The global economy is undergoing drastic upheavals as Canada enters the 21st century. The key driver of this transformation is the emergence of the digital age. The digital age is impacting all facets of Canadian society, including postsecondary education. The integration of educational technologies into curriculum is spawning a new form of learning commonly referred to as online learning. Online learning has the potential to radically alter the manner in which knowledge is taught and learned in Canadian higher education. This mixed-methods study utilized both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. The qualitative phase (n = 16) was developed and built upon the development and analysis of the quantitative phase (n = 279), which is based on Chickering and Gamson’s (1987) Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education, permitting the researcher to probe more deeply into the college students’ attitudes and perceptions of their online learning experience. The participating students represented most of the programs offered by this college. After the data analysis and interpretations of the findings, several themes emerged. The participants in the online questionnaire were satisfied with their online learning experiences at this one Ontario college. The participants cited the convenience, flexibility and the ability to control their learning as major benefits associated with online learning. Although the students who participated in the online questionnaire were satisfied with their online learning experiences, the quantitative and qualitative findings of this study provide compelling evidence that, as a matter of preference, students would chose a face-to-face / hybrid course over an online course. The participants in the semi-structured interviews repeatedly discussed how the interaction and physical contact between faculty and student, and between students enhanced the learning experiences, which contributed to their academic success. The socialization that occurred in the classroom was also a contributing factor for the preference for face-to-face / hybrid instruction. The results of this study may inform and guide college leadership and faculty about the complexities associated with implementing an online learning strategy at their college. Implications of the conclusions are presented and discussed on how they may impact Ontario’s colleges.

The global economy is undergoing drastic upheavals as Canada enters the 21st century. The key driver of this transformation is the emergence of the digital age. The digital age is impacting all facets of Canadian society, including postsecondary education. The integration of educational technologies into curriculum is spawning a new form of learning commonly referred to as online learning. Online learning has the potential to radically alter the manner in which knowledge is taught and learned in Canadian higher education. This mixed-methods study utilized both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. The qualitative phase (n = 16) was developed and built upon the development and analysis of the quantitative phase (n = 279), which is based on Chickering and Gamson’s (1987) Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education, permitting the researcher to probe more deeply into the college students’ attitudes and perceptions of their online learning experience. The participating students represented most of the programs offered by this college. After the data analysis and interpretations of the findings, several themes emerged. The participants in the online questionnaire were satisfied with their online learning experiences at this one Ontario college. The participants cited the convenience, flexibility and the ability to control their learning as major benefits associated with online learning. Although the students who participated in the online questionnaire were satisfied with their online learning experiences, the quantitative and qualitative findings of this study provide compelling evidence that, as a matter of preference, students would chose a face-to-face / hybrid course over an online course. The participants in the semi-structured interviews repeatedly discussed how the interaction and physical contact between faculty and student, and between students enhanced the learning experiences, which contributed to their academic success. The socialization that occurred in the classroom was also a contributing factor for the preference for face-to-face / hybrid instruction. The results of this study may inform and guide college leadership and faculty about the complexities associated with implementing an online learning strategy at their college. Implications of the conclusions are presented and discussed on how they may impact Ontario’s colleges.

Bakgrund: Varannan student upplever psykisk ohälsa i relation till studietiden vilket innebär nya påfrestningar som kräver anpassning i den enskilda studentens levnadssätt. Stigmatisering påverkar individens livsvärld och medför att studenter med psykisk ohälsa inte söker vård. Studenthälsovården saknar resurser gällande identifiering av psykisk ohälsa i tidigt skeende varvid detta förorsakar lidande och försämring i den enskilde studentens fortsatta hälsotillstånd. Sjuksköterskor upplever bristande kunskap om psykisk ohälsa vilket medför svårigheter att bemöta och ge vård. Vid utebliven behandling av psykisk ohälsa ökar självmordsrisk. Syfte: Att belysa studenters upplevelser av psykisk ohälsa. Metod: Studien baseras på en allmän litteraturöversikt med en kvalitativ ansats, där 13 vetenskapliga artiklar granskades. En litteraturöversikt användes för att analysera datan. Resultat: Tre områden identifieras; Svårigheter att leva upp till förväntningar och krav, Att inte ha kontroll i sin vardag och Upplevelser av social stigmatisering. Slutsats: Det är väsentligt att uppmärksamma psykisk ohälsa för att reducera stigmatiseringen och nå fram till de utsatta studenterna. Både studenter och sjuksköterskor är i behov av stöd och vägledning. / Background: Every other student experience mental health problems in relation to the studies they are in involved in and this requires adjustment in lifestyle. Students avoid seeking help due to the stigmatization regarding mental illness. There is a lack of resources in student healthcare to identify mental health issues in early stages, which results infliction of suffering and deterioration of health, leaving conditions untreated and resulting in increased risk of suicide. There is a lack of knowledge on the topic and failure to correctly educate nurses which creates uncertainty in how they could and should respond. Aim: The purpose of this study illuminate students' experiences of mental illness. Method: There were thirteen scientific articles chosen and also examined. A literature review was used to analyse the data. Result: Three areas are identified, Difficulties living up to expectations and demands, not having control of their everyday lives. The experience of social stigma. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of paying attention to mental illness as there is a need to reduce stigma and to reach out to students with mental illness. Students and nurses are in need of support and guidance.

This thesis deals with students’ views on respect as an element in their relationships with teachers and peers. The purpose of the thesis is to gain further knowledge of relationships in school by applying concepts of the theory of ethical demand in the analysis of students’ descriptions of respect in their relationships with their teachers and peers. The theoretical basis of the study is the theory of the ethical demand (Løgstrup, 1997) which is supplemented with Thomas Ziehe’s (1986/2003, 1993) theoretical concepts of proximity and distance in relationships. An important point of departure for the study is the meaning of relationships in education. According to Løgstrup, interrelationship is seen as a characteristic feature of human existence, and respect and trust as the natural basis in human relationships. The empirical material consists of 21 group interviews with 69 students aged 14 attending two Swedish schools. The interviews were conducted as semi-structured qualitative interviews aiming to understand the students’ perspective on respect in relationships in school. The results show that respect is described as a reciprocal phenomenon in the students’ relationships. The students’ starting-point was in experiences of disrespect, which indicates that it is difficult to describe respect. The students picture respectful relationships to teachers with a wish of being seen for who they are, e.g. by equal treatment, being listened to and existentially confirmed. The students’ disrespectful relationships to teachers deal with descriptions of teachers’ inability to listen, abuse of power, and teachers’ inability to teach with structure and planning. Respect in peer relations is described as allowing a person to be the way she or he is. Honesty is important in peer relations due to the students’ need to see the other person’s true self in order to get to know him or her, which is their starting point for respectful peer relations. The theoretical interpretation of these results gives an understanding of respect as an essentially human need to reciprocally affirming the life of one another. The overall conclusion is that respect is given a deeper understanding as a human phenomenon in relationships, something that goes beyond the students’ volition. Disrespectful relationships force the students to harbour mistrust and insecurity when interacting with peers and teachers. Respectful relationships in school are seen as necessary for the students’ possibilities to enjoy life.

This case study presents an overview of the student perspective on assessment, an area in which there is still little research. The aim of this qualitative study is to investigate the awareness, understanding and experience of assessment from a student perspective by addressing the following research questions: why, what, when, how and by whom are the students’ learning processes assessed?  A secondary aim is to investigate if and how teachers work with formative assessment in order to discern possible similarities and differences concerning the perception of assessment between students and teachers of English in upper secondary school. The method employed is qualitative; structured interviews have been carried out with six students and three teachers in two upper secondary schools. The interviewees represent both theoretical and vocational programmes in years 1, 2 and 3. The results show that the students believe that their learning processes are assessed in order to enable their teachers to award the students with a grade, but also in order for the students to develop in their learning processes. The assessment is perceived as a natural feature of the education. However the assessment is not perceived as fully integrated in teaching and learning; teacher-initiated, test-like activities are thought to be of greater importance for the final assessment, according to the students. The teachers, on the other hand, assess all activities equally. Written and oral feedback on the students’ productions and performances is given in relation to assessment matrices; the students appreciate and prefer this type of feedback to a grade which is contrary to what the teachers believe. The assessment is ultimately made by the teachers; students’ self-assessment is a fairly regular feature, while peer-assessment is yet to be implemented in order for the assessment practice to be considered as entirely formative. Lack of time is an oft-repeated reason why the implementation of the different features of formative assessment is being made gradually. This case study contributes to the field of educational research in that it provides an overview of the student perspective on assessment, which needs to be further investigated.

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Schools should be safe places for young people to learn through freely expressing and sharing ideas. This requires respecting student privacy, as they otherwise feel distrusted and uncomfortable. At the same time, surveillance is becoming an increasingly important part of facilitating a safe school environment. This has created an interesting dynamic where increasingly pervasive surveillance solutions seeking safety and other benefits are threatening student privacy. Therefore, researchers stand before the urgent challenge of figuring out what is a desirable direction for this technology. This qualitative study focuses on students’ perspectives on surveillance and privacy. Data was collected through interviews, card sorting, and the use of a prototype together with scenarios. The results of the study expand upon current research and reveal that actively involving students in design and research processes is important to ensure sustainable solutions. Students desire more value in terms of control, assistance, safety and information. At the same time, many concerns about discomfort, distrust and abuse are present. A set of guidelines on important considerations for future surveillance research and design are presented which focus on collaboration, responsibilityand creativity. Key issues causing inefficient communication between studentsand researchers are discussed, and the need for providing further education on the topic is motivated.

Previous studies by professionals in education have investigated the elements that are typical of the successful online student. Studies of the elements required for academic success online from the students' point of view, however, are infrequent. This study investigated student perceptions of those elements necessary for success in online study; whether students believed differences exist between those elements necessary for success in online study and those necessary for success in traditional classes; and what factors students identify as barriers to successful completion of online courses. A comparison was made of the viewpoints of students who had and who had not previously completed an online course. The student-identified elements were contrasted to those elements identified by professionals appearing in the literature. This study used a variety of methods. A two-part process of inventory questionnaires and interviews gathered data from twenty volunteers, half with and half without successful online experience. A thematic analysis of the data revealed that time management skills, self-discipline, the ability to work independently, motivation, commitment and adequate technology and equipment were the elements that students believed contributed to success in online study. Those elements were believed to be more important for success online than for success in traditional classes. Two elements were identified by 100% of the students with online experience as critical for success: the ability to work independently and time management skills. Three students (30%) without online experience indicated the ability to work independently was necessary and seven (70%) stated that time management skills were necessary. Characteristics of successful students gleaned from the literature produced by professionals in education gave both similar and dissimilar portraits. Barriers to successful online study identified by students were the loss of interaction with instructors and classmates, a lack of time management skills, and problems with e-mailed questions. It is the conclusion of this research that greater consideration should be granted by educational professionals to student perceptions of the elements necessary to successfully complete online studies.

This narrative inquiry study examines the stories told by seven adult students about learning cognitive therapy and how they experienced being both the subject and the writer of their own case study. At the time of being interviewed, some were completing a Bachelor of Counselling or Alcohol and Drug Studies, while others had completed their counsellor training and had employment in their profession. The students completing the Alcohol and Drug Studies are also trainee counsellors with a particular specialisation. All students completed a ten day, introductory course in Cognitive Therapy. There has been limited research exploring the learning experiences of students on cognitive therapy training. There does not appear to be any research on either the use of self case study in Cognitive Therapy education or the student experience of self case study. The purpose of this study was twofold: firstly, to explore the students’ perspectives on what it was like to learn cognitive therapy and secondly, to explore the students’ experiences of completing a case study on themselves. In this study, narrative interviews were used to invite participants to tell their story. The interviews were audio taped and transcribed. The participants’ in depth stories when analysed, produced clear thematic content as well as unique accounts of personal learning journeys. Analysis involved rewriting each interview as a core narrative, structured to show each participant’s position when they began learning, the essence of the story line, their unique voice, the plot direction, the story’s climax, including the impact on their identity and finally, their core message. These narratives are represented by six short pieces of prose and a poem. The narrators and cognitive therapy are central characters in all stories. Thematic content was depicted as steps in a learning process. All core narratives were sent to each participant for checking that it captured their original story and its meaning. The findings were that adult counselling students found brief introductory training courses in Cognitive Therapy to be very effective for enabling them to learn the cognitive therapy model, to refine their cognitive therapy skills and to enhance their own personal development. Self case study has the potential to provide a complex, multi-dimensional learning opportunity facilitating deep learning. Self case study can result in transformative learning and the development of new stories of identity for the writer (and subject) of the case study. Individual student accounts suggest that Cognitive Therapy can be usefully adapted for some Maori and self case study can be a means of strengthening cultural identity. In addition, for some counselling student trainees, the process of doing a self case study may provide a means of working through childhood trauma. The findings provide some preliminary support for including use of self case study within the counselling curriculum. Self case study can provide opportunities for deepening learning about theory and practice, which is all the more potent when related to students’ own selves. Given support, students might be encouraged to complete self case study as a means of gaining significant personal development. Such curriculum changes would require additional expertise on the part of counselling educators. The narratives analysed in this study suggest that particular support may be needed to enable the safe self development of students from ethnic minority groups and also to provide well for those who had experienced childhood trauma. This is recommended as an area for further research. Given that Counselling education has the task of developing and preparing students for the Counselling profession, students’ perspectives on this experience, are an important and relatively underdeveloped area of research. There is a need for further research specifically on students’ learning experiences in Cognitive Therapy. Ongoing research is needed about the use of self case study as a learning opportunity for student learning and personal development.