Search results for "computers"
showing 10 items of 3243 documents
Learning Slovak in new language learning environments
2017
The aim of this dissertation is to throw light on the development of teaching and learning Slovak in the new language learning environment. New developments in teaching led to the design of an experimental e-learning course in Slovak based on the philosophy of dynamic learning and using the metaphor of climbing a mountain for learning Slovak. The course was grounded in constructivist views of learning and teaching, which emphasize the importance of learning by doing and the process-like nature of learning. The teaching experiment included reflection-on-action research, with the goal of exploring learners' beliefs about themselves as e-learners before the course, and their perceptions and ex…
Videoconferencing in ESP Classes : Learner-Centred Approach
2016
The integration of videoconferencing (VC) into ESP education provides an opportunity for the combination of collaborative learning, autonomous learning and cross-cultural communication via social media and ICT implementation. Videoconferencing encourages students to take responsibility for their own learning in order to achieve a successful outcome of the whole session and enables them to apply varied project-based concepts. Instructors usually remain in the background during the lesson but take an active role in the preparation. The focus is on student– student interaction both in the VC classroom and in social media activities. The authors describe their first-hand experience as teachers …
Design of a Virtual Learning Environment for Students with Special Needs
2006
The European Social Fund-supported Portland Partnership project developed a computer-based virtual learning environment (VLE) to benefit students with cognitive and physical disabilities. This system provided students with access to a suite of software programs to teach them basic/essential skills needed for everyday life and to use information and communications technology (ICT). The VLE can be customized to meet individual students’ needs by selecting an input device, adjusting its setting, or choosing a symbol set to support on-screen text. The learning programs within the VLE required careful design to make them stimulating and beneficial to students who have diverse health conditions a…
Study of vocalists' use of emotions in performance preparation
2015
Musicians and educators understand the importance of expressivity in vocal performance. Despite the acceptance of expressivity as a crucial element in musical performance, educators have reported addressing it only cursorily or not addressing it at all when preparing for a performance. For these reasons, this research has focused on techniques used by trained musicians when preparing a performance, to be adapted and applied for use by teachers with their large vocal ensembles. Participants in this study were enrolled in vocal / operatic performance programs at universities in the United States, Ireland, Finland, and Hong Kong. Their progress was tracked throughout the semester by three ques…
Challenging Transmission Modes of Teaching in Science Classrooms : Enhancing Learner-Centredness through Dialogicity
2017
There is an ongoing reform towards more inquiry-based teaching in school curriculum policy in South Africa. Reform towards more inquiry-based approaches is already integrated in pre-service teacher education programmes. As inquiry-based approaches have been gaining momentum worldwide, there is an increasing concern that dialogic interaction in classroom communication is being neglected. This is especially within teacher-orchestrated classroom interactions that should foster greater learner centredness and thus authentic scientific inquiry. In learner-centred teaching approaches, student contributions should be explicitly taken into account as part of classroom interactions in science. Learn…
Learning paths on elementary university courses in Finnish as a second language
2015
Along with the growing degree of internationalisation, Finnish university education needs to address issues related to learning and teaching Finnish as a second language. From the perspective of teaching Finnish and related pedagogical development, it is essential to recognise when, where and for which purposes learners need Finnish at the various stages of the language acquisition process. This article focuses on the learning paths of three international students who studied Finnish on a one-term elementary course at the University of Jyväskylä Language Centre. The article is based on a socio-cultural and ecological view on language learning and teaching. The data consist of learning diary…
Developing Future Physical Education Teachers' Intercultural Competence: The Potential of Intertwinement of Transformative, Embodied, and Critical Ap…
2021
Purpose: This article is based on a study that explored learning processes related to intercultural competence of PE teacher trainees. The context of the study was the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. The study was conducted in connection to two courses that focused on equality in physical education and sport in 2020–2021.Methods: Adopting an interpretive, as well as a critical approach, the authors focused on how the students described their conceptions and learning experiences. Based on their analysis they have then aimed to shed light on how interculturality, equality, equity, and diversity may be addressed in higher education in a more profou…
Internationalisation in Crafting Workshops : Experiences in an Action Research Project, 2018-2019
2021
The ‘Crafting Workshops’ initiative merges internationalisation and craft education into an action research and development project. The activities in the workshops were grounded in the concepts of internationalisation at home and cultural well-being, and the action was intended to take advantage of peer learning in teacher education through actual craft making in multinational groups. Finnish student teachers acted as instructors in workshops where participants were international exchange students from several countries; the working language was English. Action research combines science and practicality, and we aimed at influencing on the research object and its activities in a developing …
Experimenting with the structured assessment dialogue in physics and mathematics classes
2017
Teacher–student discussions are central in assessing students’ skills and knowledge. This study deals with formal, pre-planned discussions to assess students’ inquiry competences. The method is called the structured assessment dialogue (SAD) which combines formative and summative assessment. Six SAD sessions (4 lower secondary physics and 2 upper secondary math) were implemented at the end of inquiry lessons. The SAD sessions were video recorded and the discussions were analyzed using theory based categories and networks. The results showed that the truly novel SAD method in Finnish classrooms challenged teachers and students. For example, students usually gave lower order answers although …
University students’ (dis)engagement experiences in synchronous sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic
2022
In the past two years, student engagement in online learning situations has become a mutual concern for educators all over the world. The impact of working in online environments and using video and other communication channels on students’ learning experiences is still not fully understood. The present study addresses this question by drawing on students’ written reflections and interviews from the Finnish higher education context collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. It uses the qualitative method of thematic analysis to investigate students’ experiences of interacting in synchronous sessions and their perceptions on (dis)engagement. The analysis shows the importance of versatile teachi…