Online and blended learning approach on instructional multimedia development courses in teacher education

Abstract

In this study, an e-learning environment was designed for teacher candidates. Teacher candidates developed multimedia-based projects by means of multimedia tools. This research aims to determine the effects of online and blended learning approaches on the success level of multimedia projects and the teacher candidates' attitudes, opinions and perceptions on e-learning. This study used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. There were two different groups in the study: online and blended groups. The online and the blended groups consisted of 30 and 32 teacher candidates, respectively. Teacher candidates in the blended group developed multimedia-based projects and shared information communicating in a WiziQ and Facebook environment with their peers and instructors when they were not at school. On the other hand, the teacher candidates in the online group communicated with their instructors and peers only in a WiziQ and Facebook environment. The results showed that the blended learning approach was more effective than the online learning approach. The usability of online learning and blended learning in higher education is addressed in recommendations for future research and practice.

Keywords:

• online learning
• blended learning
• Web 2.0
• WiziQ
• Facebook
• multimedia design

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their thanks to all teacher candidates who allocated their times and participated into this study and provided the required information in time.

Notes on contributors

Hüseyin Bicen began his education at the Near East University in Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology and completed his undergraduate degree in 2007. In 2005, during his undergraduate education, he worked as an assistant in the same department of the university. In 2007 he started to work at the Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology as a lecturer and began his master's degree there. In 2009, he graduated and got into doctoral programme on the same program. In 2007, at the Near East University, Ataturk Faculty of Education, in Computer Education and Instructional Technologies department, as an instructor he began lecturing computer and educational technologies related courses. Since 2010, He has been assistant of the head master of Distance Learning Centre. He has two national academic content books published by reputable publishing houses. One of his articles was indexed at Social Sciences Index (SSCI) and 13 were indexed at the Educational field indexes (British Education Index, ERIC, Science Direct, Scopus, etc.). There also are 10 reports that had been presented and published at the international conferences.

Fezile Ozdamli began her career in higher education at the Near East University in Computer Information Systems department. After a one-year preparatory education, she completed her undergraduate degree in 2004. During her undergraduate education, she has worked at `Kibris Newspaper’. In 2005, at Near East University, she began her master's degree after getting into the Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology and she graduated in 2007. She got into doctorate programme on the same program and completed it in January 2011. In June 2011, after the reviews of jury, she had the designation (title) of Assist. Prof. Dr. in Computer Education and Instructional Technology department and accordingly appointed to the relevant list. In 2008, at the Near East University, Ataturk Faculty of Education, in Computer Education and Instructional Technologies department, as an instructor she began lecturing computer and educational technologies related courses. Since the year of 2011, in the Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology she has been serving as the Vice President at the Deputy Head of Master Program and Vice President at the Department of Science Teaching. She has one international and one national academic content books published by reputable publishing houses. Three of her articles at Social Sciences Index (SSCI) and 12 at the Educational field indexes (British Education Index, ERIC, Science Direct, Scopus, etc.) had been indexed and there are eight reports that had been presented and published at the international conferences by her. Also she is the editor of World Journal on Educational Technology journal.

Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Uzunboylu had Primary education at Hisarkoy Primary School, middle school at Nicosia Bayraktar Middle School and he had completed high school at 20 Temmuz High School. In 1995, his higher education career began by winning the Anatolia University, Department of Communication and Planning on Education. And after he had completed his preparatory education in one year and he has completed his undergraduate degree in 1991. He served his military service as a reserve officer between the years of 1991–1993. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Uzunboylu has started his graduate education in Ankara University, the Department of Educational Programme and Instruction in 1993 and graduated in 1995. He was accepted into the doctoral program in the same university, Educational Technology Department of Educational Sciences in 1995 and he has completed his PhD degree in 2002. In 2003, he became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology at the Near East University, he was an Associate Professor in 2005 in Ataturk Faculty of Education, and in December 2010, with respect to the members of juries he was appointed as a Professor. He worked seven months at Kıbrıs Postası newspaper in 1991. After doctoral studies he started working at the Near East University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Department of Psychology in 1996 and he taught courses that educational sciences and research methods. He coordinated of “Pedagogy Certificate Program,” which was conducted by the University from 1997 to 1999. Since 2002, he had top position during the establishment and development of NEU Ataturk Faculty of Education. Since 2005, he serves as a Vice Dean and the Chairman of the Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Uzunboylu has five academic books published by Turkey's respected publishing firms; he has supervised five doctoral and 21 master's theses up to now (2011 August). He has 12 high-level articles that searching by Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI); at the moment his 16 articles are searching by educational indexes such as the British Education Index, ERIC, Science Direct, Scopus, etc. He has 27 searching article and published papers are presented on the international or national conferences. He is editor-in-chief of the Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences; also, Prof. Dr. Uzunboylu serves as the boards of many journals referee within the searching in the Social Sciences Citation Index. Since 2004, he is taking place on the list as founders and he is president of the Cyprus Educational Sciences Association (KEB-DER). In 2010, Prof. Dr. Uzunboylu has a major role representing KEB-DER and put effort on being a full member of European Educational Research Association.