
Ásrún MatthíasdóttirReykjavík University · Shool of science and engineering
Ásrún Matthíasdóttir
Doctor of Education
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Publications
Publications (45)
Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) have been characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), with the Covid-19 pandemic being a recent example, which significantly affected higher education worldwide. The aim of this research was to better understand which components of curricula are sensitive to potential VUCA-like...
Higher education must be prepared for the ever-changing needs of the world to ensure that future engineers receive extensive training and are equipped to provide significant contributions to both the workforce and society. It is important for higher education leaders to be aware of the need for regularly reviewing curriculum and take part in develo...
Gender difference in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education is well reported and analysed, and models and recommendations have been put forward. Research has revealed that different engineering programs are more attractive to one gender than the other and understanding university students’ attitudes towards STEM is essent...
Preparing engineering students for the future is becoming increasingly challenging as the pace in world and business environment escalates. The CDIO initiative provides curriculum designers and faculty with a template that stress the fundamental attributes that engineering graduates should possess when they enter the workplace. As discussed in this...
This study's objectives were to analyse goal orientation and motivational climate in elite handball players as functions of age and gender; and construct a multivariate model explaining handball performance from a motivational perspective (orientation and climate). The participants were 174 national team handball players. They were categorized in a...
We present an experience report on moving face-to-face classes in a large CS1 course to an online format, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The course is based on the flipped classroom approach and team-based learning. Students prepare for classes by reading specific chapters of the textbook and/or by watching pre-recorded videos. The classes are synch...
Student's journey through the engineering educational program is academically demanding and along the way the student is required to develop professional interpersonal skills. To promote student's positive journey, the engineering program at Reykjavik University (RU) implemented an intense two-day event called Disaster Days, occurring normally in t...
The flipped classroom (FC) is a form of active learning in which in-class and out-of-class activities are flipped: students are expected to study a specific material outside the class and then be able to apply the knowledge to complete various activities related to the material during class under the guidance of an instructor. FC is often used toge...
This paper discusses how the quality of engineering education can be improved in practice by using a process of sharing and critique. Starting with a self-evaluation followed by a cross-sparring with critical friends, this new approach has proven successful in initiating change. With a focus on quality enhancement as much as quality assurance, the...
The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) sector is gender biased throughout, in schools, workplaces and academia. The development for gender equality is slow and stereotypes are still male dominated in STEM. The situation is complicated with many influencing factors that have been studied and dealt with for the last decades. To d...
ICT (Information and Communication Technology) gives us the opportunity to fundamentally renovate engineering education. The technical ICT environment is multifaceted and inspiring for both teachers and students, and we are just beginning to see what influence further implementation can have on education. For teachers, this situation can be both ex...
This paper describes how the quality of engineering education can be improved in practice by using a process starting with a selfevaluation followed by a cross-sparring with critical friends. With a focus on quality enhancement as much as quality assurance, the engagement in and attractiveness of the education is a key consideration of the developm...
In this paper we discuss the use of e-assessment tools in a beginners programming course. Online exams do have certain advantages, the instant feedback is valuable for students and the time factor is welcomed by teachers. The limitations are often technically related, e.g. the opportunities the assessment tools offer, because different exam environ...
At Reykjavik University (RU) we run an introductory course for all engineering students in two phases: a two-day " brain-storming " event focusing on creativity, early in the first semester, and a three-week intensive course focusing on design at the end of the semester. In the brain-storming phase, almost all faculty members in the School of Scien...
In this paper we will discuss how the planning and assessment of a first year programming course was changed and the preliminary findings of the influence it had on students' grades. The main teaching method was lecturing followed by practical lessons for students. Also, recording of lectures were available on-line for the students. The assessment...
In the engineering program at Reykjavik University we have been developing for the last four years an " Introduction to Engineering " course for our first year students. Last fall semester we offered an introductory course in two phases: first, two days of " brain-storming " early in the semester and then a regular intensive course for three weeks...
The main aim of is study is to seek to further the understanding of the influence of information and communication technology (ICT) in education at the beginning of the 21st century. The focus is on how teachers use ICT in their teaching and how students learn in an ICT environment. For this purpose the influence of ICT on teachers’ and students’ b...
Improving European education and training system quality has been set as a key target in Europe’s strategy to become a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy by 2020 (European Commission, 2010). These objectives are more specifically defined in the so called Modernisation Agenda (European Commission, 2011). More specifically it sets a goal to imp...
Cooperation and communication with stakeholders is important for engineering educators as is emphasized in the CDIO standards. The School of Science and Engineering at Reykjavik University is implementing the CDIO standards and when reviewing and revising learning outcomes, i.e. CDIO standards 2 and 3, it was decided to contact stakeholders and obt...
Abstract Sports clubs create conditions for people of all ages to pursue a healthy lifestyle through exercise in sports and attend to constructive pedagogical work which creates much value for society. This study investigates the relationship between adolescents' sports clubs participation and self-reported mental and physical conditions and future...
To motivate first year students and expose them to real-life engineering, Reykjavik University initiated the “Disaster Week” in the fall semester of 2011. The semester was broken up with one week of joint project work, introducing the students to some of the main CDIO concepts. During this week, engineering students developed an action plan for dea...
High dropout rate in first year programming courses is a problem in many universities but the reasons for dropout can be different for different students. Students in first year programming courses may have different backgrounds that can influence what teaching methods are most relevant and the level and rate of the teaching. This paper describes s...
This article describes a survey of attitudes of distance teachers' towards distance learning that was conducted at Reykjavík University. The 21 distance teachers that participated claimed they had good preparation in using computers in distance teaching, although half of them wanted more training in distance teaching methods. They thought distance...
This paper describes the application of ICT to language learning and teaching at Reykjavík University (RU) and how new technological resources are implemented to give the students the possibility of developing ICT skills that will be necessary for their professional future. With special emphasis on the new social platforms the use of new technologi...
This article describes a survey that was conducted at Reykjavík University into distance students' attitudes toward distance learning. Participants were positive in their attitudes toward distance education, although they found that distance learning puts more demand on them than on-campus learning. They believed that they had more control over the...
To read text on paper or on a computer screen is an everyday business for university students but which do they prefer? In this paper a research conducted at Reykjavik University in Iceland discussed. The focus is on university students' attitudes to use books versus computers in they study. The research shows that students like both learning by re...
Online data collection in academic research might be replacing paper-and-pencil surveys or questionnaires in the near future. This paper discusses the advantages and limitations of online data collection, with particular reference to the conduct of two qualitative studies involving upper secondary school teachers and students in Iceland in 2002. Em...
How to teach novice programmers is always an interesting discussion and in this paper the author writes about a new structure of teaching programming at the School of Computer Science at Reykjavík University. This is a new programme without formal lectures but with computer lab sessions, recorded lectures and online exams. The aim is to offer excit...
Student success in mastering basic programming skills is not as successful as would be expected and at the same time number of students enrolling in Computer Science is decreasing almost worldwide. The Codewitz project is developing and producing interactive web-based learning objects in order to help students and teachers in entry level programmin...
In this paper the focus will be on teachers, information and communication technology and how it relates to their teaching. The study described in this paper is one part of a three-year project that started in the autumn of 2002 in Iceland. The use of the Internet by teachers is quite common; as a source for teaching materials, for receiving studen...
In this paper the author explains the process in the Codewitz/Minerva project where the weight is on making interactive learning objects for teaching and learning programming. It is quite clear that students believe that learning objects can be useful for them as novice programming students. It is also quite clear that more introductions and better...
This article describes the authors experience in teaching computer science in distance education program and students' attitudes to distance learning at Reykjavík University. Both teachers and students in distance education need good support. It is not only support with the technology; they must have support with the whole process of teaching and l...
Every society needs the participation of both genders in the development of ICT. Girls and women are using computer systems, computer games and the Internet as well as boys and men, and the invention and development of this technology should be influenced by both sexes. In this paper, a survey conducted at Reykjavik University will be discussed. Th...
In this paper the focus will be on the students and communication in ICT, its use and how it relates to their learning. The research study which is described in this paper is one part of a three-year project that started in the autumn of 2002 in Iceland. The main results are that students like to use ICT but are not convinced that it helps them in...
Neðst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinn View/Open Prófaðar voru íslenskar þýðingar á þremur sálfræðiprófum til að mæla tölvukvíða, Computer Anxiety Rating Scale eftir Heinssen o.fl. (1987) og Oetting's Computer Anxiety Scale, hlutar A og B, eftir Oetting (1983) og viðhorf til tölva, Computer Attitude S...