[The Effect of using learning websites through Smart Board on phonemic awareness for 1st grade students]

by

The Effect of using learning websites through Smart Board on phonemic awareness for 1st grade students

Conceptual Background

Knowledge from a number of different areas was found to be relevant to our study, including e-Learning in general and in museums in particular, the understanding of the concepts of enjoyment and learning for enjoyment, and website design. This section discusses the relevance of each of these topic areas (Amolo, 2007).

e-Learning

The concept of e-Learning is relatively new and is defined as “a broad concept, encompassing a wide set of applications and processes which use all available electronic media to deliver vocational education and training more flexibly. The term 'e-Learning' is now used to capture the general intent to support a broad range of electronic media (Internet, intranets, extranets, satellite broadcast, audio/ video tape, interactive TV and CD-ROM) to make vocational learning more flexible for clients” (Baker, 2004).

It is significant that teaching and learning features of computer programs have changed with the influence of the Internet and developments in multimedia and interactive functions. The Australian National Training Authority (2003) gives two major characteristics of e-Learning: one is that e-Learning is assisted by information and communication technologies, and the second is that diverse media are needed for effective instruction and study purposes (Baker, 2003). Iverson (2004) proposed that successful e-Learning must not only be enjoyable and engaging, it must also be positive, supportive, active, collaborative, and contextual.

Website Design

Goldman and Wadman (2002) expressed “Although the field of distance education is rich in studies, little of it was transferable to museum websites” (6). When we came to the questions of what are the characteristics of a museum website that encourages learning, and what are guidelines for developing an online learning website for enjoyment, we found remarkably little to guide us.

There is an extensive literature on website design and human-computer interaction in general. For example, Powell (2002) thought that there are five areas that cover the major facets of website design, and asserts that designers should keep these in mind at all times. These areas are content, visualization, technology, delivery, and purpose. Jakob (2000) considers that poor information architecture will always lead to poor usability (Bazemore, 2008). In looking at knowledge transfer in particular, Stopsky (2000) argues that interactive characteristics and immediate access to any type of information make the Web a particularly useful medium for the creation of knowledge.

The phenomenon of enjoyment, however, is believed to have unique characteristics that discriminate it from traditional usefulness, ease of use, and user acceptance of websites in important ways. There are few studies that treat with this specific aspect of website design.

Method

The design of this study uses a descriptive qualitative approach based on semi-structured in-depth interviews and expert interviews as the primary method. Qualitative research is relevant to the study of social relations. In-depth interviews are “between the researcher and informants directed toward understanding informants' perspectives on their lives, experiences or situations as expressed in their ...