The general feeling is that no predictions can be made based on agent-based social simulations. The outcomes of social simulations are based on the behaviors of individuals and their interactions. Behavioral models are always incomplete and often, also incorrect with respect to real behavior and thus the outcomes of agent-based social simulations…

The 'new normal' setup of education posed challenges on courses requiring learners' collaboration. Despite the proven advantages of collaborative writing, several challenges still confront the learners which may affect the quality of their output. Collaboration per se is already a challenge for learners in face-to-face classes, more so in online…

Mathematical symbols, such as those embodying quantum concepts, are indispensable for conveying complex ideas and relationships in academic writing. However, some education researchers and students keep a distance from anything mathematical: algebraic equations, geometrical reasoning, or statistical symbols. How to lower the access threshold for…

The present study investigated whether study engagement is predicted by personal resources (i.e., self-efficacy and psychological flexibility) and achievement goals. A total of 223 French first-year humanities and social sciences students were invited to complete an online questionnaire comprising scales measuring the three predictors. The results…

Individual development plans (IDPs) are increasingly being used in higher education to provide personalized guidance to students that can foster a more purposeful and productive education experience. In this study, we document the graduate student's perspective on the effectiveness of the IDP based on responses from students in course- and…

Increasingly pervasive digital technologies in societies are placing complex demands on the development of young people's digital citizenship and digital competence. Social science education and teacher education (TE) play important, but poorly understood, roles in this development. Through reflexive thematic analysis of semi-structured…

According to the eco-social education paradigm, landscape plays a key role as an identity object of study in the interaction between nature and society. The study seeks to assess a practical experience conducted among trainee teachers consisting in the systematized analysis of local and foreign degraded landscapes in Spain and Colombia, based on…

This paper demonstrates how agency emerges as the teaching team members of three social science and humanities massive open online courses (MOOCs) reflexively discuss the affordances and limitations offered by edX. Special attention goes to the entanglement of forums within their courses. We examine the edX platform as a discursive-material knot,…

Scholars assert that, worldwide, doctoral provision is increasingly characterised by accelerated scales of production, competitive funding, centralised administration, and interdisciplinary, cohort-based training. The situation in the UK appears to mirror this picture but scholars have long noted that national settings mediate the forms that…

Student dropout is a major concern in studies investigating retention strategies in higher education. This study identifies which variables are important to predict student dropout, using academic data from 3583 first-year students on the Business Administration (BA) degree at the University of Barcelona (Spain). The results indicate that two…

Although well established in developed countries, Ethics review boards in the academia, and specifically for social and behavioral sciences (SBS) research, is a relatively new, and still a controversy inducing endeavor. This study explores the establishment and functioning of ERBs in Israeli academia, serving as a case study for the challenges and…

Background: Formative assessment is an essential element for improving teaching and learning in the classroom. During the COVID-19 pandemic and national lockdown, educators were confronted with the need to adapt to online assessment. South African educators also experienced challenges that made online formative assessment difficult. Aim: This…

Purpose: In this study, the authors explored the situation of the doctoral candidate in the social sciences as they were confronted by crisis and forced to make changes to their dissertation research plans. The authors conceptualized this as a methodological pivot, or an unexpected shift in trajectory, in which candidates engaged and that…

Subject to various restrictive requirements on project application and completion, funded projects are often affected by funding policies for the selection of research objects. This study explored the impact of scientific research funding policies on the funding and research by comparing the topic distribution of awards and papers. A total of…

In the last decade, major progresses have been made and the flipped learning has been increasingly implemented in diverse educational settings to enhance the physical, cognitive, personal and social abilities of students as well as to improve their learning outcomes. The advantages and challenges of flipped learning have been explored and…