What is it about?
The article reports the findings of a study that investigated the relative effectiveness of the Google Earth and ePals tools in enhancing geographical research and speaking skills of learners enrolled in Study Skills class in a university in Lebanon and on increasing their levels of motivation for conducting research and delivering presentations. The study is based on the assumptions that the integration of Google Earth and ePals provides an excellent opportunity for teachers to improve students’ presentation and research skills. Another assumption is that female learners will report a more significant progress than their male counterparts. The study used the pretest- posttest control design. Descriptive statistics were computed, and a series of independent sample and paired samples t-tests and a content analysis of the qualitative data reporting the participants’ perceptions of their Google Earth and ePals experience were undertaken. The results of the study indicated that the use of Google Earth and ePals significantly improved the geographical research and oral presentation skills as well as their perceptions towards learning. However, no significant difference in the achievements of males and females was indicated. Implications and further research to examine the interaction of the treatment effects with other contextual variables were reported.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
The study is based on the rationale that there is a scarcity or non-existence of research on the use and integration of Google Earth and ePals in EFL classes. Specifically, the study addressed the following questions: 1. What is the relative effect of using Google Earth and ePals educational tools in comparison with traditional research paper on improving the research skills of university learners of EFL? 2. What is the relative effect of using Google Earth and ePals educational tools in comparison with traditional research paper on improving the oral presentation of university learners of EFL? 3. Is there a significant progress difference in favor of university female learners of EFL versus male learners using the Google Earth and ePals to improve the research skills and oral presentation proficiency? 4. What are the perceptions of the participants in the experimental group of their experience in using the Google Earth and ePals technological models in their class?
Perspectives
This context is characterized by enrolling students from different socio-economic background with good opportunities to use English for communication in daily life and outside of university. However, the importance of studying English is emphasized in the context of the present study, as a language of instruction in which all other university subjects are taught. This is because English is considered an important international language in Lebanon to be studied starting with kindergarten and up to postgraduate studies due to its recognized value in communication and education. Above all, it should be noted that the majority of students in this study context, as well as in other private university contexts, can be considered largely as good English proficient learners with much access to computers and modern technology, especially computers are available and used in all the classes of many private universities including the site of the present study.
Dr. Ghada M. Awada
American University of Beirut
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Impact of Google Earth and ePals Models on Perceptions, Research and Oral Presentation Skills, SSRN Electronic Journal, January 2016, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2822972.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
