E-learning Behaviors in Middle School

2012 ◽  
pp. 1111-1123
Author(s):  
Kathleen Guinee

E-learning occurs throughout the middle school curriculum. Children use computers and the Internet to learn skills, complete assignments, and deepen their understanding of concepts. Supplementary computer software helps students build literacy skills, while digital texts provide affordances and challenges for comprehension and learning. During Web-based research, students leverage literacy and technical skills to accumulate knowledge. Students can use word processing or multimedia to demonstrate their learning. Simulations help create authentic learning experiences in the content areas and promote the transfer of learned skills. Even with the introduction of new technologies, teacher quality and classroom structure are important for student learning. Home video game and computer use also impacts students’ academic performance. Future research should continue to investigate the impact of e-learning on middle school students’ learning and development.

2009 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 378-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zan Gao ◽  
Amelia M. Lee ◽  
Melinda A. Solmon ◽  
Tao Zhang

This study investigated the relationships and mean-level changes of middle school students’ motivation (expectancy-related beliefs, task values, self-efficacy, and outcome expectancy) toward physical education over time, and how gender affected students’ motivation. Participants (N = 206) completed questionnaires over a 1-year period: once in the sixth and seventh grades and again in the seventh and eighth grades. Results yielded that self-efficacy and task values were positive predictors of students’ intention across cohorts. The mean levels of self-efficacy decreased over time for students in Cohort 1 (across sixth and seventh grades). However, results revealed a consistent decline in the mean levels of other motivational variables for both cohorts. No gender differences emerged for the variables. The findings are discussed in regard to the implications for educational practice, and future research areas are presented.


Author(s):  
Ceylan Zhao ◽  
Timothy Burgess

In this research, we looked at the cognitive and behavioral effects of playing Penguin Go, a video game that was created to help middle school kids improve their computational thinking (CT) abilities. Apart from the general efficacy of the game, we looked at the effects of a single game feature—constraints on the amount of blocks that may be used in a solution. Students' CT abilities increased dramatically after playing Penguin Go for fewer than two hours, according to the findings, but the extra limits had no meaningful effect on learning. Furthermore, although the game as a whole had no effect on students' views toward computer science, the limitations condition of the game had a detrimental effect on students' attitudes toward computer science. The outcomes of this study, as well as suggested possibilities for future research in the area of employing these sorts of games to build computational thinking abilities, are reviewed.


2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 2156759X0701000
Author(s):  
Cheryl Moore-Thomas ◽  
Robert W. Lent

Although counseling expectations have been studied in late adolescent and adult samples, little is known about younger adolescents’ openness to counseling and perceptions of the counseling process. In this study, 329 middle school students completed the Expectations About Counseling Questionnaire–Brief Form (Tinsley, 1982). An exploratory factor analysis indicated support for a two-factor structure, consisting of expectations about (a) the student's role and (b) the school counselor's role. Implications are considered for future research and practical efforts to enable young adolescents to benefit more fully from responsive counseling services.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Abdulaziz Ali AL-Qahtani

<p>The aim of the current study was to investigate the reasons behind Saudi learners’ poor reading skills. To this end, the objectives were to identify the reading habits of Saudi English as a Foreign Language (EFL) middle school learners, to understand the extent to which Saudi EFL middle school learners use reading comprehension skills and to explore the perceptions of learners, teachers and supervisors regarding Saudi EFL learners’ reading abilities. The study sample consisted of 90 Saudi EFL middle school students, eight EFL teachers and six supervisors. The students were surveyed and interviewed about their reading habits and use of reading skills, while the teachers and supervisors were interviewed to explore their perceptions about reading instruction in the Saudi context. The results revealed that most Saudi EFL students lack the necessary reading habits in L1 and L2. In addition, they rarely make use of important reading skills when they read English texts. This study identified “lack of exposure to target language”, “poor teaching skills and teacher training programs”, “little attention to comprehension and more attention to reading aloud”, “students’ lack of motivation”, “little emphasis on reading skills in textbooks”, “unfamiliar and unsuitable reading topics”, “lack of reading skills training for students”, “students’ limited vocabulary” and “lack of parental involvement” as the most important factors behind Saudi students’ poor reading abilities. The study concluded with important recommendations and suggestions for future research.</p>


2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 224-237
Author(s):  
Ruth K. Chaffee ◽  
Amy M. Briesch ◽  
Robert J. Volpe ◽  
Austin H. Johnson ◽  
Laura Dudley

Class-wide behavioral interventions are a feasible and effective method to support the behavior of all students. In six peer-reviewed studies, Tootling, a class-wide intervention that combines positive peer reporting with an interdependent group contingency, has increased positive peer reports and academically engaged behavior (AEB), and decreased disruptive behavior (DB). However, no prior studies have been conducted with middle school students, and none have employed strategies to promote enduring behavior change. A withdrawal design with maintenance phase, implemented across two middle school classrooms, found moderate effects (nonoverlap of all pairs [NAP] = 0.74, Tau-U = −0.48) of Tootling on decreasing DB and moderate to large effects (NAP = 0.76, Tau-U = 0.68) on increasing AEB, although internal threats to validity prevented the demonstration of a clear functional relationship across both classrooms. Results from the maintenance phase, in which the group contingency reward was removed, suggest promising strategies to support durable behavioral change. Limitations of the present study, directions for future research, social validity, and implications for practice are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 839-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrica Donolato ◽  
Tatiana Marci ◽  
Gianmarco Altoè ◽  
Irene C. Mammarella

Abstract. The increasing use of tests to assess academic competences has been associated with higher levels of test anxiety (TA) in children, underlining the importance of identifying this emotional problem and sustain academic achievement. This study aimed to contribute to the extant literature on the assessment of TA by examining the psychometric properties of the Test Anxiety Questionnaire for Children (TAQ-C), in primary and middle school children. In Study 1 ( N = 123), we selected 24 items from a wider initial pool, dividing them into scales measuring Thoughts, Autonomic Reactions, Off-Task Behaviors, and Social Derogation, to develop the TAQ-C. In Study 2 ( N = 899), the psychometric properties of this set of scales were assessed in students attending primary and middle school. Analyses supported the bifactor latent structure of the TAQ-C, invariance across educational levels and gender, concurrent and convergent validity, and test–retest reliability. Overall, the TAQ-C is a promising tool for assessing TA in primary and middle school students. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Servet Üztemur ◽  
Erkan Dinç

<p><strong>Abstract </strong></p><p>The purpose of this research is to explore the epistemological beliefs of middle school students by means of draw-write-tell technique which is formed from three phases. Designed as a qualitative phenomenological research, this study employs 96 students (51 female, 45 male) selected by convenience sampling technique. The participants were attending various grade levels of a state secondary school in Yunusemre district of Manisa province in 2017-2018 academic year. In the first stage of the research, students were asked to pencil draw five things reminding or representing them the word “knowledge”. In the second stage, each student was asked to select one drawing amongst five, which best meets the concept of “knowledge” according to her/his personal opinion and which is identified with “knowledge” the most and write down why she/he chose this one. In the third stage, a total of 12 different focus group interviews were conducted with 53 volunteering students amongst the ones having participated in the earlier research stages. The data obtained from the first stage was thematically analyzed, while the remaining data was analyzed phenomenologically. Research findings show that most of the students see the authorities and the objects out there as sources of knowledge. In the processes of knowledge acquisition, they also perceive themselves as passive recipients of any given knowledge. It is observed that it is possible to measure the epistemological beliefs of the students for the source of knowledge through the drawings and the accuracy and justification of knowledge through the written materials and focus group interviews. Research results show that draw-write-tell technique is a new approach useful and practical in measuring the epistemological beliefs of middle school students.</p><p><strong>Öz</strong></p><p>Bu araştırmanın amacı ortaokul öğrencilerinin epistemolojik inançlarını üç aşamadan oluşan çiz-yaz-anlat tekniğiyle keşfetmektir. Nitel araştırma temelinde fenomenoloji modeline göre desenlenen araştırmanın çalışma grubunu 2017-2018 öğretim yılında Manisa ili Yunusemre ilçesindeki bir devlet ortaokulunun kolay ulaşılabilir durum örneklemesi yöntemiyle her sınıf seviyesinden seçilmiş 96 öğrenci (51 kız, 45 erkek) oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmanın birinci aşamasında öğrencilere bilgi deyince akıllarına gelen beş farklı çizim (karakalem) yapmaları istenmiştir. İkinci aşamada öğrencilere bu beş çizim içerisinden kişisel görüşlerine göre bilgi kavramını en çok karşılayan ve bilgi ile en çok özdeşleşen bir tanesini seçip bu çizimi niçin seçtiklerini yazmaları istenmiştir. Üçüncü aşamada katılımcılar içerisinden gönüllülük esasına göre belirlenen 53 öğrenciyle toplam 12 odak grup görüşmesi yapılarak öğrencilerin yazdıkları metinleri daha ayrıntılı bir şekilde ifade etmeleri sağlanmıştır. Birinci aşamadan elde edilen veriler içerik olarak; ikinci ve üçüncü aşamada elde edilen veriler ise fenomenolojik olarak analiz edilmiştir. Araştırma bulguları; öğrencilerin büyük bir kısmının uzmanlar ve dış dünyadaki nesneleri bilginin kaynağı olarak gördüklerini ve bilgi edinme sürecinde kendilerini birer pasif bilgi alıcısı olarak algıladıklarını göstermiştir. Çizimler aracılığıyla öğrencilerin bilginin kaynağına yönelik; yazılı metinler ve odak grup görüşmeleriyle de bilginin kesinliği ve doğrulanması boyutuna yönelik epistemolojik inançlarının tespit edilebildiği görülmüştür. Araştırma sonuçları; yeni bir yaklaşım olan çiz-yaz-anlat tekniğinin ortaokul öğrencilerinin epistemolojik inançlarının ölçülmesinde faydalı ve kullanışlı olduğunu göstermiştir.</p>


2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 2156759X0001800
Author(s):  
Joy Rose ◽  
Sam Steen

This article discusses a group counseling intervention used to develop and foster resiliency in middle school students by implementing the Achieving Success Everyday (ASE) group counseling model. The authors aimed to discover what impact this group counseling intervention, which focused on resiliency characteristics, would have on students’ academic and personal-social success. To evaluate this, the authors used both qualitative and quantitative data. The results showed that some students achieved an increase in their GPA and personal-social functioning following the intervention. The article presents implications for practice and ideas for future research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 140-153
Author(s):  
Anne Brawand ◽  
Margaret E. King-Sears ◽  
Anya S. Evmenova ◽  
Kelley Regan

Schema-based instruction (SBI) was used to teach nine middle school students with high-incidence disabilities (HID) to solve proportional reasoning word problems. A multiple-baseline-across-groups design was used to determine student understanding of the SBI process. The design consisted of three phases including baseline, SBI process, and maintenance. Training of the SBI process with worked problems occurred between baseline and SBI process. Students’ performance was measured using a five-category rubric, under two conditions: solving problems with and without calculator use. Results indicated that all groups improved problem-solving performance and maintained improvement 4 weeks after instruction. Implications for revising the rubric’s mastery criteria and future research are described.


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