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The online modality in the school performance of 8th grade students in the subject of mathematics.
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The online modality in the school performance of 8th grade students in
the subject of mathematics
La modalidad en línea en el desempeño escolar de los estudiantes del 8vo año en la
asignatura de matemática
A modalidade online no desempenho escolar dos alunos do 8º ano na disciplina de
Matemática
RicardoNatael Castillo Cevallos
B.S., Computer Science, Universidad de Guayaquil, Ecuador
ricardo.castillo@ug.edu.ec
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2299-7521
Belkys Quintana Suarez
PhD. Educational Sciences. University of Guayaquil, Ecuador
belkys.quintanas@ug.edu.ec
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3293-6204
Received September 2021 - Accepted June2022
Revista Iberoamericana de la Educación
Vol - 6 No. 3, July - September 2022
e-ISSN: 2737-632x
Pgs 15-27
Abstract: At present, school performance has been affected by several
factors, one of these is the online modality, which has been imposed due to
the pandemic of covi-19 in the institutions, without having a previous
preparation of teachers and students to face this modality. The objective of
this research is to determine the incidence of the online modality in the school
performance of 8th grade students in the subject of mathematics at the
Francisco Huerta Rendón school in a field study, for the development of a
mobile application; scientific methods were applied both theoretical and
empirical, by applying as instruments a guide of observation of entry where
the problem was detected, in turn surveys and interviews were applied to
students, teachers and school principal, it was revealed how satisfied were
those involved in this modality given, with a total sample of 121 students, in
Universidad de Guayaquil, Ecuador
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addition to the participation of teachers and vice principal of the school
already mentioned. The students themselves suggested that they need help
such as the proposal put forward in this study to create a mobile application
containing the most complex topics in the subject of mathematics for
reinforcement and improvement of school performance.
Keywords: mobile application, school performance, mathematics, online
modality.
Resumen: En la actualidad el desempeño escolar ha sido afectado por varios
factores, uno de estos es la modalidad en línea, la cual se ha impuesto debido
la pandemia del covi-19 en las instituciones, sin tener una preparación previa
de docentes y estudiantes para enfrentar esta modalidad. La presente
investigación tiene como objetivo determinar la incidencia de la modalidad
en línea en el desempeño escolar de los estudiantes 8vo de básica en la
asignatura de matemáticas del colegio Francisco Huerta Rendón en un estudio
de campo, para el desarrollo de una aplicación móvil; se aplicaron métodos
cientificos tanto teoricos como empiricos, al aplicar como intrumnetos un
guia de observación de entrada donde se detecto la problemática, a su vez se
aplicaron encuestas y entrevista a estudiantes, docentes y director del colegio,
se dio a conocer que tan satisfechos se encontraban los involucrados en esta
modalidad dada, con una muestra total de 121 estudiantes, además la
participación de docentes y vicerrector del colegio ya mencionado.
Sugiriendo los propios alumnos que necesitan de una ayuda como la
propuesta planteada en este estudio de crear como tal una aplicación móvil
que contengan los temas más complejos en la asignatura de matemáticas para
el refuerzo y mejoría del desempeño escolar.
Palabras clave: aplicación móvil, desempeño escolar, matemáticas,
modalidad en línea.
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Resumo: A modalidade online no desempenho escolar dos alunos do 8º ano
na disciplina de Matemática. O objectivo desta investigação é determinar a
incidência da modalidade online no desempenho escolar dos alunos do 8º ano
na disciplina de matemática na escola Francisco Huerta Rendón, num estudo
de campo, para o desenvolvimento de uma aplicação móvel; Os métodos
científicos foram aplicados tanto em teoria como empiricamente, aplicando
como instrumentos um guia de observação de entrada onde o problema foi
detectado, por sua vez inquéritos e entrevistas foram aplicados a estudantes,
professores e director da escola, revelou-se o quão satisfeitos estavam os
envolvidos nesta modalidade, com uma amostra total de 121 estudantes, para
além da participação de professores e vice-directores da escola
mencionada. Sugerindo aos próprios alunos que precisam de ajuda como a
proposta apresentada neste estudo para criar como tal uma aplicação móvel
contendo os tópicos mais complexos na disciplina de matemática para o
reforço e melhoria do desempenho escolar.
Palavras-chave: aplicação móvel, desempenho escolar, matemática,
modalidade online.
INTRODUCTION
One of the biggest challenges that has become evident for teachers, parents
and students is how to carry out an adequate and optimal education within
the online modality, although this has been practiced for many years, for
those involved it is new since they did not see the need to carry out this type
of education.
During the realization of one of the extracurricular activities at the height of
the pandemic and recently adapting to the online modality at the Francisco
Huerta Rendón School, it was seen that there was little understanding of the
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classes taught and among the students it was complicated to follow a line
according to what was taught, as well as the teaching staff was involved
since the attention that the students receive depends on them.
The research is developed to know the inconvenience, which may be
occurring in this modality, either on the part of students or teachers or the
resources that are being used, which is why through surveys and interviews
we reached students, teachers and school authorities to know what they
think about the performance that is being developed by all.
Until June 2019, Ecuador was undergoing changes of adaptation due to the
implementation of new technologies, which were necessary for a better
quality of education, however, these implementations affected academic
performance or also called school performance leaving in evidence within
the classroom several problematic situations of learning and assimilation of
knowledge.
School performance has always been a challenge for teachers, which has
become very complicated to get to know the causes of low school
performance, whether it is due to external causes such as the family
environment or internal causes of the educational unit.
The traditional methodological strategies used by teachers in the classroom
cause students to lose interest in their studies in relation to complex subjects,
affecting their performance in the classroom, thus reflecting poor academic
performance.
At the end of 2019, China announced the appearance of a deadly virus called
SARS-COV-2, known as the disease called COVID-19, while by the end of
January the WHO declared this virus as a pandemic due to its spread; in
Ecuador the first case of COVID-19 was announced at the end of February,
in mid-March 2020 the Ministry of Public Health declared a state of
emergency and total confinement, because of this virus; One of the most
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affected ministries was the Ministry of Education, since it became very
complicated to start classes; in a ministerial agreement it was informed that
in July of that year classes would be resumed but under the online modality;
the educational institutions were not prepared for this type of study,
especially the public institutions. The schools and their teachers were not
trained in the use of technological resources and virtual platforms in order
to initiate this type of hybrid education despite the fact that the use of this
type of technology was already being implemented.
This particularity arose in zone 8 once the first online period was concluded,
where it detected the shortcomings of this, being the low school
performance higher than in previous years, since this online modality was
unknown in the city for educational institutions at primary and secondary
level, being a challenge for parents, students and teachers, that is, the entire
educational system. Having little time to train teachers and students for this
new study activity.
Therefore, it is necessary to formulate the problem, resulting in the
following question: How does the online modality affect the school
performance of 8th grade students in the subject of mathematics at the
Francisco Huerta Rendón School during the period 2020-2021?
The main objective of the research is to determine the incidence of the online
modality in the school performance of 8th grade students in the subject of
mathematics at the Francisco Huerta Rendón school in a field study with
scientific methods, for the development of a mobile application.
The specific objectives were the following: to diagnose the online modality
in the subject of mathematics through theoretical methods, to evaluate the
school performance of 8th grade students in the subject of mathematics at
the Francisco Huerta Rendón school through theoretical and empirical
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methods, and to develop a mobile application that helps to reinforce
knowledge.
School performance is a situation that worries teachers and parents during
all times, both parents and teachers would like students to be the best and
with an ideal achievement where they achieve the development of creative
and innovative capabilities; However, these purposes have been affected by
different causes, among these is the lack of motivation in the learning of
mathematics as well as the insufficient application of mobile technologies
which are not exploited to the maximum as a means of teaching, the correct
use of these would lead to an improvement of online classes and motivation
within these; for this reason the creation of a mobile application containing
teaching materials for the subject of mathematics is proposed.
It will be innovative, creative, dynamic, with exercises that will strengthen
the learning of mathematics, achieving the competencies of each unit of
study.
This proposal will directly benefit the 8th grade students of the Francisco
Huerta Rendón School, specifically in the subject of mathematics,
benefiting in turn the entire educational community in general, as well as
the current society that will integrate more prepared students, to transform
it according to the current demands.
School performance is a situation that worries teachers and parents during
all times, both parents and teachers would like students to be the best and
with an ideal achievement where they achieve the development of creative
and innovative capabilities; However, these purposes have been affected by
different causes, among these is the lack of motivation in the learning of
mathematics as well as the insufficient application of mobile technologies
which are not exploited to the maximum as a means of teaching, the correct
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use of these would lead to an improvement of online classes and motivation
within these.
Within the theory found, it is known that the online modality for the (Ibanez,
2020) is that this education varies from other forms of study since it must
have internet and technologies or equipment that support internet
connectivity to be able to relate students - teachers, within the characteristics
of the online modality is the distancing of people, the use of technological
devices, that learning in this modality is independent. (Máxima, 2021).
Among the disadvantages of using this modality is that not everyone can
afford to have access to both devices and the internet and that the process at
the time of being evaluated by teachers is not entirely honest. (UNIR, 2020).
While the learning environment must be optimal so that an adequate
teaching-learning process can take place, it is for this reason that
(Rodriguez, 2019) mentions that the learning environment is everything that
surrounds the person who is in a learning process has to do with their
learning environment and in turn makes mention that this environment may
or may not be favorable for this, depending on their situation. Among the
elements that make up the learning environment is the interaction space
where not everyone has a specific study room and when mentioning this
space, it has to do with where they receive classes, where they do their
homework, where they present their learning. (Ayala, 2021).
Within these environments, the different categories that exist in the physical
learning environment, which is the environment that surrounds the student,
in the classroom, where there is interaction between the teacher and the
student, in the same place and at the same time, are made known. It is the
duty of the educator to apply teaching-learning models that promote the
constant participation of students, adequately managing spaces and
available resources. (Ayala, 2021)Another environment is the virtual one,
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which is executed by means of fixed or mobile computers, tablets, mobile
devices. In turn, it is developed in such a way that the student must be
present, as well as not, performing activities outside and within the assigned
hours; the type of teaching in this environment promotes the student to be
independent at the time of education. (Hernandez, 2020)The other
environment is the formal and it is the traditional environment that is made
up of institutions that have a structure and are regulated by the system in
charge in this case by the Ministry of Education either public or private, at
the end of the level is certified by the institution of its completion.
(Hernandez, 2020)The last environment is the informal one, which refers to
the experiences that the individual acquires through interaction with the
environment that surrounds him/her in general, without the need to have a
teacher in front of him/her for training. (Ayala, 2021).
It is worth mentioning that within this modality, methodological resources
are used, which are the means by which the person helps him/her to perform
his/her assigned tasks, it is part of the renewal of science as an intelligent
instrument. (Raffino, 2020). There are several methodological resources
such as the web page, which is the most accessible one available nowadays,
blogs, which are posts on a web page. (Peiró, 2019)blogs that are posts on a
site with information that you want to find, another resource is the electronic
portfolio. (Alonso, 2021)Another resource is the electronic portfolio which
is where the person makes use of clouds where daily or weekly uploads their
activities, which will be reviewed by the teacher digitally (Tipán and
Sánchez, 2016), the digital whiteboard is another resource which is a set of
technological tools such as computer with internet access and projector,
where the content will be displayed on a screen or on the wall of the
classroom. (UNIR, 2020)Finally, we have the educational software which
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is: "a program or application that provides tools to teachers and / or students
in order to facilitate learning". (Llamas, 2020).
As school performance in itself is understood as the development of the
student in all aspects of which is surrounded especially in the aspect of
knowledge (Mondragón et al., 2017); this performance has characteristics
related to the aptitude and effort of the student based on its dynamic aspect.
It is also the result of what has been obtained as learning which is reflected
at the time of evaluating the knowledge related to the static aspect. Linked
to learning or giving value judgments and ethical assessment in terms of the
student's performance. (Saavedra, 2018).
There are three risk factors in school performance which are the student
which is the most important since without him there would be no
development of teachers before the teaching process, therefore, teachers will
be responsible for these students to want to develop their cognition and
interest in delving into new knowledge as they are teaching, consequent to
this the student's performance will be reflected through their grades and
behavior. The other factor is the school - College which is the place of study
where the student will receive his learning, since according to studies the
space - student relationship does influence the student's academic
performance or school performance. Although the home is the main place
where there should be an adequate environment, it must be recognized that
the learner spends some hours in learning establishments, so an adequate
environment is conducive to acquiring knowledge. Last but not least is the
educational system which must have each of the requirements for the student
to develop properly with equal opportunities, taking into account the
infrastructure of the place of study, which has the necessary resources for
educational programs; there are processes such as the delivery of free books,
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school breakfast and delivery of uniforms according to the budget given by
the government for education. (De La A, 2018).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This research is made up of several research designs and modalities, one of
them is the quali-quantitative modality which brings advantages along with
the research that is taking place, such as studying or analyzing the
phenomenon in a broader way, likewise many more varied data can be known,
resulting in a research with better exploration of the investigated, as for the
results that you have with this research modality is that you can have much
more reliable results developing possible skills to manage and implement.
(Fernández and Baptista, 2016); being according to its field purpose it
proceeded to be carried out in the place of the facts, where the problematic
situation is presented, in this case the Francisco Huerta Rendón School in the
8th year students, where by means of the observation technique said problem
was known. This type of research takes force and is of great relevance since
the process of what is studied is present while the research is being carried
out; According to its gnoseological objective, it is explanatory since the
purpose of this research is to understand the process that is being experienced
in this modality, in addition to understanding the reason for low academic
performance, which is why an explanatory research will better understand the
problem found in all its dimensions and propositive because a problem was
diagnosed and a solution is proposed which leads to the improvement of
school performance in these 8th grade students of the Francisco Huerta
Rendón school, which in turn helps teachers when teaching their classes to
achieve the development of skills in their students.
As for the research methods used in this research, the analysis-synthesis
method was taken into account, since after several shortcomings that were
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found, the method of primordial eagerness to study and improve was chosen,
historical-logical, since it is not a research proposal, but has a history that has
been affected for years. Among the research techniques used were interview,
survey and observation, and among the research instruments, the
questionnaire was used for the survey and the interview, while the observation
form was used for the observation. Finally, the sample chosen was according
to the standard sample given in which 4 classes of the school were used as the
main object of study, giving a total of 179 students and applying the sample
resulted in 121 students.
RESULTS
As a result of the surveys and interviews obtained it was known that the
students were not completely satisfied with this modality and therefore the
disinterest in learning diminished as they progressed with this same modality,
so they all agreed that a mobile application would be of great help to improve
or increase the desire to study; In the same way, teachers and directors
mentioned that there was no total preparation to teach classes in this modality
and that the only way to get ahead was to receive small trainings given by
teachers of the institution themselves, who offered to teach the management
of the different platforms that would be used. The research demonstrates the
impact of the mobile application for the school performance of these 8th grade
students in the subject of mathematics, with this application the online classes
are motivating and the exercises of the study units are applied in a dynamic
and effective way, an efficient school performance is achieved. This
application can be generalized in other contexts as long as they respond to the
contents of each exercise, thus showing the importance of the use of computer
tools in each content of the subject to develop skills in students.
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CONCLUSIONS
By means of different bibliographic reviews and the observation technique, it
was found that the online modality is complicated for those involved in the
teaching-learning process, since they are not fully trained to use it. Through
surveys and the observation technique, it was found that most of the 8th grade
students are not totally satisfied and do not perform adequately in their school
performance, due to the modality in which they are, since not all of them have
the resources or are not accustomed to manage the study in this way. Finally,
the students made their needs known as students, through a survey in which
they stated that the creation of a tool or technological application would be of
great help and a driving force for their performance, where their participation
would be greater thanks to the help that they could obtain through the use of
this tool or application.
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