Introduction and Presenting Of the Research Problem - Essay Example

Introduction and Presenting Of the Research Problem The word blog comes from the statements web log. A blog is a website that is maintained by a person that contains regular commentaries of events and advice or other materials such as image, videos, or kinks to external web pages. Uses for a blog “Scribe blogging” Explanation of concepts Embed PowerPoint or other slides & notes from class Announcements Practice problems Blogs usually provide explanation on a topic; others function as more personal online journal. Blog users are advised to provide feedback and comments that relate to the bloggers postings. After data on continuous assessments has been analyzed, it is found that students lack the skill of communicating using their mathematical language. Research suggests that, little contact time is available between educator and students to address issues of concern. The curriculum is packed and is driven by and through assessment, but time constraint has an influence on teaching and learning. This study aims to establish how blogging as a collaborative learning tool can increase effective communication and increase student academic achievement in mathematics. This study will also establish whether the peer-to-peer interaction will increase when working through mathematics problems via blogs. (Phillips, Norris, & Macnab,2010). Analysis of Articles The use of blogs in learning has benefits to students, teachers and other individuals involved in the learning process. Research has illustrated that blogs enhance more active participation and questioning by students, and deeper understanding of topics as a result of sharing facts and dialogues. Blogging has also increased commitment to quality by students when material is likely to be exposed to a wider audience. This has led to an increase in independent learning and the amount of work completed out of school hours. It also gives opportunities to the teacher to extend collaboration beyond the classroom to the wider school community and into students’ homes, improvi8ng the regularity of communication with parents (Hyung, 2008). Through blogs, students learn how to be considered and constructive when providing feedback on each other’s work via blogs. Teachers believe this led to substantially improved quality of work and reduced the editing required by teachers. It also enhances effective and easily accessible records of student’s progress. In addition to that blogs enhances integration of skills into projects that had traditionally, had a literacy focus. Blogging tools allow the upload of multimedia, moderation and the removal of inappropriate contributions. It also allows users to subscribe and receive regular updates and allows the creator to host the blog and source site usage statistics. It should be noted that blogging is an alternative method of curriculum delivery and reflection, reflection is shared by all members of the blog, not just the teacher. Technology is changing the learning of mathematics: first, it offers new resources to keep scholars in learning, and second, by providing them a chance to learn about new technological fields. Blogging is one of the technologies used in the learning of mathematics. With the emergence of distance learning, there is an increase in the amount of modules offering online access to course information. Many institutions are toting up distance erudition options for students. Then materials used have been formatted for computers and are helpful to students. Blogging is one way that enhances contact between students and teachers and eases distance learning of mathematics this is because a log is like an online journal, public or private, option to receive comments Schools have demonstrated measurable improvements in student performance through the thoroughly planned incorporation in their curricula and academic approach. Digital content in the curriculum has become a vital resource for students and teachers. The main intention is to increase the use of a digital format for teaching and learning. The use of blogs as an instructional tool is becoming increasingly vital, just as technology continues to increase its importance in everyday life and work. Through blogs, students are gaining significant, critical- judgment, problem-solving, and higher order cognition abilities. Students now approach learning differently. Research, project based learning, and problem solving activities in mathematics are becoming second nature to students (Darrell, Grover &Dionne, 2009). In the world, today students are already using social media. Teachers want to contact all of their students in the most successful ways possible so they use methods that are already comfortable among students. Technology can be an excellent way to enhance one lesson, but it is not a substitute. The point is that the teacher reaches many students electronically simply because the teacher can have the students’ attention. Many students get involved in writing for the class blog, or answering homework questions, that would mean not spending much time on mathematics outside class. The emergence of collaboration tools, for example, blogs have altered the way individuals and organizations relate to one another. There is no longer any need to wait for professionals to share material and report on new developments. People nowadays communicate directly in unmediated and unfiltered manner. It is extremely crucial to encourage two –way communications, student collaboration, or global networking it allows students to work with people all over the world (Walsh, 2012). Weblogs represent a way for people to share information, convey material, and express their view. Blogs offer features that allow individuals to write opinion, make comments and provide news for development in learning (Tipps, Johnson & Kennedy 2011). The popularity of blogs has grown enormously the marketing research company Nielsen estimates that there are over 156 million blogs on the Internet. This form of communication is now one of the most prevalent contemporary mechanisms for personal expression. Indeed, blogs have democratized the flow of information around the world. In the area of education, blogs are deployed in several different ways. They provide a mechanism for the dissemination of education-related news. When schools need to announce news or face problems or encounter significant crises, officials and community members can offer their own perspectives on what the issue is and how it should be addressed. Increasingly, blogs are being incorporated into the classroom for instructional purposes. They allow collaboration between students and teachers and among students themselves. Students can pose questions and get answers, which are then shared with others in the network (Nolting, 2002). Research Question and Hypothesis Research Question: How is contact time effected through blogging in the math’s classroom? Research Hypothesis: Null hypothesis: blogging will not increase student engagement with the teacher and peer to enhance learning mathematics. Alternative hypothesis: blogging will increase student engagement with the teacher and peer to enhance learning mathematics. Rationale: To establish whether blogging will increase student engagement with the teacher and peer to enhance learning mathematics. Problem statement: Research has indicated that contact time with educators influences the learning of mathematics in the classroom. Proposed Methodological Approach This research is qualitative in nature. Questionnaires will be used to collect raw data from both students, and teachers regarding the effectiveness of contact time through blogging to enhance mathematics learning. Analysis will be done, and tables, charts, graphs, and pictures will be used to present the findings of this research. Conclusion Conclusively, digital tools signify new ways for involvement, engagement, and partnership. Through digital communication, parties involved can share insights and reactions and develop a better knowledge of instructional activities. Many teachers are incorporating elements of blogs into the classroom. They are experimenting with new delivery systems and report high student satisfaction with these pedagogical approaches. This research is aimed at providing information on the effectiveness of contact through blogging to enhance mathematics learning. References Darrell West, Grover Whitehurst, and E. J. Dionne, “Invisible: 1.4 Percent Coverage for Education Is Not Enough,” Brookings Institution Policy Report, December 2, 2009. Hyung Nam Kim, “The Phenomenon of Blogs and Theoretical Model of Blog Use in EducationalContext,” Computers and Education 51, no. 3 (2008): 1342–52. Nolting, P. D. (2002). Winning at math: Your guide to learning mathematics through successful study skills. Bradenton, Fla: Academic Success Press. Tipps, S., Johnson, A., & Kennedy, L. M. (2011). Guiding children's learning of mathematics. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. Phillips, L. M., Norris, S. P., & Macnab, J. S. (2010). Visualization in mathematics, reading and science education. Dordrecht: Springer Science+Business Media B.V. Walsh,K.(2012). Measurable Success in Technology Integration – Mooresville Graded School District. Retrieved on October 14, 2012 from Read More