ABSTRACT: Despite the significance of the cognitive load of educational procedures, its status quo in teacher-made tests has remained largely uncharted. This study investigated the interplay between cognitive demand levels (CDL) of test items and students’ academic levels. Using the content analysis method, English language tests developed by Iranian high school teachers across three grades (10 through 12) were collected, and a scheme was developed to code the CDL of the tests. The coding scheme was developed based on the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy, Webb’s Depth of Knowledge, and Hess’s Cognitive Rigor Matrix. Three trained coders coded the tests using the piloted and validated scheme. The results showed that the low CDLs of “remembering,” “understanding,” and “applying” constituted a large proportion (89.49%), while “analyzing,” “evaluating,” and “creating,” as the high CDLs comprised a small number (10.51%) of the test items. Grade 12 and grade 11 tests contained the most frequent high and low CDLs, respectively. In all grades, “understanding” was the most frequent level, and “creating” was the least frequent level. The trend of remembering and creating was normal, understanding and analyzing was descending, and applying and evaluating showed variation across the grades. The study concludes that the tests predominantly required low CDLs and were not developed based on a measure of cognitive demand balancing and/or regulating low and high CDLs across the grades. It recommends that test developers use a cognitive demand guide specifying the underlying nature of tasks required in the tests, the complexity of the expressions and information presented in the tests, and the choice of test item stem format and response format to regulate the cognitive demand of tests for different school grades.

ABSTRACT: Refugee integration into healthcare is a global challenge, with millions facing barriers in accessing healthcare services due to language, cultural differences, and limited health literacy. In response to these challenges, this study explores the experiences and recommendations contributed by individuals directly involved in the co-design and co-creation of a massive open online course (MOOC) and its effectiveness in addressing refugees’ integration into the European healthcare system. A bimodal research approach was employed, combining qualitative insights from individuals involved in the design and development of the MOOC and quantitative data from refugees and professionals engaged in the MOOC’s evaluation. Stakeholder discussions were conducted to explore experiences, challenges, and recommendations related to MOOC development. Additionally, a Computer System Usability Questionnaire (CSUQ) was administered to evaluate the MOOC’s usability, quality, and interface. Stakeholder discussions emphasized the importance of collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and participatory design in MOOC development. Involving stakeholders and refugees in this participatory process ensured that the MOOC addressed real-world needs and experiences. Additionally, CSUQ results indicated high participant satisfaction with the MOOC, with digital users’ literacy level and educational background influencing their perceptions. In summary, this study contributes to the ongoing discussion on refugee healthcare integration and the role of digital education in this context.

ABSTRACT: Student loans have increasingly become a burden on individuals. This qualitative analysis explores how structural inequities and financial literacy gaps influence US student loan borrowers’ decisions to finance postsecondary education. The study highlights racial and economic disparities, examining participants’ reflections on debt aversion and systemic barriers to equitable access. We asked why participants took out federal student loans, asked about their decision processes when taking on debt, whether participants took any action to reduce accumulated debt, and if they’d made any discoveries about their decisions to take on student loan debt. After coding and a thematic analysis, five themes and five subthemes emerged. Respondents saw loans as their only option to afford college, using the funds not just for tuition but for living expenses. Student loan debt has significantly impacted their life choices, forcing some to delay major milestones like marriage and family, buying a house, and saving for retirement. A discussion including implications for policy, research, and practice as well as future directions is provided.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to research the factors that cause school dropout and whether technology can positively influence the reduction of this phenomenon in adolescents. The research method was conducted using a qualitative-exploratory approach. The sample was 92 students from two schools located in two different regions in Costa Rica for the year 2021. The results show that the gender distribution and the dropout rate in the selected sample indicate that the male gender has the highest dropout rate at 65.22%. This result shows the abundance of unskilled jobs for men and the value system associated with the male gender. The findings evidence that the female gender has a higher level of dropouts in rural areas (53.12%), and one important reason is teenage pregnancy. In conclusion, students who drop out of the school system do so mainly because of a lack of interest in classes and economic problems in the family environment. Finally, it is concluded that for a virtual education process to be successful, it is not only enough to use technology as a tool, but the teacher must also establish a teaching model that is agile, flexible, and dynamic to maintain the student’s interest. Among the recommendations, measures are proposed to reduce school dropout rates in institutions.

ABSTRACT: Researchers, educators, and parents have struggled to understand why some learn to read with ease while others face hardship. This review chronicles early theories of reading development, presents emerging research that explores additional factors that are believed to influence reading skill, and then suggests an agenda for future research to inform instructional methods in reading education. A thorough search of the literature was conducted to present perspectives on reading development that highlight critical yet overlooked factors that contribute to reading mastery. The research was compiled, reviewed, and presented in this article to elucidate the findings. Emerging research has identified several areas in which visual perception is essential to reading skills development. Researchers found that visual memory predicts word recognition. Inter-letter spacing and increased spacing between words have been found to improve reading speed. Visual attention is associated with reading accuracy. It is incumbent upon researchers and educators to better understand all the components of reading, so we may help students achieve their reading outcomes. Arguably, the conceptualization of reading assessment and reading intervention should be broadened by considering additional component skills that may impede reading success. Research highlights the importance of visual perception in recognizing letters and words. However, the role of visual perception in reading development has been mostly overlooked in language-based educational curricula. Visual perception should be explored further through research and practice to support students who struggle with reading and do not respond to traditional language-based reading instruction.

ABSTRACT: This review article aims to discuss the role of generative artificial intelligence (AI) as a personal tutor, particularly for learning English. Drawing on secondary sources, the article examines the potential of AI tools like Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) to function as personal tutors in English language learning. To achieve its aim, the article explores various functions of generative AI as a personal tutor. It then outlines key benefits of AI as a personal tutor in the context of English language teaching before briefly discussing three case studies of AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Khanmigo, which can be used as a personal tutor for language learning. The article then turns the discussion into several concerns associated with the use of generative AI as a personal tutor. Key concerns were related to academic dishonesty; false information; biased assessment; a lack of quality feedback and interaction; accessibility issues; psychological and social concerns; challenges concerning identity, diversity, and culture; teachers’ and students’ lack of preparedness; and AI overuse and overreliance. The article concludes with recommendations for policy, practice, and research. Specifically, it is suggested that teachers and students should experiment with AI tools and make use of AI technology to their advantage.

ABSTRACT: Collaboration between humans and artificial intelligence (AI) has the power to transform education, but research has yet to fully address how students engage cognitively with AI-powered feedback. Although studies suggest that AI can improve writing, few explore how students perceive and interact with AI tools. To fill this gap, the present study investigated Chinese university students’ perceptions and experiences of using AI-powered English writing feedback tools: automated writing evaluation, generative AI, and corpora. Two hundred and ten student reflective journals were subjected to qualitative thematic analysis using NVivo software, along with analysis of classroom observations and students’ writing. The students evaluated AI-powered feedback tools in three dimensions: content quality, delivery method, and overall effectiveness. They felt that these tools provided better grammar correction, instant feedback delivery, and an enhanced user experience, but challenges included vague explanations, limited emotional connection, and risks of overreliance. Based on these insights, this study introduces the Student-Teacher-AI Collaboration Model for feedback writing, which is designed to enhance collaboration between students, teachers, and AI in foreign language education. The findings have practical implications for the integration of AI tools into writing instruction and will inform policymaking in the rapidly evolving educational field.

ABSTRACT: This article addresses the area of mentoring of newly qualified teachers (NQTs) from a school administrator’s perspective. The research underpinning this study demonstrates the pivotal role that school administrators can play in supporting the induction and possible retention of NQTs from quitting the profession if they engage more directly in the induction and mentoring process. This introductory study on the role that Maltese school administrators play in the induction phase helps to highlight the tensions that exist between policy and practice, between the belief that Maltese school administrators hold in being there to support NQTs and what actually happens in reality. The findings demonstrate how school administrators can enhance the program of support that NQTs are currently receiving, namely, by providing more structured time dedicated to being with the NQTs and teachers, helping in establishing and retaining stronger professional relationships with teachers throughout their careers, and working to strengthen the interconnectedness between initial teacher education, induction, and ongoing professional learning.

ABSTRACT: This study examines the educational experiences of Chinese students amid China’s sociocultural evolution from Gemeinschaft (community with informal education, simple technology, rural residence) toward Gesellschaft (society with formal education, complex technology, urban residence, economic prosperity). Through qualitative interviews with 10 high school students (aged 15–16) in Wuxi, China, we investigated differences in teachers’ interpretations of help, student–teacher dynamics, and mental health support across these educational settings. Findings reveal that teachers’ cultural backgrounds more strongly influenced their perspectives on help than did institutional environments. Traditional schools maintained teacher-centered hierarchical structures reflecting collectivistic values, while international settings fostered student autonomy and more egalitarian teacher–student relationships aligned with individualistic principles. Though mental health awareness was similar across settings, international school teachers demonstrated greater concern for students’ overall well-being. Students in international programs initially experienced unique transition stresses but ultimately reported feeling more relaxed than their peers in traditional schools. These findings highlight the complex interplay between educational systems and cultural values in China’s evolving society while underscoring the need for enhanced mental health resources in Chinese schools.

ABSTRACT: It is important to observe the effectiveness of online learning (OL) as a resilient approach for the smooth functioning of the educational systems in the post-pandemic for resilience purposes. This paper defines resilience as learners’ capacity to cope with a crisis like COVID-19 and recover quickly from the challenges and prospects caused by the pandemic. Hence, this paper aims to find out the extent to which the use of OL in higher education institutions (HEIs) has served as a resilient means of accessing education in selected South and South East Asian countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper uses a literature review method and adopts the integrative literature review approach. The reviewed literature was subjected to a content analysis method in order to provide the themes relevant to address the objectives of this paper. The results indicate that in the context of South and South East Asia, particularly in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, there are country-specific differences in adopting OL as a resilient approach in HEIs. For instance, in China, OL was a “forced innovation” during the pandemic. However, this paper concludes that nearly all South Asian nations took recourse to OL during the pandemic without a proper understanding of the pedagogical implications of OL. Hence, the recommendation is that OL cannot be fully utilized unless critical issues like learners’ engagement, investments, digital divides, infrastructure, and governmental and leadership support are properly addressed and assessed. Another recommendation is for policy guidance, especially in the South Asian developing countries in the post-pandemic contexts, to consider the best practices of OL as resilient strategies for sustainable education in HEIs.

ABSTRACT: This study explores the use of photovoice as a reflective practice tool for early childhood student teachers in a teacher preparation program. Reflective practice is crucial for professional growth, yet traditional journaling often feels disconnected from real-world experiences for student teachers. Photovoice, which encourages participants to capture and reflect on meaningful classroom moments through photography, offers an engaging alternative. This research investigates the aspects of student teaching that candidates find reflective, how their images express satisfaction and dissatisfaction, and how group discussions develop shared understanding. Using a constructivist framework, seven student teachers participated in a semester-long photovoice project. Data were collected through over 350 images, descriptions, and four group discussions. Findings reveal four key reflective themes: instructional resources, student engagement, classroom environment, and relationships. While photovoice enhanced critical reflection and community building, participants were hesitant to openly discuss negative experiences, reflecting challenges in developing self-assessment. The study concludes that photovoice holds significant promise for enriching reflective practice in teacher education by integrating visual analysis and group dialogue and recommends its inclusion in teacher preparation curricula as a strategy for fostering critical reflection and community building.

ABSTRACT: This research proposes a curriculum designed to promote the application of agile methodologies in classrooms. It identifies the key skills secondary school teachers need and categorizes them into three main areas: understanding the foundational concepts of agile methodologies, developing essential soft skills such as communication and teamwork, and enhancing digital proficiency. Guided by Gagné’s instructional design model, these competencies were systematically integrated into a well-structured curriculum with clearly defined modules and units. By focusing on these three areas – agile methodologies, transversal skills, and digital competences – the curriculum aims to help teachers embrace and apply agile principles in practical, meaningful ways. It supports teachers in actively integrating agile practices into their classrooms and equips them with tools to create dynamic, collaborative learning environments where students can develop important 21st-century skills, such as adaptability and problem-solving. By empowering teachers with these skills, the curriculum establishes a pathway to transform education, making it more responsive, student-centered, and prepared for the future. It bridges the gap between traditional teaching methods and the agile practices required in today’s rapidly evolving world, ensuring a smoother transition toward innovative and effective educational practices.

ABSTRACT: This study explores learner experiences with augmented podcasts (APs), an innovative multimodal learning format that uses two formats in this case: MP3 file + PDF file of the screenshots used in the lecture. Situated within a larger mixed method study, this qualitative analysis is an extension of the earlier quantitative findings that evaluated effectiveness of APs through test scores. The present study delves into the uncaptured nuances of learner engagement—examining how students interact with, experience, and make meaning from this novel format. Using purposive sampling from Tier 2 and Tier 3 Indian cities, the study makes use of interviews conducted with 20 students to identify perceived facilitators and barriers to AP use. Findings of this study reveal that this experience of learning using APs which encourage learner autonomy, fostered enhanced cognitive engagement, multisensory integration, and deeper involvement. It was noted that students valued the format’s integrated cues and layered delivery, which encouraged focused learning and sustained attention. However, issues with pacing, language accessibility, and digital fatigue were mentioned by some students. This study adds to the growing discourse about inclusive, scalable, and learner-informed digital innovations in education by elevating the voices of students while confirming the pedagogical value of APs.

ABSTRACT: Mathematics competition winners are key subjects in research on mathematically gifted education. This study examined the career trajectories, academic achievements, and personal traits of 116 high school mathematics competition winners (graduating from 2008 to 2015) through the longitudinal questionnaire analysis. The key findings are as follows: (1) career clustering in STEM fields (technology, academia, finance) and advanced degree pursuits (81 participants); (2) high academic productivity, with 43 participants publishing as first authors and 13 holding patents; (3) income polarization (22.4% earning >¥40,000 vs. 12.1% earning <¥5,000 monthly); (4) elevated perfectionism (95.6%) and creativity (96.6%) in self-assessments; and (5) perceived benefits of competition experiences, including enhanced learning skills (87.9%) and academic growth (76.7%). The results highlight the strong correlation between mathematical talent and STEM-oriented careers, exceptional scholarly output, and the enduring impact of personal traits (e.g., perfectionism) and environmental factors on professional success. This work offers empirical insights into cultivating mathematically gifted individuals and assessing the long-term effectiveness of competition-based education.

ABSTRACT: In Japan’s increasingly diverse higher education landscape, universal design for learning (UDL) has emerged as a promising framework for promoting inclusive learning environments. While existing applications of UDL tend to focus on structural strategies, this small-scale inquiry examines how an instructor’s reflective practice plays a central role in realizing UDL’s full potential. Grounded in Schön’s model of reflective practice and informed by Brookfield’s framework of critically reflective teaching, this research investigates how the instructor’s perceptions of learner diversity evolved over a semester-long universal design course attended by 11 second-year students at a Japanese college. Data sources included students’ learning logs and survey responses regarding barriers to learning and course evaluations. The analysis revealed various invisible barriers that students experienced, such as anxiety about communication, discomfort with group activities, and sensitivity to environmental factors. Concurrently, students showed diverse and less visible forms of engagement that occurred outside of classroom settings. Through critical self-examination, the instructor developed a deeper awareness of individual learning differences and began to challenge earlier assumptions that relied on observable behaviors as the primary indicator of student engagement. This metacognitive shift prompted changes in instructional decisions and teaching philosophy, illustrating how engagement with the UDL framework can stimulate critical awareness and evolving instructional perspectives. The study suggests that reflective practice may play an important role in helping instructors to fully engage with UDL and respond effectively to learner diversity. It also contributes to faculty development discourse by highlighting the potential of UDL to foster instructor transformation through reflective engagement toward more inclusive teaching.