Learning styles as correlates of Grade 6 learner’s Mathematics performance in Buffalo City municipality in South Africa

The poor academic achievement and negative attitude of learners towards Mathematics are not only influenced by teaching styles but the learning styles as well. In other words, the mismatches between teaching and learning styles have a way of raising its ugly head in affecting effective classroom interaction and hence leads to poor performance in Mathematics. Therefore, this study investigated the correlation between learning styles and Grade 6 Mathematics performance. The study adopted correlational research design of quantitative approach. The target population for this study are Grade 6 learners in Buffalo City education district. Stratified sampling was used to select 1225 Grade 6 learners. The finding shows that Grade 6 learners with visual learning style ( = 13.242, SD = 5.565) had the best performance in Mathematics at Buffalo City, followed by learners with auditory learning style ( = 12.996, SD = 3.883), and learners with Kinaesthetic learning style ( = 11.525, SD =3.800). It is recommended that teachers should be trained to know the different type of learning style exhibit by their learners to use them to impact knowledge and disseminate information to them since learning style could be described as a set of factors, behaviours and attitudes that facilitate learning for an individual in a given situation

La Contribución de las Actividades Elaboradas con Tecnologías Web 2.0 al Nivel de Aprendizaje

It is thought that the activities prepared with Web 2.0 technologies will contribute significantly to the achievements of music lessons, increase the learning speed by embodying abstract concepts; the activities prepared by considering the interests and wishes of today's generation z students will positively affect their attitudes and motivations towards the lesson. In this research, it is aimed to evaluate the contribution of the activities prepared with Web 2.0 technologies for the sound formation unit within the scope of the music lesson to the learning levels of the students. The study group consists of 220 students in the 9th grade of Trabzon Affan Kitapçıoğlu Anatolian High School. A 9-question knowledge test was applied as a measurement tool to make determinations regarding the realization of the achievements in the unit of "formation of sound". In the study, interviews were conducted with a randomly selected 8 student group in the study group. Content analysis technique was used to analyze the data obtained as a result of the interviews. In line with the findings obtained from this study, it was determined that the activities prepared with Web 2.0 technologies contributed to the students' self-knowledge, self-confidence, protection of voice, voice change, and field expert knowledge, also provided ease of learning theoretical knowledge. Key Words: Technology, web 2.0 tools, music educationEsta investigación tiene como objetivo evaluar la contribución de las actividades preparadas con tecnologías Web 2.0 para la unidad de formación de sonido en el ámbito de una lección de música a los niveles de aprendizaje de los estudiantes. El grupo de estudio consta de 220 estudiantes del noveno grado de la escuela secundaria Trabzon Affan Kitapçıoğlu Anatolian en Turquía. Se aplicó una prueba de conocimientos de 9 preguntas como herramienta de medición para realizar determinaciones respecto a la realización de los logros en la unidad de “formación del sonido”. En el estudio, se realizaron entrevistas con un grupo seleccionado al azar de 8 estudiantes del grupo de estudio. Se utilizó la técnica de análisis de contenido para analizar los datos obtenidos como resultado de las entrevistas. En consonancia con los hallazgos obtenidos de este estudio, se determinó que las actividades elaboradas con tecnologías Web 2.0 contribuyeron al autoconocimiento, la confianza en sí mismos, la protección de la voz, el cambio de voz y el conocimiento experto de campo de los estudiantes, lo que también proporcionó facilidad de aprender conocimientos teóricos

On recommending Web 2.0 tools to personalise learning

The paper aims to present research results on using Web 2.0 tools for learning personalisation. In the work, personalised Web 2.0 tools selection method is presented. This method takes into account student’s learning preferences for content and communication modes tailored to the learning activities with a view to help the learner to quickly and accurately find the right educational tools, and to implement this method in prototype of knowledge-based recommender system. In the research, first of all, personalised e-learning technological peculiarities i.e. recommender systems applications for learning personalisation and those systems components were investigated. After that, selection methods for Web 2.0 tools suitable for implementing learning activities were analysed. The novel method of integrating Web 2.0 tools into personalised learning activities according to students learning styles was created, and prototype of the recommender system that implements the method proposed was developed. Finally, the expert evaluation of the developed system prototype that implements the method proposed was performed

Multiple intelligences and network affordances: can videos enhance students' perceptions of their learning experience, learning outcomes and subject engagement?

In conjunction with the arrival of emerging technologies, many universities are encouraging their educators to rethink and reframe their teaching approaches and delivery methods. Integrating different types of media to enhance delivery of subject materials to higher education students is growing in national and international importance. As a response to the technology-enhanced approach, a more student-centered experience that actively engages students is promoted. This mixed-methods research focuses on students' and lecturers' perceptions of the value of online videos in relation to student's learning experiences and engagement with respect to the effect of multiple intelligences. This helps to clarify whether there is a relationship between students' multiple intelligences scores and their age, gender, learning experience and motivation. This study also reports on interviews conducted with both lecturers and students. It seeks to answer how and why students use online videos, and how this might influence engagement in their subjects. It provides a clear voice on their views concerning the benefits, and challenges of online video use, along with any positive or negative suggestions regarding their experience of the technology. It also reports whether employing various types of videos within a subject could increase and support learning needs and intelligences of students. Furthermore, lecturers' perceptions of different modes and purposes for online videos and their views, understanding, and challenges of the learning and teaching environment in a flipped classroom approach are investigated. Analysing the quantitative data, a number of important insights were obtained. For example, it was revealed that students are higher on Intrapersonal intelligence and lower in Existential intelligence. Bodily-Kinesthetic and Musical-Rhythmic intelligences were other highly developed intelligences of students. Based on the lecturers' responses, there seems to be distinctive similarities and differences between two disciplines in the extent of video integration and types of videos that they use. The most visible similarity between these participants is in terms of incorporating different kinds of short YouTube videos. As for Tech-literacy, unlike participants from Behavioural Sciences who relied on videos from YouTube and other online resources, all Educational Science participants could create their own videos by using Camtasia, and not having a reliance on the available online sources. Moreover, there seems to be certain tech-literacy differences between baby boomers and Generation Xers. Considering lecturers' perception on the flipped classroom approach, the study revealed some challenges in their teaching. According to the data gathered from interviews, it seems that the challenges are around the use of Camtasia, rigidity (clunky platforms), technology access and funding, technology mastery, upskilling in latest technological change and innovation, the structure and the pedagogy and the types of activities that they implement. The findings also revealed many advantages in successfully implementing the flipped model. For instance, the participants claimed that offering subjects in this approach provides students the opportunity to view lectures at home; thus freeing class time for demonstrating problem solving and deeper discussion-based face-to-face learning and understanding of the material. Students' interview findings revealed that the videos were perceived to be beneficial for students' engagement and motivation. The results also revealed that interest plays a major role for students who are keen to watch the topics that intrigue them. Based on their responses, it seems that they were dissatisfied with monotonous video lectures that failed to make their learning interesting. It seems that students are no longer interested in too much reading, and prefer easier and less demanding modes of learning, i.e. watching videos which denote a change in their desired mode of internalizing knowledge to an easier one. Desire for brevity, conciseness, and to the point videos with no additional materials were also found more attractive and engaging for them. They enjoy the flexibility to be able to watch videos with no time and place restrictions. Variety is perceived to be important to Net-Geners in particular, and music and visual aids seem to be their preference and a significant motivational stimulus. Animation and simulation make their learning easier. They like cognition forming and cognition sharing as a team work strategy and have the higher stimulus of interactive communication. Lastly, it seems that videos could be used as new modalities for changing the life for people with various learning disabilities. Based on students' responses, it seems that they were mostly satisfied with the video integration as they reported positive experiences from the videos uploaded and shared by lecturers. The results revealed the interactivity of videos and students' preference toward games and pleasure and interest sparked by video integration. The results indicated that visually attentive students would be more intrigued and motivated if the lecturer had incorporated a visual modality. Video integration has made them free from the burden of note taking and paying attention to the lecture at the same time. Videos have provided them the opportunity and flexibility to refer back to what is being said by the lecturer with no time and place restriction and with the benefit of documentation once it is downloaded. The findings also revealed that videos cannot stand entirely by themselves and need supplementary material or tutoring on the part of the teacher. The students addressed the necessity of their lecturers' need for familiarity with the latest Apps, as well as the lecturers' need to overcome a lack of technology literacy, in particular, in the psychology discipline. In conclusion, this study found that, with regard to online video materials, students also reported that videos could address their various intelligence types and abilities. Because students have different combinations of abilities and intelligences, they are attracted to various video activities based on different reasons, such as note taking, auditory and music, visuals, playing games, interactive discussions and questions, entertainment, and practical examples of real life experiences. Therefore, the existing video materials are sufficient to supplement the lesson curriculum and to address their intelligences

The relationship between student academic achievement and student learning styles in a multicultural senior school

Since 1994 South African classrooms have become more culturally diverse. In order to teach effectively in such an environment, teachers need to use strategies which meet the needs of all the students. One way of addressing this challenge is to consider learning styles theory. Teachers need to understand how individual students of all cultures learn, and which specific learning styles are significantly related to academic achievement. In order to investigate this relationship, a study was conducted at an independent multicultural senior school in the North West Province of South Africa. The aim of the research was to gather information on the learning style preferences of the students at the school; the relationship between the students’ academic achievements in English and mathematics and their learning style; and finally, the relationship between the students’ nationality, gender, form and age and their learning styles as well as their academic achievements in English and mathematics. A mixed methods research design was used. Data was collected by means of a structured questionnaire that was completed by a sample of 240 students of different forms, genders and nationalities. This was followed by individual interviews with ten top achieving students. The study found that the predominant learning style amongst the students in the school was individual learning. This particular learning style was also most significantly related to academic achievements in English and mathematics. The study further determined that nationality did not significantly influence students’ learning styles but gender and age did. Female students were found to be more inclined to be individual learners. Younger students were also found to be auditory learners to a greater extent than older students. Regarding the studying of English and mathematics, it was found that female students generally used auditory learning styles whilst male students preferred kinaesthetic learning styles. Lastly, the study found that the average achievements in mathematics deteriorated as the students got older and the worst performing form was the Form 6s. To this end, various suggestions were made as to how learning styles could be considered to improve learning. Recommendations for further study were highlighted along with the limitations of this research.Psychology of EducationD. Ed. (Psychology of Education

Learning styles, availability, and utilization of instructional materials as correlates of grade 6 learners’ mathematics performance in Buffalo city

Mathematics is the foundation for the economic and technological development of any nation. It has been asserted that Mathematics is expected to help in accelerating social, economic and technological progress of any society. Performance of this subject is very important and there are different types of learners; such auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. Auditory learners appreciate listening to the teachers and sit down close to the teachers in class. Visual learners like to see things physically during teaching. They learn by materials like charts, graphs, and pictures. Kinesthetic learners learn by doing. Students can prefer one, two, or three learning styles; all these are subject to the availability of instructional materials. The Primary school level is very important in any educational system and any lack at this level would permeate to other levels of the educational system. Hence, this thesis examines the Learning Styles, Availability, and Utilization of Instructional Materials as Correlates of Grade 6 Learners’ Mathematics Performance in Buffalo City. The study adopted the positivist paradigm and employed the quantitative approach in investigating the phenomenon. The thesis made use of correlational research design as it attempted to find out the effects of learning styles and instructional materials on learners’ performance in Mathematics. Stratified sampling was used to select participants. Stratified sampling is a process of dividing the sample frame into strata to obtain relatively homogenous subgroups; this gave us 1225 Grade 6 learners selected across 35 schools in Buffalo City as the sample of the study. Three instruments which are Students’ Learning Styles Scale (SLSS), Availability and Utilization of Instructional Materials Inventory (AUIMI), and Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) whose reliability co-efficient are; 0.87, 0.78 and 0.89 respectively. The data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of the study revealed among others; students learning style (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic) have a significant relationship on Grade 6 learners Mathematics performance (B=-.113, t=-3.886, p 0.05), and gender (∆R2 = .000, ∆F (1,1223) = .036, p>0.05) emerged as better predictors. The study further iv revealed that, Grade six learners with visual learning style ( = 13.242, SD = 5.565) had the best performance in Mathematics at Buffalo City, followed by learners with auditory learning style ( = 12.996, SD = 3.883), and learners with Kinaesthetic learning style ( = 11.525, SD =3.800). The study concluded that one of the most fundamental issues to consider in improving Mathematics performance is the understanding of the learners’ learning styles and effective use of appropriate instructional materials for teaching Mathematics

Formación del profesorado en TIC: diseño e implementación de un curso Blended Learning para la mejora de la competencia digital docente en la provincia de Livorno (Italia)

La enseñanza on line y/o blended (Área & Adell, 2009; Aretio, 1987; Koper, 2009) detenta grandes diferencias con la presencial y así debe afrontarse; sin embargo, esto no es impedimento para que tenga gran calidad y potencialidades. Asimismo, para muchos profesores y adultos este tipo de formación es la que mejor o la única que pueden compaginar con sus exigencias laborales y familiares, por lo tanto, podemos afirmar que el futuro de la formación docente pasará por el aprendizaje ubicuo (Burbules, 2012). Esta investigación presenta los resultados obtenidos en una experiencia formativa para mejorar la competencia digital de un grupo de docentes italianos y se estructura en dos partes principales; la primera presenta el marco teórico que abarca los aspectos conceptuales de la competencia digital, la innovación educativa, metodologías activas para su implementación y la formación on line. En la segunda se presenta nuestra investigación que se ha desarrollado con el diseño e implementación de una propuesta formativa en modalidad Blended Learning. Como metodología esta investigación consta de un pretest, experimentación y postest