37,918 results on '"Communications"'
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2. '+Ciencia': A Training Program to Increase Evidence-Based Science Communication and Literacy for Hispanic High School and Undergraduate Students
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Nicole Colón Carrión, Nathalie Fuentes, Valeria A. Gerena González, Nicole Hsiao-Sánchez, Luis Colón-Cruz, Kevin de Jesús Morales, Kenneth J. De Jesús Morales, Maria González Morales, Cayetana Lazcano Etchebarne, and Marcos J. Ramos Benítez
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Science misinformation represents a significant challenge for the scientific community. Hispanic communities are particularly vulnerable due to language barriers and the lack of accessible information in Spanish. We identified that a key step toward enhancing the accessibility of information for non-native English-speaking communities involves imparting science communication education and training to Hispanic youth. Our goal was to provide them with the skills to become science ambassadors who can effectively engage with their communities and bridge communication gaps. To address this, we developed the first science communication training program in Spanish for Hispanic high school and undergraduate students in Puerto Rico. The program called "+Ciencia" aims to provide training and education on science communication for Hispanic minorities through experiential and collaborative learning. In the short term, our multifaceted approach works to counter misinformation and promote science literacy within the broader community. Over the long term, our grassroots efforts with students will evolve into a generation of professionals equipped with strong engagement skills and comprehensive training in science communication with a specific focus on Hispanic audiences. Herein, we describe the components of this educational program and provide open access to educational materials and articles developed by three cohorts.
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- 2024
3. Development and Evaluation of an Intensive Short Course: The Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Interdisciplinary Instructional Institute (QMRA III)
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Jade Mitchell, Hongwan Li, Mark H. Weir, Julie Libarkin, and Emily Pasek
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Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) is a growing interdisciplinary field addressing exposures to microbial pathogens and infectious disease processes. Risk science is inherently interdisciplinary, but few of the contributing disciplinary programs offer courses and training specifically in QMRA. To develop multidisciplinary training in QMRA, an annual 10-day long intensive workshop was conducted from 2015 to 2019--the Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Interdisciplinary Instructional Institute (QMRA III). National leaders in the fields of public health, engineering, microbiology, epidemiology, communications, public policy, and QMRA served as instructors and mentors over the course of the program. To provide cross-training, multidisciplinary teams of 5-6 trainees were created from the approximately 30 trainees each year. A formal assessment of the program was performed based on observations and surveys containing Likert-type scales and open-ended prompts. In addition, a longitudinal alumni survey was also disseminated to facilitate the future redevelopment of QMRA institutes and determine the impact of the program. Across all years, trainees experienced statistically significant increases (P < 0.05) in their perceptions of their QMRA abilities (e.g., use of specific computer programs) and knowledge of QMRA constructs (e.g., risk management). In addition, 12 publications, three conference presentations, and two research grants were derived from the QMRA III institute projects or tangential research. The success of QMRA III indicates that a short course format can effectively address many multidisciplinary training needs. Key features of QMRA III, including the inter-disciplinary training approach, hands-on exercises, real-world institute projects, and interaction through a mentoring process, were vital for training multidisciplinary teams housing multiple forms of expertise. Future QMRA institutes are being redeveloped to leverage hybrid learning formats that can further the multidisciplinary training and mentoring objectives.
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- 2024
4. Teachers' Situated Knowledge: Addressing Digital Exclusion in Rural Contexts
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Isabel Pavez, Angela Novoa-Echaurren, and Antonio Salinas-Layana
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This study delves into the intricate challenges surrounding incorporating information and communication technologies (ICTs) in education, particularly in regions characterized by digital exclusion, such as rural areas. By recognizing the potential of ICTs to support and expand student learning opportunities, this research explores the necessity for effective implementation through tailored professional development aligned with teachers' contextual conditions and needs. In addressing these challenges, the study explores the concept of technological appropriation, underscoring the significance of individual and contextual elements in adapting ICTs to users' specific needs and environments. Through unstructured face-to-face interviews with 21 teachers immersed in a digitally vulnerable rural context, this research unveils insights into how educators appropriate technologies to enhance student learning. The findings of this study contribute to the development of educational practices tailored to rural contexts, focusing on providing a meaningful and effective learning experience for students. By shedding light on teachers' strategies for navigating the digital landscape in challenging environments, the research aims to inform policies and practices that bridge the technological gap, ultimately fostering equitable access and enhanced educational outcomes in rural settings.
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- 2024
5. ICT Integration in FLT: An Analysis of TPACK Implementation in Spanish Primary Teacher Education
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Tania F. Gómez Sánchez, María Bobadilla-Pérez, Begoña Rumbo Arcas, Lucia Fraga-Viñas, and Noelia Ma. Galán-Ridríguez
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This study explores primary teachers´ initial training programs, focusing on Foreign Language Teaching (FLT) and its integration with technology. The research is grounded in two dimensions of contemporary society: plurilingual competence and digital literacy. The study employs the conceptual framework of "Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge" (TPACK) (Mishra & Kohler, 2006) and applies content analysis methodology. The scientific interest lies in the scarcity of studies examining this specific area within the Spanish context, because research on TPACK in FLT has primarily focused on Asia and the Middle East. To address this void, a comprehensive national study encompassing 39 public universities was conducted. This study involved an in-depth analysis of 496 course guides within the field of FLT in primary education teacher training programs. The research findings indicate that less than half of the subjects incorporate technology, and when they do, two prominent trends emerge: the integration of TPACK and the presentation of technology as a broad competency, not specifically tailored to FLT. The primary conclusion drawn from this study is that the incorporation of TPACK in this context is moderate, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive integration of technology within FLT teacher training programs.
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- 2024
6. Exploring Civil Servants' Communicative Competencies in Government-Public Interactions: The Case of Kazakhstan
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Baurzhan Bokayev, Zhazira Iskindirova, Bauyrzhan Urazymbetov, and Kamilya Nauryzbek
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This study analyses the communicative competencies of civil servants in Kazakhstan, highlighting the crucial role of effective communication in fostering public trust and enhancing democratic engagement. Utilizing qualitative focus group discussions with 32 experts, the research identified key deficiencies, including reliance on bureaucratic language, a lack of empathy, and inadequate crisis communication skills. These issues underscore the pressing need for communication strategies tailored to the Kazakhstani context. The study points to the necessity of developing Kazakhstan-specific communication frameworks and emphasizes the importance of improving training programs and promoting emotional intelligence among civil servants. By enhancing internal communication processes and clarifying responsibilities, government employees can better serve the public, fostering a more transparent, responsive, and participatory government. This research offers a valuable foundation for future initiatives aimed at refining the communicative competencies of civil servants in Kazakhstan, suggesting pathways for implementing targeted improvements and developing more effective communication practices within the public sector. Through these efforts, the study aims to contribute to the creation of a government that not only addresses public needs more efficiently but also actively engages citizens in the democratic process, ultimately strengthening the relationship between the state and its people.
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- 2024
7. 'You're Going to Serve People from All Different Backgrounds': CSD Students' Perceptions of an Introductory Online Social Justice Program
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Emma K. Williams, Monica L. Bellon-Harn, and Lekeitha R. Morris
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Constructs of social justice has become an increasingly prevalent area of interest in the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD). In fact, competencies related to social justice are required program content per the Council of Academic Accreditation in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. This study's purpose was to describe and evaluate an online, introductory course designed to address such concepts. Students' perceptions of (a) the concept of social justice, (b) program content, and (c) program usability were examined. Undergraduate students from two universities completed the program, and a sample of students provided data about their perceptions during pre-program and post-program semi-structured interviews. Using a qualitative design (i.e., thematic analysis) the authors identified themes reflected in the data. This data revealed that the students had little to no prior experience with social justice yet were motivated to learn more about the topic due to perceptions that the topic is important to the field. Analysis of the program content and usability revealed that the students perceived an increase in knowledge and self-awareness. Outcomes show that the program holds promise and supports further study to evaluate program impact on students' attitudes and beliefs.
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- 2024
8. Predictive Effect of Learners Psycho-Social Attributes on Academic Performance of Distance Learners of University of Lagos
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Adedunni Omowunmi Adegun and Talatu Ibrahim Umar
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The study investigated the predictive effect of Emotional intelligence (EI), ICT competence, Financial Stability and Gender on academic performance of distance learners. Descriptive survey design was employed for this study. Purposive stratified sampling technique was used to select 350 participants among third year to sixth year learners. Three research instruments were used for data collection; Emotional Intelligence scale by Shuttle et. al (1998), Financial Stability Scale by CFPB (2016), ICT Competency Scale: Tzafilkou, Perifanou and Economides. Instrument reliability ranged from 0.68 to 0.86. Students' GCPA was used to measure academic performance. Data collected was analysed using Pearson correlation and regression analysis. The result revealed a significant relationship among the independent variables and the dependent variable, it further showed that emotional intelligence is a potent contributor to academic performance prediction while gender was the least predictor. The study recommended that the learner support unit should be well equipped with counselors who are saddled solely with the responsibility of training learners and other stakes holders on emotional intelligence since emotional intelligence is a life skill which is teachable.
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- 2024
9. Instagram in Teaching English for Specific Academic Purposes
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Eva Maierová
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The purpose of the study is to explore the potential of integrating Instagram in university-level English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP) courses, focusing on Business English for Advanced Students. Using a mixed-methods approach, it combines qualitative data from observing the completion of Instagram-based assignments and subsequent semi-structured group interviews with quantitative data from a five-point Likert scale questionnaire distributed to the students who participated in the study. The research sample consisted of twenty-six undergraduate students from the Faculty of Commerce at the University of Economics in Bratislava, Slovakia, who completed four Instagram-based tasks related to communication, international marketing, promoting Slovakia, and success, which were linked to topics covered in the course during the winter semester of the academic year 2020/2021. The findings show that Instagram can be used effectively in ESAP courses mainly due to its popularity, visual appeal of posts, and, most importantly, as a platform that serves as a powerful marketing tool. The results indicate that the implementation of Instagram activities was positively perceived by most students, with high levels of agreement regarding the relevance, engagement, and creativity of the tasks. The study highlights the potential benefits of using Instagram in ESAP, providing insights into effective language learning through authentic, business-related tasks. Ultimately, integrating Instagram into ESAP can enable students to develop the language skills and competencies needed in real business contexts.
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- 2024
10. Factors Influencing Sustainability Communication of Communication Arts Students in Thailand
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Sumaj Kitisurakulchai, Seree Woraphong, Sornpravate Krajangkantamatr, and Preedaree Sirirat
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This study aimed to construct a causal relationship model of factors influencing communication arts students' qualification for sustainability communication (SC), examine the goodness-of-fit model with empirical data, and analyze the effect size of the causal relationship model in terms of influencing factors. Data were collected from 400 communication arts students using a set of questionnaires rated on a five-point scale. The results were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0 and LISREL version 8.80 to determine the causal relationship model. The findings revealed that the construct of the causal relationship model of factors influencing SC of these students comprised four latent variables measured from 12 observed variables. Moreover, the influencing factors were consistent with the empirical data at a good level considering the accordance index, which consisted of x2 = 13.153, df = 25, p-Value = 0.974, RMSEA = 0.000, Standardized RMR = 0.006, GFI = 0.996, and AGFI = 0.979. The causal relationship model of the factors affecting SC revealed that education sustainable development could have direct, indirect, and total effects; the knowledge-based journalist concept could have direct, indirect, and total effects; and communication art principles could have direct and total effects, respectively.
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- 2024
11. Finite Complement Clauses in Disciplinary Research Articles Authored by Filipino Academic Writers
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Hjalmar Punla Hernandez
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Finite complement clauses (FCCs) are an understudied syntactic structure of L2 advanced academic writing. The present study cross-investigated FCCs in qualitative (QUALI) and quantitative (QUANTI) research articles written by Filipino academic writers (FAWs) in Applied Linguistics (APPLING), Communication (COMM), and Measurement and Evaluation (MEEV). Specifically, it determined the FCCs with the most occurrences across five disciplinary research article sub-registers and identified whether these FCCs differ significantly in terms of frequencies of use. With Hernandez's (2021) framework adapted from Biber and Gray's (2016) study, this research analyzed five FCCs in 42 disciplinary research articles. Major results revealed that verb-controlled that-clauses (with 33.69 as normalized frequency count) outnumbered other FCCs in research article sub-registers across disciplines. They were more recurrent in QUALI and QUANTI APPLING research articles (7.91 and 7.54, respectively) and QUANTI and QUALI COMM research articles (7.34 and 6.96, respectively) than in QUANTI MEEV research articles (3.94). In addition, a significant difference exists between them and other FCCs at the p<0.05 level in terms of frequencies of use. In view of these findings, it can be concluded that verb-controlled that-clauses are the most useful FCCs in APPLING, COMM, and MEEV research articles. Likewise, FAWs across the three disciplines write more informally as signposted by their repeated use of that complementizer with these FCCs controlled by verbs. The study draws its implications for academic writing instruction.
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- 2024
12. ICT Integration in a Multigrade Context: Exploring Primary School Teachers Experiences
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Matshidiso Joyce Taole
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Technology offers pedagogical affordances that can transformteaching and learning in multigrade classrooms to assist in theprocess of teaching and learning. However, it is challenging forteachers to effectively integrate technology into their classrooms,given the complex and dynamic multigrade context. Thetechnological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) model wasa lens through which to explore teachers' experiences in ICTintegration in their multigrade classrooms in selected primaryschools in South Africa. A case study design guided this qualitativestudy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelveteachers thematic analysis was used to analyse data. The findingsrevealed that access to ICT equipment for teachers and studentsis crucial. This study has found that generally, it is difficult forteachers to incorporate technology into their teaching because ofthe caveats, such as the multigrade context and the rural locationwhich presents issues such as lack of basic technologyinfrastructure, limited training on integrating technology inteaching, time, the teaching context, and support from principals.This study recommends that teachers be trained on ICT usage andgiven the support needed to function effectively in theirmultigrade context. For teachers to be digitally connected andensure ICT integration in the teaching and learning process, theyneed to be equipped with relevant knowledge and skills to usetechnology to transform their teaching and create newopportunities for learning.
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- 2024
13. EFL University Students' Acceptance and Readiness for e-Learning: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach
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Tubagus Zam Zam Al Arif, Dedy Kurniawan, Reli Handayani, Hidayati, and Armiwati
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The use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has become essential approach in the field of language learning especially for English as a foreign language (EFL) education. Because ICTs are widely use in higher education, students must be highly digitally proficient and have positive attitudes in order to efficiently manage their classes. Thus, the purpose of this study is to contribute to the literature on EFL university students' perspectives regarding e-learning integration. In this study we extend the technology acceptance model (TAM) to investigate the factors that influence elearning acceptance and readiness in the context of foreign language learning. Quantitative method was applied in this study, which involved 298 student teachers of English department at a state university in Indonesia. The instrument used in collecting the data was a questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with the SmartPLS3 program. PLS-SEM was used to analyze the proposed hypotheses developed in fulfilling the study objectives. The results indicated the complex relationships between the perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived enjoyment, motivation, self-efficacy, attitude and actual use of e-learning. Furthermore, the findings revealed that perceived enjoyment and self-efficacy did not have significant influence on actual use of e-learning through the mediating role of perceived usefulness. The findings can help both instructors and students adjust the integration of elearning in English learning by implementing a learning curriculum and needs that are in line with the user's initial usage objectives, so that users can recognize the importance of e-learning's ease of use and usefulness. This study contributes to educational institutions and e-learning developers to consider developing e-learning apps that support student-centered learning with useful and ease of use to improve students' attitudes towards the use of e-learning. By incorporating e-learning into English language learning, students will have more time to practice and improve their English language skills
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- 2024
14. Communication Directors and Public Relations Professionals in Public School Districts: A Literature Review
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Sonja A. Lopez and Julie Peterson Combs
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A school district's need to satisfy the school community's expectations for current, accurate information and manage a social media presence has increased the necessity for superintendents to employ public relations professionals. As such, these professionals are a recent addition to many school districts' administrative teams. However, few research studies were located that focused on public relations professionals or communication directors in public schools. The purpose of this literature review was to identify empirical studies and professional association resources that provided historical, contextual, and relevant information about communication directors in school districts. Based on the findings, we uncovered three themes related to the history, roles and responsibilities, and standards for public relations professionals. Such information can help practitioners support communication functions and help researchers identify needed lines of inquiry.
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- 2024
15. The Incidence of Information and Communication Technologies in Early Childhood Classrooms: A Systemic Literature Review
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Dalal Aldhilan
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The importance of information and communication technology (ICT) in education has been increasingly acknowledged due to advancements in technology. Prior research has explored several perspectives on the "use of ICT in early childhood education (ECE) and has highlighted many obstacles to its implementation in the classroom setting". The synthesis of these research does not lean towards a singular perspective or definitive result, so allowing for further investigation of the issue at a more profound level. This systematic literature review seeks to enhance the current body of knowledge on teachers' attitudes toward the efficacy of using ICT in ECE classrooms. By using PRISMA procedures, a total of 12 studies were selected to investigate the perspectives of teachers about the use of ICT, the current methods employed, and the efficacy of teaching at ECE level. The study's findings indicate that, in general, teachers exhibit a significant propensity toward the use of ICT in ECE. However, the implementation of ICT in classrooms is constrained by several factors.
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- 2024
16. Perceptions and Readiness of High School Mathematics Teachers for Integration of ICT Tools in the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics
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Jacob Arhin, Francis Ohene Boateng, Ernest Frimpong Akosah, and Kennedy Gyimah
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This paper seeks to gain insights into teachers' perceptions, and readiness to integrate information and communication technology (ICT) tools in mathematics instruction. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving surveys and interviews with a sample of high school mathematics teachers. The study involved 90 mathematics teachers working in three senior high schools in Kumasi metropolis in Ghana. The study revealed that teachers generally hold positive perceptions of the benefits of ICT tools in mathematics teaching. They strongly agree that ICT tools enhance students' understanding of mathematical concepts and improve their engagement and motivation in mathematics classes. Teachers also recognize the potential of ICT tools in promoting problem-solving skills and providing opportunities for differentiation and personalized learning. However, opinions regarding student-centered learning, exploration, and creativity through ICT tools were more varied, suggesting a need for further investigation and support in these areas. In addition teachers expressed the need for continuous training on specific tools, curriculum alignment, and assessment methods.
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- 2024
17. The Effective Use of Virtual Communication in an Online Professional Development Program: Investigating Teachers' Attitudes
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Areej Elsayary, Lawrence Meda, Suha Karaki, and Laila Mohebi
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The coronavirus (COVID-19) is considered to be an external factor that affects teachers' attitudes toward online professional development. Therefore, this study investigates the use of virtual communication in an online professional development program through the lens of teachers' attitudes toward technology. This study was conducted in 15 schools across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A teacher training program called The Ta'alouf Inclusion Special Education, one of the initiatives of the Al Jalila Foundation (AJL), aimed to train teachers, promote inclusion, and support children with special educational needs and disabilities. Participants (teachers, school leaders, learning support assistants, social workers, and department heads) received 24 hours of virtual training sessions on numerous topics related to inclusive education and special educational needs and disabilities. A concurrent mixed-method approach was utilized to collect quantitative data from participants using an online survey and qualitative data using interviews. The study results reveal that the quarantine of COVID-19 did not affect teachers' continued professional development. On the contrary, teachers felt the ease of using technology and the usefulness of the topics mentioned, which formed their positive attitudes toward using technology and led to their engagement and continuation of developing professionally either during or after the pandemic.
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- 2024
18. The Roles of Education and Literacy in the Digital Divide among Middle-Aged Adults: Cross-National Evidence from the United States, Japan, and South Korea
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Takashi Yamashita, Giyeon Kim, Chih-Ling Liou, Takatoshi Ando, Anthony R. Bardo, and Darren Liu
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Internationally representative data of middle-aged adults 45 - 65 years old [n(United States) = 2,150; n(Japan) = 2,318; n(South Korea) = 2,800] from the 2012 Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies were analyzed to examine the roles of education and literacy in relation to the digital divide. Results from survey-weighted binary logistic regressions showed that both educational attainment and literacy were positively associated with all four measures of information and communication technology (use of the computer, email, online information and transaction) use in all three countries. The middle-aged adults in the United States benefited more from the educational attainment than those in Japan, in terms of email and online information use. The middle-aged adults with lower education and basic skills (i.e., literacy) may benefit from the educational intervention and additional information and communication technology training, and in turn, improve the digital divide in later life, regardless of differences in culture and economy.
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- 2024
19. Exploring Program Delivery in the Further Education and Training Phase of South African Secondary Schools amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges, Mitigation Strategies and Transformative Approaches
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Louise Fullard, Charl Wolhuter, Aaron Nhlapo, and Hennie Steyn
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This paper investigates the challenges, mitigation strategies and transformative approaches in educational programme delivery in South African education amidst the adverse influence of the pandemic in schools' Further Education and Training phase with a focus on the integration of technology-enhanced effective teaching and learning; using data obtained from interviews of a data-rich sample of the school management team and teachers of five schools. The noteworthy contribution of this paper to knowledge in the context of Comparative and International Education pertains to transformative strategies for technology-enhanced programme delivery in education. This paper's final objective is to link the explored findings of challenges, trends and innovations in the South African education system to the theme of this book focusing on the different worlds common education challenges. Furthermore, the findings emphasised the need for innovation and transformation toward a technology-enhanced education environment, especially in the Fifth Industrial Revolution milieu. In addition, this paper presented noteworthy recommendations for educational stakeholders and future research. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]
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- 2024
20. Instructor Leadership in Online Learning: Predictive Relationships between Servant Leadership and the Community of Inquiry Framework
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Sally Meech and Adrie A. Koehler
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Instructor leadership is widely recognized as essential for facilitating meaningful online learning in higher education. While previous studies have applied organizational leadership theories to the study of instructor leadership, fewer studies have investigated online instructor leadership. This predictive correlational study detailed the associations between the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework and servant leadership (SL) theory and employed multiple regression analyses to investigate the predictive relationships of seven SL dimensions on the three CoI presences. Survey data were gathered from 148 graduate students enrolled in online courses in education, communication, and engineering master's degree programs using the CoI Survey (Arbaugh et al., 2008) and the SL-28 (Liden et al., 2008). The findings revealed a significant positive correlation between the instruments. The predictive model as a whole explained 66% of the variance in students' perceptions of a CoI. Three SL predictor variables demonstrated the most influence: helping subordinates grow and succeed, conceptual skills, and creating value for the community. Additional analyses at the CoI subscale level revealed that the SL variables accounted for 73% of the variance in teaching presence, 55% of the variance in cognitive presence, and 31% of the variance in social presence. Implications and limitations are discussed and recommendations are proposed to implement online instructor SL.
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- 2024
21. Using Multimedia to Help Agricultural Producers Communicate with Consumers about GMOs
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Stacey F. Stearns, Jennifer E. Cushman, Joseph A. Bonelli, and Bonnie E. Burr
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Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their uses are often misunderstood. Consumers are regularly unsure what GMOs are, or if they are safe for consumption and the environment. Contradictory and sometimes inaccurate information is available from numerous sources, and challenges consumers and others to separate the facts from sensationalized stories. Agricultural producers often communicate with consumers, neighbors, and members of the general public; however, they do not have information to share about GMOs. Multimedia resources can provide agricultural producers with science- based information to share with consumers. Agricultural communicators and Extension educators can create science- based multimedia resources to bridge the communication gap.
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- 2024
22. Teaching Sustainable Advertising: A Trialogue Course-Project Using the SHIFT Framework
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Karen E. Mishra, Tracy L. Tuten, and Aneil K. Mishra
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Organizations are building sustainable practices due to newer regulations and a commitment to the greater good. They are targeting the majority of consumers who want to live a sustainable lifestyle. As a result, universities have an opportunity to integrate sustainability topics into their coursework. This study addresses a curriculum gap that exists by introducing a project-based assignment using the SHIFT framework by White, Habib, and Hardisty (2019a), which outlines the triggers associated with influencing sustainable behaviors among consumers, namely, social influence, habit formation, individual self, feelings and cognition, and tangibility. We explain the relevance of the project via a literature review on the growing importance of sustainability to consumers, outline the project requirements and recommendations for execution, and share our experiences and those of our students using the project.
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- 2024
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23. Teaching Programmatic Buying in a Media Planning Class
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Linwan Wu and Allyssa Andrews
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Programmatic advertising has come to dominate the landscape of digital media planning. To prepare ad majors for their future careers in the industry, it is essential to teach students programmatic buying and provide them with hands-on experience. In this article, the authors present their approach of integrating teaching programmatic buying into a media planning course. A key feature of their educational package is a custom digital media buying tool developed by the authors. They hope this article will benefit other college educators in this field and spark further discussions on best teaching practices of programmatic buying and digital media planning.
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- 2024
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24. Working at the Frontier: Swiss Educational Information and Communication Technology Coordinators as Mediators and Intermediaries of the Digital Transformation
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Michael Geiss and Tobias Röhl
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This article examines Swiss educational information and communication technology (ICT) coordinators ('Pädagogischer ICT-Support'; PICTS) in Swiss compulsory schools in their ambivalent role between active agents of change and mere facilitators for their colleagues. Using a qualitative research design, it explores the history, self-perception and current roles of PICTS in the canton of Zurich and their interaction with other actors in the education system and the cantonal authorities. This paper draws on science and technology studies to understand the unique role of educational ICT coordinators. The results show that the perceptions and self-understanding of PICTS have remained consistent since their establishment, even though the digital technologies they deal with have evolved rapidly. Their dual role allows PICTS to be both active agents of change and part of a school's teaching staff. Working at the frontier, they are ambiguous figures, embodying the contradictions of digital transformation in education without necessarily making them explicit.
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- 2024
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25. Unraveling the Attributions of Digital Literacy Skills and Knowledge Gap in Ghana's Higher Education: Undergraduate Students Voices in a Phenomenological Study
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Jacob Oppong Nkansah and Yusuf Ikbal Oldac
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Any undergraduate student lacking the knowledge and skills for digital technology will find it challenging to succeed academically and thrive in the 21st-century higher education setting. This study employed a novel conceptual framework built from ecological theory to investigate the attributions of the knowledge and skill gap in digital literacy among Ghanaian undergraduate students. A phenomenological qualitative design with a purposive sampling technique was implemented to collect data from 16 undergraduates in a large public university in Ghana in a four-months period. The findings show several factors responsible for students' digital literacy knowledge and skills gap. Undergraduates have ascribed these reasons to various macro and micro factors. The students attributed their skills gap to personal, parental, institutional, and government factors, pointing to the need for concerted action from national and international policymakers and educators alike. This paper argues that university lecturers, administrators, the Ministry of Education, and policymakers in Ghana should collaboratively redesign comprehensive, persuasive, and integrated digital literacy approaches to benefit undergraduate students at all levels.
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- 2024
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26. A Study on the Associations among the Factors Influencing Digital Education with Reference to Indian Higher Education
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Hans Kaushik and Smriti Kaushik
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The involvement of technology in the education domain has transformed the traditional system in many countries. The need was realized when 300 million students in India itself were pushed to move from traditional to various digital education platforms during the pandemic. There has been an essential emphasis given to the promotion of digital based education for achieving the aim of Digital India and National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Considering the vision, this research work is an attempt to articulate such factors affecting the attainment of digital education based on previous researches and opinions of domain experts in this area through Nominal Group Technique (NGT). ISM based hierarchical model along with MICMAC were used to analyze the interactions among identified factors. The ISM results have put technology awareness, course & subject choice, digital literacy, geographical location, interactivity, cyber security and training for handling ICT, as the most crucial factors driving the others. The MICMAC results indicate geographical location as the most driving factor and switching behaviour as the most dependent factor. The model will assist to understand how factors work in hierarchy with inter-relationships and thus provide support to policy planners and institutions in planning the effective implementation.
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- 2024
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27. Using ChatGPT to Improve Health Communication and Plain Language Writing for Students in Communication Sciences and Disorders
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Bonnie K. Slavych, Samuel R. Atcherson, and Richard Zraick
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Purpose: This article explores the potential of using ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence--powered chatbot, as a tool to teach plain language writing to students in communication sciences and disorders (CSD). It addresses the importance of plain language writing in health care communication and identifies the challenges faced by graduate students in adopting plain language writing. Conclusions: Integrating ChatGPT into CSD education can empower students to develop effective plain language writing skills, with the potential of ultimately improving their communication skills and patient outcomes. The article highlights the potential positive impact of ChatGPT on clinical documentation and health communication, emphasizing the potential to enhance accuracy, consistency, productivity, efficiency, and language accessibility. While considering the limitations and ethical considerations of ChatGPT, the article concludes by emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that combines ChatGPT technology with human instruction to ensure responsible utilization and promote student competency in plain language writing.
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- 2024
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28. Increasing Uptake of Prescription Drug Take-Back Boxes: Eliciting Preferences and Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict Use
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Mary Nelson Robertson, Holli H. Seitz, Laura H. Downey, Alisha M. Hardman, Je'Kylynn S. Steen, and David R. Buys
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This study assesses adults' perceptions of and predictors of intention to use prescription drug take-back boxes. This mixed methods study utilized focus groups and an online survey to examine factors related to intention to use a prescription drug take-back box. This study was conducted in [State] during the spring and summer of 2018. Themes identified in focus group data included the importance of take-back box location, benefits of take-back box use (such as reducing opportunities for medication misuse), and barriers to take-back box use (such as lack of awareness, stigma associated with law enforcement). Survey results indicate that pharmacies are the most preferred take-back box location and that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control are statistically significant predictors of intention to use a take-back box. Results suggest that individuals are open to using take-back boxes in secure, convenient locations, but many arsoe unaware of take-back boxes as an option for safe disposal. These findings have implications for health communication and policy efforts designed to increase the use of take-back boxes for prescription drug disposal.
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- 2024
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29. Embedded Remediation in Journalism & Mass Communication: Exploring Faculty Perceptions of an Experiential Approach
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Andrew M. Abernathy
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Little research exists about embedded remediation (ER) in college journalism and mass communication (JMC) programs. ER could support students who are underprepared for college-level writing. Because ER would affect faculty's professional practice, this study explored its feasibility by investigating JMC faculty perceptions of ER and its feasibility. Qualitative inquiry via focus groups with a purposeful sample (n = 17) was used to explore perceptions and barriers to implementation and a conceptual framework including Experiential Learning Theory and the Teaching-for-Learning model was used in analysis. Four themes were identified: (a) "growing concerns," (b) "externalizing remediation," (c) "institutional challenges," and (d) "taking action."
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- 2024
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30. A Systematic Review of the Pedagogical Roles of Technology in ICT-Assisted Museum Learning Studies
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Türkan Karakus Yilmaz, Elif Meral, and Zeynep Basci Namli
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Technologies used inside and outside museums generate brand new perspectives and learning areas for museum learning. This study analysed 45 empirical studies that included technological tools used in museums as well as those tools that dealt with the museum's visitor's learning achievements. The results of the study show that a variety of cognitive and affective skills have been achieved in ICT-assisted studies. Having different dimensions of interaction, such technologies can be used for different purposes, such as providing general guidance, synthesizing museum learning, consolidating knowledge, designing or experimenting, and/or offering individual experiences with personalized technologies. On the other hand, it appears that technology is still not being used efficiently to the fullest extent of its potential. Therefore, it is recommended that further studies should present more suitable technologies that fit individual differences, have a capacity to increase social interactions, contain enriched specifications, and can be used in a variety of environments.
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- 2024
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31. Beyond Digital Competence and Language Teaching Skills: The Bi-Level Factors Associated with EFL Teachers' 21st-Century Digital Competence to Cultivate 21st-Century Digital Skills
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Amir Reza Rahimi
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In the 21st century, ICT-based teaching has evolved into problem-solving (PS). Therefore, scholars from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) have identified the factors that facilitate such a process in their classes. Therefore, empirical evidence on English language teaching is warranted to uncover what factors shape teachers' professional competence to have such language classes. Thus, putting one step forward, this explanatory study explored the antecedents shaping language teachers' 21st-century digital competence from a bi-level approach. As a result, 863 Iranian EFL teachers who taught English in various areas responded to instruments measuring their ICT-individual characteristics, schools' ICT characteristics, and 21st-century digital competence. The partial least square structural modeling (PLS-SEM) showed that the teachers' connectivity and computer for instruction (CI) in school improved their competence to analyze, browse, and evaluate language learners' problems with it. Regarding their individual aspects, instructors' technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK), information access (IA), and perception of the benefits of ICTs were the main antecedents, leading them to become creative problem-solvers. Having examined the findings, the researcher offers teachers to enhance their approaches beyond teaching language skills with ICT to problem-solving. Curriculum experts should also invest more money and equip their schools with ICTs gadgets, increasing instructors' connectivity and creativity.
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- 2024
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32. Challenges in Achieving Educational Inclusion and Development in the Digital Era: Analysis of Emotions, Barriers and Perceived Needs
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María Mairal-Llebot, Marta Liesa-Orús, and Cecilia Latorre-Cosculluela
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Society is currently immersed in a highly digitalised panorama due to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The educational process is also in a period of constant technological change and renewal. The transformation of education and methodologies can bring positive benefits for students, but also inequalities. This study aims to analyse the perceptions of families of pupils aged 3--18 on how the use of technology influences their children's education in terms of emotions, barriers and needs. It is also intended to study whether the perceived barriers are determined by the underlying needs of the households and/or the emotions they experience from the use of technological resources. Finally, the consequences of perceived barriers on needs are studied. For this purpose, 720 parents completed an online questionnaire. The application of the Structural Equation Model reveals that negative emotions have a positive and significant effect on perceived barriers. On the other hand, a positive and significant effect of perceived barriers on expressed needs is found. The results of the research show the inequalities that ICT generate in the school environment, which are determined by the characteristics of the pupils' family context. Knowing about the situations and perceptions of families is a first step towards carrying out actions to break down barriers and meet needs, the ultimate goal of inclusive education.
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- 2024
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33. Walking Carefully towards Bridging the Gap: Exploring Australian Music Educator Voices about Teaching Indigenous Music
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Dawn Joseph and Brad Merrick
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Facilitating an inclusive pedagogy to close the gap that exists within the teaching of Indigenous Knowledge in Australia is a tall order for many teachers. This paper draws on responses to a national study and explores how music educators include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music and culture into their practice. An online survey (December 2022-February 2023, N=109) informed the findings. Using thematic analysis, two themes (teaching challenges and opportunities, and bridging the gap) are discussed and key recommendations offered. Findings suggest that walking carefully towards bridging the gap is an opportunity for educational change in contemporary Australian classrooms.
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- 2023
34. The Credibility of Newscasts in Public Service Media in Spain
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Soengas-Pérez, Xosé, Rodríguez-Castro, Marta, and Campos-Freire, Francisco
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The audiences of generalist television's newscasts reflect that the viewers' interests and loyalties are constantly changing. Research shows that several elements influence the success of programs and formats, but in this paper, we draw attention to the factors that determine the credibility of newscasts. We also want to know how pluralism is safeguarded in newscasts, as we consider that credibility and pluralism are two intertwined values that influence one another. As credibility is a subjective value, it is required to find new information criteria that is suitable and of the utmost rigor. The main aim is to delve into whether there is a consensus on the basic parameters for the definition, identification, and assessment of credibility of nationwide public service media in Spain. Moreover, we are also interested in whether audience figures can be used to determine the degree of trust of newscasts. The analysis brings forward the observations of researchers, scholars and media professionals that offer a vision on the different approaches that integrate the multiple aspects affecting news consumption and interpretation. We conclude that credibility is a concept composed of multidimensional components, resulting from a process where different filters condition fact perception. That is why a story can have different meanings, related to the different point of views of citizens.
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- 2023
35. Digital Empathy in Online Education: A Comparison Study between Portugal and Romania
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Duarte, Alexandre, Surugiu, Romina, Moraru, Madalina, and Marinescu, Valentina
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This study aims to present the extent to which online education influenced the level of empathy displayed by university students. The research relies on a self-evaluated applied survey in two European countries: Portugal and Romania. The participants in this research are 1,085 students enrolled in Communication Studies programs. The purpose of this study is to unfold the connection between gender, exposure to digital technology, empathy level according to the Basic Empathy Scale applied to young adults, and online education self-perception that involves the use of webcams. Empathy can have positive effects on students' satisfaction and increase students' outcomes. The shift from a physical environment to a digital one brought significant challenges that most students and teachers were not ready for. The digital environment influences how empathy is expressed. The present research found evidence of a relationship between exposure to technology usage, emotional contagion, and gender. This suggests that understanding the emotions of others might be inhibited during digital education. Also, the most relevant factor of empathy variation in online education is gender. The findings of the present research may contribute to the design of activities or programs that could foster empathy expression during online education for young adults.
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- 2023
36. Alignment Report for Ignite by Hatch[TM] to NC Foundations and the NC Standard Course of Study. CEME Technical Report. CEMETR-2023-05
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University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Center for Educational Measurement and Evaluation (CEME), Marah C. Lambert, and Richard G. Lambert
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As part of a graduate student internship, an alignment study was completed for Ignite™ by Hatch®, in partnership between The University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Center for Educational Measurement and Evaluation and Hatch®. Ignite™ has 341 Core games amongst 7 domains to assist early childhood learners: Mathematics, Language and Communication Development, Literacy, Physical Development, Science and Technology, Social Studies, and Social-Emotional Development. This study was completed as part of an initiative to review the program's Core games and their respective alignment with appropriate learning standards. Although Ignite™ is utilized across the country, North Carolina (NC) was used as a case for this study, which serves as an example when considering other states' learning standards. The following items were used when matching game objectives from Ignite™ with corresponding learning standards: (1) NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development; (2) The North Carolina Standard Course of Study -- Kindergarten; (3) The North Carolina Standard Course of Study -- Grade 1; and (4) The North Carolina Standard Course of Study -- Grade 2. [This report was written in partnership with Alexandra Miller.]
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- 2023
37. Smoothing Pathways to Transfer in the Humanities: A Report on the Strengthening Michigan Humanities Project
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Columbia University, Community College Research Center (CCRC), Bickerstaff, Susan, Cho, Selena, Sparks, Daniel, and Fink, John
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This report describes the rationale, goals, and activities of the Strengthening Michigan Humanities (MiHumanities) project, an effort led by the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA) and funded by the Mellon Foundation. The project is designed to strengthen community college transfer pathways in four humanities fields--communication, English, history, and theater--by identifying and using promising strategies to connect community college students to programs of study in these areas and by increasing coordination and curricular alignment between two- and four-year institutions. The authors analyze state administrative data collected by the Michigan Education Data Center to present statistics and trends in community college student course enrollments, transfer, and bachelor's degree completion in a wide array of humanities fields, including the four Strengthening MiHumanities disciplines, and the liberal arts. They also summarize findings from interviews with faculty, staff, and students to highlight promising approaches to strengthening humanities transfer outcomes. An infographic on measures that illustrate the opportunities and challenge of Michigan transfer in the humanities is available inside the report and as a separate document.
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- 2023
38. Identifying Relevant Concepts for the Development of a Communicative Participation Item Bank for Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review of Existing Instruments
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Eline Alons, Laurien Brauner, Margreet Luinge, Caroline B. Terwee, Lizet van Ewijk, and Ellen Gerrits
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Purpose: This study aims to systematically identify items that measure communicative participation from measurement instruments that measure (aspects of) communication and/or participation in children and adolescents (5-18 years old) with communication disorders, for developing an item bank. Method: A systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE and Embase to search for patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) or parent reports measuring aspects of communication and/or participation in children and adolescents. The individual items of the included measurement instruments were reviewed on whether they measure communicative participation. The items were then classified into one of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) for Children and Youth (World Health Organization, 2007) domains of activities and participation. Results: A total of 29 instruments were found, nine PROMs and 20 parent reports. One hundred forty-five items were identified that measure communicative participation. From these 145 items, 74 were retrieved from PROMs (51%), and 71 were retrieved from parent reports (49%). The majority of items were classified in ICF Domain 7, interpersonal interactions and relationships (73.8%), followed by Domain 8, major life areas (13.8%), and Domain 9, community, social, and civic life (8.3%). Only a few items were found in Domains 5 and 6, and none was found in Domains 1, 2, and 4. Conclusions: We identified 145 items potentially useful for developing an item bank addressing communicative participation in children and adolescents with communication disorders. However, item development in collaboration with the target population is needed to ensure that these items fully reflect the construct.
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- 2024
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39. Exploring Online Communication in Self-Identified Autistic Adolescents
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Morgan Oates, Rebecca McCauley, and Allison Bean
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Purpose: Social media sites provide autistic youth a familiar space to interact that is devoid of many of the challenges that accompany face-to-face interactions. As such, it is important to determine whether the linguistic profiles observed during online interactions are consistent with face-to-face interactions. This preliminary study took a step in this direction by examining gender differences observed in autistic adolescents in an online forum to determine whether they are consistent with the emerging body of research investigating linguistic gender differences in autistic adolescents. Method: We analyzed the entries of self-identified autistic adolescents in an online forum to determine whether autistic girls (n = 99) and boys (n = 94) differ in their use of linguistic features as a proportion of total words produced. Transcriptions were coded across discourse, lexical, and semantic features and compared to previous research investigating linguistic gender differences in autistic people. Exploratory comparisons were also made to linguistic gender differences in neurotypical people. Results: Of the linguistic features we examined, three out of four of the gendered usage patterns observed in the online forum language samples were consistent with previous research on face-to-face communication for autistic adolescents. Only one feature out of 12 occurred in the same gender distribution as previous research on neurotypical communication. Conclusions: Autistic girls and boys demonstrate largely consistent gender differences in their language use across in-person and online communication contexts. Interestingly, most of the significant gender differences previously reported in neurotypical communicators were not seen in this sample of autistic adolescents, suggesting that perhaps autistic individuals may linguistically express gender characteristics to a different extent or in a different manner than neurotypical individuals.
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- 2024
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40. The Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of Communication as a Disciplinary Signifier in Australia: After the 'Cultural Turn' and the 'Digital Turn'
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Terry Flew
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Communication as a discipline has a curious double life, being both disavowed in favor of something else, yet remains as a conceptual anchor point for a diverse range of intellectual projects. This argument focuses upon four challenges, or "turns," that communication as a field has experienced: the "cultural turn" associated with cultural studies; the global turn; the "creative turn"; and the "digital turn" associated with the Internet and social media. It is observed that these have been collectively incorporated into a broadened communication field, and that concepts associated with communication remain relevant to other disciplines and fields.
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- 2024
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41. The 'Multimodal Spiral': Rethinking the Communication Curriculum at an English as a Medium of Instruction Institution
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Matthew Overstreet, Curtis Carbonell, and Diana Akhmedjanova
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The rise of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) threatens to upend traditional teaching and learning practices. Writing, speaking, and communication instruction will all need to evolve. This article presents a case study of one institution's efforts to design and implement a communication curriculum responsive to the unique demands of the EMI environment. The curriculum proposed enacts an interdisciplinary, multimodal approach to the teaching of communication. We discuss the specifics of the curriculum, the process of its creation, the principles underlying it, and how these principles play out in practice. In doing so, we hope to provide a model both for global communication instruction and future curricular design efforts.
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- 2024
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42. Algorithms and Communication: A Systematized Literature Review
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García-Orosa, Berta, Canavilhas, João, and Vázquez-Herrero, Jorge
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The influence of algorithms on society is increasing due to their growing presence in all areas of daily life. Although we are not always aware of it, they sometimes usurp the identity of other social actors. The main purpose of this article is to address the meta-research on the field of artificial intelligence and communication from a holistic perspective that allows us to analyze the state of academic research, as well as the possible effects on these areas and on the democratic system. To this end, we carried out a systematized review of recent literature using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The subject analyzed is changing and novel: it includes the impact and interaction of algorithms, bots, automated processes, and artificial intelligence mechanisms in journalism and communication, as well as their effects on democracy. The results show expanding scientific production, mostly in English, based on theoretical discussion or focused on the perception of communication professionals. The object of study is centered mostly on journalism and democracy, and to a lesser degree on ethics or education. Studies indicate great interest in the effects of the use of algorithms on journalism and democracy, but the answers are still uncertain and the challenges for the coming years are significant.
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- 2023
43. Developing International Education -- Classified Display of Chinese Gardens and Landscape Gardens Museum
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Jiang, Shanshan, Li, Xinlong, and Yun, Song
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Background and Aim: Promoting the development of international education is an important international education trend in the world today. It has had or is having a far-reaching impact on the education of all countries in the world, whether it is formal education or non-formal education (Gu, M., 2020). The "Course Plan for Technicians in Museums and Exhibition Halls" is mentioned in the book "Classification of International Education Standards" prepared by the UNESCO Education Statistics Bureau (1998). It can be seen that as early as the initial stage of international education development, the international education undertakings responsible for education, cultural inheritance, and exchange have attracted long-term attention to the museum industry. The combination of international education and museum display education can develop the way of international education, improve the exchange channels of international education, use the intuition and authenticity of museum display education, and improve the communication channels and paths of Chinese culture, which is an important way to improve the soft power of modern countries. Materials and Methods: This study uses descriptive research methods and attribute classification methods to try to classify garden cultural relics. The descriptive research method is simple. It interprets existing phenomena, laws, and theories through its understanding and verification, raises questions in a targeted way, and reveals the drawbacks. The law of attribute classification takes the social and scientific and cultural attributes of cultural relics as the standard to classify cultural relics. That is, the classification method is based on the nature of cultural relics. Cultural relics are the relics of human social activities and have cultural attributes. Therefore, when using the attribute classification method, this study clarifies the use and deep meaning of cultural relics to accurately confirm their nature, and then carry out research. Results: The development of international education is the evolution trend of education for the world and the public. Make good use of the current museum public service facilities education platform to build good communication and communication channels, which is conducive to the development of international education. Conclusion: Based on the existing collection classification principles and characteristics, we will innovate the classification display method, make new attempts to improve the classification display education method, and build a collection classification system in line with the functional positioning, collection attributes, and development planning of the library. It is a useful attempt to combine international education with museum education and museum classification to improve the mode of museum education, implement the essence of the curriculum plan of international education development museums and exhibition halls into specific practical work, and enrich the content of museum education through new exhibition classification.
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- 2023
44. Assessing the Impact of Integrating Information and Communication Technology on Senior High School Students' Achievement in Genetics
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Ebenezer Yeboah Owusu, Joel Azuure Adongo, Emmanuel Boateng Agyare, and Kwaku Appiah-Kubi
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The use of digital technologies in teaching and learning has proven to be effective in aiding students' understanding of difficult concepts. Hence this study sought to find the effectiveness of ICT in teaching concepts of genetics which have been indicated as one of the biology concepts Ghanaian senior high school students find challenging. The study used two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The instrument used for data collection is an achievement test. A pre-test was administered to both groups to ascertain their level of achievement. The groups were then taught genetics, followed by the post-test. The experimental group was taught using ICT tools, while the control group was taught using the traditional teaching method. The research findings revealed that students taught using ICT performed better than those taught by the traditional teaching method. Based on the findings, it was concluded that using ICT tools in teaching genetics could serve as an appropriate means for teaching genetics since it aided in improving students' understanding of genetic concepts. Hence, it is recommended that teachers adopt ICT in their teaching methods rather than the traditional method. Also, school leaders and policymakers should also provide the needed support systems to enhance ICT integration practices.
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- 2023
45. Using a Refutation Text to Increase Dyslexia Knowledge in CSD Undergraduates
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Dorothy Shiver and Hannah Krimm
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The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a refutation text on conceptual knowledge of dyslexia among pre-professional undergraduate students in communication sciences and disorders (CSD). Undergraduate students (n = 60) majoring in CSD were randomly assigned to two groups. They completed a pre-test to evaluate their conceptual knowledge of dyslexia, then read a text about dyslexia. There were two texts: a refutation text and a control text. After reading the text, students completed a post-test to evaluate their conceptual knowledge of dyslexia. Four weeks after completing the post-test, students completed a maintenance test. The refutation text facilitated greater conceptual change about dyslexia than the control text in the short term (i.e., from pre-test to post-test). For both groups, participants' conceptual knowledge of dyslexia decreased between the post-test and maintenance test. However, for both groups, conceptual knowledge of dyslexia was higher at the maintenance time point than it was at the pre-test time point. Refutation texts may be a viable option for facilitating conceptual change among pre-professional speech-language pathologists.
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- 2023
46. The Impact of Faculty Feedback on Student Perceptions of Faculty-Student Relationships
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Lauren Trejo and Sarah M. Ginsberg
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This qualitive study examined four communication sciences and disorders (CSD) graduate students' experiences with feedback from CSD faculty members to understand how it affected their relationships with faculty. Review of the literature revealed the importance and impact of feedback; however, it offered little research examining feedback within the field of CSD. Graduate CSD students who completed their undergraduate degrees in CSD were interviewed to reflect on feedback experiences they received from faculty during their undergraduate and graduate education. The students were also presented with two mock papers with differing feedback styles and were asked their reactions to the feedback. It was discovered that feedback received directly contributed to faculty's overall perceived approachability, with more imbalanced critical feedback increasing the perception of unapproachability towards faculty members. Additionally, the feedback modality, language used, and balance of positive and negative comments strongly influenced participant's perception of the feedback being given as an inherently pleasant or unpleasant.
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- 2023
47. Perception Management of Newspapers: Evaluation of the Relationship between Digital Media and Education
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Sinan Semiler and Nariman Saygili
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Media literacy is an essential area of discussion with its digital competencies and skills, the online opportunities it provides, and the risks it carries. The mobilization of today's media tools, the ability to connect to the network through smartphones regardless of time and place, and easy accessibility have brought new media tools to the centre of our lives. The speed and change in new communication technologies present new opportunities and risks, especially for children and young people. Today, the new media environment and tools have a social role in determining, transforming, shaping and giving new forms to social relations. Communication relationships, online behaviours and attitudes realized by technology are the subjects of many studies. Being constantly networked or connected is essential in young people's social identity construction and carries many risks. The individual who needs to be media literate in the face of traditional media has to be much more conscious and educated in the face of multi-media channels and productions that are renewed and changed with today's digital developments. In this context, structural changes and transformations in information and communication technologies have made it necessary to discuss new media literacy and new literacy skills, online opportunities and risks. As a result of the conceptual discussion, it has been revealed that individuals who have the digital competencies and skills of the 21st century, who can use online opportunities at the maximum level, who are aware of online risks and can minimize them, should be trained with new media literacy education.
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- 2023
48. Surveilling the Web, Mobile, and Language Accessibility of Communication's Digital Presence within Institutions of Higher Education Globally
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Alicia M. Mason, Elizabeth A. Spencer, Megan C. Westhoff, Kristen M. Livingston, and Josh Compton
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This study aims to understand the general web accessibility of digital information networks which may serve as barriers for access to the global discipline of Communication through institutional and departmental websites, specifically for persons with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency (LEP). Our exploratory content analysis relies on computer-aided software to systematically analyze the departmental home pages of websites of institutional members of the International Communication Association (ICA), N = 77, representing 26 countries, globally. Findings from this study help us to: (1) better understand the general web, language, and mobile accessibility of discipline-related online information; (2) identify strengths and opportunities for improvement; and, (3) to reflect upon the anticipated barriers impacting persons with disabilities when accessing higher education information online.
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- 2023
49. Innovating the Communication Pedagogy: An Application of Flipped Classroom Technique in Communication Education
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Yilmaz, Gamze
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As students try to make sense of their college experience and the value of attaining a degree post-pandemic, educators are grappling with finding new methods to re-engage students in the classroom using a range of modalities. This case study explored student reactions to flipped classroom learning experiences, and possible relationship between the flipped classroom technique and academic performance in communication education. As a student-centric pedagogical method, the flipped classroom can offer a promising remedy for student disengagement, and the findings of this study provide supporting evidence for this conclusion. Students characterized flipped classroom as a very favorable learning experience as it (1) motivated and engaged them in the course, (2) encouraged them to make creative connections across course topics, (3) provided a self-paced, flexible learning environment, and (4) facilitated an authentic experience with the course material for deeper learning. Additionally, the quantitative analysis suggested that flipped classroom may have connections to students' academic performance in a human communication and technology course. The findings are discussed within the framework of engagement theory, and pedagogical implications are advanced for future practices of flipped classroom within communication pedagogy, particularly as a tool to address increasing student disengagement after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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- 2023
50. A Diachronic Analysis of Prospect Theory in the Thai Online News during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Corpus-Driven Study
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Panyaatisin, Kosin, Piyapasuntra, Suthasinee, and Angkapanichkit, Jantima
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This study aims to investigate the linguistic strategies used in public health communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the regulations stipulated by the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) of Thailand. A corpus of 1.4 million words was retrieved from Thai online mainstream news media written in Thai, and systematically randomized to analyze news content from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021. The framework used for analyzing language was the prospect theory, also known as the message-framing effects. This theory refers to choices that are framed or conditioned by language codes that manipulate changes in people's behaviors. Sentences or clauses designated as "one cause" and "one effect" were analyzed based on syntactic criteria, such as causative construction. The framing effect can be divided into two groups: the effect framed by GAIN (positive result) and its counterpart, LOSS (negative result). It was found that the most favorable linguistic strategy was "GAIN" (63%), reflecting positive messages. Based on linguistic evidence, it appears that Thai conventional media convey positive messages, which encompass prevention, risk-aversion, and positive attitude cultivation. The use of gain-framed language devices by agencies may reflect their attempts to generate positive emotions and gain people's trust during stressful situations, as well as to express sympathy and politely respond to the audiences. All things considered, the use of gain-framed-message strategies in Thailand plays a role in pandemic management and protection, contributing to the highly acclaimed and effective public health system it has accorded.
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- 2023
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