INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES
Year:2011 | Volume:1 | Issue:4|Papers Count:9

The purpose of the present paper was effectiveness evaluation of virtual learning courses in Ferdowsi University. The research method was survey and its statistical population included 11 professors along with 547 students of virtual learning course. The statistical sample of professors was equal to their statistical population (11 professors) due to their limited number, and 226 students were selected from the statistical population based on Krejcie and Morgan table. Data collecting process was done by a researcher-designed questionnaire. In order to measure validity of the questionnaire, content validity was used and its reliability was estimated with Cronbach alpha coefficient 0.92 for professors and 0.86 for students. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (one sample and independent sample t tests). The results indicated that the effectiveness of virtual learning courses is desirable and average from professors and students points of view respectively.

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of developing new educational technology with ICT approach in Sari primary schools in 2009–2010 academic years. The research method was descriptive - survey. The statistical population included all the experts, managers and elementary school teachers in Sari amounted to 1620 people. The sample including 463 people was selected according to Krejcie- Morgan table through random method. The data were gathered using the researcher–made questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was estimated through Cronbach alpha (0.95) and data analysis was done by X2 test. The results of this study showed that schools were well equipped in regard to the computer facilities for school affairs, however, such facilities were not optimal for educational affairs (for teachers and students), that is in half of the schools, teachers have no computer, an in nine–tenth of schools, students lack computers. Teachers’ ICDL skill was dim too but they show high interest and motivation to use new technologies in education. Also status of e-learning content is poor and has received the lowest consideration of 33.4% and teachers have no role in e-learning content i.e. teachers’ art and teaching skills in e-learning materials are neglected.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the importance of four factors including technology, content, instructor and learning methods influential on the effectiveness of e-learning courses and the employees’ satisfaction. The statistical population consists of 110 employees of Saman Bank who attended elearning course in Iran in 2011. Using simple random sampling, 86 employees were selected based on Morgan table. In terms of research purpose, the present study is an operational one and in terms of the data collection, it has a descriptive method using survey. For data analysis, a two-scale questionnaire was developed by the researcher using Likert scale. Using SPSS, the collected data was analyzed with descriptive statistics (mean, percentile, frequency, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (chi-square, Pearson correlation coefficient, non-parametric Freedman test). The results showed that all the four factors are important in effectiveness of e-learning courses: quality and methods of learning with correlation coefficient of 0.699, the type of technology with a=0.654, the content of the course with a=0.573 and the instructor with a=0.398.

The present research intends to examine Islamic Azad University websites by analyzing five indices of webometrics including traffic statistics, visibility factor, size of website, design and number of scientific files available on site (PDF). The research method was an applied one using webometrics method. Data analysis was done through Excel Software and webometrics method. The statistical population included the websites of all Islamic Azad University Branches and 66 ones were selected among them as statistical sample. In These websites, personal computer was loaded by the use of webometric methods. The results showed that Science and Research Tehran Branch, Central organization of Islamic Azad University, and Karaj Branch were ranked the highest and Kerman, Khoy and Mobarake Branch were ranked the lowest respectively. Among the 66 websites, 50% was registered in Webometrics database. The website of Science and Research Tehran Branch was ranked the first among all branch of Islamic Azad University. Among 12000 world universities registered in webometrics database, Science and Research Tehran branch was ranked 3062, and Marvdasht Branch took the place 8749.

The research was performed to study the relation between application of information technology and high school students’ academic achievement. Regarding the objective of the research, it was an applied one. The statistical population is composed of all the high school teachers amounting to 478 people. 215 were selected as the sample of the study through group random sampling method. A researcher-made questionnaire was used for data collection. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by related experts and it reliability was calculated through Cronbach Alpha 0.86. The gathered data were analyzed by using Pearson coefficient correlation formula. The results showed that there was a significant correlation between the application of information technology and its’ components (including: critical thinking, creativity, self-discipline, optimize doing homework, encourage students to use electronic devices, like the classroom) with students’ academic achievement. The results can also be used to promote the application of information technology in education.

The aim of this research was to recognize major barriers of application of information technology in high schools in Aliabad Katul and to study current situation and importance of these barriers. The method of research was descriptive, survey. Statistical population included 240 high-school principals and teachers. By using random classified sampling method and based on Krejcie & Morgan table, 210 teachers and 36 principals (total 246) were chosen as sample. In order to collect data, researcher made questionnaire was used which had 43 questions. Face and content validity was confirmed and its reliability was 0.91. Factor analysis with Varimax rotation was used to analyse data. The results of this research showed that 12 main barriers identified which named: Motivational, Equipment-Technical, Cultural, Human, Economical-Financial, Educational Infrastructures, Accessibility, Social, Professional Ability, Users Premium Payment, Filtering, and Experts of Technology Planners Shortage. Studying Current situation revealed that all above-mentioned factors were barriers in applying informational technology in Aliabad Katul high schools. Also investigating their importance showed that Economical-Financial factor was the most important and Motivational factor was the least important barriers of application of informational technology in Aliabad Katul high schools.

This study aimed at identifying the impact of interactive and non-interactive multimedia training on student’s learning at fourth grade experimental science class at elementary school which particularly considered the impact of the multimedia on the two components of the learning speed (rate) and learning accuracy. The methodology of the study was quasi-experimental and based on the objective of the study it was applied by nature. Therefore, the study sample included all students at fourth grade elementary school studying in the city of Sari (2350 students) in the educational year of the 2009-2010 who were grouped into two classes of 20 students (both control and experimental groups) through applying cluster random sampling. The data gathering tools were the standard questionnaire of "Toloz -Piroun" accuracy test and the researcher-made speed test of which the reliability and validity were measured. The tests were administered as the pretest and post test for both control and experimental groups. The data analysis was conducted by applying descriptive statistics and the inferential statistics including t-test and paired t. The results of the study showed that there were significant differences between interactive and non-interactive multimedia training. In other words, the interactive multimedia training had a higher degree of impact on students’ learning than non-interactive multimedia training which was also true for the learning speed and learning accuracy, that is, the interactive multimedia training is more efficient and helpful in learning speed and learning accuracy compared with the non-interactive multimedia training.

The purpose of research was to study the role of virtual universities in achieving the goals of higher education from faculty members’ points of view. The method of the study was descriptive, survey. The statistical population included 172 faculty members of IAU Sari Branch of which 118 were selected as the sample using Krejcie-Morgan table. A researcher made questionnaire with 28 questions having face and content validity and with reliability index of 0.937 was used to collect data. The data was analyzed by using one samplet test, Variance analysis and Scheffe post hoc. Results showed that the faculty members had positive attitude towards the role of virtual universities in achieving the goals of higher education such as, elevation and progress of our country in science and technology and international scenes, expansion of higher education in the country, training experts to hold academic and administrative positions, supervision, support and guidance of universities and scientific policy-making. Also the findings indicated that there was a meaningful difference among the opinions of faculty members regarding the role of virtual university in the advancement of science, technology and international relations.