Studies in Learning and Teaching
Latest Publications

This study analyzed the content of YouTube news clips on elderly teachers concerning emergency online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using traditional content analysis, the included news videos were transcribed, interview segments were translated and familiarized, dominant words were identified, data were coded, categorized, and themed. Four dominant words were highlighted: online, students, teachers, and pandemic. Three themes on technical challenges and support needs, health issues, and resilience emerged in the analysis. Results show that elderly teachers are persistent to adapt to emergency online learning despite the struggles they are facing. The analysis also highlights the negative effects of the sudden shift to emergency online learning on the physical and psychological health of elderly teachers. Furthermore, the elderly teachers, are ensuring students’ access to education even at their own cost. Implications to the country’s quality of education and suggestions of providing better technical and psychological health support to elderly teachers were presented.

The present study aimed to assess Sri Lankan school students’ perceptions on the experience of participating in remote learning activities (RLA) available to them during the time of COVID-19 pandemic. This study was conducted as a survey. Using the exponential non-discriminative snowball sampling technique, data were collected from 613 school students through a questionnaire administered as a Google Form. Data were analyzed as mean values, standard deviations, and percentages. Analysis of data revealed that majority of respondents (92%) were well aware of the various RLA. Majority of the respondents (62.6%) used mobile internet and 69.5% used prepaid services. The main challenges they faced were related to affordability, heavy load of educational content presented through RLA, and concerns on cyber security when engaging with RLA. To make opportunities for learning more accessible to learners, it is recommended that mobile data be made available to school students at low costs and all educational programs should be made available to them free of charge. In addition, devices such as tablets should be provided to all students in order to ensure equality of access to education. Further, studies on parents’ and teachers’ experiences with their children’s and students’ learning through RLA would complement the findings of this study.

The purpose of this research was to see how effective the Problem Based Learning (PBL) based Socioscientific Issues (SSI) is at improving critical thinking skills. The sample used was grade seven in SMPN 4 Lamongan with 2 classes and each class contains 15 students. The design of the learning materials trial used  One-Group pre-test post-test design. Tests of critical thinking skills and student answer sheets were used to collect data. Techniques of data analysis used N-gain, paired t-test, and independent t-test. The result of this research is as follows: The effectiveness in terms of the critical thinking skills test the category increase is high, there is a significant difference between the test before and after learning with PBL based SSI and there is no difference N-gain in the two group classes and students' responses are classified as very good. Based on data analysis, it can be concluded that PBL with SSI is effective to improve critical thinking skills. The implications of this study are PBL-based SSI has the potential to be an innovative solution and alternative for improving critical thinking skills.

In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the present study aimed to examine students’ perceptions of online learning environments and students’ satisfaction based on their academic stream. The study also investigated the impact of students’ perceptions of online learning environments on students’ satisfaction. A quantitative descriptive survey method was applied. This study included 230 students (130 undergraduate and 100 postgraduate students) from colleges and universities of West Bengal. Online Learning Environments Survey, an adapted and translated (Bengali) version of the Distance Education Learning Environments Survey (DELES) by Scott L Walker (2003), was used for collecting data. For data analysis, statistical techniques, ANOVA and regression analysis were performed. The results revealed significant mean differences among arts, commerce, and science students’ perceptions of online learning environments in the dimensions of student interaction and collaboration, personal relevance, authentic learning, active learning, and student autonomy except in instructor support. Furthermore, a significant mean difference in student satisfaction was found based on the academic stream. The result revealed that overall students’ perceptions of online learning environments had a significant impact on student satisfaction, with student interaction and collaboration being the most significant predictor of all; however, instructor support, active learning, and student autonomy were not found to be significant predictors of student satisfaction.

Traditional perspectives on monolingual education and total immersion have been substituted by more novel approaches to multilingual education such as translanguaging and partial immersion where the learners’ language repertoire is paid adequate respect. The present study investigates the role of L1 and L2 in teaching Chinese in Sri Lanka using 42 adult Chinese language learners in Sri Lanka as informants and a structured questionnaire was used as the main data collection tool. The informants have a highly divided perspective towards the use of L1 and L2 in the classroom. Most students have favored English instruction considering its efficacy in career prospects and Sinhala for convenience of comprehension. Considering the existing situation of Chinese language textbooks, language policy, and recent trends in multilingualism in Sri Lanka, total immersion is less likely to bring optimal effectiveness in teaching Chinese. The present study suggests that partial immersion and translanguaging would be more constructive for Sri Lankan students if cautiously handled with less hindrance to the delivery of target language content and its accuracy. A multilingual approach would, on one hand, offer a safe space for students to communicate while penetrating cross-cultural barriers through cultivation of culture-sensitivity.

This study aimed to improve the students’ critical thinking ability through learning activities using a science e-magazine of socioscientific issues-based inquiry model on additive and addictive material. This study used a one-group pretest-posttest design. This study also investigated the validity, practicality, and effectiveness of the science e-magazine of socioscientific issues-based inquiry model on the students’ critical thinking abilities. Data collection techniques used validation, observation, and test. The average students’ critical thinking ability was seen from the overall n-gain score of 0.34 in moderate criteria. The data analysis technique was intended to find out the improvement of critical thinking using paired sample t-test with sig result that was 0.000, so that if H0 is rejected, it means there was an increase in the ability of critical thinking students on VIII A class at Junior High School 1 Pamekasan after the learning activities. Students’ responses and implementation were analyzed using descriptive analysis. E-magazine development was accompanied by the compiling of other learning tools such as syllabus, lesson plan, student worksheet, and critical thinking tests. E-magazine was saved in pdf format, making it easier for students to read them on smartphones or laptops. The average response of students to the learning activities was 80% and to the e-magazine was 80%.

This research aims to analyze the practicality of developing a mobile training management model to improve the quality of education and training outcomes for coastal communities in East Java at the Surabaya Shipping Polytechnic. This study uses a qualitative approach that is based on the philosophy of positivism. Research subjects are employees who are involved in the implementation of the training, management experts who are masters in their fields and understand the training activities. This development research uses three kinds of data collection methods, namely observation, interviews, and documentation. The research procedure used development adapted from Borg and Gall. Based on the research analysis, it can be concluded that the development of a mobile training management model to improve the quality of the training results is practical. The practicality of the mobile training model is shown by a very good category of assessment responses by expert users of mobile training management model development product users and the audience. Then results of the product trial to the community received some input and suggestions on some of the findings of obstacles to the application of the model. This research implies that it can be used as a guideline by coastal communities to improve the quality of safety during shipping

This study sought to address burnout syndrome during the COVID-19 global pandemic among visual art teachers in Ghana. The startling intricacies of COVID-19 burnout among Visual Art Teachers (VAT) in Ghana were discovered using an exploratory research approach. 112 participants were surveyed across Senior High Schools Visual Art Teachers in Ghana. Data were analyzed using t-test, regression, and analysis of variance test (F test) to determine whether there were significant differences between the burnout levels and demographic factors. The findings revealed that, the only effects of the burnout that are statistically significant on gender are reduction in productivity or efficacy in teaching difference (t=-4.41, p=0.00(p<0.05)), Sleep disorders (t= -3.22, p=0.02(p<0.05)), short temper (t=-2.84, p=0.006(p<0.05)) and health consequences (t=3.36, p=0.001(p<0.05)). The ANOVA was significant between burnout negative effect among education level F (3, 108) =2.983, p= .035. However, the ANOVA was insignificant between burnout causes, effects, and preventive strategies scores and the ages of the teachers. The findings revealed that the majority of suggestions for burnout prevention fall under the category of personal changes. The study contends that though job responsibilities are high, the primary idea is that individuals have a larger role to play in preventing burnout.

The 2013 curriculum aims to form students who are ready to face the 21st century so that the 2013 curriculum is not only taught about aspects of knowledge but also aspects of skills. Thinking skills are the skills used in the 2013 curriculum, where one of the thinking skills students need is expertise in analytical thinking. These skills are necessary for science learning. Analytical thinking skills can be improved if the teacher trains them correctly, both from the learning model and learning strategies. This study examines learning models and learning tools that can improve analytical thinking skills. Learning based on inquiry learning is expected to improve students' analytical thinking skills. The findings of this study, it is known that inquiry-based models and tools can improve analytical thinking skills because they start from a problem. The problems given are then discussed with the group to find information that fits the situation and find ways to solve the problem nicely by conducting experiments or observations, then summing up the results obtained and communicating them well. Analytical thinking skills are closely related to problem-solving. So with analytical thinking skills, students will quickly identify and solve a problem.

This study purpose to know the effect of LKPD to facilitate group investigation cooperatives in improving students' science process skills in learning science material for object motion in class VIII MTs Al Miftah Modung for the 2020/2021 academic year. This research is experimental research using a Quasi-Experimental research design. The sample used was all students of class VIII as many as 20 students. The analysis technique of hypothesis testing students' science process skills using Free sample t-test with SPSS version 20.00 program. The results of hypothesis testing students' science process skills were obtained score –ttable ≤ tcount ≥ ttable (-2.262 ️ ≤ 5.071 ≥️ 2,262) then Ho is rejected and Ha is accepted. The average percentage of implementation is 90.25% with a very good category. the average student response questionnaire is 94% with a very good category. Based on the results of the data analysis, it can be concluded that there is an influence of LKPD to facilitate group investigation in improving science process skills for students.