Suitably adapted LMS used to teach Science to Primary School students using blended learning: Utilising a novel educational design to teach Heat and Thermal Phenomena

Abstract

The results of the educational trial of a Moodle-based Learning Management System (LMS), designed to assist the teaching of thermal phenomena in the Primary School, are herein presented. The Primary-School focused design of the LMS has already been described elsewhere, whereas other aspects of this study from the core of a doctoral thesis and are under publication. In this trial, 89 primary school students participated. These were divided in two roughly equivalent groups. The Experimental group was taught Heat and Thermal Phenomena utilising the new LMS, by adopting a blended learning approach and using 1 computer per student. The Control Group was taught the same using traditional teaching methods by the same teacher. The data presented herein concern only the post-tests collected three weeks after teaching, and all results presented are drawn by comparing the two groups. The results compare the two presentation approaches, namely with and without the special for Primary Education LMS, this being a pivotal part of the overall research project. This way, by not attempting to test herein either the curriculum or the educational material selected, this study focuses on the difference the LMS made to students' final understanding, thereby validating the use of LMSs in primary schools — provided the platform is suitably designed. The comparative educational effectiveness of the teaching method under consideration, i.e. using the LMS in Primary Schools, is obtained and presented. The conclusions show a marked educational advantage in the use of suitably adjusted LMS to teach Science at primary school, while pointing out to the principles to be followed for designs suitable for younger children.