ETEC 690, Spring 2014
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ItemFostering ELA Common Core through Web 2.0 at the Secondary Level( 2014-05-11)Teachers are pressured more than ever to incorporate technology into learning environments due to societal expectations and the implementation of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) as the leading guide for standards-based curriculum design. Thus, it is crucial for teachers to receive timely training and helpful resources for the successful integration of technology into one’s teaching practices. This online instructional module was developed to share information about four Web 2.0 tools and their application towards fulfilling technology-driven English language arts CCSS. Therefore, the purpose of this instructional design project was to evaluate the effectiveness of the website’s design and content and to compare attitudes of teachers towards using these online tools before and after they viewed the module. Of the twelve original participants, eight were able to complete the module within the time allotted. Basic descriptive statistics were used to analyze pre and post survey results from varying Likert-scales and patterns were identified in open-ended responses in the post-survey. Findings illustrated that most participants’ familiarity, confidence, and likelihood of using the tools as part of their teaching improved after completing the learning module. The findings also resulted in recommendations for how the module could be improved for future use by teachers.
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ItemRealizing Rental Energy Efficiency( 2014-04-24)Hawaii is one of the few states in the United States that utilizes crude oil to produce electricity. This practice has shown harmful emissions that damage the environment and contribute significantly to climate change. The first step toward reducing our demand for imported oil is to be conscious of it and to reduce our oil consumption by increasing our energy efficiency. Previous research has shown that low-income, multi-family, rental households utilized significantly more electricity per square foot than other types of households. Furthermore, energy efficient upgrades are most likely to be done when individuals recognize the financial benefits and environmental impacts of these upgrades. This project developed an asynchronous web-based instructional module to best inform the rental household target population about their options for greater energy efficiency and their benefits. The pre- and post-survey results revealed greater potential for behavioral change when financial incentives are realized and energy users are directly accountable for their electric bill.
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ItemeStudying for Electronic Education: an Instructional Design Project( 2014-05-09)Traditional studying systems based on print media historically involved bookmarking, highlighting, and underlining passages for future reference. As technology changes the way we read information from print to electronic media, traditional studying practices will need to change as well. This study asked college students to use an electronic studying system with a variety of applications including GoodNotes, Web to PDF+, To PDF, Zotero, PaperShip, and Google Drive on a personal computer and an iPad. Six College of Education graduate students learned how to use the electronic studying system through an online instructional module. They then applied what they learned to their graduate coursework over a span of at least a week. Results from the pre and post-survey's showed that participants were not initially familiar with note-taking apps and after participating in the study, were considering changing their current note-taking strategies to better accommodate electronic materials. Survey results revealed a positive correlation between participant's previous note-taking strategies and most useful features in the note-taking app GoodNotes. Even though the electronic studying system was used over a limited time, participants found it very useful and some even purchased GoodNotes to use in the future.
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ItemeStudying for Electronic Education: an Instructional Design Project( 2014-05-08)Traditional studying systems based on print media historically involved bookmarking, highlighting, and underlining passages for future reference. As technology changes the way we read information from print to electronic media, traditional studying practices will need to change as well. This study asked college students to use an electronic studying system with a variety of applications including GoodNotes, Web to PDF+, To PDF, Zotero, PaperShip, and Google Drive on a personal computer and an iPad. Six College of Education graduate students learned how to use the electronic studying system through an online instructional module. They then applied what they learned to their graduate coursework over a span of at least a week. Results from the pre and post-survey's showed that participants were not initially familiar with note-taking apps and after participating in the study, were considering changing their current note-taking strategies to better accommodate electronic materials. Survey results revealed a positive correlation between participant's previous note-taking strategies and most useful features in the note-taking app GoodNotes. Even though the electronic studying system was used over a limited time, participants found it very useful and some even purchased GoodNotes to use in the future.
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ItemeBook Creation: Enhancing Literacy(2014 TCC Online Conference, 2014-04)Teachers are being pushed to integrate technology across all subject areas, including reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Using eBook creation is one way to both use technology and address literacy skills. A web-based instructional module was developed to improve teacher knowledge on how to create eBooks and increase motivation to use eBooks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the module and its influence on motivation to incorporate eBooks in teaching. Fifteen current or former elementary (K-6) teachers were asked to participate in the study. Ten completed the study. Participants completed the module as well as online demographic, pre-attitudinal, and post-attitudinal surveys. These were analyzed using descriptive statistics and summarizing open-ended questions. Pre-survey findings indicated that one teacher had previously used eBooks and half had moderate to considerable interest, whereas the other half reported little to some interest. Two-thirds felt students would be moderately to extremely motivated by using eBooks. Post-survey findings showed that half of the participants were likely to use eBook creation in their classrooms. Eight participants felt students would be very-to-extremely motivated.
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ItemExamining the Usability of an Elementary School Website(Technology, Colleges, and Community Worldwide Online Conference, 2014)Throughout a school year, important information must be communicated between schools and families of elementary students. Despite communication via newsletters, emails, and flyers, some information is lost in the transition from the classroom to home. A school website allows parents to access important, current information about their child’s school. To be effective, it must be easy to navigate and use. The purpose of this usability study was to evaluate the content and organization of a school website to enable developers to improve its effectiveness for parents and families. The study was conducted with six parents. Data were collected using field notes and screencasting software to record the computer screen activity and participants’ verbal comments as they navigated the website while being audio recorded. Analysis included qualitative coding of field notes, screencasts and audio transcripts and descriptive statistical analysis of screencasting data. Five out of the six participants were able to complete all four tasks in the study. Feedback from participants indicated that they found the website organized and up to date, but lacking some features such as testing scores, pictures of students, and a grading portal to name a few.
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ItemA Needs Assessment to Explore the Professional Development of Early Childhood Practitioners with Online Resources( 2014-04-24)Abstract: Early childhood educators (ECE) on the island of Kauai currently have one localized option for higher education in the field of ECE, a 2-year Associate of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Hawaii system’s Kauai Community College. The State of Hawaii’s Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL) is looking to set the “high-quality” programming benchmark for ECE teachers at a Bachelor’s degree with specialized training in pre-kindergarten plus 15 hours of professional development training annually. Gaining access to high quality in-person professional development on Kauai is an ongoing challenge. To assess the growing need for professional development on Kauai, a needs assessment was conducted using Google forms to explore the use of online resources for professional development by early childhood practitioners on Kauai currently working with children birth to 5 years old. All participants in this needs assessment survey were primarily solicited by email to gauge the use of online modes for participation and communication within the ECE professional community. This effort resulted in 13 responses to the needs assessment survey and indicated a willingness to use online resources for professional development.
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ItemFrom Paper to Pixels: A Usability Study of a Tsunami Safety E-Booklet(19th Annual Technology, Colleges, and Community Worldwide Online Conference, 2014-04-22)More people have died in Hawai‘i from tsunamis than from hurricanes, floods, and volcanoes combined, making it our State’s most deadly natural hazard. For tsunami education to be effective, especially in younger audiences, learners must be engaged through multiple modalities. To help meet this need, a printed tsunami safety booklet has been modernized to an e-booklet format. Using a turtle superhero as a guide, the Hawaii tsunami safety e-booklet (http://bit.ly/tsunamilayout) helps educate 3rd through 5th grade students about tsunami hazards, preparedness, evacuation, warning, and risk. A research study was designed to evaluate the content, effectiveness, and user satisfaction of the interactive e-booklet through iterative usability testing. Two rounds of testing were conducted face-to-face and through Google Hangouts on Air where participants “thought out loud” as they explored the e-booklet content. Additional feedback was captured asynchronously through a survey link on each page of the e-booklet. A post-study captured additional attitudinal data. Changes were made to portions of the e-booklet focusing on the participants’ recommendations which included immediate audio and visual feedback, increased control over multimedia, personalization, and gamification. Feedback from the second round of usability testing indicated that improvements made to the e-booklet augmented the overall user experience.
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ItemDesigning a Mobile Informational Website for Military Medical Personnel(Technology, Colleges and Community Online Conference, 2014-04)Medical augmentees at Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command are responsible for the health and welfare of team members deployed to remote regions of the world to extract remains of lost service members. No method was in place to prepare these individuals for mission prior to arriving on Oahu and information needed to be available as an online resource and viewable on mobile hand-held devices so members could access information prior to and during deployment. The purpose of the instructional design project was to develop and evaluate a web-based instructional website designed to provide necessary medical and mission knowledge to medical augmentees. Fifteen current and former augmentees were asked to review the Aloha Augmentee website, evaluate the quality of content and make recommendations for improvement. Data were collected via online pre and post surveys. The results revealed that the website was viewed as successful with very positive qualitative feedback. Participants felt that the website could be even more effective with the addition of medical-grade photographs and more in-depth background about specific regional diagnoses. Feedback from participants will be used to improve the overall design and content of the website to better prepare future augmentees.
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ItemExamining the Role of Online Courses in Native Hawaiian Culture and Language at the University of Hawaii( 2014)The unique geographical nature of the state of Hawaii creates hardship in attempting to offer adequate instruction and resources to students in all the communities that the University of Hawaii (UH) system serves. Distance education plays a significant role in attempting to address some of these hardships. The purpose of this needs assessment (NA) was to collect University of Hawaii student feedback in regards to their needs, preparedness, perceptions and learning preferences for online courses in Native Hawaiian culture and language. This study utilized the UH Maui College, Molokai Education Center as a sample site to collect feedback from those who plan to utilize distance education in pursuing an Associate Degree in Hawaiian Studies, or to take courses in Native Hawaiian language and culture. A comprehensive survey was developed and administered to collect student feedback on their opinions of distance learning at UH, with an emphasis on online courses. A review of their responses provides readers with a unique opportunity to understand the student experience from the perspective of those in some of the most remote areas served. Strengths and weaknesses of online course delivery are reviewed as well as recommendations for strengthening distance education planning and implementation.