Vol 9 No S2-Sep (2021): Contemporary Research in Education 2021

This Special Issue, "Contemporary Research in Education 2021" contains 16 scholarly articles that discuss current trends and pressing issues in Educational Research and practice. The theme of the issue is diverse yet cohesive within the context of innovation, learner development and institutional transformation.

The cognitive aspect is shown by the discussion of working memory models and their implications for language learning and empirical studies of reading comprehension, language learning strategies, and communicative classroom practices. The subject also extends to scale development studies, such as the validation of an Aesthetic Perception Scale, an addition to the methodological development of measurement in education and sociology.

Some studies have been directed toward COVID-19 adaptations to education such as mathematics instruction during the pandemic, and online learning environments. Other contributions focus on issues of refugee education, multicultural attitudes of prospective teachers, teacher burnout, assessment practice (self-, peer-, and teacher-assessment), digital transformation and Web 2.0 applications.

Other interdisciplinary studies of health and lifestyles related education in areas such as exercise awareness, quality of life, body image and addiction further widen the interdisciplinary scope. The issue brings together a cognitive, psychological, technological and socio-cultural perspective.

Overall, this Special Issue contributes to the research understanding of the current educational dynamics and offers empirically based information and suggestions relevant to the classroom, curriculum development, teacher training, and educational policy formulation.

EDITORIAL NOTE

The present Special Issue (Volume 9, Special Issue 2, September 2021) of the Shanlax International Journal of Education provides a full set of current research papers on contemporary theoretical, methodological and applied problems related to education.

 This is an instance of the dynamic nature of educational research, an adaptation to the global issues, such as digitalization, pandemic-related changes in the teaching and learning environment, multicultural class environments, and changes in cognitive models.

The articles in this issue cover various fields including working memory, language learning, aesthetic perception in the context of social media, mathematics teaching and learning during the Covid-19 pandemic, exercise awareness and quality of life, language learning strategies, refugee education, teacher burnout, assessment of language learning, multicultural attitudes and Web 2.0 applications in EFL classrooms. These are intended to show the broadness of the theme of the journal as a commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry and evidence-based innovation in education.

In terms of method, the problem combines quantitative survey design, development of instruments and scales, correlational research, theoretical review, and empirical classroom investigations. Authors, mostly from Turkish higher education institutions that have a wider context, are being expressed geographically, so it is expressing both the geographical orientation and the international scholarly engagement.

This Special Issue is designed to make a meaningful impact on the current educational conversation by engaging with some of the cognitive aspects of learning as well as some of the socio-cultural shifts in educational settings. Overall, the studies provide valuable insights for researchers, teachers and policymakers interested in improving pedagogical quality, inclusiveness and research-informed policy and practice in education systems.