The influence of Digital Scenarios on Learning Strategies of Students in Compulsory Education
Conference:
ECER 2017
Format:
Paper

Session Information

16 SES 05 B, Fostering Learning by ICT

Paper Session

Time:
2017-08-23
13:30-15:00
Room:
W4.21
Chair:
Philippe Gabriel

Contribution

Over recent years, in the Spanish region of Extremadura, there has been an increase in investments and endowment towards digitalizing education in schools. Internet and device connectivity during the academic course 2015-2016, based on the briefs from the Secretary General of the State Education Department (2015), has risen to 93,3% in public primary schools and 98,4% in private and state-maintained schools. Nevertheless, Spain and Extremadura more so, is still a leading sector in premature school leavers (21,9%). This, therefor, raises several research topics that this study aims to answer, namely; How are students learning with technology? Or in other words, does technology-use influence students Learning Strategies? Previous research conducted (Kalyuga & Liu, 2015; Park et al., 2015 & Mayer, 2008) suggests that digital technologies and multimedia learning has a significant effect on a student’s emotional and metacognitive ability, positively mediating the learner and their learning experience along with their emotional response. This paper summarizes a quantitative and descriptive design that employs two separate Likert-scale questionnaires measuring Digital Scenarios and Learning Strategies of 78 secondary school students. The results from this study align with the reviewed literature and also reveal other significant differences in regards to the cognitive process and specific learning strategies that learners use, along with identifying differences in regards to sex and age. The data permits researchers to draw several conclusions on learner profiles as well as, how digital technologies are influencing learners inside and outside the classroom. Underlining the importance of the pedagogical awareness of teacher and the need for advancing that knowledge to correctly use technology in the classroom. 

Technology-based Learning offers a vast range of educational prospects that would not arise from a traditional style classroom (Kalyuga & Liu, 2015). In fact, digital technologies have changed all aspects of our lifestyle and social customs, which have altered dramatically, in regards from those set in previous decades. For every society to develop, new members must be trained and taught to meet with social and labour demands. Consequent to these changes, educational systems are taking a step forward from an industrial age of schooling to an era of connectivity (Siemens, 2005). In parallel, these new advances are moulding, and defining, a new profile of learners (Presnky, 2001, 2007 & 2010; Moravec, 2008 & Howe and Strauss, 2000), characterizing new learner capacities and contextualizing them in fresh learning scenarios (Beetham et al, 2009). Thus, challenging the constraints of formal education and traditional methodologies (Aesaert, van Braak, van Nijlen & Vanderline, 2015).

The aim of the study is to Identify Learning Strategy use of students of Compulsory Education and determine the influence of Digital Scenarios, sex and age. 

Method

The research follows a quantitative methodology with a descriptive design in which all data collected is analysed using non-parametric test (Spearman Rho, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney-U) in SPSS version 20.0. Specifically, in a descriptive and explanatory in order to answer the research hypothesis, and generate conclusions towards digital scenario and the use of learning strategies. This study has collected data on Digital Scenarios and Learning Strategies by using two separate questionnaires. The former, measuring digital scenarios, is an original work designed for this specific research objective and the latter was created by Román & Gallego (1995) to measure the use of Learning Strategies.

Expected Outcomes

Findings indicate how digital technologies are influencing learners inside and outside the classroom, as well as highlighting the differences between men and women and different age groups. Previous research (Howe & Strauss, 2000; Prensky, 2001, 2007 & 2010; Oblinger, 2005; Moravec, 2008) have characterized new learner profiles of the new education panorama, however the responsibility lies with teachers and researchers not only to digitalize classroom environments but also to adapt teaching methods and practises as to empower students to problem-solve, to collaborate, to interact with each other and with different formats of information in order to meet their learning goals. After all, bringing technology into the classroom does not necessarily mean the integration of technology with education (Coklar, Kılıçer, & Odabaşı, 2007), emphasis must also be given to ICT competence and to socio-economic factors that can influence learning (Aesaert et al., 2015). If we wish to create new learners of our time and society, we cannot repeat educational processes of the past.

References

Aesart, K., van Braak, J., van Nijlen, D. & Vanderlinde, R. (2015). Primary school pupils’ ICT competences: Extensive model and scale development. Computers & Education, 81(1)), 326-344. Beetham, H., McGill, L., & Littlejohn, A. (2009). Thriving in the 21st century: Learning Literacies for the Digital Age (LLiDA project). Glasgow: the Caledonian Academy, Glasgow Caledonian University. Cobo Romaní, C. & Moravec, J. W. (2011). Aprendizaje Invisible. Hacia una nueva ecología de la educación. Collecció Transmedia XXI. Barcelona: Laboratori de Mitjans Interactius / Publicacions i Edicions de la Universitat de Barcelona. Çoklar, A. N., Kılıçer, K., & Odabaşı H. F. (2007). Critical view of the use of technology in education. Conference proceedings: 7th International Educational Technology Conference. Cyprus. Kalyuga, S. & Liu, T. C. (2015). Guest Editorial: Managing Cognitive Load in Technology-Based Learning Environments. Educational Technology & Society, 18 (4), 1-8. Marugán, M.; Carbonero, M. Á.; León, B.; Galán, M. (2013). Análisis del uso de estrategias de recuperación de la información por alumnos con alta capacidad intelectual (9-14 años) en función del género, edad, nivel educativo y creatividad. Revista de Investigación Educativa, 31 (1). 185-198. Mayer, R. E. (2008) Applying the science of learning: Evidence-based principles for the design of multimedia instruction. American Psycologist, 63 (8), 760-769. Oblinger, D & Oblinger, J. (2006). Educating the Net Generation. EDUCAUSE. Park, B., Knörzer, L., Plass, J. L. & Brünken, R. (2015). Emotional design and possitive emotions in multimedia learning: An eyetracking study on the use of anthropomorphisms. Computers & Education, 86, 30-42. Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. On the Horizon, 9 (5). MCB University Press. Prensky, M. (2007). How to teach with technology: Keeping both teachers and students comfortable in an era of exponential change. Emerging technologies for learning, 2(4), 40-46. Prensky, M. (2010). Teaching digital natives: partnering for real learning. California: Sage publications. Román, J.M. & Gallego, S. (1995). ACRA Manual. Madrid: TEA Ed. S.G.T. del Ministerio de Educación, Culutra y Deporte (2015). Datos y Cifras del Curso Escolar 2015-2016. Subdirección General de Documentación y Publicaciones. Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, 2(1). Strauss, W., & Hoew, N. (2000). Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation. USA: Vintage Books.

Author Information

Mark Thomas Peart (presenting / submitting)
University of Extremadura
Educational Science Department
Badajoz.
University of Extremadura
Sciences Education Department
Badajoz
University of Extremadura, Spain

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