Blended Learning
Sh. Fazli; S.R. Emadi
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Mathematics is one of the basic skills that is considered as as one of the important and fundamental subjects during education, and a significant number of students face challenges in this subject. The teaching and learning of mathematics is not only limited to transferring ...
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Background and Objectives: Mathematics is one of the basic skills that is considered as as one of the important and fundamental subjects during education, and a significant number of students face challenges in this subject. The teaching and learning of mathematics is not only limited to transferring concepts and definitions to students, but the math program is responsible for developing and generalizing concepts, creating motivation, fostering creativity, and applying and creating connections between students' learning. However, it can be seen that the traditional methods of teaching mathematics, despite a long history, have not been able to positively affect the process of learning and teaching mathematics of students. Researchers have sought to find a way to solve the problems of the teaching and learning process so that students can better understand the basic foundations of mathematics. With the advancement of technology and the use of computers in various branches of science, the way was paved for the use of technology in education. Among the applications of this technology, which is receiving more attention every day, is the role it can play in the learning process. With the growth and expansion of the use of computer technology in the learning process, the design of graphic learning environments has become increasingly important, and one of these graphic methods is vector graphics. Drawing can be an effective educational medium in education, because it enables the teacher to present information with different media through sound, text, animation and image. In other words, teaching with the multimedia graphic design method provides the right context to complement the teacher's efforts to attract attention, improve understanding and involve the person in learning. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of vector graphics on the learning and engagement of students in mathematics.Methods: The research method was an experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population included all fifth-grade female students of the Qahavand district in the academic year of 2020-2021, which was 188. The statistical sample consisted of 30 people (15 subjects in the experimental group and 15 in the control group) who were selected from the female students of the fifth-grade primary school through an available sampling method. The experimental group was trained through Illustrator software during 8 sessions, and the control group received the usual training. The data collected by Reeve's (2013) academic engagement and learning (researcher-made) questionnaires in mathematic. Descriptive statistics indicators such as mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data, and multivariate covariance analysis was used to check the research hypotheses.Findings: The results showed that teaching with the help of vector graphics had a greater effect on the level of learning and engagement of students in mathematics lessons compared to teaching in the usual way. Based on the results of vector graphics training, it had a positive and significant effect on students' learning (F=9.34, P<0.01) and engagement (F=27.17, P<0.01) of students.Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that the use of vector graphics teaching method is effective on the level of learning and academic engagement in mathematics. Considering the importance of multimedia patterns in education and the attractiveness of multimedia methods such as graphics for learners, it is suggested that teachers use vector graphics in teaching mathematics. Also, education can increase the quality of education by empowering teachers to use multimedia technologies, and considering multimedia principles in the design of textbooks, and helping students learn better.
e-learning
R. Nejati
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Recognizing the unique requirements of online education is crucial due to its wide spread use. Self-regulation in learning seems essential for this instructional approach, as students and instructors are physically separated. To effectively manage their time, establish goals, ...
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Background and Objectives: Recognizing the unique requirements of online education is crucial due to its wide spread use. Self-regulation in learning seems essential for this instructional approach, as students and instructors are physically separated. To effectively manage their time, establish goals, and sustain motivation, individuals must adopt practical strategies. Active engagement in the learning process is also vital, requiring students to actively participate, contribute, and engage with instructors and peers. Assessing students' self-regulation and engagement can help educational managers and professors supervise the educational process and implement necessary measures when student participation is lacking. The objective of this study was to investigate how self-regulated learning and engagement contribute to outcomes of leaning as measured in terms of reading comprehension skills of Iranian students in online classrooms.
Materials and Methods: The study investigated research questions using two questionnaires and a test, namely, the Online self-regulation questionnaire (OSQ), the Online Student Engagement Scale (OSE), and the reading part of the Test of English as a Foreign Language. The self-regulation questionnaire had three constructs with 10 items each, while the engagement questionnaire had four constructs with 19 items. These scales were translated into Persian and sent to 345 students. Out of the 287 returned questionnaires, 21 were excluded due to inattention. The remaining 266 responses, along with their test scores, were analyzed statistically. Both the questionnaires and the language test were administered via the LMS in 2022.
Findings: The data underwent a rigorous process of statistical analyses to evaluate reliability, construct validity, and the relationships between variables. These analyses aimed to ensure the accuracy and robustness of the findings. To assess reliability, Cronbach's Alpha coefficients were calculated for three key variables: Engagement, Self-regulation, and Reading. The obtained coefficients were .89, .94, and .86, respectively. These values indicate high levels of internal consistency within each variable, suggesting that the measurement instruments used to assess these constructs were reliable. Construct validity was also examined through Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) values for Engagement, Self-regulation, and Reading. The reported RMSEA values were .08, .07, and .01, respectively. These values fall within an acceptable range, indicating that the measurement models adequately fit the observed data and supported the construct validity of the variables. All three variables (Engagement, Self-regulation, and Reading) exhibited statistically significant t-values, providing strong evidence that students' engagement, self-regulation, and reading ability were deemed satisfactory based on the collected data. The analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between regulatory engagement and reading comprehension. This finding suggests that higher levels of regulatory engagement are associated with better reading comprehension skills among students. Additionally, a regression analysis was conducted to explore the associations between specific factors and reading comprehension. The results indicated that both 'performance' and 'student-student interactions' had strong and positive associations with reading comprehension. The beta coefficients for these variables were 0.25 and 0.21, respectively. This implies that improvements in performance and increased student-student interactions are related to enhanced reading comprehension abilities.
Conclusions: The relationship between regulatory engagement and reading comprehension holds significant implications for educators and policymakers. Understanding this connection is essential to develop effective interventions and instructional approaches aimed at enhancing students' regulatory engagement abilities, ultimately leading to improved reading comprehension outcomes. However, it is important to acknowledge that the study conducted had certain limitations that restricted its scope and prevented a thorough examination of all potential factors influencing reading comprehension skills. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the topic, future research should explore additional variables beyond regulatory engagement. For instance, considering the influence of cultural background on reading comprehension can provide valuable insights into how diverse learners may approach and interpret texts differently. Similarly, investigating various teaching methods employed in different educational settings can shed light on the effectiveness of specific instructional approaches in promoting reading comprehension. Furthermore, individual cognitive factors such as working memory and attentional control warrant attention in future studies. These cognitive processes play integral roles in reading comprehension, and exploring their impact can help identify strategies to support students with specific cognitive profiles or challenges.
e-learning
R. Nejati
Abstract
Background and Objectives: In the past decades, online education as a variety of distance education has drawn the attention of administrators, instructors and students. Amid Covid-19 pandemic, online education has become an inevitable necessity. Students’ engagement in such classes may influence ...
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Background and Objectives: In the past decades, online education as a variety of distance education has drawn the attention of administrators, instructors and students. Amid Covid-19 pandemic, online education has become an inevitable necessity. Students’ engagement in such classes may influence learning and achievement. Engagement refers to the efforts put forward by the students in the process of learning. Educators believe that the components of engagement are interaction between students, content of the course, classmates and instructors in order to gain desired achievement (good scores and academic satisfaction). They also hold that engagement is a prerequisite and a factor for enduring learning. There is research evidence that student engagement is a strong predictor of achievement. A profile of students’ achievement and engagement is presented. In the present study, the relationship between engagement and achievement in online classes was examined.Methods: The study was a correlational one designed to answer the research question through the Online Student Engagement Scale developed by Dixon and a researcher-made achievement test. The questionnaire includes four dimensions and 19 items on a seven-point Likert scale developed in 2015. The dimensions are: skills, emotions, engagement and performance. The researcher could not locate any record of this scale in Iranian scientific journals. Hence, he had to translate it into Persian. Back translation was done by a university professor. The questionnaire had been adapted with Google Form and delivered to 297 students of general English courses through a university LMS in 2020. The students were required to fill out the forms on a seven-point bases. Two-hundred and six students returned the questionnaire, 22 of which had to be discarded because there were traces of inattention in the forms, e.g., some of the students had chosen a certain or every other one option for all items. There were clearly discernable patterns in these 22 forms. The remaining 184 responses and their corresponding test scores were put to statistical analysis. The questionnaire was posted to the students through the LMS. The second instrument of this study was a test of reading comprehension developed by the researcher. The test was developed on the basis of theories of reading. However, to establish its content and theoretical validity it was submitted to a panel of five instructors of English. The test included 40 items. It was administered as the final exam through the university LMS.Findings: The results analyzed through one-sample t-test revealed that students’ achievement and engagement level is satisfactory. Quantile regression showed that there was a significant relationship between engagement and achievement of high achievers. However, bivariate correlation could not locate any statistically significant relationship between engagement and achievement of average students. The findings are in contrast with research findings in other countries. Different explanations may account for this contrast, e.g., online education for the participants of this study was not optional. Hence, the students might not be motivated for learning. They might lack necessary skills and instruments for this mode of education. As a consequence, they might have developed some sort of stress resulting in lack of academic satisfaction, self-esteem, and underestimation. However, students’ level of engagement perception was satisfactory. It needs to be stated that no report of a similar research was located in Iran.Conclusions: The present study aimed at finding the relationship between engagement and achievement in online English classes. The theory of engagement holds true for high achievers but not for average or low achievers. In order to assess students’ engagement, a self-report questionnaire was used. Researchers are well aware of the fact that this method of data collection is open to measurement error.
