Controversial Religious Issues for Improving Students Critical Thinking Skill in Higher Education [Scholarly Article - International Journal of Instruction, January 2023]

Title:

Controversial Religious Issues for Improving Students Critical Thinking Skills in Higher Education

Authors:

Imam Muslimin

Assoc. Prof., Education Management, UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, Indonesian

&

Munirul Abidin

Prof., Education Management, UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, Indonesian

Published:

International Journal of Instruction, Volume 16, Number 1, January 2023

https://www.e-iji.net/dosyalar/iji_2023_1_7.pdf

Abstract:

This study investigates whether the application of controversial religious issues in learning impacts increasing students' critical thinking skills. The research conducted quasi-experimental research with a nonequivalent group design. The study applied to students in Malang Islamic University's third-seventh semester. Instruments for collecting the data are in the form of tests, and questionnaires are arranged in multiple-choice and essays conducted before and after treatment. Hypotheses were tested using two-way ANOVA in SPSS 20 version. This study found that implementing controversial religious issues in learning positively improved student critical thinking skills. However, differences in gender and semester groups do not affect differences in student achievement. The study implies that lecturers may apply the controversial religious issues method to students in higher education in any group of gender and semester. Mentally, higher education students are ready to discuss controversial religious issues that will affect students' critical thinking skills and student achievement.

 

4 trends that will shape the future of higher education [World Economic Forum, February 2022]

Title: 

4 trends that will shape the future of higher education  

 

Author: 

Diana El-Azar 

Senior Director, Strategic Communications and Thought Leadership, Minerva Project  

 

Published: 

World Economic Forum, 7 February 2022 

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/02/four-trends-that-will-shape-the-future-of-higher-education/ 

 

Focus of the article: 

* Education reform requires looking at the root cause of some of its current problems.  

* Four higher education trends are taking shape in 2022.

 

The effect of mobile phone usage policy on college students’ learning [Scholarly Article - Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 2021]

Title:

The effect of mobile phone usage policy on college students’ learning

 

Author:

Evren Sumuer

Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology, Faculty of Education, Kocaeli University, Turkey

Published:

Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 33, 281-295 (6 February 2021)

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12528-020-09265-9

 

Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of mobile phone usage policies on college students’ learning. Based on quasi-experimental research, with pretest–posttest nonequivalent group design, two pre-existing groups were randomly assigned treatment conditions, namely the removal of students’ mobile phones (Restricted Phone Access), and the allowance for students’ mobile phone usage (Unrestricted Phone Access) during class lectures. Data were collected from 63 college students, of which 25 were in the Restricted Phone Access group and 38 in the Unrestricted Phone Access group, using pretest and posttest. The results of a mixed analysis of variance test showed that the change in students’ scores from pretest to posttest was significantly greater for the Restricted Phone Access group than the Unrestricted Phone Access group, although there was a statistically significant increase seen in the students’ test scores from pretest to posttest regardless of any policy on mobile phone usage. This study discusses the theoretical and practical implications, and then recommendations were put forward with regards to future studies in this area.

 

Students' perceptions of learning, using interactive notes (by E Papageorgiou) [Scholarly Article: SAJHE, May 2021]

Title:

Students' perceptions of learning, using interactive notes

 

Author:

E Papageorgiou

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

 

Published:

South African Journal of Higher Education, Volume 35, Number 2 (13 May 2021) 

https://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/sajhe/article/view/3975

Abstract:

Orientation: 

The main purpose of teaching should be to encourage and promote learning. Purpose: To assist lecturers to gain additional information about how students learn, through the use of “interactive notes”, as opposed to “comprehensive notes” that could affect their academic performance. Due to the lack of student engagement in large classes, the study investigated students’ perceptions of learning in lectures to establish how students learn and whether they have learnt and/or acquired knowledge in lectures.
 

Research Problem: 

The research question was “what teaching aids/tools accounting students prefer in relation to their race, gender, language and/or academic performance on how students learn and/or acquire knowledge in lectures”? 

 

Methodological approach: 

The research study was exploratory; N=382 students participated in the study at a South African university. Standard multiple regression analysis was employed and statistical tests were conducted to determine the relationships between categorical variables to answer the research question. 

 

Major findings: 

The findings provide a source for educators to introduce interactive learning in lectures. An increase in students’ academic performance was noted with the inclusion of “interactive notes” in lectures. We also find that students learn better when they actively engage, participate and interact in lectures when taking notes. 

 

Conclusion: 

The value of the study contributes to the knowledge of research in addressing first-year students’ learning perceptions in a more effective learning environment.

Virtual Laboratory: A Boon to the Mechanical Engineering Education During Covid-19 Pandemic [Scholarly Article - Higher Education for the Future, 1 December 2020]

Title:

Virtual Laboratory: A Boon to the Mechanical Engineering Education During Covid-19 Pandemic 

 

Authors:

N. Kapilan, P. Vidhya, & Xiao-Zhi Gao

 

Published:

Higher Education for the Future, 1 December 2020

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2347631120970757

 

Abstract:

The engineering students understand the engineering concepts effectively when they conduct the experiments in the laboratory. Hence, laboratory is as important as theory; however, the ill-equipped laboratory facilities affect the students’ learnability. The virtual laboratories may help the students overcome the problems faced by them in the conventional laboratory. In India, educational activities during the middle of the semester were affected due to lockdown related to COVID-19. However, the theory classes were conducted online, and educational institutions are finding it difficult to complete the laboratory experiments due to closure of colleges for the students due to COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, we have conducted a faculty development programme for the engineering college faculty members on mechanical engineering virtual laboratories. Similarly, we have trained the mechanical engineering students on fluid mechanics virtual laboratory. We have taken feedback from the participants of these virtual laboratory training programme and analysed it. From the analysis we have observed that more than 90 per cent of the participants were happy about the virtual laboratory and they expressed that their learning process improved with virtual laboratory experiments. Also, they felt that the virtual laboratories can be used till the COVID-19 pandemic issues are solved. Since the vaccine for COVID-19 is not available yet, the virtual laboratories will help the mechanical engineering students to conduct the laboratory experiments for the academic year 2020–2021.