Search

This paper describes the development and validation of an instrument to assess how students deal with emotionally challenging classroom situations (the DECCS Questionnaire). The questionnaire is based on a vignette with one learning and one performance situation in a classroom, and is intended for students in grades 4 to 7. On a sample of N = 639 students (M ag e = 10.6 years; SD = 1.25, 52.4% girls) in northwest Germany, factor analytic procedures for the subdimensions of students dealing with emotionally challenging classroom situations show that two factors can be distinguished each for students' appraisals, for students' adaptive behavior, for students' maladaptive behavior, and for students' desired teacher behavior. The questionnaire and subscales demonstrate good reliability and validity values. Thus, the DECCS questionnaire shows good psychometric properties and is well suited for determining how students deal with emotionally challenging classroom situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This paper explores the role of providing structure for students within a new blended-learning family medicine curriculum at Saarland University. This study intends to clarify the role of different structural elements for different learning approaches (deep vs. structured vs. surface learning). Methods This study is based on a mixed-methods approach. Fifth year medical students' (n = 84) learning approaches, measured by a shortened version of the ASSIST questionnaire, were correlated with students' academic performance in state exams and the family medicine exam. Based on learning approaches and age, participants were purposefully sampled into two semi-structured group interviews with seven participants each. Results Although surface approach learning weakly correlated with lower performance in the first state exam (rho = 0.231), surface approach learning did not correlate with lower performance in the family medicine assessment. Based on qualitative results, the structural design of the curriculum seemed to have a high impact on students' satisfaction and motivation to learn. The reduction of extraneous cognitive load was identified as effective in motivating students to study. Deep-learning students highlighted the positive effects of curriculum activities that foster germane cognitive load through schema- based learning. Conclusions Especially for surface approach learners it may be important to provide structured guidance and provide a clear alignment of course content in a blended-learning curriculum, even in higher education. Deep and structured approach learners also benefit from a clear course structure that keeps extraneous cognitive load low and fosters schema acquisition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity is becoming an alarming problem in contemporary society, affecting both adults and children, with roots deep in an unhealthy lifestyle. Medical students and future medical professionals face a lack of educational resources on healthy lifestyle in a hectic and demanding context. Limited time for exercise and healthy eating leads to fatigue and the adoption of unhealthy habits. Solving this problem requires an educational approach and finding a balance.This research investigates the relationship between student life, eating habits and sedentary lifestyle among medical students. Focusing on understanding the reasons behind obesity trends and identifying strategies to motivate students towards a balanced lifestyle, the paper also explores psychosocial issues related to nutrition and physical activity, tailored to the pressures specific to the medical field. This research has wide-ranging implications, highlighting the need for effective strategies to promote health among medical students and prevent long-term health problems. Material and methods: We conducted a study of 100 medical students, aged 19-24+ years, from diverse backgrounds. The extensive questionnaire, completed by participants from general medicine, military medicine, dental medicine, and pharmacy programs, addressed issues such as demographics, weight trends, eating habits, exercise, and access to obesity information. These findings represent a valuable resource for the development of future health education interventions and programs, providing an in- depth understanding of the implications of obesity in this population. Results: In the study, 100 medical students, evenly distributed between men (42%) and women (58%), revealed significant obesity and healthy lifestyle concerns. An impressive 86.5% perceive obesity as a serious problem, and 33.3% have had obesity-related problems before college. Looking at eating habits, 67.4% adopt a moderately healthy diet, while 10.1% have unhealthy eating habits. Regarding physical activity, 34.8% exercise occasionally, 21.3% rarely, and 5.6% not at all. Interestingly, 33.3% adopted unhealthy eating habits after starting college. Perceptions related to obesity and academic performance indicate that 48.3% believe that obesity negatively affects academic performance, 31.5% see the problem as complex and influenced by individual factors, and 46.7% believe that academic stress contributes to the development of obesity. In conclusion, 48.9% support the need for an education programme to promote a balanced lifestyle in the academic environment. These results highlight the importance of a comprehensive approach to health promotion and awareness among medical students. Conclusions: The results of this research reveal a significant concern among medical students regarding obesity and healthy lifestyle. The high percentage of those who perceive obesity as a serious problem, as well as the frequency of obesity-related problems among this group, highlights the need for educational and preventive interventions. In light of these findings, the implementation of education and financial support programmes, together with the promotion of healthy eating habits and physical activity, could significantly contribute to improving the health and well-being of future health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to supplement existing research on a joint approach to integrate sustainability into higher planning education (HPE) by facilitating an international transformative learning process. It looks at three different urban master's programs in Serbia (Belgrade) and Germany (Berlin and Stuttgart). Design/methodology/approach: In this paper, students' assessments of the pedagogical model, individual learning outcomes and the long-term value of the pedagogical model in respect of key competences for sustainability are presented and discussed. Basic assumptions of the study include that assessment from the students' perspective can provide feedback on the transformational learning experience with the aim of improving the experience and thus learning outcomes; help identify limitations and target specific areas for improvement in the pedagogical model; and improve the evaluation of effectiveness in developing knowledge and skills for sustainability in HPE. Findings: The paper provides evidence that a learner-centered and action-oriented approach, as well as a global dialogue among peers from different backgrounds and nationalities, is an effective way to educate future generations of urban planners to become "change agents" for societal transformation toward a more sustainable future within their respective contexts. Originality/value: The paper is a supplement to the existing research on educational initiatives that attempts to integrate sustainability into the curricula, especially of urban-related programs; showcases outcomes of the pedagogical model(s) for sustainable development applied, especially when addressing the competences of students working in developing, transitional and developed countries or different geographic contexts; and shows long-term learning outcomes after the students move into work practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines responses to the 2015 terror attack on Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine, amongst students in a secondary school in Berlin-Neukölln, Germany. The Charlie Hebdo attack occurred in the final weeks of a 19-month ethnographic study in the community. By analyzing the responses in the school to this critical event, we identify what is at stake for Muslim students. Students presented many explanations for why the attack happened, and opinions on whether the attackers' actions were justified. Staff were alarmed about students' viewpoints that they considered "extreme". These dynamics resulted in conflicts and misunderstandings amongst students, and between students and staff. Yet, we show that, rather than the violence itself, or questions about its legitimacy, it was everyday processes in students' lives – e.g., bullying, peer pressure and discrimination, and feelings of being misrepresented and misunderstood – that were central to students' reactions to the event. We suggest that to understand students' reactions, both the immediate and the broader socio-political contexts must be considered, particularly rising xenophobia and processes of polarization in Germany and Europe at large. We thus conclude that to understand young people's reactions to terrorist acts, we need to look beyond initial statements and explore ethnographically how wider contexts shape the actions, reactions, and future orientations of young Muslims in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study validated the proposed structure of relationships among outcome‐related achievement emotions (pride and anxiety), their cognitive predictors (appraisals und online‐learning‐related self‐efficacy), and learning outcomes (competence gain and satisfaction) in the context of online learning in higher education. On the basis of a sample of 220 university students, we applied structural equation modeling. We found that high self‐efficacy was related to greater perceived control, which was positively associated with interest in online learning. Self‐efficacy showed positive relations with pride and negative relations with anxiety. Interest was positively associated with pride, competence gain, and satisfaction. Both outcomes also showed direct positive relations with pride, whereas anxiety was negatively associated with satisfaction only. Furthermore, three substantial indirect effects of self‐efficacy on the two outcomes were revealed. The findings supported the role of anxiety and pride as mediators between cognitions and learning outcomes although also direct relationships between interest and learning outcomes were observed. Lay Description: What is currently known about the subject matter? achievement emotions are mediators between learner's appraisals and learning outcomeshowever, little research on emotions as antecedents of achievement in academic online learningfew studies differentiated effects of dispositional and contextual appraisalsregarding emotions, pride as affective antagonist of anxiety remains underresearched What does the paper add to the topic? The manuscript examines antecedents and outcomes of pride and anxiety as antagonistic emotionsdifferentiates the interplay among three kinds of appraisals on emotionsinvestigates differential effects of emotions on affective and competence‐based outcomesexamines direct and indirect associations between the study variables using latent modeling Implications for practitioners? Lecturers should address rather students' positive emotions like pride than anxiety in online learning settingsfoster learners' interest to enhance pride, as well as outcomes like satisfaction and competence gainstrengthen students' self‐efficacy to decrease anxiety that is linked to lower satisfaction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technical artifacts play a central role in teaching and learning about technology. The artifact exemplars used in the classroom to illustrate and discuss various technological concepts should therefore be carefully chosen in order to actually support the abstraction and successful transfer of these concepts. Research from the learning and cognitive sciences strongly suggests that this requires an understanding of how students actually perceive and conceptualize various technical artifacts, what similarities, differences and features are most salient and meaningful in their eyes. In this paper, we propose a grounded theory of how students differentiate and relate various complex technical artifacts. The core of our theory is formed by four hierarchically ordered juxtapositions: (1) technology versus non-technology, (2) everyday versus specialized, (3) private versus public, and (4) luxury versus necessity, which divide the realm of technical artifacts into five broad categories: high technology, household technology, public technology, real technology, and no/low technology. Our claim is that these differentiations and categories are generally salient and meaningful for students. Based on the theory of variation, we outline how they might help educators make more informed and systematic selections of exemplar artifacts to use in the classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's global challenges necessitate the cooperation of the international community. In two studies, this paper investigates global identity and absolute moral standards as two important predictors of solidarity and collective action intentions. In Study 1 ( N = 450), we found evidence for parallel direct effects of global identity and absolute standards on intergroup solidarity and indirectly on collective action intentions. Similar, albeit weaker, effects were found for real behavior (a donation). Study 2 ( N = 124) experimentally manipulated participants' moral standard. Participants in the absolute standard condition were more willing to participate in collective action than participants who were experimentally focused on a gradual standard. Additionally, Study 2 replicated the indirect effects of global identity and absolute moral standards that we found in Study 1. The results show the important role of global identity and absolute moral standards as independent motivators of collective action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have analyzed social and dimensional comparisons simultaneously in order to consider their impact on students' academic self-concept (e.g., Chiu, 2012 ). Thereby, social comparisons refer to comparisons with the achievement level of students' classmates, whereas dimensional comparisons comprise comparisons between students' individual achievements across different domains. This paper analyzes whether both achievement comparisons influence students' subject-interest in mathematics and English (as a first foreign language). The analyses are based on N = 1390 German fifth and sixth grade students who participated in the BiKS-8-14 longitudinal study. Using multi-level analyses, results indicate that students' competences influence their mathematical and English subject-interests, demonstrating the typical pattern of social and dimensional comparisons. Further, analyses reveal mediation effects by subject-specific grades and self-concepts. These findings also apply for the development of students' subject-interest from grade 5 to grade 6. Results are discussed with respect to their implications concerning theories of achievement comparisons and interest development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We investigate measurement invariance of the adjusted version of the Perceptions of Resources Questionnaire (PRQ). • We provide the first psychometric instrument to assess resource perceptions of students. • We compare students from Germany (N = 885) and Saudi Arabia (N = 888). • We highlight the importance of resources in implementing inclusive education. The present paper examines the measurement invariance of the adjusted version of the Perception of Resources Questionnaire (PRQ) by Goldan & Schwab (2018 ; 2019). A cross-country comparison between students from Germany (N = 885) and Saudi Arabia (N = 888) is conducted that examines invariance not only across countries but also across gender. Results confirm the two-factorial structure of the scale ("personnel resources" and "material and spatial resources"). Configural and partial metric invariance was also established across both groups. Furthermore, an ANCOVA was used to show that perceptions of resources and perceptions of inclusive teaching practices are positively interrelated. This finding can be interpreted as an indicator for criterion validity of the PRQ. As expected, German students perceive a significantly higher level of resources than their peers in Saudi Arabia. Finally, the importance of adequate provision for the successful implementation of inclusive education and its assessment is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]