Research Article
Philipp Bitzenbauer
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep430
ABSTRACT
Large language models, such as ChatGPT, have great potential to enhance learning and support teachers, but they must be used with care to tackle limitations and biases. This paper presents two easy-to-implement examples of how ChatGPT can be used in physics classrooms to foster critical thinking skills at the secondary school level. A pilot study (n=53) examining the implementation of these examples found that the intervention had a positive impact on students’ perceptions of ChatGPT, with an increase in agreement with statements related to its benefits and incorporation into their daily lives.
Keywords: ChatGPT, large language model, physics teaching, critical thinking
Review Article
Tufan Adiguzel, Mehmet Haldun Kaya, Fatih Kürşat Cansu
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep429
ABSTRACT
Artificial intelligence (AI) introduces new tools to the educational environment with the potential to transform conventional teaching and learning processes. This study offers a comprehensive overview of AI technologies, their potential applications in education, and the difficulties involved. Chatbots and related algorithms that can simulate human interactions and generate human-like text based on input from natural language are discussed. In addition to the advantages of cutting-edge chatbots like ChatGPT, their use in education raises important ethical and practical challenges. The authors aim to provide insightful information on how AI may be successfully incorporated into the educational setting to benefit teachers and students, while promoting responsible and ethical use.
Keywords: artificial intelligence, education, chatbots, ChatGPT, personalized learning
Review Article
Andres F. Mena-Guacas, Jairo Alonso Urueña Rodríguez, David Mauricio Santana Trujillo, José Gómez-Galán, Eloy López-Meneses
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep428
ABSTRACT
The diversity of topics in education makes it difficult for artificial intelligence (AI) to address them all in depth. Therefore, guiding to focus efforts on specific issues is essential. The analysis of competency development by fostering collaboration should be one of them because competencies are the way to validate that the educational exercise has been successful and because collaboration has proven to be one of the most effective strategies to improve performance outcomes. This systematic review analyzes the relationship between AI, competency development, and collaborative learning (CL). PRISMA methodology is used with data from the SCOPUS database. A total of 1,233 articles were found, and 30 passed the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis of the selected articles identified three categories that deserve attention: the objects of study, the way of analyzing the results, and the types of AI that could be used. In this way, it has been possible to determine the relationship offered by the studies between skill development and CL and ideas about AI’s contributions to this field. Overall, however, the data from this systematic review suggest that, although AI has great potential to improve education, it should be approached with caution. More research is needed to fully understand its impact and how best to apply this technology in the classroom, minimizing its drawbacks, which may be relevant, and making truly effective and productive use of it.
Keywords: artificial intelligence, collaborative learning, skills development, educational development
Research Article
Sang Eun Lee, Naya Choi, Jieun Kiaer
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep424
ABSTRACT
The study explored the social perceptions of young children’s use of smart devices in South Korea using big data methodologies. Big data methodologies allowed to uncover underlying thoughts and feelings about young children’s use of smart devices that had not been discovered in existing studies. The study extracted raw data from three different groups: the public, the journalist, and academia. Then, the study conducted keyword frequency, sentiment analysis, and CONCOR analysis with UCINET 6.0. The results of the study revealed that each group viewed young children’s use of smart devices in a different way. The public was interested in effective use of smart devices while the journalist focused on educational aspects. The academia focused on parents’ perception of smart devices from a developmental perspective. Regarding the results of sentiment analysis, they showed that each group had different opinion on young children’s use of smart devices. The public had an ambivalent attitude toward young children’s use of smart devices. While the journalist showed a positively inclined attitude, the academic had a negatively inclined attitude.
Keywords: big data methodologies, smart devices, social perceptions, young children
Review Article
Aza D. Ioseliani, Natalia A. Orekhovskaya, Marina N. Svintsova, Evgeny G. Panov, Elena M. Skvortsova, Almira R. Bayanova
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep426
ABSTRACT
This study’s main objective is to present bibliometric data on articles related to digital educational environments (DEEs) published in the journals indexed in Scopus database between 2003 and February 2023. The data collected from 61 articles published within the study’s scope were subjected to bibliometric analysis based on six categories: number of articles and citations, most cited articles, most used keywords, most influential countries, most-important institutions, and the most important journals. This study was designed as a descriptive study and offers bibliometric network maps of the most popular papers, keywords and countries, institutions, and journals. VOS viewer was used to create network diagrams and bibliometric analyses. The bibliometric analysis showed that the most frequently used keywords were digital learning environment(s), digital educational environment. The most prolific authors related to DEE are Antón-Sancho, Vergara, Barana, and Marchisio. The results showed that DEE studies were started in 2003 and the most articles were published in 2021. This study presents a global perspective on DEEs and proposes vision for future research.
Keywords: digital educational environment, digital learning environment, digital transformation in educational environment, bibliometric analysis
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
Gema Sánchez Medero, Gema Pastor Albaladejo, Juan Carlos Cuevas Lanchares, Oliver Soto Sainz, Julio Pérez Hernanz, María José García Solana, Jorge Resina de la Fuente, Pilar Mairal Medina
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep427
ABSTRACT
The creation of educational audio-visual materials has recently become popular. It is an innovative and entertaining practice, which can reach millions of people through social networks and YouTube. For this reason, this specific was designed for students enrolled in the following three modules: The Spanish political system, public administration in Spain, and institutions and decision-making structures in both the of joint degrees in law and political science and in public management and economic sciences, as well as degrees in public management and degrees in political science. Educational audio-visual materials were co-designed and co-created to define a Municipal Council, its workings and its organization. This was a three phased experiment.. In the first, under the supervision of teachers, students developed five videos showing how Municipal Councils work. This allowed university students to become involved in a collaborative learning activity through which they acquired a series of important skills for future use, in addition to reinforcing their learning by participating in creation of digital teaching material, and also establishing a new teaching methodology consisting of learning-by-doing. In the second, professors and students attended CEIP Severo Ochoa Primary School in Madrid showing videos and playing two practical games, thus promoting knowledge transfer. In the third, the teachers evaluated the impact of this activity and the degree of satisfaction of university and primary school students. The result was positive, because not only was an educational innovation successfully implemented, but also a large part of objectives were achieved.
Keywords: teaching materials, audio-visuals, collaborative learning, educational videos, knowledge transfer
Review Article
Muteeb Alahmari, Malek Turki Jdaitawi, Abeer Rasheed, Rania Abduljawad, Elham Hussein, Mohammad Alzahrani, Noha Awad
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep431
ABSTRACT
Digital technology development has led to the creation of various learning options in the science education field. Technology such as gamification has been used in several science areas, uncovering diverse benefits regarding its usage. However, more research is needed to understand how gamification enhances students learning in science fields. Therefore, this study review presented an overview of gamification usage in the science education field literature and focused on research indexed in several international databases. 31 studies were included for review. The results showed that most of the studies presented positive outcomes as gamification proved to be effective with science education students. The study also indicated that most gamification studies were mostly used to enhance students’ learning skills in science education. The results of this study provide valuable data regarding technology techniques to enhance students’ skills in science education. Further research is needed to cover areas that are not widely investigated in gamification literature.
Keywords: technology, gamification, science, education, learning
Research Article
Filippos Tzortzoglou, Panagiotis Kosmas, Lucy Avraamidou
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep432
ABSTRACT
The use of augmented reality games (ARGs) in education has gained increased attention from curriculum developers, teachers, and researchers in the past decade. Research findings show that ARGs can promote meaningful learning environments that foster key competences for the 21st century. This paper presents the design process of “EcoAegean”, an ARG for mobile devices, which was implemented in primary classroom environments to support the development of students’ key competences in the context of sustainability. The game was created using an open augmented reality software platform and its design was based on contemporary theoretical underpinnings regarding the use of such games in educational contexts. In the first section of the paper, we describe the design procedures of the learning scenario as well as the game itself. In the last section of the paper, we offer a set of critical insights on the design and implementation of mobile augmented reality games for the purpose of supporting students’ development of key 21st century competences.
Keywords: augmented reality, games, key competences, learning design, primary education, students
Review Article
Bui Phuong Uyen, Duong Huu Tong, Lu Kim Ngan
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep433
ABSTRACT
Online project-based learning (PjBL) is an increasingly popular teaching approach in higher education, especially in teacher education. Implementing online PjBL differs across subjects, bringing many benefits while posing challenges for educators and pre-service teachers. This systematic review aims to investigate the implementation, effectiveness and challenges of adopting PjBL in teacher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The review provided a thorough overview of research on PjBL in teacher education during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was carried out using the systematic review methodology and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Several relevant articles from five different databases (Google Scholar, Mendeley, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Taylor & Francis Online) were collected using the keywords “project-based learning” and “teacher education” along with their synonyms. A final list of 26 included articles to be reviewed in this study is produced after the titles and abstracts screening and full texts evaluation using inclusion and exclusion criteria. This systematic review reveals that PjBL has been applied in teaching various subjects in teacher education with different types of projects and assessment methods. More importantly, integrating PjBL in teaching has been proven to positively impact the development of pre-service teachers’ knowledge, professional skills and learning attitudes. In addition, applying PjBL poses certain challenges for educators due to the requirements on teachers’ and students’ knowledge and skills as well as equipment and technology facilities. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic, if viewed positively, contributes to boosting educators’ motivation and facilitating the implementation of online PjBL. The study findings can be used as a reference for future PjBL research and contribute to the literature on PjBL in the context of teacher education.
Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, online project-based learning, teacher education, systematic review
Research Article
Vincentas Lamanauskas, Rita Makarskaitė-Petkevičienė
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep434
ABSTRACT
It is obvious that the COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed learning and study processes. It has become a serious test for university students. Although distance study organization, implementation, effectiveness, and the like are actively researched, it is not entirely clear which way of organization studies is the most appropriate and prospective. Too little attention is still paid to the model of distance studies, its implementation and improvement, especially in the future development of distance and mixed distance study organization and implementation. An empirical qualitative study was conducted, the aim of which was to analyze first-cycle (bachelor study) university students’ position on the study quality issue. 132 students in the field of social sciences from three Lithuanian universities participated in the study conducted in January-May 2022. The verbal data obtained were analyzed using quantitative content analysis. The extracted semantic units were grouped into subcategories and categories. It was established that the main advantages of distance studies were convenience and cost-effectiveness, while disadvantages were the deterioration of the study organization and the deterioration of quality. The ways (directions) of quality distance study improvement can also be seen, i.e., the study process realization improvement (e.g., the content presentation improvement, an increase in interactivity), and study organization improvement (e.g., teacher competence improvement and optimization of the schedule). Despite the revealed shortcomings, more than two-thirds of students positively value the possibility of continuing the study process remotely after the pandemic. More detailed research is needed on the impact of the pandemic on university studies and the further organization and implementation of distance studies.
Keywords: distance education, quantitative content analysis, qualitative research, university students, university education
Research Article
Dana Ondrušková, Richard Pospíšil
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep435
ABSTRACT
The increasing use of the Internet calls upon the need for adequate cyber security awareness to better face the risk and dangers connected with the online environment. This research presents an experiment that revealed the cyber security awareness of children at Czech primary schools. They were tested for their skills to distinguish different online risks. After the pre-testing children received training and with the time delay they filled in very similar questionnaires. The re-testing measured how well the children retained the training and their ability to use the skills in the virtual environment. The results show only a moderate level of cyber security awareness at the initial testing. The one-off training had only an insignificant impact on their online behavior. The research reveals an important finding. One-off training does not affect their responsive online behavior and is not a suitable solution for effectively improving online safety skills. The task is to involve cyber security awareness education in the whole educational process. Based on the literature and conducted research this paper provides a set of recommendations for the designers of the cyber security school curriculum.
Keywords: cyber security, online risk, education, curriculum
Research Article
Paula Sofia Nunes, Paula Catarino, Paulo Martins, Maria Manuel Nascimento
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep436
ABSTRACT
There are several educational software (ES) used in the classroom environment for the teaching and learning of geometric contents that are part of the Portuguese basic education mathematics program. There are studies that show that the use of this type of artifact has a fundamental role in the behavior of students, raising, among other aspects, a greater motivation for learning mathematics. The aim of this work is to explore and describe implications for the behavior and learning of students in the 7th grade of Portuguese basic education, in face of a pedagogical practice that involves carrying out tasks using ES Plickers, in the theme similarities of the domain geometry and measurement, throughout intervention carried out. The adopted methodology presents characteristics of a quasi-experimental study. The participants were 61 students from three classes of a school in the north of Portugal, followed during eight consecutive classes. A set of tasks using Plickers, tests and a questionnaire survey were used as instruments for data collection. The results point to positive increments, at a behavioral level, as well as in the evolution of learning, in view of the use of this methodology in the classroom.
Keywords: educational software, Plickers, similarities, behavior, learning
Review Article
Ibrahim Abdullah Alshaye, Zaidatun Tasir, Nurul Farhana Jumaat
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep437
ABSTRACT
Social media, such as Twitter, have skyrocketed in popularity over the past few years. In fact, social media have been widely used by students and instructors as teaching and learning tools. In response to the increasing use of Twitter in the educational field, we have collected ten studies between 2011 to 2020 in order to assess the relationship between social media, specifically Twitter, and students’ engagement and grades. We have conducted a meta-analysis to provide empirical evidence concerning the impact of Twitter on student engagement and achievement. Furthermore, we have utilized the manual approach of content analysis in order to code these articles. Overall, metadata suggests that Twitter has a stronger impact on student engagement than on grades. Nevertheless, its impact is not necessarily positive, especially on grades.
Keywords: Twitter, social media, engagement in students learning, achievement, online learning, mobile learning
Research Article
Jiseung Yoo, Min Kyeong Kim
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep438
ABSTRACT
This study focuses on how teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of mathematics may differ depending on teacher interactions in an online teacher community of practice (CoP). The study utilizes data from 26,857 posts collected from the South Korean self-generated online teacher CoP, ‘Indischool’. This data was then analyzed using natural language processing techniques; specifically, text classification with word2vec, BERT, and machine learning classifiers was used. The results indicate that the texts of posts can predict the level of teacher interactions in the online CoP. BERT embedding and classifier exhibited the best performance, ultimately achieving an F1 score of .756. Moreover, topic modeling utilizing BERT embedding is used to uncover the specific PCK of teachers through high- and low-interaction posts. The results reveal that high-interaction posts with numerous likes and replies demonstrate more in-depth reflections on teaching mathematics and refined PCK. This study makes two significant contributions. First, it applies a data science framework that allows for the analysis of real data from an actual online teacher community. Secondly, it sheds light on the intricacies of knowledge management in an online teacher CoP, an area that has to this point received limited empirical attention.
Keywords: online community of practice, natural language processing, mathematics pedagogical content knowledge, knowledge management
Research Article
Ana María Ortiz Colón, Tomás Izquierdo Rus, Javier Rodríguez Moreno, Miriam Agreda Montoro
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep439
ABSTRACT
Research has proven that TPACK model can significantly contribute to teachers’ training in their educational work, along with the training context, as well as to contribute to their initial training. The objective of this research is to analyze the level of teaching competence that teachers have according to TPACK model, as well as the variables that influence the technological implementation in the classroom. For the data analysis, we used a validated questionnaire composed by 47 items divided into the seven dimensions of TPACK model. We performed a stratified sampling by conglomerates in various stages, using public schools as a sampling unit. The sample is formed by 825 teachers. This is a descriptive and non-experimental investigation, where we performed a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) test between the dimensions of the diagnosis scale and the socio-demographic variables. The most significant results have been the differences found regarding the educational stage and the age of the participants. It should be noted that the organization of the two stages, although based in the same principles and with common elements for the transition from one to another, is different. The study presents some adapted and focused training proposals in order to alleviate the training weaknesses of in-service teachers from TPACK model.
Keywords: TPACK, teacher training, primary education, child education, educational technology, lifelong learning
Research Article
Mohamed Atef El-Badramany, Mai Elsayed Khalifa, Dina Samir Mekky, Noha Mohamed Soliman
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep440
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of cognitive training (CT) using mobile applications on attentional control and impulsivity among pre-service teachers. Pre-service teachers were divided into two groups: experimental (n=25) and control (n=14) groups, they were selected from a large sample (n=718). Over 28 sessions, the training group engaged in CT tasks (the tower of Hanoi [TOH] and simple reaction time [SRT]), whereas the control group did not participate in training sessions or understand the main goal of the study. In the criterion tasks (matching familiar figures and numerical Stroop), all participants were pre- and post-tested. CT using mobile applications helps us see how the trained group’s attentional control and impulsivity had influenced. we also observed the progress of trained group as measured by number of moves or time for TOH, and reaction time (RT) for SRT. Other effects were observed in comparison to a control group that underwent no training. There were changes in impulsivity in post-test in favor of training group according to number of moves, and time component of matching familiar figures test. Corresponding to attentional control, the finding indicated that there were changes in (number and size) RT component in post-test in favor of training group.
Keywords: cognitive training, mobile applications, attentional control, impulsivity, the tower of Hanoi, simple reaction time
Research Article
Sara Suleymanova, Amjad Gawanmeh, Suhair Al-Alami
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep441
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way instructors teach and students learn. Rather than receiving education face-to-face on-campus, remote online education emerged as an alternative solution. If implemented properly though, online education can have its positive impact on the teaching and learning processes. Online education, however, may have its deficiencies, especially in terms of mental health. This paper is a follow-on study comparing students’ perceptions towards remote online education versus their perceptions towards on-campus education as regards mental health specifically. Involving sixty-two engineering students at a private university in Dubai, where this study was implemented, the researchers utilized a questionnaire focusing on both online and on campus education models, which was conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown time and on-campus education following the lockdown period. Based on the study’s findings, most respondents were in favor of on-campus education, particularly in relation to its impact on student mental health.
Keywords: COVID-19, online education, mental health, education models, on-campus education, graduate education
Research Article
Arnau Erta-Majó, Eduard Vaquero
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep442
ABSTRACT
Transmedia storytelling has the potential to be an effective approach for non-formal education. Previous research has suggested that there may be a reciprocal relationship between transmedia storytelling and the characteristics of non-formal learners. However, there is limited literature on how to structure and design educational processes using this approach in non-formal settings, and even less literature that integrates the perspectives of stakeholders on the necessary components for instructional design. To address this gap, a qualitative analysis of multiformat focus groups was conducted to describe the necessary items to be considered when developing transmedia educational process (TEP) in non-formal educational proposals when these are designed to families, children, and/or adolescents. Based on the findings, seven important levels were identified for instructional designing of TEPs: level of intentions (1), level of facilitators’ indications (2), level of participants’ needs (3), level of narrative integrations (4), level of elaboration and production (5), level of means and technological/physical support (6), and level of sharing willingness (7). The study discusses the importance to consider multiple perspectives, including those of facilitators, children and adolescents, and parents, when designing TEPs. Additionally, it is important to use a variety of media platforms, formats, and channels to engage diverse and heterogeneous groups of participants in non-formal educational settings. Further research could focus on developing and validating tools and strategies to guide instructional design in these types of educational processes.
Keywords: transmedia education, non-formal education, educative design, transmedia educational process
Review Article
Elham Hussein, Ashraf Kan’an, Abeer Rasheed, Yousef Alrashed, Malek Jdaitawi, Ahmed Abas, Sherin Mabrouk, Mona Abdelmoneim
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep443
ABSTRACT
Special education settings have experienced technological innovation that have advanced the development of various skills. Gamification is increasingly used to enhance the skills of individuals with special needs. There have been some studies and limited systematic reviews of gamification in general and special needs settings in particular, however, gamification design applied to special needs lacks a comprehensive systematic review. This article conducts a Literature review of gamification in special needs settings to investigate the effect of gamification in special needs as well as to identify gamification domains, groups and trends for individuals with special needs. Valuable data has been highlighted concerning the technology techniques used in enhancing the skills of individuals with a disability. However, further studies are still needed to examine areas, where research is lacking in the gamification field. The preferred reporting items for literature reviews and meta-analysis PRISMA standard was adopted for inclusion and exclusion criteria’ in this study such as including, eligibility, screening, dentification, and inclusion and exclusion steps. The results revealed that gamification design facilitates the development of various skills among individuals with special needs. Additionally, gamification design was mostly used to enhance the learning skills of individuals with a disability.
Keywords: special needs, gamification, literature review, outcomes
Review Article
Muslimat G. Akhmedova, Gasangusein I. Ibragimov, Nina I. Kryukova, Natalya A. Galchenko, Larisa Y. Lutskovskaia, Zhanna M. Sizova, Marat R. Minkin
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep444
ABSTRACT
This article provides a bibliometric overview of publications on eLearning trends in STE(A)M teaching and learning to give readers a better understanding of the current state of research in the field. The main objective of this study is to provide bibliometric data on publications on online teaching and learning trends for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education (STEM) teaching and learning purposes printed in journals included in the Scopus database in the years 2011-2023. For the bibliometric analysis, STEM learning, STEM teaching, online education, bibliometric review keywords were used, and 136 documents from the Scopus database were chosen. The collected data of the publications scanned and published in the parameters of the study were subjected to a bibliometric analysis based on seven categories: number of articles and citations per year, most influential countries, most prolific author, most prominent affiliations, funding institutions, publication source, and subject areas. Network diagrams and bibliometric analyses were created using the Scopus database analysis. Most of the articles were published between 2016 and 2022. The United States of America, the United Kingdom, and China were among the top-three most productive countries, and the United States of America produced the most publications. The number of citations to publications indexed in the Scopus database is growing steadily and reached its peak in 2022 (178 citations). The most prolific author on this subject is Minichiello, A., with four publications. In addition, Stanford University and Utah State University have maximum publishing partners. By funding 16 publications for online STEM teaching and learning, the National Science Foundation has shown leadership. The topic areas of the publications’ distribution were looked at. The articles’ respective fields of study were social sciences and computer science. This study offers a vision for future research as well as a worldwide view of online learning for STEM teaching and learning.
Keywords: STEM learning, STEM teaching, online education, bibliometric review
Research Article
Katarina Zamborova, Blanka Klimova
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep445
ABSTRACT
The article presents the research of empirical mixed methods on the use of a modern mobile reading app compared to traditional forms of teaching in English business classes in higher education in Slovakia. The research belongs to the theoretical frame of the mobile assisted language learning field that has generated an interest since the early 1990 thanks to the development of mobile technologies, their features, and their functions all over the world. The research sample consisted of 40 freshman students from the University of Economics in Bratislava who were equally divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental treatment lasted one semester and was based on analyzing books on a biweekly basis from Blinkist, the reading app based on the protocol the authors created, where three higher-level thinking domains of Bloom’s taxonomy (Anderson & Krathwohl, 2001) were identified. Students were also asked to read/listen to the books every week. Even though the current findings indicate no relationship between enhancing English reading skills and incorporating reading apps in a foreign language learning, SWOT analysis from focus group interviews shows different results. It is regarding the positive perception of working with the reading app in business English classes. Based on these findings, the authors make pedagogical implications about using reading apps as a part of the curriculum of blended learning in business English classes in higher education.
Keywords: mobile assisted language learning, reading apps, business English class, digital native students, mixed research methods, university setting, Slovakia
Research Article
Paula Charbonneau-Gowdy, Dánisa Salinas, Juan Carlos Oyanedel, Héctor Magaña
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 3, Article No: ep446
ABSTRACT
The deep disruption to education caused by the move to online learning during COVID-19 was unprecedented. While most educational stakeholders adapt to the transition back to a “new normal”, it seems an obvious time for constructivist reflection on the lessons learned. The aim of this longitudinal inquiry was to examine the experiences of higher education learners in Chile during the pandemic for potential insights to be gained. The focus was on students in multi-disciplinarian fields and the changes to their perspectives, practices, and identities. Working within the qualitative paradigm, data was gathered using interviews (n=22), surveys (n=1,054, n=1,137, n=205) and field notes. Learners’ experiences were mapped against contemporary e-learning theory and 21st century learner identity goals. Through this lens, pedagogical practices, course designs, and uses of technology reflected in online spaces were found to influence learners and their learning in complex ways. Two key themes emerged in the analysis: (1) exposure to conventional pedagogy, information transfer and assessment-driven designs and technology challenges online, left students discouraged with their learning progress and disparaging of their future workplace preparedness and (2) students who experienced learner-centered practices online, supported by contemporary learning theory and community-building course designs and technologies, underwent transformative changes to their learning and identities and feeling confidently qualified for their post study careers. In view of the increasing role e-learning will play in this century, we believe further empirical research of this kind into a myriad of global, digital learning contexts, could help transform online learning and learners in our new post pandemic reality.
Keywords: online learning, COVID-19 online experiences, contemporary online learning theories and goals, instructional design, learner identity, transforming learning online