ethanporcaro/eric-fulltext-meta huggingface dataset:
Organizing an App Inventor Summer Camp for Middle School Girls: What the Experts Don't Tell You
Author: Martin, Nancy L.
Date: 2016-09-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Middle School Students,Females,Summer Programs,Design,Computer Oriented Programs,Telecommunications,Resident Camp Programs,Poverty,Rural Areas,Program Development,Agency Cooperation,Financial Support,Planning,Recruitment

In this paper, we report on our experience as rookies organizing, funding, and running a summer computing camp for middle school girls. The focus of the camp was building mobile applications using App Inventor. The three day/two night camp targeted girls in rural, high poverty school districts and was funded through an award from the National Center for Women &amp; Information Technology and Microsoft Research. The award allowed girls to attend the camp at no cost. Although a number of institutions and organizations run successful summer camp programs, our experience as first-time organizers should provide other novices with guidance and potential pitfalls for organizing their own camps.
Collaborative Activities for Solving Multi-Step Problems in General Chemistry
Author: Tortajada-Genaro, Luis Antonio
Date: 2014-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Chemistry,Cooperative Learning,Problem Solving,Sequential Approach,Teaching Methods,Learning Activities,Agricultural Education,Agricultural Engineering,Scoring Rubrics,Student Surveys,Likert Scales,Thinking Skills,Error Patterns,Educational Strategies,Lecture Method,Tutorial Programs,Student Attitudes,Foreign Countries,College Students

The learning of solving multi-step problems is a relevant aim in chemical education for engineering students. In these questions, after analyzing initial data, a complex reasoning and an elaborated mathematical procedure is needed to achieve the correct numerical answer. However, many students are able to effectively use algorithms even with a lack of meaningful understanding of involved chemical concepts. This paper reports the application of some collaborative actions in order to induce a complete acquisition of problem solving skills. The studied approaches, performed inside and outside the classroom, are classified in low-collaborative and high-collaborative activities, depending on the relative participation of instructor/students in their development. The critical description of the proposed methodology and the produced outcomes are exposed. The contribution of each major reasoning mode (model, rule or case based) employed in these activities is analyzed. Also, the perception of students is evaluated on the basis on the data provided by direct observation and a specific survey with Likert-scale and open-ended questions. The results indicate that the changes of teaching to a more conceptual orientation lead a deeper understanding, minimizing misconceptions or a rote learning.
Post Secondary Project-Based Learning in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Author: Ralph, Rachel A.
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Postsecondary Education,Student Projects,Active Learning,STEM Education,Literature Reviews,Knowledge Level,Teamwork,Interdisciplinary Approach,Skill Development,Time Perspective,Performance Factors,Search Strategies

Project-based learning (PjBL--to distinguish from problem-based learning--PBL) has become a recurrent practice in K-12 classroom environments. As PjBL has become prominent in K-12 classrooms, it has also surfaced in post-secondary institutions. The purpose of this paper is to examine the research that has studied a variety of science, technology, engineering and mathematic (STEM) subjects using PjBL in post-secondary classrooms. Fourteen articles (including qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods) were included. Two tables and two figures are included. In this paper, theoretical backgrounds and key terms were identified, followed by a literature review discussing four themes: content knowledge, interdisciplinary skills, collaboration and skill development for future education and careers. Results suggested that there is a positive connection between content knowledge learning and PjBL in collaborative settings. However, some negative perceptions arose regarding teamwork situations. Interdisciplinary skills were achieved, but quite limited in post-secondary classrooms. PjBL and STEM were perceived to be important for future education and careers. Future research needs to be completed and institutional curriculum changes informed by the results of this research need to occur to further explore interdisciplinary courses and the use of PjBL.
&quot;Standards&quot; on the Bench: Do Standards for Technological Literacy Render an Adequate Image of Technology?
Author: Nia, Mahdi G.
Date: 2016-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Standards,Technological Literacy,Philosophy,Educational Objectives,Models,Case Studies,Technology Education

The technological literacy of students has recently become one of the primary goals of education in countries such as the USA, England, New Zealand, Australia, and so forth. However the question here is whether these educations--their long-term policy documents as well as the standards they provide in particular--address sufficient learning about the nature of technology. This seems to be an important concern that through taking advantage of the philosophy of technology (the arena which affords a bountiful ground of various reflections on the nature of technology) is intended to be discussed throughout this study. In the first place, the paper presents a relevant framework based upon Mitcham's (1994) four-aspect account of technology, i.e., technology as objects, knowledge, activities, and volition. Then it categorizes the main relevant concepts and concerns put forward by many other philosophers of technology into this framework; this will yield a concrete model (tool) to analyze any intended standard such as the above mentioned ones. Afterwards, to show how this model works, the well-known case of the USA--Standards for Technological Literacy (ITEA, 2007)--will be used as an example for inspection; the results will disclose the points where the current American case needs to be modified.
The Use of E-Portfolio in a Linear Algebra Course
Author: Torres, Judit Taberna
Date: 2016-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Electronic Publishing,Portfolios (Background Materials),Portfolio Assessment,Algebra,Student Educational Objectives,Formative Evaluation,Active Learning,Student Projects,Student Evaluation,Computer Software,Evaluation Methods,Educational Benefits,Foreign Countries,Undergraduate Students

The use of e-portfolio becomes a standard tool when it comes to learning and student's assessment. This is due to the teachers need for enhancing their students' autonomy. The use of e-portfolio helps students to focus on their own learning process. Lectures should not be limited only to classes, but must foster active learning, and in this regard, the introduction of the e-portfolio is an excellent tool because it stimulates collaborative and cooperative work among students and, in turn, it encourages feedback by the teacher. To apply active methodologies during 2014-15, the e-portfolio was introduced in the course of Linear Algebra. To prepare the work of the e-portfolio the teacher had to define precisely the objectives that must be achieved by the students, and has had to plan in an understandable manner the tasks that the students can work independently outside the classroom. For the realization of the e-portfolio have been used different platforms. Each quarter of the students worked on a different platform, through AteneaLabs that provided templates so that each student make their own e-portfolio, as well as it provide all necessary manuals. The platforms used were: Mahara, Exabis, WordPress and Google Sites. Formative assessment of the e-portfolio had been made from different rubrics defined in the course syllabus and known by students since the beginning of the course.
An Evaluation Tool for Physics Applets
Author: Pejuan, Arcadi
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Physics,Teaching Methods,Learning Processes,Science Instruction,Evaluation Methods,Evaluation Criteria,Qualitative Research,Secondary School Teachers,Scoring Rubrics,Multimedia Instruction,Engineering Education,Questionnaires,College Faculty,Teacher Attitudes,Educational Quality,Statistical Analysis

Physics applets are well known appealing resources to teach and learn physics, and a large number of them are available on the Internet. Nevertheless, not all of them are of the same quality, because such applets do not fit every specific teaching/learning purpose. The start question was which features should have a physics applet in order that it can be considered a good applet according to our experience as teachers or lecturers. The answer should be based on practical evaluations of applets from the Internet, taking quality evaluation criteria already published into account. In this way, an evaluation tool was developed as a rubric which draws attention to the different aspects of an applet that are relevant for teaching or learning a physics topic, grouping these aspects into five categories. Each category is given a separate scoring based on a preparatory qualitative evaluation of the aforementioned aspects. This evaluation tool has been tested on five physics applets by four secondary-school teachers as experts in first-year students' background. The results show the suitability degree of each of these applets as resources for different teaching/learning environments, as well as the suitability of the evaluation tool itself. In addition, the evaluation tool simplifies the interchange of information on physics applets among teachers and lecturers.
Skill Development in Experimental Courses
Author: Bagán, Héctor
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Skill Development,Experimental Programs,Student Motivation,Student Interests,Self Management,Teamwork,Communication Skills,Group Discussion,Cooperative Learning,Lifelong Learning,Critical Thinking,Chemistry,Behavioral Objectives,Evaluation Methods,Portfolio Assessment,Observation,Foreign Countries,College Students

Experimental courses offer a good opportunity to work with competences, promoting the incorporation of strategies oriented towards motivating students to actively involve in the learning process, promoting reflexive learning and developing generic skills. This study presents different ways of developing and evaluating some important general skills, settle on four specific objectives: (1) to increase student motivation using samples of potential interest to students and explaining real-live application of their samples analyses; (2) to assist students' self-regulation and learning autonomy by using the portfolio; (3) to promote group work through experiments in pairs and small-group discussions; and (4) to develop communication skills through small-group discussions and oral presentations. Results show that the type of sample used and real-life application has important influence on motivation. The portfolio is a good tool to promote refection and to evaluate both specific and generic skills in experimental courses, the dynamics of a laboratory course permit students to develop their group-work and communicate skills, and peer evaluations both improve students' communication skills and promote metacognitive refection. Finally, the project demonstrates that it is possible to train students in general skills using the specific course content and that the incorporation of participatory methodologies encourages students to become actively involved in the teaching-learning process.
Optimizing Classroom Instruction through Self-Paced Learning Prototype
Author: Bautista, Romiro G.
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: High School Students,Chemistry,Pacing,Learning Strategies,Quasiexperimental Design,Correlation,Pretests Posttests,Scores,Questionnaires,Learning Motivation,Science Interests,Science Achievement,Statistical Analysis,Models,Cognitive Ability,Experimental Groups,Control Groups,Comparative Analysis,Foreign Countries

This study investigated the learning impact of self-paced learning prototype in optimizing classroom instruction towards students' learning in Chemistry. Two sections of 64 Laboratory High School students in Chemistry were used as subjects of the study. The Quasi-Experimental and Correlation Research Design was used in the study: a pre-test was conducted, scored and analyzed which served as the basis in determining the initial learning schema of the respondents. A questionnaire was adopted to find the learning motivation of the students in science. Using Pearson-r correlation, it was found out that there is a highly significant relationship between their internal drive and their academic performance. Moreover, a post-test was conducted after self-paced learning prototype was used in the development of select topics in their curricular plot. It was found out that the students who experienced the self-paced learning prototype performed better in their academic performance as evidenced by the difference of their mean post-test results. ANCOVA results on the post-test mean scores of the respondents were utilized in establishing the causal-effect of the learning prototype to the academic performance of the students in Chemistry. A highly significant effect on their academic performance (R-square value of 70.7%) and significant interaction of the models to the experimental grouping and mental abilities of the respondents are concluded in the study.
Science Learning Motivation as Correlate of Students' Academic Performances
Author: Libao, Nhorvien Jay P.
Date: 2016-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Learning Motivation,Academic Achievement,Correlation,Science Achievement,Biological Sciences,Gender Differences,Age Differences,Cohort Analysis,Motivation Techniques,Undergraduate Students,Foreign Countries

This study was designed to analyze the relationship of students' learning motivation and their academic performances in science. The study made use of 21 junior and senior Biological Science students to conclude on the formulated research problems. The respondents had a good to very good motivation in learning science. In general, the extent of their motivation did not vary across their sex, age, and curriculum year. Moreover, the respondents had good academic performances in science. Aptly, extrinsic motivation was found to be related with their academic performances among the indicators of motivations in learning science.
Teaching Engineering with Autonomous Learning Activities
Author: Otero, Beatriz
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Engineering Education,Learning Activities,Student Centered Learning,Active Learning,Independent Study,Questionnaires,Concept Mapping,Video Technology,Student Projects,Cooperative Learning,Student Developed Materials,Undergraduate Students,Instructional Effectiveness,Student Surveys,Student Satisfaction,Foreign Countries

This paper proposes several activities that encourage self-learning in engineering courses. For each activity, the context and the pedagogical issues addressed are described emphasizing strengths and weaknesses. Specifically, this work describes and implements five activities, which are: questionnaires, conceptual maps, videos, jigsaw and projects. These activities are applied in seven different knowledge fields and are conducted individually or in group depending on the nature of the subject and of the activity. Furthermore, this paper shows how the same activity can be applied in subjects of different years and how the implementation level changes, depending on the course in which it is conducted. The activities proposed have been introduced in engineering courses, but they can also be applied in any other knowledge field. Finally, the paper proposes four rubrics to assess three of the proposed activities (videos, jigsaw and project), being two of them for the project activity.
Experiences Using an Open Source Software Library to Teach Computer Vision Subjects
Author: Cazorla, Miguel
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Open Source Technology,Computer Software,Computer Science Education,Vision,Foreign Countries,Laboratory Experiments,College Instruction,Student Attitudes,Student Surveys,College Students,Instructional Effectiveness

Machine vision is an important subject in computer science and engineering degrees. For laboratory experimentation, it is desirable to have a complete and easy-to-use tool. In this work we present a Java library, oriented to teaching computer vision. We have designed and built the library from the scratch with emphasis on readability and understanding rather than on efficiency. However, the library can also be used for research purposes. JavaVis is an open source Java library, oriented to the teaching of Computer Vision. It consists of a framework with several features that meet its demands. It has been designed to be easy to use: the user does not have to deal with internal structures or graphical interface, and should the student need to add a new algorithm it can be done simply enough. Once we sketch the library, we focus on the experience the student gets using this library in several computer vision courses. Our main goal is to find out whether the students understand what they are doing, that is, find out how much the library helps the student in grasping the basic concepts of computer vision. In the last four years we have conducted surveys to assess how much the students have improved their skills by using this library.
Space for Teaching Support and Innovation: Three Years of Collaborative Work
Author: Hansen, Gisela R.
Date: 2014-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Teaching Assistants,College Faculty,Teacher Surveys,Student Surveys,Satisfaction,Graduate Students,Psychology,Cooperation

The teaching assistants in the School of Psychology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona are a group of students who provide support to the teaching staff. After three years, collaborative work has proven to be an effective method for the execution of the teaching assistants' responsibilities. The results of two satisfaction surveys, one answered by the teaching staff and another by the teaching assistants, are analysed in this paper.
Tourism through Travel Club: A Database Project
Author: Pratt, Renée M. E.
Date: 2017-03-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Tourism,Database Management Systems,Database Design,Information Systems,Entrepreneurship,Case Method (Teaching Technique),Student Projects,Courseware,Computer System Design,Design Requirements,Teaching Methods

This applied database exercise utilizes a scenario-based case study to teach the basics of Microsoft Access and database management in introduction to information systems and introduction to database course. The case includes background information on a start-up business (i.e., Carol's Travel Club), description of functional business requirements, and sample data. Carol is a young entrepreneur who wishes to start her own business. Starting a new business has required Carol to be more efficient with her resources. She desires a way to organize her data and would like a computerized database management system. Students are asked to design and develop a database to help her manage the new company's customers, products, and purchases by emphasizing effective business rules and professional database development. In addition, this case will explore the benefits of working with MS Access, data population, creation and development of forms, queries, reports and a switchboard to complete the requirements expressed by Carol's Travel. This case can be used in a course where the students have little or no prior relational database experience, as well as a more intermediate/advance level of experience. Teaching notes containing suggested guidelines, deliverables, and the resulting database containing data, forms, queries, reports, and switchboard are provided upon request.
Flow Experiences in Everyday Classes of Spanish College Students: The Fit between Challenge and Skill
Author: Escartín Solanelles, Jordi
Date: 2014-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Student Experience,Student Motivation,Models,Social Psychology,Student Journals,Anxiety,Psychological Patterns,Undergraduate Students

This study is concerned with the flow state as a high intrinsic motivation experience. Following Csikszentmihalyi's theoretical model (1990), we analyze in which contents within the social psychology subject, students experience more flow. Participants were Spanish college students from a general course on Social Psychology. They completed a diary study during 12 master classes through the academic semester. The results showed that students experienced different states of consciousness in different sessions: relaxation, apathy, flow and anxiety, respectively. These findings provide new insight into the relationship between an academic subject and students, facilitating the creation of new and innovative strategies for learning. The ultimate goal is to modify and improve the dynamics and learning activities for the teaching course, increasing the experience of flow in class (and reducing the levels of anxiety, apathy or relaxation).
Help to New Students of ICT Systems Engineering Degree at EPSEM-UPC: Mentoring
Author: Gorchs Altarriba, Roser
Date: 2014-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,College Freshmen,Information Systems,Engineering Education,Mentors,Coaching (Performance),Peer Teaching,Academic Degrees,Student Participation,Attendance,Student Satisfaction,Program Evaluation,Statistical Analysis

Freshmen at the Manresa School of Engineering, Escola Politècnica Superior d'Enginyeria de Manresa (EPSEM), of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) are voluntarily provided with the mentoring service during their initial period at University. Mentoring gives academic, teaching and self-organizational support. It improves academic results and reduces the percentage desertion of the studies. The mentor is usually an experimented student who is studying his last year's Degree. The goal of the present work is to expose how mentoring is performanced in ICT (Information, Communication and Technology) Systems Engineering Degree at EPSEM. These studies have been recently created and they are unique in Spain (according to our knowledge). We present here a treatment and analysis of the performance and possible actions that have taken in account in order to continuous improvement. We have analyzed the methodology and the opinion of the Degree's students during two academic years (2010-2011 and 2011-2012) in which mentoring was possible thanks to a Grant from EnginyCat AGAUR (Agency for Administration of University and Research Grants of &quot;Generalitat de Catalunya&quot;) and the UPC. Then, this Grant was unfortunately cancelled and mentoring could not go on. That is why mentoring has been just applied few academic years, what is not enough to develop an exhaustive statistical analysis. However, we think that results are very interesting and we aim to carry on with this activity as soon as possible in order to develop more comprehensive results.