Abstract
Technology is fundamental to the youth culture of today and high schools need to integrate it into live classes. This research hopes to provide a better understanding of the present learner styles and the technology impact towards enhancing and enriching the conventional learning process. Hence, the central focus of this writing is based on the four Index Learner Styles (Active VS Reflective, Sensing VS Intuitive, Visual VS Verbal, Sequential VS Global) of Felder and Soloman (1993, 2011) and on the teaching strategies impact that integrates technology (online lessons, blending learning topics, and collaboration software use) as a vehicle in the differentiation of the traditional learning curriculum. The field of experiment is the Portuguese language subject of the 8th grade students at the Portuguese School of Macau, China. One online survey and four tests (two for each class) are carried out to check whether the e-Learning perspective will benefit student learning in this new surrounded generation of mobile devices. Still, the main purpose relies on the learning style identification of high school scholars and to raise awareness of those personal characteristics to facilitate future development on personal learning strategies. Some other related topics are also highlighted such as Web 1.0 to Web 4.0 evolution and learning distance topics.
Top1. Introduction
The Net changes everything (Ellison, 1999). This means new mass Internet media of news and entertainment channels, synchronous tools of video/audio teleconferencing, autonomous agents and database assisted learning. According to Rosen (2006), in every 10 years comes a new twist: The 70's brought mainframes, the personal computer came on the 80s, the 90s created the WWW while the first decade of the 21st century ends up on the Web 2.0. Following the same line, the 2011-2020 time-period will bring the Web 3.0. According to Dawley (2007), Web 1.0 was just for reading and sending e-mails. With Web 2.0, it gave the users the free choice to interact or collaborate with each other in a social media dialogue as creators of user-generated content (prosumer) in a virtual community (social networking, blogs, wikis, or video-sharing sites). Under this e-Learning context, WebCT©, Blackboard© and Moodle© already allows content creation, online file exchange and messaging system, multi-channel communication, whiteboards, on-line testing and grading book.
By definition, a learning object is a digital and Web-based resource that can be used and re-used to support knowledge acquiring, such as the introductory programming subject of the London Metropolitan University (www.londonmet.ac.uk/ltri/learningobjects/) where the present code seeks to engage with the learner through attractive use of visualisation. Certainly, this may turn out a quite useful tool for the computer programming teaching.
However, one of the biggest disadvantages of asynchronous courses is related to the high dropout rate. Moore and Kearsley (2005) found that 30% to 50% of students left courses in the recent past. On the other hand, due to the high maintenance costs of universities, for Peter Drucker (1998), they are becoming unsustainable without improvements in terms of digital content and quality of education. The introduction of courses online will achieve them with only a fraction of the cost (Drucker 1998). Michael Zastrocky, in a survey conducted in March 2008 on the factors motivation for e-Learning platforms, found that students who were enrolled on online courses rated with four on a one-to-five scale. In 2009, students from the University of Hong Kong had access to a variety of study materials (which explores Wikis, blogs, and social networks) with frequently updated and reflection subjects throughout the semester participation. In the end, three other conclusions where drew by Churchill (2009): 79% of students felt that they learned quite a lot during the course; 83% of students enjoy the use of blogs to facilitate and contribute to the learning process; 92% of the students confirmed that due to blogs, the professor become more supportive than traditional courses.
According to a survey conducted by Becta (2008), 74% of two thousand and six hundred students from a universe of twenty-seven schools, had accounts in social networks. As well, professors prefer email (asynchronous) while students prefer to use Instant Messenger (synchronous). Moreover, in a data sample of one hundred and eighty students, another research conducted by Webster University in order to assess the advantages experienced of online courses, Tamashiro (2002) obtained the following advantages/disadvantages results given by Table 1.
Table 1. Pros and cons of online courses
| Rank | Advantages of Online Learning | Disadvantages of Online Learning |
| 1 | Flexibility of time to work at own pace | Lack face-to-face with instructor or students |
| 2 | Save time on travel to/from campus; parking hassles | Fear of technical problems |
| 3 | Freedom: accessible any time, from anywhere | Requires too much self-discipline, self-motivation and time management |
| 4 | More resources available for the course and easy access to course materials | Computer literacy and typing skills |
| 5 | Learn new technologies | Communication, directions or discussions are unclear or more difficult |
| 6 | Instructor more accessible | Lack of immediate feedback |
| 7 | More comfortable to work at home or place of my choice | Too many distractions and interruptions |
| 8 | Allow more time to think before answering questions | Lack of classroom atmosphere |
Key Terms in this Chapter
The Index of Learning Styles: Is an on-line instrument used to assess preferences on four dimensions (active/reflective, sensing/intuitive, visual/verbal, and sequential/ global) of a learning style model formulated by Richard M. Felder and Linda K. Silverman.
Moodle: Is a Course Management System (CMS), also known as a Learning Management System (LMS), or a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It is a free Web application that educators can use to create effective online learning sites.
E-Learning: Is the learning process created by interaction with digitally delivered content, services and support. This includes On-Demand e-learning, Live On-Line e-learning,-Learning Objects, On-Line Coaching, Knowledge Bases, Simulation Based Learning and Blended Learning.
Web 2.0: Is the term given to describe a second generation of the WWW that is focused on the ability for people to collaborate and share information online. It refers to the transition from static HTML Web pages to a more dynamic Web and based on Web applications to users. Other improved functionality of Web 2.0 includes open communication with an emphasis on Web-based communities of users and more open sharing of information.
Learning Styles: Are various approaches or ways of learning. They involve educating methods, particular to an individual that are presumed to allow that individual to learn best. Everyone has a mix of learning styles and there is no right mix. As expected, anyone can develop ability in less dominant styles, as well as further develop styles that you already use well.
Qualitative Research: Is a method of inquiry employed in many different academic disciplines, particularly in the social sciences. In the conventional view, qualitative methods produce information only on the particular cases studied while general conclusions are only propositions (informed assertions).
Quantitative Research: Refers to the systematic empirical investigation of social phenomena via statistical mathematical or computational techniques. The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and/or hypotheses pertaining to phenomena. The process of measurement is central to quantitative research because it provides the fundamental connection between empirical observation and mathematical expression of quantitative relationships.