Research Article
Kerem Kilicer, Salih Bardakci, Ibrahim Arpaci
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 9, Issue 3, pp. 225-245
ABSTRACT
For today’s societies trying to cope with the current globally increased competition, existence of individuals who can take risks, solve problems and adopt changes an innovation has gained more importance when compared to the past. This situation brings responsibility to educational institutions for increasing the number of innovative individuals and the qualifications of these individuals. Therefore, in the process of designing and developing any kind of in-class activities which will contribute to innovativeness, it is important to determine the technology usage characteristics that can be used to define individuals who have high levels of innovativeness. The purpose of the present study was to determine the variables related to technology which will be used to discriminate between individuals who have high and low levels of innovativeness. In the study, which was carried out using the causal-comparative design, a logistic regression model was formed by using technology-related variables, and which technology-related variables managed to predict high level of innovativeness was tested. In the logistic model, the technology budget (purchases, internet, and phone bills), technology ownership (smart phones, tablets, laptops, personal computers, internet, websites, blogs), technology renewal/update time (smart phones, computers), the number of utilized internet applications and internet usage habits were analyzed as predictors. The study was conducted with 244 university students from different class grades at a state university in Turkey. The results revealed that among the variables examined, only the variables of Internet usage habit, the number of Internet applications used, blog ownership and the money spent on technology use were significant predictors. In addition, the model in which these variables were used was found to classify high and low levels of innovativeness with accuracy of 71%. Implications are discussed.
Keywords: Emerging technology, Innovativeness, Technology usage habits, Preservice teachers
Research Article
Amosa Isiaka Gambari, Halima Kawu, Oluwole Caleb Falode
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 9, Issue 3, pp. 246-263
ABSTRACT
The study investigated the impact of virtual laboratory on the achievements of secondary school chemistry students in homogeneous and heterogeneous collaborative settings in Minna, Niger state, Nigeria. Three hypotheses were formulated, analyzed and tested at 0.05 alpha level. Stratified sampling technique was used to select 60 Senior Secondary Class Two (SS II) Chemistry Students. The subjects were stratified along gender and ability levels. Sixty students were randomly selected from two secondary schools in Minna, Nigeria. Thirty students (male, n = 15; female, n = 15) were selected from each school. Pretest, posttest, and experimental group design was employed. Experts validated 20-item multiple-choice Chemistry Achievement Test (CAT) was used for data collection. A reliability coefficient of 0.91 was obtained from the pilot testing using Kuder Richardson (KR-20). ANCOVA and Sidak post-hoc statistics were used for testing the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that: (a) students in homogeneous ability grouping taught Chemistry using virtual laboratory instruction in collaborative setting performed better than their counterpart taught Chemistry in heterogeneous grouping composition; (b) female students in homogeneous group performed better than their counterparts in heterogeneous groups; (c) the higher achiever students in homogeneous groups outperformed those in heterogeneous groups. Based on these findings, it was recommended that the use of virtual laboratory instruction in homogeneous gender and ability level grouping in collaborative setting should be encouraged in teaching practical chemistry at senior secondary schools in Nigeria.
Keywords: Virtual laboratory, Cooperative group composition, Gender, Ability grouping
Research Article
Adnan Yilmaz
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 9, Issue 3, pp. 264-283
ABSTRACT
The rapid and continuous developments in computer technologies underscores the need to investigate computers’ impact on students’ motivation in second/foreign language (L2) reading and writing skills. Given this need, the present empirical study aims to examine the effect of computers on students’ motivation in L2 reading and writing skills. 35 students studying in the English Language Teaching Program at a state university in Turkey were firstly given a motivation scale as a pretest. Then they went through a five-week treatment phase during which they carried out various reading and writing activities designed around two different authentic short stories (The Lottery and The Cask of Amontillado) by using three different computer programs, namely SnagitTM, Screencast, and e-mail services. Finally, they were again given the motivation scale to determine the change in their motivation level. The analysis of the data indicated a significant increase in student motivation in L2 reading and writing skills. The findings also indicated that the students’ frequency and experience of computer use had no significant influence on L2 reading and writing motivation. Based on these findings, it can be inferred that computers have a positive effect on students’ motivation in L2 reading and writing skills.
Keywords: Instructional technologies, Snagit, Screencast, E-mail services
Research Article
Mangale Vadivu Vivakaran, Neelamalar Maraimalai
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 9, Issue 3, pp. 284-296
ABSTRACT
Computers, during its entry into the academic domain, were forecasted to revolutionize the entire educational system across the globe. At present, similar expectations have been encircling the social media technologies. Many researchers claim that social media, when introduced in higher education environments, tend to enhance the students’ learning experience by facilitating heightened levels of instructor-student interactions, peer learner support and learners’ collaboration. Though social media is claimed to take the higher education learning to the next level, it is crucial to identify the readiness and proficiency of the instructors who play the main role in efficiently implementing these technologies in their classrooms. Especially, instructors belonging to the institutions present in developing nations are less likely to have proper access to some of the basic facilities (such as power supply or internet connectivity) required for social media integration. Hence, the present study aims at identifying the feasibility of introducing social media aids to the higher education classrooms present in Tamil Nadu – one among the eight Indian states having the highest number of colleges in the Nation
Keywords: Social media, Higher education, Technology acceptance, Educational interventions, Atttudes toward social media
Research Article
Mustafa Sirakaya, Ebru Kilic Cakmak
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 9, Issue 3, pp. 297-314
ABSTRACT
Augmented reality is defined as a technology in which real world and virtual objects are combined with a simultaneous interaction. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of augmented reality use on students' achievement, misconception and course engagement. A (matched) quasi-experimental research design with both pretest and posttest control groups was used in the study. The sample of the study consisted of 118 seventh grade students receiving education in six different classes. The students in the experimental group took their lessons with an augmented reality learning material, while the students in the control group continued using their traditional course materials. An achievement test, a misconception test and the student course engagement questionnaire were used as data collection tools. As a result of a 7-week implementation, this study found that augmented reality technology increased the achievement level of students and eliminated their misconceptions. However, the study also found that augmented reality technology did not affect the course engagement of students.
Keywords: Augmented reality, Achievement, Misconception, Course engagement, Astronomy education
Research Article
Osman Solmaz
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 9, Issue 3, pp. 315-330
ABSTRACT
The current study aims to present a critical analysis of research on social networking sites (SNSs) in second language teaching and learning (L2TL) context. Twenty-two studies published from 2011 to 2017 were included in the analysis through the selection criteria devised by the researcher. The descriptive analysis reveals that Facebook was the most commonly explored medium, and more than half of the studies featured English language learners in various levels. Following the content analysis of the studies, the emerging aspects of the literature review are treated under five overarching themes: practicing multiple language areas and literacies; authenticity and negotiation of meaning through interaction; development of intercultural competence and socio-pragmatic awareness; membership in L2 communities; and (re)construction of identities. Following an account of pedagogical considerations such as the dynamics of classroom, technical features, and various cultural uses of the SNSs, the study concludes with suggestions and directions for future research in regards to the incorporation of SNSs such as Facebook and Twitter into L2 classrooms.
Keywords: Social networking cites, Facebook, Twitter, Language teaching, Social media