Chung Cheng Academic Achievements Information System

Fostering EFL University Students’ Motivation and Self-Regulated Learning in Writing: A Socio-Constructivist Approach

Oct 21, 2025

　　Writing is a complex cognitive skill essential for both academic and professional communication. In many exam-oriented English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) contexts, students often acquire writing passively and tend to lose motivation once exams are completed. Since motivation and self-regulated learning (SRL) influence the sustained effort needed for writing development, understanding how students’ motivation is supported and how they employ SRL strategies can offer valuable insights for teaching practice. 　　This qualitative case study explores how six first-year EFL university students with prior exam-focused writing experience developed motivation and utilized SRL strategies in a year-long English writing course designed around a socio-constructivist approach. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews, self-reflections, and students’ developing drafts. The analysis revealed that the students experienced positive changes in writing motivation as the course progressed. Their motivation grew through heightened task interest, which helped clarify outcome expectations and shift their goal orientation from vague career aspirations to specific skill improvement. The students also applied a range of SRL strategies, among which self-evaluative standards proved particularly crucial, as they enabled effective feedback integration and concrete revision goal-setting. These findings highlight the value of incorporating a socio-constructivist approach into writing courses to gradually transform students’ writing experiences and outcomes in exam-oriented EFL contexts, offering implications for both researchers and practitioners.

‘You really have to have a thick skin’: A cross-cultural perspective on how online harassment influences female journalists

Jul 15, 2025

Synchrony facilitates altruistic decision making for non-human avatars

Jun 04, 2025

Outstanding Young Scholar Spotlight: Associate Professor Jian-Jhih Kuo

Sep 18, 2025

　　As information technology continues to evolve rapidly, the new generation of scholars is taking on the challenge of exploring emerging research frontiers and shaping the future of the field. Associate Professor Jian-Jhih Kuo from the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering at National Chung Cheng University has shown strong dedication and focus in his work. He has produced outstanding results in quantum networks, distributed machine learning, path planning, and traffic engineering. In recent years, he was honored with the prestigious Ta-You Wu Memorial Award, marking him as a rising figure in the computer science community.   Academic Journey: From CCU to NTHU, and Back Again to Grow Roots 　　After earning his bachelor’s degree in computer science from National Chung Cheng University, Associate Professor Jian-Jhih Kuo developed a strong interest in research. He recalls that during his undergraduate years, the excellent faculty not only helped him build a solid theoretical foundation, but also sparked his curiosity and strengthened his ability to solve problems. This period marked both his academic awakening and the beginning of his research journey. 　　He then pursued a Ph.D. at National Tsing Hua University under the guidance of Professor Ming-Jer Tsai. That stage of training was both challenging and deeply inspiring. Professor Tsai valued research freedom and encouraged students to take on forward-looking networking topics, while also pushing them to read difficult papers. More importantly, he constantly reminded his students to ask the right questions and to understand the mindset and reasoning behind each author’s research design. Under this kind of mentorship, Professor Kuo gradually developed his independence as a researcher and began thinking about technology and research value from a broader perspective. 　　After completing his doctorate, he joined the Institute of Information Science at Academia Sinica as a postdoctoral researcher, working with Professors Wen-Tsuen Chen and De-Nian Yang on software-defined networking. This experience exposed him to the high academic standards and dedication of senior scholars. Despite being close to 70 years old at the time, Professor Chen actively participated in every research discussion and never compromised on quality, leaving a lasting impression on Professor Kuo’s academic mindset. Professor Yang, on the other hand, often emphasized that “working hard is a given, but only real results count.” This helped shape Professor Kuo’s early-career perspective that academic work requires not only passion and persistence, but also concrete, visible outcomes. 　　With support from senior colleagues, including Professor Ren-Hung Hwang who hosted his job talk and helped facilitate his return, Professor Kuo eventually launched his academic career at his alma mater, National Chung Cheng University. Having started his academic path at National Chung Cheng University, returning to serve his alma mater carries special meaning and reinforces his dedication to teaching and research.   Academic Honor: Ta-You Wu Memorial Award 　　In 2025, Associate Professor Jian-Jhih Kuo was honored with the Ta-You Wu Memorial Award. To him, this national-level recognition is not only an affirmation but also a meaningful reminder. With humility, he emphasizes that this achievement does not belong to him alone, but to the many people who have supported him along the way, including his mentors, research collaborators, students, and family. Being able to continuously pursue both teaching and research, accumulate meaningful results, and ultimately receive such a prestigious award, has been an extraordinary journey. 　　For Professor Kuo, the true value of this recognition lies not only in affirming his past efforts, but also in inspiring future progress. He hopes the award will encourage more young scholars to stay true to their passion, embrace challenges with courage, and learn to give back and share as they strive for breakthroughs. He especially emphasizes, “Research is not only a personal achievement, but also a legacy to be passed on.” With this belief, upon returning to his alma mater, he has committed himself to guiding students in research projects, helping them develop skills in independent thinking, academic writing, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Research Achievements: Bridging Theory and Application 　　Associate Professor Jian-Jhih Kuo's research focuses on three main areas, all centered around problem modeling and algorithm design, with a strong emphasis on connecting theoretical analysis with practical implementation: Resource Allocation and Routing Optimization in Quantum Networks. As one of the first scholars in Taiwan to explore this emerging field, Professor Kuo's team addresses key challenges such as quantum memory limitations, fidelity degradation, entanglement swapping, and purification. They have developed approximation algorithms with theoretical guarantees and adaptive decision-making frameworks that lay the groundwork for future quantum communications. Distributed Machine Learning and Security Defense. His work tackles critical issues including non-IID data distributions, malicious attacks, and model splitting. He has proposed low-overhead defense mechanisms, clustering strategies, and flexible deployment techniques to improve both the efficiency and robustness of learning systems. Traffic Engineering and Path Planning Optimization. This includes multicast routing in software-defined networks, content caching and energy-aware scheduling in edge computing, as well as application-driven problems such as UAV data collection, battery swapping logistics for electric vehicles, and emergency communication support. By combining optimization theory with real-world needs, Professor Kuo has designed algorithms with provable guarantees or learning flexibility, validated through real-data simulations. These solutions strike a balance between theoretical rigor and practical relevance. 　　Since 2020, he has led several NSTC-funded projects and collaborated closely with leading research teams in Taiwan and abroad. His work has been published in over 40 papers across top-tier international conferences such as IEEE INFOCOM, GLOBECOM, and ICC, as well as prestigious journals including IEEE TMC, TSC, TVT, and COMST, receiving increasing recognition from the academic community.   Educational Mission: Inspiring Students and Nurturing Future Talent 　　As an early-career faculty member, Associate Professor Jian-Jhih Kuo deeply values the role and responsibility of education. He believes that the legacy of academic research lies not only in accumulated results but also in inspiring the next generation. He actively encourages undergraduate students to engage in research early on, guiding them through hands-on experience to learn how to raise meaningful questions, design methods, write papers, and deliver presentations. Through this process, students not only enhance their academic abilities but also develop the critical thinking and independent research skills that define their competitive edge. 　　He often says that the greatest sense of accomplishment for a teacher comes from seeing students shine on their academic or professional paths. He also expresses his gratitude to Professor Chih-Yu Wang for his early insights and advice, which helped shape his approach to mentoring undergraduates and building their problem-solving capabilities. Looking ahead, he hopes to cultivate more students with a global perspective, so that Taiwan’s research capacity can continue to grow and gain visibility on the international stage.   Looking Ahead: Research Vision and Global Collaboration 　　Looking forward, Associate Professor Jian-Jhih Kuo plans to continue advancing two core research directions. The first is quantum networking, with a focus on multiparty entangled states, integration of heterogeneous quantum platforms, and hybrid quantum network architectures that combine fiber, free-space optics, and satellite communications. The second involves traffic engineering and path optimization in classical networks, with practical applications in smart city infrastructure such as drones, electric vehicles, and next-generation communication technologies, bridging theoretical research with real-world implementation. 　　At the same time, he emphasizes the importance of international and inter-institutional collaboration. He is actively expanding his global research network to foster more cross-disciplinary exchanges and contribute to Taiwan’s continued growth in emerging technologies. 　　Associate Professor Jian-Jhih Kuo’s academic journey is one shaped by passion, perseverance, and a willingness to take on challenges. As a young scholar, he continues to push the boundaries of research, while as an educator, he shares his dedication to academic growth and responsibility with the next generation. His work not only marks him as a rising figure in Taiwan’s computer science community but also as a promising leader for the future.

Critical analysis of the technological affordances, challenges and future directions of Generative AI in education: a systematic review

Sep 18, 2025

Security and Privacy for 6G: A Survey on Prospective Technologies and Challenges

Jul 14, 2025

Designing Life for 100 Years: From Taiwan’s Active Aging Learning Initiatives to an Action Blueprint for a Longevity Society

Feb 28, 2025

Background: The Turning Point of an Aging Society Has Arrived   Taiwan is entering a super-aged society at an unprecedented pace. According to data from the National Development Council, by 2025, people aged 65 and over will account for more than 20% of Taiwan's total population. In the future, Taiwan’s rate of population aging is projected to surpass Japan’s starting in 2047 and, by 2070, be only slightly behind South Korea’s—ranking among the highest globally. This is no longer a future scenario—it is already happening. Many individuals are unprepared mentally, and both social systems and personal planning are struggling to keep up. While past aging policies have focused largely on care and medical support, the emergence of a decades-long elderly stage of life calls for a new paradigm. Shouldn’t we reimagine this challenge through the lens of education? How can we help people proactively plan, engage, and live meaningfully in the second half of life? Fig. 1. 臺中市樂齡學習示範中心   A Global First: Taiwan’s “Senior Learning Policy” as a Model for Educational Prevention and Proactive Aging Since 2008, my team and I have implemented a “Active Aging Learning Initiative,” which became the world’s first government-led, systemically implemented educational policy for older adults1. Unlike the international norm that prioritizes the “right to be cared for,” we advocate for a different concept: the “responsibility to design one’s later life through learning before entering old age.” Senior learning is not just about course delivery—it is a pathway to social participation and self-actualization. Over 18 years, more than 372 senior learning centers have been established across Taiwan. A community-based, intergenerational, and action-oriented model has emerged, deepening education’s role in building a longevity society2. Fig. 2. from 劉文端   The “1-2-3 Instructional Model": A New Pedagogical Paradigm for Adult Learning To overcome the passivity of traditional learning, we developed the “1-2-3 Instructional Model” tailored for older and adult learners. It emphasizes three core components3: l 1 Learning Focus: Center on a clear learning objective. l 2 Learning Activities:Combine conceptual understanding with hands-on experiences to boost motivation and contextual awareness. l 3 Applications: Transform learning into practical actions—whether personal, social, or purposeful. This model is now part of Taiwan’s Professional Training and Certification in Active Aging Education, with over 8,000 certified instructors actively teaching in Active Aging Learning Centers and community programs, becoming catalysts of educational transformation in the age of longevity. Fig. 3. 高雄市樂齡學習示範中心   The Third Life University: A New Lifelong Learning Blueprint for the 55+ Generation In 2024, commissioned by the Ministry of Education, we developed the framework and pilot for the “Third Life University” targeting adults aged 55 and above. Key features include: l Core literacy curriculum modules for a 100-year life l Ministry-accredited credit and certification systems l A hybrid learning model linking university resources with communities. l Program designs to support career transitions, meaningful engagement, and dream realization The Third Life University is not just a place for learning—it is a platform for new social roles and personal value in a long-lived society. From Anxiety to Action: Life Design Modules for a 100-Year Life Our research shows that many individuals face two tensions in later life: anxiety over identity shifts and lack of clear goals, alongside uncertainty about what they truly want. To address this, we created a “Designing Life for 100 Years” learning module, incorporating self-directed learning, narrative inquiry, and action planning to support: l Life review and future exploration l Values clarification and goal setting l Micro-practices and reflective action This module now serves as the foundation for the “Life Design for 100” Facilitator Certification, aimed at training professionals equipped to guide and inspire others45.   Beyond Academia: Social Advocacy for Designing Life After 50 As a scholar, I’ve realized that research without real-world application cannot address society’s urgent needs. Since 2012, we have translated academic insights into public initiatives and publications, including:  l Practical books such as Design Your Second Half: A Happiness Guide for Active Aging and Designing a Life That Moves You l Certified Life Design Facilitator l Public education campaigns, social innovation projects, and experimental courses for longevity living Through interdisciplinary collaboration and community co-creation, we aim to inject hope and agency into the rapidly aging society6.   A Sincere Invitation to Like-Minded Changemakers If you resonate with any of the following: l You wish to explore cutting-edge theories and practices in elder education l You hope to become a “100-Year Life” facilitator and support others in their later-life transitions l You aim to design learning programs or action plans for the 55+ generation l You want to contribute to policies or fieldwork for a longevity society We warmly invite you to join the Learning & Action Movement of Designing Life for 100 Years7. Because now is the best time to redesign the future. Fig. 5. National Chung Cheng University Aging & Education Research Center   1 Findsen, B., Wei, H.-C., & Li, A.-T. (Eds.). (2022). Taiwan's Senior Learning Movement: Perspectives from the outside in and from the inside out (Lifelong Learning Series 28). Springer. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93567-2 2 Findsen, B., & Wei, H.-C. (2023). Senior Learning in Taiwan: Achievements and Challenges. Adult Education Discourses, 24, 103-119. DOI: https://doi.org/10.34768/dma.vi24.685 3 Wei, H.-C., & Li, A.-T. (in press). Taiwan's active aging learning practice through the 1-2-3 Instructional Model: Facilitating learning among individuals 55 years old and above. In Qiu Wang & Guofang Wan (edit.). Life-long Learning: The Education of the Aging Population (pp. xx–xx). Chinese American Educational Research and Development Association Book Series, Information Age Publishing. https://tinyurl.com/4p7427rr 4 Liao, F.-M., Chen, G.-L., Hsu, C.-T., Liu, Y.-H., Cheng, L.-L., Chan, X.-C., & Wei, H.-C.* (2023). Validation of the self-directed learning scale for middle-aged and older adults. Educational Gerontology 50(4), 304-319. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2023.2270874 5 Liao, F.-M., Chen, G.-L., Hsu, C.-T., & Wei, H.-C.* (2024). Assessing the ability of self-directed learning as a prerequisite for active aging among middle-aged and older adult learners: cross-sectional study. Educational Gerontology, 51(3), 313-329. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2024.2391164 6 Wei, H.-C., Lin, Y.-H., & Chang, L.-H. (2023). The Effectiveness of a Blended Learning‐Based Life Design Course: Implications of Instruction and Application of Technology. SN Computer Science, 4, Article 360. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42979-023-01730-3 7 Wei, H.-C. (2022, July). My Personal and Professional Growth in the Second Half of Life: The Impact of My Active Aging Learning Experiences. PIMA Bulletin, 43, 25-28. Special Issue on Later Life Learning, guest editors Brian Findsen and Diana Amundsen. https://vn.seameocelll.org/wpcontent/uploads/2023/12/PIMA-Bulletin-No.43-Jul-2022.pdf