and knowledge about risks from a variety of threats, which present harm or steal private information in internetworking could help in mitigation of vulnerabilities to risks of threats in safeguarding information from malware and bots. Revisiting cybersecurity awareness of every member and evaluation of organization’s posture might help to protect sensitive or private information from a network of computers, working together and forming into botnets. The purpose of the qualitative case study narrative was to explore prospects for integrating cybersecurity education into elementary school children’s curriculum through interviews of elementary schoolteachers, IT experts, and parents to …

Examination Of Formal Instructional Design Processes At Traditional Institutions Of Higher Education In The United States Post-Pandemic Onset, Heather L. D. Tobin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to identify the motivational elements of formal online instructional design processes that are being implemented at traditional institutions of higher education (IHEs) in the United States (U.S.). For this study, I conducted a comprehensive literature review identifying emerging issues of practice for instructional design partnerships between the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic during the spring of 2022 and the spring of 2023. This study was developed through the lens of Keller’s (2010) attention, relevance, confidence, satisfaction, and volition (ARCS-V) model of motivation. An understanding of the elements of current processes that present as benefits …

Evaluating The Design And Development Of The “Making Molecules” Simulation: Students’ Perceptions And Recommendations, Pauline Salim Muljana, Jodye I. Selco

Educational Leadership & Technology Faculty Publications

Students perceive molecular bonding as an abstract concept; therefore, learning this concept seems uninteresting and difficult. A strategically designed learning object (LO), such as in the form of a simulation, can be used to help students acquire accurate mental images and build appropriate schema in addition to providing a concrete learning experience and encouraging knowledge construction. This paper presents an evaluation of the design and development of the Making Molecules simulation through students’ perceptions of the previous version and recommendations for improving a future version. Data were collected from two online chemistry courses (N = 159) through an anonymous online …

Balancing The Benefits And Risks Of Ai Large Language Models In K12 Public Schools, Jesse Senechal, Eric Ekholm, Samaher Aljudaibi, Mary Strawderman, Chris Parthemos

MERC Publications

With artificial intelligence (AI) models rapidly emerging, the potential implications for K12 education are imminent. To illuminate the potential impacts on public schools, this MERC research brief answers the following questions: 1) What is AI? What are AI large language models? How do they work?, 2) What are the implications of large language models for teaching and learning?, 3) What are the main concerns with the use of AI large language models? What are the concerns for use within public schools?, 4) What are the considerations for school district policy on AI large language models?, and 5) What are the …

Not Just A Hashtag: Using Black Twitter To Engage In Critical Visual Pedagogy, Mia L. Knowles-Davis, Robert L. Moore, Susan Köseoğlu (Ed.), George Veletsianos (Ed.), Chris Rowell (Ed.)

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

[First Paragraph] We live in a global society in which we are constantly exposed to new technologies, people, and situations that transform our perceptions and worldviews. As we are exposed to these new experiences, it is increasingly necessary to maintain a critical eye and question what we are seeing. It is not enough for higher education merely to teach material; instructors should also teach the responsibilities and ethics that coincide with it. Encouraging criticality in higher education helps learners to develop a deeper understanding of social justice, inequality, and oppressive systems, and it teaches learners how to combat those issues …

Online Early Childhood Teacher Education Program: Practices And Future Possibilities, Yasmeen Mehboob, Silpa Aziz Karim

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

The study aimed to test the effectiveness and the feasibility of Zoom and Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) for early childhood teacher education (ECTE) at a university in Pakistan. The study addresses how a Community of Inquiry (COI) framework can be embedded within Zoom and VLE to make the online course meaningful, interactive and accessible. This is an exploratory case study with a mixed method approach. Data was gathered through survey, focus group discussion, reflective journals, observations and meeting notes. Pre- and post-online knowledge tests and assignments were used to assess changes in participant’s knowledge and understanding. Survey result indicated positive …

Flexibility And Usability: Focal Point Of Graduate Students’ Knowledge Level Of The Features Of Sakai Learning Management System, Jonathan Odame, Clarke Ebow Yalley

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Coupled with the global pandemic (COVID-19) and technological advancement, the SAKAI learning management system (LMS) was initiated to deliver synchronous, asynchronous, blended instruction to break the artificial boundaries towards delivering quality education. This requires students to acquire the requisite knowledge to develop self-regulated skills to navigate through inbuilt features of SAKAI LMS to ensure usability, flexibility, and accessibility. To ascertain the usability, flexibility and accessibility of the SAKAI LMS, this study sought to examine the knowledge level of graduate students on the features of SAKAI LMS. The cross-sectional survey design was used to gather data. Using the SAKAI LMS, the …

Factors Influencing Learning Intention Of Advanced Placement Moocs: Insights From An Investigation Into Information Technology Adoption, Kuo-Liang Ou, Wen-Chi Fong

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have attracted recent scholarly attention, mainly because MOOCs have effectively made higher education accessible. However, MOOCs tend to have low completion rates, and many scholars have attempted to remedy this by investigating the psychological, cognitive, physiological, and demographic factors affecting completion rates. Nevertheless, most studies have rarely investigated the student’s information technology (IT) background, focusing instead on self-awareness, self-recognition, intrinsic motivation, or external factors. Thus, this study adopted the technology acceptance model (TAM) to explore factors affecting MOOC learning intention, specifically in advanced placement (AP) MOOCs. This study also recruited 435 student participants from a …

List Of Reviewers

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

list of reviewers

Benefits And Challenges Of The Educational Metaverse: Evidence From Quantitative And Qualitative Data, Jiarong Liang, Gege Li, Feng Zhang, Dongmei Fan, Heng Luo

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The metaverse, as a more advanced form of virtual reality, has great potential for education because of its unique affordances for enhancing immersion, interaction, and presence. However, because its development is still in its infancy, there are few empirical studies on the application of metaverse in education, with insufficient empirical evidence from the literature regarding its effectiveness and valued design features, as well as its advantages and disadvantages as a technology-enhanced learning environment. Utilizing the case study method, this study designed and implemented a 40-minute psychology course with 31 undergraduate students in the metaverse using the Virbela platform and collected …