Information Technology And Constructivism In Higher Education Progressive Learning Frameworks

"This volume is grounded in the thesis that information technology may offer the only viable avenue to the implementation of constructivist and progressive educational principles in higher education, and that the numerous efforts now under way to realize these principles deserve examination and evaluation"--Provided by publisher.

In this volume the authors document examples of programmes/courses/activities that are designed intentionally to build students' capacity to be integrative thinkers and learners. In doing so they try to analyse and name the learning that is taking place, and so make it visible to the reader. The work is intended as a resource for all those involved in teaching and student learning in Higher Education and beyond. The ultimate goal is to ensure that students in higher education can make meaningful connections within and between disciplines, for example by integrating on-campus and off-campus learning experiences, and tying together and synchronising different perspectives and ways of knowing. This paper contains the following chapters: (1) Drawing on Medical Students' Representations to Illuminate Concepts of Humanism and Professionalism in Newborn Medicine (C. Anthony Ryan); (2) Integrative Learning in a Law and Economics Module (John Considine); (3) Making Connections for Mindful Inquiry: Using Reflective Journals to Scaffold an Autobiographical Approach to Learning in Economics (Daniel Blackshields); (4) Integrative Learning on a Criminal Justice Degree Programme (Sinead Conneely and Walter O'Leary); (5) The Use of Learning Journals in Legal Education as a Means of Fostering Integrative Learning through Pedagogy and Assessment (Shane Kilcommins); (6) Beyond Wikipedia and Google: Web-Based Literacies and Student Learning (James G.R. Cronin); (7) Archetype or for the Archive? Are Case Histories Suitable for Assessing Student Learning? (Martina Kelly, Deirdre Bennett and Suin O'Flynn); (8) The Arts in Education as an Integrative Learning Approach (Marian McCarthy); (9) Assessing the Role of Integrated Learning in the BSc International Field Geosciences (IFG) at University College Cork, Ireland (Pat Meere); (10) The Confluence of Professional Legal Training, ICT and Language Learning towards the Construction of Integrative Teaching and Learning (Maura Butler); (11) Integrative Learning with High Fidelity Simulation and Problem-Based Learning: An Evaluative Study (Nuala Walshe, Sinead O'Brien, Angela Flynn, Siobhan Murphy and Irene Hartigan); (12) Facilitating Learning through an Integrated Curriculum Design Driven by Problem-Based Learning: Perceptions of Speech and Language Therapy (Catharine Pettigrew); (13) Building Student Attributes for Integrative Learning (Bettie Higgs); and (14) End-Game: Good Beginnings are Not the Only Measure of Success (C. Anthony Ryan, Bettie Higgs and Shane Kilcommins). Each chapter contains tables/figures and references.

Teaching models that focus on blended and virtual learning have become important during the past year and have become integral for the continuance of learning. The i²Flex classroom model, a variation of blended learning, allows non-interactive teaching activities to take place without teachers’ direct involvement, freeing up time for more meaningful teacher-student and student-student interactions. There is evidence that i²Flex leads to increased student engagement and motivation as well as better exploitation of teachers’ and classroom time leading to the development of higher order cognitive skills as well as study skills for students' future needs related to citizenship, college, and careers. The Handbook of Research on K-12 Blended and Virtual Learning Through the i²Flex Classroom Model focuses not only on how to design, deliver, and evaluate courses, but also on how to assess teacher performance in a blended i2Flex way at the K12 level. The book will discuss the implementation of the i²Flex (isquareFlex), a non-traditional learning methodology, which integrates internet-based delivery of content and instruction with faculty-guided, student-independent learning in combination with face-to-face classroom instruction aiming at developing higher order cognitive skills within a flexible learning design framework. While highlighting new methods for improving the classroom and learning experience in addition to preparing students for higher education and careers, this publication is an essential reference source for pre-service and in-service teachers, researchers, administrators, educational technology developers, and students interested in how the i2Flex model was implemented in classrooms and the effects of this learning model.

The surge in enrollment for online courses is continually increasing. However, beneath the convenience lies a challenge that demands a resolution. Educators, administrators, and instructional designers must ensure that the human element is not lost in the virtual corridors of learning. Students with diverse backgrounds and learning needs require more than a simple virtual classroom. Research reveals a concerning trend: high attrition rates in online courses, often attributed to a lack of engagement and insufficient human interaction. To reverse this trend, deliberate measures must be taken to humanize the online learning environment. This book provides several solutions, offering an array of tools and strategies to promote engagement and infuse the human touch into online spaces. To confront this multi-layered challenge, it becomes paramount to undertake deliberate measures aimed at humanizing the online learning environment. Humanizing Online Teaching and Learning in Higher Education steps forward as a guide, offering an extensive array of tools and strategies meticulously crafted to foster student engagement and infuse the essential human touch into the digital educational landscape.

"This book examines the benefits and costs associated with the utilization of technology-mediated instructional environments, recognizing that instructional technology could offer alternative means of communication for understanding"--Provided by publisher.

This book aims to provide an overview of theoretical and practical considerations in terms of self-directed multimodal learning within the university context. Multimodal learning is approached in terms of the levels of multimodality and specifically blended learning and the mixing of modes of delivery (contact and distance education). As such, this publication will provide a unique snapshot of multimodal practices within higher education through a self-directed learning epistemological lens. The book covers issues such as what self-directed multimodal learning entails, mapping of specific publications regarding blended learning, blended learning in mathematics, geography, natural science and computer literacy, comparative experiences in distance education as well as situated and culturally appropriate learning in multimodal contexts. This book provides a unique focus on multimodality in terms of learning and delivery within the context of self-directed learning. Therefore, the publication would not only advance the scholarship of blended and open distance learning in South Africa, but also the contribute to enriching the discourse regarding self-direction. From this book readers will get an impression of the latest trends in literature in terms of multimodal self-directed learning in South Africa as well as unique empirical work being done in this regard.

The use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in education has revolutionized learning. Shifting beyond traditional mode of education, the integration of ICTs has become an advantage for students at tertiary education when used for the right purpose to enhance learning. The use of technology brings forth a flexible and accessible mode of education and bridges the gap of learning across borders. This enables students at tertiary level to have access to other universities and academic resource materials globally, thereby expanding their knowledge. Thus, it is crucial to consider the development of technology in education as part of a comprehensive pedagogical framework and take into account new developments in ICTs. ICT-Based Assessment, Methods, and Programs in Tertiary Education is an essential research publication that provides relevant theoretical frameworks and recent empirical research findings on integrating ICTs in tertiary education to enhance learning and allow students to take more control of their learning. Highlighting topics such as assessment, language learning, and e-learning, this book is ideal for teachers, professionals, academicians, researchers, administrators, curriculum designers, instructional designers, and students.

In the digital era, users from around the world are constantly connected over a global network, where they have the ability to connect, share, and collaborate like never before. To make the most of this new environment, researchers and software developers must understand users’ needs and expectations. Social Media and Networking: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications explores the burgeoning global community made possible by Web 2.0 technologies and a universal, interconnected society. With four volumes of chapters related to digital media, online engagement, and virtual environments, this multi-volume reference is an essential source for software developers, web designers, researchers, students, and IT specialists interested in the growing field of digital media and engagement. This four-volume reference includes various chapters covering topics related to Web 2.0, e-governance, social media activism, internet privacy, digital and virtual communities, e-business, customer relationship management, and more.