This article examines Active Engagement, Active Communication, and Peer Engagement learning practices among various student groups. It examines which tools are most important for increasing student satisfaction with web-based and web-enhanced instruction. Second, it looks at how different tools lead to greater satisfaction among different types of students (undergraduate, master’s level, and doctoral level). Data were collected from 491 participants who answered an identical learning styles survey about technology-based pedagogical tools. This study revealed that students enrolled in web-based courses taught by one professor demonstrate high levels of satisfaction in courses that provide active, engaging learning environments.
Tag: undergraduate students
“Why did I get a C?”: Communicating Student Performance Using Standards-Based Grading
Standards-based grading, an alternative form of grading in which a student’s achievement is based on their performance on a clearly defined set of standards rather than on their performance on tests and assignments, is commonplace in K-12 education but has been slow to catch on in higher education. This article presents an example of how standards-based grading was implemented in two sections of an undergraduate course on assessment to add clarity to the meaning of students’ grades. The author reflects on lessons learned from implementation including the benefits and challenges posed by adopting the practice.
Mindfulness and Gratitude: Does It Really Make a Difference for College Students?
Mindfulness is the intentional and nonjudgmental awareness of all thoughts, feelings, and sensations that occur in the present moment. Mindfulness has also been associated with higher levels of quality of life, sleep quality and duration, and life satisfaction and happiness (Chavan et al., 2017). Similarly, gratitude is a tendency toward appreciating the positive in life. It also has been associated with well-being, such as reducing anxiety, stress and depression, and increased life satisfaction (Lindor, 2019). This article takes these findings and explores them to determine whether consistent mindfulness activities and gratitude practices make a difference in the lives of college students, leading to a reduction in anxiety, stress, and uncertainty, as well as an increased ability to be present and to feel appreciation for their current lives.