|
This study investigated the cognitive styles of special education teachers who participated in a technology class using an Interactive Internet Learning System (IILS), and explored their attitude toward IILS, the relationship among the factors in using IILS.The subjects were 34 members of in-service training class of special education in National Taiwan Normal University and 43 members of post-bachelor in-service study class of special education in National Taipei Teacher''s College. A Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT) was used to assess of Filed-Dependent (FD) and Filed-independent (FI) cognitive style of the subjects. Besides, the major instruments for this research were “The Attitudes Questionnaire of members used IILS " "Table of Interactive Performance" which were developed by the researcher. The obtained data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, Chi-square Test, two-way MANOVA and Pearson correlation. The results of this study were as the follows:1.There were differences between FD members and FI members within the attitude toward IILS. The main difference indicated on the subtest of evaluation for the system. The FI members scored higher than the FD members. The result indicated the FI members have positive attitude toward IILS. 2.The differences of interactive performance between the FD members and FI members were as the follows:(1)The type of interaction between members and members: there were no significant differences in the frequency and words of interaction between FD and FI members, and there were no significant differences between each item on interactive contents.(2) The type of interaction between members and teacher: there were differences in the frequency of interaction between FD members and FI members, the main difference indicated on the item of interactive contents of engaging and statement; there were differences in the words of interaction between FD members and FI members, the main difference indicated on the item of interactive contents of statement.3.The correlation of factors relevant to members used the IILS, which results as follows:(1)There were no signification correlation among the variances of computer experience, internet literacy, gender, school, cognitive style, used attitude, frequency of interaction and words of interaction.(2)There were positive correlation between operative ability of computer and interactive words.(3)There were positive correlation among used attitude, the frequency of interaction and words of interaction. Among the scales, the system of usefulness, the frequency of interaction and words of interaction. While the evaluation for the system and the views of self-learning no significant correlation with the frequency of interaction and words of interaction.4.The opinions and suggestions for IILS were summarized as follows.(1)The IILS used convenient for engaging discussion, because participants can present their own opinion through IILS that provide teacher and members with immediate feedback.(2)The system was appropriate for disabilities with assistive devices. (3) The future of teacher education class for special education can partly adopt IILS, solving the limitation of time and space.In addition, the limitation of research, suggestions for internet distance education with further research are also discussed in this study.
|