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Simple Summary: The flipped classroom (FC) method allows students to first familiarize themselves with educational material independently, and then apply and deepen their understanding through active learning activities during subsequent sessions. Although this approach has been extensively applied in various fields, little is known about its implementation in basic veterinary subjects. This study explores the implementation of FC in veterinary biochemistry; physiology; and anatomy, with pre-class material primarily provided in video format and in-class sessions dedicated to quizzes and interactive activities. The findings reveal robust student engagement. A survey conducted after the first semester revealed that students generally perceived the pre-class material and quizzes favorably, with a significant majority supporting the FC approach. However, by the second semester, preferences evolved, as more students favored traditional lectures over FC, bringing up issues about the pros and cons of FC implementation. Feedback on FC highlighted enhanced comprehension and self-management as key benefits while also highlighting the challenge of time constraints. This study indicates that the adoption of the FC approach can be positively embraced in basic veterinary subjects if it avoids an excessive workload on students. In conclusion, this study suggests that FC can be successfully integrated into basic veterinary education, maintaining a balance that prevents overwhelming students with excessive workloads. Flipped classroom (FC) is a teaching method where traditional learning roles are inverted. Students are provided with material in advance and are expected to study the content prior to in-class sessions. These sessions are subsequently utilized to clarify doubts and examine in greater depth the previously acquired knowledge. Despite the widespread nature of its approach in health education, its application in basic veterinary subjects remains poorly described. This study explores the implementation of the FC approach in veterinary physiology, biochemistry, anatomy, and embryology. Pre-class material was mainly provided in video format, and class sessions facilitated quizzes and interactive activities aimed to reinforce understanding. The findings indicate a high level of student involvement and effective class preparation, as evidenced by over 84% of students participating in FC in-class sessions and generally achieving satisfactory scores on quizzes. A survey conducted at the end of the first semester shows that a high proportion of students positively valued pre-class material (>90%), quizzes (82%), and the FC approach (66%). However, by the end of the second semester, traditional lectures were preferred by more students than FC (45% and 25%, respectively), while 30% of the students mentioned having no preference between the two methods. Analysis of open-ended responses underscored positive facets of the FC approach, including self-organization, enhanced understanding, and availability of pre-class material. However, it also emphasized challenges associated with FC, such as the significant time and effort required. In conclusion, this study suggests that the FC approach can be well received in integrated basic veterinary subjects if it does not imply an excessive student workload, underscoring the potential benefits of a blended teaching approach that combines elements of both traditional and FC methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The journal article review process is one of the more troubling areas of academic life. Research indicates that journals' practices are highly varied. This article discusses a number of issues related to this issue: when submitted articles disappear in 'black holes'; when the review process appears endless; when different standards are being applied; and when it seems you are never going to get a worthwhile article published. It is suggested that journals need to provide more guidance for both reviewers and authors, that reviewing needs to be recognised in academic workload models, and that perhaps we need an academic Hippocratic oath. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the role that conflicting rhythms of academic life and crisis have on the ability of academics to meet their commitments, such as providing support to students. Drawing from our experience in UK higher education, we argue that contemporary academic life can be seen as a constant process of being taken over by different crises. These crises tend to follow a rhythm of brief periods as emergencies subsequently operationalised into forms of ongoing, unresolved crisis. In turn, these crisis rhythms intersect with contrasting rhythms of different actors in university life, specifically that of academics, the institution itself, and students. Drawing from Lefebvre's vocabulary of rhythmanalysis, we argue that the arrhythmia between these different groups in the university is a key part in the failure of higher education to do more than proliferate crisis. Illustrated by our experiences in student-support focused roles during the height of COVID-19 lockdowns, we explore how this particular crisis imposed itself as emergency but was then absorbed into the group of ongoing crises which impact on academic life. The paper concludes with suggestions of alternative approaches to university workload for staff and students alike, which might render university life more eurhythmic and equitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is imperative to use new technologies in a supportive manner to meet the learners' and teachers' demanding needs as educational environments change in the digital age. The continuous expansion of online learning and distance education opportunities responds to the demands of learners and teachers while pioneering the use of technology in education. One advancement in English language teaching and learning in online environments, which assists teachers in reducing their workload and providing students with instant digital feedback, is the automated writing evaluation (AWE) tools. To gain a deeper understanding of the potential and limitations of these digital tools, this study aims to investigate the effectiveness of AWE feedback in error reduction in writing in English and the explore views of students regarding the utility of AWE tools. For this purpose, a total of 38 students at a university in Turkiye participated in the study, and three of their essays were evaluated. Within a concurrent triangulation mixed-method design, the changes in errors of the experimental group (n=18) receiving AWE feedback, and the control group (n=20) receiving teacher feedback were analyzed quantitatively, and the written reflection reports and semi-structured interviews conducted with the students were analyzed qualitatively. The results indicated that teacher feedback and AWE feedback were both effective in reducing errors in 11 categories. AWE feedback appeared to minimize errors in mechanics and usage more efficiently and teacher feedback was required more in content and organization issues. As a result, AWE was found as a complementary and effective tool supporting the improvement of target language writing skills saving time and energy for teachers. Furthermore, students expressed positive views regarding the use of AWE despite minor limitations. The findings of this study in general sheds light on using online digital tools of ubiquitous nature such as AWE to assist language improvement outside the class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Student assistants play an important role in the smooth operation of the library for effective and efficient delivery of services to users. This descriptive-regression research design was utilized to determine whether student assistants' library workload has a significant influence on their academic performance. It involved 100 academic library student assistants from Regions 11 and 12, who were selected using Purposive and Universal Sampling techniques. A wellstructured and self-made questionnaire was used to gather data from the respondents who worked in the library for more than two semesters. Mean scores and simple linear regression analysis were utilized to interpret and analyze all the data gathered. Results showed that the level of library student assistant's workload was not significantly related to the level of their academic performance. It also revealed that the student workload could not significantly influence student academic performance. Thus, the study failed to reject the null hypothesis. One of the recommendations is that students' assistants should develop effective time-management strategies to balance work responsibilities with academic commitments to improve academic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of 24/7 library operations on the health and work-life balance of Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals in India. Using a mixed-method approach with 52 respondents, reveals significant physical and mental health issues, sleep disruptions, and dietary challenges. Qualitative insights highlight personal and professional hurdles, gender disparities, and concerns about workload and safety. The findings underscore the need for tailored support and infrastructure improvements in continuous library settings. The study contributes to understanding the multifaceted challenges faced by LIS professionals and provides recommendations to enhance overall well-being in 24/7 operational environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on flexible assessment suggests that providing students with choice in assignments can increase motivation and deepen investment in learning. Although instructors are often advised to adopt flexible assessment, they are also warned about potential detriments such as perceived lack of rigour among colleagues, the stress that decision-making can bring to students, and increased workload for themselves. This paper draws upon student responses to a survey, a class discussion, and instructor observations to identify benefits and costs of flexible assessment in a fourth-year history course. Among the benefits are that students can pursue their interests more freely in both content and form, while the instructor can enjoy creative and original student work. The costs include anxiety among students who may be unsure how best to choose their assessments, and additional work for the instructor who must manage a multiplicity of assignments within the confines of an institutional grading system. The implementation of flexible assessment is recommended provided that the flexibility is compatible with the course's learning outcomes, the students' level of independence, and the instructor's capacity to take on an unpredictable amount of extra work. Suggestions are offered for how to implement flexible assessment without creating too much of a burden for either students or instructors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

English-medium instruction has become a prevalent strategy for increasing the internationalization opportunities of Saudi universities and the international employability of their graduates. The findings of an interview (12 professors and 30 students) and an observation of three established Science, Social Science, and Engineering master's degree programs at a major Saudi university in Riyadh are presented in this article. In order to facilitate the implementation of English-taught master's degree programs, the purpose of this study was to identify the perspectives, experiences, and obstacles of higher education stakeholders regarding English-medium instruction. Findings showed that English-medium instruction is generally preferred by both professors and students. Although the need for support measures was not as high as expected, certain challenges remain, which can be addressed through focused initiatives. Notable issues include stakeholder unhappiness, a high workload for students, varying degrees of prior knowledge among students. The research highlights how crucial it is to include English for Specific Purposes (ESP) instruction in the curriculum and recommends adding more tools and resources to support teacher development. These measures could involve voluntary participation and incentive programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turnover is an activity that harms company operations. Turnover is related to job satisfaction, which is influenced by the level of workload balance. Based on this relationship, the company must formulate a strategy for the factors influencing these three aspects. Previous research has explored influencing factors regarding turnover, job satisfaction, workload, a combination of two variables, or involving all three variables. Previous research has involved these three variables, but the recommendations from previous research still need to be more optimal (turnover still occurs). Therefore, researchers need to analyze gaps and trends from previous research. This will help future research to develop more optimal strategies. Gap and trend analysis in this study used a systematic literature review (SLR) with the PRISMA reporting method. Search results through the SCOPUS database produced seventeen articles. The results of the SLR analysis show that most research was conducted in Africa, oriented to the health sector, and used qualitative methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-learning is a method that meets the time and distance needs of postgraduate medical education. The general workload of postgraduates and disasters such as the Covid-19 pandemic create a need for e-learning. Therefore, in recent years, e-learning has drawn the attention of researchers because of its potential as a practical instructional approach in PGME. Systematic review method was employed in this study aiming to examine the e-learning applications in PGME through a summary of several recent studies that meet predetermined criteria regarding e-learning for postgraduate medical education. The PICOS (population, intervention, comparison, outcome, study design) framework was used to decide on inclusion and exclusion criteria. On reporting the results of the study, The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was used. The review examines the differences between the identified studies in terms of research methods, data collection tools, study duration, sample size, and data analysis method. In addition, it compares the learning technology used, the format of e-learning delivery, types of e-learning, e-learning delivery features, learning content, content type, knowledge type, and learning outcome components of the studies. 57 studies that matched the desired quality indicators were identified from 10 databases. The majority of the studies worked on knowledge, attitude, and satisfaction. The studies were based on various methodologies and were carried out in a wide range of subject areas. There is a need to conduct more studies to compare different methods, tools, and pedagogical approaches in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental fatigue (MF) arises during prolonged demanding cognitive activity and results in acute feelings of tiredness and a decreased physical and/or cognitive performance capacity. An often-overlooked population that is significantly at risk for the development of MF are university students. The current study investigated the impact of prolonged in-person theoretical classes on the perceptions of MF, boredom, and sleepiness among 27 Slovenian university students (firstyear physiotherapy). Their subjective experiences at various time points during a 4-h class interspersed with a 20 min break were assessed with a repeated measures ANOVA and consequent Bonferroni post-hoc tests (significance set at <0.05). Subjective MF and sleepiness significantly increased during the first and the second part of the class (p < 0.05), while they significantly decreased during the break (p < 0.05). Boredom levels only increased significantly during the second part of the class (p < 0.05). Additionally, students who had inadequate sleep the night before the class reported higher levels of MF at the beginning of the class. This study highlighted a significant impact of a theoretical class on subjective feelings of mental fatigue and showed that a break in the middle of the class temporarily alleviated this negative impact. These results emphasize the importance of adequate sleep, effective breaks, and strategies to manage cognitive workload in optimizing students' cognitive well-being and academic performance. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying factors and develop targeted interventions to support students' cognitive functioning and well-being during prolonged academic sessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In immersive block models students learn over shorter teaching periods and with fewer concurrent units than in typical semester or trimester models. A core aim of many such innovations is to enhance students’ learning outcomes; however, there are few investigations of student satisfaction at scale in immersive block models. This paper reports on an exploratory study of results from an institution-wide student feedback survey administered at an Australian public university that has introduced a 6-week immersive block model across the institution. Two strands of analysis were undertaken. Strand 1 (N = 4,157) compared satisfaction ratings across units delivered in the immersive block model in 2021 with ratings from the trimester model in 2019. Strand 2 (N = 1,925) explored the relative strengths of correlations between individual survey items and overall unit and overall teaching satisfaction in the immersive block model. The research found that overall, five of seven unit satisfaction indicators and all six teaching indicators improved to a statistically significant degree in the immersive block model. While student perceptions of workload appeared to be most susceptible to negative change, the correlation between workload and overall unit satisfaction was relatively weak compared to other unit indicators, suggesting that students have some tolerance for reduced satisfaction with workload. Meanwhile, the data suggest that students’ overall satisfaction with their units in the immersive block model appears most strongly tied to their satisfaction with teaching. Overall satisfaction with teaching appears most strongly associated with academics presenting content in a clear manner while showing concern for students’ learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PhD graduates are often recruited for positions that entail various work demands. Based on theoretical models of work demands, PhD graduates can appraise these demands in three main ways: as challenges, hindrances, or threats. The more aware they are of the skills they developed in their doctoral program, the more likely they are to appraise demands as challenges or hindrances, and the less likely they are to appraise them as threats. However, past studies have shown that PhD graduates report low awareness of their skills, which may lead to high threat appraisal. We conducted semi-directive interviews with 16 PhD graduates from France to examine their appraisal of work demands. We investigated four work demands: important responsibilities, heavy workload, competitive work environment, and challenging work environment. Most participants appraised these demands either as challenges or hindrances. Although some participants reported a low awareness of specific skills (e.g. project management), they still expressed confidence in their ability to handle the demands, leading to low threat appraisal. This was largely due to awareness of transferable skills (e.g. the abilities to learn and adapt), supporting their adaptability to demanding contexts. However, participants rarely attributed these skills to their doctoral experience, which questions how they perceive the benefits of their doctoral program. Moreover, specific difficulties may arise for certain groups (e.g. women, international students) and work demands (i.e. non-constructive criticism). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose an adaptive methodology for the curricular redesign based on the performance indicators of the student progression observed after a follow-up period. The feasibility of adopting the same approach should be thoroughly studied to assess its compatibility with institutions and countries that employ an academic credit system based on student workload, such as the European Credit Transfer System. This approach was applied here for the Chilean system, which is highly consistent with the European case. The resulting methods can be automated and integrated into institutional databases for the management of teaching-learning processes to enhance decision-making. Special attention is devoted to the methods for estimating the credit points and the relative position of each course in the curriculum sequence chart of a university degree. As an example of application, we discuss the curriculum redesign of the B.Sc. degree in Physics offered by the Universidad Católica del Norte. The analysis is based on the statistical report of performance indicators of this undergraduate program during the follow-up period 2015–2019 (five years). We report a certain correspondence between the problem of credit allocation and the behavior in the student progression, which represents an empirical evidence of the effectiveness of the associated credit points estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New technologies are providing opportunities for the design of novel educational methodologies. Virtual laboratories can simulate real conditions, thus reducing the workload of teachers and students, and removing the costs associated with laboratory or pilot plant tests. The present work describes the creation of a virtual and interactive lab using the Easy JavaScript Simulation (EJsS) 6.0 tool. The solar photo‐Fenton process for the degradation of the Acetamiprid pesticide (ACTM) as a micropollutant model in wastewater was implemented in discontinuous mode in a stirred tank reactor (STR) and in continuous mode in a raceway pond reactor (RPR). The objective was to achieve a virtual tool that would allow easy, intuitive connection to different devices (laptops, tablets, and smartphones), simplifying the difficulties related to teaching technology. This contribution details the design and implementation process of the model for its use as support material for theoretical classes. The virtual tool presented in this article is an example of how the EJsS platform can be used to teach dynamics systems in chemical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article draws on data from a broader research study focusing on Portuguese teachers' perceptions and experiences of remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 2638 teachers participated in the study. Data were collected through an online survey which included both closed- and open-ended questions. Findings suggest that, overall, teachers experienced a positive adaptation process and were able to teach according to what they had planned. However, difficulties were also found. These relate to reconciling work with family life and extra workload in the context of remote teaching. In addition, findings show that pupils from lower socioeconomic backgrounds presented a lower level of participation in learning tasks. Differences as a function of gender and age were identified. Implications of the findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tahfiz program in universities is one of the initiatives that help students sustain their Quranic memorization. Alternatively, the program's establishment aims to preserve the consistency of Quranic memorization amongst students currently pursuing professional studies at the tertiary level. Therefore, this research aims to analyze the contributing factors to time constraints that prevent effective outcomes of this particular program. This study is qualitative and depends much on in-depth interviews and document analysis techniques. The results of the study show that there are a relative number of challenges encountered by students that require consideration by all relevant parties, including academic workload, time restrictions, and the extracurricular activities organized by the faculties and colleges. This suggests that remarkable attention is necessary from appropriate parties to ensure the program's effectiveness and produce professional huffaz in the future. Insufficient focus on time management by the proper parties may adversely affect students' ability to implement the technique proposed by Muslim scholars for comprehending the verses of the Qur'an, which involves attaining proficiency in the Arabic language and its associated fields of knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'The clinical psychology trainee requires support not only with systemic ideas and their application, but also with the process of transition in which new ideas come into contact with and challenge old assumptions' (Hill, 2014, p.280) John Burnham (2017) created a quadrant to map out how any situation holds possibilities and draws on/creates resources, but in parallel, problems and restraints need to be considered. This has been our experience of embedding systemic training in a DClinPsy programme. As many DClinPsy programmes now offer, or plan to offer, embedded systemic Foundation and Intermediate courses, we share our learning from Exeter in the hope of supporting others on this journey. We include the voices of trainees who we invited to be part of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Diversitas Journal is the property of Diversitas Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic demanded a swift transition in the usual educational mode of delivery from face to face to online. New Zealand established "a traffic light system" after initial COVID-19 lockdowns, and educational delivery adapted accordingly at a tertiary education provider in Te Pūkenga, Eastern Institute of Technology. This study investigates the ramifications of the traffic light system on this institute's staff, employing semi-structured interviews and an inductive semantic thematic analysis. The findings reveal a universal impact on staff, characterized by an augmented workload attributed to students' absences and illnesses. This led to increased support demands of staff for their students' academic progression. Anxiety, stress, and guilt emerged as prevalent emotions linked to student support. Despite the staff adapting to the mandates, a notable challenge arose from the discord between educational and industry directives, causing confusion among the students. While the study indicates staff resilience in navigating the traffic light changes, it underscores the imperative of recognizing the toll on their wellbeing. The research calls for a proactive consideration of future challenges, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the mental and emotional health of tertiary education staff amidst potential uncertainties in educational delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment in higher education is a complex path to navigate, with unexpected twists and turns. Although many studies project the positive outcomes of assessment for learning, the outcomes do not always match the intention. Even when formative assessment is well-planned, the implementation may take such a toll, leaving a lecturer physically drained. A big puzzle with assessment in higher education is how to design formative assessment tasks that promote deep learning for students but do not increase staff workload. In this article, I explore this puzzle in relation to my teaching of a second-year module in an English course that is part of the Bachelor of Education programme at my university. I look at how the specific context of my teaching in 2021 influenced my formative assessment design and reflect critically on the affordances and constraints of the design in relation to existing conceptualisations of assessment in higher education. Lastly, I propose some possibilities for resolving the assessment puzzle and highlight the implications of these possibilities for the reconceptualisation of assessment in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2003, the Department for Education in England commissioned research which supported the policy drive to reduce the reliance on statements for special educational needs (SEN). Twenty years on and the government's emphasis has now switched from reducing workload to creating financially sustainable systems. There continues to be wide variations in local authority (LA) statutory assessment practice, with considerable differences in the proportion of pupils with education, health and care plans (EHCPs), even when benchmarked across demographically comparable authorities. LAs with low EHCPs have smaller high needs block (HNB) budgets but typical rates of special needs and disability (SEND) Tribunal appeals. A comparison is also made of the statutory assessment process within the four nations of the UK. The discussion considers the implications of the findings for sustainable high needs systems and for appropriately managing the demand for EHCPs. The current 25-year trendline is projecting towards 10% EHCPs by 2042, a remarkable increase from 2.5% in 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic brought global disruptions to the way universities operate. Online learning abruptly took priority, as the physical campuses in Australian universities became deserted. Staff had to instantly adapt to major changes in work practices, whilst continuing to support students’ engagement and maintain quality teaching and learning. This article discusses how change fatigue during the pandemic impacted the wellbeing of staff working in the enabling education sector. As staff and student wellbeing is interdependent, gaining a better understanding of the influences on staff wellbeing in the post-pandemic era is worth exploring in the context of discussions around student wellbeing and success. Autoethnographical reflections of eight practitioners at six Australian universities working in teaching, leadership and professional practice in enabling education, were thematically analysed. Emergent data reveals the superordinate theme of change fatigue and sub-themes of time, online fatigue, and emotional labour. This article highlights the impact of workload intensification and change fatigue in educators. Our findings demonstrated that practitioners prioritise their workload and students, to the detriment of their own wellbeing. These findings hold relevance for institutions as they look to address student wellbeing and success, and highlights the value of embedding cultures of care and compassion across all levels of the university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on academic work-life balance, particularly for overworked academics. Topics include the pressures and expectations faced by academics, often leading to excessive work hours. It discusses societal perceptions of academic work versus leisure, citing Philip Nel's exploration of why academics work long hours and the consequences on personal life.

This study contributes to the field of educational careers by exploring all educational career choices, whereas existing literature has focused on only a few. Deploying the push-pull-mooring framework (PPM), several undiscovered influential factors regarding educational career choices were captured. Using qualitative research methods, more particularly throughinterviews and focus groups, we revealed PPM factors towards different career choices educational professionals make. Moreover, this study sheds light on what considerations ultimately precede these career decisions. Findings show that influential factors such as support, workload, autonomy, self-efficacy, general job motivation and commitment to students play a relevant role across several educational career choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the challenges instructors face regarding artificial intelligence (AI) in student work, discussing ongoing discussions and initiatives at Concordia University and Cegep levels. Topics include the detection of AI, ethical strategies, and the impact on pedagogy and assessment.

The integration of technology into educational institutions is transforming education and fostering innovative approaches to learning. Blended learning, an increasingly popular approach, integrates technology with traditional teaching approaches. Blended learning can overcome the limitations associated with using technology purely as a tool, facilitating its full integration into the educational process. The present study involved 106 students enrolled in a vocational education program (VET) in Slovenia. The students were subjected to a pilot implementation of blended learning, and their experiences were subsequently analyzed and evaluated. The results showed that the use of different teaching approaches led to different outcomes in terms of student workload, learning outcomes, and motivation. The different teaching approaches were found to present different levels of difficulty for students. For example, live sessions and the integration of virtual reality/augmented reality (VR /AR) technology presented greater challenges. Conversely, collaborative group work and online courses focused on developing professional skills were found to be beneficial. The study also highlighted the importance of feedback and instructor support in online learning environments. In general, the results of our study suggest that the adoption of blended learning in education can lead to positive outcomes. However, it is important to emphasize the importance of careful planning and thoughtful consideration of optimal pedagogical strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bridging the existing gap in sustainability education among quantity surveyors in Sri Lanka, the study aimed to analyze how sustainability education could be incorporated into the curricula of quantity surveying degree programs conducted by the higher education institutions in the country. The study used a mixed-methods approach, which included semi-structured interviews with three experts, a questionnaire survey conducted among 78 quantity surveyors, and expert interviews with 15 senior academics. Thirty-nine sustainability knowledge areas were identified from the semi-structured interviews. Using the survey findings, a mapping chart was prepared to identify the knowledge gaps in sustainability education. The results indicated that several sustainability-related knowledge areas with substantial gaps require enhancement. The barriers that hinder sustainability education and the measures that could be used to overcome those barriers were identified through expert interviews with senior academics. The key identified barriers include lack of sustainability in curriculum development, heavy workload of the students, and lack of knowledge of the academic staff. Incorporating the required knowledge areas in compulsory modules, updating curricula with new knowledge areas, adopting sustainability within the education environment, and developing awareness among the educational community are some of the measures that would help overcome the identified barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-quality learning process in higher education properly and constructively aligns essential elements: study programs and course objectives, learning outcomes, content, student workload, teaching and learning activities, assessment methods, and acquisition of student competencies, which is known in the literature as constructive alignment (CA). In essence, CA is bringing into alignment the predetermined competencies, the learning and teaching activities, and the assessment types. Furthermore, CA is an outcomes-based approach to teaching in which the learning outcomes that students are intended to achieve are defined before teaching takes place. Learning success at all levels of study primarily depends on constructive alignment as one of the most significant and influential principles in higher education. Detailed knowledge of this principle and consistent application is the basic obligation of teaching staff in higher education. To develop a “constructively aligned” course unit, a teacher should start from the intended course-specific competencies, after which they should choose the most appropriate learning, instructive, and teaching activities, and assessment methods for these specific competencies. The paper explains in more detail the essence of CA between student workload expressed through ECTS, study programs, course and unit objectives, learning outcomes, theoretical and practical contents, teaching and learning methodology, formative and summative assessment methods, and effective acquisition of student generic and course-specific competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To avoid the spread of COVID‐19, most engineering programs rapidly shifted to emergency online education, and prior research has associated online education with academic overload. Before the pandemic, engineering curricula were already packed with content and course assignments, so more studies should explore how the unprecedented conditions of remote learning affected the intensive academic workload of engineering programs. Purpose/Hypothesis: This study addresses the following research question: How did the COVID‐19 pandemic affect the perceptions of engineering instructors and students regarding their academic workload? Thus, the main research objective is to explore the influence of COVID‐19 on the perceived academic workload, extrapolating lessons learned for engineering education settings. Design/Method: During 2020, we developed a single‐case study to understand academic workload in 22 engineering majors at a large Latin American university. We triangulated different sources of institutional and research‐focused evidence, including two instructor surveys (n = 110), two student surveys (n = 2218), two student focus groups (n = 18), and workload measurement surveys (n = 3131). Results: Both instructors and students experienced academic overload since the outbreak of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Throughout the first year, instructors became capable of accommodating course activities and assignments to students' particular circumstances. Regardless of these efforts, students continue perceiving academic overload, particularly affecting those who experience connectivity issues or frequent problems with their personal computer or tablet. Conclusions: Further efforts are needed to support course planning and self‐regulated learning in engineering education. In these lines, lessons learned were captured and shared to inform engineering education research and practice beyond the COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every industry is seeing constant technological advancement. We are of the opinion that educational institutions such as schools and colleges may make use of some of the new technologies in their day-to-day operations to make the academic workload more manageable. Facial recognition is one of the technologies that may help alleviate the challenges presented by the time-consuming nature of the process of collecting attendance, which also happens to be one of the most vital tasks. The purpose of this paper is to conduct research on face recognition by using an ensemble method in order to tally the attendance based on the identified faces present in a picture taken by any camera. An image of the students in the classroom will be taken here, and then it will be run through a facial recognition algorithm that is similar to Haar's. Once the students' faces have been identified, the image will be run through an ensembler, which will then record their presence in the attendance log. Open CV will extract the countenance from the photographs that are provided and will keep some of the variations that are present within the image data. While there are now quite a few methods available for the identification of faces, the primary emphasis of this study is placed on the facial recognition process utilising the AdaBoost algorithm. The accuracy of the monitoring system that has been presented is 98% when it is operating at peak efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite efforts to increase the participation of marginalized students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), neurodivergent students have remained underrepresented and underserved in STEM graduate programs. This qualitative study aims to increase understanding of the experiences of neurodivergent graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in STEM. In this analysis, we consider how common graduate school experiences interface with the invisibility of neurological diversity, thus contributing to a set of unique challenges experienced by neurodivergent students. Materials and methods: In this qualitative study, 10 focus group sessions were conducted to examine the experiences of 18 students who identify as neurodivergent in graduate STEM programs at a large, research-intensive (R1) university. We used thematic analysis of the transcripts from these focus groups to identify three overarching themes within the data. Results: The findings are presented through a novel model for understanding neurodivergent graduate STEM student experiences. The findings suggest that students who identify as neurodivergent feel pressure to conform to perceived neurotypical norms to avoid negative perceptions. They also may self-silence to maintain stability within the advisor-advisee relationship. The stigma associated with disability labels contributes a heavy cognitive and emotional load as students work to mask neurodiversity-related traits, navigate decisions about disclosure of their neurodivergence, and ultimately, experience significant mental health challenges and burnout. Despite these many challenges, the neurodivergent graduate students in this study perceived aspects of their neurodivergence as a strength. Discussion: The findings may have implications for current and future graduate students, for graduate advisors who may or may not be aware of their students' neurodivergence, and for program administrators who influence policies that impact the wellbeing and productivity of neurodivergent students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To explore the value of problem‐based learning in the development of self‐regulation amongst undergraduate dental students. Materials and Methods: A qualitative approach using focus groups was used to explore the perceptions and experiences of the participants regarding the role of problem‐based learning (PBL) in promoting self‐regulation in undergraduate dental education. The study was carried out at a newly established dental institution in Qatar. Purposive sampling technique was used to recruit the participants. Invitations to potential participants were sent by e‐mail through appropriate professional channels. All focus groups were transcribed verbatim, and data were imported into NVivo 12 and analysed thematically. Results: A total of five focus groups were conducted with 37 participants which included 27 females and seven males from two different cohorts. Participants expressed their views on a range of issues related to the self‐regulation in problem‐based learning and also provided recommendations to enhance the learning experiences of students. PBL was perceived to be an appropriate and effective strategy to support student autonomy in construction of knowledge and developing problem‐solving and interpersonal skills. However, the workload of the students can impact adversely on their motivation and time management skills. Conclusions: This study provides useful insights into the concept of self‐regulation in problem‐based learning environments as perceived by the stakeholders at a newly established dental institution. The findings of this study may offer clarity on how problem‐based learning can be best utilised to promote self‐regulation in undergraduate dental education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study investigated primary school special education teachers' (SETs') (N = 283) conceptions on their work descriptions and uses of pedagogical documents after a reform in the national support framework. The respondents of this survey reported working mostly in Tiers 1 and 2 when all their tasks (instruction, consultation, and managerial tasks) were considered. The responsibilities of the SETs were, however, more clearly defined in Tier 3. The SETs allocate their work autonomously, but their work description is related to their workload. Clarifications in work descriptions and further elaboration of school's tiered support functions, emphasizing collaborative practices, are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we document elementary school teachers' attitudinal and pedagogical changes during the rapid move from brick-and-mortar to virtual schooling initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We administered four online surveys (in September and October 2020, and in March and June 2021) to determine teachers' perceived challenges and successes in using online technology, as well as applied mixed-methods action research to identify their approaches to teaching mathematics online. The initial challenges included gaining skills, resources, and know-hows for teaching online, and supporting students and their families in the swift transition, while also maintaining instructional goals and overcoming stress. The later challenges included dealing with workload and engaging students in learning. As their comfort with technology increased, teachers started realizing that many old pedagogies were either impossible or inadequate in the online environment, and they began to innovate with virtual classrooms that encompassed students' homes, parents, and the outdoors. Mathematics manipulatives were found in the kitchen and measurements were done in the home or during walks outside. Mathematics concepts became more real-life centered, and learning became more playful and problem-oriented. Technology helped to create and sustain learning communities, and exposed student thinking at their comfort level. For some students, this approach worked better than brick-and-mortar schools; for most teachers, it created opportunities to provide and receive feedback differently, collaborate widely, reinvent their practice, and contribute to changing norms. We conclude by providing suggestions for moving forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of a classroom-focused intervention on different domains of early literacy. The intervention consisted of shared e-book reading combined with a print referencing technique done via a SMART board. The specific goal of the study was to examine whether children could be instructed simultaneously in print knowledge, phonological awareness, and vocabulary, without a loss of impact on the development of either skill. Results revealed significantly larger gains with high effect sizes in print knowledge (ηp2 =.474) and phonological awareness (ηp2 =.370) when children received the print referencing e-book intervention compared to the control conditions. Print referencing did not hinder children's learning of new words, but enhanced vocabulary to the same extent, or even higher, as e-books typically do in kindergarten when print referencing is not involved. The findings indicate that e-book reading merged with print referencing is a beneficial method for enhancing essential early literacy skills simultaneously. The learning tool is particularly efficient for a tailor-made educational setting, as it allows differential attention to students and lessens the workload for teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines considerations that are required for successful implementation of flipped learning by tracing how lecturers in a university postgraduate dietetic programme designed and executed flipped learning across an academic year. Inductive analysis of lecturers' lesson design rationalisation, student learning artefacts and feedback was undertaken. The findings suggest that effective flipped learning implementation depends on how lecturers foster coherences within curriculum, learning activities, student engagement, and teaching. By establishing anchoring pedagogical goals as part of curriculum coherence lecturers create synergies among learning, teaching, and assessment. Positive student learning experiences are driven by student engagement that considers students' perceptions of workload, task complexity, and change to the learning culture. Strategies that manage pedagogical change and increased workload are also needed to create teaching coherence. Recommendations for improving flipped learning implementation in higher education contexts are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Student engagement with out-of-class activities is becoming more difficult as students spend fewer hours outside the classroom studying the content. This research developed a mobile educational platform, Dysgu, to provide students with an optimal learning experience outside of the classroom. Dysgu includes social networking and gamification features to increase student engagement. The platform offers interactive auto-graded assessments to help students practice concepts and take tests. Students can see their scores and a summary of the performance of the rest of the class. We used Dysgu for multiple out-of-class activities at two universities with different student demographics for two semesters. The data shows that students obtain better grades when using Dysgu. We also saw more on-time or ahead-of-time submissions with Dysgu. Survey responses indicated several Dysgu features which students found helpful. We conclude that digital educational platforms should consider features to support scaffolding to master the concept, peer influence to keep students engaged, self-reflection to foster critical thinking, and easy adaption of the platform to reduce faculty workload and improve students' acceptance of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scrum is a widely-used framework in industry, so many schools apply it to their software engineering courses, particularly capstone courses. Due to the differences between students and industrial professionals, changing Scrum is necessary to fit capstone projects. In this paper, we suggest a decision-making process to assist instructors in developing a strategy to adapt Scrum for their course. This framework considers critical differences, such as student's workloads and course schedules, and keeps the Agile principles and Scrum events. To evaluate the adapted Scrum, we investigated student's learning experiences, satisfaction, and performance by quantitatively analyzing user story points and source codes and qualitatively studying instructor's evaluations, student's feedback, and Sprint Retrospective notes. Our two case studies about adapted Scrum showed that having daily stand-up meetings in every class was not helpful, student's satisfaction positively correlated to the difficulty of the task they tackled, and the project provided good learning experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A unique method for promoting reflection among engineering students was used in the present study involving a digital circuits course. The method combined computer-based simulation for digital circuit design with reflective-thought prompts after a midterm exam for post-exam analysis and reflection. This method was first implemented in a microelectronics course using the SPICE simulator. Lessons learned from the initial implementation were applied to the digital circuits course. These lessons learned included the need to scaffold students in the use of the simulation tool for reflection, the need to balance frequency of reflection with student workload and fatigue, and question prompts that voluntarily elicit broad thought after a milestone event such as a midterm exam (versus a quiz). Using a published depth rubric, the assessment results found increased depth of reflection in the present course relative to the initial implementation in microelectronics. Specifically, there were increases in depth of reflection after the midterm exam in the present course versus the midterm exam and two quizzes in the microelectronics course. The increases in depth were significant relative to the quizzes. There was also an increase in the relative occurrence of broad reflections in the present course, with significant differences compared to the quizzes. Although significant differences were not found in the final exam averages based on depth of reflection after the midterm exam or participation in this reflection, results from a follow-up survey several months after the course ended indicated benefit for students. Specifically, 80% of those who competed the reflection exercise indicated a high or very high perceived benefit from doing so. Of the approximately 50% who chose not to complete the reflection exercise, the primary reasons were identified via the follow-up survey. Findings from this work align with and add to the developing literature on student reactions to reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to online learning at a time of intensive efforts to ensure that the academic project continued under the trying conditions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic placed intense pressure on both staff and students, increasing their workload. The increased workload placed students at a risk of burnout. While most burnout research focuses on the workplace, there is growing recognition that study activities can have a similar impact on students. The study drew on the conceptualisation of various authors on burnout which is conceived as three subdomains, namely, emotional exhaustion, cynicism and feelings of low accomplishment or inefficacy. This study made use of a cross-sectional survey design. The sample for the study was drawn from students at an Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL) institution in South Africa using a census sampling approach. The findings of this study show relatively low levels of burnout and high levels of study engagement among respondents. This is despite most respondents reporting being employed while studying. Furthermore, the relationship between dropout intention and burnout was weak but significant. Further areas of research in this field could include students from contact institutions, or a focus on postgraduate students who are employed while studying or explore gender differences among students in different fields of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The midwifery profession requires the acquisition and application of numerous professional skills, knowledge and good communication abilities to be developed during the training of students not only theoretically but also in practice. Regardless of where the practice is conducted, the clinical base has its specificity and load according to its profile. Aim:: the purpose of this article is to explore the importance of the clinical basis as a factor in the acquisition of professional skills in students of 2nd and 3rd year, specialty „Мidwife“. Material and methods: a survey was made among 59 second and third year students in the specialty „Мidwife“, MU Varna, through a semi-structured questionnaire. Results: the results show that students rate the workload in hospital clinical bases as high (54.24%). According to 52.54% of respondents, adaptation to the working environment of clinical practice bases is successful despite stress and overwork. The motivation for learning and acquiring knowledge and skills for students is extremely high (86,44%), and the motivation for starting work and learning skills in a real environment is 59,32%. Issues such as Pay, acceptance by the team, respect and a relaxed working environment emerge as serious factors that motivate students to adapt to the real workflow and job choice from the training bases. Conclusion: clinical practice helps to build the professional skills of students and adapt to the real working conditions, requiring close cooperation and interaction between all sides of the learning process: students, teachers and clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer assessment plays an important part in education, fostering involvement and critical thinking skills for the students, while reducing the grading workload for the teacher. However, research on review allocation mechanisms in the context of peer assessment is relatively scarce in the literature. Although the first electronic peer assessment systems emerged over two decades ago, the matching of the solutions to reviewers has been done predominantly statically and randomly. The current paper proposes an innovative dynamic review allocation mechanism with extra bidding that attempts to solve some of the issues exhibited by the static and random approaches. The new method splits the review period in two stages: a first review phase, where students have to submit required assessments, and an extra review phase, where students can offer bidding points to perform additional optional reviews. The mechanism was integrated as part of our LearnEval peer assessment platform. We employed the approach in the context of a computer science course. A comparison of the proposed mechanism with a static review allocation approach applied in the previous year shows increased fairness. Furthermore, the results from a dedicated simulation module for emulating the novel review allocation mechanism attest the scalability of the approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]