Research Article
María Martínez Lirola
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 1, Article No: ep346
ABSTRACT
This article offers a proposal for integrating the social network Facebook into an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom in tertiary education. The main objectives of this article are the following: 1. To offer a pedagogical proposal so that students can develop written skills and grammar at the same time that they acquire social competences using Facebook and 2. To know students’ opinions about the use of Facebook and the main social competences that they have acquired while using this social network in the teaching-learning process. The methodology is mainly qualitative-descriptive although some quantitative data is offered with the results of a questionnaire students completed. The data were collected through students’ posts in the Facebook discussions and a questionnaire.
The findings reveal the main grammar mistakes observed in students in the Facebook discussions and how Facebook is an appropriate social network for the participation of students in cooperative discussions on social topics and for the acquisition of social competences such as cooperation or communication. The results of the questionnaire show that students have a positive opinion about practicing the written skill in Facebook and they are aware that, apart from learning English, they also acquire social competences.
Keywords: English language online teaching, social networks, Facebook group, writing skill, social competences
Research Article
Julio Cabero-Almenara, Rosalía Romero-Tena, Carmen Llorente-Cejudo, Antonio Palacios-Rodríguez
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 13, Issue 3, Article No: ep305
ABSTRACT
In recent years, studies carried out in the educational field have concluded that the Flipped Classroom methodology offers numerous advantages for both teachers and students. In this sense, this approach is worked on at the university to develop skills necessary for the future professional of students, as well as increase their commitment to the subjects. The general objective of this research is to verify if the learning acquired through the Flipped methodology, as well as the perception of it, are useful for university students of the Degree in Primary Education. For this, two types of designs are used: pretest-posttest and validation through structural equations (PLS) of the scale to evaluate the degree of acceptance of the Flipped methodology based on the TAM model. The results show the adequacy of the training proposal based on Flipped methodology for university students. The students perceive the incorporation of the inverted methodology as an adequate strategy, highlighting the ease of use in the classroom, the acceptance of its integration, the transformation of interest in learning and showing a positive attitude towards its use in the future. Together, the level of acceptance as regards the validation of the TAM model is high. Finally, the possibility of replicating the model in similar investigations or through the so-called emerging technologies is evaluated.
Keywords: flipped classroom, digital competence, primary education, teacher training, TAM, CFA
Research Article
Héctor Galindo-Domínguez, María-José Bezanilla
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 13, Issue 2, Article No: ep294
ABSTRACT
It is though that those students who better manage their time and perceive themselves to be more effective in the tasks they perform are thought to be due, in part, to a stronger understanding and command of digital competence. This competence allows students to know and use a greater number of tools and techniques to respond to the problems that arise in their academic career, favouring the reduction of perceived stress. To test this hypothesis, a total of 200 students from different degrees of Education and universities participated in the study, who answered the Digital Competence Questionnaire in University Students, the Spanish version of Time Management Behaviour Questionnaire, the Scale of Perceived Self-efficacy in academic situations, and the Scale of Global Perception of Stress. The results show how the starting hypothesis is fulfilled in that time management and academic self-efficacy function as mediators between digital competence and types of positive or negative stressors. Finally, these findings implications are discussed.
Keywords: digital competence, self-efficacy, time management, stress, university, higher education, technology, ICT
Research Article
Maxim L. Grunis, Inna I. Golovanova, Galiya I. Kirilova, Elena Y. Levina, Zhanna M. Sizova
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 13, Issue 1, Article No: ep289
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this work is to identify the transformations of communicative functions. These functions are associated with the subjects of communication in both fields: in pedagogical and organizational, also in the instrumental and design once during the process of creating digital video recordings for online courses. Questionnaires, observation, and factor analysis were used as research methods. It helped to formulate a popularity rating of digital tools for future teachers. The study was conducted at the Institute of Psychology and Education of Kazan (Volga region) Federal University. The study involved 120 people: teachers developing online courses and students studying at the pedagogical educational programs. Transforming indicators of pedagogical communicative competence are highlighted. These indicators are needed to be emphasized when improving teacher training. It will help future teachers to be able to effectively carry out their activities in digital educational environment. These indicators are: the ability to organize interactive cooperation during training, the ability to organize mutual exchange and development of students, the ability to create an open environment for analysis and improvement. The methodological aspects of the development of pedagogical communication functions in the dynamic environment of digital education and an interactive environment are disclosed on the basis of work with videos. Some recommendations for future teachers’ skills improving and development of training experience organization in the digital environment are given. These are a clearly-set-goal for educational video materials, adequate video content, skills for digital tools using, also the skill to choose adequate digital tools for a task fulfillment. The tool that can enhance enthusiasm, and stimulate students for productive work in a digital environment. The study allows improving video content and increasing the effectiveness of its use in the educational process. Also, the results of the experiment can become a basis for teacher training programs improving. Especially it can be useful for future teachers’ pedagogical communicative and digital competences development. The tasks developed within the frame of the research will be included in the assignments of pedagogical internship for pedagogical Master’s degree courses at the Institute of Psychology and Education of Kazan Federal University. These tasks for students include development and use of online courses with video materials.
Keywords: pedagogical communicative competence, digital educational environment, digital video recordings, educational videos, online courses
Research Article
Sanna Elina Oinas, Helena Thuneberg, Mari-Pauliina Vainikainen, Risto Hotulainen
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 12, Issue 2, Article No: ep271
ABSTRACT
As a variety of commercial educational applications are currently being taken into daily use to provide technology-enhanced feedback, research is needed to observe whether pedagogical evidence of the impact of feedback on learning and well-being is being utilized. To this end, this study explores the connections between technology-enhanced feedback, motivation, competence and the relationship with teachers. A nationally representative sample of pupils undertaking Finnish basic education (N=2031) was analyzed using latent profile analysis. Seven patterns for receiving technology-enhanced feedback were identified. Most girls (80%) and boys (55%) belonged to groups receiving mainly positive feedback in the form of teacher praise, which was connected to the highest scores in all measured indicators. Although the results indicate teachers’ efforts to encourage pupils through technology-enhanced feedback, we also identified profiles in which pupils (up to 30%) repeatedly received negative feedback related to behavior problems or forgotten matters, as well as profiles in which pupils (5%) reported that they never received any technology-enhanced feedback at all. Pupils who did not receive any feedback reported the lowest values in all scales. The relationship with teachers was particularly weak for pupils receiving negative feedback or no feedback. The results indicate that current technology-enhanced feedback practices do not fully meet pedagogical knowledge concerning efficient feedback.
Keywords: technology-enhanced feedback, motivation, competence, academic well-being
Research Article
Partick D. Kihoza, Irina Zlotnikova, Joseph Kizito Bada, Khamisi Kalegele
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 7, Issue 1, pp. 60-84
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to describe instances of pedagogical practices of teachers using ICTs and the enhancements of practices using traditional methods, to more fundamental changes in their approach to teaching. Using a mixed method, the research examined the impact of increased education level on the ICT use competence perception and the influence of ICT knowledge level and skills on the adoption of blended learning contents. Four schools were used for this study; two picked out of 50 that are enhanced with ICT infrastructures while the other two were picked from schools without enough ICT infrastructures. Three research questions guided the study. Data collection included teachers, schools inspection officers, curriculum development experts, teacher trainees and policy makers’ interviews, questionnaires, classroom observations, and document reviews. Data analysis concentrated on the central questions of the study. The results suggested that teachers’ education level couldn’t determine their ICT knowledge level. Either, the ICT knowledge level has influences on the decision to use blended learning. Barriers to ICT use in education were revealed as: internal -more of personal attitudes and perceptions about a technology, and external -lack of availability and accessibility to the relevant resources (hardware and software), lack of framework that address integration of ICTs in teaching and learning and unreliable Internet connection. Resulting from the results, this study suggests a goal oriented teacher training framework which should address a complex integration of technology, content, pedagogy, school infrastructures, and the overall objectives of the education systems as trivial of ICT use determining factors.
Keywords: Blended learning, Teachers’ ICT knowledge, Teachers’ ICT use, Teachers’ ICT competence, ICT in education
Research Article
Vibha Chawla, Praveen Thukral
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 2, Issue 1, pp. 77-87
ABSTRACT
This study is an attempt to evaluate the effects of student feedback in developing teaching competence among student teachers. The study was conducted on ten student-teachers of one of the reputed colleges of Panjab University using single-group pretest-posttest design. The efficiency of employing all the selected skills has been calculated by using observation schedule cum rating scale for each skill. The efficiency has been found to be greater than 83% in case of all the student-teachers trained through student feedback. The coefficient of correlation between Efficiency of Using Five Selected Teaching Skills and Posttest Baroda General Teaching Competence Scale Score has been found to be 0.260. Also, 10% of the student-teachers move from average to high performance category on Stanine scale. In brief, student feedback has been found to be effective in improving the general teaching competence of student-teachers.
Keywords: Student feedback, Teaching competence, Teaching skills, Microteaching
Research Article
Modasiru O. Yusuf, Modupe R. Balogun
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 2, Issue 1, pp. 18-36
ABSTRACT
The importance of ICT in empowering teachers and learners, and enhancing teaching and students’ achievement has been highlighted in several studies. Similarly, the digital divide between the developed and developing nations had been of a serious concern to educators. The paucity of studies on ICT integration in the developing nations needs to be addressed so as to ensure total integration of ICT in the school curriculum. This study examined empirically student-teachers’ competence and attitude towards information and communication technology. Gender influence on their competence and attitude were also examined. Participants were 382 student-teachers (181 males and 201 females) from the Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. The data collected through a questionnaire were analysed using percentages, means, and chi-square statistics. Findings revealed that majority of the student-teachers have positive attitude towards the use of ICT and they are competent in the use of few basic ICT tools. Overall, no significant difference was established between male and female student-teachers’ attitudes and use of ICT. The implication is that the student-teachers lacked the necessary competence in the full integration of ICT in the curriculum. This underscores the need to improve the ICT contents of teacher education programs in universities in developing nations.
Keywords: Student-teachers, ICT Competence, Attitude towards ICT, Teacher education