Student Perception Of Traditional Versus Alternative Textbook Value
In today’s environment of rising tuition and textbook costs, we surveyed business majors concerning their preferences regarding various text options that are available for their academic studies. Specifically, we surveyed 329 students enrolled in upper-level business courses at a midlevel Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredited Midwestern university. Students were asked to report the variety of classroom texts that they have utilized in the past and their text preferences based on their text experiences From the sample of students, 67% reported that they had used an online e-text for one or more of their classes. However, only 41 of the 220 students, or 19%, believed that the online e-text was a better learning vehicle or more convenient than the traditional text they used in their other classes. The entire sample of 329 students was also asked if they had a preference for a course text mode based on whether the course was a part of their major, involved extensive reading, analytical work, or was terminology oriented. In all areas, the students indicated a slight or strong preference for the traditional hard text.
The Future Impact of the Internet on Higher Education: Experts Expect More Efficient Collaborative Environments and New Grading Schemes; They Worry about Massive Online Courses, the Shift Away from On-Campus Life.
Tech experts believe market factors will push universities to expand online courses, create hybrid learning spaces, move toward 'lifelong learning' models and different credentialing structures by the year 2020. But they disagree about how these whirlwind forces will influence education, for the better or the worse.
Science fairs as learning tool for teaching excellence
Science fairs are usually considered to be a pedagogical and cultural activity that involves the students actively. Gifted students need challenges to further develop their skills while maintaining the motivation level. Science fairs may provide the informal environment that will request and allow these students of excellence to challenge themselves by developing a scientific research project. Despite being well known in different countries, in Portugal first steps are being made on the use and implementation of science fairs as effective pedagogical tool. In this work, we will present a 4 years study that was developed on a Portuguese school with the main goal of evaluating the advantages of this informal way of teaching. The study includes an analysis of the evolution of the students’ knowledge that have participated, or visited, the different science fairs. Some advices for the implementation of these projects will be given. The motivation of the students was monitored as well as the knowledge and skills effectively improved by this activity.