Comparison of the effectiveness of StyleWriter and Microsoft Word computer software to improve English writing skills

This study compared the effectiveness of two types of computer software for improving the English writing skills of pupils in a Malaysian primary school. Sixty students who participated in the seven-week training course were divided into two groups, with the experimental group using the StyleWriter software and the control group using the Microsoft Word programme. A pre-test was administered before the experiment was conducted. This was followed by post-tests upon completion of the course, where a computer-based assessment, as well as a pen-and-paper assessment, was employed. In each test, four components of writing skills were assessed, namely grammar, vocabulary, spelling, sentence structure, besides the overall performance. The findings indicated that the students who were exposed to StyleWriter had significantly better scores in all the writing components compared to the control group using Microsoft Word in both pen-and-paper and computer-based essay writing assessments. This study showed that StyleWriter enhanced the students’ writing skills even when computer assistance was no longer available

Causes of poor math education in Iran and solutions for improving based on other countries experience

Mathematics learning disabilities (LD) have gained increased attention over the last decade from both researchers and practitioners Mathematic undoubted is one of the important courses which students need to know in all of the education stages. A large percentage of students receiving learning disability services experience difficulties with mathematics, but little research has examined the specific mathematics behaviors of students with LD who have teacher-identified math weaknesses. In this study, first we consider mathematics teaching in Iran and then propose solutions based on other countries experience. In general; there are various factors that prevent teaching and learning actively among students. Causes of math educational weakness relate to 3 categories : education ; students and book content solutions to improve each of them should be considered. A knowledgeable and active teacher should react to these factor before teaching then try to control preventive learning elements and provide essential motivation for active learning a money all of students

Influence of parental involvement and peer support on mathematics engagement among Malaysian secondary school students

The aim of this study is to explore these two factors that contribute to shifts in student mathematics engagement among secondary boarding school students. The investigation involved a correlational study of 313 respondents were chosen using proportionate stratified sampling from 13 different secondary boarding schools in Malaysia. The findings of this study revealed students were engaged in mathematics with an overall mean of 3.76 (SD = .36) on a likert scale of 1 - 5. They were more engaged in behavior (M = 3.88, SD = .480) than affective (M = 3.80; SD= .460) or cognitive (M = 3.61, SD = .430) domains. It was also found students received good support from peers (M=4.05, SD= 0.530) and parents (M=3.47, SD= .680). Correlational analysis also showed positive relationships between parents’ involvement (r = .480; p < .001), peer support (r = .490; p < .001) and students’ mathematics engagement. Further analysis indicated these two factors influenced students’ mathematic engagement in the classroom. This study provide evidence on the importance of peer support and parental involvement to increase students’ mathematics engagement in the classroom

Keberkesanan penggunaan video dalam amali masakan

Kajian ini bertujuan menentukan keberkesanan penggunaan video terhadap skor masakan murid bagi empat jenis masakan iaitu masakan pagi, tengahari, malam dan tengah malam. Rekabentuk eksperimen ini melibatkan 34 orang murid yang dibahagikan secara rawak kepada dua kumpulan iaitu kumpulan demonstrasi (16 orang) dan kumpulan video (18 orang). Kajian yang dijalankan selama lapan minggu ini menunjukkan tidak terdapat perbezaan signifikan bagi skor masakan pagi dan tengah hari. Sementara itu, dapatan kajian menunjukkan murid yang didedahkan dengan kaedah demonstrasi mendapat skor secara signifikan lebih tinggi berbanding dengan kaedah video bagi penyediaan makan tengahari. Sebaliknya, bagi penyediaan makanan tengah malam pula menunjukkan murid yang melalui pembelajaran menggunakan video mencatat skor lebih baik berbanding kaedah demonstrasi. Dapatan kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa penggunaan video boleh digunakan bagi amali masakan sebagai membantu guru dalam mengendalikan kelas amali tersebut

UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN MATHEMATICS LEARNING

Attention to integrate technology in teaching and learning has provided a major transformation in the landscape of education. Therefore, many innovations in teaching and learning have been technology-driven. The study attempted to examine what is engineering students’ perception regarding the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in mathematics learning as well as investigate their opinion about how ICT can be integrated to improve teaching and learning processes. The subjects were Iranian engineering students from two universities. The finding showed they are fully aware of importance of ICT in teaching and learning mathematics. Whilst, they were feeling comfortable and confident with technology, they do not have more experience of using technology in mathematics classes before. The findings supported the other studies, which indicated the potentials of ICT to facilitate students’ learning, improve teaching, and enhance institutional administration as established in the literature.Keywords: Technology, Mathematics Learning, Facebook, Attitude Toward ICT DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22342/jme.5.2.1498.138-14

Mathematics self-efficacy and meta-cognition among university students

The purpose of this study is to determine the mathematics self-efficacy and meta-cognition among university students. Two hundred and three respondents from a university in Malaysia were chosen through random sampling. Descriptive research design was used in this study. The Mathematics self-efficacy and meta-cognition Inventory was used to measure mathematics self-efficacy and mathematics meta-cognition. The data was analyzed using the descriptive statistic to measure mean and standard deviation of mathematics self-efficacy and mathematics meta-cognition. The findings indicates that most of the respondents have a moderate level in mathematics self-efficacy and also in mathematics meta-cognition. Further analysis shows that there is a positive relationship between mathematics performance and mathematics self-efficacy [r(203) = 0.311; p < 0.05] and also mathematics meta-cognition [r(203) = 0.216; p < 0.05]. The findings obtained from the study can guide mathematics educators on the importance of mathematics self-efficacy and meta-cognition of university students. This is where serious attention should be given in mathematics education to ensure the production of good students in mathematics. Overall, the findings of the research gave useful implication in the mathematics profession, especially in the field of mathematics education

Collaborative and Cooperative Learning in Malaysian Mathematics Education

Collaborative and cooperative learning studies are well recognized in Malaysian mathematics education research. Cooperative learning is used to serve various ability students taking into consideration of their level of understanding, learning styles, sociological backgrounds that develop students' academic achievement and skills, and breeze the social harmony among students of different ethnic backgrounds. Besides academic achievement, process skills and values are required to extend the social harmony among students in today's multiethnic schools. Therefore, teachers are expected to find the pedagogy that enables students to learn academic knowledge and professional skills to face the challenges in their everyday lives. The Malaysian scholars, based on the findings of their cooperative learning studies, emphasized the use of cooperative learning as an effective pedagogy with the aim to improve students' mathematics achievement and communication skills. This paper describes the role of collaborative and cooperative learning to the development of students' mathematics achievement along with their communication skills and with significant integration of values in Malaysian mathematics education

Pengaruh dorongan sosial terhadap efikasi swadiri komputer dalam kalangan pelajar sekolah menengah

Kajian ini membincangkan pengaruh dorongan sosial terhadap efikasi swadiri komputer dalam kalangan pelajar sekolah menengah harian di negeri Kelantan. Seramai 413 orang pelajar tingkatan 4 yang mengambil mata pelajaran Information Communication Technology and Literacy (ICTL) telah dipilih secara rawak. Secara keseluruhan, nilai min bagi dorongan sosial terhadap penggunaan komputer adalah 3.90 (SP = 0.36) manakala nilai min efikasi swadiri komputer adalah 3.93 (SP = 0.34). Analisis korelasi Pearson telah mengenal pasti terdapat hubungan signifikan antara dorongan keluarga (r = .28), dorongan guru dan sekolah (r = .25) dan dorongan rakan sebaya (r = .26) dengan efikasi swadiri komputer. Analisis regresi linear menunjukkan bahawa ketiga-tiga dorongan ini mempengaruhi efikasi swadiri komputer pelajar di mana dorongan keluarga merupakan faktor paling mempengaruhi di ikuti dorongan rakan dan dorongan guru dan sekolah. Kajian telah membuktikan bahawa faktor dorongan sosial amat penting bagi menjana efikasi swadiri komputer pelajar yang baik

Keterlibatan murid Kolej Vokasional berpencapaian rendah dalam pengajaran dan pembelajaran Matematik menerusi pendekatan ‘Q-methodology’

Keterlibatan dilihat sebagai konstruk penting yang berkait rapat dengan pencapaian murid. Kajian ini dijalankan bertujuan untuk melihat keterlibatan murid Kolej Vokasional berpencapaian rendah dalam Matematik sama ada keterlibatan tingkah laku, keterlibatan kognitif atau keterlibatan afektif serta mengenalpasti jenis keterlibatan yang mempengaruhi individu terbabit dalam mempelajari Matematik. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan ‘Q-methodology’ yang diperkenalkan oleh William Stephenson (1902-1989) pada tahun 1935. ‘Q-methodology’ merupakan satu teknik penyelidikan yang membolehkan penyelidik mengenalpasti, memahami dan mengkategorikan persepsi individu serta mengumpulkan individu yang mempunyai persamaan persepsi terhadap sesuatu perkara. Dalam kajian ini, persepsi pelajar berkaitan keterlibatan Matematik dalam pengajaran dan pembelajaran Matematik dapat dikelompokkan. Seterusnya, kelompok pendapat yang subjektif ini digunakan untuk mengenalpasti faktor berkaitan keterlibatan yang mempengaruhi pencapaian murid dalam Matematik. Seramai 29 orang murid Kolej Vokasional Dato’ Lela Maharaja, Rembau berpencapaian rendah dalam Matematik terlibat dalam kajian ini. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan terdapat empat kumpulan murid Kolej Vokasional berpencapaian rendah dalam Matematik berdasarkan keterlibatan mereka dalam pengajaran dan pembelajaran Matematik. Empat kumpulan ini juga dikenali sebagai faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi pencapaian murid Kolej Vokasional berpencapaian rendah dalam Matematik iaitu kebimbangan terhadap Matematik, pembelajaran Matematik perlu fokus yang tinggi, pembelajaran Matematik perlu bermakna dan Matematik sukar untuk dipelajari

Collaborative and Cooperative Learning in Malaysian Mathematics Education

Collaborative and cooperative learning studies are well recognized in Malaysian mathematics education research. Cooperative learning is used to serve various ability students taking into consideration of their level of understanding, learning styles, sociological backgrounds that develop students' academic achievement and skills, and breeze the social harmony among students of different ethnic backgrounds. Besides academic achievement, process skills and values are required to extend the social harmony among students in today's multiethnic schools. Therefore, teachers are expected to find the pedagogy that enables students to learn academic knowledge and professional skills to face the challenges in their everyday lives. The Malaysian scholars, based on the findings of their cooperative learning studies, emphasized the use of cooperative learning as an effective pedagogy with the aim to improve students' mathematics achievement and communication skills. This paper describes the role of collaborative and cooperative learning to the development of students' mathematics achievement along with their communication skills and with significant integration of values in Malaysian mathematics education