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1 – 10 of over 1000
Article
Publication date: 3 July 2024

Joanna C. Weaver, Tionge C. Matangula and Gabriel Matney

This qualitative study extends jigsaw lesson study (JLS) by focusing specifically on the impact of feedback on teacher candidates’ (TCs') professional knowledge and instructional…

Abstract

Purpose

This qualitative study extends jigsaw lesson study (JLS) by focusing specifically on the impact of feedback on teacher candidates’ (TCs') professional knowledge and instructional growth in the teacher-educator classroom.

Design/methodology/approach

For this study, JLS took place in two different methods courses and followed the lesson study (LS) framework using the small group rotations of JLS. In each course, the JLS small group teams taught another team before receiving feedback and revising their lessons. Then they would teach another group. After each iteration, teams debriefed and reviewed the feedback to revise their lessons and prepare for reteaching. Following the JLS process, TCs reflected on the impact of feedback in a post-survey that was analyzed, coded and aligned with their lesson iterations and revisions.

Findings

Both integrated language arts (ILA) and math TCs reported that receiving peer feedback improved their lessons, instructional materials, revisions and student engagement. Through collaboration, TCs valued peer dialog, multiple perspectives and TCs learned to provide and receive constructive feedback professionally. Overall, feedback and collaboration helped strengthen their lesson planning as they considered multiple perspectives. Feedback helped TCs consider differentiation and the diversity of learners as well as student engagement while building their professional knowledge.

Originality/value

Although a previous study has shown an impact of JLS in ILA teacher-education courses with a broader scope in mathematics courses, this study focused on the JLS process in two teacher-education courses. Furthermore, current research tends to focus on the LS process, but this study focused specifically on TCs’ perceptions of the impact of feedback of their professional and instructional growth.

Details

International Journal for Lesson & Learning Studies, vol. 13 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-8253

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 June 2024

Sian Calvert, Robert Dempsey and Rachel Povey

The Social Norms Approach (SNA) is a health behaviour intervention which promotes positive behaviour change by challenging and reducing misperceived social norms of peer…

Abstract

Purpose

The Social Norms Approach (SNA) is a health behaviour intervention which promotes positive behaviour change by challenging and reducing misperceived social norms of peer behaviours and attitudes. This study reports a novel qualitative evaluation of an in-school SNA intervention which aimed to reduce 11-to-12-year-old students’ unhealthy snacking behaviours by reducing misperceived peer norms.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative evaluation of seven teachers’ and eighteen students’ experiences of taking part in the SNA intervention based on focus group discussions and an open-ended survey.

Findings

An inductive reflexive thematic analysis indicated that the SNA intervention was an effective and engaging means of delivering normative feedback to younger adolescents. The use of a paper-and-pens creative poster-making activity, where students were tasked with designing the intervention materials featuring normative feedback based on their baseline data, encouraged students to discuss and reflect on the discrepancies between their perceived norms and the actual reported unhealthy snacking norms. Challenges were identified with ensuring intervention fidelity and in students’ understanding of how to record survey responses using Likert scales.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates the usefulness of exploring post-intervention perceptions of SNA interventions, particularly from the perspective of the intended recipients. The study also provides useful information for those intending to develop in-school SNA interventions in the future, particularly the importance of involving participants in the designing of intervention materials as a means of promoting engagement with an SNA-based dietary behaviour intervention.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 126 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 August 2024

Erfan Heidari and Mahmoud Reza Saghafi

This qualitative case study explores the challenges that architecture students encounter in grasping the concept of fair PA. The study also delves into the students' viewpoints on…

Abstract

Purpose

This qualitative case study explores the challenges that architecture students encounter in grasping the concept of fair PA. The study also delves into the students' viewpoints on this matter and the strategies they utilize to navigate it.

Design/methodology/approach

Around 29 architecture students took part in the PA process. Data was gathered by observing PA sessions and conducting interviews with students. The data was then analyzed using the thematic method.

Findings

The study uncovers fairness challenges from the perspective of architecture students, such as concerns regarding collusion, power dynamics within friend groups, limitations of participatory culture, and overwhelming responsibility. The study suggests that a multistage PA process can be an effective approach to addressing fairness challenges. Furthermore, it sheds light on the obstacles that architecture students face in comprehending fairness and their viewpoints and tactics regarding fairness during PA.

Practical implications

The findings indicate that increasing students' engagement in learning activities during the critique and assessment process in the DS can enhance their understanding of fairness in PA and boost their satisfaction with final course grades.

Originality/value

This study investigates the relationship between architecture students' engagement and assessment fairness, by focusing on the role of perceived fair PA within design studio settings.

Details

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-7003

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 2 February 2024

Stephen Dix

The aim of this paper is to generate a streamlined, transparent and effective instrument to fairly measure the contribution made by each student to a group project within a higher…

372

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to generate a streamlined, transparent and effective instrument to fairly measure the contribution made by each student to a group project within a higher education context. The primary aim is to moderate the grades of underperforming students at the end of the project. There is a secondary benefit in alerting underperforming students to raise their contribution mid-task or face a potentially reduced grade at the final stage.

Design/methodology/approach

The development of this multi-dimensional instrument is guided by findings from previous research. The quest is to minimise the instructor's administrative work load in applying a moderation-only instrument that is open-source and available at no cost. Based on the literature, the survey instrument seeks to apply a peer-based, equitable and transparent evaluation of each member's contribution to a group task. The survey is applied at mid-task and again at end-task in order to afford underperformers the opportunity to address contribution deficits during the final phase of the project.

Findings

The instrument, called TANDEM©, offers a transparent, streamlined, equitable, confidential and practical measure of each student's contribution to a graded group task. Students whose end-task contribution falls below the group average rating receive a proportional reduction in their personal grade. Additionally, the end-task moderation instrument captures a single-item holistic measure of relative contribution that may, in the future, serve as a surrogate for the multi-dimensional measures currently in place.

Research limitations/implications

TANDEM© was developed with group sizes of four or five members in mind. There is no evidence to support its application to three-person groups. Moreover, the application was applied only amongst under-graduate students. It is yet to be applied across post-graduate groups and within online learning environments. Future research into diverse cultural settings would serve to advance understanding of how moderation is perceived across borders.

Practical implications

Several existing group grade moderation methods propose complex algorithms that are “black box” solutions from a student's perspective. In establishing a fair, streamlined, confidential and transparent process for peer-rated moderation, TANDEM© deploys a concise instrument with a relatively small administrative load. TANDEM © may be applied to all groups or can selectively be applied to groups that report moderate, strong or extreme levels of conflict.

Social implications

Students will appreciate the opportunity to rate peer contributions to group projects. This will dissipate the negative social sentiment that may arise when fellow students benefit from the work of others. Those students seeking conflict resolution within the group will value the transparent and equitable moderation of grades as well as the positive social implications that follow.

Originality/value

This research forms part of an ongoing quest to present a moderation instrument that fairly identifies student contribution to a group project. Whilst the solution proposed is one of many existing alternatives, its focus is on a practical moderation-only instrument that can immediately be applied to a course or major. The benefits lie in the ease of application and minimal administrative workload. This constitutes an original contribution to the individual (course or major) coordinator who seeks to apply a moderation-only instrument without having to commit to an extensive, broad-based group optimisation programme.

Details

Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, vol. 36 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-5855

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 June 2024

Serhan Kotiloglu, Daniela Blettner and Thomas Lechler

Performance feedback can be constructed using firms’ own (historical) performance, or the performance of peers (social). Those two types of performance feedback can be consistent…

Abstract

Purpose

Performance feedback can be constructed using firms’ own (historical) performance, or the performance of peers (social). Those two types of performance feedback can be consistent (both positive, both negative) or inconsistent (one positive, the other negative). The research on the impact of consistent versus inconsistent feedback has been inconclusive, suggesting that inconsistent feedback might lead to more intense or less intense responses, or no response. In this paper, we theorize and test how firms respond to (in)consistent performance feedback.

Design/methodology/approach

We test our hypotheses on a longitudinal sample of 2,819 private, high-growth firms in the US with 6,688 observations between the years 2007 and 2016. Our dataset comprises 25 different industries. We use topic modeling on textual data from firms’ web pages to capture portfolio expansion.

Findings

We find that consistent negative performance feedback strengthens portfolio expansion, but consistent positive feedback does not influence portfolio expansion. We also find that inconsistent performance feedback weakens portfolio expansion, but only with negative historical feedback and positive social feedback.

Originality/value

We contribute to the Behavioral Theory of the Firm by improving our understanding of mechanisms of feedback configurations. Specifically, we elaborate on the role of (in)consistent social feedback when firms respond to historical performance feedback. We also contribute to the theory by better understanding private firms’ responses to performance feedback.

Details

Journal of Strategy and Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1755-425X

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 22 March 2024

Anell Anders

A large number of studies indicate that coercive forms of organizational control and performance management in health care services often backfire and initiate dysfunctional…

Abstract

Purpose

A large number of studies indicate that coercive forms of organizational control and performance management in health care services often backfire and initiate dysfunctional consequences. The purpose of this article is to discuss new approaches to performance management in health care services when the purpose is to support innovative changes in the delivery of services.

Design/methodology/approach

The article represents cross-boundary work as the theoretical and empirical material used to discuss and reconsider performance management comes from several relevant research disciplines, including systematic reviews of audit and feedback interventions in health care and extant theories of human motivation and organizational control.

Findings

An enabling approach to performance management in health care services can potentially contribute to innovative changes. Key design elements to operationalize such an approach are a formative and learning-oriented use of performance measures, an appeal to self- and social-approval mechanisms when providing feedback and support for local goals and action plans that fit specific conditions and challenges.

Originality/value

The article suggests how to operationalize an enabling approach to performance management in health care services. The framework is consistent with new governance and managerial approaches emerging in public sector organizations more generally, supporting a higher degree of professional autonomy and the use of nonfinancial incentives.

Details

Journal of Health Organization and Management, vol. 38 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7266

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 October 2023

Kaone Bakokonyane and Nkobi Owen Pansiri

The purpose of this study was to examine the application of the collaborative research supervision approach (CRSA) to learning projects in higher education, using socialisation…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the application of the collaborative research supervision approach (CRSA) to learning projects in higher education, using socialisation, externalisation, combination and internalisation (SECI) dimensions. The study, therefore, examined how these dimensions assisted learners in Botswana's higher education to generate research knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a mixed-method research approach and exploratory research design. Purposive sampling was used to examine how the CRSA dimensions were employed in a classroom of 111 higher education learners who were carrying out research projects. Out of this population, 97 responded to a questionnaire, and 14 learners participated in a face-to-face interview. One hundred and eleven research documents produced by learners were analysed, and 42 observations were conducted.

Findings

The study found that the four dimensions of CRSA assist greatly in the development of knowledge of the research processes. This study confirms that the CRSA in higher education institutions has the potential to enhance research knowledge and skills, build learners' confidence in research, engage in learning, reduce workload, reduce the frustration of doing research and help learners complete their work in time. Learners with weak research skills easily catch up with their average-performing peers.

Research limitations/implications

It is important to recognise the methodological limitations of this study. The study used a mixed method and a single case. As a result, the results' significance cannot be justified. Additionally, the context and methodology restrict the findings' generalisability. There is obviously potential for additional cases since this article only offers a preliminary analysis of the single case issue. Consequently, the study recommends that yet another study could be conducted to check if the approach could be used for graduate learners. Another study could also be conducted to check if the approach could be used as a supervisory approach that can provide prospects for knowledge sharing and creating learning in an organisation.

Practical implications

The study discovered that when properly implemented, CRSA arrangement enhances research knowledge development and reduces the workload for both the supervisor and the student. When choosing this desired research supervision approach, either in terms of policy or in actual practice, it is important to take the potential for information exchange into account. This might result in improved research supervision efficacy in higher education and hence the production of better quality graduate learning projects.

Social implications

This study recommends the use of the CRSA in higher education, so as to help learners with weak research skills, to collaboratively work with learners with high and average research skills. It also improves the quality of supervisor–learner learning relationship.

Originality/value

The research results were given to participants and respondents for approval to find out if what was written was what they said. The research results were also given to colleagues to check whether the analysis is balanced and fair and to check biases and exaggerations.

Details

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, vol. 16 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-7003

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 16 August 2024

Giorgia Masili, Daniele Binci, Corrado Cerruti, Andrea Appolloni and Luca Giraldi

This study aims to understand how distributed agile teams (DATs), encouraged by globalisation, and recently accelerated by the COVID-19 outbreak, adopt agile practices to achieve…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to understand how distributed agile teams (DATs), encouraged by globalisation, and recently accelerated by the COVID-19 outbreak, adopt agile practices to achieve project goals by working virtually.

Design/methodology/approach

This study developed a multiple-case study involving four companies undergoing several changes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors collected data mainly through in-depth, face-to-face interviews with seven key informants. Moreover, this study operates data triangulation by referring to secondary data sources and developing a grounded theory data analysis.

Findings

The findings highlight three main categories associated with the DAT functioning, namely, “DATs’ implementation issues”, “elements supporting DATs’ implementation” and “outcomes of DATs’ implementation”, that show DATs’ primary triggers, critical aspects and supportive actions for team functioning.

Research limitations/implications

This paper produced valuable theoretical knowledge of DATs’ dynamics within a socio-technical approach that distinguishes soft and hard variables supporting DAT implementation. Moreover, the evidence provides useful suggestions for managers about creating an objective-oriented virtual work environment based on DATs’ self-organisation, digitally shared leadership and occasional on-site socialisation.

Originality/value

This paper provides new and interesting insights that bring to evidence the main variables related to DATs’ adoption and dynamics, showing supporting activities that enhanced their operativity. It provides a valuable descriptive framework for academics and practitioners to understand DATs’ functioning better and take action to improve their implementation.

Details

Management Research Review, vol. 47 no. 13
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-8269

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 July 2024

Feng Lin and Jingjing Sun

This paper aims to present a practical guide for designing effective synchronous online teaching to support student engagement.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present a practical guide for designing effective synchronous online teaching to support student engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

This practical guide was developed by drawing insights from literature and our own practical experiences.

Findings

This paper developed BEST principles (i.e., Building positive relationships, Engage through interactions, Scaffold collaborative learning, and Timely feedback) as a practical framework for guiding the design of synchronous online teaching. This paper also discussed the pedagogical roles digital tools can play in supporting online teaching and the various design considerations.

Practical implications

This guide can serve multiple purposes: a practical framework for guiding the design of online teaching, a reflective instrument to evaluate the effectiveness of online teaching, and a resource for teacher professional development training in online teaching. It also has implications for the design of learning in other modalities (e.g. face-to-face and hybrid learning).

Originality/value

While some prior research has put forth principles and instructional strategies for designing online teaching, they tend to be more conceptual, and few have integrated principles with empirical evidence and technological solutions. This paper creates a comprehensive guide that integrates learning principles, technology and design considerations for effective online teaching.

Details

Information and Learning Sciences, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-5348

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 20 June 2024

Felix Estrella

This paper aims to identify the effectiveness, student perceptions and impacts of integrating comics into the English as a foreign language (EFL) writing curriculum for…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the effectiveness, student perceptions and impacts of integrating comics into the English as a foreign language (EFL) writing curriculum for undergraduate Ecuadorian polytechnic students.

Design/methodology/approach

This research followed a mixed method design to obtain quantitative information through a researcher-made survey and paired T-test, which would be corroborated by the qualitative data obtained from semistructured interviews.

Findings

From the descriptive and T-test results and the interview answers, it is concluded that students have a favorable view of the effectiveness of using comics to improve their writing skills. They also expressed their engagement and motivation to work with comics.

Research limitations/implications

First, the research sample, comprised of 109 students, may restrict the generalizability of the findings beyond the specific context of this study. This constraint suggests caution in extrapolating these findings to broader student cohorts, emphasizing the need for larger-scale studies to validate the robustness and applicability of the outcomes. Second, the study’s focus solely on students from a polytechnic state university introduces a potential limitation concerning the diversity and representativeness of the participant pool. Consequently, the findings might be limited in their applicability and may not fully encompass students’ varied responses and attitudes from other educational backgrounds.

Practical implications

The scaffolding afforded by comics aligns with genre-based literacy perspectives, valuing instruction in textual genres and social purposes. From a practical pedagogical point of view, this paper’s results suggest the potential of comic narratives and storyboarding. Comics writing could be added to classroom activities to vibrantly aboard brainstorming, drafting and peer reviewing before dealing with higher-stakes assignments. Legitimizing alternative mediums like comics for academic writing tasks has social implications for promoting literacies in a multimedia world.

Social implications

Writing comics nurtures multiliteracies aligned with participatory digital cultures by expanding traditional linguistic-centric norms. This multimodal composing can potentially increase access and representation and amplify voices across identities and cultures.

Originality/value

Although the paper addresses a topic that is not entirely novel in research, its originality lies in its focus on data originating from Ecuador, where specific cultural nuances and educational contexts may influence the effectiveness of using comics to enhance EFL writing skills. Thus, it fills a gap in the existing literature on this subject.

Details

Quality Education for All, vol. 1 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2976-9310

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 1000