Group Of Primary Students Research Articles

Optimising Students’ Enjoyment and Engagement in Learning via Scaffolding-fused Digital Game-based Learning

Objective: To determine how a scaffolding-fused digital game impacted primary school students' enjoyment and engagement in Mathematics. Method: This experimental study was carried out with two groups of primary students. The experimental group was taught using the scaffolding fused digital game-based learning, whereas the control group was taught with the conventional method. The instruments used in this study were pre and post-interviews, and, pre and post-observations. The data were analysed using independent t-tests, matched pair t-tests and a One-way Analysis of Covariance. Findings: The results revealed statistically significant differences concerning enjoyment (F = 34.373, P < .05) and engagement (F = 6.498, P < .05) in mathematics learning at 0.01. The enjoyment and engagement of students in the experimental group were much higher than that of the control group. Novelty: As a result of technological advancement, games play an essential role in mathematics education today. Affective factors, precisely emotions, have been widely recognised as influential elements contributing to enjoyment engagement and achievement in the learning process. Engaged learners are motivated, inspired, and eager to put effort into their learning. Keywords: Scaffolding, Enjoyment, Engagemen, Digital game based learning

Launching a solidarity campaign: Technology-enhanced project-based language learning to promote entrepreneurial education and social awareness

To promote social consciousness and a sense of responsibility, educational proposals organised around the principles of technology-enhanced project-based language learning (Dooly & Sadler,2016) should engage students in a process of reflecting upon and responding to crucial social issues. Thus, in this paper we will present a project carried out by two groups of primary students who launched a solidarity campaign to collect money for four Syrian children living in a refugee camp in Greece. The project was implemented in a cross-disciplinary Arts and Crafts class taught through English and resulted in significant outputs in English (those addressed to the Syrian children) and in Catalan (those targeted at the local community). First, we outline the student-led project and then we analyse some fragments of student plurilingual practices during the project development that demonstrate their learning gains. Our findings reveal that our meaningful contextualised cross-disciplinary project favoured the natural integration of multiple skills, competences, and field knowledge form various disciplines while promoting a sense of social consciousness and empathy. First, it enabled children to put their plurilingual competence into play and take decisions regarding language choices to meet particular communicative objectives. Second, it contributed to the acquisition of 21st century knowledge, competence, and skills, while helping the learners gain social values. Third, it engaged learners in processes of problem solving, decision making and creative thinking that lead to the development of entrepreneurial competencies. To conclude we argue that when young learners are given responsibilities and opportunities to take up socially relevant challenges learning becomes meaningful for them and those around them.

SCIENTISTS TALKING TO STUDENTS THROUGH VIDEOS

The benefits of connecting school students with scientists are well documented. This paper reports how New Zealand teachers brought scientists into the classrooms through the use of videos of New Zealand scientists talking about themselves and their research. Two researchers observed lessons in 9 different classrooms in which 23 educational videos were shown to students from years 2 to 11 (aged 6–17 years). Seven groups of primary students and 4 groups of secondary students participated in interviews after classroom observations. Eight additional secondary teachers participated in 7 focus group discussions; 4 additional primary teachers participated in 1 focus group discussion. Data were analysed thematically using an inductive approach. This analysis uncovered 4 major functions for the use of videos of scientists talking about their work: bringing scientists into the classroom, scientists talking about science with local relevance, scientists explaining concepts using a multitude of modes and scientists as authentic alternative authorities within the classroom. Taken together, the findings demonstrate that the use of video clips of scientists talking about their work can be an effective and efficient way of engaging students in learning about science and scientists.

Understanding a Phenomenon in Two Domains as a Result of Contextualization

This study illustrates how contextualization influences students' reasoning. An experiment on the properties of air was demonstrated with alternative designs to two groups of primary students (n = 45). Students' written explanations to the observations show that an experiment in which science equipment and chemicals are used poses a significant problem to these students, who have not yet been introduced to the different disciplines of school science. We argue that the scientific arrangement of experiments might in fact obstruct students' sound reasoning in explaining phenomena. In relation to its role as a trigger for reasoning, scientific equipment calls for a more conscious utilization than is often the case in school science.

Understanding a Phenomenon in Two Domains as a Result of Contextualization

This study illustrates how contextualization influences students' reasoning. An experiment on the properties of air was demonstrated with alternative designs to two groups of primary students (n = 45). Students' written explanations to the observations show that an experiment in which science equipment and chemicals are used poses a significant problem to these students, who have not yet been introduced to the different disciplines of school science. We argue that the scientific arrangement of experiments might in fact obstruct students' sound reasoning in explaining phenomena. In relation to its role as a trigger for reasoning, scientific equipment calls for a more conscious utilization than is often the case in school science.