scholarly journals Using Google Docs in Omani EFL College Classes: Students’ Writing Performance and Perceptions towards Use

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Noura Al Burtamani ◽  
Fawzia Al Seyabi ◽  
Abdo Al Mekhlafi

This quasi experimental study aimed at investigating the effect of using Google Docs on EFL Omani college students’ writing performance and students’ perceptions of its use. The sample of the study included 81 Level 3 Foundation Program students in Nizwa College of Technology, Oman. The experimental group consisted of 39 students while the control group consisted of 42 students. The research instruments included a writing performance test that was administered as pre and post- test and a students’ perceptions questionnaire. Data analysis revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between the writing performance of the experimental and control groups in favour of the experimental group. The experimental group outperformed the control group in task achievement, task organization, grammar and vocabulary. Also, the students perceived using Google Docs in EFL writing as a very beneficial tool in improving their writing and collaboration skills. In light of these findings, a number of recommendations for practice are presented.

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 827-846
Author(s):  
Nthabiseng Mosese ◽  
Ugorji I. Ogbonnaya

Making connections between the representations of trigonometric functions and an interpretation of graphs of the functions are major challenges to many students. This study explores the effectiveness of the GeoGebra on grade 12 students’ success in making connections between the representations of trigonometric functions and the interpretation of graphs. A non-equivalent control-group pre-test post-test quasi-experimental design was used. The sample of the study consisted of sixty-one grade 12 students from two schools. The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the mean achievements of the experimental group and the control group on making connections between representations of trigonometric functions, and on analyses and interpretations of representations of trigonometric functions, in favour of the experimental group. This study extends the findings of previous studies on the effectiveness of dynamic mathematics software on students’ learning of representations and interpretation of graphs of trigonometric functions.            Keywords: GeoGebra, functions graphs, Trigonometric functions


Author(s):  
Moustafa Mohamed Abdelmohsen ◽  
Rohaya Abdullah ◽  
Yasir Azam

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a developed writing module on enhancing the General Foundation Program students’ writing skills. The study made use of a pre-test and post-test quasi-experimental design. The study participants incorporated 70 Omani students and 2 EFL teachers. The students were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group incorporated 35 students who studied English at the General Foundation Program of Sur Nursing Institute. The control group involved 35 students who took an English course at The General Foundation Program Centre in Muscat. Both institutions function under the auspices of the Omani Ministry of Health. The control group studied the ministry’s writing syllabus, whereas the experimental group studied the writing module. The writing pre-test was done before module delivery and the post-test was done after the intervention. ANCOVA test was utilized to draw a statistical analogy between the mean scores of tests of both groups. The test findings divulged that there was a statistically significant mean difference between the control and experimental group’s scores in the writing post-test. The module significantly enhanced the experimental group’s writing skills.


Author(s):  
Rea C. Parungao

This study aimed to determine the effects of using manipulatives in teaching fractions.   Quasi- experimental method of research was used in this study. It was conducted during the first quarter of S.Y. 2019-2020 among the respondents were randomly selected. Two sections of Arayat National High School were the respondents of the study. The control group was the 7-Rosal while the 7-Sampaguita was the experimental group. Both groups were given a pretest prior to the discussion about fractions and a posttest after instruction using the traditional method (control group) and the use of manipulatives (experimental group). The results were then evaluated, analysed through SPSS, and interpreted. Mean, t-test and ANCOVA were utilized to analyze and interpret the data. This study found out that the post-test scores of the respondents from the two groups improved in comparison to their pre-test scores.  The mean pretest and mean posttest scores of both groups showed significant difference. The results showed that the use of virtual manipulatives in converting fractions to decimals had significant difference compared the use of the traditional method. On the contrary, teaching fractions on a number line did not have significant difference. Out of the four operations on fractions, three showed that the use of concrete manipulatives was highly effective. This study recommends that teachers must test the prior knowledge of their students before discussing about fractions to determine the students’ strengths and weaknesses. Although both traditional method and the manipulative approach showed improvement on the post-test results in teaching fractions, still, teachers are encouraged to use manipulatives in teaching fractions to improve students’ performance. It is important for teachers to provide their students opportunities for hands-on manipulation of objects in order to grasp the concepts of fractions more easily. Lastly, teachers must develop the use of concrete and virtual manipulatives in teaching fractions to promote active learning that can enhance students’ mathematics performance and can help them to realize that mathematics is an enjoyable subject.


Author(s):  
Surabhi Negi ◽  
Sunita Magre

Cyber bullying is the unwise use of technology to harm and humiliate an individual or group over the Internet. The purpose of this article is to test the effectiveness of the cyber bullying sensitisation program (CBSP) to reduce the level of cyber bullying behaviour among middle school students. The sample was restricted to adolescents as they are the ones who are most exposed and vulnerable in the cyber space. A quasi-experimental pre-post design with intervention was adopted for the study. The participants of the study were comprised of 186 middle school students from two private schools in India. The experimental group had 94 participants while control groups had 92 participants. Statistical analysis indicated that there was a significant difference between pre- and post-test scores in the experimental group. No significant difference was found between the experiment and control group before the program, suggesting that the program was effective in helping students in reducing cyber bullying behaviour. The implications for prevention and intervention programs were discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuğçe Günter ◽  
Sibel Kılınç Alpat

This study investigates the effects of problem-based learning (PBL) on students' academic achievements in studying ‘Electrochemistry’ within a course on Analytical Chemistry. The research was of a pretest–posttest control group quasi-experimental design and it was conducted with second year students in the Chemistry Teaching Program at the Faculty of Education at Dokuz Eylul University. The topic was taught with PBL in the experimental group and with expository teaching strategies in the control group. The ‘Chemistry achievement test (CAT)’ was applied as the pre-test and post-test in both groups. Post-test scores from the CAT demonstrated that there was a significant difference between the academic achievements of the two groups in favour of the experimental group (U= 8.500,p< 0.05). After using PBL for a period, eleven open-ended questions related to the topic were asked to both groups. The results of these questions were categorized and the scores obtained from the categories were evaluated using content analysis. The results of the scores obtained from the open-ended questions showed that the students in the experimental group were able to make statements containing fewer misconceptions and also had a better understanding of this topic when compared to the students in the control group (U= 2.500,p< 0.05). The correlation between the scores in the CAT post-test and the scores obtained from the open-ended questions of the experimental and control groups was also examined. The Spearman correlation coefficients were found to be 0.907 and 0.595 for the experimental and the control group, respectively. This finding indicated that there was a positive and very high level of statistically significant correlation between the scores in the CAT post-test and the scores obtained from the open-ended questions of the students in the experimental group. Therefore this finding also supports the conclusion that the students in the experimental group were better able to understand the topic and its structure compared to the students in the control group. At the end of the application, the results of semi-structured interviews carried out showed that students in the experimental group had positive opinions regarding PBL.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samah Mohammed Fahim El Sakka

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of explicit affective strategy instruction on the speaking performance of Freshmen English majors at Faculty of Education, Suez University, Egypt. The design of the study is a pre-post quasi experimental one. The instrument is a pre/post speaking performance test (designed by the researcher). Participants were eighty Freshmen English majors, randomly divided into two groups: a control group (N=40) and an experimental one (N=40). During the experiment, the experimental group was explicitly taught some affective strategies (lowering anxiety, encouraging yourself and monitoring emotions) while the control group was taught using the traditional method. All participants were tested using the pre/post speaking performance test before and after the intervention. The difference between the post test&rsquo;s mean scores of the control and experimental groups were calculated using Independent Samples t-test and the difference in the mean scores between the pre- and post tests of speaking performance was calculated for each group separately using Paired Samples t-test. A significant difference was found between the post test&rsquo;s mean scores of the control and the experimental groups in favor of the experimental group. Moreover, a significant difference was found between the mean scores of the pre and post test of the experimental group in favor of the post test. It was concluded that participants&rsquo; level of speaking performance significantly improved after receiving the explicit affective strategy instruction.


Author(s):  
E N Sumarni ◽  
A Widodo ◽  
R Solihat

<p class="Abstract">Drawing – based modeling as learning approach, it allows students to create models based on drawing which help them to run a simulation. Students can use drawing–based modeling to learn a pair of interacting population known as predato–prey system while they usually conducted practicum using diagram of organisms. This study was to explore students’ argumentation and students’ understanding on the concept of the ecosystem. The study was conducted quasi – experimental using the matching – only post-test – only control group design. The participants consist of 60 grade 10 senior high school students in Subang, West Java. They are placed into two groups, 30 students in the experimental group and 30 students in the control group. Data was collected through argumentation test and selected response test for assessing students’ understanding. Students’ argumentation were analyzed using Toulmin’s argumentation pattern and statistical analysis. The result showed there is no significant difference between the experimental group and the control group for students’ argumentation. Most of the students are predominantly at level 2. But the coherency of arguments of the experimental group is more coherent than the control group. It means that the students in experimental group can make logical claim and supported by the correct and relevant grounds (data, warrant, and backing). The result of students’ understanding showed there is a significant mean score between the experimental group and the control group whether 72.33 for the experimental group and 62.13 for the control group</p>


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Salam Hamid

The study aims at finding out the effect of process-based writing teaching supported by students' reflection on their performance in, and attitude toward writing. It hypothesizes that there is no statistically significant difference between the mean score of the experimental group taught writing according to the reflection-supported process-based approach and the control group taught writing according to the process-based approach in the writing performance test and writing attitude scale. To achieve the aims of the study, two second year sections in the Department of English of the College of Education/ Ibn Rushd for Human Sciences are randomly assigned as the experimental and control groups with 43 and 45 students respectively. The experiment in this study lasts for 15 weeks during which both groups are taught writing according to the process approach and given one writing assignment per week. Only the experimental group students are required to reflect on their writing performance in every writing assignment by using a reflection sheet prepared for this purpose. At the end of the experiment, the two instruments of the study, i.e., a writing performance test and attitude toward writing scale are administered on both groups. The statistical manipulation of the results achieved shows that supporting the process orientation to writing teaching with a phase of students reflection on their writing performance is effective in developing their writing performance and helping them formulate positive attitude toward writing. In the light of the results and conclusions achieved, a set of recommendations is put forward.


Author(s):  
Hartati Hartati

The objectives of this research was to find out whether or not there was any significant difference in vocabulary mastery between students who were taught by using talking stick method or students who were taught without using talking stick method. The research was limited on word classes consisted of noun, adjective and verb in descriptive texts with the topic of the material was animal, people, thing, and places.This research was conducted by using quantitative method with a quasi-experimental group design. The experimental group students were taught by using Talking Stick method, while the control group students were not taught by using Talking Stick method. The samples were 74 students that were taken from the eight grade students of MTs Annajah Petaling in academic year 2015/2016. The data were obtained through test, observation and documentation. The result of the test was analyzed by using paired sample t-test in SPSS 16 (Statistical Package for Social science).Based on the results analysis, there was a significance different between students who were taught by using Talking Stick method and the students who were not taught by using Talking Stick method. It was known from the result of mean of post-test in the experimental group (67.70) was higher than the mean of post-test in the control group (65.54). In addition, there was a significant difference in vocabulary mastery between students’ who were taught by using Talking Stick method and those who were not. Therefore, Talking Stick method was one of effective factor that could improve students’ vocabulary mastery.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 221
Author(s):  
Ananias N Yunzal, Jr. ◽  
Leomarich F Casinillo

This study aimed to find out if Physics Education Technology (PhET) simulations can improve the performance of the Baybay City Senior High School STEM students on the selected topic in physics, that is, electrodynamics. This study utilized a quasi-experimental type where pre-test and post-test are multiple choice type of test and involved 72 STEM students. The grouping of the students was identified based on their sections, one section served as the control group and other is the experimental group. Experimental group is allowed to play the PhET simulation for an hour utilizing their vacant period every day, while the control is not exposed to any activity that intervene leading to the creation of formal construct of ideas in electrodynamics. Result showed that mean scores of the control and experimental groups does not imply a significant difference, despite of the interest shown by the students in playing the said simulation. Perhaps, students are more attracted to simulation in which they have gone through during their lectures. Furthermore, study shows that the performance of students before and after exposure to PhET simulation does not necessarily pose a big difference but indicates a slight improvement to their performances.


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