ethanporcaro/eric-fulltext-meta huggingface dataset:
Using Algal Microcosms in Introductory Biology Lab. I: The Influence of Nutrient Levels on the Biodiversity of an Ecological Community
Author: Wise, Michael J.
Date: 2020-12-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Biodiversity,Biology,Science Instruction,Introductory Courses,Ecology,Laboratory Experiments,Nutrition,Comparative Analysis,Cytology,Plants (Botany),Classification,Teaching Methods

The protection of earth's biodiversity requires a sophisticated understanding of how human activities can affect the relative abundances of species in natural ecological communities. Here, we report on an introductory biology laboratory activity in which students quantified biodiversity while investigating one of the most important controls on the biodiversity of an ecosystem: nutrient availability. Students established microcosms of six species of phytoplankton (&quot;algae&quot;) in 50-mL beakers and exposed them to five different levels of inorganic nutrients. After two weeks, students used hemocytometers to count cells and compare the relative abundances of the algal species (i.e., their community composition) at different nutrient levels. The effect of nutrient level on biodiversity (measured by Simpson's reciprocal index) was significantly curvilinear, and best described as &quot;U-shaped.&quot; Specifically, the algal community was most diverse at the lowest nutrient level, least diverse with a small amount of added nutrients, and intermediate in diversity at the highest nutrient levels. This convenient, quantitative investigation provided students an opportunity to consider how anthropogenic influxes of nutrients into ecosystems can lead to eutrophication, and how this phenomenon can have negative effects by decreasing the biodiversity of ecological communities. [For &quot;Using Algal Microcosms in Introductory Biology Lab. II: The Influence of Biodiversity on Ecosystem Productivity,&quot; see EJ1285505.]
Correlational Studies between Secondary School Teachers&apos; Access to and Utilization of Internet Facilities for Instruction in Ilorin, Nigeria
Author: Aderogba, Adenike
Date: 2021-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Secondary School Teachers,Access to Computers,Internet,Educational Technology,Technology Uses in Education,Correlation,Technology Integration,Teaching Methods

The use of different search engines enables university lecturers to accomplish the stated objectives of higher education institutions because they provide access to accurate and reliable information easily. The objectives of this study were to: identify Internet facilities available for teachers; determine whether teachers can access the Internet facilities; determine whether teachers utilize the Internet facilities; and investigate the relationship between teachers' access and utilization of Internet facilities to teach in Ilorin, an industrial and education center and the state capital and largest town in Kwara State. The population of the study comprised 251 respondents randomly selected from eighteen secondary schools in Ilorin, Nigeria and utilized a structured questionnaire. The research questions were analysed using mean scores, while the t-test statistic was used to test two hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed a significant positive relationship between teachers' access to and utilization of Internet facilities for instruction. This implies that teachers who have access to Internet facilities use Internet facilities for classroom instruction more than their counterparts. The study concluded that teachers effectively utilize accessible Internet facilities for instruction. It was recommended that the government and schools should make provision for Internet facilities in secondary schools to enhance the effectiveness of instruction.
Level of Integration of Mobile Device Technology in Teaching and Learning in Universities in Botswana
Author: Rudhumbu, Norman
Date: 2021-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Technology Integration,Educational Technology,Technology Uses in Education,Handheld Devices,Telecommunications,Teacher Attitudes,Barriers,Internet,Costs,College Faculty,Negative Attitudes

The study investigated the level of integration of mobile device technology in teaching and learning in Botswana universities. Botswana is one of the few African countries with a strong and stable economy and a high prevalence of technological gadgets that include mobile phones, tablets, and laptops, among others, in use in the population. Despite the prevalence of these technological gadgets, not much is known about the level of integration of technology in teaching and learning in universities in Botswana. A quantitative approach that employed a structured questionnaire for data collection was used in a study that included a sample of 360 lecturers from five out of eight selected universities in Botswana. The results of the study showed that negative attitudes of lecturers towards the integration of technology continue to be one of the major contributory factors in the low levels of technology integration in teaching and learning in universities in Botswana. The study also revealed that high Internet costs, as well as slow Internet connectivity are some of the main challenges contributing to the slow pace of technology integration in universities in Botswana. Results further showed that despite the high prevalence of mobile devices, desktops remain the main technological gadgets used during teaching and learning at universities in Botswana.
Using Algal Microcosms in Introductory Biology Lab. II: The Influence of Biodiversity on Ecosystem Productivity
Author: Wise, Michael J.
Date: 2020-12-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Ecology,Biology,Science Instruction,Teaching Methods,Laboratory Experiments,Plants (Botany),Biodiversity,Introductory Courses,Conservation (Environment),Inquiry,Scientific Principles,Measurement,Taxonomy,Undergraduate Students

Because the escalating loss of species is one of the most serious environmental crises we face, it is vital that students of biology comprehend and can communicate the roles that biodiversity plays in the functioning of ecosystems. Here, we report on a laboratory experiment that has been highly successful in our introductory biology courses at demonstrating the role of biodiversity in the productivity of ecosystems. Students created microcosms consisting of six species of phytoplankton grown separately (monocultures) and in mixtures (polycultures) in 50-mL beakers. On average, monocultures were less productive than three-species polycultures, which in turn were less productive than six-species polycultures. However, the productivity of the polycultures was generally no greater than the productivity of the most productive monocultures--a result that suggests a lack of positive ecological interactions (e.g., facilitation or niche complementarity). In contrast, there was some evidence of negative interactions among species (e.g., predation and allelopathy) that caused some polycultures to be less productive than monocultures of their constituent species. Performing this structured-inquiry experiment provided students with an opportunity to apply aspects of the scientific method in a non-trivial manner to address issues of relevance to both basic ecology principles and applied disciplines with economic significance. [For &quot;Using Algal Microcosms in Introductory Biology Lab. I: The Influence of Nutrient Levels on the Biodiversity of an Ecological Community,&quot; see EJ1285501.]
Goodman-Kruskal Gamma and Dimension-Corrected Gamma in Educational Measurement Settings
Author: Metsämuuronen, Jari
Date: 2021-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Educational Assessment,Measurement,Item Analysis,Correlation,Scores,Test Items,Probability

Although Goodman-Kruskal gamma (G) is used relatively rarely it has promising potential as a coefficient of association in educational settings. Characteristics of G are studied in three sub-studies related to educational measurement settings. G appears to be unexpectedly appealing as an estimator of association between an item and a score because it strictly indicates the probability to get a correct answer in the test item given the score, and it accurately produces perfect latent association irrespective of distributions, degrees of freedom, number of tied pairs and tied values in the variables, or the difficulty levels in the items. However, it underestimates the association in an obvious manner when the number of categories in the item is more than four. Towards this, a dimension-corrected G (G2) is proposed and its characteristics are studied. Both G and G2 appear to be promising alternatives in measurement modelling settings, G with binary items and G2 with binary, polytomous and mixed datasets.
High School Principals&apos; Ability to Estimate Work Time
Author: Ongaga, Kennedy O.
Date: 2021-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: High Schools,Time Management,Principals,Instructional Leadership,Gender Differences,Working Hours,School Administration,Administrator Attitudes,Measurement Techniques,Leadership Effectiveness,Public Schools,Administrator Characteristics

Time management for educational leaders has remained highly relevant to scholars, policymakers and practitioners. We analyzed survey responses from 98 public high school principals to examine the congruency between average total hours they worked per week against the sum total of the average hours worked per week in each of five distinct categories of leadership tasks. The observed congruence was 0.32, while Cohen's kappa coefficient was 0.10. Female principals tended to underreport, and male principals tended to overreport, total work time. Principals with doctorate degrees exhibited higher congruence than those without, and overreporting was inversely related to highest degree. Principals in charge of large teaching staffs were more likely than their counterparts to be congruent and less likely to overreport total work time. Self-report appears to be an inaccurate method to measure time use among high school principals. If time use is a key component of the quality of principal leadership, more detailed and robust techniques for collecting time use data should be utilized in future studies.
Native Language Awareness of Preservice Teachers
Author: Akbulut, Serdar
Date: 2021-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Native Language,Preservice Teachers,Foreign Countries,Language Usage,Student Attitudes

The language, in the most basic sense, is a means of communication among people. Since the proper and effective use of people's native language will shape the whole life of an individual, individuals are expected to have native language awareness. There is a strong bilateral relationship between the effective use of native language and native language awareness. All the teachers/preservice teachers and especially native language teachers/preservice teachers, who are role models as being instructors, are expected to have this awareness and help students to gain and transfer it to the future generations. By this motivation, this study aims to examine language awareness of preservice teachers, an example from Turkey. Through phenomenological design of the qualitative research methods, it has been aimed to reach this goal. Accordingly, the data were collected through semi-structured and structured opinion forms from 60 preservice teachers studying in a state university. In the study, it was seen that preservice teachers generally have this awareness. It has been revealed that the preservice teachers tend to correct their use of language that they think is wrong, they investigate the word they do not know the spelling when they are indecisive, and they mostly find it necessary to obey the language rules in multimedia. It was concluded that attention in the use of language emphasizes the negativities to be encountered in the dimension of providing social communication in daily life.
Design Considerations for 3-D Exergames
Author: Pamukcu, Bahattin Selim
Date: 2021-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Exercise,Games,Game Based Learning,Program Development,Training,Program Effectiveness,Computer Simulation,Life Style,Health Behavior,Athletics,Motivation,Design

To increase the benefits of three-dimensional exercise games, the steps to develop these games need to be effective and efficient. The purpose of this study is to determine the game development model used in the design of three-dimensional games for exercise to create effective, efficient, usable, and safe games for users. In this article, studies on exercise programs and game development models in the literature were examined. According to the results from the literature, the considerations which should be taken into account when designing the three-dimensional exercise games are: creating user-specific exercise training programs, having game and gamification elements, providing expert support in determining an exercise program, having rich tools for measuring and evaluating physical activities, providing feedback about short and long term user performance, and that it can be used independently in the home environment. [Note: The year (2019) shown on the PDF is incorrect. The correct year is 2021.]
Relationship between Required Corequisite Learning and Success in College Algebra
Author: Smith, Amy D.
Date: 2019-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: College Mathematics,Algebra,Required Courses,Developmental Studies Programs,College Freshmen,Introductory Courses,Academic Achievement,Remedial Mathematics

This study sought to answer if a relationship existed between required corequisite support and success in gateway College Algebra courses. Complete College America and Complete College Georgia initiatives over the last ten years have sought ways to increase access to higher education with high progression and completion rates. Efforts such as the Momentum Year in University System of Georgia schools utilize developmental corequisite courses for gateway English and Mathematics to ensure early success and progression. This study used a chi-square test to analyze two groups of new freshmen and their success in College Algebra--one group who participated in corequisite learning (n=55) and one group who did not participate in corequisite learning (n=158), finding that a higher proportion of students succeed in College Algebra when also enrolled in corequisite support.
Intentional Leadership for More Just Experiences: Supporting Black Males on College Campuses
Author: Egan, John D.
Date: 2019-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: African American Students,African American Teachers,Males,Undergraduate Students,College Faculty,Leadership,College Programs,Disproportionate Representation,Student Experience,Racial Discrimination,Racial Bias,Evidence Based Practice,Diversity (Faculty),Teacher Selection,Social Justice

This essay explores the unjust experiences of Black males and minority faculty on college campuses that perpetuate inequality in higher education. The literature shows Black male undergraduates experienced both overt racism and more subtle insults on some college campuses, which serve as a barrier to integration into the college system. This essay also connects the underrepresentation of minority faculty as a contributing factor to the climate that inhibits the integration of Black male students into the college system. Through intentional leadership, educators should create or support existing Black male initiative programs on their campuses as this evidence-based practice contributes to the performance, retention, and college engagement of Black male undergraduates. To address underrepresentation of minority faculty and staff, educational leaders may consider advocating for an empirically supported three-pronged approach to include a hiring search toolkit, a biases video or workshop, and professional mentoring. The suggested interventions by no means serve as a &quot;solution&quot; to these complex issues, but collegiate leaders should take concrete actions that bend toward more just institutions.
Understanding the Experiences of Provisionally Admitted Black Male College Students in the State of Georgia
Author: Jackson, Nikki
Date: 2019-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: College Students,African American Students,Males,Student Experience,College Admission,Student Attitudes,Influences,Academic Achievement

Colleges and universities, both within Georgia and nationwide, admit students who do not fully meet institutional admission standards. Typically referred to as provisional admits, the students then have requirements they must meet in order to gain full admission status. In Georgia, small percentages of provisionally admitted students graduate on time. Coupled with nationwide graduation rates for Black male students, the number of Black male provisionally admitted students who graduate on time is concerningly low. Further understanding of this phenomenon is needed to better support Black male students who enter Georgia institutions with provisional admission status. The purpose of the study was to explore perceptions of first-time, full-time Black male provisionally accepted students to achieve a clear understanding of factors that contribute to their academic success. The researcher utilized a phenomenological approach and multiple methods of data collection. This resulted in rich data that has been categorized into the overarching themes of &quot;a provisional opportunity&quot; and &quot;family matters.&quot; Implications for student affairs professionals, faculty, and other stakeholders are provided, as well as recommendations for future research on provisionally admitted Black male college students.
Technical Experience with Tempera Paintings in a Bachelor Degree Course in Turkey
Author: Erim, Gonca
Date: 2021-03-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Art History,Art Education,Undergraduate Students,Painting (Visual Arts),Knowledge Level,Student Interests,Program Effectiveness,Student Attitudes,Attitude Change,Medieval History

This article aims to understand the place of the tempera technique in art history, which is thought to be encountered for the first time by art education undergraduate students, and to determine the effects on the participants after the application. The study consists of the findings and results of the first and second research questions in the master thesis &quot;Tempera technique and its use in the course of painting courses on undergraduate level.&quot; In this study the &quot;case study&quot; pattern was used, and is one of the qualitative research approaches. The participants of the research are eight students studying in Bursa Uludag University, Faculty of Education, Department of Fine Arts Education in the 2018-2019 academic year. The data collection tools of literature review and two interview forms interview were used. The findings obtained were evaluated by thematic analysis technique. According to the findings obtained in the research, it was observed that the participants did not have prior knowledge about the tempera technique before oral presentation and application. It was concluded that there were differences in the levels of interest and knowledge after the teaching process, and that there were positive changes in their opinions regarding the technique.
Pedagogical Approach to Developing the Hiring Practices of Higher Education Administrators
Author: Tolman, Steven
Date: 2019-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: College Administration,Personnel Selection,Student Personnel Workers,Graduate Study,Teaching Methods,Experiential Learning,Administrator Education,Instructional Innovation,Skill Development,Supervision,Undergraduate Study,Theory Practice Relationship

Most student affairs professionals will serve in a managerial and/or supervisory role at some point in their careers, yet we found only 11% of higher education graduate preparatory programs have required coursework focusing on this competency area. This situation is disconcerting, as there seems to be an assumption within the student affairs field that new professionals have the formal training and experiences needed to immediately be placed into these managerial and/or supervisory roles. In an effort to address this discrepancy, and in particular staffing practices, one higher education graduate preparatory program developed a course on staffing practices using an innovative pedagogical approach rooted in the theoretical framework of experiential learning. This approach enabled future student affairs professionals to apply theory-to-practice and develop the supervision skills they will need in their imminent careers. Recommendations are provided for faculty members, senior administrators, and a general calling for empirical research.
The Impact of Problem-Based Learning with Argument Mapping and Online Laboratory on Scientific Argumentation Skill
Author: Jumadi, Jumadi
Date: 2021-03-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Problem Based Learning,Problem Solving,Concept Mapping,Persuasive Discourse,Science Process Skills,Thinking Skills,Skill Development,Science Laboratories,Electronic Learning,Instructional Effectiveness,Grade 11,High School Students,Foreign Countries

Students in Indonesia still have the low level of scientific argumentation skills. This study purposed to examine the impact of Problem-based Learning (PBL) with Argument Mapping and Online Laboratory in improving the scientific argumentation skill. It describes the significance of the differences between participants who learn through PBL, PBL with Online Laboratory (PBL-OL), Problem-based Learning with Argument Mapping and Online Laboratory (PBL-AMOL) model. The population of this study were students from Madrasah Aliyah Negeri (MAN) Yogyakarta, Indonesia with a random sampling technique. This was quasi-experiment with pre and post test designs. In this study, there were 97 students at MAN 1 as respondent. Paired sample t-test, independent sample t-test and ANOVA mixed design was used to analysis data. The PBL-AMOL group has a significant difference based on pre-test and post-test (sig. 0000). The PBL-AMOL was most effective to improve the skill with gain score 0.43 (medium). Learning with the PBLAMOL model can be an alternative to solve the problems of creative thinking skill.
Online Competency Based Education Framework using Moodle LMS: A Case of HEIs in Kenya
Author: Hadullo, Kennedy
Date: 2021-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Online Courses,Educational Technology,Electronic Learning,Competency Based Education,Integrated Learning Systems,Program Development,Program Design,Program Implementation,Program Improvement,Program Effectiveness,Planning,Higher Education

The purpose of this study was to develop a Framework that can be used to implement an online Competency-based education (CBE) program using a Learning Management system such as Moodle. CBE refers to a system of instruction, assessment, grading, and academic reporting that is based on students demonstrating that they have the knowledge and skills they are expected to learn as they progress through their educational path. However, little is known regarding how an online supported CBE program can be planned, designed, and implemented, to ensure learners complete activities and thus develop competency. This study advances theoretical perspectives of CBE as steps taken towards the development of an online CBE Framework suitable for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Kenya. The study found that: Planning (Technology Infrastructure, organization and program design and development); Design (competency standards, instructional design, content development, LMS installation and customization); Implementation (learning activities, Moodle competency framework, assessments, and discussion forums); Improvement (Moodle Analytics) and Achieving (attainment of competency) were the most influential factors in determining the successful implementation of an Online CBE program in HEIs.