English Language Learning Through Non-Technology Games: A Case Study of International Students at a Lithuanian University

Research on gamified language learning often involves the use of digital games. Little is known about the use of non-technology games in promoting language learning despite their accessibility. This paper aims to fill in this lacuna by providing insights into international students’ engagement in non-technology gamified English language learning in the context of a Lithuanian university. The research, which used a case study approach as its methodology, involved a total of 30 international students at a Lithuanian university together with their two instructors. They were observed for two weeks, and then interviewed by the researchers. An inductive thematic analysis approach proposed by Braun and Clark was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that the students’ engagement with the non-technology gamified lessons have impacted them positively as they believe that they have improved English language proficiency and better mastery of the 21-st century learning skills. However, the participants raised several issues related to cultural sensitivity and blurred learning outcomes. This study concluded that non-technology games serve as a useful tool in promoting language learning in the 21st century if it is carefully designed to attract learners’ interests and at the same to time meet the learning outcomes. This study is hoped to encourage practitioners to experiment with non-technology gamified lessons and provide guidelines for them in conducting effective non-technology gamified lessons

Participation in research and innovation exhibitions: E-learning applications in Arabic Language

Arabic learning is in dire need for advance teaching and learning aids, especially with the integration of advanced multimedia application by using computer assisted applications, and learning courseware such as educational websites, digital or online language games, mobile learning applications, etc. In fact these applications have already been developed and explored by many researchers all over the world in various platforms such as web-based, CD-based, cloud based as well as mobile-based applications. The potential of designing and developing these applications is not limited to the benefits for teaching and learning Arabic language per se, but it is also has prospects to go into breakthrough of the innovation exhibition and competitions which are organized locally and internationally. These events are important for the researchers to generate and promote their innovative ideas to others and has the potential to transform their research into commercial products and winning the medal awards based on the evaluation criteria in the research and innovation exhibition and competition. The purpose of this paper is to discuss several research and innovation exhibition and competitions which are being organised locally and internationally and its relationship and potential with the development of multimedia applications in the field of teaching and learning Arabic language

A systematic literature review on levels and effects of parental involvement in children’s learning

The objective of this systematic literature review is to analyze the literature on parental participation in their children’s education in primary schools in Malaysia. This review procedure entails searching, screening, evaluating, and synthesizing publications on parental engagement from several electronic databases, including Scopus, Taylor & Francis, ERIC, Google Scholar, MyCite, and Research Gate. The publications included in the analysis were published within the last 10 years (2012–2021). The findings of the analysis reveal that the degree of parental involvement in their children’s education is high in most studies. Furthermore, there are several effects of parental involvement in their children’s education, with a positive effect being the most common. Some challenges faced by parents are also reported, including factors related to parents, children, teachers, and schools. This review suggests that the relationships between parents, teachers, and children could be better organized to maximize the impact of educational opportunities on children. Additionally, more empirically-based studies are needed to enhance our understanding of the effects of parental involvement on children’s learning

ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION AMONG ISLAMIC STUDIES STUDENTS AND ITS CORRELATION WITH PROBLEM BASED LEARNING AND SELF-EFFICACY

Background and Purpose: Achievement Motivation defines motivation as a concept that forecasts the behavioural inclination to strive for success and performance based on a person's urge for achievement. The purpose of this study was to examine the link between academic self-efficacy and problem-based learning (PBL) and achievement motivation among students of Islamic studies.   Methodology: A quantitative research design was used for this explanatory investigation. 578 undergraduate students from three institutions in Malaysia—UM, IIUM, and USIM—totaled took part in the study. The participants were chosen at random. Both descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used to analyse the data set. Additionally, an intergroup comparison analysis and the independent sample t-test were performed.   Results: The results of an independent sample t-test showed a significant difference in the mean achievement motivation scores between students of applied Islamic studies (M = 3.31, SD =.41) and those of non-applied Islamic studies (M = 3.04, SD =.38). This difference is statistically significant at t (575) = -7.94, p =.00. When ASE was controlled, PBL's influence on AchM diminished (Sobel z= 3.83, p=0.00), indicating that ASE was the mediator of the relationship between PBL and AchM. F (7, 570) = 22.42, p .0005, adj. R2 =.206, multiple regression substantially predicted ASE. The outcome demonstrates that the method used to solve problems and the kind of programs used may both be effective predictors of students' academic self-efficacy in Islamic studies.   Contribution: The study concludes that achievement has a big impact on students’ motivation. The findings of the study may contribute to the departments of Islamic studies and the Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia (MoHE) in understanding the present issue of achievement motivation, as the ministry's goal is to increase students' self-efficacy. The study has implications on Islamic Studies students at higher learning institutions to boost their motivation.   Keywords: Achievement Motivation, Islamic studies, Problem Based Learning (PBL), self-efficacy.   Cite as: Islam, T., & Zayed, T. M. (2023). Achievement motivation among Islamic studies students and its correlation with problem based learning and self-efficacy. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 8(1), 469-489. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol8iss1pp469-48

Do types of gadgets used for online learning have a bearing on student academic performance?

This paper explores the impacts of using smartphones vs laptops on students' academic achievement in their English courses and their satisfaction in learning English via open distance learning (ODL). Experiments were conducted in authentic teaching sessions with a total of 304 undergraduates from a local university. The methodology applied is a quasi-experimental design with post-test-only. Results indicate that the relationship between the grade obtained and level of satisfaction with gadget is low and not significant at 5% level of significance. However, there is a significant relationship between the level of satisfaction towards gadgets used for learning English courses and learning English via ODL classes since the p-value is significant with a correlation value of 0.455. Finally, there is a low correlation between the grade obtained and level of satisfaction in learning English during ODL classes. Future research should be conducted to further check on the effects of using mobile phones against other mobile devices on other subjects learnt in the universities

Mobile Educational Game Principles in Language Learning: Validity and reliability

Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) has become a popular topic recently due to the rapid development of mobile devices. The objective of this study is to revalidate game principles via MALL and to obtain consensus and expert opinions on the principles. The study employs the Fuzzy Delphi technique to collect responses from nine English Language specialists. The triangular fuzzy numbering method was used to analyze the data, and the 'defuzzification' process was used to determine each variable's position (ranking). According to the findings, the response and expert consensus on the game principles scale is satisfactory.   Keywords: Mobile Educational Game Principles; Expert Consensus; Fuzzy Delphi Method; MALL eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2023. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v8i23.450

Interactive and Meaningful Language Learning using ToV

Interactive games enhance learners’ engagement and motivation. Hence, to fulfill the needs of learners, an interactive digital game named Throw Back Time (TBT), governed by the Theory of Variation (ToV), was designed. The application of the theory will help learners to develop awareness of the critical aspect of grammar. To clarify how the elements in the Theory of Variation support the design of the questions in TBT, a content analysis was used. Thus, the study suggests how powerful ways of seeing can be developed by helping learners to focus on certain essential features of the subject matter to enhance learning. Keywords: Grammar; The Theory of Variation; Interactive; Digital learners eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/ eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5i15.251

Motivation and Willingness to Communicate in English amongst ESL Engineering Pre-university Students in Malaysia

This study investigated the relationship between motivation and willingness to communicate (WTC) in English and motivation towards the WTC in English amongst pre-university Engineering students. The instruments used to investigate the motivation and the WTC in English and the correlation between motivation and WTC in English were administered amongst 109 respondents. There was a significant relationship between the variables. The multivariate regression results implied that 48.8% of WTC variance could be predicted from the motivation to communicate in English. The study provided important implications concerning the extension of the corpus of knowledge and pedagogical enhancement. Keywords: Motivation to communicate, Willingness to communicate, Engineering students eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6iSI4.290