Archive | Discussions

Concussions are serious brain injuries that can significantly influence the brain’s ability to function at its normal capacity. Following a concussion, it is common for students to experience difficulties in the classroom. If unrecognized and untreated, these problems have the potential to significantly impact the student’s academic career as a whole. By understanding concussive neurological issues, educators can use their expertise to create flexible, temporary, and fluid academic adjustments allowing the student to continue to learn during recovery from a concussion. A private school on Oahu created a website to provide instruction and resources for educators to help them to recognize and respond appropriately to a concussion. This usability study evaluated the content and organization of the website. Usability participants navigated the website to complete four tasks that the target audience might encounter. Content and navigation of the website were well received and feedback for improved ease-of-use was discussed.

• Darryl Funai, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Educators in the state of Hawai’i currently use the Lotus Notes email host program as a method of communication and collaboration. One public elementary school in Hawai’i, on the island of Maui, is currently in the process of replacing Lotus Notes with Google Apps for Education. More than just an email system, web-based Google Apps for Education offers an easy way to share documents, work together virtually in real-time, and much more. Educators requested assistance on learning the basic necessary skills for Google Apps for Education, in particular on Gmail and Google Docs. To meet that need, an online training module was designed and delivered through a Weebly website that utilized an interactive tour, instructional videos, and step-by-step instructions with screenshots that are printable documents. Participants were asked to complete a challenge at the end of Module 1 & 2 as a way to reinforce and assess what was learned. Survey results indicated that all participants have considered using Gmail and Google Docs as a way to collaborate with their fellow colleague.

• Tami Saito, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, USA

The Lotus Notes email host program is used in the Hawaiʻi Department of Education (HIDOE) to provide communication within all public schools in Hawaiʻi. At the school level, Lotus Notes is used for checking and sending email, reading school bulletins and HIDOE memos, posting meeting notes, and generating service requests. Without access to their Lotus Notes accounts, teachers and other staff members feel they are cut off from school communication, and therefore, cannot do their jobs effectively. Many requests for Lotus Notes assistance are generated and given to technology coordinators on a daily basis. Until the technology coordinator can help the teacher or staff member, school communication for that person halts. This instructional module provided mini trainings to teach teachers to perform three Lotus Notes tasks by themselves. The module was delivered through a website that utilized screencasts, a document with text and screenshots, and a downloadable document option for those wanting to print the trainings. Survey results indicated that an overwhelming amount of participants found the trainings to be helpful. They stated they could now accomplish adding a Lotus Notes (LN) application, posting minutes, and activating the workspace tab in LN 8.5 by themselves. All participants felt more comfortable in using online trainings to learn. Responses indicated that the trainings were clear, easy to follow, and beneficial because of the relevance of the trainings and choices they had for learning. The few suggestions received from the participants will be considered before linking this website to the school’s website.

• Annette Ahuna, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Website usability studies are a widely used procedure to assess a user-centered design by testing a website with its target audience. Usability studies provide a valuable insight into the thought process of website users, but due to the time and effort it takes to perform, usability tests are not pervasive in school-created websites. The usability study conducted for this paper was designed to investigate the navigation usability of a simulated, school-created systems information website designed for school teachers. The goal of the study was to create a more intuitive, user-friendly website that would be adopted by school faculty and staff. This usability study, which was held via Google+ Hangouts, and recorded with QuickTime, assessed participants’ perceptions of the website while completing specific tasks. Upon completing the study, participants filled out an attitudinal survey which assessed the scenarios in the study, as well as provided an additional method of voicing proposed improvements to the navigation of the website. The study, which was conducted in two rounds with a revision period between them, revealed navigational flaws in the designed website and provided guidance in improving the website for future users. Increased user ratings after evaluating initial user ratings and implementing suggested website improvements suggest that usability testing for school information websites can prove beneficial for its users.

• Nicholas Alexander, University of Hawai`i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA

The unique geographical nature of the state of Hawaii creates hardship in attempting to offer adequate instruction and resources to students in all the communities that the University of Hawaii (UH) system serves. Distance education plays a significant role in attempting to address some of these hardships. The purpose of this needs assessment (NA) was to collect University of Hawaii student feedback in regards to their needs, preparedness, perceptions and learning preferences for online courses in Native Hawaiian culture and language. This study utilized the UH Maui College, Molokai Education Center as a sample site to collect feedback from those who plan to utilize distance education in pursuing an Associate Degree in Hawaiian Studies, or to take courses in Native Hawaiian language and culture. A comprehensive survey was developed and administered to collect student feedback on their opinions of distance learning at UH, with an emphasis on online courses. A review of their responses provides readers with a unique opportunity to understand the student experience from the perspective of those in some of the most remote areas served. Strengths and weaknesses of online course delivery are reviewed as well as recommendations for strengthening distance education planning and implementation.

• Kelley Dudoit, UH Manoa, Kaunakakai, HI, USA

The direct correlation between cognitive wellness and applied music knowledge has been effectively demonstrated and empirically proven by a wealth of research studies to be a powerful cognitive development tool for people of all ages. Recent studies have shown that the listening and playing of musical compositions on the piano helps to stimulate and enhance an individual’s cognitive “working memory” and spatial-temporal reasoning, which is widely applied in work related fields such as art, architecture, mathematics, engineering, and science. This online instructional module was geared toward the introduction and facilitation of basic musical concepts and principles for the piano as a foundational springboard for cognitive wellness. The module was delivered via an interactive web-based interface supported by videos and supplemental learning materials. The study findings revealed a substantive increase in score improvement between pre and post quizzes. Survey results also indicate that the large majority of participants found they learned more from the module than they had originally anticipated and that they feel more confident in their understanding of the piano. The data collected from this study could be used to assist other educators interested in revisiting and refining the module’s didactic approach.

• Adam Halemano, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Traditional studying systems based on print media have historically involved bookmarking, highlighting, and underlining passages for future reference. As technology changes the way we read information from print to electronic media, traditional studying practices will need to change as well. This study asked college students to use an electronic studying system with a variety of applications including GoodNotes, Web to PDF+, To PDF, Zotero, PaperShip, and Google Drive on a personal computer and an iPad. Six College of Education graduate students learned how to use the electronic studying system through an online instructional module. They then applied what they learned to their graduate coursework over a span of at least a week. Results from the pre and post-surveys showed that participants were not initially familiar with note-taking apps and after participating in the study, were considering changing their current note-taking strategies to one that better accommodates electronic materials. Survey results revealed a positive correlation between participant’s previous note-taking strategies and most useful features in the note-taking app GoodNotes. Even though the electronic studying system was used over a limited time, participants found it very useful and some even purchased GoodNotes to use in the future.

• Kelson Pakele, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, USA

Hawaii is a beautiful island chain often thought of as a tropical paradise, however, it’s location in the center of the Pacific Ocean makes it vulnerable to one of natures most dangerous natural disasters, the tsunami. While tsunamis are quite rare, happening on average only about once a year throughout the world, when a large tsunami does strike a populated area it can cause not only millions of dollars in damages, but will also often take the lives of those who do not evacuate. Even though tsunamis are not preventable there are now many systems in place to detect and warn people when one is coming. When individuals are educated in not only when and where to evacuate, but in how and why tsunamis are so powerful and dangerous, lives will be saved. In this presentation we will cover our use of Google Apps, Blendspace and Articulate Storyline to design an interactive and educational mini-online course designed to turn 4th graders into Tsunami Superheros.

• Dana Ishii, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
• Leon Geschwind, University of Hawaii- Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
• Edmond Lee, University of Hawaii- Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA