This study employed qualitative methods to explore how the "UVA in Valencia Summer Program 2019/2021" approached instructional practices (e.g., in-class and out-of-class immersive learning activities, homestays, pre-program services, including use of L2 and culture learning strategies) to identify those features of the program design…

Research suggests that heterogeneous life experiences (e.g. multilingualism) might facilitate the development of mental flexibility. The current paper presents the conceptual replication of a study originally presented by Greve and colleagues [Greve, W., Koch, M., Rasche, V., and Kersten, K. (2021). Extending the Scope of the 'Cognitive Advantage'…

We use three studies to develop and validate the new concept of playful study design -- the cognitive-behavioral orientation towards study tasks with the aim to make these tasks more fun and/or more challenging. Based on play and proactive motivation theories, we propose that playful study design can be assessed by items indicating two dimensions:…

Compassion and dignity provide an essential framework for building caring and inclusive schools. Many books focus on what teachers can do as individuals; "Creating Compassionate Change in School Communities" is different. This book focuses both on how educators can cultivate compassion within themselves and lead together to cultivate…

Students in higher education settings are susceptible to well-being concerns, as indicated by the global pervasiveness of mental illness and high rates of suicide. International students especially tend to encounter problems due to necessary adjustments in language and culture as well as loneliness when separated from family and close friends.…

This case study examines the factors that trigger and sustain directed motivational current (DMC) experiences, defined as prolonged periods of intense motivational surges (Ibrahim & Al-Hoorie, 2019), among English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) teachers (N = 3 women, ages 30-50) during their study-abroad programs in the United States of America.…

In higher education, concept mapping has been extensively adopted as an assessment and evaluation tool for conceptual knowledge. In recent years, an increasing number of researchers have applied concept mapping to teaching in technology-based environments. However, no research was found to holistically explore the role of concept maps in…

Programming education consistently faces challenges in bridging theory with practice and fostering students' cognitive competencies. This 12-year longitudinal study (2011-2023) investigates an innovative competency-based teaching model in university C programming education that integrates six educational theories into a coherent framework with…

Mature adults comprise more than half of the UK higher education student population, indicating significant growth in participation opportunities. However, this expansion has not necessarily resulted in equal educational quality and outcomes for adult learners. This study addresses the research gap regarding the availability and quality of support…

This study explores the academic experiences of 14 international students in Thailand and how these experiences reshape their concept of "study." Findings from the interviews show that students modified the concept of study after encountering new experiences of teaching and learning, shifting from viewing learning as an individual,…

This study compares the effects of ChatGPT-facilitated and human teacher-facilitated project-based learning (PBL) on learner autonomy and self-efficacy among Vietnamese EFL students in a language training center. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, fifty participants were randomly assigned to either a ChatGPT-facilitated group or…

"Excelencia" in Education has been tracking the profile and growth of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), a critical group of institutions enrolling Latino students, since the founding of the organization (2004). HSIs are defined in federal law as accredited and degree-granting public or private nonprofit institutions of higher…

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced COVID-19 as a global pandemic. Millions of students in school, on educational breaks, and study abroad programs were left uncertain of their next steps. This study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 on college-aged students' study abroad experiences in the United Kingdom. Four…

This study investigates factors influencing Japanese students' decisions to study abroad, drawing on survey responses from 134 international programs personnel at Japanese universities. It examines key inducements and deterrents, the role of institutional support, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial backing from families,…

Background: Over the past four decades, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has expanded access to public education for millions of students with disabilities, who now make up nearly 15% of the public-school population (National Center for Education Statistics, 2024). The IDEA's primary goal is to boost educational and…