Postsecondary Knowledge Ecologies
Learning Experiences in Higher Education for Students Who Are Hard of Hearing : A Case Study of a South African University
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Diane Bell
Students who are hard of hearing (HOH) are being granted access to university increasingly, yet they remain significantly under-represented and under-supported, often resulting in poor academic outcomes with elevated levels of attrition. This situation places a growing obligation on universities to improve the support provided to these students in order to have a positive influence on their overall academic experience and eventual economic independence. This trend is relevant to South Africa, where Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are accepting and registering students with a hearing loss but are not providing adequate, academic support and inclusive curricula. Furthermore, in South Africa, almost no research has been conducted concerning students who are HOH in higher education regarding their teaching and learning needs or the coping strategies which they use to survive academically. However, what is known is that, of those HOH students who do enter higher education, many do not graduate successfully (up to 75%) and, of those that do graduate, many continue to be excluded from professions. The aims of this article were to report on the teaching and learning experiences of students who are HOH at a South African university, who prefer to make use of spoken language, to share the daily barriers with which they are faced, and to provide recommendations for teaching and learning, as well as curricula transformation. This study adds to the existing body of knowledge on this topic in South Africa and could be relevant in similar contexts.
Exploring Blended Learning for Teaching Educational Statistics at Arabian Gulf University
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Alajab Ismail
Many postgraduate students face difficulties in learning of educational statistics topics because of the mathematical nature of these topics. Adopting innovative learning technologies has opened up a whole range of options to extend the learning strategies in higher education and support students` learning outcomes. The current study aimed to assess the effectiveness of adopting a blended learning approach with 18 masters’ students who enrolled in two postgraduate courses in statistics taught at the Arabian Gulf University Distance Teaching & Training Master Program in Bahrain. The courses were enrolled as Blended Learning with the CGS Moodle Learning Management System during the second semester of the Academic Year 2018/2019. Participants were assessed using online quizzes, 2 written tests, two assignments; one in descriptive and other inferential statistics, one open book exam and final examination. Data analysis revealed that the blended learning approach helped the student to learn the course content i.e. (students grades ranged from B+ to A). Learning a stratification survey administered at the end of the course revealed a high degree of satisfaction with the course material and the teaching approach used for teaching the course cont. In conclusion, blended learning is feasible for statistics courses and is beneficial to both students and instructors.
Investigating College of Law Students Attitudes towards Learning English as a Second Language
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Ameera Hussein
The aim of the present study is to assess the attitudes of Kingdom University College of Law students towards the English language. The study utilized a survey quantitative research methodology. The population of the study consists of students who majored in law and study English as a foreign language at a private university in Bahrain. The sample consists of 50 students (29 male and 21 female) students determined by purposive sampling method. The study collected the needed data using attitudes towards the English language scale developed by the author. Data analysis revealed that law students at Kingdom University possessed positive attitudes towards English as a second language, i.e.(their average attitudes found to be above average with a mean of 3.55 out of 5.00); it was also found that no statistical differences in attitudes towards English langue due to students’ gender (female, male). It was found that female students’ attitudes towards the English Language found to be less compared to male students. A notable result is that there is a strong correlation between student’s GPA and attitudes towards the English language; students with a high GPA possess positive attitudes towards the English language. Based on these results, the study recommended developing enrichment programs and workshops to enhance kingdom University law student’s attitudes and redeveloping the English language at Kingdom University based on subject and students needs.
Measuring the Level and Cost of Medical Students’ Attrition in Nigerian Universities
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session "wlifred" "iguodala"
Nigeria desires increased medical education for the production of medical personnel for the nation’s hospitals. Government and other proprietors of medical schools have in the recent past made remarkable efforts to expand access to medical schools. One of such efforts is to increase the carrying capacities of medical schools in universities across the country. This notwithstanding, several students soon after enrollment in the schools withdraw from the programme. A high attrition rate can affect the academic reputation of a medical school, staff morale and even have unwholesome consequences on both the dropout and society. The study is to ascertain the rate of attrition and determine the cost implication in the University of Benin. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study that included quantitative analysis of completed cohorts in addition to qualitative analysis of ten-year data. Data were collected from individual students’ files, examination and admission records. Statistical analysis was carried out on six (6) successive cohorts. Quantitative data from the student files were transcribed and independently analysed. Based on data analysis, the attrition rate was 37.2% in 6 completed cohorts. Male students had the highest attrition rate (48.6%) compared to females (26.3%). The study recommended among others that the university management should formulate workable policies and ensure proper implementation to encourage retention of students in the medical school.
