Richard Ng, PhD Open University Malaysia

1. Social Media and the Teaching of Mathematics in a Lifelong Learning Environment Richard Ng, PhD Open University Malaysia Prof. Dr. Latifah Abdol Latif Open University Malaysia 14 - 15, Nov 2011, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2. Overview of Presentation OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA 1. Introduction 2. Problem Statement 3. Conceptual Model 4. Research Methodology 5. Findings 6. Conclusion 7. Recommendations Email: richard_ng@oum.edu.my ICLLL2011 Page 2

3. 1. Introduction: OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA • At OUM courses are offered via • Blended Learning • Minimum F2F, Online Discussion • via MyVLE, and Self-Managed • Learning • Social Media such as Facebook, • Blogs, YouTube and Slideshare • were used: • - to supplement learning • - to engage learners • - to hold informal discussion Email: richard_ng@oum.edu.my ICLLL2011 Page 3

4. 2. Problem Statement: OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA • Most learners are working adults • Left school for more than 5 years • Math has always been a difficult • subject • Difficult to do online discussion • due to poor support for • mathematical symbols • Limited F2F contact hours makes • learning math more difficult • Cause high incompletion rate Email: richard_ng@oum.edu.my ICLLL2011 Page 4

5. 3. Conceptual Model: OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA Email: richard_ng@oum.edu.my ICLLL2011 Page 5

6. 4. Research Methodology: OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA Email: richard_ng@oum.edu.my ICLLL2011 Page 6

7. 4. Research Methodology … (cont…) OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA • Cross Sectional study using a 63-item survey • Administered on 100 learners • To measure rate of participation and how it correlates with • the learners’ sense of community, satisfaction, intrinsic • motivation and commitment to stay in their programmes • T-Test was carried out to find if there is a statistical difference • in the level of learners’ sense of community, satisfaction, • intrinsic motivation and commitment to stay between learners • who have high level of participation rate compared to those • who have low participation rate Email: richard_ng@oum.edu.my ICLLL2011 Page 7

8. 5. Findings: 5.1 Demography: OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA Email: richard_ng@oum.edu.my ICLLL2011 Page 8

9. OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA 5.2 Mean Scores and Standard Deviation of Sense of Community, Satisfaction, Intrinsic Motivation and Commitment to stay: Email: richard_ng@oum.edu.my ICLLL2011 Page 9

10. 5.3 Level of participation: OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA • The median point was found to be between 2 to 3 hours • per week 5.4 Spearman Correlation: Email: richard_ng@oum.edu.my ICLLL2011 Page 10

11. 5.5 Independent Samples T-Test: OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA Email: richard_ng@oum.edu.my ICLLL2011 Page 11

12. 5.6 Multiple Regression Analysis: OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA Email: richard_ng@oum.edu.my ICLLL2011 Page 12

13. 6. Conclusions: OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA • Results concurred with Lee and McLoughlin (2010) that with • appropriate learning designs and pedagogical strategies, • the social networking tool can • Enhance • Enrich • Extend traditional distance education paradigms and • increase connectivity and engagement of learners • Concurred with the findings by Ng (2010) that increased in • the level of Engagement of learners will increase their level • of - Sense of Community, • - Satisfaction and • - Intrinsic Motivation and this has impact on their • - Commitment to stay in their programmes Email: richard_ng@oum.edu.my ICLLL2011 Page 13

14. 7. Recommendations: OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA • As suggested by Hoffman (2009), social networking tool has both its advantage and problems for usage in teaching and learning • Learners need to be exposed first on how to use social network • Instructors and tutors should capitalised on the emergence of freely available Web 2.0 and open access tools which provide greater ability to customize online learning. Email: richard_ng@oum.edu.my ICLLL2011 Page 14

15. OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA Thank you TerimaKasih Email: richard_ng@oum.edu.my ICLLL2011 Page 15