Instructional Technology is a Vital Tool in Today’s Classroom

For my project, I am going to be talking about instructional technology. Before being in the program I was once an elementary education major and I thought that technology in the classroom had served a major role in today’s education. According to the Association for Educational Communications and Technology: “Instructional technology is the theory and practice of design, development, utilization, management, and evaluation of processes and resources for learning.” Instructional technology is important in today’s classroom because it gives students another way to learn and comprehend ideas in learning about different topics. If I decide to go back to elementary education to finish my degree, I want to express how vital using technology in the classroom today is. I hope from this project I learn the different websites, ideas, teaching strategies, programs and how to help the students use technology to further their education rather than hinder them from learning. Going through this project, I will be discussing items such as: What are the standards for using Instructional Technology? What are teacher’s opinions and experiences while using Instructional Technology in the Elementary Classroom? Why is it important to develop their technology skills? And what are different types of Instructional Technology

CHALLENGES AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN IMPLEMENTING GAMIFICATION APPROACH AMONG VOCATIONAL COLLEGE LECTURERS IN MALAYSIA

Background and Purpose: Gamification is a teaching and learning approach that is gaining popularity among teachers as a way to make classroom learning more enjoyable and engaging with the use of rewards to celebrate accomplishments. With the rise of online learning in Malaysian educational institutions, gamification is viewed as an interactive method of teaching and learning. Due to the fact that limited studies have been conducted to investigate the challenges in implementing gamification approaches among vocational instructors, it is the aim of this paper; therefore, to examine the challenges.   Methodology: This study employed a quantitative research method. The respondents include 55 vocational lecturers from several vocational colleges in Malaysia. A set of questionnaires was used to examine the challenges faced by the lecturers in the implementation of gamification at their institutions. Four constructs were used to differentiate the differences of the challenges, which include support, access, competency, and applicability. Data collected from this study were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean score and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (independent sample t-test) to identify the differences between gender.   Findings: The findings of this study indicated that the majority of vocational lecturers have moderate challenges when implementing gamification approaches in their teaching and learning based on the findings related to the constructs. In addition, it was found that there were no significant gender differences in terms of the difficulties associated with implementing gamification approaches. This study also showed that most vocational lecturers have the potential to apply gamification in their teaching based on their high competencies with adequate support and enough access given to them.   Contributions: The findings of the study can contribute to vocational lecturers to promote gamification approach during the learning process to increase students’ motivation.     Keywords: Gamification, gender, challenges, approach, vocational.   Cite as: Marlissa, O., Dayana Farzeeha, A., & Fathiyah, M. K. (2023). Challenges and gender differences in implementing gamification approach among vocational college lecturers in Malaysia. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 8(2), 123-140. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol8iss2pp123-14

Determining Critical Success Factors for realizing innovative IT solutions in Higher Education

There is much research on Critical Success Factors when implementing novel IT solutions in different industries and contexts. However, for the domain of higher education the amount of studies is limited. This is partially due to the fact that what is considered higher education is different across countries. Universities, Universities of Applied Science, Vocational Universities, Polytechnics and related (research) institutes both have similarities and differences. However, one commonality is that institutions in higher education are not sufficiently capable of supporting the development(s) and requirements of educational processes with adequate (innovative) IT. Therefore the purpose of this study is to determine the CSFs that contribute to the implementation and adoption of (innovative) IT in higher education in an international context. First a literature study was conducted on critical success factors which provided the foundation to a conceptual research model. Using a Delphi study the model was elaborated upon by 32 international experts from the field of higher education. The experts determined the relevance and applicability of the CSFs which then resulted in a final model consisting of 31 CFSs across 7 different subject areas. We also found that “organisation culture” is mentioned as an aspect in relation to many CSFs. It seems that attention to cultural aspects of the organisation is so important that without this the realisation of (IT) innovations will likely not succeed. The final version of the model enables higher educational institutions to organise innovative IT projects, although they still need to adopt it to their specific context

Factors contributing to fourth graders’ mathematics achievement: a multilevel study

This study aims to determine the factors that influence the mathematics achievement of grade 4 students in Indonesia at the student and school level using Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2015 data. Sample in this study were all grade 4 students in Indonesia who participated in TIMSS 2015. There are 4,025 students from 230 schools. The TIMSS 2015 data used in this study was analyzed using a multilevel model (MLM) using the R package ‘lme4’ software. The results of this study indicate that i) the school visited by each student accounts for the majority of the variance in the mathematics achievement of Indonesian grade 4 students (51%); ii) factors related to students’ self-construction of mathematics such as attitude-toward mathematics (ATM) and self-concept and factors related to schools such as socioeconomic status (SES) school, self-concept school, school readiness, general school resources, and teacher education level was found to influence students’ mathematics achievement positively and significantly, where self-concept school was the strongest predictor compared to other predictors; and iii) variables at the student and school level explain 35% of the total variance in Indonesian grade 4 students’ mathematics achievement

Technology to Increase Peer Interactions in Preschool

Adding technology to the preschool classroom without interfering with social interactions is a dilemma for educators. Peer interactions are an important developmental goal in preschool age students. Increased pressure to include technology in education at earlier ages is often viewed as a hindrance to social interactions in play-based curriculum, with many educators feeling unprepared in the methods to incorporate technology. The goal of this literature review is to analyze current research to discover methods that can increase social interactions among peers with the addition of technology tools in the preschool classroom. This review looked at forty-seven studies of social interactions in children and technology uses in classrooms. Examination of this research showed the importance of social interactions, the barriers for adding technology in early childhood classrooms, and techniques in which technology use been used to show social benefits. The research demonstrates that technology has the potential to increase social interactions among preschool peers. Based on these findings, it is recommended that educators receive ongoing professional development in methods of adding technology into the social curriculum. Further research is needed to develop the most effect procedures for educator education

A Latent Class Analysis of University Lecturers’ Switch to Online Teaching during the First COVID-19 Lockdown: The Role of Educational Technology, Self-Efficacy, and Institutional Support

The switch to emergency remote teaching (ERT) due to the first COVID-19 lockdown demanded a lot from university lecturers yet did not pose the same challenge to all of them. This study sought to explain differences among lecturers (n = 796) from universities in France, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK in their use of educational technology for teaching, institutional support, and personal factors. Guided by the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), lecturers’ behavior (educational technology use), environment (institutional support), and personal factors (ERT self-efficacy, continuance intentions, and demographics) were examined. Latent class analysis was employed to identify different types of lecturers in view of educational technology use, while multinomial regression and Wald chi-square test were used to distinguish classes. The largest latent class were Presenters (45.6%), who focused on content delivery, followed by Strivers (22.1%), who strived for social interaction, Routineers (19.6%), who were ready for online teaching, and Evaders (12.7%), who evaded using technology for educational purposes. Both personal factors and perceived institutional support explained class membership significantly. Accordingly, Evaders were older, less experienced, and rarely perceived institutional support as useful. Routineers, the Evaders’ counterparts, felt most self-efficient in ERT and held the highest continuance intentions for educational technology use. This research suggests that universities engage lecturers in evidence-based professional development that seeks shared visions of digital transformation, networks and communities, and design-based researc

Latent Class Analysis of University Lecturers' Switch to Online Teaching during the First COVID-19 Lockdown: The Role of Educational Technology, Self-Efficacy, and Institutional Support

The switch to emergency remote teaching (ERT) due to the first COVID-19 lockdown demanded a lot from university lecturers yet did not pose the same challenge to all of them. This study sought to explain differences among lecturers ( n = 796) from universities in France, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK in their use of educational technology for teaching, institutional support, and personal factors. Guided by the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), lecturers' behavior (educational technology use), environment (institutional support), and personal factors (ERT self-efficacy, continuance intentions, and demographics) were examined. Latent class analysis was employed to identify different types of lecturers in view of educational technology use, while multinomial regression and Wald chi-square test were used to distinguish classes. The largest latent class were Presenters (45.6%), who focused on content delivery, followed by Strivers (22.1%), who strived for social interaction, Routineers (19.6%), who were ready for online teaching, and Evaders (12.7%), who evaded using technology for educational purposes. Both personal factors and perceived institutional support explained class membership significantly. Accordingly, Evaders were older, less experienced, and rarely perceived institutional support as useful. Routineers , the Evaders' counterparts, felt most self-efficient in ERT and held the highest continuance intentions for educational technology use. This research suggests that universities engage lecturers in evidence-based professional development that seeks shared visions of digital transformation, networks and communities, and design-based research

Analysis of the effect of b-learning training on the teaching staff. Case study of a teaching cooperative

La implementación de las TIC en los centros educativos es una realidad que afecta a muchos docentes que – desafortunadamente – presentan una competencia escasa en su manejo y su conocimiento. Es por ello que diferentes proyectos estatales y autonómicos se han centrado en desarrollar una formación en competencia digital hacia estos docentes con la finalidad de cambiar este panorama. El presente trabajo tiene como objeto conocer la incidencia del proyecto INNOVACOOP en el cuerpo docente de una cooperativa de enseñanza de la Ciudad Autónoma de Ceuta (España). El método del trabajo es experimental de tipo pretest y postest, en la que se ha aplicado entre ambos, un plan de formación blended learning sobre competencia digital. La medición de respuestas se llevó a cabo a través de la creación de un cuestionario ad hoc que trató las diferentes dimensiones que conforman la competencia digital, así como factores personales y motivacionales. Con las respuestas recabadas se realizó un análisis descriptivo-correlativo, en la que se pretendió con la utilización de la prueba t-student conocer diferencias significativas entre las medias de ambos test, así como diferencias significativas entre los tamaños de efecto a través de la d de Cohen y la correlación biserial. Los resultados reflejaron una mejora considerable en las diferentes dimensiones de la competencia digital, así como en la receptividad y motivación de los docentes hacia las TIC y su utilización en el aula, quedando patente la importancia de seguir trabajando en la formación permanente sobre tecnología en profesores en ejercicio.The implementation of ICT in schools is a reality that affects many teachers, who – unfortunately – have little competence in their management and knowledge. That is why different state and autonomous projects have focused on developing a digital competence training for these teachers in order to change this landscape. The purpose of this paper is to know the impact of the INNOVACOOP project on the teaching staff of a teaching cooperative in Ciudad Autónoma de Ceuta (Spain). The work method is experimental pretest and posttest, in which a blended learning plan on digital competence has been applied between both. The measurement of responses was carried out through the creation of an ad hoc questionnaire that dealt with the different dimensions that make up the digital competence, as well as personal and motivational factors. With the collected answers, a descriptive-correlative analysis was carried out, in which it was intended with the use of the t-student test to know significant differences between the means of both tests, as well as significant differences between the effect sizes through the d of Cohen and the biserial correlation. The results reflected a considerable improvement in the different dimensions of digital competence, as well as in the receptivity and motivation of teachers towards ICT and its use in the classroom, being clear the importance of continuing working in permanent training on technology in teachers in exercise

Appbasierte Förderansätze für Kinder mit Lernstörungen

Hintergrund: Einstellungen zu digitalen Fördermaßnahmen wurden bislang hauptsächlich aus der Sicht von Lehrkräften untersucht, obwohl das Lernen mit digitalen Hilfsmitteln im häuslichen Umfeld an Bedeutung gewinnt. Deshalb wird der Frage nachgegangen, wie Angehörige/Eltern von Kindern mit Lernstörungen (= KmL: Rechenstörung, Lesestörung bzw. kombinierte Lernstörung) die Förderung mit Trainings-Apps via Tablet in der häuslichen Umgebung erleben und was für sie in diesem Kontext wichtig ist. Methoden: Mithilfe leitfadengestützter Expert_inneninterviews wurden 21 Angehörige von KmL und zwei Projektbegleiterinnen, die im regelmäßigen Austausch mit den Angehörigen standen, interviewt; zusätzlich wurden mit einem schriftlichen Fragebogen qualitative Datensätze zum Lernerleben mit den Apps sowie zur allgemeinen Wahrnehmung der Apps aus der Perspektive von 1) KmL (n = 83), welche die Trainings-App genutzt haben, und 2) weiteren Angehörigen (n = 81) erhoben. Ergebnis: Durch qualitative Analysen wurden Gelingensbedingungen (z.B. das Engagement der Angehörigen), aber auch Herausforderungen für die Verwendung von Trainings-Apps (z.B. technische Schwierigkeiten, Missverständnisse, Qualität der Stimmausgabe, als unpassend empfundener Schwierigkeitsgrad) herausgearbeitet. Diskussion: Aktuell wird das Training wahlweise als zu schwer, zu leicht oder zu ausufernd wahrgenommen. Um hier eine individuelle Passung zu erreichen, ist weitere Forschung sowie Entwicklung notwendig.Background: While learning with digital tools gains increasing importance, attitudes towards digital intervention tools have so far mainly been investigated from the perspective of teachers. Therefore, the question is investigated how relatives/parents of children with specific educational learning disorders (= CwLD: dyscalculia, reading disorder or combined learning disorder) experience the support with training apps via tablet in their home environment and what is important for them in this context. Methods: Using guideline-based expert interviews, 21 relatives of CwLD and two female employees, who worked as technical support and were in regular contact with the relatives, were interviewed; in addition, a questionnaire was used to collect qualitative data sets on the learning experience with the apps and on the general perceptions of the apps from the perspective of 1) the CwLD (n = 83) who used the training app and 2) other relatives (n = 81). Results: With qualitative analyses conditions for success (e.g., engagement of relatives) but also limitations to the use of training apps (e.g., technical difficulties, misunderstandings, voice output, perceived inappropriateness of training difficulty) were identified. Discussion: Currently, training is perceived as either too difficult, too easy, or too extensive. To achieve an individual fit, further research and development is necessary

The effect of Imagine Math on high school students with learning disabilities

The purpose of this study was to: (a) examine the effectiveness of Imagine Math in increasing the engagement of students in a high school resource Algebra 2 classroom, (b) examine the effectiveness of Imagine Math in increasing the academic achievement of students in a high school resource Algebra 2 classroom, and (c) determine if students in a high school resource Algebra 2 classroom are satisfied with the use of Imagine Math. The research was conducted using single-subject design methodology. The study followed an ABAB alternating baseline pattern. Academic achievement was monitored through daily assessments, while engagements was evaluated in three minute intervals for thirty minutes daily. The results suggest the the use of Imagine Math helps increase the engagement and academic achievement of students in a high school resource Algebra 2 classroom. Results also show that students were satisfied with the use of Imagine Math. Implications for instruction in this setting include recommendations to utilize additional strategies with technology such as Imagine Math in the classroom