Using Interactive Applications in Enhancing Students' Knowledge and Technical Skills and Process Skills in Grade 4 Science

This study investigated how interactive applications facilitate the development of students' knowledge, technical, and process skills on the topic Plant Propagation in a constructivist Grade 4 Science classroom setting. Grade 4 student participants were taught using a blended learning instruction involving face-to-face sessions and electronic module (eModule) designed by the teacher using the Understanding by Design Framework. The electronic modules consisted of interactive applications (e.g., simulations, videos, games, worksheets, online readings, and online quizzes), which involved the use of mobile learning devices. In this study, interactive applications allow for back and forth interaction between students and the computer programs. A quasi-experimental research design was employed to determine how these interactive applications facilitate in developing students' scientific reasoning skills. These skills were determined by students' performance in a 23-item Knowledge and Technical Skills Test (KTST) and a 35-item Process Skills Test (PST) on Plant Propagation developed by the researchers. Paired t-test was used to determine differences in the students' pretest and posttest performances on the KTST and on the PST. Results revealed significant differences between pretest and posttest where t(31) = -27.47, p < 0.0005 in the KTST and t(31) = -31.42, p < 0.0005 in the PST. These results are suggestive that the use of interactive applications in the eModule facilitated the development of the students' knowledge and technical skills (KTS) and the process skills (PS) in learning plant propagation. Interestingly, the process skills domain has a higher mean gain score compare with knowledge and technical skills. Results of the study underscores that a well-designed electronic module using varied interactive applications facilitate the development of the students' scientific skills in understanding science concepts.