can discussion forums be a learning tool in itt?

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Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT? Yana I Tainsh Senior Lecturer PCET University of Greenwich London [email protected]

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Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?. Yana I Tainsh Senior Lecturer PCET University of Greenwich London [email protected]. Background to the Study. Where it all began Formative Assessment Key Tasks. Key Task – Self-evaluation. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

Yana I TainshSenior Lecturer PCETUniversity of GreenwichLondon

[email protected]

Page 2: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Background to the Study

Where it all began

Formative Assessment

Key Tasks

Page 3: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Write an evaluation of one of your teaching/training sessions. Try to answer the main questions (in italics) using the bulleted points as prompts.

Remember to comment on positive aspects of your lesson, as well as any shortcomings, and say how you intend to remedy the latter. Just answering ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to questions is not sufficient; you must write a brief commentary on the strengths and weaknesses of your planning and your performance.

After you have used the questions here, you may wish to develop your own set to use for future evaluations. Remember to appraise your lessons or training sessions as soon as possible, while the experience is still fresh in your mind.

Key Task – Self-evaluation

Page 4: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Change of Plan….

Online posting

PCET Online Discussion Forum

University of Greenwich

ASSOCiateOnline

University of Huddersfield

Page 5: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Key Task – Discussion Forum

Make a contribution to either the PPP1 and the Literacy/Numeracy discussion forums based on the Online Campus at Greenwich or the University of Huddersfield ASSOCiateOnline forum in discussion forum 13, ‘Education and Training’.

Your contribution to the forum should, where possible, take the form of comments about things that you have learned which you think will be useful to your own practice, either from observing classes on placement or from taking part in activities here at Greenwich.

The numeracy forum will be used as an online workshop, so this would be an especially useful discussion to join if you feel you need to develop your skills, or if you just wish to clarify a point of concern.

Page 6: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Navigating the Discussion Forum

PCET Online Discussion Forum

University of Greenwich

ASSOCiateOnline

University of Huddersfield

Page 7: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Brainstorm

Can a discussion forumprovide the right setting

for effective learningto take place?

Is there a prescriptive ICT skills profile required for the discussion forum to be effective in

increasing learning?

Do learners that do notengage with the

discussion forum achievethe same learning?

Is there a prescriptive ICT skills profile required for the discussion forum to be effective in

increasing learning?

Is there a prescriptive ICT skills profile required for the discussion forum to be effective in

increasing learning?

Do learners that do notengage with the

discussion forum achievethe same learning?

Do learners that do notengage with the

discussion forum achievethe same learning?

Can a discussion forumprovide the right setting

for effective learningto take place?

Page 8: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Plan for the Study

DataCollection

DataAnalysis

ResearchMethodology

EpistemologicalStance

Page 9: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Epistemological Stance

Social Science

SocialConstructivism

InterpretiveParadigm

(Grounded Theory)

Page 10: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Research Methodology

MixedMethods

Quantitative Qualitative

Page 11: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Data Analysis

Cronbach’s α (alpha)

Cronbach's α value = 0.41

For a set of items to be considered as a scale, Cronbach's α value must be > 0.7

Consequently, "low" or "poor“ reliability.

Page 12: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Data Collection (1)

Quantitative

Questionnaire

Analysis of Forum postings

OLC Web Hit Analysis

Quantitative

Questionnaire

Analysis of Forum postings

OLC Web Hit Analysis

Page 13: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Data Collection (2)

Qualitative

Gunawardena’s Instrument

Constant Comparative Method

Page 14: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Descriptive Statistics (1)

Discussion Forum Posting

OLC Web Hits

Words Per Discussion Forum Posting

Total number of postings= 542

Total number of OLC web hits = 1752

Page 15: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Descriptive Statistics (2)

Min Max Mean Std. Dev.

Number of Discussion Forum Postings Made

1 12 5.42 2.804

Number of OLC web hits registered

10 25 17.52 4.416

Number of Words per Discussion Forum Posting

11 94 36.35 21.774

Page 16: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Inferential Statistics

Chi Square

Correlation Analysis (Pearson value r)

T-test

Page 17: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Chi Square questions

1. Gender – Send / receive email with an attachment?

2. Gender - Use a chat tool to communicate via the web?

3. Programme of Study – Send / receive email with an attachment?

4. Programme of Study - Use a chat tool to communicate via the web?

Page 18: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Chi Square results

Chi-Square Tests

.016b 1 .901

.000 1 1.000

.016 1 .901

1.000 .539

.015 1 .901

100

Pearson Chi-Square

Continuity Correctiona

Likelihood Ratio

Fisher's Exact Test

Linear-by-LinearAssociation

N of Valid Cases

Value dfAsymp. Sig.

(2-sided)Exact Sig.(2-sided)

Exact Sig.(1-sided)

Computed only for a 2x2 tablea.

0 cells (.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 13.72.

b.

Page 19: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Correlation Analysis(Pearson value r)

Are PGCE and Cert Ed trainees’ number of timesthey access the Online Campus related to the

number of Discussion Forum postings they make?Correlations

1 .082

.419

100 100

.082 1

.419

100 100

Pearson Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed)

N

Pearson Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed)

N

No. of DiscussionForum postings made

No. of Web HitsRegistered on the OLC

No. ofDiscussion

Forumpostings

made

No. of WebHits

Registeredon the OLC

Page 20: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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t-test questions‘is there any difference between ….’

1. Number of Discussion Forum postings made, based on Gender?

2. Number of Discussion Forum postings made, based on Programme of Study?

3. Number of OLC web hits, based on Gender?

4. Number of OLC web hits, based on Programme of Study?

Page 21: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Gunawardena’s Instrument

I. Sharing/Comparing Information.II. The Discovery and Exploration of

Dissonance or Inconsistency among Ideas, Concepts or Statements.

III. Negotiation of meaning/Co-construction of knowledge.

IV. Testing and Modification of Proposed Synthesis or Co-construction.

V. Agreement statement(s) / Application of Newly-Constructed Meaning.

Page 22: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Graph of ‘Total Units of Meaning’per trainee sampled

21

31

41

1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52 55 58 61 64 67 70 73 76 79 82 85 88 91 94 97 100

Student Sample

To

tal

'Un

its

of

Mea

nin

g'

Page 23: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Conclusion

Low Cronbachs Alpha Value. PGCE trainees (surprisingly) were not as

skilled at sending emails with attachments as the Cert Ed trainees.

Pearson Correlation Co-efficient and t-tests not of significance.

55% of trainees described as having constructed ‘new’ knowledge through social negotiation, or a constructivist learning experience.

Page 24: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Upon Reflection ….

Poor management of Key Task

Timely assessment of ICT Skills

Updated ICT Skills Audit

Tutor presence

Page 25: Can Discussion Forums be a Learning Tool in ITT?

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Thankyou for listening

If there are any more questions

please, feel free to ask.