Abstract:
In recent years, many universities have opened courses to increase students' knowledge in the field of nanotechnology. These have been shown to increase students' knowled...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
In recent years, many universities have opened courses to increase students' knowledge in the field of nanotechnology. These have been shown to increase students' knowledge of nanotechnology, but beyond this, advanced and applied nanotechnology courses should also focus on learning motivation and scientific enquiry abilities to equip students to develop the deeper knowledge and skills required for scientific application. This paper addresses this challenge. Due to the abstract nature of many nanotechnology concepts and in order to move from abstract knowledge to hands-on learning, an inquiry-based learning approach was adopted. Among the diverse inquiry-based learning models proposed, the 5E mobile inquiry-based approach, including the steps of engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation, was considered most effective to enhance learners' understanding of nanotechnology. To evaluate the effectiveness of this proposed approach, a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design was adopted with a total of 32 university students. Two sections of Nanotechnology Engineering, a general education course, were randomly assigned as either the comparison group (18 students; receiving lecture-based instruction, and using mobile devices) or the experimental group (14 students; receiving 5E inquiry learning, and using mobile devices). Mobile devices were adopted to enhance learners' experience, provide immediate access to information online, and provide enhanced hands-on learning. The empirical results demonstrate that the experimental condition, 5E mobile inquiry learning, had a positive impact on participants' learning motivation and scientific inquiry abilities.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Education ( Volume: 59, Issue: 2, May 2016)
National Cheng Kung University, Institute of Education, Tainan, Taiwan
Ping-Han Cheng is a Ph.D. student with the Graduate Institute of Science Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan. His research interests focus on science education, digital learning, mobile learning, and game-based learning.
Ping-Han Cheng is a Ph.D. student with the Graduate Institute of Science Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan. His research interests focus on science education, digital learning, mobile learning, and game-based learning.View more
National Cheng Kung University, Institute of Education, Tainan, Taiwan
Ya-Ting Carolyn Yang is a Professor with the Institute of Education, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. Her research interests are in the field of educational research and the role of information and communication technologies for improving teaching and learning processes.
Ya-Ting Carolyn Yang is a Professor with the Institute of Education, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. Her research interests are in the field of educational research and the role of information and communication technologies for improving teaching and learning processes.View more
Department of Photonics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
Shih-Hui Gilbert Chang received the M.S. degree in physics from the University of California, Riverside, CA, USA, in 1996, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical and computer engineering from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA, in 2004.
He is currently an Associate Professor with the Department of Photonics, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. His research interests include nanophotonics, plasmonics, and computatio...Show More
Shih-Hui Gilbert Chang received the M.S. degree in physics from the University of California, Riverside, CA, USA, in 1996, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical and computer engineering from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA, in 2004.
He is currently an Associate Professor with the Department of Photonics, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. His research interests include nanophotonics, plasmonics, and computatio...View more
National Cheng Kung University, Institute of Education, Tainan, Taiwan
Fan-Ray Revon Kuo is a Doctoral Fellow with the Institute of Education, National Cheng-Kung University, Taiwan. His research interests focus on computer-assisted learning, mobile learning, Web-based learning, and technology-enhanced health education.
Fan-Ray Revon Kuo is a Doctoral Fellow with the Institute of Education, National Cheng-Kung University, Taiwan. His research interests focus on computer-assisted learning, mobile learning, Web-based learning, and technology-enhanced health education.View more
National Cheng Kung University, Institute of Education, Tainan, Taiwan
Ping-Han Cheng is a Ph.D. student with the Graduate Institute of Science Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan. His research interests focus on science education, digital learning, mobile learning, and game-based learning.
Ping-Han Cheng is a Ph.D. student with the Graduate Institute of Science Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan. His research interests focus on science education, digital learning, mobile learning, and game-based learning.View more
National Cheng Kung University, Institute of Education, Tainan, Taiwan
Ya-Ting Carolyn Yang is a Professor with the Institute of Education, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. Her research interests are in the field of educational research and the role of information and communication technologies for improving teaching and learning processes.
Ya-Ting Carolyn Yang is a Professor with the Institute of Education, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. Her research interests are in the field of educational research and the role of information and communication technologies for improving teaching and learning processes.View more
Department of Photonics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
Shih-Hui Gilbert Chang received the M.S. degree in physics from the University of California, Riverside, CA, USA, in 1996, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical and computer engineering from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA, in 2004.
He is currently an Associate Professor with the Department of Photonics, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. His research interests include nanophotonics, plasmonics, and computational electrodynamics.
Shih-Hui Gilbert Chang received the M.S. degree in physics from the University of California, Riverside, CA, USA, in 1996, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical and computer engineering from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA, in 2004.
He is currently an Associate Professor with the Department of Photonics, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. His research interests include nanophotonics, plasmonics, and computational electrodynamics.View more
National Cheng Kung University, Institute of Education, Tainan, Taiwan
Fan-Ray Revon Kuo is a Doctoral Fellow with the Institute of Education, National Cheng-Kung University, Taiwan. His research interests focus on computer-assisted learning, mobile learning, Web-based learning, and technology-enhanced health education.
Fan-Ray Revon Kuo is a Doctoral Fellow with the Institute of Education, National Cheng-Kung University, Taiwan. His research interests focus on computer-assisted learning, mobile learning, Web-based learning, and technology-enhanced health education.View more