Educational Technology - Blended Learning
A. Ghofrani; F. Narenji thani; M. A. Shahhoseini; Kh. Abili; J. Pourkarimi
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Blended learning approach uses a face-to-face learning environment with the capacities of an electronic environment. This approach has attracted the attention of researchers for more than 15 years due to the significant advantages it brings by compensating for the disadvantages ...
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Background and Objectives: Blended learning approach uses a face-to-face learning environment with the capacities of an electronic environment. This approach has attracted the attention of researchers for more than 15 years due to the significant advantages it brings by compensating for the disadvantages of both face-to-face and e-learning environments. However, today, after the spread of the epidemic of Covid-19 in the world, it has become a necessary choice not only for researchers but also for managers and business owners, including educational systems. Therefore, researchers worldwide are increasingly trying to provide the best ways to benefit from the advantages of face-to-face and e-learning approaches in the form of blended learning models for the educational system, including universities. Therefore, the current research was conducted to explain the dimensions and components of the model of the blended teaching-learning system in the university.Methods: The qualitative research method was grounded theory and of emergent type. The research field included 15 university instructors selected through purposeful sampling based on predetermined criteria. The selection criteria of experts included "member of e-learning association and more than five years of active presence in this field" and "authors of outstanding scientific works and operational experience in e-learning". In order to collect the findings, a semi-structured interview was used and continued until theoretical saturation. Then, the findings were analyzed using the content analysis method in three stages open, axial and selective coding. Finally, the validity of the research findings was evaluated using Lincoln and Guba's four criteria, including credibility, confirmability, transferability, and reliability; its reliability was checked by re-coding and two coders.Findings: The results of the analysis of the findings led to the identification of 219 key phrases, then in the form of 29 principal components including change management, support from senior management, strategic plan, action plan, attracting, developing, retaining, technical resources, financial and physical resources, information and knowledge resources, teaching strategies and scenario writing, interaction, educational package, evaluation of students, required beliefs and attitudes for stakeholders, required skills for stakeholders, required knowledge for stakeholders, common attitudes, shared values, common meanings and concepts, psychological support, process and pedagogical support, technical support , intra-university communication, extra-university communication, evaluation, monitoring, protection of intellectual property, respect for privacy were categorized and finally 11 factors including transformational leadership, planning, human capital management, resource provision, teaching-learning process management, required competencies stakeholders, culture-building regarding new approaches, support system for main and internal stakeholders, internal and external university communication, university assessment and quality assurance system, and ethical considerations were obtained in order to implement a blended approach in the university.Conclusion: The results of this research can be a practical guide for senior managers of universities and higher education institutions in order to implement the blended learning approach in the said institutions, especially first-level universities; in this way, they can keep themselves aligned with the latest changes, especially the new developments in the approaches of the teaching-learning system, and have an effective performance in the direction of educating students with the qualifications and competencies required for the society, and turn the threat of using the electronic environment into an opportunity to transform educational approaches and establish a blended learning system using the online environment.
Electronic learning- virtual
Z. Mansoury Khosraviyeh; A. Araghieh; N. Barzegar; A.H. Mehdizadeh; H. A. Jahed
Abstract
Background and Objectives: One of the areas related to information and communication technology that can play an effective role in the transfer of human knowledge is web-based virtual education. Accordingly, and especially since March 2019 and due to the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, the use of virtual ...
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Background and Objectives: One of the areas related to information and communication technology that can play an effective role in the transfer of human knowledge is web-based virtual education. Accordingly, and especially since March 2019 and due to the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, the use of virtual education along with face-to-face education in the higher education system has become a very tangible necessity. As a result, many universities have entered the field of virtual education for their students. In the present study, researchers sought to use a qualitative method to explain the experiences and views of stakeholders to extract the challenges of e-learning in the university. Therefore, the present study investigated the challenges and threats of e-learning in higher education during the pandemic from the perspective of the faculty members.Methods: The method of the present study was content analysis in terms of applied objectives’ it was a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Participants in this study included professors of Allameh Tabatabai University who had experience of teaching virtual courses. The sampling method was purposeful and the sample size was completed till the theoretical saturation limit was obtained and accordingly, 18 professors of Allameh Tabatabai University were included in the sample. The research tool was a semi-structured interview form; content analysis was used to analyze the findings. In this method of analysis, according to the nature of the main research question, the threats of the implemented curricula were causally investigated and explained, and finally the challenges and harms of e-learning in universities during the Covid-19 pandemic were presented in the form of six main categories .Findings: Based on the findings, the challenges of e-learning were classified into six main ones including 1) "Insufficient skills of the faculty members in selecting and using appropriate media", 2) "Faculty members’ weakness in the relative use of the virtual resources, web-based technologies, online consulting services, and technical support ", 3)" Faculty members’ weakness in the relative use of cyberspace to produce educational content ", 4)" Inadequate bandwidth in universities ", 5 "Insufficient speed of advances in updating digital content" and 6) "Inconsistency of the existing curriculum dimensions with virtual education".Conclusion: Due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 and the importance of using virtual methods in higher education, it is necessary for professors in the virtual education and learning system to benefit from a variety of skills of the curriculum including objectives, content, teaching methods, teaching tools and tools and evaluation. Also, in explaining these findings, it should be noted that due to the serious challenges facing professors, it was suggested that familiarity with various e-learning software and their capacities for e-learning must be considered in the special training programs for teachers. Paying attention to infrastructures such as bandwidth, electronic resources and digital content, as well as the issue of keeping communication tools and equipment up-to-date and using new technologies of virtual education, including virtual social networks along with virtual education systems in universities, are some suggestions.
Learning Environment
Hadi Keshmiri; Khatereh Sajjadi
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Satisfaction with the environment is one of the human aspirations, in the other words, satisfaction is an ideal concept that provides an appropriate context for empowering individuals and socializing them in order to participate and interfere in their affairs and ultimately ...
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Background and Objectives: Satisfaction with the environment is one of the human aspirations, in the other words, satisfaction is an ideal concept that provides an appropriate context for empowering individuals and socializing them in order to participate and interfere in their affairs and ultimately in the field of social development. In this regard, one of the roles of designers and architects has been to create a suitable relationship between humans and their environment. Therefore, considering the importance of life satisfaction, educational spaces should provide this feeling of satisfaction for their users. One of the main goals of educational spaces is to achieve success and academic achievement, which in order to improve their goals, should create a suitable and quality space in all dimensions to improve the comprehensive skills for students. In order to stimulate students to learn, learning environment must be effective, safe, capable, positive, personalized, and responsive to the needs of students. Therefore, it has been very important to attention to the environment and environmental factors in providing students' satisfaction and ultimately their academic success. For this reason, one of the subsets of behavioral sciences, has been called environmental psychology that addressed on various human behaviors. In this study, the relationship between satisfactions of effective environmental factors with academic success has been considered among students. The purpose of this study was to identify the effective environmental factors of the university on students' academic achievement and then to evaluate the effectiveness of these factors. Methods: The base method in this research is qualitative but for considering to investigate the results the quantitative and qualitative research method has been used. Therefore, library studies and Observational research have been used to discover the relationship between variables. In the quantitative section, two standard questionnaires were prepared among PhD students of architecture in Azad University of Shiraz, both of which had acceptable validity and reliability. A questionnaire was used to measure the students' satisfaction with the environmental factors of the university, and another questionnaire was used to measure the academic achievement of the same students. The statistical population of the study was calculated using Cochran's formula, which included 54 PhD students, and the results of the questionnaires were extracted by performing statistical calculations in SPSS software. Findings:According to the research findings, with increasing level of satisfaction with environmental factors of university, academic achievement also increased and this correlation was about 0.308 By calculating the Pearson coefficient, which indicates a significant relationship and indicates individual adjustment with university. Students with a high level of satisfaction with the environmental factors of the university had very good grades and academic performance and students who were dissatisfied with their studies were not very successful. Conclusion: According to the research findings, environmental factors such as light, thermal comfort, spatial proportions, furniture, green space, entrance, accessibility, noise, materials and colors have been studied. Among these factors, the highest level of satisfaction in environmental factors is furniture, spatial proportions and light, and other environmental factors have had a positive effect on the quality and educational efficiency of the university environment.
Electronic learning- virtual
A.R. Kamalian; A. Fazel
Abstract
In today's speedily world, electronic learning is use to obtaining knowledge, is quickly progressing , developing and changing .This growing process forces people in charge to utilize scientific and logical methods in implementation , evaluation and management of electronic learning systems. One of the ...
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In today's speedily world, electronic learning is use to obtaining knowledge, is quickly progressing , developing and changing .This growing process forces people in charge to utilize scientific and logical methods in implementation , evaluation and management of electronic learning systems. One of the methods according to intellect and logic in electronic learning , is the examination of prerequisites and evaluation of facilities before implementation of electronic learning system. This research was accomplished the goal of examination the facility of implementation of this kind of learning , in Sistan and Baluchestan university. Statistical society is all the student of this university in the second semester of 86-87 educational year . The sample of this research was selected 332 student and the method was random sampling. The means of the research was a standard questionnaire that before was used by another scholar .To analyze the data , descriptive statistical method (average ,standard deviation and variance) and presumptive statistical method (analyzing the unilatral variance ANOVA and T- test, were used. The findings of this research showed that the students of Sistan and Baluchestan university , have relative readiness to enter the electronic learning . moreover , analyzing data presumptively showed the drastically difference between geography students and training science college , management and accounting college students considering of electronic learning .But in other questions of research much more difference was not observed.
Mathematics Education
E. Mohammadzadeh Chineh; H. Soltanzadeh
Abstract
Background and Objectives:Architecture training is to enable students to create three-dimensional spaces for human activities or to provide a better environment for human societies. Today, a wide range of different activities in the fields of skills, industry, creativity, knowledge, wisdom, are under ...
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Background and Objectives:Architecture training is to enable students to create three-dimensional spaces for human activities or to provide a better environment for human societies. Today, a wide range of different activities in the fields of skills, industry, creativity, knowledge, wisdom, are under the general title of "architectural education" in the schools of architecture. Typically, the curriculum in contemporary architecture schools is a set of basic courses that develop design knowledge, technology courses that develop the scientific formation of architecture; art courses to express architecture and finally design courses, which is a combination of the previous three and is the defining part of design education. The necessity of mathematics education and application of its concepts in architectural design is among major concerns of educational programs in universities and contemporary educational institutions. In architectural education in Iran, mathematics is delivered through traditional methods and independent from design practical courses. Moreover, mathematics is considered as a secondary course or sometimes an intricate problem in education. Professors of architecture always point to difficulties of students in understanding mathematical concepts and their application in structural design process. Methods and Materials: Therefore, the present study tries to compare the degree of attention to mathematics in architectural curricula in selected universities abroad and in Iran in order to provide a comprehensive knowledge regarding the place of mathematics in the curricula of these countries and prepare the ground for the development of an appropriate educational program incorporating mathematics in architectural education curriculum in our country. Findings: Comparative analysis of mathematics role in curricula of different universities and its targets via applied analytical-descriptive research method suggests that average mathematical courses provided in US architectural schools during the training course is 3%, in Asian countries 2.2% and in Iran 1.7%. The results emphasize the coordination of mathematical teaching methods with modern developments in design process and show that it entails mathematical knowledge delivered in the format of combined independent courses as preliminary, applied, technological and design. Conclusion: Mathematics courses and their teaching in architecture must be in line with new developments in the design process. This issue requires the definition of new courses in the field of mathematical application in architecture, mathematical history in architecture, as well as combined courses to transfer mathematical knowledge to design workshops. The subject of mathematics courses as independent preparation and basic courses for engineering students with the content of calculus, mathematics or their combination should be revised. This will give a new definition to the nature of the relationship between architecture and mathematics, as the role of mathematics in design was a priority in the Middle Ages. Considering the design workshop as the core of the architecture education program in the first and second academic year with an average of 40-36 credits per year, it is necessary to apply and new meaning of mathematics in introductory design workshops in two analytical-logical and structural concepts. Pay attention.
Education technology - higher education
A. Zamani; M. Pouratashi; S. Ghajarbeigi
Abstract
Background and Objective:One of the activities in the field of branding is brand management, which tries to create value for the brand with accurate and principled policy and timely planning, and then, in order to lead changes for striving to develop and improve it. The university brand succeeds when ...
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Background and Objective:One of the activities in the field of branding is brand management, which tries to create value for the brand with accurate and principled policy and timely planning, and then, in order to lead changes for striving to develop and improve it. The university brand succeeds when higher education administrators and policymakers in the higher education sector have an understanding of the intangible assets of the university and the higher education system and the university brand. In this regard, it is necessary to have strategic planning for brand management of the university, which means that first by defining the mission statement and vision of the university, the goals are well and accurately and clearly defined. Then, based on the evaluation of the internal and external environment of the university, it adopted strategies to achieve the desired university brand. And by using careful monitoring at each stage, the necessary feedback should be given to the university administrators regarding the extent to which the goal has been achieved. In other words, an accurate brand must be chosen for each university, and when it is managed in a comprehensive and integrated manner, it is a valuable asset. Brand identity of university and a positive image is an important part of what is now considered by many universities around the world. Therefore, this research aimed to study brand management in higher education and to study brand equity to attract scientific talent. Methods: The population of this study included all faculty members at public universities in Tehran and random sampling method was used for data collection. To collect data, a questionnaire was used whose validity and reliability were confirmed by professors’ views and calculating Cronbach's alpha. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used by SPSS; and structural equation modeling was used by LISREL. Findings: The results indicated that the university brand identity and brand equity affects attracting scientific talents and the highest path coefficient among the research variables is "brand identity" (0.88). Conclusion: Now that universities in our country are gradually moving towards competing with each other to attract scientific talents and attract the best people, they should try to increase their brand and mental image in the society and among the elites and develop the strategic university brand identity in prospective document of the university. As the credible identity of the university stems from its perceived success and credibility, which can include the overall brand of the university or its various sub-brands, such as the brand of campuses, faculties, associations and scientific groups, and sports teams. In fact the role of brand identity is effective in the marketing and success of the university as well as the public policy perspective of the university.
Sociology of Educational Technology
H. Arasteh; Y. Saeedi
Abstract
Preparing the thesis is one of the most important parts of education in higher education level.The current study aimed to determine the level of master student satisfaction of interactive and supervisory styles of supervisors. This research was descriptive survey. The population of the study was all ...
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Preparing the thesis is one of the most important parts of education in higher education level.The current study aimed to determine the level of master student satisfaction of interactive and supervisory styles of supervisors. This research was descriptive survey. The population of the study was all entering male and female doctoral students in 2013-14 academic-year majoring in humanities, science and engineering in Tehran's public universities who defended their master's thesis in the past two years (N=3092). Using Cochran sampling formula, 342 individuals were selected as research sample. A researcher made questionnaire was used for data collection. The validity of the questionnaire was determined by experts and its reliability was measured by Cronbach's alpha (α=.87.2), showing an acceptable level of research tool. One sample t test was used for data analysis. Based on the obtained results, the students were not satisfied with any of the supervisory styles of supervisors. In connection to the interactive styles, students adopted horizontal interactive style as the most interactive style. In supervisory styles, using a combination of styles; and in interactive styles, using a positive and dynamic horizontal style is suggested to the supervisors.
Electronic learning- virtual
Z. Sharifi; A. Nasr; A. Monajemi
Abstract
The purpose of this study was investigate the amount of realization of technical characterization and the assessment of course in developing and designing virtual courses of Iranian universities from the view points of students. Developing and designing virtual courses of criteria was five domain, and ...
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The purpose of this study was investigate the amount of realization of technical characterization and the assessment of course in developing and designing virtual courses of Iranian universities from the view points of students. Developing and designing virtual courses of criteria was five domain, and because of there are a lot of subjects in this article so, only above categories have been considered. In this study, descriptive-measurable method has been used. Statistical population of the study who were studying graduate and undergraduate students in the courses of engineering and human science who were selected of Shiraz and Khajenasir universities in the colligate year of 1386-87. For gathering the data, were used: quantitative method (researcher-made questionnaire). The questionnaire results identified that, in two research domain (technical characterization, and the assessment of course) The T which was seen was larger than the critical level of table (p≤0.05). In general, the all of the means, was higher than value means (3) (the mean of technical characterization domain 3/58, and the mean of assessment of course domain 3/02). Therefore, in relation to the results of this research as viewed by students, characteristics that mentioned above must pay attention higher average level.
competency of teachers
H. Safarzadeh; M. Ahmadi; A. Zakeri
Abstract
Social capital which is resources and rewards that people achieve through social relations has gained a wide acceptance in recent decades. However, there has been little research regarding the impact of social capital on occupational activity. The purpose of writing this paper is to study the effects ...
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Social capital which is resources and rewards that people achieve through social relations has gained a wide acceptance in recent decades. However, there has been little research regarding the impact of social capital on occupational activity. The purpose of writing this paper is to study the effects of social capital on occupational activities, of public university faculty members based in Tehran. In order to do this the researcher has taken advantage Putnam and Coleman’s measure of social capital among the university faculty members and then the relationship and its impact on their business activities have been discussed. The components of social capital include the quality of relationships (trustworthiness) and quantity of relationships (membership in groups and associations and cooperative relations) were measured and assessed. This research is correlational. The participants include 160 faculty members of the public universities located in Tehran in the first half of the year 1388. Based on the Cochrane formula, 120 subjects were selected by random sampling. Information was collected through a questionnaire. The questionnaire is considered reliable with a Cranbach alpha coefficient of 0.901. The findings indicate that social capital had a positive and significant impact on the employment aspects of faculty activity. Therefore, the hypotheses of the study stating the relation between social capital and faculty members occupational activity level, quality of education and quality of work was supported.
Electronic learning- virtual
L. Pour Mohammad Baqer; E. Pour Mohammad Baqer
Abstract
It is certain that the present world, in fact the world of information technology and the world of hasty history, is different because of changes. Education systems in society and university are not detached from other sociable and national organizations and from extensive international changes in global ...
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It is certain that the present world, in fact the world of information technology and the world of hasty history, is different because of changes. Education systems in society and university are not detached from other sociable and national organizations and from extensive international changes in global village, since education society is the center of changes and alternations both in historical experience and special condition at present century. Education systems will be changed in the future because there is transformation in social organization of human being but the most important issue is that those kinds of strategies should be used in which education systems at universities are not imitation but recreate themselves in sync with human's development. This paper investigates information and communication technology and its application at university education in different courses of teaching, learning, educational help devices, imaginary libraries and distance education. Then there are different propositions about improving education at universities.
