Electronic learning- virtual
M. Rajabi; A. Ghasemtabar; Y. Mahdavi Nasab
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The new situation caused by the outbreak of the Coronavirus imposed unprecedented conditions on the education system of the countries. Although, prior to this situation, teachers mostly would appear in their classrooms and use classical methods like lectures to teach, now the ...
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Background and Objectives: The new situation caused by the outbreak of the Coronavirus imposed unprecedented conditions on the education system of the countries. Although, prior to this situation, teachers mostly would appear in their classrooms and use classical methods like lectures to teach, now the new situation they are faced with demands continuing their teaching only with the use of distance communication tools and teachers are forced to turn to online teaching and change their teaching styles according to this space. Therefore, in these circumstances and due to the importance of teachers' efficient use of this space and due to the large amount of unreliable information in the digital space and the need to have a critical and evaluative view of this space, teachers must have the required skills appropriate to these conditions. We call this skill digital literacy. In Iran, the Ministry of Education has made decisions to compensate for the effects of school closures, one of which is the launch of a "student education network" abbreviated as "SHAD". From the very beginning, there has been a lot of discussion about its efficiency from the users' point of view. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the level of digital literacy of teachers and their views on the usability of the student educational network (SHAD).Methods: The method of the present research was applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-correlational in terms of data collection. The statistical population of this study includeed all primary teachers in Torbat-e Heydarieh in the academic year 1399-1400; they were about 585 people. Statistical sample was determined using Cochran's formula of 232 people and also simple random sampling method was used. In order to collect the required data and information related to digital literacy, the standard digital literacy questionnaire of Ng (2012) was used. Regarding usability, Bangor et al.’s (2009) system usability scale was used. This test consisted of 10 items. Odd test questions were direct questions and even questions were indirect ones.Findings: After analyzing the data using SPSS software, the results obtained in descriptive statistics showed that the average of digital literacy and its dimensions (technical, attitudinal, emotional-social and cognitive) as well as usability were all above the average. The results of correlation test, which examined the relationship between two variables, showed that the relationship between digital literacy and its dimensions with usability was significant and the highest value was related to the relationship between digital literacy and usability, which was 0.49. The results of regression test with the aim of predicting usability based on digital literacy also showed that digital literacy could predict 24% of the usability variable. The results of regression test with the aim of predicting usability based on the dimensions of digital literacy showed that the effect of technical and attitudinal dimensions on usability was confirmed and could predict almost 26% of the usability variable and the effect of cognitive and emotional-social dimensions was rejected.Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that there was a significant relationship between digital literacy and its technical and attitudinal dimensions with usability and the relationship between cognitive and emotional-social dimensions with usability was rejected. The benefits of using e-learning led to a positive attitude in people, and on the other hand, those who were technically skilled in working with software found it practical. According to the results obtained in this study, the importance of teachers' digital literacy is clear because teachers with higher digital literacy will not have much difficulty in teaching in digital space and using educational software, and this would improve their performance in this field.
Modern Educational Approaches
M. Mojadam; Z. Khoshneshin; A. Ghasemtabar; A. Najafi
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The endeavor of organizations and companies to reach large global markets has led them to use the most effective and practical methods to reach this aim. One of these methods is the new teaching methods for employees which in the present study have been examined to determine ...
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Background and Objectives: The endeavor of organizations and companies to reach large global markets has led them to use the most effective and practical methods to reach this aim. One of these methods is the new teaching methods for employees which in the present study have been examined to determine the feasibility of applying new teaching methods in National Petrochemical Company of Iran, so that the company and especially its staff can benefit from these new teaching methods.Methods: This study is designed in an applied and descriptive-surveying format using a researcher-made questionnaire. It includes five components with 56 items that have separately studied readiness (17 items), the effectiveness of the teaching methods of former courses (10 items), the quality of the teaching content (8 items), the opportunity to develop new teaching methods (12 items), and the opportunity to develop new teaching methods in accordance with structural and infrastructural facilities. The reliability of the questionnaire was estimated by Cronbach's alpha coefficient and found to be 0.85، 0.87، 0.85، 0.70، 0.90 respectively. Data were analysed in SPSS software using one sample t-test. The sample of the present study consisted of 270 staff and managers of National Petrochemical Company varying from grade 9 up to B (the specific levelling of the company’s staff). The Morgan Table was used for sampling in which from a population of 270, 120 individuals were selected as a sample from which 91 individuals received the questionnaire. Findings: The results indicate the possibility of implementing new teaching methods in accordance with multiple dimensions. Among the dimensions of feasibility, except for the human dimension which is in the desired condition, other dimensions are not in the desired condition. For such dimensions, t is equal to -8.40 at the significance level of (0.000) which is lower than the assumed average (3) and is reported as undesirable. In the following five areas or dimensions of feasibility, the perspective of managers and staff were studied: 1) the amount of readiness of the managers and staff in using the new teaching methods; 2) the attitude of the managers and staff towards the quality and effectiveness of the teaching methods in the former courses; 3) the attitude of managers and staff towards the methods of presenting the teaching content and the quality of the teaching materials; 4) the opportunities for the development of new teaching methods in accordance with the attitude of the managers and the staff; 5) the opportunities for the development of the new teaching methods in accordance with the structural and infrastructural facilities in terms of the perspective of the managers and the staff. Except for the first question, for the rest of the questions, a negative value in a one sample t-test was shown which indicates there is a distance to reaching the desired situation. Moreover, the correlation among the components 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 was also calculated which were 0.34, 0.69, 0.72, 0.66 and 0.53, respectively. Friedman test was used to prioritize and identify the components that are most desirable Conclusions: The inferential results derived from the statistical findings showed that the readiness of the managers and the staff to promote the culture of using new teaching methods according to the findings is in desirable condition. So is possible that implication of the new teaching methods is predictable based on the perspective of the managers and the staff’s point of views. In other dimensions, such as knowledge, technical, organizational, structural and infrastructure, there are signs that optimized conditions to benefit from new teaching methods. Referred to generality of findings indicates the human, technical, organizational and structural dimensions, it can be claimed that the feasibility indicators are not in a desired condition in the company. Except for the attitude and acceptance of using new teaching methods that are in favorable and appropriate condition, the rest of the indicators are less than the average.
e-learning
S;GH Ghasemtabar; akbar momeni rad; Vahid Salehi; R. Salehi
Abstract
Motivation is one of the main factors of learners' success in web-based learning environments. The purpose of this study was the external validation of the motivational model for web-based Teaching with emphasis on the role of the teacher. The proposed model is based on self-determination theory and ...
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Motivation is one of the main factors of learners' success in web-based learning environments. The purpose of this study was the external validation of the motivational model for web-based Teaching with emphasis on the role of the teacher. The proposed model is based on self-determination theory and consists of three main categories (social presence, cognitive engagement, management) and nine sub-categories. In this quasi–experimental study, a pretest–posttest design with a control group was used. The population included all the undergraduate students of Kharazmi University (Karaj campus) in the academic year 2015-2016 Of these, 44 students were selected through a random sampling procedure and were randomly assigned to either of experimental and control groups. Both groups participated in training course of communication skills. The study instrument was Haller’s Situational Motivational scale that assesses four constructs of the self-determination theory (intrinsic motivation, identified regulation, external regulation, and amotivation). For data analyses, an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was applied. The results showed that the proposed model can improve the learners' intrinsic motivation in web-based learning environment and can be a basis for teaching in virtual instruction courses.Keywords: web-based learning, self-determination, motivational model
