The Effect of Online Homework (IXL) on Students' Mathematics Achievement

We examined the potential different effectiveness of an online homework system (IXL) and the traditional paper-and-pencil homework. A study involving 98 participants was conducted in a middle school (grade 8). We compared the post-test results from the online homework group with the traditional homework group. Both homework assignment effect (class-level) and homework completion effect (student-level) proposed by Trautwein (2007) were investigated. No significant difference was found among the students who were assigned different types of homework (class-level). We conclude that IXL is as effective as the traditional homework on students' learning. Meanwhile, not surprisingly, we revealed that students who complete the homework outperformed the students who did not (student-level). We suggest that teachers give students an option to do online or traditional homework based on their preference, as long as they complete the homework.

Conservatory Students’ Music Performance Anxiety and Educational Expectations: A Qualitative Study

Music performance anxiety (MPA) can seriously and negatively affect musicians’ performance and quality of life—physically, mentally, and behaviorally. In the present study, factors related to the MPA of students receiving classical Western music education in the conservatory in a holistic framework were examined to ascertain the physical, mental, and behavioral symptoms; temporal processes; environmental factors; coping strategies; and educational expectations and desires related to this condition. In addition to investigating causative factors in such a framework, the content analysis method was used on data collected from semi-structured interviews with conservatory students. The results show that the main causative factors of MPA included a jury’s negative evaluation, attitudes, and/or behaviors; their symptoms included trembling, muscle contraction, and distraction. The main coping strategy among participants was positive self-talk; remarkably, they had no theoretical knowledge of positive self-talk. Most significantly, considering that performance is integral to musical education training, students stated that the conservatory needs to integrate into the curriculum a course, counseling, and activities that address MPA.

Enhancing Thai EFL Students’ EFL Vocabulary Knowledge through the Use of Task-Based Language Teaching and Storytelling Technique Adopting Thai Folktales

This study aimed to examine the development of EFL students' vocabulary knowledge adopting a task-based method with 32 Thai students who enrolled in an English for Communication course at a university in northern Thailand. This study emphasized improving the Thai EFL students’ English vocabulary knowledge by requiring students to retell six Thai folktales in English translation to their group members. The pretest-posttest design, as well as an interview, were employed to indicate the students' vocabulary improvement after retelling Thai folktales. The findings showed that the students' post-test scores were statistically higher than their pre-test scores, and the students felt that the folktale tasks helped them enhance their vocabulary knowledge. The results of this study indicate that the students learned English vocabulary in an engaging and meaningful way through storytelling; therefore, the students’ vocabulary retention is likely high.

The Level of Passion for Knowledge among High School Students while Learning Social Studies in Saudi Arabia

The present research paper aims to measure the level of passion for knowledge while learning social studies among high school students in Saudi Arabia. It adopts a descriptive approach. To achieve its objectives, the researcher created a scale of passion for knowledge that consists of 25 sentences. The study population covered all high school students in Jeddah, but the scale was applied to a stratified sample of 1142 students only who were selected randomly from all the public high schools in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The results show that the level of passion for knowledge is high as it reached 3.77. Compared with the other grades, the highest level of passion for knowledge was found for the first-grade high school students because they studied the new curricula in all stages, while those in the second and third grades studied the curriculum that was implemented before curricula were developed according to Saudi Vision 2030.

Comparing Collaborative Writing Activity in EFL Classroom: Face-to-Face Collaborative Writing versus Online Collaborative Writing Using Google Docs

Collaborative writing is acknowledged as one of the most beneficial writing exercises for improving writing skills. This study aimed to look at the errors of online collaborative writing using Google Docs and face-to-face collaborative writing, as well as to find out how satisfied students were with both modes. Purposive sampling was used to pick 32 Thai second-year English major students (19 females, 13 males) from Writing II. A record form of the error kinds derived from Norrish (1983) a questionnaire, and a semi-structured interview were used as instruments. Frequency and percentage were the statistics used. The data revealed that 346 errors were discovered in online mode, while 389 errors were discovered in face-to-face mode, which was at a higher level. The most common types in the online mode were sentence fragments, while the most common kinds in the face-to-face mode were determiners. Grammars were presented to students in both modes, followed by lexis and mechanics. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the students reported being highly satisfied with online mode using Google Docs (X ̅ = 3.50), followed by face-to-face setting (X ̅ = 3.45). Students also had an overall positive feedback on Google Docs and found it useful in terms of writing anywhere and anytime. Based on the results of this study, students in online co-produced texts better than in face-to-face mode. Time independence and features of Google Docs might be the crucial factors which facilitated the students’ writing in online mode.

Views of Academic Staff in Universities on Lifelong Learning and Adult Education

The general aim of this study is to find out the views of academic staff working at universities on lifelong learning and adult education. While finding out the views of academic staff, the 6 principles of Andragogy Approach, which includes the characteristics of adults about learning, were taken as basis and the professional or personal development trainings academic staff received were analysed separately within the framework of these principles. Interview technique, one of the most frequently used in qualitative research methods, was used in the study. Interviews were made with a total of 20 academic staff who had received training within the scope of adult education and lifelong learning. The interviews were recorded with a voice recorder and transcribed. The transcribed data were evaluated with descriptive analysis method and then they were coded. Interpretations were made by using the codes. As a result, it was found that the academic staff in general had received education on lifelong learning and adult education voluntarily and it was concluded that they received these trainings for professional or personal development, to increase their quality of life, to gain experience, to advance academically and for similar reasons.

The Effect of Leisure Benefits on Loneliness of University Students

The study aimed to determine the differences between loneliness levels and leisure benefits according to the variables of university students and the effect of leisure benefits on loneliness. In the research, scanning model, which is one of the quantitative research methods, was used. The study group of the research consisted of 255 students, 148 males (58.0%) and 107 females (42.0%), studying at the School of Physical Education and Sports of Istanbul Gelişim University, and formed by voluntary participation. In addition to the personal information form, the UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS) developed by Russell, Peplau, and Ferguson (1978) and adapted to Turkish by Demir (1989), and Leisure Benefit Scale (LBS) developed by Ho (2008) and adapted to Turkish by Akgül, Ertüzün, and Karakucuk (2018), were used. After the data showed normal distribution, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson Correlation Test were used in the analysis. According to the research results, a difference was found between the individuals' loneliness according to the age groups and the leisure benefits according to their gender. As a result of the research, it was concluded that as the leisure benefits of the individuals increased, their loneliness decreased.

Collaborative Writing in EFL Classroom: Comparison on Group, Pair, and Individual Writing Activities in Argumentative Tasks

This study focused on comparing the effects on 32 students’ argumentative writing qualities when they worked alone or collaborated in pairs and groups and explored the students’ opinions towards critical thinking across different writing activities. The 32 students were divided into groups of four (n=8), pairs (n=16) and individuals (n=32). Their papers were rated in terms of content, language use, and organization by three raters. The research employed argumentative writing rubrics, semi-structured interview, and observation. From the total of 15 points, the novice learners gained the highest scores when writing in groups (X ̅ = 11.22), followed by pairs (X ̅ = 10.19) and individuals (X ̅ = 8.98). The intermediate learners also gained the highest scores in group work (X ̅ = 11.50), followed by pairs (X ̅ = 10.32), and individual work (X ̅ = 9.04), respectively. Similar to the advanced level, they had the highest scores when working in groups (X ̅ = 11.95), followed by pairs (X ̅ = 10.45), and individuals (X ̅ = 9.45). The findings indicated that group work led to the highest scores in all proficiency levels and in groups, the students’ critical thinking improved regarding analyzing, evaluating and creating information when they brainstormed, shared and discussed all information. In pairs, the students also demonstrated that their critical thinking developed but only in analyzing from sharing information with a partner. In individuals, all proficiency levels reported that critical thinking was not developed as no interaction with peers.