Enhancing Students’ E-Culture in E-Learning Class Using Web2.0 Technology

Associate Professor Dr. Maturos CHONGCHAIKIT

Faculty of Education, Kasetsart University(maturos.c@ku.ac.th)

Topics

• Introduction

• Objectives

• Methodology

• Findings

• Conclusion

Introduction

• E-Culture /eCulture/ Cyberculture– Behavior and Practices in a digital network

system or environment, both individually and collectively. For example how to deal with emails, share information on the web, manage distance education, animate a virtual community.

– E-Culture is a transdisciplinary field, crossing over several social and technical sciences.

– E-Culture deals with the technological aspect less than the cyberculture, nevertheless the gaps become smaller and smaller with the evolution of digital learning environments.

Introduction• Digital skills are very important nowadays

• E-Culture behaviors and practices are crucial for the success of teacher-students in their careers development.

• Web2.0 had opened more opportunities to enhance the positive behaviors and skills to e-culture of people in needs.

Objectives

Study the effects of using Web2.0

Technology to enhance students’

e-culture in e-learning class.

Methodology (1)

Population : Higher education level students

Sample Groups: (purposively selected) Three groups of 42 students registering to the 162531

and 162533 Courses during 2007 – 2009 academic years.

(Master Degree Program)– 1 group of 11 students for the 162531 and 162533

courses in 2007 and 2008 academic year– 2 groups of 23 and 8 students consecutively for the

162531 in 2008 and 2009 academic years.

Methodology (2)

Research Tools : 1. Learning Tools

• WebQuest Learning Resources; • Application: Hot Potatoes; • Web2.0 services:

– Blogger.com– YouTube.com

2. Evaluation Tools • Questionnaire on e-culture : four different types of

access to information and communication digital skills

• Self- evaluation form on personality dimensions

Learning Activities : Control for 2 courses using the Project-Based Learning • a curriculum development approach that

centers on projects, in-depth investigations of a topic worth learning more about.

• The key feature of a project is that it is a research effort deliberately focused on finding answers to questions about a topic posed either by the students, the teacher, or the teacher working with the students.

• The goal of a project is to learn more about the topic rather than to seek right answers to questions posed by the teacher.

Methodology (3)

Procedure• Three groups of 11, 23 and 8 Master Degree Program

students took the 162531 blended courses consecutively in 2007, 2008 and 2009 academic years.

• Only one groups of 11 Master Degree Program students had also taken the 162533 online courses using web2.0 tools and services at the moment of the research on 2008 academic year.

• The students were generally assigned to plan and develop the project on ICT integrating in their teaching activities. At the end of the courses, they had been asked to fill in the self-evaluation form and answer the questionnaire. Their products had been also evaluated to confirm the students e-culture types

Methodology (4)

Findings

• The 2 sample groups who took only the 162531 course had the same types of e-culture which are motivation and use. Their personality dimensions were dominantly decision and responsibilities.

• The other group who took both the 162531 and 162533 courses had 2 more types of e-culture: possession and skills. Their personality dimensions were dominantly the creativity and the leadership.

Conclusion• Since there are 2 sample groups who will

have to take also the 162533 course using the web 2.0 technology, it is quite interesting to continue the research and see whether the findings would be confirmed or not.

• The other research using different types of web2.0 technology or different sample group i.e.teachers should be conducted to see more effects on e-culture development