To enhance the student experience and improve student outcomes -- continuation, attainment, and employment -- higher education providers often implement curriculum changes and evaluate their effectiveness. But as interventions often only work directly with staff, rather than students, impact evaluation is challenging. This paper explores the…

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) technologies have introduced significant changes to higher education, but the role of Embodied GenAI Agents in Mixed Reality (MR) environments is still relatively unexplored. This study was carried out to develop an embodied GenAI system designed to facilitate active learning, self-regulated learning and…

We investigated the impact that teachers' participation in a short compulsory course on active learning had on their teaching practice. The course was offered at all departments of a STEM faculty with a total of 516 participants. Evaluations showed that teachers especially appreciated collegial discussions and examples of teaching practices in the…

The educational podcast is a didactic resource requiring specific planning to create a digital audio file with educational content. These podcasts promote meaningful learning and stimulate cognitive skills. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of educational podcasts in increasing students' satisfaction and performance in content…

We explored the usage of smartphones in university classrooms across three different countries from the instructor's perspective. Using a qualitative, cross-cultural approach, we interviewed 30 instructors via semi-structured interviews to understand their viewpoints and experience with student smartphone usage in class. Instructors reported…

In response to evolving engineering education, there is a growing focus on fostering students' practical skills. This study implemented a Mini Project Based Learning (MPBL) approach within the Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) course. The tasks involved SOLIDWORKS modelling, writing CNC code using CADEM seeNC Turn software, and hands-on CNC…

The article addresses the challenges of distance education, i.e. how to manage the pedagogical process of project-based learning (PBL). The research objective was to use PBL as a teaching method where students learn by actively participating in a real professional task -- preparing antenatal classes for future parents. We were also interested in…

The instructor-student collaborative partnership has potential to transform education from a traditional, instructor-directed teaching to an active student-centred learning. However, it is not easy to promote the instructor-student collaborative partnership in the Eastern education contexts like China, due to the didactic, instructor-directed,…