Research Article
Jane Elizabeth Casey, Lisa K. Pennington, Dallas Lopez
CONTEMP EDUC TECHNOL, Volume 13, Issue 1, Article No: ep281
ABSTRACT
When educators provide students with opportunities to interact with educational technology such as floor-robots, it may: (a) increase students’ awareness of new educational tools, and (b) enhance students’ use and engagement with new technologies. This case study provided upper-elementary, Hispanic students with opportunities to engage in structured and unstructured activities with floor-robots, with direct support from researchers and the cooperating teacher. These educational robots were introduced to student-participants on multiple occasions during regular instructional class time in a Title I school on the U.S.-Mexico border to determine: (a) students’ interest in continued use of floor-robots; and (b) students’ perceptions of ease-of-use of floor-robots. Floor-robots were selected largely because researchers had access to two types: a Roamer floor-robot and a Thymio floor-robot. For students from underserved populations, it is important that educators strengthen students’ self-efficacy in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) areas (Mau & Li, 2018), as well as increase students’ awareness and use of newer educational technologies, which is a growing field and includes floor-robots. However, in-service teachers may need guidance, support, and professional development when selecting and using new educational technologies such as floor-robots. Student-participants’ post-study surveys and interviews provided researchers with insight into elementary students’: (a) interest in floor-robots and robotics, (b) perceived ease-of-use, (c) preferred type of floor-robot in this particular study, and, (d) opinions on the potential uses and downsides of floor-robots.
Keywords: Hispanic students, floor-robots, English language learners
Research Article
Francisco David Guillén-Gámez, Maria Jose Mayorga-Fernández, Marta Ramos
CONTEMP EDUC TECHNOL, Volume 13, Issue 1, Article No: ep282
ABSTRACT
The growing rise of information and communication technologies (ICT) in all areas of society demands that university professors have an adequate level of digital literacy, so that they can contribute effectively to the training of their students and respond to the demands of the job. The objective of this research is to know and compare the use by university teachers of different ICT resources, in their teaching, evaluation, and research (UTIC-EEI model, its acronym in Spanish), depending on the area of knowledge to which they belong (science and engineering-architecture, health sciences, art-humanities, and social-legal Sciences), in order to be able to take measures to effectively address the digital shortcomings of teachers. An ex post facto study is carried out, with a quantitative methodology utilising a survey technique, with a sample of 867 Spanish university teachers, with a descriptive and inferential analysis via ANOVA for multiple comparisons. The results showed a medium-high use by teachers of ICT resources in four areas, with there being a superior use in the teaching and research dimensions compared to the evaluation dimension in each area of knowledge. These data underline the need to continue training teachers to make excellent instrumental use of specific ICT resources in each area of knowledge.
Keywords: digital literacy, teachers, ICT, educational use, ANOVA
Research Article
Ehab Malkawi, Ali Khaled Bawaneh, M S Bawa'aneh
CONTEMP EDUC TECHNOL, Volume 13, Issue 1, Article No: ep283
ABSTRACT
The study aims at investigating the satisfaction level and attitudes of undergraduate students at United Arab Emirates University towards eLearning and virtual classes in exceptional circumstances of COVID-19 Crisis, in view of five demographic independent variables: students’ gender, educational level, residential location, college, and GPA. The researchers adopted and implemented a questionnaire where its validity and reliability for collecting data have been verified. Mean, standard deviations, and one-way ANOVA tests were conducted. The results indicate that the students’ satisfaction level and attitudes towards eLearning and virtual classes are strong in general with varying degrees between items. The results did not show a significant difference at the level (α = 0.05) for the independent variables: students’ gender, residential location, college, and GPA. However, the results imply that there is a statistically significant difference in students’ satisfaction level and attitudes towards eLearning and virtual classes for the independent variable of educational level. The study concluded with few recommendations; supporting the current efforts of the university to provide all the requirements of education via eLearning and virtual classes such as suitable infrastructure and technical support. Besides, there is a need for a continuous update of the teaching and learning platforms in line with continuous development and training for instructors and students.
Keywords: undergraduate students’ satisfaction, students’ attitudes, eLearning and virtual classes, UAEU, COVID-19
Research Article
Saurabh Maheshwari, Tuheena Mukherjee
CONTEMP EDUC TECHNOL, Volume 13, Issue 1, Article No: ep284
ABSTRACT
The debate on the positive and negative impact of Facebook on youth particularly on their academic performance has become prevalent in academic discourses. The previous studies show mixed findings of the effect of Facebook on academic performance as well as on other education-related variables. Though the role of Facebook in academics is well explored, however, the impact of academics on Facebook usage has not been examined. The present study examines the reverse possibility i.e. effect of study and academic performance on Facebook usage. Two offline survey studies were conducted on Indian college students. Study one was conducted on 250 undergraduate students (mean age = 20.15; 101 female participants) which shows a significant positive impact of past academic performance on Facebook friendship. Study two was conducted on 317 undergraduate students (mean age = 19.95; 259 females) with two additional indicators of Facebook usage i.e. time spent on Facebook and attitude toward Facebook use. Results of study two also show a positive impact of academic performance on Facebook friendship, however, no such impact is found for other indicators of Facebook use. Overall research shows academic achievement positively influences the virtual popularity of individuals, especially for college students.
Keywords: Facebook, virtual popularity, academic performance, Facebook friendship
Research Article
Olgun Sadik
CONTEMP EDUC TECHNOL, Volume 13, Issue 1, Article No: ep285
ABSTRACT
This research was designed and conducted considering the theoretical and practical suggestions of design-based research (DBR) methodology and aimed to identify and address problems in a one-semester technology integration course at a Midwest university in the US. Community of practice (CoP) was used as the theoretical framework in this research to design and implement interventions, and improve the quality of the course. The researcher observed a community of teacher educators and aimed to make suggestions for building successful strategies for communities of practice in similar contexts. The study results showcased the connection between pedagogy, content and technology as an important theme for preparing future teachers in technology integration courses but also in all the teacher education courses. Furthermore, aligned with the previous literature, pre-service teachers’ beliefs and confidence were identified as important conditions for effective technology integration. CoP was found as a challenging but helpful model when all the members share ideas in a supportive and balanced environment. An experienced member of the community acting as a moderator and facilitating the discussions was helpful to address the communication issues in a community of teacher educators.
Keywords: community of practice, design-based research, teacher education, technology integration
Research Article
Ricardo-Adán Salas-Rueda, Jesús Ramírez-Ortega, Ana-Libia Eslava-Cervantes
CONTEMP EDUC TECHNOL, Volume 13, Issue 1, Article No: ep286
ABSTRACT
This mixed research analyzes the use of the Collaborative Wall to improve the teaching-learning conditions in the Bachelor of Visual Arts considering data science and machine learning (linear regression). The sample is made up of 46 students who took the Geometric Representation Systems course at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) during the 2019 school year. The Collaborative Wall is a web application that facilitates the organization and dissemination of ideas through the use of images and text. In the classroom, the students formed teams and used mobile devices to access this web application. The results of machine learning indicate that the organization of ideas in the Collaborative Wall positively influences the participation of students, motivation and learning process. Data science identifies 3 predictive models about the use of this web application in the educational field. Also, the Collaborative Wall facilitates the learning process in the classroom through the comparison and discussion of information. Finally, technological advances allow organizing creative activities that favor the active role of students.
Keywords: collaborative wall, bachelor, technology, learning, data science, teaching
Research Article
Ardita Todri, Petraq Papajorgji, Howard Moskowitz, Francesco Scalera
CONTEMP EDUC TECHNOL, Volume 13, Issue 1, Article No: ep287
ABSTRACT
This paper presents the perceptions on distance learning approaches, assessed through an online survey, using experimental design of ideas (Mind Genomics). Students and professors of higher education institutions who had not yet experienced distance learning before COVID-19 pandemic period participated in the study. The participants belong to the universities located in Mediterranean basin, e.g., Albania, Italy, Morocco, Algeria and few African countries.
Results suggest that distance learning will shift many of the responsibilities formerly on the professors to those of the students. The data suggests the need for emotional support during this transition, specifically to maintain interaction among students and professor as well as among students themselves in distance learning platforms as in traditional classrooms. The study shows that the effectiveness and the interactivity of this new paradigm are very important and any further developments of distance learning should provide strong support for these components. The position of the professor is indispensable as the guide to the entire process, suggesting that at least at the time of this writing (2020) distance learning approach is perceived only to be an intermittent complementary path to in-person interactions.
Keywords: distance learning, Mind Genomics, survey, user’s perceptions