Chapter 6 Major Findings and Discussion for Primary School Sector Sector
6.1 Empowering Learners with IT
6.1.3 Belief and Attitude towards Use of IT for Learning
School heads were satisfied with students’ positive attitude towards using IT for learning
90% of school heads were satisfied or very satisfied that students possessed positive attitude towards using IT in their learning in MS1. No statistically significant difference was observed in MS2 (Table 6.6, [P1]HSQ1b).
Table 6.6 School heads’ levels of satisfaction with students’ belief and attitude towards the use of IT for learning ([P1]HSQ1b)
Mean SD N Count (%) of School Heads choosing the option Quite satisfied
(1-5) Very
satisfied Satisfied
(一般)
Not satisfied
Totally not satisfied
P-value
“Students possess positive attitude towards using IT in their learning.”
MS1 4.07 0.54 551 97 ( 18 ) 399 ( 72 ) 52 ( 9 ) 3 ( 1 ) 0 ( 0 )
MS2 4.12 0.49 445 83 ( 19 ) 335 ( 75 ) 26 ( 6 ) 1 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0.141 Mean: 1=“Totally not satisfied” and 5=“Very satisfied”; Mann-Whitney U Test: *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
Students, teachers and parents perceived that IT had positive impact on learning
Regarding the perceived impact of IT on students’ learning outcomes, students, teachers and parents showed very positive perception of learning with IT. Students’ levels of agreement on their learning outcome as derived from learning with IT is depicted in Table 6.7 ([P6]SQ15a.i-ix).
It was found that P4 and P6 students had different perception of this aspect in MS1. The perceived outcomes which were agreed or strongly agreed by slightly less than two-thirds of the surveyed students were “enhance interest in self-learning of subject content” for P4 students (60%) and
“widen perspective through interaction with the outside world” for P6 students (57%). The mean ratings of the above items were 3.78 (SD:1.04) and 3.72 (SD:1.01) respectively on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 was ‘strongly disagree’ and 5 was ‘strongly agree’. The P4 students rated themselves more highly than the P6 students on all aspects except for the benefit of widening perspective through more interaction with the outside world. 56% of P4 and 57% of P6 agreed or strongly agreed to this issue. 52% of P4 and 47% of P6 students agreed or strongly agreed to the effect of using IT to “enhance communication and presentation skills”, with mean ratings of 3.57 (SD:1.11) and 3.50 (SD:0.98) respectively on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 was ‘strongly disagree’ and 5 was
‘strongly agree’. A statistically significant increase was found in all learning outcomes for P4 (MS1: 52%-60%; MS2: 61%-67%) in MS2. All learning outcomes had a statistically significant increase for P6 (MS1: 48%-57%; MS: 53%-60%) except for the outcomes of “enhance interest in self-learning of subject content” and “enhance communication and presentation skills”.
Teachers’ perception of outcomes as derived from students’ learning with IT is depicted in Table 6.8 ([P5]TQ15a-i). In MS1, about 80% of the teachers agreed or strongly agreed that learning with IT could enhance students’ self-learning interest of subject content (82%) as well as widen students’ perspective through more interaction with the outside world (81%). In addition, teachers agreed or strongly agreed that IT could strengthen students’ understanding of the subject content (75%) and enhance information processing ability (73%). Around 50% of the teachers agreed or strongly agreed that IT could enhance students’ planning and learning management skills (52%) as well as creativity (51%) and academic performance (48%). 47% of the teachers agreed or strongly agreed that IT could provide opportunities for collaborative learning. On the other hand, 39% of the teachers agreed or strongly agreed that IT could enhance students’ communication and presentation skills. A statistically significant increase was noted in the percentages of teachers who agreed or strongly agreed with the following learning outcomes of using IT for students in MS2: “provide opportunities for collaborative learning” (from 47% to 51%), “enhance academic performance” (from 48% to 51%), “enhance communication and presentation skills” (from 39% to 43%) and “enhance planning and learning management skills” (from 52% to 54%).
Table 6.9 ([P7]PQ5a-f) presents the parents’ belief of the impact of IT on the learning outcomes.
In MS1, relatively high percentages of the parents agreed or strongly agreed to the following learning outcomes as derived from their children’s learning with IT: “provide rich learning resources to your child for learning” (70%), “widen your child’s perspective through more interaction with the outside world” (66%) and “enhance your child’s interest in self-learning of subject matter” (59%). The items which were rated at or below 50% were “provide collaborative learning opportunities for your child” (50%), “enhance your child’s academic performance” (48%) and “enhance your child’s communication and presentation skills” (43%). In MS2, a statistically significant decrease was observed in providing rich learning resources to their children for learning (from 70% to 69%) and enhancing their children’s interest in self-learning of subject matter (from 59% to 56%).
Table 6.7 Students’ levels of agreement to their learning outcomes as derived from learning with IT ([P6]SQ15a.i-ix)
MS1 MS2
Mean SD N Count (%) of Students choosing the option Mean SD N Count (%) of Students choosing the option Class
levels
(1-5) Strongly
agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree
(1-5) Strongly
agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree
P-value
i. 3.78 1.07 1781 563 ( 32 ) 489 ( 27 ) 578 ( 32 ) 70 ( 4 ) 80 ( 4 ) 3.91 0.99 1934 645 ( 33 ) 634 ( 33 ) 542 ( 28 ) 60 ( 3 ) 53 ( 3 ) 0.001**
ii. 3.72 1.02 1776 459 ( 26 ) 581 ( 33 ) 593 ( 33 ) 70 ( 4 ) 73 ( 4 ) 3.86 0.94 1927 548 ( 28 ) 715 ( 37 ) 560 ( 29 ) 61 ( 3 ) 43 ( 2 ) 0.000***
iii. 3.78 1.04 1780 521 ( 29 ) 552 ( 31 ) 571 ( 32 ) 61 ( 3 ) 75 ( 4 ) 3.92 0.96 1923 627 ( 33 ) 663 ( 34 ) 526 ( 27 ) 67 ( 4 ) 40 ( 2 ) 0.000***
iv. 3.67 1.05 1779 472 ( 27 ) 496 ( 28 ) 647 ( 36 ) 87 ( 5 ) 78 ( 4 ) 3.80 0.98 1920 538 ( 28 ) 651 ( 34 ) 586 ( 31 ) 98 ( 5 ) 47 ( 2 ) 0.000***
v. 3.63 1.07 1777 450 ( 25 ) 498 ( 28 ) 635 ( 36 ) 109 ( 6 ) 85 ( 5 ) 3.82 1.00 1923 564 ( 29 ) 648 ( 34 ) 577 ( 30 ) 72 ( 4 ) 62 ( 3 ) 0.000***
vi 3.68 1.10 1772 496 ( 28 ) 499 ( 28 ) 573 ( 32 ) 118 ( 7 ) 86 ( 5 ) 3.83 1.04 1924 611 ( 32 ) 610 ( 32 ) 527 ( 27 ) 115 ( 6 ) 61 ( 3 ) 0.000***
vii 3.57 1.11 1778 438 ( 25 ) 473 ( 27 ) 629 ( 35 ) 140 ( 8 ) 98 ( 6 ) 3.76 1.06 1918 560 ( 29 ) 612 ( 32 ) 556 ( 29 ) 116 ( 6 ) 75 ( 4 ) 0.000***
viii 3.65 1.11 1774 493 ( 28 ) 481 ( 27 ) 589 ( 33 ) 114 ( 6 ) 98 ( 6 ) 3.80 1.05 1916 579 ( 30 ) 635 ( 33 ) 523 ( 27 ) 101 ( 5 ) 78 ( 4 ) 0.000***
P4
ix. 3.69 1.13 1770 538 ( 30 ) 459 ( 26 ) 558 ( 32 ) 117 ( 7 ) 98 ( 6 ) 3.85 1.07 1911 636 ( 33 ) 601 ( 31 ) 501 ( 26 ) 92 ( 5 ) 81 ( 4 ) 0.000***
i. 3.56 0.97 1940 368 ( 19 ) 584 ( 30 ) 820 ( 42 ) 98 ( 5 ) 69 ( 4 ) 3.64 0.92 2053 406 ( 20 ) 685 ( 33 ) 835 ( 41 ) 79 ( 4 ) 49 ( 2 ) 0.005**
ii. 3.61 0.92 1940 344 ( 18 ) 698 ( 36 ) 763 ( 39 ) 74 ( 4 ) 60 ( 3 ) 3.72 0.88 2048 408 ( 20 ) 792 ( 39 ) 746 ( 36 ) 61 ( 3 ) 41 ( 2 ) 0.001**
iii. 3.66 0.94 1942 398 ( 20 ) 690 ( 36 ) 716 ( 37 ) 81 ( 4 ) 57 ( 3 ) 3.74 0.90 2049 437 ( 21 ) 790 ( 39 ) 710 ( 35 ) 74 ( 4 ) 39 ( 2 ) 0.053 iv. 3.53 0.92 1937 309 ( 16 ) 613 ( 32 ) 868 ( 45 ) 87 ( 4 ) 60 ( 3 ) 3.62 0.90 2049 370 ( 18 ) 720 ( 35 ) 812 ( 40 ) 107 ( 5 ) 40 ( 2 ) 0.002**
v. 3.58 0.93 1941 325 ( 17 ) 681 ( 35 ) 790 ( 41 ) 80 ( 4 ) 65 ( 3 ) 3.68 0.91 2049 408 ( 20 ) 755 ( 37 ) 757 ( 37 ) 88 ( 4 ) 41 ( 2 ) 0.001***
vi 3.58 0.99 1941 384 ( 20 ) 629 ( 32 ) 739 ( 38 ) 113 ( 6 ) 76 ( 4 ) 3.66 0.96 2049 436 ( 21 ) 702 ( 34 ) 737 ( 36 ) 121 ( 6 ) 53 ( 3 ) 0.021*
vii 3.50 0.98 1939 335 ( 17 ) 584 ( 30 ) 806 ( 42 ) 141 ( 7 ) 73 ( 4 ) 3.55 1.00 2050 396 ( 19 ) 635 ( 31 ) 791 ( 39 ) 159 ( 8 ) 69 ( 3 ) 0.113 viii 3.60 0.99 1936 385 ( 20 ) 645 ( 33 ) 715 ( 37 ) 121 ( 6 ) 70 ( 4 ) 3.68 0.96 2042 446 ( 22 ) 709 ( 35 ) 727 ( 36 ) 105 ( 5 ) 54 ( 3 ) 0.021*
P6
ix 3.72 1.01 1933 509 ( 26 ) 599 ( 31 ) 661 ( 34 ) 101 ( 5 ) 62 ( 3 ) 3.78 1.00 2034 575 ( 28 ) 653 ( 32 ) 652 ( 32 ) 94 ( 5 ) 59 ( 3 ) 0.047*
Students’ learning outcomes as derived from learning with IT
i. Enhance academic performance ii. Strengthen understanding of subject knowledge
iii. Enhance interest in self-learning of subject content iv. Enhance planning and learning management skills
v. Enhance information processing ability vi. Enhance creativity
vii. Enhance communication and presentation skills viii. Provide opportunities for collaborative learning
ix. Widen perspective through more interaction with the outside world
Mean: 1=“Strongly disagree” and 5= “Strongly agree”; Mann-Whitney U Test: *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
Table 6.8 Teachers’ levels of agreement to students’ learning outcomes as derived from learning with IT ([P5]TQ15a-i)
MS1 MS2
Mean SD N Count (%) of Students choosing the option Mean SD N Count (%) of Students choosing the option (1-5) Strongly
agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree
(1-5) Strongly
agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree
P-value
a. 3.42 0.65 1825 32 ( 2 ) 832 ( 46 ) 843 ( 46 ) 110 ( 6 ) 8 ( 0 ) 3.49 0.65 1799 59 ( 3 ) 862 ( 48 ) 793 ( 44 ) 79 ( 4 ) 6 ( 0 ) 0.003**
b. 3.77 0.57 1828 90 ( 5 ) 1277 ( 70 ) 424 ( 23 ) 33 ( 2 ) 4 ( 0 ) 3.79 0.58 1799 113 ( 6 ) 1236 ( 69 ) 420 ( 23 ) 26 ( 1 ) 4 ( 0 ) 0.404 c. 3.92 0.58 1825 208 ( 11 ) 1304 ( 71 ) 286 ( 16 ) 22 ( 1 ) 5 ( 0 ) 3.92 0.58 1799 213 ( 12 ) 1250 ( 69 ) 317 ( 18 ) 16 ( 1 ) 3 ( 0 ) 0.563 d. 3.48 0.67 1826 48 ( 3 ) 898 ( 49 ) 766 ( 42 ) 104 ( 6 ) 10 ( 1 ) 3.53 0.67 1798 76 ( 4 ) 896 ( 50 ) 733 ( 41 ) 85 ( 5 ) 8 ( 0 ) 0.049*
e. 3.77 0.61 1827 124 ( 7 ) 1205 ( 66 ) 452 ( 25 ) 43 ( 2 ) 3 ( 0 ) 3.80 0.60 1796 136 ( 8 ) 1195 ( 67 ) 433 ( 24 ) 28 ( 2 ) 4 ( 0 ) 0.209 f. 3.44 0.71 1825 51 ( 3 ) 880 ( 48 ) 738 ( 40 ) 140 ( 8 ) 16 ( 1 ) 3.48 0.72 1798 87 ( 5 ) 838 ( 47 ) 742 ( 41 ) 122 ( 7 ) 9 ( 1 ) 0.236 g. 3.23 0.79 1824 47 ( 3 ) 658 ( 36 ) 830 ( 46 ) 253 ( 14 ) 36 ( 2 ) 3.31 0.78 1798 66 ( 4 ) 693 ( 39 ) 798 ( 44 ) 219 ( 12 ) 22 ( 1 ) 0.006**
h 3.36 0.76 1825 48 ( 3 ) 803 ( 44 ) 752 ( 41 ) 197 ( 11 ) 25 ( 1 ) 3.44 0.74 1797 70 ( 4 ) 843 ( 47 ) 708 ( 39 ) 163 ( 9 ) 13 ( 1 ) 0.002**
i. 3.93 0.66 1827 284 ( 16 ) 1189 ( 65 ) 311 ( 17 ) 35 ( 2 ) 8 ( 0 ) 3.90 0.66 1795 246 ( 14 ) 1172 ( 65 ) 331 ( 18 ) 39 ( 2 ) 7 ( 0 ) 0.078 Students' learning outcomes as derived from their learning with IT
a. Enhance academic performance
b. Strengthen understanding of the subject content
c. Enhance self-learning and interest in learning the subject content d. Enhance planning and learning management skills
e. Enhance information processing ability f. Enhance creativity
g. Enhance communication and presentation skills h. Provide opportunities for collaborative learning
i. Widen perspective through more interaction with the outside world
Mean: 1=“Strongly disagree” and 5= “Strongly agree”; Mann-Whitney U Test: *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
Table 6.9 Parents’ levels of agreement on the learning outcomes as derived from students’ learning with IT ([P7]PQ5a-f)
MS1 MS2
Mean SD N Count (%) of Students choosing the option Mean SD N Count (%) of Students choosing the option (1-5) Strongly
agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
disagree (1-5) Strongly
agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree
P-value
a. 3.81 0.71 3309 494 ( 15 ) 1830 ( 55 ) 898 ( 27 ) 78 ( 2 ) 9 ( 0 ) 3.79 0.70 3607 467 ( 13 ) 2024 ( 56 ) 1021 ( 28 ) 84 ( 2 ) 11 ( 0 ) 0.008**
b. 3.50 0.81 3273 338 ( 10 ) 1259 ( 38 ) 1367 ( 42 ) 282 ( 9 ) 27 ( 1 ) 3.46 0.79 3599 298 ( 8 ) 1425 ( 40 ) 1536 ( 43 ) 317 ( 9 ) 23 ( 1 ) 0.184 c. 3.63 0.78 3276 328 ( 10 ) 1611 ( 49 ) 1110 ( 34 ) 207 ( 6 ) 21 ( 1 ) 3.56 0.79 3592 328 ( 9 ) 1681 ( 47 ) 1295 ( 36 ) 261 ( 7 ) 27 ( 1 ) 0.007**
d. 3.36 0.89 3264 259 ( 8 ) 1159 ( 35 ) 1330 ( 41 ) 455 ( 14 ) 62 ( 2 ) 3.30 0.89 3595 260 ( 7 ) 1270 ( 35 ) 1414 ( 39 ) 580 ( 16 ) 70 ( 2 ) 0.136 e. 3.46 0.86 3256 282 ( 9 ) 1345 ( 41 ) 1214 ( 37 ) 369 ( 11 ) 47 ( 1 ) 3.45 0.84 3597 290 ( 8 ) 1514 ( 42 ) 1351 ( 38 ) 392 ( 11 ) 50 ( 1 ) 0.973 f. 3.73 0.83 3266 472 ( 14 ) 1689 ( 52 ) 868 ( 27 ) 204 ( 6 ) 33 ( 1 ) 3.70 0.81 3578 467 ( 13 ) 1865 ( 52 ) 981 ( 27 ) 231 ( 6 ) 33 ( 1 ) 0.154 Learning outcomes as derived from students’ learning with IT
a. Provide rich learning resources to your child for learning b. Enhance your child’s academic performance
c. Enhance your child’s interest in self-learning of subject matter d. Enhance your child’s communication and presentation skills e. Provide collaborative learning opportunities for your child
f. Widen your child’s perspective through more interaction with the outside world
Mean: 1=“Strongly disagree” and 5= “Strongly agree”; Mann-Whitney U Test: *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
Students liked to use computers for learning
As far as the acceptance of using IT as a tool for learning was concerned, students liked to use computers for learning. 84% to 89% of primary school students liked to use computers for learning in class or beyond school hours in MS1 (Tables 6.10 and 6.11, [P6]SQ3a,11e). A statistically significant increase was noted in the percentages of P4 (from 89% to 90%) and P6 (from 86% to 87%) who liked using computers for learning in class in MS2. No significance difference was noted in the percentages of students who liked using computers for learning beyond school hours in MS2.
The reasons that students liked or did not like using IT for learning in class are presented in Table 6.10 ([P6]SQ3b.ii,c). In MS1, the major reason that students liked to use computers for learning in class was to enhance learning interest. A statistically significant increase was noted in the percentages of both P4 (from 49% to 52%) and P6 (52% to 56%) for this reason in MS2. The reason “can use the computer by yourself” was significant decreased from 39% to 37% for P6.
Similarly, the reason “can use computers in small groups” also showed a statistically significant decrease for both P4 (from 9% to 6%) and P6 (from 10% to 8%). The major reason that students did not like to use computers for learning in class was largely due to the restriction from teachers in their use of computers. There was a statistically significant decrease in P6 for this item (from 67% to 52%) in MS2.
Students tended to be willing in using IT for learning
Students’ attitude towards the use of IT in learning process is reflected by their interest in exploring innovative IT hardware and software and also by their willingness to allocate more time in using IT for learning. When students were asked about their interest in using innovative IT tools, techniques and applications, nearly two-thirds of the students showed interest in new technology.
In MS1, 60% of P4 and 64% of P6 students were interested or very interested in the use of emerging innovative IT tools, techniques and applications, with mean ratings of 3.77 (SD:1.07) and 3.84 (SD:0.99) respectively on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 was ‘not interested at all’ and 5 was
‘very interested’ ([P6]SQ21). When students were further asked to indicate their willingness to allocate more time in using IT for learning, 57% of P4 and 59% of P6 students reported that they were willing or very willing to do so in MS1, with mean ratings of 3.72 (SD:1.03) and 3.73 (SD:0.97) respectively on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 was ‘totally not willing’ and 5 was ‘very willing’ ([P6]SQ22). There was no statistically significant difference in this area in MS2 (Table 6.12, [P6]SQ21,22).
Table 6.10 Whether students liked to use computers for learning in class and the reasons they liked or did not like to use computer for learning in class ([P6]SQ3a,b.ii,c)
Percentage (%) choosing the option
P4 P6 MS1 MS2
P-value
MS1 MS2 P-value Students liked to use the computers for learning in
class
(N=1788) (N=1957) (N=1950) (N=2054)
YES 89 90 86 87
NO 11 10 0.000***
14 13 0.000***
(N=1585) (N=1755) (N=1676) (N=1797) Reasons students liked to use computers for learning in class
Enhance learning interest 49 52 0.044* 52 56 0.029*
Can use the computer by yourself 41 41 0.748 39 37 0.042*
Teachers’ explanation and demonstration become more vivid and clear by using computers
35 37 0.163 42 44 0.100
Can use computers in small groups 9 6 0.008** 10 8 0.010**
Other reasons 16 17 0.575 14 15 0.082
Reasons students did not like to use computer for learning in class
(N=203) (N=202) (N=275) (N=257) Teachers restrict our use of computers 50 47 0.724 67 52 0.000***
Do not know how to use computers 17 12 0.240 11 11 0.538
Insufficient number of computers 17 14 0.556 11 10 0.740
Other reasons 30 30 0.938 24 32 0.104
Multiple responses items; Mann-Whitney U Test: *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
Table 6.11 Whether students liked to use computers for learning beyond school hours ([P6]SQ11e)
Percentage (%) choosing the option
P4 P6 MS1 MS2
P-value
MS1 MS2 P-value Students liked to use the computers for
learning beyond school hours
(N=1745) (N=1786) (N=1892) (N=1854)
YES 86 85 84 82
NO 14 15 0.579
16 18 0.275
Mann-Whitney U Test: *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
Table 6.12 Students’ interest in the use of emerging innovative IT tools, techniques and applications as well as their willingness to allocate more time in using IT for learning ([P6]SQ21,22)
MS1 MS2
Mean SD N Count (%) of Students choosing the option Mean SD N Count (%) of Students choosing the option Class
levels
(1-5)
Very
interested Interested
Quite interested
(一般)
Not interested
Not interested at all
(1-5)
Very
interested Interested
Quite interested
(一般)
Not interested
Not interested at
all
P-value
Levels of interest in the use of emerging innovative IT tools, techniques and applications Mean: 1=“Not interested at all” and 5=“Very interested”
P4 3.77 1.07 1747 527 ( 30 ) 530 ( 30 ) 535 ( 31 ) 73 ( 4 ) 84 ( 5 ) 3.82 1.01 1890 551 ( 29 ) 661 ( 35 ) 533 ( 28 ) 80 ( 4 ) 66 ( 3 ) 0.282 P6 3.84 0.99 1938 571 ( 29 ) 675 ( 35 ) 557 ( 29 ) 82 ( 4 ) 54 ( 3 ) 3.84 0.96 2030 574 ( 28 ) 746 ( 37 ) 582 ( 29 ) 75 ( 4 ) 53 ( 3 ) 0.572
MS1 MS2
Mean SD N Count (%) of Students choosing the option Mean SD N Count (%) of Students choosing the option Class
levels
(1-5)
Very willing Willing Maybe (一般)
Not very willing (不願意)
Totally not willing
(1-5)
Very
willing Willing Maybe (一般)
Not very willing (不願意)
Totally not willing
P-value
Levels of willingness to allocate more time in using IT for learning Mean: 1=“Totally not willing” and 5=“Very willing”
P4 3.72 1.03 1755 463 ( 26 ) 552 ( 31 ) 588 ( 33 ) 84 ( 5 ) 68 ( 4 ) 3.73 1.03 1897 487 ( 26 ) 654 ( 34 ) 599 ( 32 ) 74 ( 4 ) 83 ( 4 ) 0.620 P6 3.73 0.97 1926 477 ( 25 ) 648 ( 34 ) 662 ( 34 ) 89 ( 5 ) 50 ( 3 ) 3.72 0.96 2028 466 ( 23 ) 725 ( 36 ) 690 ( 34 ) 87 ( 4 ) 59 ( 3 ) 0.949 Mann-Whitney U Test: *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.