This case study examines how dialogic learning and teaching (DLT) can strengthen problem-based learning (PBL). Conducted in a fifth-semester communication course at Aalborg University, Denmark, the intervention explored whether the physical classroom can function as a meaningful dialogic space that enhances group work, collaboration, and student responsibility in alignment with PBL. Drawing on theoretical accounts of dialogue, particularly Wegerif’s framework, the study investigated class-level and group-level dialogue facilitated by the teacher rather than self-facilitated dialogue outsourced to isolated student groups. Empirical findings from surveys and classroom observations indicate that DLT fostered deeper engagement, strengthened mutual accountability, and improved students’ willingness to contribute, while also revealing tensions such as reduced opportunities for digital note-taking and the significant time required for high-quality dialogue. The study concludes that DLT can substantively enrich PBL by supporting shared problem exploration and collaborative meaning-making when adequate time and flexibility are provided.
Character education in Vocational High Schools (SMK) faces challenges in aligning technical skill development with student work ethics. This study aims to analyze the role of the Intra-School Student Organization (OSIS) in supporting character education at SMK Puspita Bangsa, South Tangerang City. This study used a descriptive qualitative approach with a case study design. Data collection was carried out through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and documentation studies, with data validity tested using source and technique triangulation. Data analysis followed the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña. The results show that OSIS plays a crucial role through three main aspects: (1) acting as a peer role model for discipline; (2) executing structured work programs encompassing religious, disciplinary, leadership, and social care dimensions; and (3) internalizing industrial work culture values. The main obstacles encountered include the dynamics of Field Work Practice (PKL) schedules and fluctuations in member participation, which are mitigated through flexible coordination and school management support. This study concludes that OSIS is effectively a strategic vehicle for student character development in vocational schools.
General Background Pesantren-based madrasas integrate national curricula with Islamic traditions to build academic and religious competencies simultaneously. Specific Background The increasing enrollment of daily commuting learners creates institutional challenges regarding their limited exposure to intensive religious environments compared to dormitory residents. Knowledge Gap Existing literature primarily compares academic outcomes without comprehensively analyzing the pedagogical administration tailored specifically for commuting learners in their natural setting. Aims This research describes the planning, implementation, and evaluation of religious pedagogy specifically for commuting learners at MTs Unggulan Al-Qodiri 1 Jember. Results Planning involves specialized supplementary programs in Qur'an reading, Fiqh, and Basic English structured around formal schedules. Implementation integrates national and boarding curricula through dual supervision systems involving parents and teachers, alongside strict worship habituation. Evaluation applies authentic multi-aspect assessments focusing on practical mastery and attitude development, though challenges persist in adapting teaching methods and maintaining discipline at home. Novelty The study provides a multidimensional framework focusing exclusively on commuting learners as a single unit within a specialized dual-system ecosystem. Implications Successful character building necessitates robust structural synergy among schools, families, and targeted pedagogical differentiation to bridge the environmental divide. Highlights Dual supervision systems synergize teacher monitoring and parental oversight to maintain religious habituation outside dormitories. Authentic assessments evaluate practical worship competencies alongside cognitive mastery through customized pedagogical targets. Curricular differentiation strategies address environmental exposure limitations by integrating specialized supplementary subjects without disrupting formal academic schedules. Keywords Curriculum Integration; Authentic Assessment; Differentiated Instruction; Dual Supervision; Character Development
Automotive electrical-system education requires an understanding of circuit principles and component functions, yet evaluations based on class averages can obscure individual differences and assessment limitations. This study examined changes in test performance before and after instruction recorded as problem-based learning in a headlamp and starter-system unit for Grade XI vocational automotive students. A one-group design was used to analyse 34 matched pre-test and post-test scores on a 0-to-100 scale. Descriptive statistics, paired t tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, an exact sign test, standardized mean change, normalized gains, bootstrap confidence intervals, and exploratory analyses of baseline scores and gains were conducted. Mean scores increased from 71.91 to 95.88, representing a gain of 23.97 points. Thirty-two students improved, while two recorded lower post-test scores. All paired-change tests indicated statistically significant differences, with p values below 0.001, and the standardized within-student effect size was 1.09. An inverse association between baseline performance and arithmetic gain requires caution because the measures are mathematically linked. Seventeen students attained the maximum post-test score, indicating substantial ceiling concentration that may limit the assessment's discrimination at higher achievement levels. The results document a large, widespread improvement in recorded scores following the instructional unit. However, the absence of a comparison group prevents causal attribution of the improvement to problem-based learning. Student-level analysis and scrutiny of assessment properties offer a more informative basis for evaluating learning gains in vocational education.
This study aims to analyze the integration between the cognitive process dimensions of Revised Bloom's Taxonomy and the structural complexity of the SOLO Taxonomy in questions constructed by pre-service biology teachers, as well as its correlation with students' cognitive learning outcomes. A descriptive-quantitative approach with co-relational analysis was employed, evaluating a total sample of 420 question sentences generated by students during their field teaching program (PPL). Data collection was conducted using double-coding observation rubrics and statistically processed via Spearman’s rho non-parametric correlation test. The results indicated a stark gradation phenomenon, with question distribution heavily accumulating within lower-order thinking skills (LOTS), predominantly spanning the Remembering (C1) and Understanding (C2) levels with Unistructural and Multistructural reasoning profiles. Conversely, higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) were strictly concentrated at the Analyzing (C4) and Evaluating (C5) levels, aligning with Relational and Extended Abstract structures. Statistical analysis revealed a positive and significant correlation coefficient (p = 0.707, p < 0.001), indicating a very strong linear relationship where higher cognitive demands inherently correspond to greater structural reasoning maturity. In conclusion, while pre-service teachers possess a solid foundation in factual knowledge, their capacity to formulate higher-order questions remains limited. Therefore, transforming classroom communication through constructivist learning strategies and gradual conceptual scaffolding is highly recommended to foster integrative thinking and bridge the cognitive transition toward deep conceptual understanding.
The article discusses the specifics of social-pedagogical work with students majoring in “Social Pedagogy,” focusing on interacting with learners who require special educational conditions due to visual impairments. It presents the educational and social needs of the learners, the pivotal role of the social pedagogue, and the blended teaching methodology developed for this topic. Special attention is paid to the interconnected organization of lectures and practical sessions, the execution of case studies, and the core role of establishing trust and mutual understanding with the learner—all of which foster students’ professional competencies and inclusive mindset. The objective of the article is to present the methodical implementation experience of teaching the topic “Specifics of working with learners with special educational needs conditioned by visual impairments,” highlighting the complementary role of lectures and practical seminars in the professional development of future social pedagogues. During the lectures and practical seminars, a comprehensive range of methods and tools are utilized: slide presentations, lecture-discussions, Q&A sessions, “one-minute reflection,” brainstorming, video screenings, graphic charts, case studies, individual and group work, role-plays, educational games, discussions, and the “invisible trust” method. The application of these methods stimulates students' active engagement, enhances initiative, fosters positive interpersonal relationships, and develops essential social skills. Main Conclusion. The methodical framework proposed in this article can serve as a practical guide for higher education instructors. Such in-depth preparation for working with learners with visual impairments ensures that future educators enter the school system not as passive observers of the inclusion process, but as active, competent creators of a high-quality, accessible, and safe learning environment.
Education in Yenagoa LGA, Bayelsa State, faces persistent vulnerability to environmental, infrastructural and socio-economic shocks-annual floods, riverine isolation, poor school infrastructure, and weak community ownership-leading to disrupted learning continuity and low retention. The paper contends that resilient education extends beyond the confine of a school-centric model and requires a robust, strengthened learning ecosystem. Through an integrative review of literature and the theoretical synthesis of Bronfenbrenner, Ecological System Theory, Epstein, Overlapping Spheres of Influence, and Resilient Theory, conceptualized as Yenagoa Resilient Learning Ecosystem Model (YRLEM). The model places the learner at the Centre of six interconnected pillars/layers: Immediate Learning Environment/Resilient learner: (1) Community Engagement Pillar, (2) Technology and Digital Access Pillar, (3) Environment and Climate Resilience Pillars (4) Infrastructure and Schools Pillars (5) Governance and Policy Pillars (6) Livelihood and Skills Pillars. It argues that by intentionally engaging indigenous institutions-traditional rulers, CDCs, women and youth groups, and SBMCs-and fostering structured multi-stakeholder collaboration between government, oil and gas companies, tertiary institutions, NGOs, and faith based-organizations, educations can be transformed from a fragile service into a community owned resilient system. The paper contributes a context-specific framework for policymakers, the Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board, and development partners, and advances propositions for future empirical validation in the Niger delta context
Introduction Research on the practicum has focused on student teachers, mentors and partnerships between universities and schools, while the pupils in whose classrooms student teachers are placed have rarely been asked about this experience. This study examined how pupils in Ecuadorian host schools perceive the presence, support and influence of student teachers, and to what extent these perceptions can be trusted as evidence. Methods Two age-differentiated questionnaires, with pictographic scales from early childhood education to third grade and verbal scales from fourth grade onward, were administered through a mobile application by the student teachers or by members of the research team hired for data collection (project staff). The dataset comprised 2,453 valid evaluations from 1,140 pupils in 123 classrooms of 38 schools. Analyses included descriptive statistics for the first evaluation of each pupil, agreement between consecutive weekly evaluations, generalized estimating equations that accounted for the nesting of evaluations within pupils, classrooms and schools, a within-pupil comparison of evaluations collected by student teachers and by project staff, and latent class analysis. Results Between 91.5% and 98.5% of pupils gave favorable ratings on seven of eight items, while 69.6% of older pupils always felt comfortable asking student teachers for help. Ratings collected by project staff were lower than those collected by student teachers, especially for comfort in asking for help and perceived influence on learning. Responses of the youngest pupils concentrated in the highest category and did not discriminate reliably between individual pupils, whereas older pupils showed fair to moderate stability on most items and formed highly enthusiastic and moderately favorable profiles. Discussion Pupils perceive student teachers favorably, although part of this favorability reflects social desirability and the developmental limits of young respondents. Pupil voice can inform practicum evaluation when questionnaires are administered by someone other than the student teacher being evaluated and are interpreted according to the age of the pupils.
This study explored the academic validation experiences of internal migrant college students and their implications for proposed psychosocial support activities. Specifically, it examined forms of academic validation, their influence on psychosocial well-being and academic persistence, and challenges in obtaining institutional support. Using a qualitative research design and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, the study examined interview accounts from eight internal migrant college students at Cavite State University–Main Campus during the academic year 2025–2026. Findings revealed that students experienced academic validation through faculty recognition, constructive feedback, peer encouragement, and academic achievements. Such experiences fostered motivation, confidence, belonging, and continued academic engagement. Conversely, limited recognition contributed to discouragement, self-doubt, and emotional distress. Participants also described homesickness, social isolation, language barriers, unfamiliar cultural practices, communication difficulties, and hesitation in seeking academic or emotional assistance. Despite these challenges, personal resilience, supportive classmates, and determination helped students adjust and persist in their studies. Based on the findings, the study proposed the BRIDGE Program, emphasizing peer mentoring, support circles, cultural integration, wellness activities, academic assistance, counseling, and opportunities for emotional expression. The study concluded that academic validation and accessible psychosocial support are important to the adjustment and educational persistence of internal migrant students. It aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Well-Being; Goal 4, Quality Education; and Goal 10, Reduced Inequalities. Its potential sustainability contribution lies in guiding inclusive institutional support practices that strengthen student welfare, social belonging, and equitable participation in higher education. These practices may also encourage more responsive and supportive campus communities.
Teacher development is essential for improving instructional quality and supporting sustainable school improvement. This study examined teacher development needs across educational stages in selected schools in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by focusing on three key domains: classroom practices, family engagement, and school support. Using a quantitative descriptive-comparative research design, data were collected through a structured survey administered to teachers representing the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Primary, and Secondary levels. Descriptive statistics, One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and rank-order analysis were employed to determine the levels of teacher development indicators, examine differences across educational stages, and identify priority areas for professional development. The findings revealed high levels of teacher development across all three domains, with classroom practices receiving the highest ratings, followed by family engagement and school support. No statistically significant differences were found in classroom practices, family engagement, or school support across educational stages, indicating that teachers shared similar professional experiences regardless of teaching level. However, item-level analysis identified important developmental priorities, including strengthening student motivation, enhancing family-school partnerships, improving student well-being monitoring, and expanding opportunities for teacher participation in school decision-making. Based on these findings, the Teacher Development Enhancement Framework (TDEF) was developed to provide stage-specific interventions for EYFS, Primary, and Secondary teachers. The framework offers school leaders and policymakers an evidence-based guide for designing targeted professional development initiatives that strengthen instructional practice, organizational support, and collaborative partnerships, ultimately contributing to sustainable teacher growth and improved educational quality in UAE schools.
Empathy toward animals plays an important role in developing children’s positive attitudes toward animals. However, validated educational modules and culturally appropriate assessment tools for Indonesian elementary school students are still limited. This research comprised two sequential studies. Study 1 focused on developing and validating the Empathy for Animals Module and adapting the Animal Attitude Scale-10 (AAS-10) for Indonesian upper elementary students. Study 2 examined the module’s preliminary effectiveness in improving students’ attitudes toward animals. Study 1 included expert content validation, readability testing, cross-cultural adaptation of the AAS-10, confirmatory factor analysis, and reliability testing. Study 2 used a quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test control group design with 46 fourth-grade students assigned to experimental and control groups. In Study 1, the module showed strong content validity, with Aiken’s V values ranging from 0.82 to 0.92, and excellent readability, with an FVI of 0.90. The adapted AAS-10 maintained a one-factor structure and demonstrated good internal consistency, with Cronbach’s α = 0.870. In Study 2, the experimental group’s mean attitude score increased from 33.42 to 37.42, while the control group showed no significant improvement. Gain score analysis indicated a significant difference between the groups (p = 0.032), suggesting that the module was effective in enhancing students’ attitudes toward animals. The Empathy for Animals Module and the adapted Animal Attitude Scale-10 (AAS-10) showed satisfactory psychometric properties and are appropriate for Indonesian upper elementary school students. The module also demonstrated preliminary effectiveness in improving students’ attitudes toward animals.
Understanding the learning preferences of pre-service teachers is important for designing flexible and inclusive teacher education programmes. This study examined Honey and Mumford Learning Styles Questionnaire (LSQ) dimension scores and the resulting highest-scoring and tied maximum-score classifications among Level 100 pre-service teachers in Colleges of Education in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It also examined whether these classifications were associated with gender, teaching-level specialisation, and programme family. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted. The accessible population comprised approximately 2,800 pre-service teachers across eight Colleges of Education, from which 1,496 respondents were included in the study. Data were collected using the 80-item Honey and Mumford LSQ, which assesses four learning-preference dimensions: Activist, Reflector, Theorist, and Pragmatist. For descriptive classification, the dimension with the highest observed score was identified for each respondent, while respondents with equal maximum scores on two or more dimensions were retained in a separate Tie category. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, chi-square tests, Cramér's V, and multinomial logistic regression. Tied maximum scores were observed for 44.5% of respondents. Among respondents with a unique highest-scoring dimension, Activist was the most frequent classification (28.7%), followed by Theorist (12.0%), Reflector (9.5%), and Pragmatist (5.3%). Highest-scoring classification was significantly associated with gender, χ 2 (4, N = 1,496) = 17.91, p = .001, Cramér's V = .109; teaching level, χ 2 (4, N = 1,496) = 41.76, p < .001, Cramér's V = .167; and programme family, χ 2 (12, N = 1,496) = 178.94, p < .001, Cramér's V = .200. The effect sizes were relatively small. Multinomial regression identified differences in selected outcome contrasts, particularly for teaching level and programme family, although several estimates had wide confidence intervals and should be interpreted cautiously. The findings demonstrate considerable variation in LSQ score patterns and show that a substantial proportion of respondents could not be assigned a unique highest-scoring dimension. These results support cautious use of learning-style classifications as descriptive indicators of reported preferences rather than as fixed learner types. Teacher education programmes should therefore emphasise varied pedagogical experiences incorporating active engagement, reflection, theoretical understanding, and practical application.
Students with low academic achievement tend to display more maladaptive behaviours in interactions with peers and teachers. Empathy plays a key mediating role in these interactions and is also linked to academic performance. In particular, facial emotion recognition is one component of socioemotional processing that may contribute to empathic responding. To explore the relationship between empathy, emotion recognition, and academic achievement, a comparative study was conducted with 40 students aged 14–17, divided into two groups: one with low academic achievement enrolled in a school support programme, and a control group with adequate academic performance. A multimethod approach was applied, including the Basic Empathy Scale, a facial expression recognition test, and electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings. Results showed significantly lower cognitive empathy in the low-achieving group in the primary between-group analysis. The overall between-group difference in facial emotion recognition accuracy was not statistically significant. EEG analyses identified exploratory between-group differences in source-level oscillatory activity estimates during facial-expression processing. These electrophysiological findings provide complementary information about task-related activity patterns but should not be interpreted as specific neural markers of empathy or as confirmation of a behavioural facial emotion recognition deficit. Overall, the multimethod approach offers complementary perspectives on socioemotional functioning in low-achieving adolescents, although the exploratory EEG findings require cautious interpretation and replication in larger, independent samples.
Students differ in whether they learn for the sheer joy of learning or primarily to avoid failure. The difference can be partly explained by intrinsic motivation—a driver of engagement, persistence, and psychological well-being that is not fixed but shaped by the learning environment itself. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this review synthesizes research on educational interventions designed to cultivate students' intrinsic motivation, spanning five categories: need-supportive teaching, competence-supportive practices such as structure and feedback, instructional-method redesigns such as problem- and project-based learning, technology-based approaches such as gamification, and teacher-focused interventions targeting teachers' own behavior and motivation. Across these approaches, one pattern stands out: need-supportive interventions—particularly autonomy support combined with structure—carry the strongest theoretical and empirical support, while other interventions succeed only insofar as they satisfy students' psychological needs within a given context. Autonomy, competence, and relatedness thus provide a common framework for understanding how diverse educational practices influence motivational outcomes. Yet the evidence base remains fragmented: inconsistent conceptualizations of intrinsic motivation, considerable heterogeneity across intervention designs, and a scarcity of long-term data limit what can be concluded with confidence.
Gifted and talented students need well-trained teachers who will challenge and support them in developing their abilities. However, teachers receive no formal professional learning or development focused on teaching academically advanced students, especially those with disabilities. Consequently, gifted and talented students with disabilities are often not given sufficient opportunity to thrive in the classroom. The study assessed the teaching of gifted and talented learners with disabilities. The respondents were 30 parents of Manggahan Elementary School. The researcher utilized a descriptive correlational design. Statistical treatments used were utilized frequency and percentage, weighted mean, t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. The findings revealed that parent-respondents were mostly in the 50–54 age bracket, predominantly female, and largely composed of parents rather than grandparents or guardians. The results showed that parent-respondents generally viewed the teaching of gifted learners with disabilities positively. The highest rating was given to teachers providing opportunities for enrichment activities, showing that parents particularly noticed efforts that extend the learners’ abilities and interests. The findings also revealed that parent-respondents also assessed the teaching of talented learners with disabilities positively. The highest-rated indicator was teachers’ creativity in addressing both giftedness and disability, which suggests that parents value innovative and flexible teaching approaches. There is a significant difference in the assessment of the parent-respondents on the teaching of gifted and talented learners with disabilities when grouped according to age, sex, and role in the family. Furthermore, there is no significant relationship in the teaching of gifted and talented learners with disabilities based on the computed correlation coefficient and significance value.
Introduction Taking a positive education perspective, this study investigates the link between subjective well-being (SWB) and student engagement. Although many studies have found a positive link between the two multidimensional constructs, the literature lacks longitudinal analyses. Methods Based on the broaden-and-build theory and the upwards spiral hypothesis it was hypothesised that the dimensions of the two constructs would show bidirectional relationships. To test this, 1,762 fifth-grade students in Austria completed an online survey at two time points; the data were then analysed using a cross-lagged panel model with a three-factor model of SWB (positive affect, negative affect and life satisfaction) and a bifactorial model of student engagement (a general factor for student engagement and a specific factor for emotional engagement). Results Only one bidirectional relationship was found – between general student engagement and positive affect – but significant positive effects of both the general and specific student engagement factors at Time 1 on life satisfaction at Time 2 and of the specific engagement factor at Time 1 on positive affect at Time 2 were also identified. However, no significant relationships were found between either of the student engagement factors and negative affect. Conclusions Overall, the findings highlight the positive association between SWB and student engagement. Therefore, the results provide support for the upward spiral hypothesis and partial support for the broaden-and-build theory.
Academic advising and personal tutoring are deeply relational practices, yet they are often expected to flourish within institutional structures that unintentionally erode connection. This opinion piece argues that belonging is not simply something students feel. It is shaped by the hidden curriculum of institutional design, particularly through the organisation of time and space. Drawing on practice at a small specialist college in Ireland, it explores how timetabling, orientation sequencing, and protected periods within the weekly schedule send powerful signals to students about whether they matter. When time and space is approached as intentional design features rather than neutral administrative decisions, the conditions in which advising relationships can take root are strengthened. For advisors and tutors supporting students with limited discretionary time on campus, reframing belonging as something designed rather than delivered is increasingly essential.
