8. Conclusions & further research. What do you conclude and what further research would you like to do.Final Project:
Action Research
Using online classes and incorporating technology tools to enhance students' English level.
Teacher:
Rasha Osman Abdel Haliem
Educational
Institute: The Higher Technological Institute
Grade:
University Level
Lesson:
Extra Curriculum Guided Activity (For Nicenet) (an online class), (Google forms Quizzes), online testing platforms
The
names of the tools: Nicenet, Google forms, English Test Store, Ted Talks, RSA Animate, and Survey Monkey
The
link to the tools:
Ted Talks, RSA Animate, and Survey Monkey
Introduction
As
I know technology can help my students a lot so I joined the track of
technology. throughout the diploma I learned that a tool can play more than
one role and can be used in many ways in helping students improve. Browsing through many
tools, I decided
to create two online classes to supplement my course and I chose nicenet
(an
educational platform that is used for creating online classes. I
supplemented the nicenet classes with others technology tools and other
educational platforms to help my students improve and enhance their
English language level proficiency. The tools I incorporated was google
forms (an online quiz), blogs (students' blogs) and my resources blog.
The platforms I used were: Ted Talks, English Test Store, survey monkey(
5 surveys)
What is your research question? Why is it important? Where did it come from, what is its purpose?
I had a question in mind which is: can students really benefit from the online classes I create and how can I increase the number of participants and
whether I can really make a difference as the institute have no
internet access except in the library which as teacher I have no access
to. The question: Can using online classes with my classes can really
make a difference is very important as I am the only teacher trying to
integrate technology in my teaching. I spent a lot time trying to help
my students enhance their educational level via using technology tools.
This individual work level may lead to hazards as I am responsible for
an experiment and I am not supported by the administration. I am trying
to make these classes succeed as I really want my students improve their
English level. I know that using free online resources is the one of
the best and easiest means of enhancing their levels of language
proficiency from first hand experience. I also want to make most of my
students do the guided assignments on the online classes as using free
resources in a guided way lead to better results rather than using
internet resources without the guided support of the teacher.
Literature review
As
Purve Chhabra (2012) denotes"we are living in a world where technology
is omnipresent. Due to the ubiquitous presence of the contemporary
learners The pedagogy of teaching methothdology has also undergone a
sea_change. ...The traditional methods which are based on lecturing and
rote learning reduce English-language learning to the mechanical
memorization and miserably fail in developing English language as a
skill among the learners. New technologies like internet, YouTube,
Skype, tweeter, blogs, mobile phones, interactive boards and many more
have added not only stimulus but also learners' engagement and true
interactivity with the classroom." Also Kristina Robertson (2015)
asserts that it is part of the teacher duty to make students use
technology to enhance their educational and professional opportunities.
Reading
on the topic of using technology in teaching English, I found that
teachers are supposed to try to incorporate technology in order to
enhance the teaching and learning of English. It is the duty of the
teacher to introduce tools to students that can help them play a role in
their own education, enhance students educational and professional
opportunities. Even if the other teachers, the administrators or
students themselves are not welcoming, the teachers have to play a
definite role in introducing technology in their English language
curriculum and prepare their students for the market.
As
such, I decided to do an action research to validate this notion namely
that incorporating the use of technology in teaching English can really
help in improving students language level.
As
such, I created two online classes and choose a number of free tools
that can help enhance students level in these classes. use technology in
my education and add it slowly but surely. In the beginning I only used
two tools namely Nicenet (to create one online class) and google forms
(to create a quiz). This term, I used more aspects of Nicenet, English
Test Store, google forms, TED Talks, survey monkey and RSA animate. I am
happy as I introduced the students to using the online class and gave
them an orientation. I am not sure whether they really benefited or the
percentage of benefit is as high as using paper based material only.
I
am sure that I doing my best and I am reflecting on my experience to do
things better next term I created a Mid Term evaluation survey to make
sure that students are really benefiting and using the tools to improve
their language proficiency.
Context
I teach in the Higher
Technological Institute. My students ages are 18-23. The number of the students
in each class varies from 60 to 90. Their proficiency in the language varies as
they come from different educational backgrounds. Some have been learning in
private schools where English is the first language. Others, have been learning
English for the last three years. A third group knows only the alphabet.
Besides, they are interested in the subjects they learn more than English as
English is a secondary subject in comparison to the subjects they major. Still,
all students understand the importance of English in practical life. So, many
of them attend, ask questions, and do the exercises I give them. In addition,
some are interested in improving their level so they ask for materials they can
do on their own pace. They also ask for soft copies and hard copies for the
lectures they did not attend. Sometimes, they complain that they did not know
when I announced for exams as they were absent. They even sometimes ask for
previous courses materials in over to revise and recap. They also say I am so
serious but funny and they do the exercises to improve, but they want some fun
for refreshment.
The class time is three hours.
A break is given after each hour. There are no computers in the
classroom and the computer laps are used for teaching engineering subjects like
Matlap and Oracle. I sometimes, take my computer and sound amplifiers in order
to introduce videos. Some students use their mobiles or laptops to look up new
words online.
The course (New Interchange book) and my teaching method is
designed to refresh the memory of those who are good at English (that is to say
re-consolidate the language of those who know) and teach and help starters. It
is general English. The choice general English is to prepare them for real life
situation. We cover all the Units in the book (16 units) each term.
The students are studying general English to be prepared for the
market. They need it in their career interviews. Their career demands reading,
writing, communicating in English when they deal with pamphlets or foreign
clients. Still, the curriculum is basic
English and being a secondary subject, many students underestimate it and do
not exert real effort to do the extra curriculum activities or the assignments
I give. They start taking courses and doing extra material on their own.
The problems I continuously face are the different levels of
students, their large numbers, being not that good in technology, inadequacy of
resources in the institute (no internet except in the library and only twenty
computers in the lab) and some students having no computers or internet access,
and the interest of some students in technology that their level surpasses me.
I believe all these problems can be resolved via technology integration. Still,
the most important problem to me is the different level of students’
proficiency.
Description of WHAT I did - The intervention:
I
decided to create online classes to introduce my students to the idea
of using technology to enhance their education, improve their language
proficiency and make them acquainted to a number of tools or platforms
that would help them improve their language behind the wall of the
classroom any place any time. I created two online classes Engineering
2016, and Engineering 27 on Nicenet.
I put guided assignments for
the students. The tools I used throughout the assignments were: Nicenet,
english test store, google forms, ted talks, RSA animate, survey
monkey, and blogs
Methodology
In my case the best way to get to know about students problems was surveys. Surveys
were also used to judge how my action research was going and where I
was really helping the students or need to change the way I tackle my
students problem of different proficiency level and improving their
language proficiency.
After knowing the students' educational problems especially those related to the English language I used a questionnaire to know about their technology use. It was paper-based. The questions were:
- Have you ever heard about using technology in education? How ?
- Do you know internet sites that can help you learn?
- How familiar are you with making powerpoint presentation?
- Do you believe one day Egypt will go for using technology? Why? How?
- Have you ever thought about self-education to enhance your skills?
- Why do think your professors are disqualified?
- How will prepare yourself for the market?
- Have ever heard about e-learning platforms? Which ones?
- Have you ever heard about Google forms? Google docs? docs
- Complete these sentences:
I am good at……………………… .
I am bad at …………………….. .
I am improving at ……………… .
I also used a Mid Term evaluation for teachers:
Go to the link for Mid Term Evaluation:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P98PSPG
II. Issue or problem to be addressed that technology can help with:
As denoted the issues I face with my class and I believe technology
can play a real role in solving them are that my students are at different
levels of proficiency, the number of enrolled students is huge, I do not master
technology, and some of my students are digital native, and some lack access to
computers or internet.
I created a class on nicenet, and a blog to address
all the 4 problems (the most important of them: students different proficiency
levels). The key of the class on nicenet.org is: 8365Z66E96. The name of the
class is Engineering 8. The blog for helpful resources address is https://rashahti.wordpress.com/
I chose the creation nicenet classes and a blog for
resources as an e-learning environment in order to help my students, extend the
learning environment behind the walls of the classroom and make them inspired,
motivated and empowered. I plan the nicenet and the blog will be helpful
environments that help students find resources, practice higher order learning
skills, express themselves, and show how they can be more responsible for their
own learning (learner centered). They
will help me in technology integration into my teaching, engage the students
behind the walls of the classroom, upload soft copies of materials and put
announcements. They will also be a
platform where I will put links to helpful resources, and where they can also
put resources they feel are helpful in language acquisition and self-expression
in English. These platforms will assert self-expression and student
responsibility for their own learning.
I believe the nicenet class and the blog are the
best choice for an electronic environment as they are easy to use- and the
students will feel a feeling of intimacy and freshness, learn about two
platforms that can help them in their education and life at large. The nicenet
class will act like a forum to help the students make comments, synthesize,
evaluate and create. T he blog will be the place for helpful resources. The
blog is for resources. I believe the Nicenet class will address my learners
needs, make up for their demands, help them create a forum, speak their
language (the language of technology) and improve their language via uploading
extra curriculum activities and asking them to upload English material they
want to share, read, watch or comment on. Both platforms are more professional
than a facebook group. They are a way of introducing them to a new web 2.0
platform. They are platform that will help them to use their higher order
learning skills, be responsible for own learning as they will add material
equivalent to their needs and wants. I believe will serve their needs, make
them engaged, make them synthesize, and evaluate. I also believe these
platforms will help me design, save, and improve my extra curriculum activities
according to the students’ interests and needs (students' centered).
The second tool is google forms. The google form is
an excellent testing tool that I can send the link to the students on the nicenet
or in emails. It is also helpful in self-grading and in the idea of
self-grading and the idea of familiarizing the students with online testing. A
great aspect of the form is the idea of shuffling questions. Another aspect is the
of online testing itself something that will be prevalent in the near future.
Tools
Discussion
Nicenet
will
be creating online classes to engage the students and help the students
0practice reading as they are asked to read, watch videos, in order to
learn
extra English material on their own throughout the week and then write
summarize the material to the readers (their
fellow classmates) write their own opinion and relate it to their own
personalities, and post it on the Nicenet link sharing class at the end
of the week.
Learning
outcomes:
At
the end of the term, students should be able to:
1-Read,
watch and eventually summarize what they have learned.
2-Write
a reflection on the material and post it on the Nicenet class.
3- Do the online assignment.
4- Do the surveys assigned.
Goals
of Using Nicenet:
- Building an online
platform for interaction with my students
- Extending the
learning environment behind the walls of the classroom.
- Enhancing students'
abilities of using technology.
- Engaging them more.
- Improving their
reading skills.
- Making them use
e-learning and e-resources and judge them in an educational platform.
- Enhancing the Idea
of Student Centered learning and Active Learning
- Improving their writing
skills.
- Make them gain some
of the 21th century skills.
Description of
Nicenet:
It is an educational- social networking
website for teachers, students, and parents. It is highly professional as it
was created on 1998. Teachers can invite students into e-classes or e-groups
that can be used for online classroom material, discussions, but in a format
that keeps the teacher firmly in control.
I already created a class for my students
on Nicenet, I gave my students the class key. I provided guidelines to the class about the
purpose of the Nicenet class and guidelines of usage. Unfortunately, I was
shocked that many students disliked having an e-learning environment and said
that they have no time for trying new things.
I create
weekly assignments. Once they chose the resources to access, the topic they
want and one is a guided thread. I chose Nicenet for many reasons. It is very
professional, easy to use and is known for being efficient. It really helps me
build an online learning environment that extends the learning behind the walls
of the classroom. In addition, Nicenet provides simple ways to share files and
communicate online. It can be used to encourage peer-learning and peer-support
both in the classroom and online (This can be done on after some time of the
introduction of the tool). It will really help in enhancing the digital
literacy of many students and introduce them to student-centered technique.
I
am the administrator of the class. I can increase or decrease the features I
want the students to access. Students need a key to join the group. Students
can communicate to the whole class, comment on each other, or send personal
messages to each other and to the teacher. Private messages are also an option.
I ask students not send anonymously. Anonymous posting is still possible but
they will not get a mark. As an administrator I have the authority to delete
posts. Parents
can access the students' classes though the students dislike the idea as they
are teenagers.
I
believe the tool is great. A teacher can add up resources and materials in
order to be available for students at any time or can use the site for only
conferencing (The beginning for the e-learning environment is self-posting, the
send step is commenting on classmates work). I also attached a link to my blog
that have helpful resources. The most important goal of the Nicenet class for
me is making the students communicate through writing online what they have
done throughout the week to enhance their language proficiency.
The
Relevance/ Advantages of Creating and doing Activities on a Nicenet Class:
The
Nicenet class in order to extend my students' knowledge and enforce student
centered learning techniques. The tool is not only an e-learning environment
but it will be a way of formative assessment. It will show on weekly basis what
the students did in order to improve their English, and at the end of the term
it will serve as an electronic portfolio.
Self- assessment, Peer assessment and
Assessment at Large:
I think that nicenet will be more effective
than traditional methods of self- assessment, peer assessment and assessment at
large as it shows on weekly basis how the students improve. It also shows how
each one is playing a definite role in his/herself education. It is it really
serves as an electronic portfolio at the end of term also saved for a
life-time. You can copy the treads on word document/ or print the work of class
to get an idea about the resources they used to improve their English. The only
disadvantage of using this tool is that you need internet access to browse
through it and do the assignments.
Electronic
portfolio:
Nicenet
can also be used as an electronic portfolio.
Main
Reasons for Choosing this tool (Nicenet):
In
my opinion, I think that the tool is easy to use. It is
can browsed on mobile phones so it will
be available at anytime and anywhere. Students can create their own
classes or
their groups with or without the teacher monitoring. In addition, I can
add up
downloadable documents, assign quizzes and assignments. I can receive
emails
when assignments are turned in. They send me a personal message denoting
the marks they got in the online exams and sometimes they send me PDF
of their scores or snapshots. They also share the links of their post
entries. To grade, I can either sending posts or comments
on assignments or personal messages to the students. The students can
also send
me personal messages if they have any questions or ask about helpful
websites.
Other
Advantages Include:
- Interaction and collaboration in
a secure, closed environment
- Full Monitoring and control by the teacher.
- Students can create their classes.
- Teachers create infinite number of classes.
- It can also be used for educational and professional
development.
- Teachers and students can store and share documents
and files in a wide variety of formats in a cloud-based environment.
- Access 24/7 to the platform.
- Folder-sharing allows teachers to share all content
for particular units of study with select groups or all students.
- Parents can have access to class if I asked.
- A simple user interface – it can be learned by trial and error.
- Nicenet is free of charge.
- There are no advertisements.
Main Activity on Nicenet:
The
Activity:
On
weekly
bases students are asked to use the internet in order to improve their
English and partially play a role in self-improvement doing extra
reading,
watching videos related to their interest and eventually post reflection
on
what they did through the whole week to improve their English. They post
on their blogs or send me messages of results of the online exams on
English test store.
a. Behavior: Read, watch online resources every week, and write chunks of sentences
every week summarizing and commenting on the internet resources they accessed
to improve their English, and also answer the other obligatory line of thought.
b. Condition: Show a great degree of understanding to the themes ideas and notions of
the internet resources as well as deeply evaluate content.
c. Standard: The
rubric guidelines (Note: the rubric will be sent at fourth lecture) for
writing, the test number and score for online exams, and the links for
their new posts.
The
rubric of the activity:
I
will post this rubric which I created on rubi-star on the nicenet. This will be
done on the fifth lecture. I will grade students on by writing comments on
their work. Once they submit their assignment, I receive a message and grade
them and they accordingly receive the comments on the writing under the post.
The marks will be sent into personal messages. I tend to write positive
comments. After all, the most important weekly tread is the weekly activity of
students self-education, so I have to encourage them through positive feedback.
Second
Tool
Google
Forms:
The
second tool I will use is google form. It is basically designed for assessment.
It can be used for creating a quiz or a test that automatically grades itself.
Using
forms in Google docs lets anyone create forms quickly and share those forms via
email, embed them into a webpage or blog. A teacher, you can create formulas
that allow him have these forms/quizzes graded in minutes. The formula part is
a bit challenging.
The
Google Forms tool allows you to create a custom form. You can add as many
questions as you want, and choose between checkboxes, radio buttons, short text
boxes, paragraph-length text boxes and more.
Using this, you could create a quiz, a poll, an entry form, or any sort
of interface with a visitor that you want to record.
To
create a Google Form, go to https://drive.google.com/ (sign up if you have to).
Once you’re in, click on the orange “Create” button, then choose the green
“Form” option. Once your form opens, you can
customize it by adding spaces for the information you want to collect from web
visitors. Add new items by choosing the “Add Item” link in the
top left corner. Next to that link, you can choose a custom theme by selecting
“Theme.”
You
can embed the form in a website by returning to https://drive.google.com/ and
clicking on the form you created. That will open your data in the Google Docs
spreadsheet tool.
There
are different types of questions you can choose from. It's best if you try to
make a question that has each of these elements to familiarize yourself with
them. Make some quiz questions required. You can also make some questions
required. For example, my first question is the student's name. I always make
this a required question to make sure the students answer it.
1-The Activity:
It is a multiple-choice online quiz that assess both
vocabulary and grammar in the first 4 Units of Interchange
a. Behavior: Read and answer the quiz online.
b. Condition: The exam order is shuttled.
c. Standard: The maximum time allowed is 20 minutes.
I think that this tool is an excellent choice for
assessing the students mastery of the grammar and vocabulary covered in class.
It can be used as both formative and summative assessment tool depending on the
timing of taking the test and the decision of the teacher. It can be taken in
school, when there is internet access and at home according to the plans of the
teacher.
The tool can be send on the nicenet, to emails or
sending the link to the whole class.
A
Question that hit my mind and I am
trying to find an answer to is: Can google froms be saved to be reused. I
found out that they can, an aspect that makes them great.
Third Tool:
English Test Store:English
Test Store is a website that provides English tests for free. Students
do not have to register to the website. the tests are downloadable and
they can also be taken online. Online exams are automatically graded.
The great aspect about this website is that it is continuously updated
and new exams are added so even introducing students to this platform
only is OK as there are numerous tests on reading, listening, speaking
and writing. there are also exams on grammar and vocabulary. It is
really a helpful website as everything is organized and all levels of
proficiency are addressed.
Fourth Tool:
Ted Talks
Ted
talks is a platform that provides lectures mostly in English on nearly
every subject. I decided to incorporate ted talks in my online classes
to give my students an idea about a tool that really help in improving
their listening and comprehension skills.
Fifth Tool:
RSA
Animate is a platform that provides resource of videos that are
animated and is free for educational purposes. The platform is really
useful for enhancing listening and comprehension skills. As such I gave
guided assignments on my e-class to help my students improve.
Sixth Tool:
Survey Monkey:
Survey
monkey is a website that provides the right to create surveys for free
for a definite number of questions (10 questions only). If you want to
add up to the ten questions you must pay money. I was introduced to this
tool in module 504. I created a survey in class (paper based survey)
the assigned 5 online surveys at home. Two of the online surveys were
evaluation of the online classes and their role in helping students
improve. The other surveys were surveys they may take at work. The
choice of giving the students these other three surveys was to prepare
them to real life situation.
Reflection
The first time I gave students the class
key to nicenet class those who have `internet in their mobiles tried to register
and many succeeded and many asked questions on the fly. Some did not understand
that they create their own username and password and stopped to ask. Once they
created their own name and password things went well.
I also opened up the blog and they were
impressed. I used one video to watch. They did not concentrate much with the
video but with the two new platforms. Many students were happy about being
introduced to something new though they fear about using it. Some students
denoted their depression as they cannot use these platforms as they do not have
computers, a concern I addressed by reminding them about internet cafes and the
computers in the library.
I would’ve liked to have seen much more
detail in this section. As the prompt in the template asks, how did you use the
technology, what happened (in detail). How did your students respond (again, in
detail). Was this different than what you thought would happen.
Changes made or
changes to make
I did a lot of changes to the blog and I
still need to make more. I also need to become more familiar with nicenet. In
addition, I have to familiarize the students with both platforms teach them s
the features of both platforms to make them feel empowered and secure rather
than lost. I should also try to make the students who have laptops bring their
devices and use them just like their colleagues who had smart phones used tried
their hands in class. In addition, I found that introducing the students to two
platforms in the first lecture was too overwhelming.IT’S IMPORTANT TO TRY TO
INTRODUCE NEW TECHNOLOGY SLOWLY. I would also try to give orientation lectures
before the classes about the the importance of the 21 first century skills,
integrating technology in education, active learning and try once more with the
administration to provide students with mini-lap tops to enhance their
learning.
The nicenet class and the blog will help
me address the different level of students’ proficiency in several ways. On
nicenet, every week students are given two assignments one is writing or
discussion on certain point, the second is activities of the week in which they
write 7 chunks of sentences on the internet resources they read, watched and
listened to. On weekly basis they feel that they are all improving and they
play a definite role in their improvement as they are responsible for their own
learning. Besides, reading each other
work will inspirational and motivational.
The blog will be for extra resources to help them through
self-improvement and self-education. They can also create blogs of their own
resources and link it to this blog.
Day-to-day notes of what happened and
reflections
I
Kept a journal and recorded the
implementation of technology in my course and my thoughts about it.
(This is taken from the University of Oregon Course entitled Building
Teaching Skills Through the Interactive Web.)
Day
|
What Happened
|
My Thoughts
|
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3 to day 7
|
I introduced the students to nicenet classroom. I also gave them an
idea about the blog.
Some students
came to me and denoted that they liked they idea of going digital and being
responsible of their own learning and that they believe they are improving on
daily basis.
Even those
facing difficulty some denoted that feel superior as no other classes in the
institute is going digital.
Things are moving
forward.
|
Students were divided. Some began joining the class in class while I
was giving them the idea about that platform and how we will use it. Others
were not excited at all and complained that they do not have computers and
they have any interst in using technology in education are not as excited about this as I thought
they may be.This is a tough
situation. Perhaps you can try introducing them to technology using printed
materials that you find online in order to capture their interests. A
low-tech point of entry may be motivating to some, especially if they have to
use technology to complete the assignments that were given to them via paper
handouts. I will need to carefully help them
create their blogs so that they do not become confused.
It was
overwhelming introducing two platforms in the first lecture.
The number of
students joining the nicenet class is increasing.
I feel I moved
a mile forward though I did not use the full potential of both platforms. By
the end of the fourteen week we will both master both tools and use them to
empower ourselves and others. I am really happy that my students are
improving.
Also giving them an idea
about English test store was also a great idea as they go to the website
whenever they like take tests, learn by doing, be exposed to language
and enhance their language proficiency in a way that really prepares
them to real life situations.
Making
students do surveys prepares them to professional life and enhances
their thinking skills. It also enhances their language proficiency as it
exposes them to the language.
It
is great that I explored Nicenet, google forms, survey monkeys,
English test store, ted talks, and RSA animate I have to explore the
tools more to get more ideas to use the these tools fullest. It is also
great that I used the online classes and introduced my students to
websites that would really help them improve their English language
proficiency and improve their educational and professional
opportunities.
|
Results: just REPORT the results, without analysis or conclusions.
The
students are really improving. the online classes and the tools used
are really playing a definite role in the students progress. The number
of students reflecting thier happiness on learning new easily
accessible ways to learn is increasing day after day. Still, they ask
for more time concerning orientation using the tools and learning to
move around the online classes.
Discussion: analysis of results and what they imply and how they answer your research question
Results show that technology when used can really play a definite role in improving the students language level
Conclusion and
suggestions
The
number of students who joined the
nicenet is increasing day after day. Still, students need more
orientation concerning getting more familiar with the platform, how to
use the tools, and how to use the tools to enhance their English
language proficiency really need more training to the students.
Introducing one platform in the
beginning of the course and then introducing the second platform in the third
or fourth lecture would be better as students would not be overwhelmed by two
platforms as trial showed that many
students complained that being introduced and using two platforms is too
much. Using the same platforms and tools in the following terms will
lead the students get better at knowing all the aspects and features of
the online classes and all the uses of the platforms. in addition, I
should give extra time concerning the orientation with the platform and
the tools.
References:
