Rohani Ahmad Tarmizi

E‐book utilization among mathematics students of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)

Purpose – The purpose of this preliminary study is to identify the e‐book utilization habit of postgraduate and undergraduate students from the Mathematics Department of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and to determine the reasons why students are feeling comfortable or uncomfortable with the e‐book services offered by the library and the role the librarians can play in solving the identified obstacles.Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative approach which employs a face‐to‐face interview session was used to collect information on e‐book utilization habit and to capture perception of the e‐book services offered by UPM library.Findings – This research found that most of the participants use one common e‐book reading habit. Factors such as easy access reduce physical visits to the library and user‐friendly features offer a comfortable platform for the participant to use the mathematics e‐books. However, unreliable service, eye fatigue, lack of manipulability of online features and flaws in the physical...

Computer supported collaborative learning in problem-based learning of statistics

This study investigated computer supported collaborative learning in the Web-based learning environment designed using the constructivist Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach. One group of students was exposed to the constructivist PBL Web-based learning whilst another group was exposed to traditional PBL learning approach. A lecture-based teaching was given to another group. Thus, a quasi-experimental non-equivalent post-tests research design was adopted. The analysis of the data revealed that the web-based PBL learning and the traditional PBL yielded positive educational output and highlighted the importance of the scaffolding by the use of guided questions in the learning processes that supported both better understanding and motivation in the learning of statistics. Highly positive responses were recorded from the respondents in their evaluation of learning performances, hence indicating the strength of both the web-based and traditional PBL approach in the enhancement of learning effectiveness and motivation towards learning.

Collaborative and Cooperative Learning in Malaysian Mathematics Education.

Collaborative and cooperative learning studies are well recognized in Malaysian mathematics education research. Cooperative learning is used to serve various ability students taking into consideration of their level of understanding, learning styles, sociological backgrounds that develop students’ academic achievement and skills, and breeze the social harmony among students of different ethnic backgrounds. Besides academic achievement, process skills and values are required to extend the social harmony among students in today’s multiethnic schools. Therefore, teachers are expected to find the pedagogy that enables students to learn academic knowledge and professional skills to face the challenges in their everyday lives. The Malaysian scholars, based on the findings of their cooperative learning studies, emphasized the use of cooperative learning as an effective pedagogy with the aim to improve students’ mathematics achievement and communication skills. This paper describes the role of collaborative and cooperative learning to the development of students’ mathematics achievement along with their communication skills and with significant integration of values in Malaysian mathematics education.

Pure PBL, Hybrid PBL and Lecturing: which one is more effective in developing cognitive skills of undergraduate students in pediatric nursing course?

BackgroundNursing education in Iran has conventionally focused on lecture-based strategies. Improvements in teaching and learning over the years have led to an expansion of the pedagogies available to educators. Likewise, there has been a suggestion for a move toward more learner-centered teaching strategies and pedagogies that can result in improvement in learning. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of Problem-Based Learning in developing cognitive skills in learning Pediatric Nursing among university students.MethodsIn this quasi-experimental, posttest-only nonequivalent control group design, the subjects were undergraduate students who had enrolled in Pediatric Nursing II at Islamic Azad University in Iran. The experiment was conducted over a period of eight weeks, one two-hour session and two two-hour sessions.Two experimental groups, Pure Problem-Based Learning (PPBL) and the Hybrid Problem- Based Learning (HPBL), and one Lecturing or Conventional Teaching and Learning (COTL) group were involved. In the PPBL group, PBL method with guided questions and a tutor, and in the HPBL group, problem-based learning method, some guided questions, minimal lecturing and a tutor were used. The COTL group, however, underwent learning using conventional instruction utilizing full lecture. The three groups were compared on cognitive performances, namely, test performance, mental effort, and instructional efficiency. Two instruments, i.e., Pediatric Nursing Performance Test (PNPT) and Paas Mental Effort Rating Scale (PMER) were used. In addition, the two-Dimensional Instructional Efficiency Index (IEI) formula was utilized. The statistical analyses used were ANOVA, ANCOVA, and mixed between-within subjects ANOVA.ResultsResults showed that the PPBL and HPBL instructional methods, in comparison with COTL, enhanced the students’ overall and higher-order performances in Pediatric Nursing, and induced higher level of instructional efficiency with less mental effort (p < 0.005). Although there was no significant difference in lower-order performance among the groups during the posttest (p = 0.92), the HPBL group outperformed the COTL group on the delayed posttest (p = 0.028).ConclusionsIt may be concluded that both forms of PBL were effective for learning Pediatric Nursing. Moreover, PBL appears to be useful where there are shortages of instructors for handling teaching purposes.

Utilization of variation theory in the classroom: Effect on students’ algebraic achievement and motivation

This study investigates the effect of utilizing Variation Theory Based Strategy on students’ algebraic achievement and motivation in learning algebra. The study used quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group research design and involved 56 Form Two (Secondary Two) students in two classes (28 in experimental group, 28 in control group) in Malaysia The first class of students went through algebra class taught with Variation Theory Based Strategy (VTBS) while the second class of students experienced conventional teaching strategy. The instruments used for the study were a 24-item Algebra Test and 36-item Instructional Materials Motivation Survey. Result from analysis of Covariance indicated that experimental group students achieved significantly better test scores than control group. Result of Multivariate Analysis of Variance also shows evidences of significant effect of VTBS on experimental students’ overall motivation in all the five subscales; attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction. The...

Effect of teaching mathematics using GeoGebra on students’ with dissimilar spatial visualisation

This study examined the effects of GeoGebra on mathematics performance of students with different spatial visualization. A qusai-experimental, pretest-posttest control group design was conducted. A total of 71 students from two intact groups were involved in the study. They were in two groups and each group was randonly assigned to the experimental group (36 students) and control group (35 students). A spatial visual test to identify students with high or low visualization, and a mathematics performance pre-test were administered at the initial stage of this study. A post-test was administered after 12 weeks of treatment using GeoGebra. Analyses of Covarion (ANCOVA) was used to adjust for the pre-test score. Findings showed that the group with access to GeoGebra achieved significantly better test scores in the posttest as compared to the group which followed the traditional teaching method. A two-way ANCOVA used to analyse the effect of students’ spatial visualization on post-test performance showed that there was no effect. The results from this study suggested that using GeoGebra had helped the students to score better in the posttest. However, there is no significance difference on mathematics performances on students with difference types of spatial visualisastion. This study indicates that GeoGebra is useful in enhancing the teaching and learning of mathematics.

Relationship between personality, misbehavior and academic achievement among freshmen in a university

The national educational philosophy stated that the aim of education is to produce individuals not only knowledgeable but also possessing healthy personality. It is therefore the aim of this paper to determine the relationship between personality, misbehavior and academic achievement among freshmen at a local higher educational institution. The methodology employed in this study is descriptive correlation. The sample size is 372 first year students (180 boys and 192 girls) from 12 residential colleges of the university. The Eysenck Junior Personality Inventory was utilized to measure the personality aspect. By using the pearson correlation analysis, the results showed that there were a significant negative correlation (r=-0.191, p<0.01) between the extrovert scores and academic achievement and a significant positive correlations between neurotic scores and academic achievement. Findings also show that there was no relationship between misbehavior and academic achievement. In conclusion, the findings showed that individuals with good academic performance do not necessarily have good personality.

Persepsi Pelajar Berisiko Terhadap Iklim Pembelajaran (At-Risk Students’ Perception Toward Learning Climate)

The aim of this study is to identify teachers’ teaching approach, students’ learning style, and types of evaluation of Form 4 sport science subject in secondary schools. The study also meant to identify the relationship between students’ learning style with their achievement in sport science subject. Samples consist of 208 teachers who thought in sport science subject and 2729 of students who participate in the sport science subject at selected secondary schools. Instruments used in the study consist of questionnaires for teachers and students with reliability of α = .962 and α = .799 respectively. The results showed that teachers’ teaching approach based on teaching management strategy was at medium level while its teaching techniques and teachers’ content knowledge on sport science were at high level. This study also found that students acquired a high interest towards sport science subject but at of a medium level on perceptual learning style which involve visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic. The evaluation styles chosen for measuring students’ learning achievement was written test, practical test, oral test, semester examination, project, and performance evaluation. Students’ learning achievement of Form 4 sport science subject was 9.2% scored grade A, 21% grade B, 38% grade C, and 18.5% grade D. Learning factor has a low significant relationship (r = .17**, p < .00) with students’ achievement in form 4 sport science subject. In conclusion, teachers’ teaching approach should anticipate with students’ learning styles and include varieties of evaluation process to evaluate students’ learning achievement in sport science subject