Research objectives

Research questions

What data to collect (to answer research question)

Who to collect from

When to collect data

How to collect data - method

Instrument to collect data

Expected outcome

1

To design and develop a design poster workshop in initiating collaborative learning.

What is the process involved when designing and developing design poster workshop?

Design poster workshop development

Previous researchers

Before the workshop

Development

Development

Poster design workshop.

2

To examine the  effectiveness  of instructional strategies used in collaborative learning

How effective are the instructional strategies used in initiating collaborative learning among students?

Students’ poster samples

Students

Right after the workshop

Documents analysis

Posters produced by students

Students produced posters base on trainer and facilitators instruction.

3

To describe students’ behavior when participating the workshop

How do students interact during the learning process?

·          Photographs

·           Digital video

·          Field notes

(Documentation on social situation of an individual or group during the learning processes).

Students

During the workshop.

Observation

Observation form

Students interact more when learning in collaborative environment.

4

To understand students’ perception of the poster workshop in their learning processes

How does poster workshop influence students’ learning processes?

Transcription of open-ended interview.

Students

After the workshop been conducted.

Informal conversational interview

Interview schedules

Students learn effectively through collaborative learning

Research title

Development of a computer-assisted information management system

Researcher

Leow Hoay Suan

Year

2004

Research questions

·         What do teachers think about the usability of SIMS as a tool to help them perform their administrative tasks?

·         How effective is the training in the use of SIMS?

·         To what extent do teachers’ computer experiences influence their opinion on the usability of SIMS?

Summary of literature review (Chapter 2) exasperated 

In this section, researcher had reviewed some of the previous researchers work done in the area of computer usage in school among teachers.  Researcher discussed on teachers belief and behavior towards technology specifically ICT.  Researcher also discussed studies done on generating change on the perception of technology usage in schools.

Under the educational technology section, researcher had reported three phases involved in educational technology implementation. Which are:

Phase 1 – adoption of technological infrastructure, organizational structure and teachers’ technical skills.

Phase 2 – reengineering phase (integration of ICT )

Phase 3- Cultural Innovation Model ( to establish new tradition)

Researcher also discussed issues related to computer assisted student information management system. In this section model and process of developing, designing, implementing discussed in the study.

In conclusion, researcher had reported issues and researches done in the related area holistically.  Starting from teachers’ belief and behavior, generating change in behavior, educational technology implementation, computer assisted student information management system and technology training.

Research hypotheses

·         Teachers think that the usability of SIMS as a tool will help them perform their administrative tasks.

·         Teachers who have high level of efficacy with technology are more likely to participate more eagerly, expend more effort and persist longer on technology related task than teachers who have low levels of efficacy.

Independent and dependent variables in the study

Independent variable

Student Information Management System (SIMS)

Independent variables

Teachers’ perception on the usability of the software

Extraneous variables

Computer network system

Time to conduct the research

Computer skill

Most likely target population

Teachers

Parents

Administrator

Most likely accessible population

38 secondary school teachers from the same school

Method of sampling

Convenience sampling / purposive sampling

How large was the sample

38 school teachers

Research design used in the study

Developmental research design

Developmental research is “the systematic study of designing, developing and evaluating instructional programs, processes and products that must meet the criteria of internal consistency and effectiveness” (Seels & Richey, 1994, p. 127)

According to Richey and Nelson (1996), there are 2 types of developmental research. Type 1 developmental research “involves situations in which the product developmental process used in a particular situation is described and analyzed, and the final product is evaluated.

Major threat to internal validity

One of the major threats to internal validity in this study is subject attitude. Since participants involved in the study are teachers who have many responsibilities, their commitments in the study might be affected by their responsibilities at school.

Instruments used in the study

Questionnaires

Observations

Interviews

Measurement scale used in the study

A 5 point self-report Likert scale to measure respondents’ computer experiences

A 6 point self-report Likert scale to indicate respondents’ level of agreement/disagreement on statements questioned by the researcher.

Validity and reliability of instruments

Validity and reliability of instruments in the study is highly regarded.

To maintain reliability in data collection methods, researcher had ensured it consistencies.  All respondents had to complete the same questionnaire.

Researcher had use Cronbach’s alpha to measure questionnaire internal consistency.

Researcher did not develop her own instrument tool. The tool was taken from Cassidy and Eachus (1999) in measuring respondents’ computer self-efficacy.  The tool was chosen in consideration it was of high levels of test-re-test and internal validity. Researched had reported the Cronbach’s alpha was 0.94.  Researcher also reported Cronbach’s alpha for opinion on the usage of SIMS was 0.97 which indicate high degree of internal consistency.

Interviews and observations were used to validate the research findings from the survey.

Graph and descriptive statistics used in the study

Mean

Standard deviation

Inferential method used in the study

Pearson’s correlation coefficient

T-test

What conclusions were drawn

What do teachers think about the usability of SIMS as a tool to help them perform their administrative tasks? (research question 1)

Base on the data retrieved during interview sessions, researcher reported that the teachers (participants) were marveled on the usability of the system. According to researcher, the system had saved the teachers from the tedious and routine work. It saved them time.

How effective is the training in the use of SIMS?

(research question 2)

Through observation and interview sessions, researcher found that teachers could use SIMS with no difficulties.

To what extent do teachers’ computer experiences influence their opinion on the usability of SIMS?

(research question 3)

In the study, researcher had categorized computer experiences into self-report of computer experience, familiarity with software packages and computer training.

Correlation and conclusions resulted from the study shown that there were positive correlations between computer self-efficacy and both computer experience and familiarity with software packages.

Researcher also reported there was positive correlation between computer experience and familiarity with software packages.

Positive correlation between computer self-efficacy and opinion on SIMS.

From the findings, researcher had concluded that teacher with high level computer experiences are more familiar with software packages, and teacher with higher computer self-efficacy have high regards towards SIMS, have more computer experience and more familiar with software packages.

Base on findings from statistical data, observation and interview sessions, researcher had concluded that teachers irrespective of teaching experience and computer training were happy with SIMS.

SIMS had assisted the teachers in administrative work. Most of the teachers were satisfied with the quality of information SIMS produced and its data entry and retrieval options.

Suggestion for further study

Researcher recommended a similar research should be conducted in the same school over a period of time. The longitudinal study will cancel out “Hawtorne” effect.

Similar research should be conducted in other school with different management style and at different school levels.

Researcher also suggested furthering the study in finding the effects of the SIMS in school.

In this study, the researcher also recommended other researchers to examine the whether usage of technology for administrative work will encourage teachers to extend its use in teaching and learning.

Summary of major strength and weakness of the study.

The holistic approach done in the study is one of the major strength.  Researcher had developed an administration in assisting teachers to manage their administrative tasks. The developed system was implemented in the studied school and participants were interviewed in order to seek the effectiveness of the system.  However, due to time limitation, the study was conducted in a short period.  Thus the researcher could not evaluate the system effectiveness in long term. A longitudinal study was recommended by the researcher in order to avoid Hawthorne effects.