Showing papers in "Educational technology research in 2019"

Effectiveness of Learning Support by Expert Teachers in Lessons Using a Digital Pen

Abstract: Having analyzed the results of the nationwide academic ability survey, we concluded that elementary school children were not generally capable of relating specif ic events and ideas, and of ten had dif f iculty editing sentences or linking ideas together (National Institute for Educational Policy Research 2009). Therefore, we considered that today’s elementary school children have problems with logical thinking. To address this, we decided to develop lessons in collaborative learning utilizing a digital pen and mind-maps (MMs). Our rationale for doing so was based on the following related studies. Takahashi et al. (2009) advanced the theory that “reciprocal observation of thought with others” can be ef fective in developing the logical literacy of elementary school children in the lesson context. Fukasawa and Katahira (2007) contended that using MMs could improve the thinking ability of junior high school students more than bullet-form writing. Finally, Yamamoto et al. (2009) reported that junior high school students’ planning and idea arrangement abilities can be improved by learning using MMs. In our study, we included expert teachers with experience in logical thinking in lessons conducted via video conferencing. This was implemented in response to the observation by Nakayama et al. (2006) that “distributed collaborative learning” could make a signif icant dif ference to the level of ef fective learning in a computer-based group exercise, compared to “collaborative learning in one classroom.” Furthermore, Naruse and Miyaji (2003) showed that technical college students are provided with more incentive to learn when they study with university students via video conferencing. We shared the MMs and digital pens using a remote desktop system to avoid dif f iculties in viewing the MMs from a remote location. The Council for Culture Report (2004) stated that instruction in logical thinking ability should Effectiveness of Learning Support by Expert Teachers in Lessons Using a Digital Pen*