Research Article
Xuan Zhou, Yolanda Padron, Hersh Waxman
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 1, Article No: ep328
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are differences in professional development (PD) opportunities afforded to English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers based on years of teaching experience related to foreign language teaching. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in seven primary schools with 60 primary EFL teachers in a middle-sized urban school district in China. Descriptive statistics and multiple Chi-square tests were used in the study. The results indicated that more experienced primary EFL teachers had the least technological pedagogical knowledge, which is contrary to the traditional concept that more experienced teachers have better teaching knowledge. The study suggests the need to support EFL teachers in China with technology-based PD training including teachers with varied years of teaching experience, in order to enhance their instructional skills.
Keywords: EFL, TPACK, education technology, professional development, teacher training
Research Article
Nikolaos Bogiannidis, Jane Southcott, Maria Gindidis
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 1, Article No: ep329
ABSTRACT
The impact of digital technologies in education has been the subject of numerous studies. The findings have produced mixed results, highlighting the high degree of complexity involved in teaching and learning and the uniqueness of school settings. Continuous and rapid technological developments present educational communities with opportunities to solve numerous academic challenges. Current trends reveal a move towards the seamless integration of digital technologies into learning spaces to complement face-to-face teaching and learning. This study used Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis to understand an Art teacher’s lived experiences as her classroom was transformed into a smart teaching and learning space using a combination of technologies to increase efficiencies in the delivery of the curriculum and address individual learning needs. The case study indicates that transforming traditional classrooms into smart learning spaces using a combination of technologies: uses time more effectively by automating the distribution of a range of educational resources; enhances teaching and learning by blurring the boundaries between physical and digital spaces; increases flexibility, mobility and creates extra opportunities for learning; frees up teaching time to address individual needs; enhances time on task and students’ focus on the learning intention; and, encourages students to self-regulate their learning.
Keywords: smart classrooms, digital learning, learning spaces
Research Article
José Manuel García-Vandewalle García, Marina García-Carmona, Juan Manuel Trujillo Torres, Pablo Moya-Fernández
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 1, Article No: ep330
ABSTRACT
Digital competence has become a new type of literacy that significantly impacts on people’s lives, as it is paramount to their social and occupational integration. In educational institutions, teachers play a major role in developing the digital skills of their students. This study aims to determine the key elements of teacher training in the use of innovative technologies and methodologies with a view to providing alternatives to improve the educational process. The objective is to overcome deficiencies in the training of teachers in new technologies and innovative methodologies. A qualitative study based on interview data is used in two phases. For the first phase research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight international education experts from various fields on how best to train teachers. The second phase research involved a text mining analysis of the interview transcripts based on sentiment analysis and word counts using the advanced R statistical programming language. The second phase research was conducted using the R statistical programming language. The interview transcripts were analysed using sentiment analysis and a word cloud. The results reveal that teacher education should be practice-focused and supervised by senior teachers with the aid of students and heads of schools. Moreover, standards should be set to monitor the digital competence of teachers, who should be trained on an ongoing basis to keep them up to date in the use of digital technologies.
Keywords: teacher education, teacher training, educational technology, educational innovation, pre-service education
Research Article
Min Young Doo
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 1, Article No: ep331
ABSTRACT
This study investigated flipped learners’ perceptions, perceived usefulness, intention to register for flipped learning classes, and learning engagement using cluster analysis with a sample of 306 undergraduate students in flipped classes. The students were classified into five clusters based on their level of social influence and cognitive instrumental processes using the technology acceptance model 2. There were significant differences among the five clusters in perceived usefulness, intention to register for flipped learning classes, and learning engagement. The perception of and preference for flipped learning also varied by cluster. The flipped learning feature that most participants commented on was online pre-learning sessions. The advantages of flipped learning that have to do with online pre-learning sessions include facilitating understanding of lectures, providing review opportunities for learning, flexible learning time, and individualized learning. These advantages indicate that providing students with instructionally sound pre-learning sessions leads to successful flipped learning. The research findings also suggest that flipped class instructors and school administrators utilize cluster analysis with meaningful variables to provide students with effective and tailored learning support.
Keywords: flipped learning, perceptions of flipped learning, perceived usefulness, learning engagement, registration intention, cluster analysis
Review Article
Malek Turki Jdaitawi, Ashraf F Kan'an
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 1, Article No: ep332
ABSTRACT
In higher education settings, students are required to use their own devices to record attendance interact with classes through online systems and other learning-teaching sources such as timetables, virtual learning environment. Real opportunity to use digital technology such as augmented reality AR technology have been used in several fields, uncovering diverse benefits regarding its usage. However, further research is needed to understand exactly how the AR enhance students learning. Focusing on individuals with special needs, AR is being used in higher education for the last few years to enhance physical, cognitive, personal, and social abilities. This systematic review presented an overview of the usage of AR technology in the special needs area in higher education literature published between 2011 and 2020 and focused on research indexed in 8 international databases. 36 studies were included for review. The results indicate that the majority of research showed positive outcomes as the AR technology proved to be effective with students with disabilities. The results also showed that AR technology was mostly used in intellectual disability setting. Finally, the result evidenced that AR assists students in enhancing their social skills, social relationships and their engagement. The results from this systematic review provide valuable information regarding to enhance individual with special needs. Future empirical research should ensure that all research is included, including settings, level of students and data collection methods such as quantitative and qualitative.
Keywords: special needs, disability, augmented reality, systematic review
Review Article
Bjarke Lindsø Andersen, Rasmus Leth Jørnø, Anne-Mette Nortvig
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 1, Article No: ep333
ABSTRACT
Background: Adaptive and personalized learning technologies are on the rise in health education. However, to reach the potential of these technological innovations, novel learning designs are necessary, which take new possibilities and constraints into account.
Aim: In this scoping review we answer the question: What characterizes learning designs where adaptive learning technologies have been blended into nursing education?
Methods: Using the terms adaptive learning and nursing education with synonyms in combination, a comprehensive search in five databases were conducted. Initial search identified 340 records. 22 articles were identified as relevant and screened in full text reading and included. Final number of papers included in the review was six.
Conclusion: We conclude that duration, engagement, placement of interaction in time and agency are the most commonly addressed parts of the learning design. We also find that there is a lack of pedagogical justification of the learning designs used.
Keywords: computer-assisted instruction, nursing education, programmed instruction, self-directed learning, adaptive learning
Research Article
Amka Amka, Juhriyansyah Dalle
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 1, Article No: ep334
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 had a disastrous impact on the education sector resulting in a boom of online learning systems. This shift has severely impacted the underprivileged students with special needs due to the sudden implementation of prolonged distance learning. Thus, it creates an immense need to analyze distance learning media’s effectiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic for students with special needs. The E-learning readiness and satisfaction of special needs students are scarcely investigated areas in education and e-learning literature. Established on the community of inquiry (COI) model, this study aims to determine the factors that underpin students’ satisfaction with their e-learning experience through the mediated mechanism of students online learning readiness. Surveying 178 special needs students from various Indonesian universities revealed that teaching presence, cognitive and social presence, and content quality, directly and indirectly, influence e-learning satisfaction. This extended and more comprehensive model would help educators better understand e-learning’s use as an effective pedagogical platform, especially in the context of special needs students. Key policy implications and directions for future research are suggested.
Keywords: community of inquiry model, content quality, online learning readiness, students’ cognitive presence, social presence, students’ satisfaction with e-learning experience, teaching presence
Research Article
Samer Skaik, Roksana Jahan Tumpa
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 1, Article No: ep335
ABSTRACT
Many educators struggle to engage or stimulate students to actively engage in classes. International students, in particular, are more vulnerable to the risk of disengagement due to their competing priorities and social barriers. The use of interactive technology can promote active learning and facilitate better student experience and inclusion. This case study aims to examine the practical implication of one of the popular interactive technologies on the learning experience of international students. The study revealed that adopting the interactive technology in lectures had an obvious positive impact on student learning experience, attainment of learning outcomes, and motivation levels. It helped students engage genuinely in the assessment tasks and have their voice heard without fear or influence by faculty or peer pressure. The study also identified some challenges including the lead time required for training both faculty and students on using the technology more effectively. The study contributes to the existing knowledge by providing evidence-based implications of using interactive technology in higher education.
Keywords: active learning, interactive technology, international students, Mentimeter
Research Article
Shivani Inder
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 1, Article No: ep336
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study is to develop and validate the scale for measuring the extent of student engagement for online courses. The study draws a battery of variables from literature on student engagement. The study proposes a 6 construct based scale with 26 items. A total of 1602 university students completed the responses for the scale. All participants had a minimum of two months of experience for online courses for inclusion in survey. Firstly, exploratory factor analysis on the initial scale has been carried out and then confirmatory factor analysis has been carried out for testing the validity and reliability of the scale. After establishing the validity of the scale, a scale with six main constructs has been confirmed. The results indicated that skills, emotional, participation and performance engagement along with value to students are the main drivers of student engagement for online courses. The scale can provide an insight to educators about the main factors that can lead to enhanced levels of engagement while delivering courses online and improve the learning experience for students.
Keywords: online courses, student engagement, confirmatory factor analysis, skills, participation
Research Article
Trang Phan, Earl Aguilera, Susan Tracz
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 1, Article No: ep337
ABSTRACT
Teachers are increasingly expected to demonstrate frequent use of and proficiency with educational technologies in the classroom. Meanwhile, teacher experiences with new technologies prior to their entry into the classroom do not always match these expectations. For many teacher education programs, the solution to this challenge lies in the incorporation of educational technologies into coursework for pre-service teachers (PSTs). This study examines PST reported uses and proficiency with educational technologies before and after taking introductory educational coursework. Based on surveys administered at the beginning and end of introductory education courses, the study found that PSTs reported consistent improvement in their technological skills. There were also positive relationships among skills competence and PST outcomes of satisfaction, effectiveness, and usefulness. These findings support existing efforts to incorporate educational technology into teacher certification coursework, while also suggesting ways to expand on these approaches to better support PSTs experience with educational technologies.
Keywords: pre-service teachers, technologies, proficiency, coursework, experience
Research Article
Hassan Abuhassna, Abdelsalam H. Busalim, Babakura Mamman, Noraffandy Yahaya, Megat Aman Zahiri Megat Zakaria, Qusay Al-Maatouk, Fareed Awae
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 1, Article No: ep338
ABSTRACT
Background: E-learning is increasingly becoming a preference in higher education institutions worldwide; this is intended to assist educational institutions in achieving objectives to meet the proportion of individuals with their educational opportunities. Nevertheless, instructors and students frequently have concerns with their capacity to succeed in E-learning environments.
Objectives: This study aimed to presents common eLearning challenges in regard to e-learning courses structure and its relations to various factors, for instance; students’ autonomy, prior knowledge and experience, students- students dialogue, and students- instructor dialogue, and proposes solutions to these challenges based on the transactional distance theory. Moreover, this study presents evidence from Malaysian higher institutions based on theoretical models for e-learning course structure and its relations to the factors mentioned above.
Methods: Data have been collected from 680 university learners all over Malaysia. Data were then examined using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modelling employing Smart PLS 3.0 software.
Results and conclusion: Research findings indicated that e-learning course structure was affected by all dimensions of overall path analysis findings: student autonomy, students background, student-instructor dialogue, and student-student dialogue. However, the e-learning course structure showed insignificant with students’ prior experience.
Implications: Implications for universities are discussed accordingly. Such findings provide vital support to the integrative association among collaborative control (CC) and transactional distance theory (TDT) regarding e-learning environments experience, which might support universities administrators in the higher education industry to implement, plan and evaluate online learning platforms applications in their institutions.
Keywords: e-learning courses structure, e-learning student background, e-learning student autonomy, e-learning dialogue