ICT use in teaching and learning
ASSESSING THE UTILITY OF BLENDED LEARNING: A CASE STUDY USING GOOGLE CLASS ROOM
Dr. Parvathi Venkatesh
Principal, Mulund College of Commerce.
Abstract
Use of technology has profound impact on every aspect of modern life and higher education learning process is no exception. The purpose of this study is to assess the utility of introduction of technology mediated education on teaching and learning. The teachers and the learners of three undergraduate courses in an undergraduate college using first time Google Class Room, a web based education tool for mixed mode of learning, participated in the study. To measure utility, qualitative research methods are used and satisfaction level of students and perception / expectation of faculty are taken into consideration. The view point of respondents have been recorded by the end of a term after using the tool for all subjects of the courses for one full semester. The research design has been of explorative and descriptive studies at two different stages. A two pronged survey using Likert Scale Technique was conducted from all 20 faculty and 507 student users to evaluate their perspectives about integration of Google Class Room with conventional class room teaching methods. The results shows that teachers are well receptive to web enhanced teaching methods and feel that there are many advantages for both teachers and students from Google Class Room while the students are largely satisfied with the blended method of class room instruction supported with a digital medium for teaching, learning and evaluation.
Keywords: eLearning, Google Class Room, web based technology, quality teaching and learning
In teaching profession, the major constraint a teacher finds in a large class room with 100 to 120 students is to have one to one interaction and to give individual attention to every student. Usage of technology tools available online makes the task simpler by reducing teacher‘s workload in management and delivery of content, in formative assessment as well as in obtaining feedback. Technological inventions pose challenges to course delivery mechanism in Higher education such as to adapt to address changing expectations on the quality of learning experiences. With technology available in the classroom, young teachers come forward to integrate technology into their curriculum. The new emerging trend using Learning Management Systems with multiple teaching tools makes it possible for teachers to introduce a paperless class room into students‘ mobile phones, allows to schedule classes with short notice, posting the lesson plans and hosting the discussions, unearthing the inbuilt skills and evaluating student progress on these skills and so on. Techno savvy youngsters – both teachers and students - prefer to use such hands on tools which are topical and attractive resulting in ease of learning.
Genesis of the research problem: There is an upsurge in availability of web based Learning Management Software and other application programmes for electronic method of Teaching and Learning. One of the free web service programme is Google Class Room, introduced as a part of G Suite for education in 2014 and has been available from April 2017 to any personal Google user to connect the teacher and the taught inside as well as outside the class rooms. Google Class Room is easily accessible through mobile applications available for Android devices and hence is becoming popular among teachers and learners. Formal teaching methods are increasingly supported by Google Class Room for content availability and organization like sharing of study materials, power point presentations and video presentations, for formative assessments and for scheduling the calendar. Other Google Software Packages like Gmail, (for communication) Google Doc (with sheets and slides for writing) Google calendar (for scheduling) and Google drive (for allotting and evaluating assignments) are combined with Google class room to make the programme more effective. The service programme is also convenient to store a repository of teacher-created materials. The fast spread use of Google Class Room programme as supplementary to teach regular on-campus learning programmes in colleges of Mumbai University attracted attention to study through a case study of an
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affiliated college. With this background, it was intended to study the following research problem statement:
‗Wide spread use of online web service programme supplementing regular direct teaching programmes enables teachers to better organize their workflow and encourages active learning among students.‘
Aims and objectives of the study: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of web service programme named Google Classroom package in supplementing direct teaching of under graduate students in affiliated colleges of Mumbai University. Thus the main aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Google Classroom program in teaching and learning of under graduate students. To attain this broad goal, the following specific objectives have been made:
1. To assess the effectiveness of eLearning application tools in supplementing formal proximate teaching
2. To evaluate teachers‘ perspective in designing and implementing delivery mechanism and evaluation techniques using Google class room.
3. To examine the students‘ satisfaction to supplementary learning using Google class room
Research Questions: In order to ascertain the objectives of this study, the following research questions were intended to be answered:
1. What motivates teachers to use Google class room?
2. To what extent usage of Google online package helps teachers to augment course delivery content and formal assessment?
3. Are teachers receptive to integrating technology based tools into the formal class room instruction mode?
4. What is the degree of dependence on / popularity of eLearning techniques among students? 5. What is student satisfaction level of teachers using Google Classroom to supplement their
direct teaching?
Hypotheses: The study intends to prove the following hypotheses:
1. Teachers are receptive to web based teaching methods introduced along with conventional class room instructions.
2. Introduction of Google Class room eases workload of teachers and enables to have an organized workflow.
3. Students are better equipped to relearn course contents taught in class room. 4. Students are satisfied with the introduction of Google Class Room.
Literature Review:
The instructional methods in colleges have undergone change over the past years with the invent of technology enabled teaching methods. Integrating technology in teaching methods is emerging as a new pathway to engage young students in a class room. The term ‗blended learning‘ is generally applied to the practice of using both online and in person learning experiences when teaching students. Also called hybrid learning and mixed-mode learning, blended-learning experiences may vary widely in design and execution from school to school. (Glossary of Education reforms, 2013). Researches on blended learning reveal that ‗technology based instruction provides an opportunity for students to learn and practice in a visual and virtual environment‘ (Bonk, 2009; Davidson & Goldberg, 2009).
Google Classroom is a program for teachers to create a digital classroom for students to communicate with their teachers and peers (Phan, 2015). Google Classroom is considered as one of the best platforms out there for enhancing teachers' workflow. It is only three years old and the revised version with a set of powerful features has been added only in April 2017. ‗Within this short period of time…. Google Classroom is being widely endorsed within the education community. Classroom
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helps teachers save time, keep classes organized, and improve communication with students. It is available to anyone with Google Apps for Education, a free suite of productivity tools including Gmail, Drive and Docs.‘(2015)."Google Classroom‘s design purposefully simplifies the instructional interface and options used for delivering and tracking assignments; communication with the entire course or individuals is also simplified through announcements, email, and push notifications."(Janzen, M. 2014)
In a nutshell, reviewing related research articles portrays that few studies have been found regarding technology based instruction in under graduate courses especially the particular program, Google Classroom and more researches are needed to apply the same to specific higher education realm.
Methodology: The area of study is identified as a degree college where teachers have been using the tool for one full term. Period of study for computer assisted primary data collection has been during the period June 2017 to October 2017 from teachers and students who were users of the tool. To measure utility, qualitative research methods are used and satisfaction level of students and perception / expectation of faculty are taken into consideration. The view point of respondents has been recorded by the end of a term after using the tool for all subjects of the course for one full semester.To update the faculty to follow the technological changes, and to learn new technology and programs available online, a hands on workshop has also been arranged by the college by the start of the semester.
Research design: This study made use of two tiered research design of exploratory and conclusive / descriptive study. At the first stage, an exploratory study involving a qualitative investigation was used to explore and obtain clarity about the problem situation, to define and conceptualize the problem statement and to operationalize and define variables and constructs. At the Second stage, conclusive research was applied to develop both general and specific hypotheses of the likelihood of certain trends or outcomes and to prove the hypotheses. Descriptive study is used for identifying teachers‘ perception and students‘ satisfaction and behavior studies. Such a framework is expected to reveal areas that can be improved.
Data sources: For the fulfillment of the basic objectives, data for the study were collected from primary sources. The study was conducted in a Mumbai University affiliated college located in eastern suburb of Mumbai. A total of 20 teachers and 507 students responded for the research. Students from three under graduate courses viz... Bachelor of Management Studies, Bachelor of Mass Media and Bachelor of Information technology - participated in the survey. While the median age of teachers has been 35, students were all in the same age group. All of them had been quite friendly with net-browsing and technology and frequently using some social networks like Facebook, twitter, etc. All of them had Gmail account.
Survey responses and findings: All 20 teachers using Google class room during the referral period in the three courses responded to the survey whereas 53 percent of students out of a population of 960 of same age group from all three courses responded to the Student Satisfaction Survey. Two pronged survey has been used to get response from users. The study used multiple item agree-disagree five point Scale technique. Results show that both teachers and students had positive responses to the survey regarding their teaching and learning using Google Class room.
Teachers‘ perception Survey: There is an overwhelming response from faculty in favor of introduction of Google Class Room. At least for seven out of fourteen statements, there has been a unanimity in strongly agreeing effectiveness of Google class Room by all 20 faculty. All teachers across the age group ranging between 23 and 52, unanimously agree about Google class room as a perfect aid for interaction and collaborative learning, as a supplementary teaching method to direct class room teaching, giving way for flexibility, organizing formative assessment, great facilitator in information sharing and to augment scope and quality of learning. However mixed response is
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received regarding elimination of plagiarism with 50 percent of teachers not certain about the same. Again favorable response has been obtained (95 percent) regarding help rendered to grade the students, evaluating assignments (90 percent). There is dissimilarity in teachers‘ response regarding Google class room substituting direct class room teaching. (45 percent agreeing and 45 percent could not definitely say) Teachers thus agree that Google class room can be widely used to supplement and not to substitute conventional teaching methods. In all, Teachers‘ Perception Survey holds good Hypotheses 1 and 2 of this study regarding teachers‘ receptiveness to technology based instruction and easing of their work load through organized work flow.
Student Satisfaction Survey: Similar to in positive student response to blended learning Very significant positive response has been received from the student respondents from three undergraduate courses who responded to the survey. While 42 percent of students find it very easy to use Google Class Room and consider it very useful by strongly agreeing the statements, another 38 percent agree the same. In short, 70 percent of the respondents are comfortable in using the tool. After using Google class room for one full semester, 17 percent had responded as can‘t say and the disagreeing group is very small. (<4 percent). Again around 70 percent of students have agreed that it is effective as a supplementary tool to class room teaching, 22 percent of respondents were indecisive. Further, only 54 percent students consider that Google Class room can‘t substitute class room teaching but around 38 percent could not say decisively and more than 80 percent uses Google Class Room for information sharing. Hence it can be conveniently deduced that the web service Programme through mobile devices is largely accepted in the class room. Most importantly, Google class room is considered very useful for formative Assessment. With regard to effectiveness of delivery, information sharing, tracking, completing and submitting assignments on time, relearning of class room contents, availability of study materials, dissemination of information and collaborative learning etc., more than 80 percent of the respondents agree that Google class Room makes their requirements easy and simpler. Thus, overall response has been positive and at the same time selected areas where students are uncertain, wider use of the package may prove helpful. Overall, the response of students about their satisfaction level to blended teaching is positive.
Hence it can be easily inferred that Hypotheses 3 and 4, viz. ‗Students are better equipped to relearn course contents taught in class room‘ and ‗Students are satisfied with the introduction of Google Class Room‘ is proved. It thus reveals that students are highly satisfied with the blended mode of teaching.
Conclusion and recommendations: Results of this study show that Google Class Room is welcomed by faculty and the learners into their class rooms. Teachers were satisfied with using Google Classroom in class because of its easy learning and with supplementary role Google class Room plays in teaching, learning and evaluation. Students have also been largely satisfied as it makes the learning process easy and interactive. However, extensive use of the same for other purposes like collaborative learning, eliminating plagiarism, using other features of Google package combined with Class Room etc. have to be further strengthened.
To sum up, Web based teaching and learning is well received by both teachers and students alike. Google Classroom may be considered as an effective supplementary program for resources in the conventional classroom for teachers and students. With a plethora of educational tools added in the online network every day, there is tremendous scope for future studies in this area. More studies are needed to verify the use of technology and its benefit to teachers and students.
References
Bonk, C. J. (2011). The World Is Open: How Web Technology Is Revolutionizing Education. San Francisco, Calif: Jossey-Bass. doi:10.1002/9781118269381
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The Glossary of Education reforms (2013) Blended Learning edglossary.org/blended-learning
Chehayeb, A. (2015). New in Classroom: saving time while grading. Retrieved from googleforeducation.blogspot.com/2015/12/new-in-Classroom-saving-tim…
Davidson, C. N., & Goldberg, D. T. (2009). The Future of Learning Institutions in a Digital Age. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press
Google Classroom. (2015). Everything Teachers need to know about Google Classroom. Retrieved from www.educatorstechnology.com/.../everything-teachers-need-to-know-ab...
Janzen, M. (2014) Hot Team: Google Classroom. Retrieved from tlt.psu.edu/2014/12/04/hot-team-google- classroom
Phan, Will (2015). Head Back to School with new features in Google Classroom. Google for Education. Available: http://googleforeducation.blogspot.com/2015/08/headback-to-school-with-new-features-in- Google-Classroom.html
Appendix-1
Teachers‘ perception Survey Result
*Figures in parenthesis denote percentage
Strongly
agree Agree can't say Disagree Strongly disagree Total I often use ICT in a class 11
(55) 9 (45) 0 - 0 - 0 - 20 (100)
Google Classroom is very
easy to use 12 (60) 8 (40) 0 - 0 - 0 - 20 (100)
E-Resource augments scope and quality of learning?
20
(100) 0 0 0 0 20 (100)
Google Class room is
very helpful for
information sharing
20
(100) 0 0 0 0 20 (100)
All the features of
Google Classroom mostly used 6 (30) 12 (60) 2 (10) 0 - 0 - 20 (100) I believe GC can‘t eliminate or substitute class room teaching
6
(30) 3 (15) 9 (45) 2 (10) 0 - 20 (100)
It‘s easy to organise Assignments & create folders
11
(55) 9 (45) 0 - 0 - 0 - 20 (100)
Easy to track submission dates/late submission or no submission
20
(100) 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 20 (100)
It‘s very easy to view and evaluate the assignments submitted by students 9 (45) 9 (45) 2 (10) 0 - 0 - 20 (100) GC assignments reduce plagiarism 8 (40) 2 (10) 10 (50) 0 0 20 (100) Collaborative learning IS possible by Google Classroom 20 (100) 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 20 (100) GC is a perfect aid to augment classroom interaction 20 (100) 0 0 0 0 20 (100)
It is very helpful to grade
students 5 (25) 14 (70) 1 (5) 0 - 0 - 20 (100)
There‘s lot of academic flexibility in using Google Classroom
20
(100) 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 20 (100)
It is very effective to use GC for Teaching & Learning to supplement classroom learning
20
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Appendix – 2
Student Satisfaction Survey Result
Figures in parenthesis denote percentage
Strongly
Agree Agree Can‘t Say Disagree Strongly Disagree Total Google Classroom is very easy to use 211
(41.62) 192 (37.87) 85 (16.77) 13 (2.56) 6 (1.18) 507 (100.00) E-Resource augments scope and
quality of learning 143 (28.21) 231 (45.56) 118 (23.27) 10 (1.97) 5 (0.99) 507 (100.00) Google Class room is very helpful for
information sharing 260 (51.28) 162 (31.95) 70 (13.81) 10 (1.97) 5 (0.99) 507 (100.00) All the features of Google Classroom
are mostly used 124 (24.46) 195 (38.46) 155 (30.57) 23 (4.54) 10 (1.97) 507 (100.00) I believe Google Classroom can‘t
eliminate or substitute class room teaching
136
(26.82) 138 (27.22) 192 (37.87) 28 (5.52) 13 (2.56) 507 (100.00) It is easy to complete Assignments &
submit on time 201 (39.64) 173 (34.12) 106 (20.91) 17 (3.35) 10 (1.97) 507 (100.00) It is Easy to track submission dates 255
(50.30) 161 (31.76) 72 (14.20) 12 (2.37) 7 (1.38) 507 (100.00) It is very easy to view & access notes
& presentation 268 (52.86) 164 (32.35) 61 (12.03) 10 (1.97) 4 (0.79) 507 (100.00) In Google Classroom study materials,
PPT, Information & Official announcements are easily available.
278
(54.83) 147 (28.99) 65 (12.82) 13 (2.56) 4 (0.79) 507 (100.00) Collaborative learning is possible by
Google Classroom 165 (32.54) 192 (37.87) 126 (24.85) 18 (3.55) 6 (1.18) 507 (100.00) Google Classroom is a perfect aid to
augment classroom interaction 135 (26.63) 188 (37.08) 147 (28.99) 26 (5.13) 11 (2.17) 507 (100.00) It is an interactive platform to clarify
the doubts 115 (22.68) 182 (35.90) 149 (29.39) 44 (8.68) 17 (3.35) 507 (100.00)
Google Classroom is very helpful for
students 213 (42.01) 191 (37.67) 87 (17.16) 10 (1.97) 6 (1.18) 507 (100.00)
It is very effective to use Google Classroom for Teaching & Learning to supplement classroom learning
169
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