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Enhancing concept comprehension in a web-based course using a framework integrating the learning cycle with variation theory

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Abstract

Concept comprehension is an important foundation for more complex thoughts. To enhance concept comprehension, teachers of traditional classrooms have been using instructional strategies and specific course designs, which have been proven effective. It initiates a hypothesis that integrating instructional strategies in the course designs of an e-learning system would improve the effectiveness of concept comprehension. The purpose of this study is to propose a framework that integrates the learning cycle with variation theory in the course design of a web-based e-learning system to prove the hypothesis. A pretest and posttest quasi-experimental design is employed to test whether the framework is feasible. Two types of web-based courses are designed for the experiments: a course designed according to a science textbook and another course designed using the framework. The participants in this study were 120 fifth-grade students in Taiwan. The results of the experiments show that the average scores of the experimental group, using the course designed with the framework, are significantly higher than that of the control group, using the course designed without any instructional strategy, on comprehension of course concepts. This confirms that the coherent, explicit and systematic framework is feasible for designing web-based e-learning courses for effectively enhancing concept comprehension as well as the evidence to prove the hypothesis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering Science, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, Daxue Rd, East District, Tainan City, 701, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chih-Chao Hsu & Tzone-I Wang

Authors
  1. Chih-Chao Hsu
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  2. Tzone-I Wang
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Correspondence to Tzone-I Wang.

Appendix: The five questions classified as the analysis level in bloom’s taxonomy in the posttest

Appendix: The five questions classified as the analysis level in bloom’s taxonomy in the posttest

  1. 1.

    Which technique of building igloos done by Inuit listed below is the most important element for reducing the heat transfer?

    1. A.

      Constructing a short tunnel

    2. B.

      Filling the gaps between the ice blocks with snow

    3. C.

      Cutting and stacking snow blocks as the building materials

    4. D.

      Using animal skins as the door flaps

  2. 2.

    Which design of refrigerator does not influence the thermal insulation effects of heat convection in gases?

    1. A.

      A freezer on the top of cabinet

    2. B.

      Multi drawers

    3. C.

      Multi doors

    4. D.

      Vacuumed plastic liners

  3. 3.

    The insulating capability of a material is associated with the thermal conductivity. Low thermal conductivity is equivalent to high insulating capability. A space shuttle orbiter sustains the heat of 1,650 °C while reentering the atmospheric. So the entire orbiter surface need different materials with required heat protection in varying parts. Please sort the thermal conductivity of materials of varying parts from low to high.

    1. A.

      The leading edges of wings and nose cap > The orbiter’s exterior bottom surfaces > The orbiter’s exterior top surfaces

    2. B.

      The orbiter’s exterior bottom surfaces > The leading edges of wings and nose cap > The orbiter’s exterior top surfaces

    3. C.

      The orbiter’s exterior bottom surfaces > The orbiter’s exterior top surfaces > The leading edges of wings and nose cap

    4. D.

      The orbiter’s exterior top surfaces > The leading edges of wings and nose cap > The orbiter’s exterior bottom surfaces

  4. 4.

    To keep it warm in a house in winter, which way listed below is the lowest thermal insulation effect than that of any others?

    1. A.

      Painting the outer walls of a house black

    2. B.

      A house faces south

    3. C.

      Using vacuumed double glass windows

    4. D.

      Building a house with hollow bricks

  5. 5.

    Which way of slowing down the melting of ice cream is wrong?

    1. A.

      Putting ice cream in a styrofoam box

    2. B.

      Putting ice cream in a thermos bottle

    3. C.

      Covering ice cream with a quilt

    4. D.

      Blowing ice cream with a fan

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Hsu, CC., Wang, TI. Enhancing concept comprehension in a web-based course using a framework integrating the learning cycle with variation theory. Asia Pacific Educ. Rev. 15, 211–222 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-013-9311-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-013-9311-8

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