Voyage Journal of Educational Studies

Effect Of Digital Game Based Learning on Students’ Academic Achievement at Primary Level

Farah Abdul Qadir, Hafsa Shujat , Aqsa Wajid Abbasi — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Games have been a part of human societies throughout recorded history. They can be card games, board games, dice games, different sports, etc. This study looked into the effects of digital game-based learning (DGBL) using Digital games, which could help change the current education system and give everyone a chance to learn something useful. Students, video game designers, curriculum developers, and educators can benefit from this study's findings. This study aims to measure the effect of digital games on students' academic achievement. A quantitative approach and one group pretest-posttest design were employed. The population of this study consisted of 177 students of 5th class studying in 7 schools in all campuses of Dr. AQ khan School System during the session 2023 – 24. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select Dr. AQ khan school system H-13 Islamabad the sample for this research study consisted of 20 students of 5th-grade studying the subject of Mathematics. The validity of the tools was determined through the expert’s opinion. The study was conducted for four weeks. A pretest was administered to the experimental group at the start and then taught to the grade 5th class through digital games, and a posttest was administered at the end. Quantitative data were analyzed using mean, percentage, and paired sample t-test. Data analysis involved obtaining scores from pretest, posttest, and retention test. Which shows students performed better in post-test than pretest whereas retention scores were consistent with the post-intervention scores, suggesting a lasting effect of DGBL on learning.

Social Media Applications and their Effect on Undergraduate Students’ Learning in Higher Education

Halima Agha , Dr Kiran Hashmi — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The development of social media has significantly impacted education, with institutions striving to use these tools to foster critical thinking, collaboration, and knowledge creation among students. This study investigates the effects of social media on student learning in higher education through the lived experiences of six participants using a qualitative methodology. Interviews were conducted to explore the impact of social media on academic performance, its use for learning assistance, academic goals, and perceived benefits. The findings show that social media is widely used by college students, who believe it plays a significant role in their academic growth. Social media facilitates interactions with educational content outside traditional classroom settings, peer collaboration, and access to quality educational resources. Additionally, participants emphasized that social media helps connect people globally, providing access to diverse learning opportunities and perspectives. This study suggests that incorporating social media into teaching strategies can drastically alter students' learning experiences, boosting engagement and preparing them for success in a technology-driven world.

The Impact of Speech and Language Delays on the Early Grade Readers in Preschool Children at Karachi: lessons for the literacy instructors

Rabia Yaseen , Professor Dr. Nasir Sulman Khan, Intizar Hussain Khan — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates the impact of speech and language delays on early-grade reading abilities in preschool children in Karachi, Pakistan, considering variables such as screen time exposure, pragmatic language development, speech skills, language disorders/delays, social communication, language acquisition, and late talkers. It aims to provide a better understanding of the prevalence of these delays among children aged 3 to 7 years and assess the effectiveness of early identification and intervention strategies. The research addresses four key questions: the prevalence of speech and language delays, the efficacy of early detection for functional literacy, the short-term and long-term outcomes of universal screening, and the influence of socioeconomic factors on early-grade reading effectiveness. The study employs a cross-sectional design to evaluate prevalence and effectiveness. Participants include children from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, and data collection methods encompass adapted screening tools, interviews with parents and educators, socio-economic surveys, and follow-up assessments. ANOVA and Thematic analyses are used to determine the screening tools' prevalence, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values, along with insights from stakeholder feedback.

Social Comparison, Hope and Depression among Students of Madrasas and Schools

Aqsa, Dr. Muhammad Luqman Khan , Muhammad Waqas — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Present study examines social comparison, hope, and depression among madrasa and school students to see how these educational contexts affect mental health and well-being. Male and female students ages 11–17 were equally included in the sample. Participants were provided with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), Adult Hope Scale, and Social Comparison Scale. Although both educational environments had moderate feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress, madrasa students had more hope than school students. Despite their hopefulness, madrasa students had more despair and anxiety. Hope promotes mental health, as correlation research showed that higher hope levels were connected with reduced depression, anxiety, and stress. An independent samples t-test showed that madrasa students scored higher on depression and anxiety than school students. Madrasa students' higher rates of depression and anxiety require culturally sensitive mental health initiatives that include religious and moral teachings and provide necessary psychological care.

Exploring the Practices and Challenges of E-leadership: A study of Public Schools of Larkana Sindh, Pakistan

Muhammad Ilyas, Muhsin Khan, Sumeera , Maria Sarwar, Paras Abro — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The major aim of the present study was to explore the perceptions of public educational institutions’ leaders regarding the practices of e-leadership and their challenges in integrating the e-leadership. In addition, the study utilized the qualitative design of research that suits the epistemological and ontological stances of researcher. Further, the study is constructivist paradigm thus, it used semi-structured interviews for gathering data, and thematic analysis for analyzing the data. However, the findings disclosed five major themes. The themes are technology execution, e-communication, continuous professional development, data-driven decision, and collaboration and innovation. E-communication and execution of technology were effective for enhancing the performance of administrative. While, collaboration and continuous professional development were significant for enhancing the involvement of parents, community and building strong connection with stakeholder, increasing the awareness of growing technological tools for instructors and educators. However, it was also unveiled that these all the practices are possible when there is not any obstacle in front, but study showed numerous challenges that hinder the process of e-leadership implementation. The challenges like poor technology-based infrastructure and less funding for renovation of technical tools. Nonetheless, the study recommended that stakeholders should support public schools in terms of providing appropriate technical infrastructure, sanctioning funds for enhancing e-leadership, increasing collaboration among different public school, and arranging training programs for instructors and educators for improving the e-leadership at public sector educational institutions of Larkana Sindh, Pakistan.

Significance of Life Skills Education for Students and Teachers in District Rahim Yar Khan

Muhammad Athar Hussain, Shahzaib Rasool, Muhammad Ali — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The study examines the impact of life skills education on students' and teachers’ personal development, social competence, and mental well-being. Utilizing a descriptive quantitative method, data was collected from 400 students and 100 teachers across four universities including KFUEIT RYK, IUB RYK Campus, NCBA&E RYK Campus, and Superior University RYK Campus in District Rahim Yar Khan, ensuring a representative sample through simple random sampling. To collect the data for this research study, two questionnaires (one for students containing 50 items, and one for teachers comprising 40 items) were used. Analysis via SPSS version 23 revealed that life skills education significantly enhances students' and teachers’ personal and social development and mental well-being, with high awareness levels among students and teachers. Despite this, barriers such as lack of resources, inadequate teachers’ training, and insufficient time allocation hinder effective implementation. To provide an accurate portrayal of the data descriptive statistics, such as the percentage, frequency, standard deviation, and mean, and inferential statistics, such as t-test and one-way ANOVA were utilized. The study found positive correlations between social skills development and successful outcomes, and between emotional skills development and mental well-being, underscoring the necessity of prioritizing life skills education and integrating these skills into the curriculum. The findings highlight the essential role of life skills education in fostering overall students’ success and well-being, calling for institutions and policymakers to address implementation, barriers and emphasize social and emotional skill development to better prepare students for academic, personal, and professional challenges.

Role of Digital Literacy in Shaping the Socialization of University Students

Qurat-ul-Ain Shams, Irshad Hussain , Sarwat Sultan — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The objectives of the study were to explore the current landscape of digital literacy among university students; to identify the role of digital literacy on socialization dynamics within university students. This study collected quantitative data from 300 students through a questionnaire. The analysis found that majority of the respondents agreed that digital literacy assists students in developing social skills and etiquette, digital literacy positively impacts their social interaction manners, digital literacy has significant impact on communication skills, digital tools influence their social interactions. They had also agreed that digital literacy influences their perception of social norms, digital literacy facilitates and integrates different cultures, norms, and practices, access to digital technology can bridge up social interaction gaps among students, digital literacy can empower students to participate more actively in civic engagement, digital literacy promotes critical thinking among students. They had also agreed that digital literacy has made people more connected, digital literacy platforms influenced their values or attitudes toward social issues, digital literacy education emphasizes ethical considerations during socialization, empathy can be cultivated and practiced in online interactions, similar to face-to-face interactions, digital literacy tools can help to convey empathy and emotional nuances effectively. They had also agreed that digital literacy promotes understanding and respect among university students and digital literacy skills enhance students’ adaptability in social settings.

Quality Assurance of Higher Education at the University Level in Division Bahawalpur

Amber Qadar , Almas Zahra , Muhammad Athar Hussain, Sehrish Hussain — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This informative study aims to clarify the quality assurance in higher education at the university level in the Division of Bahawalpur. The objectives of this study are: to find out the difference in quality assurance among students of different universities (public and private), to compare learning and teaching strategies, to identify reasons for quality assurance failure, to analyze physical infrastructure and academic facilities, and to compare the administrative facilities between these institutions. A descriptive quantitative survey design was selected for this study. The population of this study is all universities (Government and Private) located in the Division Bahawalpur and 07 universities were chosen as a sample. Of these 07 universities, 514 students (boys and girls) and 48 teachers (males and females) participated in this study as a sample. The simple random sampling technique is used. For data collection, two self-structured questionnaires were employed; one for students and one for teachers, each consisting of 40 items. After data collection, it was analyzed with the help of SPSS. The findings revealed that public universities have difficulty keeping up-to-date infrastructure and attempting to adapt contemporary teaching tactics, whereas private institutions often have superior administrative resources and more sophisticated teaching methodologies. It is suggested that to guarantee uniformity in educational quality, all universities should use a common quality assurance system and provide a favorable learning environment, increase spending on academic facilities, and encourage cooperation between public and private institutions to exchange best practices in quality and learning for progress.

Exploring the Motivation Amongst Learners and Teachers in Public-Sector University of Pakistan: A Qualitative Inquiry of Shaheed Benzir Bhutto University (SBBU), Nawabshah

Ghulam Muhiuddin Solangi , Muhammad Ansar, Shela Devi — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This qualitative study studied how public sector faculty members perceive and affect student motivation, as well as the impact of classroom atmosphere and practices. Data was gathered through classroom observations, semi-structured interviews with lecturers, and focus group interviews with students from batches I and II of four different departments of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU), Nawabshah. Thematic analysis revealed that instructors were demotivated owing to limited professional development possibilities, poor social standing, and lack of decision-making power. The instructors were extrinsically motivated by salary, job stability, and reduced working hours. However, classroom observations revealed a lack of spirit and enthusiasm in their activities. Students' focus group interviews expressed unhappiness with professors' instructional approach and lack of motivation. Recommendations drawn from findings include elevating public sector university teachers' prestige in society, encouraging teacher engagement in decision-making, and providing professional development opportunities. Teachers should use several ways to motivate students and improve learning outcomes.

Role of Health Literacy in Shaping Dietary Patterns of University Students

Saba Arshad , Irshad Hussain , Sarwat Sultan — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined how well university students understand health information and its role in shaping dietary patterns. The researchers used a mixed-method approach for the study. The researchers selected students enrolled in the BS programs in the semesters five, six, and seven. The researchers administered a questionnaire to measure health literacy and conducted interviews to identify dietary patterns of the students. The researchers surveyed a total sample of 172 respondents for the study and then randomly conducted interviews of the five students to identify their dietary patterns, including meal frequency, consistency, and hydration. The analysis of the data showed that students possess reasonable level of health literacy in comprehending health information, in making their lifestyle choices, communicating and identifying health care services, and critically evaluating the information. However, students’ eating habits appeared to be inconsistent and their meal patterns varied due to educational workload, study stress, becoming used to or habit, insufficient time, financial constraints and issues of the quality of food in maintaining a balanced meal/ diet.

The Role of HRM Functions in the Sustainable Performance of Pakistani Private Schools: A Post-Pandemic Status Quo Analysis

Saad Bin Aziz , Sobia Iqbal — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The following quantitative study assess the role of HRM functions to drive the sustainable performance within the Pakistani private schools in the post-pandemic context. The COVID-19 pandemic has been able to fundamentally disrupt the educational decorum worldwide, forcing the schools to possibly adapt towards unprecedented issues. In this study, we investigate the ways in which HRM operations—including hiring and selection, training and development, performance reviews, and staff retention—have bolstered Pakistani private schools' resilience and long-term viability. Data was gathered from a representative sample of HR staff members, teachers, and administrators at private schools using a survey-based methodology. The association between HRM practices and sustainable school performance was determined by statistically analyzing the data with an emphasis on academic quality, staff well-being, and operational continuity.

The findings of the study reveal that effective HRM practices have played an important role to mitigate the negative influences of the pandemic, specifically through the strategic workforce planning, employee engagement, and professional development. Schools which adapted towards a proactive HRM approach exhibiting higher employee retention levels, rectified academic outcomes and job satisfaction in comparison to those with relatively less structured HR functions. The study presents that investment within the strong HRM functions is important to assure the sustainable performance of the educational institutions for the future crises. The research in consideration provides actionable insights related to the policymakers and school administrators to strengthen the HRM frameworks to increase the long-term viability of the private educational institutions in Pakistan.

Challenges Facing the Implementation of Inclusive Education in Public Primary Schools of Tehsil Liaquatpur

Sana Saeed, Muhammad Athar Hussain, Zakia Khan, Muhammad Ali — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the challenges facing the implementation of inclusive education programs in Pakistani public primary schools in Tehsil Liaquatpur. The goals of this research project are: 1) To determine the status of inclusive education implementation. 2) To determine the main challenges in implementing inclusive teaching methods. 3) To investigate the attitudes of administration and teachers about inclusive education. 4) To look into whether resources are adequate and available. A descriptive quantitative survey design was selected for this study. The population of this study is all public primary schools (595) of tehsil LQP, and the sample is 119 public primary schools. From these schools, 119 head teachers and 357 teachers participated as a sample. A simple random sampling technique is used. For data collection, two self-structured questionnaires were used; one for head teachers and one for teachers. After data collection, SPSS was used to analyze data. The results revealed significant challenges in the implementation of inclusive education such as parents’ reluctance, lack of teacher training, insufficient resources, traditional methods, a lack of educational facilities, lack of support, poverty, transportation issues, etc. The study suggests that working with students with disabilities and small class sizes positively impacted the participants’ attitudes toward inclusion. A teacher must hold high self-efficacy beliefs, reliable teaching strategies, and positive attitudes toward children with special needs. The study will aid the teachers, head teachers, parents, policymakers, sponsors, and the general public need in handling the investigated obstacles for better learning and development.

Exploring Sindhi Parents’ Preference of Communicating with Children in English at Home: A Case Study of Sindhi Families Based in Karachi South

Farzana, Asadullah Lashari — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to focus on a class of Sindhi’s parents’ population that communicate with their children in English language at home. The participants for the study were 10 Sindhi’s parents comprising both male and female who have children aged from 1 to 8 years based in Clifton, Zamzama, and DHA, Karachi. The study employed a descriptive qualitative approach. The data was collected through open-ended interviews and the personal observation of the researchers. The result shows English as a preferred language according to the parents’ belief that it will help their children not only get admission in the prestigious schools but ultimately will receive higher education in Pakistan and abroad and eventually get highly paid jobs and settlement anywhere in the world. This study is based on Pierre Bourdieu’s (1977) theory of habitus focusing on its field (capital) and doxa, their internal belief that is related to parents’ expectations that early acquisition of English language helps their kids to achieve both cultural and symbolic capital which provide positive results in achieving the Institutionalized, embodied, and objectified habitus.

Breaking the Silence: Unveiling the Hidden Challenges to English Speaking Among Undergraduates

Uzma Qayyum, Irsa Zahoor, Maria Bibi — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study aimed to explore the challenges encountered by undergraduate students in speaking English, utilizing a sequential explanatory design to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. In the first phase, a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire, based on Shen and Chiu (2019), was administered to 80 students from the Department of Education at three public universities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad to assess their challenges in speaking English. In the second phase, qualitative data was obtained through semi-structured interviews with six participants (two from each university), to provide deeper insights into the challenges identified in the survey. Quantitative data was analyzed descriptively, with frequencies and percentages calculated to identify prevalent trends, while qualitative data were subjected to open coding for thematic analysis. The findings revealed that linguistic barriers were the most significant contributors to students' challenges in speaking English. Key linguistic difficulties included limited vocabulary, poor sentence structure, and inadequate grammatical proficiency. Additionally, psychological barriers such as anxiety, fear of making errors, and a lack of confidence were also prominent, alongside environmental factors, notably a suboptimal learning environment characterized by insufficient support and limited opportunities for English conversation. Moreover, the qualitative data underscored the importance of regular practice, with participants emphasizing daily English-speaking exercises as a critical strategy for improving language proficiency. These findings have important pedagogical implications, suggesting the need for targeted interventions to enhance students' English-speaking abilities, particularly by addressing linguistic deficiencies and fostering more supportive and interactive learning environments.

Catalysts of Change: Female Youth Entrepreneurs Shaping Karachi's Future

Salman Ahmed Khatani, Sobia Anwer — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study explores the entrepreneurial intentions of young women in Karachi, Pakistan, focusing on factors that influence their motivations and challenges. The research uses a survey approach to examine how individual characteristics, social support, educational background, and access to financial and networking resources shape entrepreneurial intentions among female youth. Findings suggest that while entrepreneurship education boosts self-confidence and empowers women, societal constraints and limited resources remain barriers. Results highlight the necessity for policy interventions to support female entrepreneurs through increased mentorship, financial support, and educational access. Addressing these challenges could create a more inclusive, gender-balanced entrepreneurial ecosystem, advancing Karachi's economic and social development.

Evaluating The Role and Biases of Intuition in The Scenario Planning Process Through the III Approach

Shams Hamid , Salman Ahmed Khatani , Sobia Anwer — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, Malcolm Gladwell recounts the story of the Getty kouros in his book, an ancient Greek statue acquired by the J. Paul Getty Museum in 1985. Although initial scientific tests deemed it authentic, some experts sensed it was a forgery based on subtle, intuitive cues, a suspicion later confirmed through further testing. This example highlights how expertise and intuition can lead to swift, accurate conclusions, even when analytical methods suggest otherwise. In scenario planning, intuition can be similarly potent for recognizing emerging trends and projecting future outcomes. However, it carries risks of bias and limitations shaped by personal experiences and cultural perspectives. Blending intuitive insights with structured analytical methods is recommended to counter these risks. The "III Approach" enhances intuitive scenario planning by incorporating interaction, introspection, and imagination. This process begins with brainstorming to generate potential scenarios based on intuitive insights. Next, assumptions are examined through reflection and introspection to uncover underlying biases and beliefs that may shape intuitive thinking—meditation and introspection further aid in recognizing emotional influences on judgment. Finally, creative imagination is employed to reassess assumptions and envision new possibilities. Individuals can perceive the future from fresh perspectives by transforming habitual thought patterns. The III Approach serves as a practical framework for managing the potential pitfalls of intuition-based decision-making, offering a balanced method to harness intuition for creating credible, alternative future scenarios. Intuition becomes a valuable asset in strategic foresight and scenario planning through this structured yet flexible approach.

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Enhancing English Language Learning Through Gamified Teaching Approaches: A Critical Review of Literature

Narjis Shahid, Intizar Hussain, Sadia Shamim — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This literature review explores the transformative impact of gamified teaching approaches on English language learning, highlighting their potential to reshape traditional classrooms into dynamic, engaging environments. Gamification involves integrating game elements—such as leaderboards, badges, and points—into non-gaming contexts to enhance motivation and foster a competitive yet collaborative learning atmosphere. The review synthesizes literature from 2020 to 2024, examining both the advantages and challenges of gamification in language education. While gamification has demonstrated significant benefits, including increased learner engagement, improved motivation, and enhanced retention, it also poses challenges such as the risk of learner demotivation, technological barriers, and insufficient teacher training. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing these limitations by focusing on teacher preparation, long-term efficacy assessments, and seamless integration with evolving technologies. Ultimately, gamification emerges as a promising tool for transforming English language education, requiring further research and strategic implementation to unlock its full potential.

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Exploring the Impact of School Work Environments on Teacher Retention in Karachi: A Psycho-Institutional Perspective

Intizar Hussain , Hina Hussain Kazmi , Rafiqul Islam — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates the relationship between schools' work environments and teachers' decisions to remain in teaching in the schools of Karachi. Framed within a psycho-institutional perspective, the research employed a quantitative approach using a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire. The population comprised teachers actively working up to 2023. A sample of 399 respondents was selected through random sampling from ten large public sector schools. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22, employing Pearson’s correlation coefficient to examine the strength and direction of relationships. Results reveal a significant positive correlation between school work environments and teacher retention. These findings highlight the critical role of school environments in motivating teachers to pursue continuous professional development and remain in teaching, with implications for improving teaching quality and retention strategies.

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