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Studies show undergraduate students typically view the idea of research negatively, with students reporting feelings of anxiety, difficulty, detachment, and reduced perceptions of relevancy to their own life. Course-based undergraduate experiences (CUREs), where students have an opportunity to engage in authentic research experiences, can reach large number of students in a convenient fashion, thus, are well-positioned to shift student perceptions of research. The purpose of this study is to explore changes in attitudes towards research in a large sample of undergraduate students' after completing one semester of a CURE, either in-person or online due to COVID-19. This study used a within-subjects pre-posttest design. Data collection took place over eight semesters from fall 2019 through spring 2022 at a large metropolitan public university in the southeast region of the United States. Students enrolled in the CURE were asked to complete the Attitude Towards Research scale at the beginning and end of the semester covering the following factors: usefulness of research (F1), anxiety (F2), affect indicating positive feelings about research (F3), life relevancy of research to the students' daily lives (F4), and difficulty of research (F5). Wilcoxon signed rank tests for paired data were conducted and Mann-Whitney U tests assessed whether there were any differences between students who completed the course face-to-face versus online. Across all eight semesters, 1,003 students (74% female, 91% Seniors) provided valid pre-posttest data. Statistically significant improvements were observed across all semesters (online and face-to-face) for research anxiety, positive attitude towards research, research relevance to own life, and research difficulty from the ATR scale (p<0.05). For usefulness of research for profession (F1), statistically significant differences were observed in four out of the eight semesters (p<0.05). Changes in students' attitudes towards research did not differ between course modality (face-to-face versus online) except for F1. The mean change in F1 was different between students taking a face-to-face (mean: 0.22, ±SD 1.02) versus online version (mean: 0.07, ±SD 0.72) of the course (z = 2.35, p = 0.02). Findings from this study demonstrate the potential of a CURE at reducing anxiety, lowering perceived difficulty, enhancing overall impressions, and students' overall attitudes toward research and research-based education. Continued consideration and evaluation of how and what is delivered in CUREs to students is required to advance the pedagogy of research methods.

Contribution: Gender mainstreaming in university teaching should be covered in all the knowledge areas. This work successfully introduces the gender perspective as part of the methodological approach to teaching and learning in Computer Science. Background: This study describes how gender mainstreaming has been introduced and matured during six academic years, from 2016-2017 to 2021-2022, in Software Engineering I course in the Degree of Computer Science at the University of Salamanca. Intended Outcomes: The aim that has been pursued is to raise awareness among students of Computer Science about equality, equity, inclusion, and respect for diversity to build better professional ethics and advance in eliminating any gender-related gap in Computer Science. Application Design: The introduction of gender mainstreaming in the Software Engineering I course has been done in six stages to advance in the gender-gap reduction improving in each academic year with the experience and voluntary feedback from the students of the previous year, using anonymized questionnaires. Findings: Gender mainstreaming requires special attention in careers with a visible gender gap, such as Computer Science. Incorporating the gender perspective as part of the teaching-learning process does not have a measurable impact in a short period but instead aims to make software engineers reflect in such a way that they reason about the need to promote diversity in software development contexts.

Contribution: This article provides evidence on the influence of serious games (SGs) in software engineering (SE) education on students' scores, exam attendance, and chance of passing. It also highlights the impact of teachers' experience with the implementation of SGs as a learning approach on the aforementioned metrics. Background: Although there are previous studies validating SGs in SE subjects, examining the effects that SGs and the expertise to implement them can have on students' academic achievement by means of rigorous scientific methods is lacking. Research Questions: Do students achieve better academic results when SGs are used? Are the exam attendance and chance of passing higher among students enrolled in courses that use SGs compared to those following a traditional approach? Does the teachers' expertise with SGs have an impact on students' achievement? Are students satisfied using SGs in SE courses? Methodology: A controlled experiment was conducted on undergraduate students who were enrolled in an SE course during the years 2012/2013-2013/2014 and 2021/2022 to compare the effects of SGs with traditional teaching on students' achievement in this subject. The students from the academic year 2012/2013 attended traditional lectures only, while the students from the academic years 2013/2014 and 2021/2022 had SGs incorporated within their lectures, led by teachers without and with expertise to deploy SGs, respectively. Findings: Students' scores are higher when SGs are used compared to traditional teaching. Teachers' experience and expertise are key factors to improve the chances of attending and passing the final exam when SGs are used.

While increasing emphasis has been placed on computer science (CS) and computational thinking (CT) little is known about these topics in elementary classrooms. Significant equity gaps exist within CS/CT at the elementary level, with a major contributor being the lack of highly qualified CS/CT elementary teachers. Professional development (PD) for inservice teachers who already teach in high need CS schools or for preservice teachers planning to teach in high need schools is a viable solution. The research presented was part of an ongoing university/elementary school Teacher-Researcher Partnership designed to address the CS/CT PD needs of elementary educators. An exploratory, descriptive case study was conducted to better understand the experiences of 4th grade inservice teacher partners co-designing and implementing a robotics event serving over 100 4th grade students, along with the experiences of preservice teachers facilitating the event. Inservice teacher partners (n=5) were participants generating data through co-design session recordings, co-designed artifacts, and a final reflective interview. Data from preservice teacher facilitators (n=14) were anonymous reflections. Thematic analysis found inservice teachers gained increased confidence and ownership over CS/CT activities. Moreover, inservice and preservice teachers both reported student benefits such as growth in Technology and Engineering Education (T&EE) problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration skills. The emergence of joyfulness from CS/CT engagement was an important finding, particularly given T&EE intentionally capitalizes on the benefits of appealing, minds-on/hands-on experiences for young learners. This research provides insights for other T&EE researchers who are exploring PD approaches that help build CS, CT, problem-solving, and other related T&EE skills and dispositions.

This case study summarised the findings from the first academic presentation of the module 'Cómo entrenar tu dragon (How to train your dragon)', which is part of the development and training programme offered by the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to new and experienced teaching staff. The module aims to equip participants with a theoretical understanding and practical skills to use Generative AI (GenAI) multimodal languages to enhance learning and to develop a critical awareness of the umbrella term 'AI literacy'. The module covers topics such as GenAI and data protection, copyright issues, regulatory frameworks, getting familiar with GenAI large language models (LLM) and the impact of GenAI on assessment. The case study provides information on the type of learning activities undertaken by participants and the final summative assessment. Participants found the module insightful, giving it a total score of 4.813 out of 5 on a Likert scale. Participant feedback suggests that institutional guidance and policies are needed to introduce GenAI tools at the Universidad de Las Pal mas de Gran Canaria so they can use GenAI tools confidently with their students.

Through the student-as-partners (SaP) framework, this paper explores how this can enhance undergraduate Spanish as a foreign language flipped classroom courses and promote student engagement and satisfaction. Traditionally, higher education courses are designed and developed by faculty members; however, our pilot project proposed collaboration between students and instructors in the design and implementation of course activities. This paper explores the model's effects and outcomes through four surveys administered at the end of the academic year. Each survey included key factors related to the learning experience: student enjoyment, emotional support, relatedness to peers, feedback from/for students, and content-related support. Collectively, these perspectives were used to reflect on the feedback provided, which helped us achieve our objective: the creation of teaching and learning resources to engage future cohorts and increase student retention. Although this model is presented in the foreign language context, it is transferable to any discipline.

In this paper, the researchers use data from the tracer study to characterize the graduate's employment profile, assess the perceived contribution of the program to their personal and professional growth, evaluate the perceived effectiveness of the delivery of the graduate program, and explore significant dimensions of curricular program relevance toward employment success. Tracer studies are common in higher education to evaluate, using relevant metrics, the effectiveness of the curricular programs. The researchers employed a cross-sectional research design and analyzed the results from a tracer study conducted in a Philippine state university among its graduates in the Master in Management program from 2020-2022 using descriptive, open-coding, and principal component analysis techniques. The results revealed that pursuing graduate studies enhanced graduate's employment opportunities. The effective delivery of the graduate program contributes to the personal and professional growth of the graduates. Developing the graduate's personal skills is shaped by many factors encompassing people, problem-solving, information technology skills, meeting present and future professional needs, exposure to the local and international communities within the field of specialisation, critical thinking skills, salary improvement and promotion, and personality development. Improving the graduates' professional skills entails a strong foundation in the academic profession, research capability, learning efficiency, and communication skills. Indeed, the professional and personal growth of the graduates are the critical dimensions of curricular relevance. The graduates give a premium on the aspects of the curriculum that lead to their personal and professional development.

This essay reports on engaging academic and community partners whose positionalities spanned diverse lived experiences and power structures. Using groundwork from several literatures, we reflect on developing, nurturing, repairing, and expanding a container as a critically reflective space for experimenting with new ways of being and doing. A well-curated and nurtured container creates processes and spaces where group members feel they belong; they commit to practice a shared set of agreements, and work through interpersonal and organizational conflict that will inevitably arise. The container can be an instrument for identity, organizational, and tactical boundary spanning. As a microsystem, a container can mobilize collective engagement when team members reflect diverse identities, hierarchies, and roles within the academic system and partnering communities. Theorizing the container as an opportunity structure for boundary spanning may help those advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) within academic land-grant institutions, university-community collaboratives, and community-based organizations.

We investigate the contrasting realities of the pandemic on psychosocial experiences and ways of coping among American Voices Project respondent surveys (N = 720) and interviews (N = 172). Despite similar levels of distress early in the pandemic, by late 2020 clear differences across education, race and ethnicity, and gender emerged, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Those with structural advantages reported greater gains from the pandemic, including self-improvement opportunities like therapy and time outdoors. In contrast, respondents without college degrees, Black and Hispanic individuals, and women reported experiencing greater psychosocial shocks into the later months of 2020 and feeling disproportionately undervalued, socially disconnected, and stressed, respectively. The former two groups also systematically differed in their coping strategies, which included hard work, emotion suppression, and faith.

The introduction of ChatGPT into basic education is progressing rapidly, generating impacts that, in many cases, are unknown. Its impressive capability profiles it as a tool that will revolutionize teaching and learning processes, creating gaps that need to be understood and evaluated. The research aims to explore the advantages, disadvantages, and its impact on school tasks. It is an exploratory qualitative study; data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 110 participants from five schools in Tacna, Peru. The results reveal that ChatGPT provides information quickly and easily, with a variety of content and pedagogical strategies. Additionally, it serves for evaluation, knowledge consultation, and scheduling school tasks. Eight related disadvantages were identified: Easy access to information may encourage the habit of copying and pasting, fostering academic dependence that would affect the development of skills, such as inquiry, argumentation, analysis, and critical thinking. Also, students may misuse information, cheating on school tasks and affecting their quality and suitability, making them no longer useful for education, including synthesis, essays, monographs, organizers, summaries, and mathematical exercises.

Online programs have made a lasting impact on institutions of higher learning for several decades. This ethnographic qualitative study focused on the development and support of a distance learning department at a Hispanic-serving institution. The study aimed to identify unique organizational elements specific to this Hispanic-serving institution. The findings were significant, revealing that the Distance Learning department, operating under an "academic umbrella", functioned as a comprehensive hub for both faculty and student support, offering a wide range of services including technical and instructional technology support. Furthermore, the study found that the department's placement under the "academic umbrella" not only centralized support but also lightened professors' coursework loads by assisting students with instructional technology support.

Objective: Our objective was to examine the perceptions regarding the teaching and learning of English of students in 16 undergraduate programs at a state public university in Mexico. Method: In our qualitative case study, participating students responded to queries about their experiences learning English at the university, as well as their educational aspirations upon completion of their university studies. Results: Despite their relevance to language immersion and competency, students struggle to combine prior experiences with current learning. Given Mexico's English education system and past national initiatives, most participants say they still speak basic English. It is also clear that the institution does not have a unified curriculum that permits students to take English lessons in their subject of study. Implication for Theory and/or Practice: It is necessary to articulate English initiatives from elementary to higher education and to monitor national initiatives to ensure continuity in the development of language learning. Global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have affected education, and universities and their teachers must remain on the cutting edge of educational technologies and instructional methodologies and redouble efforts to enhance English teaching and learning.

Learning analytics (LA) adoption is a challenging task for higher education institutions (HEIs) since it involves different aspects of the academic environment, such as information technology infrastructure, human resource management, ethics, and pedagogical issues. Therefore, it is necessary to provide institutions with supporting instruments to deal with these challenges. Although there has been much research on factors that are associated with the adoption of LA in HEIs, there has been much less research on specific models that can be used to guide actual adoption. In this sense, we developed MMALA, a Maturity Model for Adopting Learning Analytics. It is a guide that describes the necessary practices for taking the first steps in this area and enables institutions to reach higher levels of maturity in LA use, culminating in an organized and systematic adoption. In this paper, we describe the development process of MMALA, focusing on the model evaluation, which used both the questionnaire and the expert opinion method. MMALA can also give institutions an overview of their current situation regarding LA adoption. In this sense, we present the results of the maturity evaluation of three Brazilian HEIs using MMALA.

This paper reports the results of a qualitative action research study conducted with children from a private Colombian institution. This study aimed to analyze the learners' cognitive and knowledge outcomes measured according to the revised Bloom's taxonomy once content and language integrated learning was implemented. Data were gathered through an interview with the learners' parents, observation, and video recordings. Results give evidence that learners develop different processes simultaneously, classified by the mentioned taxonomy. This taxonomy is a helpful approach for English learners since it allows them to perform cognitive and knowledge processes without following rigid systematic learning. As a conclusion, this implementation with children allowed participants to develop cognitive processes with greater emphasis in levels 3 and 4 (apply and analyze), whereas level 2 (understand) was developed as part of the process. Meanwhile, the factual and conceptual knowledge dimensions were strengthened. Finally, procedural, and metacognitive knowledge is developed through the implementation itself.

Despite the promising outcome of modular distance learning, its implementation is challenging. Thus, this study aimed to examine the usefulness and challenges of the implemented clustered self-directed learning modules in entrepreneurship for senior high school distance learning amidst the emerging pandemic using the descriptive-survey research method. This study was conducted at Espiritu Santo Parochial School of Manila, Inc., during the school year 2021-2022, among Grade 12 students using a stratified proportional random sampling technique. The study used both quantitative and qualitative methods of analyzing the data, including descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. As a result, all the modules were inferred to be very effective and very useful in terms of their usefulness for distance learning. On the other hand, there were six emergent themes from twenty-five challenges, as follows: (a) difficulties and limitations in theoretical and practical processes; (b) concerns about time constraints and academic workloads; (c) technical issues in learning modules; (d) problems with communication, lessons, and instructions; (e) issues with online learning, connectivity, and learning management systems; and (f) external and personal challenges as a student. These challenges were the basis in framing the recommendations of the students in addressing the aforementioned emergent themes.

COVID-19 challenges induced a U.S. meatpacking industry bottleneck. Ohio Extension identified the need and responded by creating a three-step hands-on training for teenage junior fair exhibitors. Ohio Extension Meat Scientist and graduate students assisted in demonstrating an on-farm hog harvest and processing event in collaboration with a local Extension office for 4-H and FFA teenagers. To add a practical perspective, a local hog-producing and harvesting family was asked to assist with the event. An online post-survey reflected 90-100% gains in five educational areas and 100% said they would a similar event in the future and recommend it to a friend.

The aim of the research was to verify whether the techno-pedagogical design based on flipped learning and collaborative writing (TPD-FLACW) improves the level of academic essay production in university students. The research approach was quantitative, explanatory-experimental, and quasi-experimental in design. The sample consisted of 109 students enrolled in the faculty of engineering of a university in Tacna. In the experimental group (A=40) TPD-FLACW was implemented and in the control groups traditional individual writing (B=29) and traditional team writing (C=40) were applied. TPD-FLACW was validated by 16 expert judges (CVCtc=0.934, k=0.392, p=0.000) and applied between September and December 2022-II. A rubric was used to assess the pretest and posttest. The results indicate that in the pretest there were no significant differences between the three groups (H=0.286; p>0.05), but in the posttest, the experimental group obtained a high and significant improvement in the level of academic essay production (H=24.863, p<0.05, [epsilon][superscript 2]>0.200) in comparison with groups B and C. There are also significant differences in the dimensions of superstructure, macrostructure, microstructure and textual stylistics. The students rate the proposal positively and recommend it. In conclusion, TPD-FLACW improves the level of academic essay production of university student.

This study aimed to determine whether the three dimensions of academic engagement (cognitive, emotional and behavioral) were positively associated with perceived learning and academic performance. The participants were 301 university students from Lima. Structural equation models were used to test the proposed theoretical relationship between the variables. The results indicated that the model showed satisfactory fit indices (CFI = 0.956, TLI = 0.949, RMSEA = 0.043, SRMR = 0.062). Perceived learning was found to be predicted by cognitive engagement ([beta] = 0.447, p < 0.01) and emotional engagement ([beta] = 0.230, p < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant relationship between behavioral engagement and perceived learning ([beta] = 0.035, p = 0.840). On the other hand, academic performance was predicted by behavioral engagement ([beta] = 0.393, p < 0.05) but not by cognitive ([beta] = -0.164, p = 0.301) or emotional ([beta] = 0.001, p = 0.991) engagement. The study highlights the importance of fostering academic engagement in university students to enhance both their academic performance and perceived learning.

Background: Learning analytics dashboards are increasingly being used to communicate feedback to learners. However, little is known about learner preferences for dashboard designs and how they differ depending on the self-regulated learning (SRL) phases the dashboards are presented (i.e., forethought, performance, and self-reflection phases) and SRL skills. Insight into design preferences for dashboards with different reference frames (i.e., progress, social, internal achievement and external achievement) is important because the effectiveness of feedback can depend upon how a learner perceives it. Objective: This study examines workplace learner preferences for four dashboard designs for each SRL phase and how SRL skills relate to these preferences. Methods: Seventy participants enrolled in a chemical process apprenticeship program took part in the study. Preferences were determined using a method of adaptive comparative judgement and SRL skills were measured using a questionnaire. Preferences were tested on four dashboard designs informed by social and temporal comparison theory and goal setting theory. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to examine the relationship between dashboard preferences and SRL. Results and Conclusions: Results show that the progress reference frame is more preferred before and after task performance, and the social reference frame is less preferred before and after task performance. It was found that the higher the SRL skill score the higher the probability a learner preferred the progress reference frame compared to having no preference before task performance. The results are consistent with other findings, which suggest caution when using social comparison in designing dashboards which provide feedback.

Higher education opens doors to job enhancement and economic benefits to adult learners. Despite facing multiple barriers such as life-work-school time conflicts and financial constraints, adult learners continue to seek higher education and certifications. Rural employers also benefit from supporting degree completion or job-specific certifications because it allows them to attract and retain highly skilled employees. The goal of the current study was to qualitatively analyze data gathered from focus group interviews of senior managers. The results provide insights into how rural employers in the United States use employee education programs to reduce barriers to adult learner success. The importance of a bilateral relationship between institutions of higher education and employers to support adult learners is discussed.

This qualitative critical narrative inquiry study explored the experiences of 19 students within four universities in a single Southern state that used campus food aid resources such as a food pantry. Using Hurtado et al.'s Multicontextual Model for Diverse Learning Environments (MMDLE), this paper sheds light on how participants discussed the campus climate for students experiencing food insecurity within their respective campuses. Findings unpack students' reflections on a lack of awareness and discussion about food insecurity and food aid resources within the campus community, the role that stigmas played in participants' perceptions and use of campus food aid resources, and doubts they had in accessing these resources. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Contribution: This study explores industry members' perceptions about the ABET-based accreditation in a developing country, using the case study of a program in a publicly funded polytechnic university in Ecuador. Background: Engineering programs often seek international accreditations to enhance the education quality, align with the global standards or gain academic reputation. ABET-based accreditation originates in United States, and thus presents some challenges for institutions in developing countries. Intended Outcomes: This study aimed to investigate the significance of international academic accreditation, as seen through the perspective of industry members. It focused on identifying fundamental competencies valued by employers and aimed to provide insights for institutions in similar contexts. Application Design: The research employed an approach informed by a qualitative methodology, involving in-depth interviews with five industry members who had served on the advisory committee board of an engineering program from a higher education institution in Ecuador. Findings: The findings identified three main areas of competencies that the industry members value: communication skills for teamwork, a problem-solving orientation, and an ability for effective task planning. The study also showed that these industry members value international accreditation as a means for enhancing education quality and ensuring graduates develop the necessary skills and competencies, yet the overall awareness with their peers remains relatively low.

Background: For older Latinos, some benefits of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) include enhanced cognitive functioning, decreased loneliness, and reduced premature mortality. Despite LTPA benefits, adults [greater than or equal to]50 years are one of the most inactive age groups in the United States. Methods: This qualitative study aimed to add to the limited evidence of LTPA in older Latino adults by exploring the barriers and facilitators for fitness class uptake and park use. Guided by a Social-Ecological Model of Health and Social Determinants of Health theoretical and a phenomenological research design, qualitative research data were collected via 27 personal interviews with Latino adults using a semistructured interview guide. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling strategies in collaboration with community partners. Bicultural data collectors conducted the semistructured interviews over Zoom. Thematic analysis was performed using Dedoose, following an inductive and deductive approach. Results: The main barriers to fitness class attendance and park use were family and/or work commitments, perceived safety, and perceived discrimination. Conversely, the critical facilitators for participation were socialization into a group, social connectedness with group members, fitness instructor characteristics, and exercise history. Conclusions: Findings from this study hold important implications for the design of fitness programming and park-based recreation, including the need to increase the cultural diversity of recreation staff and culturally relevant programming. Future research is needed on time poverty related to family/work commitments and whether discriminatory practices at fitness centers, like ageism and race/ethnicity, influence physical activity behavior.