University of Macau / Faculty of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Instrumental Enrichment, an educational program developed by Reuven Feuerstein, which attempts to improve an individual's ability to reason. A meta-analysis was performed on studies that had been conducted between the years 1979 to 1996. Thirty-six studies were analyzed according to their results from measurements in the cognitive/visual-perceptual, academic achievement and affective domains. The results from the meta-analysis were mixed. There were significant combined effect sizes of 0.24 for non-verbal ability, 1.41 for verbal ability, and 0.60 for one combination of full-scale ability. Significant effect sizes for measures of visual perception and visual-motor ability were 0.42, 0.71 and 1.68. There were also significant effect sizes for general achievement and for one combination of math achievement at 0.26 and 0.29 respectively. The intellectual achievement locus of control effect size was significant at 0.33. (Cohen (1988) considers an effect size of 0.20 to be small, that of 0.50 to be of medium size, and that of 0.80 to be large.) All effect sizes for reading were non-significant as was that for the Learning Potential Assessment Device. All other measures, such as those for self-confidence, self-concept, motivation and attitudes, in the affective domain were non-significant. One effect size for motivation and attitudes was significantly negative, indicating that the control group outperformed the treatment group. The results are discussed in terms of near- and far-transfer of learning.

The role of teacher immediacy and its impact upon student learning within the traditional classroom has been established within the instructional communication discipline in the past 30 years. In recent years, with the advent of computer-mediated distance education (i.e. online courses), some researchers have attempted to apply the same theories and measures of concepts without making the distinction between actual teacher behavioral indicants of immediacy and student perceptions of immediacy, nor recognizing that there may be a different number of variables involved between a single lesson presented online and an entire course presented over a period of time. Building upon previous models, the Short-Term Motivational Model of Learning was proposed and tested, using survey results from 229 undergraduate students who completed an online lesson presented in six different formats, and who were tested for learning outcomes. In comparison to a direct measure of learning outcomes (number of correct test answers), it was found that the Perceived Cognitive Learning Scale correlated highly with the direct measure, while the Learning Loss Scale did not. Three of the three study hypotheses were supported. Hypothesis one proposed that higher student perception of immediacy would correlate with higher student state motivation and was supported. Hypothesis two proposed that higher student trait motivation would correlate with higher student state motivation and was supported. Hypothesis three proposed that higher student state motivation would correlate with higher student cognitive learning. Student cognitive learning determined through three measures: the Perceived Cognitive Learning Scale, pretest-posttest scores differences, and the Learning Loss Scale. Using the Perceived Cognitive Learning Scale, hypothesis three was supported. Using the pretest-posttest scores differences, hypothesis three was supported weakly. Using the Learning Loss Scale, hypothesis three was also supported weakly. In testing whether teacher behavioral indicants of immediacy, student perception of immediacy and student trait motivation would explain significant variance in student state motivation in a single lesson presented online, trait motivation failed to be a predictor. Subsequently, in testing whether all of these variables would explain significant variance in student cognitive learning (and using each of the three measures of student cognitive learning), trait motivation again failed to be a predictor. In general the results support the idea that perceived learning is affected by the degree of motivation as affected by immediacy. While an attempt to vary degrees of immediacy was not fully successful, results also suggest that adding audio to online lessons may not produce significant gains in learning when compared to text-only presentations.

The Basic Concepts Mediated Learning Programme (BCMLP) was developed to enhance the cognitive and scholastic functioning of learners who experience barriers to learning in the early years of schooling in the South African context. The study aimed to initiate a process of evaluation of the efficacy of this metacognitive programme with Grade 2 learners from the &lsquo / Cape Flats&rsquo / , an historically disadvantaged community in Cape Town. The study was conducted simultaneously in two local education authorities by independent teams of fieldworkers in each of the education authorities. This quantitative, quasi-experimental, non-equivalent comparison group design study was implemented with learners who were equally assigned to an Experimental group (N=54) or Comparison group (N=55). English home-language and Bilingual (English and Afrikaans) learners made up a majority of the study sample. The study was conducted in English.<br /> <br /> Extensive pre-test and post-test batteries consisting of cognitive (information-processing), cognitive modifiability (dynamic assessment), and scholastic tests were used to collect data. A number of structured interview schedules including post-intervention teacher rating scales were also used for the purpose of data gathering. The results from the parametric and non-parametric methods of data analysis selected, revealed a pattern of significant pre- to post-study cognitive and scholastic gains in scores for learners in both the Experimental and Comparison groups (p&lt / 0.05). In addition, it was found that the study participants, irrespective of their designation to the Experimental or Comparison group became more modifiable and demonstrated enhanced information-processing abilities at the end of the study. Significantly greater gains were, however, attained by learners in the Experimental group in a majority of the areas assessed (7 out of 12) (p&lt / 0.05). Learners in the Experimental group were also found to be more responsive to instruction and modifiable than learners in the Comparison group.<br /> <br /> Learners who participated in the BCMLP were found to benefit with respect to their knowledge of basic concepts, cognitive and scholastic functioning. However, it was not possible to infer from the current study that findings were attributable to any one specific procedure (mediational teaching, concept teaching, vocabulary teaching and teaching to enhance information-processing) or process (Basic Concept Teaching Model) of this metacognitive programme. Furthermore, the study had a number of limitations and findings should be regarded with some caution until replication studies can be completed and the long-term effects of the study can be evaluated.<br /> <br /> The study provides some evidence for the efficacy of short-term, small group intervention programmes implemented by Learning Support Teachers within disadvantaged communities. The study also provides some initial evidence for the efficacy of the BCMLP (a specially designed metacognitive programme). The BCMLP was found to be both appropriate and manageable for Learning Support Teachers to implement in the South African context.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 133-141).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Full text release at OhioLINK's ETD Center delayed at author's request

Acompanha: Guia prático de programação de simulações PhET para o ensino de ciência e matemática: básico e avançado / Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar os efeitos da aplicação de game design em uma simulação interativa do projeto PhET no processo de ensino e aprendizagem, e quanto ao interesse dos estudantes em acessarem, espontaneamente, as simulações. A metodologia envolveu 75 estudantes do Ensino Médio em um design experimental com grupo de controle (S) e grupo experimental (G). A análise dos dados apontou que a aplicação de game design não afeta (p = 0,16) a aquisição de conhecimento e a atitude dos alunos ao final da aula. Porém, uma diferença com significância (p < 0,01 e r = 0,34) foi observada para o teste de retenção, sendo maior para o grupo G. A diferença entre o teste de retenção e o pós-teste (p <0,001 e r = 0,38) foi favorável para o grupo G. As curvas de regressão para a retenção apresentaram-se inclinadas e com um gap positivo para o grupo G, quando comparado com o grupo S, utilizando o conhecimento prévio como covariante. O experimento foi replicado em um design quase-experimental com 64 participantes, a comparação com o teste de retenção, manteve-se favorável para o grupo G, reforçando a validade externa do experimento. O efeito positivo na retenção de conhecimento, proporcionado pela seção de jogo é discutido com referência na Teoria da Carga Cognitiva. A seção de jogo presente na simulação potencializa a sua função como material instrucional, facilitando a construção e automatização de esquemas cognitivos na memória de trabalho dos estudantes. Um maior interesse dos estudantes, em acessarem as simulações PhET, foi observado após a aplicação de elemento de game design sociointerativo, no caso, com um placar de pontuações. Esse resultado foi discutido com referência no conceito de Homo ludens. Tendo como referência o escopo teórico de Richard E. Mayer, é possível compreender as observações obtidas nesta pesquisa, o qual destaca que: métodos de aprendizagem por descoberta, sem orientação, geralmente, são ineficientes e ineficazes para promoverem a aprendizagem conceitual. A aplicação de game design permite que a simulação seja utilizada tanto em espaços formais de ensino, com foco na aprendizagem pela descoberta guiada, como em situações adversas, em uma aprendizagem baseada em jogos digitais. Como contribuição para a área de Design Instrucional no ensino de Ciência, conclui-se nesta tese: a presença de uma seção de jogo em uma simulação interativa de Física possui efeitos positivos na retenção de conhecimento (d = 0,81), na motivação dos estudantes em acessarem, espontaneamente, as simulações, e não há evidências de aumento de carga cognitiva na memória de trabalho dos aprendizes. / This research aimed to investigate the effects of applying game design to a PhET interactive simulation on the teaching and learning process, and on student interest in spontaneously accessing the simulation. The methodology involved 75 high school students in an experimental design with a control group (S) and an experimental group (G). Data analysis highlighted that applying game design did not affect the acquisition of knowledge and student attitudes at the end of the class (p = 0.16). However, a significant difference (p <0.01 and r = 0.34) was observed for the retention test, being greater for the G group. The difference between the retention test and the post-test (p <0.001 and r = 0.38) was favorable for the G group. The regression curves for retention were inclined with a positive gap for the G group when compared with the S group, using previous knowledge as a covariate. The experiment was replicated in a quasiexperimental design with 64 participants, and the retention test comparison remained favorable for the G group, reinforcing the external validity of the experiment. The positive effect on knowledge retention provided by the game section is discussed with reference to cognitive load theory. The game section present in the simulation enhances its function as instructional material, facilitating the construction and automation of cognitive schemes in students' working memory. Greater student interest in accessing the PhET simulation was observed after adding a sociointeractive game design element, in this case, a high score board. This result was discussed with reference to the concept of Homo ludens. With reference to the theoretical scope of Richard E. Mayer, it is possible to understand the results obtained: learning methods by discovery, without guidance, are generally inefficient and ineffective in promoting conceptual learning. Applying game design allows the simulation to be used in both formal teaching spaces focused on learning by guided discovery and in adverse situations with digital game-based learning. As a contribution to the area of instructional design in science teaching, this thesis concludes that the game section present in a physics interactive simulation positively affects the retention of knowledge (d = 0.81) and student motivation to spontaneously access the simulation, with no evidence of cognitive load increases in students’ working memory.