Rodrigo et al. study off-task behavior in computer-based learning (Features)

The article entitled “Student Off-Task Behavior in Computer-Based Learning in the Philippines: Comparison to Prior Research in the USA” by Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo of the Ateneo de Manila University, Ryan S. J. d. Baker of Teachers College, Columbia University, and Lisa Rossi of Worcester Polytechnic Institute was accepted for publication in Teachers College Record, an ISI-listed journal of Columbia University. Dr. Rodrigo is a Professor at the Department of Information Systems and Computer Science at the Ateneo de Manila’s School of Science and Engineering. 

 

 

The authors discuss three studies that examine the differences in the off-task behavior of students using intelligent tutoring software in the Philippines and the USA. Off-task behavior can be defined as any behavior that does not involve the learning task or material, or where learning from the material is not the primary goal. 

 

They investigate whether Filipino students using intelligent tutors exhibit significantly less off-task behavior than American counterparts, in line with the previously observed patterns of off-task behavior in traditional classrooms in East Asia and Southeast Asia. The use of identical intelligent tutors in both countries allowed the researchers to control for confounds due to differences in curricula.

 

Data from three studies

 

In the first study, two populations of students were compared. The first group consisted of 53 students from two public high schools in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The second group consisted of 60 students from a large public school in an urban area of Quezon City. Students were asked to use Scatterplot Tutor software for 80 minutes, with identical research protocols between countries.

 

Data for the second study was collected from 169 students in four private high schools in Metro Manila and one in Cavite. Student ages ranged from 12 to 15. For the second study, students were asked to use Aplusix (a tutor for algebra), for 40 minutes.

 

Dr. Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo