Special Research I

Session 9: Study Case in IT Field (3) (Lecturer: Ryuichi Matsuba)

 Please carry out “This Session's Task” after reading and understanding the following contents.

[Introduction]

 I would show research fields of my recent interest briefly as introduction of the present lesson. It is well known that online assessments (exam) using Learning Management System is very useful as students themselves can instantly check their level of attainment and understanding of individual learning content. However, in my opinion, if the quality of the assessments is not guaranteed, i.e. if there is a wide range of different qualities or difficulties in the assessments, it may lead to decrease not only to take the assessments again, but also motivation for the learning. My colleagues and I have been involved in the development of a checklist for the purpose of making the quality of the assessments even, in particular the questions used in the basic information course, revising the questions and implementing the assessments using it. At the moment I have just finished the first stage of the study, i.e. the evaluation of the checklist using the statistical data of students' performance records before and after the revision for the course, and I have finalized a proposal to improve the checklist. In the next stage, I am going to try to expand the list so that it can be applicable not just to the area of information education but also to more general areas and formulate a process flow for the development of online questions based on the verification. Also I would like to explore in the future include the study of blended learning by using both e-Learning and face-to-face lectures. I have just started it including a literature search. However, it seems that few studies have been carried out on this theme so I think I can claim priority regardless of the approach I begin with.

 I would show my opinions for academic researches finally. I think there is no difference in the basic methods used to carry out the research regardless of the study area or the study technique you use, although the approach we use for each study task is different. You have already learned the basic methods in Block 1. The knack that we often say it “the vision” in carrying out the research you have acquired through your past research experience is still useful even after you move to a different area of research. Through studying Special Research I and II, I would like you ask you to consider what you should examine, what should be the basic attitude when you think, and “how to take advantage of” the knowledge you already have in doing that so that you can acquire a vision which should become your base.

・ Matsuba, R., Nakano, H., Takahashi, S., et al., (2007) eLearn 2007 Quebec (19824) (PDF:124KB)