Psychological foundations of emerging technologies for teaching and learning in higher education

Using an AI-based avatar for interviewer training at Children's Advocacy Centers: Proof of Concept

This proof-of- concept study focused on interviewers' behaviors and perceptions when interacting with a dynamic AI child avatar alleging abuse. Professionals (N = 68) took part in a virtual reality (VR) study in which they questioned an avatar presented as a child victim of sexual or physical abuse. Of interest was how interviewers questioned the avatar, how productive the child avatar was in response, and how interviewers perceived the VR interaction. Findings suggested alignment between interviewers' virtual questioning approaches and interviewers' typical questioning behavior in real-world investigative interviews, with a diverse range of questions used to elicit disclosures from the child avatar. The avatar responded to most question types as children typically do, though more nuanced programming of the avatar's productivity in response to complex question types is needed. Participants rated the avatar positively and felt comfortable with the VR experience. Results underscored the potential of AI-based interview training as a scalable, standardized alternative to traditional methods.

Block learning: Evaluation of a new teaching approach for nursing and midwifery education

AIM

The aim is to present outcome and engagement data from the initial years of the implementation of a new teaching approach in entry to practice nursing and midwifery education.

BACKGROUND

The Block Model (TBM) is a teaching approach that involves studying one unit of study at a time over a four-week period, as opposed to the traditional semester model. This paper presents data revealing the impact of TBM on student engagement and overall experience in entry to practice Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery programs.

DESIGN

The evaluation retrospectively compared key indicators pre- Block Model implementation with outcomes for nursing and midwifery students using TBM approach using standard data sets and external comparators such as the Student Experience Survey and National Employability Survey.

METHODS

The study presents a comparative analysis of key indicators and graduate outcomes for students. We use reportable data and two external comparators, the Student Experience Survey and the National Employability Survey, to gauge student learning and graduate employability. The evaluation was conducted in a tertiary institution in Australia with for nursing and midwifery students who completed their studies using TBM approach at the university.

RESULTS

The implementation of TBM in nursing and midwifery programs resulted in improvements in learner engagement, retention rates and pass rates. Improvements were also noted graduate outcomes, with an increase in full-time graduate employment.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest the Block Model is a promising new teaching approach in nursing and midwifery education, with potential benefits for learner engagement, retention and pass rates.

Identification and evaluation of educational technology trends from 2004 to 2022: Evidence based on computers in human behavior and horizon report

The increasing influence of technology on education has attracted considerable attention. This study aims to determine the current status and development trends of educational technologies. At first, we used COOC, HistCite, and VOSviewer to systematically review 1562 educational articles published in Computers in Human Behavior (CHB) from 2004 to 2022. Based on bibliometrics, this study identified publication trends, research forces, collaboration, key articles, and research themes. Then, we visualized the technologies predicted by 30 Horizon Reports and combined them with CHB educational research to evaluate the accuracy of the identified trends. The results revealed an immediate influence of AI technology, extended reality and digital resources on education, a moderate influence of educational tools and games, and a delayed influence of data management and maker technology. In addition, human psychology and behavior in technological environment may be important themes in the future. In conclusion, this study not only proposes a comparative analysis of leading reports and representative literature, but also provides guidance for future research and development in educational technology.

University Students' Engagement in Mobile Learning

The implementation of mobile learning seems to be an emerging topic in many educational institutions. As recently noticed, mobile technology has employed wireless technologies to communicate, think, learn, and share in order to spread and exchange information. Therefore, using mobile technologies in learning and teaching can create a positive environment in higher education. Hence, the purpose of this study is to evaluate mobile learning engagement among educational technology students. Data from three focus group discussions and 15 semi-structured interviews with students who experienced mobile learning were gathered using a qualitative approach design. A total of seventeen basic themes and four organizing themes were extracted, where the researchers categories of engagement, i.e., social engagement, cognitive engagement, emotional engagement, and behavioral engagement. In the present research, the findings indicate that social engagement themes included social-mobile interaction, building community, developing relationships, and competition. The cognitive engagement themes included attention, cognitive and meta-cognitive strategies, immersion, and cognitive curiosity. Emotional engagement themes included excitement and enjoyment, instructor comforting students, motivation, and emotional safety. Behavioral engagement themes included effort and time on task, attendance, participation, and positive conduct.

Innovation of the Education of College Students' Outlook on Life Following Positive Psychology Under the Theory of Educational Psychology

The study expects to find a better way to improve the teaching quality of the education of college students' outlook on life, based on the theory of educational psychology. First, the relevant theories of positive psychology are introduced and expounded, and the importance of the education of college students' outlook on life is analyzed. Second, the current situations of college students' outlook on life and the education of their outlook on life are investigated through a questionnaire survey, and the problems presented in the questionnaire are analyzed. Then, the correlation between positive psychology and the education of college students' outlook on life is explored, and their mutual connection is analyzed. The results are as follows: 77.4% of the college students have periodical aims and work hard for them; 80.8% of the students think that the realization of life goals rely on hard work, accounting for the largest proportion; when they encounter setbacks, more than 80% of the students choose to work hard to overcome them; 69.2% students think that their outlook on life comes from self-learning and exploration. According to college students' outlook on life in China and other countries, there are many problems in the education of college students' outlook on life, and the teaching quality of the education of college students' outlook on life is backward. The combination of positive psychology and college students' education of college students' outlook on life under the theory of educational psychology provides new ideas and ways for college students' education of college students' outlook on life. The conclusion of this study promotes the innovation of the education of college students' outlook on life.