Monitoring Elementary School Students Achievement using Android-based RESTful Web Service

There are still many elementary schools that have not implemented an information system for processing student grades online because of the assumption that this is still not needed, even though in fact the use of computerized information systems can help schools in improving the academic process to be more effective and efficient. Information systems with web-based applications that are now often found still have shortcomings, namely the mobility of their use is still lacking compared to Android-based applications which are now easier to use and access anywhere. The use of web applications as a means for teachers to input values as well as an android application as a means for parents to be able to monitor their children's academic scores is considered to be the most appropriate solution in implementing this information system, but differences in platforms between Android and the web make it difficult for data to be integrated with each other. Therefore we need an interoperability system in order to integrate applications from different platforms. Then an android based academic score monitoring application was made with RESTful web service. The selection of the RESTful web service system itself is because this system applies the concept of a client server where the server to be created is a web-based application that is used by the school to input student grades, and the client application is an android application intended for parents / guardians of students to get information regarding the value of his child. The output of this research is an application system for monitoring the academic scores of elementary school students by implementing the RESTful web service system in its application as well as the results of the application testing questionnaire based on the usability aspect of the application with the final result of the application eligibility percentage of 87%.Keywords: Monitoring Student Values, Platforms, Information Systems.

Evaluation of Learner vs. Teacher Centered Syllabi in Construction Management Courses: An Initial Investigation

Research indicates that retention and performance of undergraduate students increases when they perceive a cooperative and supportive educational community. The course syllabus is one of the first opportunities to influence student perception on their educational experience. Literature on syllabi suggests that learner-centered syllabi yield more positive student perceptions of teachers and the course as compared to traditional teacher-centered syllabi. Current research on the impacts of different syllabi constructs within construction education is lacking, and no studies could be found on whether these perceptions translate to student grades. This study used action research to better understand the impact of a learner-centered syllabus vs. a teacher-centered syllabus in an undergraduate construction management program. Student perception, faculty perception and student grades were measured between the learner-centered class and the teacher-centered class. The data was collected from four different classes, split among two courses, and taught by two faculty over the spring 2020 semester. Results suggested that the learner-centered syllabi appeared to motivate student engagement as well as impact both, the first impressions of the instructor and teacher-student relationship. However, it showed no difference in student grades.

Implementasi Pembelajaran Online dalam Meningkatkan Pemahaman Siswa di Masa Pandemi Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a fairly large impact, one of which is in the world of education, so the government issued a policy for the implementation of online learning, this is a big challenge for educators so that students can understand learning even by carrying out online learning. This study uses qualitative research, using observation, interviews, and documentation methods, and using data analysis, namely data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions.The results of this study indicate that the implementation of online learning in improving students' understanding of PAI subjects during the covid-19 pandemic. Its implementation it is in accordance with the plans that have been made by teachers such as lesson plans, syllabus, annual programs, and has used methods, strategies and media adapted to students, although there are obstacles but during learning Islamic Religious Education there is no decrease in learning outcomes or a decrease in student grades, the average score of students is 80 both in offline learning and in online learning.

Gamified lessons support molecular genetics education of first year biology students during COVID-19 lockdown

This study compared the associated impact of gamified molecular genetics lessons on undergraduate student grades for pre-COVID-19 blended delivery and COVID-19 online only delivery of a first-year biology course. When the molecular genetics gamified lessons were used by on- and off-campus students to support their learning, most students had successful learning outcomes in either blended or online only learning environments. In contrast, students who chose not to use these lessons had significantly greater failure rates for both the molecular biology and the genetics short answer questions in the final invigilated exams. Importantly, there was noticeable gamified lesson fatigue observed by both on- and off-campus students and therefore when incorporating gamified lessons into courses, curriculum design needs to be carefully considered. In conclusion, the use of gamified lessons was associated with significantly reduced student failure rates for molecular genetics concepts studied in a university foundational biology course.

Increasing student grades in large online subjects: Combining tutorial support with technology

Three large first-year undergraduate subjects with 240-517 enrolled students were selected to participate in this pilot study. A meeting scheduling tool was embedded in the learning management system and thirty-minute, one-on-one tutorial sessions were available to students in the 2 weeks leading up to the due date of at least one large written task. Thirty one percent (31%) of enrolled students attended at least one appointment with a tutor. There was no difference in the average assessment mark that students obtained before the first tutorial was offered between those who attended a tutorial session for a later assessment item and those who did not. There was a significant increase in the average cumulative grade (10%, p<0.05) of students who attended a tutorial. The novel use of the calendar booking tool combined with online meeting technology provides a simple and convenient method to provide personalised feedback to a large cohort of students.

ADEGA: Análise de Dados Estatísticos da Grade Acadêmica

Este artigo descreve o sistema ADEGA (Análise de Dados Estatísticos da Grade Acadêmica). Os sistemas de gestão acadêmica, aplicativos utilizados por instituições de ensino para fazer o acompanhamento acadêmico de alunos, normalmente não fornecem maiores funcionalidades do que um repositório de notas e frequências de alunos. Desse modo, o ADEGA tem como objetivo auxiliar a gestão de coordenações de curso de instituições de ensino superior, utilizando o histórico de notas e frequências para fornecer dados e gráficos com informações relevantes e que não costumam ser abordadas em outros sistemas, como uma lista de alunos em risco de jubilamento, um quadro comparativo entre reprovações por disciplina, entre outras. AGEGA (Academic Grid Statistical Data Analysis)This paper describes the ADEGA system (Academic Grid Statistical Data Analysis). The academics management systems, applications used by educational institutions to monitor students academically, usually don’t provide greater functionality than a repository of student grades and attendance. Therefore, ADEGA aims to assist in the management of higher education institution’s course coordination, it uses the history of grades and attendance to provide data and graphics with relevant information that don’t usually are included in other systems, like a risk of academic retirement’s list, a comparative chart of failures by subjects, among others.

Gamification as a Strategy to Increase Motivation and Engagement in Higher Education Chemistry Students

In the last year, educational experiences have become increasingly challenging due to teaching classes remotely. For this reason, it has been necessary to develop educational strategies that accompany the use of new technologies to maintain student interest. One of these methodologies is gamification, implemented in school environments more frequently due to the pandemic and whose impact on student motivation and engagement needs to be explored. The literature shows that student participation in these contexts should be increased when applying this methodology, where teachers can also provide greater support. This research proposes improving these aspects by developing a gamification strategy that can be easily replicated in other environments. This study was carried out for a chemistry course at a university in central Mexico. This proposal details the short-, medium-, and long-term bonuses which stimulated and motivated students and achieved specific objectives. We also present the quantitative results of a questionnaire applied to 48 engineering students to identify their perceptions of how gamification could increase motivation and engagement in learning the subject of chemistry. In addition, pre- and post-knowledge tests were applied to determine whether there were changes in the learning outcomes. The results indicated that gamification increased student motivation and engagement, improved attitudes, promoted actions such as keeping the camera on during lectures and regular attendance, and improved student grades. This study fills the need for planning strategies to help improve student motivation in online classes and proposes an instrument to measure the results. It can be helpful to those interested in applying or adapting it in other disciplines.

Student Performance in Online Classes at a Hispanic-Serving Institution: A Study of the Impact of Student Characteristics in Online Learning

As online enrollment increases in the United States, it is important to understand the impact of course modality on student outcomes. In particular, there has been limited research on the effect of course enrollment at Hispanic-serving institutions (HSI). The current study evaluated the effect of online course enrollment on student grades and on student withdrawal rates by comparing outcomes in online and face-to-face classes. The main innovation of this study is to use propensity score analysis to control for 15 different student characteristics as a way to control for the selection bias introduced when students self-select into different course modalities. The study used data from a large, public, HSI in the mountain west during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 academic years. Baseline results on a two-sample t-test indicated that online students have significantly higher course grades, and non-significantly different withdrawal rates before controlling for student characteristics. The study used a propensity score analysis (PSA) to control for 15 confounding covariates after testing three different PSA models: near-neighbor matching, Mahalanobis’ metric, and optimal matching. After evaluating each model for validity and sensitivity, a near-neighbor 1:2 matching PSA shows a non-significant difference in student grades, and higher withdrawal rates in online classes than face-to-face classes. Given these results, institutions should ensure that they are providing adequate academic support for online students to improve retention and success rates for online students.

First Year Student Perception and Experience of Online Topographical Anatomy Laboratory Classes using Zoom Technology during the COVID-19 Pandemic

During semester one of 2020, the units ‘Functional Anatomy of the Trunk’ and ‘Functional Anatomy of the Limbs’ which focus on human topographical anatomy were re-designed into an online delivery format and taught remotely in response to the COVID-19 lockdown. It was expected that the move to remote teaching would negatively impact student perception and learning experience, in particular that of the cadaver-based laboratory work. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the replacement of traditional face-to-face cadaver-based anatomy laboratories with an online version using digital anatomy resources and Zoom technology as the communication platform would achieve comparable student learning experience and outcomes. First Year Students (n=69) enrolled in these units were invited to participate in this study and were asked at the conclusion of each unit to complete an anonymous opinion-based survey via Qualtrics. The Qualtrics data, student grades and Learning Management System (LMS) statistics were analysed. Results indicate that student perception of the online gross anatomy laboratory learning was positive and that it had complemented their learning. Most students agreed that as a visual learning resource, it provided an improved understanding of anatomy and helped with the application of anatomical knowledge. Interestingly, student performance showed a similar range of marks compared with previous years. However, students strongly agreed that the online 2D learning experience had significant limitations when compared to live use of cadavers in laboratories.