Computer Based Vs. Blended Learning Environments for Elementary Classes
Article by Kelly Krekus
As technologies develop and improve rapidly our working world is being transformed and in turn is transforming our educational system from the top down. Starting universities and trickling down into high schools and now all the way down to kindergarten online and blended learning courses are being offered. As the transition has gone from the top down, so has the research on the effectiveness of online and blended learning courses.
Now the online and blended courses have transcended down into the elementary courses too. Public schools are offering online and blended courses starting at the kindergarten level. Although researchers hypothesize that these types of courses may be beneficial for student’s creativity and learning outcomes, no real studies have been conducted nor has evidence been found at the elementary level to conclude this. With data pointing towards technology being used most effectively in upper level education for abstract concepts such as physics simulations, one is left to question whether the use of technology for blended learning or completely computer based courses will be effective for elementary grades where most content is much more hands on and less abstract.
The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare the effectiveness of entirely online learning environments with that of the same blended learning environment of a 5th grade life science course. By investigating this link one will be able to better understand the effectiveness of each type of course in an elementary or pre-high school setting and help educators plan and teach elementary students in the most effective way for them to learn.
I conducted a study using my 5th grade students at Monroe Elementary and a group of upcoming 5th grade students who volunteered to take the same science course online. For this study, the participants were all given the same pre-test, then the seven volunteer students were mechanically matched with a student with a similar pre-test score from my students in my class. The seven volunteer participants were taught using a completely computer based curriculum and the other seven were taught using my typical blended learning curriculum. All students were given the same post-assessment. Data indicated that both groups showed growth but the blended learning course had slightly more growth. Survey and parental feedback from the volunteer students and parents showed that many students and parents felt overwhelmed by the online course.
Although my 5th grade life science courses have implied a blended learning environment is more beneficial for younger grades than a computer based course, additional studies would need to be conducted before generalizing these findings to encompass a larger population. I would like to see a similar additional study conducted on a 6th, 7th, and 8th grade science course to see approximately what grade level do students have the computer skills necessary for completing an online course primarily on their own.
Click here to check out Kelly's Canvas site for her blended classroom