Search results for "Education."

The impact of life stage and pigment source on the evolution of novel warning signal traits

2021

Our understanding of how novel warning color traits evolve in natural populations is largely based on studies of reproductive stages and organisms with endogenously produced pigmentation. In these systems, genetic drift is often required for novel alleles to overcome strong purifying selection stemming from frequency-dependent predation and positive assortative mating. Here, we integrate data from field surveys, predation experiments, population genomics, and phenotypic correlations to explain the origin and maintenance of geographic variation in a diet-based larval pigmentation trait in the redheaded pine sawfly (Neodiprion lecontei), a pine-feeding hymenopteran. Although our experiments c…

Linguistic, Contextual, and Experiential Equivalence Issues in the Adaptation of a Performance-Based Assessment of Generic Skills in Higher Education

2022

This qualitative study investigated the various linguistic, contextual, and experiential equivalence issues embedded in a performance-based instrument aimed at assessing generic skills in higher education. A rigorous translation and adaptation process (American English to Finnish) was conducted on one instrument, namely Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA+) International. The data were obtained from cognitive laboratories (n = 13), with think-alouds and follow-up interviews conducted among Finnish undergraduate students. Content logs were created, and the data were analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that linguistic and contextual equivalence issues were more prominent than experie…

Effectiveness of a kindergarten-based intervention to increase vegetable intake and reduce food neophobia amongst 1-year-old children: a cluster rand…

2021

Background: Children’s first years of life are crucial to their future health. Studies show that a varied diet with a high intake of vegetables is positive in several domains of health. The present low vegetable intake amongst children is, therefore, a concern. Food neophobia is a common barrier to vegetable intake in children. As most Norwegian children attend kindergarten from an early age, kindergartens could contribute to the prevention of food neophobia and the promotion of vegetable intake. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a cluster randomised trial amongst 1-year-old children in kindergarten to reduce food neophobia and promote healthy eating. Methods: Kin…

Interaction in online learning environments : how to support collaborative activities in higher education settings

2006

Collaboration promoted and supported by instructional technology has the potential to lead learners to deeper understanding and knowledge building. There have been optimistic views that any web based interaction can be educationally valuable. However, online learning environments do not, as such, guarantee that learners will achieve genuine collaboration. It seems that there are several difficulties facing those who wish to employ online learning environments as a medium for productive learner interaction. The particular aim of this exploration of interaction and learning in computer supported collaborative learning environments was to study the interplay between learners and consider the w…

Infographics as a Reflective Assignment Method in Requirements Engineering e-Course?

2019

Our Work in Progress Paper in Innovative Practice Category focuses on how learners’ experience use of infographics in advanced level e-course on requirements engineering (RE). Infographics are visual representations of information in such a way that information can be easily understood at a glance. Most of the previous infographics studies have been conducted in the context of inquiry learning. To complement this research, we studied how learners experience use of infographics as a method for reflective assignment and hence if the usage of infographics supported conceptualization about RE. We adopted a qualitative content analysis approach, applying thematic network analysis to the data rec…

Enhancing web course design using action research

2010

Applying Affordances Scale as a Design Method : Case Virtual Reality Course Design

2021

Practitioners including designers and teachers developing Virtual Reality (VR) courses are facing a question regarding the strengths and subject areas in which VR-enriched courses might have the highest potential compared to conventional courses. The present study develops a survey scale to assess and match industry managers’ requirements for skills for working life. The same scale was surveyed among two different groups of higher education students participating in conventional courses and a VR-aided course. The results indicate that the industry requirements were higher than met by the both course types. However, the results highlight a set of skills for which the VR courses have the high…

Project-Based Education Research Course Supports Exchange-students’ Research Minded Teacher Identity

2022

Project-based education (PBE) gives possibilities for students to work together and feeling of belonging in a community even during distance learning. At the Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä (JYU), a group of exchange students participated in a PBE chemistry teacher education research course online. The goal of the course was to enforce the connection between research on science teaching and acting sustainable in society. This study is based on semi-structured online group interview of the students after this PBE course. The main focus of this investigation was how positive feelings and attitude affect learning. peerReviewed

International Virtual Mobility in Higher Education

2021

Zeitschrift für Hochschulentwicklung

Using a blended approach to enrich MOOCs on Finnish education

2021

Blended education embraces various combinations of face-to-face and online teaching. It has become a normal part of higher education degree programmes. Since the late 1990s, the Open University of the University of Jyväskylä (JYUOpen) has been offering online and blended education for its rapidly growing number of students. For many years now, Finnish education has ranked high in PISA research. Furthermore, the University of Jyväskylä has been successful in global rankings, especially in the field of education (Shanghai Ranking: 36, QS World University Rankings: 51–100 and Times Higher Education: 67). In order to present the success factors of the Finnish education system, we offered our fi…