Development of a Perception Scale on the Use of Webquests

Abstract

ABSTRACT. In this study, it was aimed to develop a scale for identifying the users' perceptions towards the use of WebQuests. In this sense, this article describes the development and the reliability and validity study of "The Perception Scale on the Use of WebQuests" . Possible explanations of the findings are discussed and interpretation of the results is provided. The scale included 41 Fivepoint Likert-type items. Data were collected from 200 pre-service teachers attending in a public university in the west coast of Turkey and 30 elementary school teachers working in the same part of Turkey in 2009. Item analysis, factor analysis and the reliability analysis were conducted in the process of the development of the scale. The results of the study indicate that the scale has good psychometric properties and can be used reliably to have WebQuest users` perceptions on the use of WebQuest. SUMMARY Purpose and significance:WebQuest is a learning activity and a method utilized by educators to engage students in an inquiry based learning environment. Educators use WebQuests as a way to make good use of the internet while engaging their students in critical thinking, knowledge application, social skills and scaffolded learning. During this activity learners read, analyze, and synthesize information using the WWW. Webquests were invented by Bernie Dodge and Tom March in 1995. Since then more attention has been paid to this method and the method has spread around the world. Although the use of WebQuests has spread, we have found no scale to obtain information from users towards using WebQuests. Thus, it was aimed at developing a scale for identifying the users' perception on the use of WebQuests. In this article, the development process of the scale is explained, possible explanations of the findings are discussed and interpretation of the results are provided.Methods: To obtain users` perception on the use of WebQuests, the reliability and validity study of "The Perception scale on the use of WebQuest" was conducted. Scale data required for the development of the scale was gathered from two groups. Participants were 200 pre-service teachers attending in a public university in the west coast of Turkey and 30 elementary school teachers working in the same part of Turkey in 2009. In the development process, related literature is examined, item pool including 54 items is developed, teachers and Experts' (in Curriculum and Instruction, Instructional Technology, Assessment and Evaluation and Turkish Language fields) opinions and comments were taken for content validity. In final, a 41 Five-point Likert-type item consisting of positively and negatively worded items included in the scale. Participants were required to use at least two WebQuests prepared by researchers and and then filled out the scale. Item analysis, factor analysis and the reliability analysis were conducted in the process of the development of the scale.Results: The 41 items of Perception Scale on the Use of WebQuest (PSUW) were subjected to principal compon...

Experience of Elementary School Students with the Use of WebQuests

“…Therefore, instruction supported with WebQuest-based applications, including the use of technology and the internet, might help students overcome their difficulties and enhance their motivation learn mathematics. Research shows that there have been many studies conducted in different areas about WebQuests and their implementation since 1997 (e.g., Halat & Jakubowski, 2001;Wilson, 2008;Sox & Rubinstein-Ávila, 2009;Altstaedter & Jones, 2009;Peker & Halat, 2009;Öksüz & Uça, 2010;Cameron & Champbell, 2010;Subramanian, 2010). Most of these concern pre-service teachers.…”

A perception scale on the use of webquests in mathematics teaching: A study of scale development

“…The first step in the development of the scale was the preparation of the scale items, which were identified based on the findings on WebQuest (Akçay, 2009;Akçay and Şahin, 2013;Çığrık, 2009;Dodge, 1997;Faichney, 2002;Halat and Jakubowski, 2001;Halat 2008aHalat , 2008bHalat , 2007Kelly, 2000;Kobak, 2013;Kurtuluş and Kılıç 2009;March, 2000March, , 2003aMarch, , 2003bÖksüz and Uça, 2010b;Summerville, 2000;Wooster and Lemcool, 2004;Zencirci and Asker, 2009;Zheng et al, 2005).…”

The Awareness of Prospective Mathematics Teachers on the Mathematics Curriculum

“…In the field studies on mathematics education curriculum, mathematics education at the primary level according to the beginning program (Albayrak and Çiltaş, 2017;Aslan and Olkun, 2011;Baş, 2017), according to the opinions of teachers or administrators (Dağdelen and Ünal, 2017;Öksüz, 2015;Özdemir). In addition, the studies mainly deal with the views of teachers and students on the implementation, elements, design, or evaluation of the curriculum (Ulusoy, 2012;Ünal, 2018;Konur andAtlıhan, 2016;Cansız Aktaş, 2008;Abdioğlu and Çevik, 2018).…”