PX9Y6 Foundation Research Methods in Education

Introduction 

Digital learning happens to be the term that describes the use of advanced tools and technology in the domain of learning. It entails the use of electronic gadgets, and the internet for imparting lessons and for implementing educational activities in a classroom setup. Digital learning happens to be in vogue at most levels of education at schools as well as colleges today because of the efficiency that is associated with such a form of learning. There are numerous advantages that can be experienced by students and teachers alike when digital learning is brought to the table. This assignment takes the form of a qualitative research report, with some qualitative research being undertaken briefly to judge the impact of digital learning on student performance. The objectives and aims of the study, the research questions which are to be answered through the findings of the study, a statement of the problem and the research hypothesis are mentioned right at the start of the project. This is followed by a description of the existing literature on digital learning, namely, the benefits that are associated with this process. The methods that have been used to undertake the study are discussed after that, and thereafter, the findings of the study are discussed. The report concludes with the argument that digital learning has a positive impact on the performance of students and that it enhances and boosts the performance of students by a considerable degree.

Statement of the Problem 

There is a lot of literature that is seen to exist on the type of digital learning that can be availed by students, namely, the learning apps and technologies that are currently being used to impart educational training in the digital sense of the term. The prevailing literature also talks about the benefits that can be experienced when digital learning is availed, for teachers as well as for students. However, the impact that digital learning can have on student performance in a good or a bad way, is something that remains not too well discussed in the prevailing literature and there needs to be primary research taken up, to gain a better understanding of the topic. This gap in the existing literature is something that is going to be addressed in the present study, with qualitative research in the form of interviews being undertaken with two students, to understand how it is that digital learning has boosted their performance.

Research Aims and Objectives 

Important objectives of the study which are to be addressed are as follows -

• To determine the advantages of digital learning
• To determine the impact of digital learning on student performance
• To recommend how digital learning can be best used in a classroom setup to enhance student performance.

Research Questions 

The research questions that are going to be answered through the findings of the study are as follows –

RQ 1 – Are there any benefits of digital learning?

RQ 2 – What is the impact of digital learning on student performance?

RQ 3 – How can digital learning be best used in a classroom setup to enhance student performance?

Research Hypothesis 

This study is going to look to verify the hypothesis as follows –

Hypothesis – The impact of digital learning on student performance is positive.

Review of Literature

Understanding the Beneficial Aspects of Digital Learning

Digital learning is being used extensively in educational institutions of the world today because digital learning provides students with the opportunity to pursue their studies from home. Students are given the opportunity to pursue their education from the home front and it is not always necessary for them to be present in school, to benefit from the learning process (Colucci et al. 2017). Students who find it difficult to attend regular school, and who have, to work part time in order, to be able to support their family members are the type of people who are likely to benefit a great deal from digital learning because in such a situation they will be given the scope to work from home and pursue their education from home instead of doing so from school (Colucci et al. 2017). They will be able to study in more comfort than usual, and in the bargain, they will end up retaining the materials that they are taught as a part of the classroom setup, far better than usual (Lin and Chen 2017). Yet another benefit of digital learning which is worth talking about is the fact that teachers are provided with the opportunity to teach from remote locations as well and are able, to exercise a greater degree of flexibility as a part of the learning process. Digital learning is one of the most effective tools for teachers and students alike because of the work from home or rather, learn from home facility that can be enjoyed when such a form of learning is adopted, or made use of (Lin and Chen 2017).

Another benefit of the digital learning process which ought to be kept in mind, is the fact, that, the digital learning process makes learning a lot more, fun, and easy than what it would usually be (Gee, 2013). Digital learning when it is used is a form of learning where there is plenty of interaction and engagement that takes place between students and teachers, and there are excellent audio-visual tools which students can end up making use of, in the digital learning process, which they are not going to be able to do, when they are learning from a regular classroom setup (Gee, 2013). Textbook learning is not the same as the type of learning that is imparted using video conferencing and the range of resources that can be accessed through the medium of the internet is far more extensive than the range of resources that can be accessed when one is studying from a regular school environment. It is important for students to be able to take an interest and have fun in the learning process if they are truly to benefit from the same and this is something that they are assured of when they are at the receiving end of any digital learning program (Gee, 2013).

A third important benefit of digital learning is the fact that when digital learning is deployed the process of sitting for tests and examinations is a lot easier than what it would be. Digital learning is the type of education where students can sit for online texts and exams at the drop of a hat using online platforms, and in turn, the stress, and the tension of having to give an exam from an actual physical venue is taken away from students (Warschauer 2007). Digital learning is one of the most student-friendly forms of learning and the fact that there is little, or no stress associated with the learning process is what makes this form of learning so exciting for students. The stress of examinations is something that is taken away from them once and for all because, of the fact that students can regularly test their skills and abilities when they opt for digital learning (Lin and Chen 2017).

The final benefit that comes with the implementation of the digital learning program, is the fact that this is a learning program, where the costs associated with education are far lower than what one would have to pay when going to a school or college (Gee 2013). Owing, to the fact that establishment costs are minimal, students are expected to pay a lower rate of tuition when they sign up for a digital learning program and in the bargain, they are able, to save a considerable amount of money on their education at large (Gee 2013).

Gaps

Although the literature review above provides evidence of the plus points of digital learning, how it can impact student performance is not something that is too well-known, and this gap in the literature is something that remains to be addressed. It will be addressed, in the upcoming study, which will entail making use of primary research to find this out.

Research Methods 

Research Philosophy 

Research philosophy refers to the theoretical framework or basis of a research project, namely the outlook which a researcher holds towards the matter of data collection and data analysis. The positivist research philosophy, the realist research philosophy and the interpretivist research philosophy are three paradigms that are commonly made use of in research projects. The current project is based on the use of the interpretivist paradigm, with a qualitative approach having been taken up, towards understanding the impact of digital learning on student performance.

Research Design 

The design of any research project refers to the strategies and tools that are used to gather data, and to interpret or analyze the data which has been gathered. The descriptive design, the exploratory design and the explanatory design are three frameworks which are commonly used in research projects of a qualitative or quantitative nature. The current project is based on the use of the descriptive design, with a rigorous attempt having been made to assess the impact that digital learning can have on student performance.

Data Collection 

The collection of data for the present research project has taken the form of two personal interviews that have been taken with two students at the primary level of education. As such, these are students who are enrolled in the 8^th grade, studying in a private school, who have been asked about how they have benefited from the digital learning process, if at all, especially in the area, of performance. The findings of the primary research have been supported by the secondary research that took place earlier on in the project in the form of a review of literature, with secondary sources such as books and articles published in peer reviewed journals having been consulted for this purpose.

Data Analysis 

The data analysis in the given project has been undertaken thematically, and then themes of the analysis are based largely on the findings generated from the review of literature that was undertaken earlier on in the study.

Sampling Details 

The research project that has been undertaken is quite brief, and a sample population of two students enrolled in a primary, private school has been studied to gain answers to the research questions. The convenient technique of data sampling has been used to create this sample population, and the 2 students who have been selected to take part in the interviews, have been chosen based on how easy it was for the researcher to gain access to them.

Ethical Considerations 

There are a number, of ethical considerations that this study has been faced with, and which have been adhered to, as follows –

• The respondents of the research process were not asked questions beyond the subject matter.
• The interviews were held at a time that was convenient for the students.
• The medium of Zoom call was used to conduct the interviews virtually, in Covid times.
• The secondary sources that have been referred to for this study have been cited appropriately by making use of the Harvard style of referencing.

Research Findings and Analysis 

Interview with Respondent 1 

The first respondent has stated that digital learning is something that has sparked his interest in the learning process, largely on account of the high-quality audio-visual tools that are made use of, as a part of the learning process. The use of the internet, it has been stated by this student is quite common, insofar as learning is concerned, and that he and the others in his class are encouraged to make use of internet-based resources to follow up on the materials that they are taught in the class. This whole act of referring to the internet for research and information is something that the student finds quite interesting, and for this reason alone, he spends hours online, reading up on his school subjects, and has been able to do quite well in terms of academic performance, scoring straight A’s and getting full scores in most of the tests that he appears for. He has also stated that he enjoys digital learning because he does not have to travel all the way to attend classes and can do so from the comfort of the home.

Interview with Respondent 2 

The second respondent is also a person who is quite happy to engage in the process of digital learning on account of the fact, that it allows him to study from the home front instead of having to travel physically to school. The second respondent has stated that the use of learning apps, such as word learning apps and math apps has sparked his interest in the learning process, and it has had a positive impact on his performance in the class as well. By making extensive use of such learning apps, he is able, to master his vocabulary and his mathematical skills, and is able, to, do quite well in the tests and the exams that he is assigned to do in the class. The whole act of internet-based learning is also something that he finds quite interesting. He feels that there is a plethora of information that is available online which one cannot easily find in books and that he prefers to access and read source materials online rather than read them in a printed format or even in the form of an e-book. The ease of access to information and the many learning apps that form a part of the digital learning process, have given this student a reason to take interest in his school curriculum. He is not only enjoying the whole learning process greatly, but his performance in class is also something that has received a boost because of digital learning.

Data Analysis

Impact of Digital Learning on Student Performance 

 

Remote Access makes it Convenient for Students to Learn 

One of the key benefits associated with digital learning is that students are able, to study from remote locations, instead of having to be physically present in the school setup and this in turn, has a positive impact on their performance. It has been divulged from the interviews that were undertaken with both the respondents, that the whole prospect of being able to study remotely, and not having to be in school is something that both students enjoy greatly. They are able, to study in a lot of comfort and are free from the worry and the stress that is typically associated with the school environment. This in turn is seen to have a positive impact on their performance, and they end up doing well in their curriculum by being able to study in such comfort and relaxation.

Internet-Based Learning is Fun and Effective 

It has been revealed in both the interviews taken, that the whole process of referring to the internet for source materials and guidance on subjects, is something that the students find greatly enjoyable. This internet-based learning is something that has made it possible for both the students who were interviewed for this study, to do well in the class tests and exams that they are assigned, and their performance in general is something that has received a boost, on account of, internet-based learning.

Learning with Apps is Effective and Easy 

It has been revealed in the interview that was undertaken with the second respondent, that there are many vocabulary apps and apps to test mathematical skills that can be used as a part of the learning process, and which allows students to do better in the tests and exams that they have, to sit for. The use of learning apps is a key feature of digital learning, and it is seen to play a role in enhancing or boosting the performance of students in the class.

Concluding Observations

What can be stated in conclusion is that there are numerous advantages associated with digital learning processes, rom the point of view of students, and that there are many conveniences that are associated with the digital learning process, that facilitate student performance in the classroom. The findings of the study that was conducted for this research project, showcase the fact that digital learning is one that is largely based on the use of the internet and the act of referring to the internet for materials or information is something that students find interesting to do. The prevalence of learning apps and the convenience of being able to engage in studies from a remote location are some of the other benefits that can be experienced as a part of the digital learning process, and which are seen as well, to have a direct and positive impact on student performance in the class. It can therefore be concluded that digital learning is beneficial for student performance and that it accelerates the performance of students by a considerable degree, through the conveniences that it offers.

Recommendations

The following recommendations ought to be taken into consideration to boost student performance through digital learning –

• Learning apps should be widely used as a part of the teaching process. Students need to be made to practice their existing skills and abilities in subjects, such as English grammar and in mathematics via the use of apps that exist for this purpose, so that they are able, to do better in such subjects, over the long and the short term (Gee 2013).
• Teachers should consider conducting most of their classes using digital learning tools and platforms, so that students are able, to study remotely instead of always having to be in school to receive instructions. Remote learning, as the findings of this study have shown can provide students with a lot of ease and comfort, and which in turn, is something that allows students to learn a lot better and do better in terms of performance in class (Lin and Chen 2017).
• Finally, the use of the internet is something that needs to be greatly encouraged as a part of the digital learning process. Students need to be given encouragement to refer to the internet for any type of research that they may want to engage in, given the vast array of information that they can end up accessing, upon doing so (Lin and Chen 2017).

References

Lin, M. H., & Chen, H. G. (2017). A study of the effects of digital learning on learning motivation and learning outcome. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 13(7), 3553-3564.

Grand-Clement, S. (2017). Digital Learning: Education and Skills in the Digital Age. RAND Europe.

Blake, H., Bermingham, F., Johnson, G., & Tabner, A. (2020). Mitigating the psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers: a digital learning package. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(9), 2997.

Colucci, E., Smidt, H., Devaux, A., Vrasidas, C., Safarjalani, M., & Castaño Muñoz, J. (2017). Free digital learning opportunities for migrants and refugees. An Analysis of current initiatives and recommendations for their further use. JRC Science for Policy Report. Luxemburg: Publications Office of the European Union. doi, 10, 684414.

Jesson, R., McNaughton, S., Rosedale, N., Zhu, T., & Cockle, V. (2018). A mixed-methods study to identify effective practices in the teaching of writing in a digital learning environment in low income schools. Computers & Education, 119, 14-30.

Blau, I., Grinberg, R., & Shamir-Inbal, T. (2018). Pedagogical perspectives and practices reflected in metaphors of learning and digital learning of ICT leaders. Computers in the Schools, 35(1), 32-48.

Warschauer, M. (2007). The paradoxical future of digital learning. Learning Inquiry, 1(1), 41-49.

Gee, J. P. (2013). The anti-education era: Creating smarter students through digital learning. St. Martin's Press.

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