The title, “Supporting Web-Based Learning in III Structured Domains Using Question Prompts: the Value of Providing Written Answers” is honest and tempting to readers. It acts as a clear indicator of the purpose of the research article. By reading the title, the reader gets an idea of the subject discussed in the research article. The title puts the reader in suspense of knowing the importance of providing written solutions during learning.
Abstract
The abstract of the article provides an overview of the research paper by making the results of the research clear. It encourages the reader to look at the development of the research objective and the pertinence of the conclusions made. The abstract in this research article clearly states the question under investigation and the scope of the research. The first sentence of the abstract states, “This study investigates the effectiveness of two variants of prompting strategy that guides students to focus on important issues when learning through cases in an ill-structured domain” (Loannis & Pantelis, 2011p. 1). It gives the scope of the study by stating that three groups of learners were used. According to the research article, the groups were divided into three, and this included the control group, the writing condition group, and the thinking condition group. It further gives the results of the study by stating, “Overall, the study provides evidence that the implementation of prompting techniques in computer-assisted learning environments may lead to improved outcomes when combined with the requirement that students provide their answers in writing” (Loannis & Pantelis, 2011p. 1). By making the achievements of the study clear, the abstract enables the reader to comprehend the contents of the research article.
Has the work been located in the context of existing literature?
The research work documented in this article has been located in the concept of existing literature. For instance, in the introduction, the research article states that previous research shows that questioning tactics are likely to improve learners’ skills in “ill-structured problem solving” (Loannis & Pantelis, 2011p. 2). The theoretical background of the study as shown on page 3 proves the idea that the study has been located in the concept of existing literature. This part clearly states that previous studies on the role of query prompts show that different types of prompts can assist students in improving their cognitive and metacognitive learning skills. According to the research article, previous studies show that the use of question prompts has constantly proven to be effective in different learning environments.
Previous research has stated in the article shows that learners who get prompts in important problem-solving cases do better than their counterparts. The research article states, “there is a need for further investigations that will empirically validate theoretical perspectives on how to maximize the beneficial impact of scaffolding techniques in various learning situations” (Loannis & Pantelis, 2011p. 4).
Is the paper relevant to the topic of learning and readers?
The research paper is relevant to the topic of learning and readers. The paper draws the reader’s attention since the reader is interested in knowing the importance of providing written solutions during learning. The research article is also relevant to the topic of learning since its purpose is to determine the efficiency of two options of a prompting tactic that guides learners to concentrate on key issues during the learning process. The main purpose is to involve learners in the deeper processing of multifaceted materials when learning through ill-structured approaches. Therefore, we can conclude that the research article is relevant to readers and students.
Elements of technology in the Research article
Elements of technology are central to the claims made in the research article. Devices, machines, techniques, and other methods of information organization have been employed to arrive at a specific function. Examples of technological aspects used in the research include the use of Software Project Management (SPM). Other technological elements include the ANOVA and MANCOVA which have been used in data analysis.
Is the text of reasonable length?
The fact that the research article covers around 4000 words makes it to be termed as of reasonable length. This includes the introduction, discussion, results, and conclusion. The 4000 words, however, do not include the abstract and the reference page. The text is, therefore, within the recommended word count and its length is thus reasonable.
Is the text written in good English?
The research article has been written in good English. Sufficient language involving pertinent peace and conflict terms has been used in the paper. Faultless language has been used to communicate the subject of the research paper effectively. All ideas used in the paper have been conveyed comprehensively. Words have been used clearly and skillfully in the research article.
Is sufficient information given about the methods used in data collection and analysis?
Sufficient information concerning methods used in data collection and analysis has been provided. In the research article, it is shown that 59 third-year students in the department of computer science were used. Among the 59 students, 27 were males and the rest were females. According to the article, the 59 volunteer students were assigned to three different conditions with 20 being assigned to the control condition, 19 to the writing condition, and 20 to the thinking condition. The article shows that Software Project Management (SPM) was used as the main device in the study. This was selected on the basis that it is difficult to teach and its learning depends on previous experiences.
The article further states that, “for the purpose of the research, we developed the case, a web-based environment for case-based learning in the software Project Management domain” (Loannis & Pantelis, 2011p. 9). It is also clearly shown that one Way Anova and Multivariate Analysis of Covariate (MANCOVA) were used as data analysis methods in the research (Loannis & Pantelis, 2011p. 13).
Discussion and Conclusion
The discussion and conclusion done in this research article are consistent with the information presented in the study. No new information has been introduced in the two sections. Results of the study show that learners subjected to the three conditions developed a good attitude towards the provision of written solutions during learning. However, the writing condition group performed better compared to the control condition group and the thinking condition group. Good performance exhibited by the working condition group according to the research was attributed to their accuracy when providing written solutions to queries. The paper concludes by stating that, “when students study individual case material in a TELE, the requirement to provide short written answers to context-oriented questions results to better learning outcomes” (Loannis & Pantelis, 2011p. 21).
Reference
Loannis, T., & Pantelis, P. (2011). Supporting Web-Based Learning in III Structured Domains Using Question Prompts: the Value of Providing Written Answers. Journal of Educational Technology. 59 (1), 1-29.