Volume 6, Issue 4, October 2015

ABSTRACT

DSGN110 was a multidisciplinary course teaching first year students enrolled in in a variety of majors about design thinking. The course is offered for the majors of architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, community and regional planning, along with computer science and business students. By blending face-to-face and online instructional strategies, desired practices and learning outcomes associated with the more intimate nature of studio-based learning and learning through action were scaled and achieved in the large enrollment course. The quantitative analysis of the pre and post survey revealed significant change across all constructs and the qualitative data analysis supported these findings, demonstrating that a blended course design utilizing collaborative technology platforms offered an innovative solution to teaching and learning in a manner reflective of a studio-based pedagogy.

Keywords: Blended learning, Studio-based learning, Design thinking, Mixed methods, Technology and learning, Educational technology

ABSTRACT

The present research examined the use of Web 2.0 tools to improve students’ vocabulary knowledge at the School of Foreign Languages, Gaziantep University. Current studies in literature mostly deal with descriptions of students’ attitudes towards the reasons for the use of web-based platforms. However, integrating usual classroom environment with Web 2.0 tools for specific sub-skills has not been examined much. It is aimed to contribute by investigating the feasibility of those tools as a supplement for vocabulary learning. This is an experimental research supported with semi-structured interviews and field notes. A pre-test and a post-test were administered to an experimental and a control group, and results were analyzed with the independent samples t-test. Following the post-test, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 students in the experimental group. The analyses of the test results demonstrated that both groups had gains but the mean of the experimental group was higher, and this difference was statistically significant. Findings suggest that almost all students have positive attitudes towards the educational use of Web 2.0 tools.

Keywords: Web 2.0, Social networking, Learner created content, Vocabulary learning, Computer-assisted language learning

ABSTRACT

Smart mobile devices (SMDs), especially smartphones and tablets, are becoming increasingly ubiquitous among educators and students in Palestine. While their use is on the rise, many academics are not effectively incorporating this technology into their teaching, which may be attributable to their negative perceptions of these devices. This study therefore examined academics’ perceptions of the value of integrating SMDs into their teaching activities. A questionnaire survey collected data from 56 academic staff of the Palestine Technical University - Kadoorie, eliciting perceptions of the physical attributes of SMDs, participants’ self-efficacy, the pedagogical affordance of mobile devices and challenges to their use in teaching. The findings show that participants were still at the stage of actively experimenting with smartphones and iPads, trialing their use at different levels and for different purposes. In general, although participants were unaware of the full potential of their functionalities, they viewed positively the various pedagogical affordances of integrating these devices into their teaching activities. The most important affordances were linking formal and informal learning spaces by providing anywhere-anytime learning opportunities, and developing interest in the subject matter, thus making learning experience more enjoyable, meaningful, and accessible. The results also identify various challenges including lack of experience and knowledge, finding the time to design and implement such integration, and selecting appropriate apps for the content being taught. Participants also expressed concerns with the limited connectivity and unreliability of Wi-Fi and 3G/4G networks in Palestine.

Keywords: Higher education, Smart mobile devices, Mobile learning, Faculty perceptions

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to explore instructors’ perspectives on the effect of using pen-based technology in the online mathematics courses and understand instructors’ experiences in online mathematics teaching with pen-based technology. In this study, two instructors who taught online mathematics courses in fourteen weeks used digital pen as a pen-based technology. The data were obtained from semi-structured interviews and observation of online mathematics course records. The findings indicated that the use of digital pen in the online mathematics course was fairly beneficial in pedagogical and interaction aspects and it was necessary to use digital pen in online mathematics courses for displaying steps of problem solving process synchronously. It was concluded from the study that digital pen technology plays a positive role in the enhancement of interaction between the elements of an online learning environment by providing real-time feedback to students and permitting to digitize mathematical concepts. The observation findings also supported the statements of the instructors. The findings of the study have further provided some insight into how to use digital pen by an instructor in online mathematics course efficiently.

Keywords: Online mathematics course, Digital pen, Digital ink technology, Interaction in online learning, Teaching with digital ink

ABSTRACT

The present quantitative study aims to find out the underlying factors of attitudes towards information technology and the relationship with academic achievement among students, through a self-developed questionnaire. The attitudes of the respondents were assessed in terms of three dimensions; namely affection, behavior, and belief. The results revealed a statistically significant difference between Arts and Science students in terms of their attitude towards IT in favor of Science students, and also proved that there was no statistically significant correlation between students' academic achievement and their attitudes towards IT. While students at the medium level of academic achievement tended to score higher on the affection toward IT comparing with students at the satisfactory level of the academic achievement. The results of this study provide information for policy makers, and the researchers who are interested in understanding the factors that affect technology use by students in their learning.

Keywords: Student attitudes, Information technology, Academic achievement, Students’ disciplines

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