Methodology Issues and Design Approach of VLE on Mathematical Concepts Acquisition within Secondary Education in England

This study used positivist quantitative approach to examine the mathematical concepts acquisition of- KS4 (14-16) Special Education Needs (SENs) students within the school sector education in England. The research is based on a pilot study and the design is completely holistic in its approach with mixing methodologies. The study combines the qualitative and quantitative methods of approach in gathering formative data for the design process. Although, the approach could best be described as a mix method, fundamentally with a strong positivist paradigm, hence my earlier understanding of the differentiation of the students, student – teacher body and the various elements of indicators that is being measured which will require an attenuated description of individual research subjects. The design process involves four phases with five key stages which are; literature review and document analysis, the survey, interview, and observation; then finally the analysis of data set. The research identified the need for triangulation with Reid-s phases of data management providing scaffold for the study. The study clearly identified the ideological and philosophical aspects of educational research design for the study of mathematics by the special education needs (SENs) students in England using the virtual learning environment (VLE) platform.





References:
[1] M. Denscombe, "UHI Millennium Institute; UHI Handbook for
Postgraduate students", 2003, (Available online)
http://www.pginfo.uhi.ac.uk/types_of_research.htm Accessed: 27th.
May 2009
[2] Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English (2008) "Content
and Graphics" ┬® Copyright, Oxford University Press, 2010
[3] J. McNiff, "Action Research: Principles and Practice", ,London and
New York: Routledge-Falmer, (2002), Chapter 2
[4] C. Opie, "Doing Educational Research: A Guide to First Time
Researchers", Sage Publications, London: Thousand Oaks, New Delhi
2004, Chapter 1
[5] G. Hitchcock, and D. Hughes "Research and the Teacher: A Qualitative
Introduction to School-based Research", 2nd ed. London: Routledge,
1995, chapter 3, Reprinted 1997, 1999, 2001 by Routledge-Falmer.
[6] L Dirckinck-Holmfeld, "Designing Virtual Learning Environments
Based on Problem Oriented Project Pedagogy". In L. Dirckinck-
Holmfeld and B. Fibiger. Learning in Virtual Environments
Frederiksberg C, Samfundslitteratur Press. 2002
[7] E. D. Gray, "Doing research in the real world" SAGE publications,
London: 2004, Thousand Oaks.
[8] W. H. N. Blaikie, "Approaches to social enquiry". Blackwell Publishers
Ltd, Oxford, UK: 2003
[9] I Newman, and C. Benz, "Qualitative-Quantitative Research
Methodology: Exploring the Interactive Continuum", Southern Illinois:
University Press, 1998.
[10] W. J. Creswell. "Research Design, Qualitative Quantitative and Mixed
Methods Approaches". Third Edition. Sage, London: 2009
[11] A. Dilanthi, B. David S., Marjan and N. Rita), "Quantitative and
qualitative research in the built environment: application of "mixed"
research approach". Work Study 51:1, 17 2002
[12] G. Cupchik, "Constructivist realism: an ontology that encompasses
positivist and constructivist approaches to social sciences", 2001,
[Available online]: http://qualitativeresearch.net . Accessed: 14th April
2010
[13] M. Saunders, P Lewis, and A. Thornhill, "Research Methods for
Business Students" (2e). England: Pearson Education Limited. 2007
[14] J Giordano, M. O'Reilly, H. Taylor, and N. Dogra, "Confidentiality and
Autonomy: The Challenge(s) of Offering Research Participants a Choice
of 190" Disclosing Their Identity Qual. Health Res.2007, February 1,
2007; 17(2): 264 -275.
[15] J. Bell, (2005),"Doing your Research Project-Guide for First-Time
Researchers in Education and Social Science" Buckingham: Fourth
Edition, Open University Press, 2005, p81
[16] M. De Laine, "Fieldwork, participation and practice: Ethics and
dilemmas in qualitative research London: Sage Publication. 2000.
[Available online] http://www.books.google.co.uk Accessed 12 MAY
2010
[17] C. Frankfort-Nachmias, & D. Nachmias, "Research methods in the
social sciences (4th ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press1992
[18] H. Simons, & R.Usher, (Eds.) situated ethics in educational research.
New York: Routledge, 2000 (LB1028.S514) (Available online)
http://www.education.soton.ac.uk/staff/HelenSimons . Accessed 27 May
2010
[19] S. L. Payne, "Challenges for Research Ethics and Moral Knowledge
Construction in the Applied Social Sciences". Journal of Business
Ethics, Volume 26, Number4 August, 2000. Springer, Netherlands: 2000
[20] W. Borg, & M. Gall, "Educational research: An introduction". (Sixth
edition). New York: Longman 1996.
[21] D. Morrison, "Multivariate Statistical Methods", New York: McGraw-
Hill, 1993
[22] R. V. Krejcie, & D. W. Morgan, "Determining sample size for research
activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement", 30, 607-610.
1970, (Available online)
http://www.sageperformance.com/drjeffallen/DrA/Teaching/5480/sampl
esize.htm Accessed: 19th April 2010
[23] B R. Johnson, & L. Christiansen, "Educational Research: Quantitative
and Qualitative approaches". Needham, MA, USA: Allyn and Bacon.
2000, (Available online)
http://www.southalabama.edu/coe/bset/johnson/lectures/composerpages/
chapter7composer.html Accessed 10. November 2009.
[24] H. Olson, "Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research: The wrong
Question".2000,.(Available online)
http://www.Valberta.ca/dept/slis/cais/olson.htm Accessed 27 April
2010
[25] J. B. Wilson, S. M. Natale, "Quantitative" and "qualitative" research: An
analysis". International Journal of Value-Based Management, Volume
14, Number 1, 1 2001, pp. 1-10(10) Springer 2001. (Available online)
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu/ijvb/2001. Accessed 21
March 2010
[26] T. O-Donoghue, & K. Punch, (Eds.), "Qualitative research in action:
Doing and reflecting". London: 2003, Routledge-Falmer.
[27] Ofsted, "Virtual learning environments: an evaluation of their
development in a sample of educational settings", 2009. Reference No
0070251. (Available online)
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/content/download.pdf Accessed 2nd. March
2010.
[28] N. Sclater "Principles for future VLE/LMS development" 2009.
(Available online) http://sclater.com/blog/?p=210 Accessed 15th April
2010
[29] D. Hassell "Personalised learning and content: Transforming learning
and teaching with ICT, 2006. (Available online)
http://events.becta.org.uk/content_files/corporate/resources/events/2006/
may/industry_partner_seminar_may06/personalising_may2006.pdf
Accessed 07th May 2010
[30] J. Underwood, T. Baguley, P. Banyard, E. Coyne, L.F. Flint and I.
Selwood, "Impact 2007: Personalising learning with technology. 2007
(Available online)
http://research.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=fh&catcode=_re_rp_02&
rid=1402 Accessed 21st March 2010
[31] G. Morris, A. Bell, "Engaging professional learning in online
environment". Australian Journal of Educational Technology, 2009,
25(5), 700-713. (Available online)
http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/ajet25/bell.htm Accessed 27th March
2010
[32] F. Podoski, "21st century Learning: Making Technology relevant in
Today-s Classrooms" T.H.E Journal, 2008. (Available online)
http://thejournal.com/articles/2008/05/21st-century-learning-makingtechnology-
relevant-in-todays-classrooms.aspx Accessed 24th. March
2010.
[33] L. Cohen, L. Manion, and K. Morrison, Education Research Methods,
(2002),
[34] J. Milne, "Questionnaires: Advantages and Disadvantages" (1999),
[Available online] http://www.icbl.hw.ac.uk/ltdi/ltdi-pub.htm Accessed
15 April 2010
[35] L. Cohen, L. Manion, and K. Morrison, "Research Methods in
Education" (2004), (Available online)
http://www.questia.com/library/book/research-methods-in-education-bylouis-
cohen-lawrence-manion-keith-morrison.jsp Accessed 27 May 2010
[36] D. Hopkins, "A teacher-s guide to Classroom Research, Maidenhead"
Open University Press, 2002
[37] C. T. Diebold, G. Miller, L. K. Gensheimer, E. Mondschein, & H.
Ohmart, "Building an intervention: A theoretical and practical
infrastructure for planning, implementing, and evaluating a
metropolitan-wide school-to-career initiative", Journal of Educational
and Psychological, Consultation, 2000, 11 (1), 147-172.
[38] J. C. Turner, & D. K. Meyer, "Studying and understanding the
instructional contexts of classrooms: Using our past to forge our future"
Educational Psychologist, 2000, 35 (2), 69-85.
[39] G. Nuthall, "Relating classroom teaching to student learning: A critical
analysis of why research has failed to bridge the theory-practice gap".
Harvard Educational Review, 74:273-30 2004) (Available online)
http://ww.linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii Accessed 15th June 2010
[40] S. Stringfield, and C. Teddie "The multiple roles of N.L. Gage in the
creation of educational effectiveness fields. Teaching and Teacher
education, V20. Issue. No. 4, May 2004, pages 397-404.
[41] W. Huitt, (2006), "Summary of theories relating to learning and
development. Educational Psychology Interactive". Valdosta, GA:
Valdosta State University, 2006. (Available online)
http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/summary/lrndev.html Accessed
27 March 2010.
[42] A. Reid, "Computer management strategies for text data" in B. F.
Crabtree and W.L. Miller (Ed.), doing qualitative research, Vol 3.
London: Sage, 1992