Add BrightSurf on Google Email

New approaches for teaching science remotely arise from the COVID-19 crisis

A new paper explores effective methods for teaching science remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, including experiential hands-on activities, interactive labs, and environmental science research projects. These approaches enhanced student engagement, collaboration, and learning outcomes, despite the challenges of remote instruction.

SourceNew York University·JournalJournal of Microbiology and Biology Education·DateApr 27, 2021

Pandemic lockdowns boost, democratize online education

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a 38% increase in new users and a 6% increase in engagement among existing users of DataCamp's platform. This shift in behavior was observed across all demographic groups, suggesting that online learning can provide an accessible environment for learning new skills.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 22, 2021

University students with special educational needs highlight the benefits of e-assessment

A study by Universitat Oberta de Catalunya found that students with disabilities accept e-authentication systems but express concerns about technical issues. Key factors influencing acceptance include student familiarity with technology, additional effort required, and perceived intrusiveness.

SourceUniversitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)·JournalInternational Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education·DateMar 3, 2021

Online courses reinforce inequalities

A study by Université de Genève found that online courses deepen inequalities between high-potential and struggling students by 5%. The research suggests that different behaviour patterns, such as preferring face-to-face classes or streaming, contribute to these disparities.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalJournal of the European Economic Association·DateJan 19, 2021

How to talk about death and dying

A new study by palliative care specialists found that participants in an online course could use more pleasant words to express their feelings about death. The course aimed to change perspectives on death and dying, enabling better planning for end-of-life care.

SourceFlinders University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 6, 2021

AI teachers must be effective and communicate well to be accepted, new study finds

Researchers at the University of Central Florida found that students are more likely to accept an AI teaching assistant if it is effective and easy to communicate with. The study suggests that designing AI teachers to facilitate positive learning experiences requires understanding how students relate to these systems.

SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalInternational Journal of Human-Computer Interaction·DateOct 30, 2020

Five key factors for improving team learning in distance education

The redesigned course overcomes obstacles of collaborative learning online, including teacher confidence, student resistance, and plagiarism. The five key elements - student-focused and active, structured in phases, multi-format, 360 assessment, and proactive online professor - improve student satisfaction and teamwork skills.

SourceUniversitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)·JournalAmerican Journal of Distance Education·DateOct 21, 2020

Editorial: COVID-19 pandemic likely to result in lasting changes to medical school curricula

The COVID-19 pandemic will lead to a shift towards more flexible and adaptable medical school curricula, incorporating online education and new topics such as telemedicine and health equity. Accrediting agencies must adapt to these changes to ensure students are prepared for future pandemics and complex medical scenarios.

Initial motivation, a key factor for learning in massive open online courses

Researchers from the University of Seville found that initial motivation is related to individual differences in drop-out probability and satisfaction with the learning experience. The study suggests designing personalized learning plans based on a good initial diagnosis of students' learning intentions and motivational profiles.

SourceUniversity of Seville·JournalEducational Technology Research and Development·DateApr 28, 2020

National online education platforms could make STEM degrees more affordable, Russia-based study shows

A Russia-based study found that national online education platforms can significantly lower instruction costs for STEM courses, allowing resource-constrained universities to enroll more students. The study also discovered that blended instruction formats offer the greatest cost savings of 19.2% for one course and 15.4% for another.

Online education platforms could scale high-quality STEM education for universities

A multi-site study found that online and blended instruction produced similar learning outcomes to traditional in-person classes, with students scoring higher on course assignments but reporting slightly lower satisfaction. The study also showed significant cost savings, with blended instruction lowering costs by 15-19% and fully onlin...

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 8, 2020

STEM students learn as well online as in classrooms

A study by Cornell University found that STEM students learned equally well in online courses as they did in traditional classroom settings, with significant cost savings. The research, which tracked over 300 students in Russia, showed that online courses can deliver the same learning outcomes at a fraction of the cost.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 8, 2020

Chemistry education goes online

Experts emphasize the importance of using accessible technology, maintaining short lecture lengths, and adapting exams to online platforms. Online instructors also share strategies for building rapport with students from a distance, including regular email communication and conversational teaching styles.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateApr 1, 2020

The Lancet Planetary Health: Despite growing burden of diet-related disease, medical education does not equip students to provide high quality nutritional care to patients

A systematic review of 24 studies finds that medical education lacks nutrition knowledge and skills, leading to inadequate care for patients. Researchers call for improved nutrition education integration into the curriculum, benchmarking of nutrition knowledge, and increased funding for innovative initiatives.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Planetary Health·DateSep 18, 2019