Research Article
Cristina Diordieva, Curtis J. Bonk
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep425
ABSTRACT
This qualitative phenomenological study investigates international instructors’ perspectives and experiences in designing a successful language-based massive open online course (L-MOOC). Detailed information was gathered during Summer 2018 about the instructor’s challenges and strategies through semi-structured interviews with seven participants in six different countries: Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The findings indicated that curating and facilitating a learning environment with a design team helps create an efficient L-MOOC delivery. Additionally, having multiple moderators per course and using forums helps with monitoring learners’ progress. Moreover, according to these seven L-MOOC instructors, having a course platform with rigid structures prevents using multiple activities and assessment tools for language learning. Interviewees argued that it is important to implement a learner-centered approach in L-MOOC, where learners can interact with each other and construct their knowledge. Future research studies may include exploring L-MOOC to address the best instructional practices and contribute to expanding research in language education in massive open online course environment.
Keywords: language-based massive open online courses, online language learning, learner-centered approach, instructors’ perspectives, qualitative approach
Research Article
Richeal Phil Thien Kim How, Hutkemri Zulnaidi, Suzieleez Syrene Abdul Rahim
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 3, Article No: ep372
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to identify the teaching styles and problems that are faced by teachers in cultivating digital literacy skills for the topic of quadratic equations. This study helps to overcome and refine all shortcomings that occur in the process of instilling digital literacy skills into the topic of quadratic equations. This study employed a qualitative approach by adopting the structured interview method that involved four participants from three districts in Malaysia. The interview data were analyzed using the ATLAS.ti 8 software by dividing the transcripts into small codes based on thematic analysis. The findings show that the importance of digital literacy skills in quadratic equation comprises the aspect of motivation, space saving, conducive environment, fostering thinking skills, and diversity of resources. The results have also indicated that the teachers’ teaching approach is based on existing hardware and software such as the Microsoft software, Google software, teaching aids, the Internet resources, and mobile device applications. Among the constraints that are faced by the teachers include the use of technology in calculations, communicating information, issues in exploring the diversity of information, issues in mathematical modelling, and technical limitations. Accordingly, all emerging themes and codes are summarized using schematic diagrams. A major implication of this research is that it serves as a catalyst in cultivating digital literacy among generation Z such as using the TI-Nspire software to solve mathematical problems.
Keywords: quadratic equation, qualitative approach, teaching styles, problems, digital literacy skills