Social Education Research

Self-Perceived vs. Actual Online Engagement: Relationships with Academic Achievement Among Chinese Undergraduate English Learners in a Blended Learning Environment

Guihua Ma, Yongzhen Shi — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800

This study, motivated by the growing integration of digital platforms in higher education, explores the relationships between Chinese undergraduate English learners' online engagement and academic achievement in a blended learning environment. Adopting a quantitative research design, the study involved 138 participants enrolled in an advanced English writing course, delivered through a blended learning approach. Data were collected using an adapted version of the Online Engagement Scale (OES) survey, assessing four constructs: Behavioral Engagement (BE), Cognitive Engagement (CE), Emotional Engagement (EE), and Social Engagement (SE). The study found that learners perceived higher levels of BE and CE compared to EE and SE. Analysis of actual behavioral online engagement revealed significant time spent on tasks, high task completion rates, and strong task performance. Significant correlations were found between BE and CE with total engagement time (TET) and task completion rates (TCR), while EE showed a correlation only with TET. SE did not correlate with any dimension of actual engagement. Despite these correlations, only task engagement scores (TES) significantly predicted academic achievement, with BE, CE, EE, and SE not predicting academic success. These findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of engagement in blended learning contexts, emphasizing that fostering task engagement, particularly task completion and performance, may enhance academic outcomes in such environments.

Correlating Computer Laboratory Environments with Student Attitudes and Efficacy: A Study in Indian Secondary Schools

Ambika Kumari, Adit Gupta — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0800

This study examines the relationship between computer laboratory environments, attitudes toward computers, and academic self-efficacy among middle and secondary school students in Jammu, India. Utilising quantitative methods, the research employed the computer laboratory environment inventory (CLEI) and the attitude towards computers and computer courses (ACCC) questionnaire to evaluate students' perceptions of their computer laboratory settings and their attitudes toward computers. Additionally, the academic efficacy scale was used to measure students' beliefs in their academic capabilities. The sample comprised 122 students from seven private schools. Results confirmed the reliability and validity of the CLEI, ACCC, and academic efficacy scales. Findings indicate that students perceive their computer labs as cohesive, well-integrated with theoretical instruction, and technologically adequate. Positive attitudes towards computers were noted, with students finding computer work enjoyable and valuable, experiencing low anxiety, and demonstrating high self-efficacy. However, there were no significant correlations between perceptions of computer lab environments and attitudes towards computers or academic efficacy. Gender analysis revealed differences in some dimensions of the CLEI and ACCC favouring females, but no gender differences in academic efficacy were observed.

Emergency Remote Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lesson Learnt from Higher Education in Bangladesh

Abdullah Al Mamun, M. Mahruf C. Shohel, Goutam Roy, Wendy Sall — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0800

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the education systems in almost all parts of the world came to a sudden standstill followed by an expedited transition to emergency remote teaching and learning. Traditional universities in Bangladesh, a country with minimal resources and expertise in online teaching, also hurriedly transitioned to online education. This article focuses on the first phase of the pandemic and the impact that lockdown and social distancing had on the teaching and learning methods used in Bangladesh's higher education sector. The study highlights the need for strategic planning to improve future preparedness for emergency remote education. Using a mixed-method research approach, a dataset was developed through an online survey of public and private university teachers' views and experiences. Findings revealed that private university teachers tended to be significantly more engaged in emergency remote teaching and learning than their public sector peers. Although teacher participation was mainly driven by university initiatives, almost a quarter of this drive could be attributed to personal initiatives. Further, previous online teaching experience and training had a significant positive effect on full engagement. In addition to identifying important factors affecting the transition from conventional face-to-face to online teaching in Bangladesh, the recommendations for the future of emergency teaching and learning proposed in this article have important implications for higher education policy-makers in any resource-constrained context.

The Effect of Human Presence on the Representations of Children 4-6 Years Old in the Case of Air Within Vases

Evanthia-Markella Kontili, George Kaliampos, Konstantinos Ravanis — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800

A distinctive direction within the framework of Early Childhood Science Education research is the study of young children's mental representations of natural world phenomena and concepts in science. The study of representations offers the possibility of developing activities that address the real difficulties of children and lead to the construction of new representations compatible with school science knowledge. The current research presents a study on the potential effect of the presence of humans on the representations of children aged 4-6 years regarding the case of air within vases. 41 children attending a kindergarten in Patras (Greece) participated in the study. During individual semi-structured interviews, children were presented with 3 different images displaying a vase with people standing next to it in different settings and were asked to indicate whether there is air in the vase and whether this is related to that people. The results showed that the presence of air in the containers was best identified in the outdoor environment, while few children attributed the air to human presence, especially when the vases were placed indoors. Based on the frequency table, it seems that regarding the outdoor environment, there are more adequate responses, as the presence of human elements influences less the participants, while in indoor settings there are more intermediate and inadequate responses, suggesting that the presence of the human element has a greater impact in participant's responses.

Mobile Assisted Language Learning: Ecuadorian Undergraduate Polytechnic Students' Perceptions

David Estrella Ibarra — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0800

Despite the increased use of mobile devices for language learning, little research has examined Ecuadorian university students' perceptions of Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL). This study aims to explore undergraduate polytechnic students' perceptions of using MALL for English skills development. Also, it looks at the different factors associated with the acceptance of technology and identifies those that are more common. This quantitative research design uses a survey adapted from the Technology Adoption Model (TAM). It counts with the participation of 126 Ecuadorian undergraduate polytechnic students taking English as a foreign language classes. Participants were very positive about using MALL applications to learn English during their off-classroom time. The average total mean score was 4.373. It was also determined, through multiple regression analysis, that Perceived Usefulness (t = 6.025, p < 0.000), Social Influence (t = 2.876, p < 0.000), and Perceived Outcomes (t = 3.903, p <0.000) were the highest predictors of MALL acceptance. The two main contributions of this study to the literature are that students feel a connection between their language learning aims and attaining them by using MALL. Perceived Outcome is a high predictor of MALL usage. The findings suggest that Ecuadorian educational practices should increasingly integrate Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) technologies, as students perceive them as highly useful, especially in improving language skills, fostering social collaboration, and offering personalized, flexible learning experiences that align with their technological readiness and cultural context.