The purpose of this study is to determine of what type of interaction, one of the important characteristics in a web-based learning environment, maintains the motivation of students and is the most effective in learning. For the purpose of the study, ...
The purpose of this study is to determine of what type of interaction, one of the important characteristics in a web-based learning environment, maintains the motivation of students and is the most effective in learning. For the purpose of the study, of the many variables of web-based learning, level of participation and academic attainment based on type of feedback (teacher, student) and on presence or absence of rewards were compared, and the following questions were evaluated.
First, what influence do feedback types and presence or absence of reward have on the level of participation in a web based learning environment?
Second, what influence do feedback types and presence or absence of reward have on the level of academic attainment?
In order to answer these questions, a hypothesis was established. and With 4th grade elementary students as the study subject, lessons on contents of ‘1-2. Museum Visit and Cultural Assets'' and ‘2-1. Changes in Family Life’ were held over 8 weeks with a total of 14 sessions. At an elementary school verified to be a homogenous group located in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, from its 8 classrooms at the 4th grade level, 2 classrooms were selected, and the study was conducted after grouping the students and teachers into groups of ‘teacher feedback-reward’, ‘teacher feedback-no reward’, ‘student feedback-reward’, and ‘student feedback-no reward’. Independent variables were the types of feedback (teacher feedback and student feedback) and reward (presence or absence), and dependent variables were level of participation and level of academic attainment.
A two-way analysis of variance was conducted using test results obtained from the examination process, and the results of the experiment were analyzed using SPSS 12.0 for Windows at α=.05. For qualitative analysis, the contents of student’s reaction to the class sessions posted by the students on the website and the contents of their interview were analyzed.
The summary of the results of this study is as follows.
First, no significant differences were evident in the level of participation based on the type of feed back in web based learning environment, however significant difference did exist between group rewarded and group not rewarded with a more effective level of participation in the group provided with reward. Also, an interactive effect was seen between feedback type and absence or presence of reward in the level of participation. Results of the qualitative analysis displayed positive reaction of students toward interaction through feedback regardless of the person providing the feedback in the web-based learning environment. As a result it was revealed that interaction between teacher and students is a factor that stimulates students’ interest and enjoyment in learning.
Second, significant differences in the level of academic attainment were evident based on the type of feedback with the group with teacher feedback displaying a more effective level of academic attainment than the group with student feedback. Also, no significant differences were evident in the level of academic attainment based on the absence or presence of reward, and no interactive effect was present between feedback type and absence or presence of reward in the level of academic attainment. The results of the qualitative analysis revealed a possible problem in the case of rewarding in which students, in order to receive the reward, may copy and submit unnecessary material and plagiarized material, which may have a diminishing effect on the quality of learning.