Research Article
Duong Huu Tong, Hoang Thi Nguyen, Tien-Trung Nguyen, Trinh Tuyet Thi Le, Xuan Mai Vo, Le Viet Minh Triet, Tang Minh Dung
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 18, Issue 1, Article No: ep629
ABSTRACT
While information and communications technology (ICT) plays an increasingly pivotal role in transforming mathematics teaching and learning, the influence of teachers’ beliefs often acts as either a bridge or a barrier between technological possibilities and actual classroom practices. This study was conducted to determine the factors that influence teachers’ beliefs about incorporating ICT into mathematics teaching. Accordingly, a survey study with a quantitative analysis method using SPSS software was deployed through the use of questionnaires designed on the Likert scale (6 levels), with 422 secondary school teachers in 32 different provinces and cities in Vietnam participating in the feedback. The research findings indicate that self-efficacy beliefs and subjective norms from colleagues and students have a significant influence on secondary school teachers’ beliefs about integrating ICT into mathematics teaching. In contrast, beliefs about ICT support and subjective norms from superiors have a minimal influence on these beliefs. Based on the achieved results and existing limitations, the study proposes directions for teacher training and educational management, as well as new research directions for the future.
Keywords: teachers’ beliefs, ICT, factors, mathematics teachers, mathematics teaching
Review Article
Jiayan Xie, Ghayth K. S. Al-Shaibani, Jingli Zhao, Othman Talib
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 17, Issue 4, Article No: ep593
ABSTRACT
The application potential of the metaverse as an emerging technology in education has sparked widespread attention globally. A systematic review was conducted using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses method, which yielded 43 relevant articles from a total of 527 articles to examine the current status and the potential of the metaverse adoption in education. The analysis involves seven aspects as reflected in the seven research questions posed. The results indicate global widespread interest in exploring the potential application of the metaverse in education, primarily focusing on general educational settings and relatively less on specific subjects such as English and mathematics. Surveys and interviews were the primary research methods used, with the technology acceptance model and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology as common theoretical frameworks. Twenty-five factors influencing the adoption of the metaverse in education have been identified, and six future research topics, such as examining students’ and teachers’ behaviors and attitudes have been proposed. This review contributes to constructing a novel framework for future research of the metaverse adoption in education, encouraging educators to integrate its advantages into specific subjects based on students’ needs for quality education.
Keywords: the educational metaverse, the metaverse adoption framework, contributing factors, quality education
Research Article
Leonardo David Glasserman-Morales, Carolina Alcantar-Nieblas, Marcela Inés Sisto
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 16, Issue 2, Article No: ep498
ABSTRACT
Nowadays, digital competencies encompass skills and attitudes with technical, informational, content, media, and communication aspects that are crucial for students and future professionals. Hence, there is a need to investigate the possible correlations between demographic and contextual variables and the development of digital competencies in higher education. This paper reports on several university-student demographic factors associated with digital competencies. The work used a quantitative approach with descriptive statistical techniques such as a means test and Pearson correlation analysis. The findings identified that (a) there are statistically significant differences between the mean obtained in the previous semester in digital competencies and the gender of the students, (b) there are no statistically significant differences in the final mean for digital competencies and the students’ institution of origin, and (c) the variables included in the study are statistically significant. They also found that the mean attained by the university students in the previous semester had a strong predictive power of student performance; in contrast, the student’s high school institution of origin variable was a weak predictor of their digital competency. This paper presents the findings and implications for practice and research.
Keywords: digital competencies, higher education, educational innovation, demographic factors, school factors, educational technology
Research Article
Kulthida Tuamsuk, Lan Thi Nguyen, Issara Kanjug, Grichawat Lowatcharin, Teeradej Manakul, Kornwipa Poonpon, Weerachai Sarakorn, Anucha Somabut, Niwat Srisawasdi, Saksuriya Traiyarach
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 2, Article No: ep408
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to investigate the success factors for transforming classrooms into learning communities in digital learning ecosystem (DLE) of Thailand’s secondary schools. Quantitative research was conducted by using a questionnaire as the research instrument to measure teachers’ evaluation of factors. Purposive sampling was applied to obtain a sample group of secondary schools. The questionnaires were sent to teachers at secondary schools in 20 provinces in Northeast Thailand that were employing the smart learning project for their teaching and learning. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. The results revealed that learning support technologies, teachers, and learners were the three most important factors influencing the development of DLE (x =4.64, x =4.61, and x =4.49, respectively). The findings of this study have implications for educators, administrators, and teachers to review and discover appropriate ways to invest the necessary conditions that can enhance the quality of DLEs and improve teaching and learning activities in the digital environment at secondary schools.
Keywords: success factors, learning community, digital learning ecosystem, secondary schools, Thailand
Review Article
Sergei P. Zhdanov, Kseniia M. Baranova, Natalia Udina, Artem E. Terpugov, Elena V. Lobanova, Oksana V. Zakharova
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 3, Article No: ep369
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 outbreak has wreaked havoc on educational systems on a scale never seen before in history. The closure of schools and other institutions of learning has impacted 94% of the world’s student population. Even school closures, such as those that occur during the summer, have a significant effect on children’s academic ability. The word “learning loss” refers to any loss of information and abilities, whether specific or generic. By Fall 2020, extended absences from school will have a detrimental effect on student achievement. Learning loss is commonly addressed when schools close for extended periods of time during the summer, natural catastrophes, or epidemics. Even brief school closures might result in significant loss of learning. Due to the global nature of the COVID-19 epidemic, special attention was devoted to learning losses.
During the pandemic, learning loss occurs as a result of kids studying at home due to school closures. School closures do not have to result in an equal loss of learning for all students. The variables that contribute to learning loss include “change in teaching methods”, “opportunities to reach education”, “less time for learning”, and “emotional factors”. Reduced instructional time–provided by teachers in accordance with the national curriculum–is likely to result in loss of learning. Due to the disparate scales used in the studies, it is hard to compare the magnitudes of learning losses. However, based on the data from the studies, it is reasonable to assume that these nations are investigating learning losses and that they exist. As a result, there is convincing evidence that students lose more information during lockdown than they do over the course of a normal school year. The elements causing learning losses differ according to context. With the reopening of schools, it is important to establish the actual magnitude of learning losses and to implement remedial measures in order to avoid the emergence of medium- and long-term educational difficulties.
Keywords: learning losses, change in teaching methods, opportunities to reach education, less time for learning, less control/feedback, emotional factors
Research Article
Emeka Joshua Chukwuemeka, Dominic Samaila
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 11, Issue 1, pp. 99-109
ABSTRACT
The study investigated teachers’ perception and factors limiting the use of high-tech assistive technologies resources in special education schools in North-West Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design using a questionnaire to sought data from 120 respondents who were drawn using a multi-stage sampling technique from special education schools within the region. Three research questions were raised to guide the study. The questionnaire was subjected to expert validation and reliability was established through a pilot study using 20 teachers from two special education schools within the study area, but not part of the sampled schools. The reliability coefficient of 0.81 was obtained for the questionnaire using the Cronbach Alpha formula. The data collected were analyzed using percentage, mean and standard deviation. Findings revealed that teachers do not use high-tech assistive devices regularly to teach students with physical disabilities. However, teachers perceived positively that there are great benefits to the use of these resources. It was recommended among others that both government and other stakeholders should organize workshop, seminars and other capacity building training regularly for teachers as means of updating their knowledge and skills in the use of assistive devices considering the dynamic nature of special education technology.
Keywords: assistive technology, high-tech, utilization, perception, special education, limiting factors