Different Modes

The classroom mode (Classroom 2.0) emphasizes students’ learning in an innovative classroom setting while the mobile mode (Mobile 2.0) focuses on the student-teacher and student-student interactions using handheld devices. The mixed mode (mix-approach mode) is a mixture of Classroom 2.0 and Mobile 2.0 environments such as combining innovative whole-class presentation and step-by-step demonstration, interactive (wireless) discussions among the teacher and students, (ubiquitous)
cooperative learning, classroom activities, and student self-generated approach, which jointly sympathized with both Classroom 2.0 and Mobile 2.0 components in the earth/computer science class. It is noted; however, all classroom, mobile and mixed mode groups should receive the same content and the same assignments. All the groups should also have the same learning objectives, i.e. topics and principles introduced in the class, and had equal opportunities to practice their learning objectives.

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Major instruments

The research questions of this three-year project will be focusing on the changes of the following four major components/elements:

1. Teacher's teaching approaches (TTA) – evaluation tools include:

(1) Qualitative methods such as videotaping of classroom observations and interviewing techniques with students as well as machine-assisted semi-automatic processing of videotape (new methodology) and human coders' analysis
(2) Quantitative methods such as development of questionnaires based on the analysis of the qualitative results. The questionnaires will be co-developed by Classroom/Mobile 2.0 and Testing 2.0 and finalized by Testing 2.0

2. Student's learning strategies (SLS) - evaluation tools include:

(1) Qualitative methods such as videotaping of classroom observations and interviewing techniques with students as well as machine-assisted semi-automatic processing of videotape (new methodology) and human coders' analysis
(2) Quantitative methods such as development of questionnaires based on the analysis of the qualitative results. The questionnaires will be co-developed by Classroom/Mobile 2.0 and Testing 2.0 and finalized by Testing 2.0

3. Student-Teacher Interactions (STI) - evaluation tools include qualitative and quantitative data in terms of quality and quantity of STI collected from classroom videos, text messages, and Testing 2.0'sexisting instruments

4. Student Science Leaning Outcomes (SSL) - evaluation tools include both cognitive and affective domains mainly student (computer, earth) science achievements, higher-order thinking skills such as problem solving abilities, and self-efficacy, interest and attitudes toward the subject matters, which will be developed/revised by Testing 2.0 The aforementioned instruments will be developed and validated by the whole project to ensure the reliability and validity. Background characteristics of teachers and students will be collected such as their gender, prior knowledge, possessed skills, preceding attitudes and motivation, etc. Several panels of experts will verify the content and construct validity of these instruments. These experts will need to check the degree of correspondence between the construct(content) and test items and establish that the nature of the test items do correspond to the important concepts/construct introduced in the learning environments. The Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20) will be used determine the reliability coefficient of learning outcome measures and Cronbach’s alpha will be used to determine other questionnaires.