ABSTRACT
Adjustments to life and learning following the COVID-19 pandemic have transformed user acceptance of online learning methods. It is, therefore, imperative to analyse factors relating to user performance and preferences for such interactions. In this study, we combined video-based learning with precision teaching to reinforce previously learnt statistics skills in university students without a mathematical background. We developed a learning design consisting of eight ‘bite-sized' online learning episodes. Each episode started with a brief learning video followed by a practice phase and an end-of-episode assessment. The practice phase differed in two groups of participants, matched on statistics attainment pre-intervention. A precision-teaching intervention group (N = 19) completed practice guided by a frequency-based approach aiming at building fluency in statistics. A control group (N = 19) completed self-directed practice for the same amount of time as the intervention group. All participants completed a statistics attainment test and a questionnaire on their attitudes towards statistics pre-and post-intervention, and a review of the learning materials post-intervention. The intervention group achieved, consistently, higher scores in all end-of-episode assessments compared to the control group. Both groups showed significant and comparable improvements in statistics attainment post-intervention. Both groups also reported more positive feelings towards statistics post-intervention, while the review of the learning materials suggested that the video-based learning design was well-received by students. Our results suggest that video-based learning has great potential to support, as a supplementary teaching aid, university students in learning statistics. We discuss future research directions and implications of the study. © The Author(s).
ABSTRACT
Stimulated by the isolation requirement of COVID-19 lockdown, online teaching method has been widely adopted by worldwide academic institutions and has been playing an essential role in accelerating education reform. While both traditional classroom teaching and pure online teaching have their drawbacks, an integrated online to offline (O2O) precision teaching model is considered to be the new trend. With the support of information technology, O2O precision teaching is capable of monitoring students' behavior closely and tailoring the curriculum for each student. This study designed a detailed platform-based O2O precision teaching model and applied it to the Chinese Business Culture course teaching. Traditional offline teaching was also conducted as a control. Both test scores and student feedback were collected and analyzed. Results show that the technology-enhanced O2O precision teaching model can improve students' test performance and various soft skills and has their high degree of satisfaction in the meantime, indicating that it can work as a promising new teaching model. Practitioner Notes 1. This study designs a platform based online to offline precision teaching model. 2. Students' learning behavior and performance data throughout the entire teaching process is collected and analyzed, helping finetune the teaching method.