Research Article
Yalın Kilic Turel, Mehmet Gurol
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 2, Issue 4, pp. 264-281
ABSTRACT
Although there are many studies focusing on usefulness of learning objects, only a few studies investigated possible effects of learning objects at the middle-school level. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the effects of learning objects-enriched instructional settings on 7th grade students’ achievements, retentions, attitudes, and motivations in the science class as well as their perceptions towards the course. Learning objects regarding the unit of structure and features of matter were placed into the Learning Management System, Moodle, which was accessible by science teachers of the participants. Almost all subjects pointed out that they preferred such teaching method hereafter because of its positive effects on their learning and remembering. The interactive and challenging learning objects, particularly the ones containing games, simulations, and questions, were identified as more beneficial by both teachers and students.
Keywords: Attitudes, Learning objects, Learning objects-enriched instruction, Motivation, Retention
Research Article
George Vorvilas, Thanassis Karalis, Konstantinos Ravalis
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 1, Issue 3, pp. 255-266
ABSTRACT
This article presents a framework of semiotic analysis that could be used for interpreting learning objects. Many learning objects are multimodal representations that aim at servicing specific educational objectives. Consequently, an urgent need arises to know what kind of meanings these representations produce and what kind of pedagogic relationships are shaped between students and them. Taking a concrete learning object as an example, we deploy a sample of multimodal discourse analysis in order to elucidate these issues. Finally, we conclude with a few thoughts about the possibility of elaborating such a framework in relation to the effective design and the implementation of learning objects.
Keywords: Learning objects, Multimodal discourse analysis, Multimodal representations, Ideational metafunction, Interpersonal metafunction, Textual metafunction.