Using Group Work to Teach Literature in an Online Classroom Environment

Abstract

This paper aims to look at TESL students’ views of the utilisation of group work to teach literature online. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 64 TESL trainee teachers from Universiti Selangor who were enrolled in an online Literature class in April 2021. There were three sections in the questionnaire which had to be answered using a five-point Likert scale. The questionnaires were distributed through the WhatsApp application to the students. The data were analysed using frequency counts and percentage. The study findings showed that most of the students had positive views about the use of group work for learning literature. The students were also satisfied with their peer collaboration and teacher collaboration throughout the group activities. 


Keywords: group work, literature, online learning, TESL 

References
[1] Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan. Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi; 2020, March 21st. Retrieved May 29th, 2021 from https://www.mohe.gov.my/hebahan/soalan-lazim/perintah-kawalan-pergerakan-kementerian-pengajian-tinggi

[2] Pengendalian Pengurusan Operasi Institusi Pendidikan Tinggi (IPT) Semasa Dan Pasca Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP). Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi; 2020, June 9th. Retrieved May 29th, 2021 from https://www.mohe.gov.my/hebahan/soalan-lazim/perintah-kawalan-pergerakan-kementerian-pengajian-tinggi

[3] Schott, M., Chernish, W., Dooley, K.E., & Linder, J.R. Innovations in Distance Learning Program Development and Delivery. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 2003;6(2).

[4] Calvert, J. Deakin University: Going online at a dual mode university. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning. 2001;1(2).

[5] Erdem, M. The role of teachers in teaching literature. Thesis, no. 3, pp. 45–54; 2015. Retrieved from: https://aab-edu.net/assets/uploads/2016/12/03-2015-EN-06-Mustafa-Erdem.pdf

[6] Myonghee, K. Literature Discussions in Adult L2 Learning. Language and Education. 2004;18(2):145–166.

[7] Close, Elizabeth Egan. Literature Discussion: A Classroom Environment for Thinking and Sharing. English Journal. Sep. 1992;81(5):65-71.

[8] Randall, L. E. Analysis of student responses to participation in literature circles in a university classroom. Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, 2009;20:69-103.

[9] Day, C. Reading and responding in literature circles. Marnckville, Australia: Primary English Teaching Association; 2003.

[10] Slavin, R.E. Cooperative learning: Student teams. Washington, DC: National Education Association; 1987.

[11] Schulz, B. Collaborative learning in an online environment: Will it work for teacher training? In Proceedings of the 14th annual Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 503-504). Charlottesville, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computers in Education; 2003.

[12] Jegede, O. J. Facilitating and sustaining interest through an on-line distance peer-tutoring system in a cooperative learning environment. Virtual University Gazette, 2002;35-45.

[13] Stern, J. Introduction to Online Teaching and Learning; 2004. Retrieved from: http://www.wlac.edu/online/documents/otl.pdf

[14] Rapanta, C., Botturi, L., Goodyear, P. et al. Online University Teaching During and After the Covid-19 Crisis: Refocusing Teacher Presence and Learning Activity. Postdigit Sci Educ 2020;2:923–945. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42438-020-00155-y

[15] Abou El-Seoud, S.; Seddiek, N.; Taj-Eddin, I.; Ghenghesh, P.; Nosseir, A.; El-Khouly, M. E-Learning and Students’ Motivation: A Research Study on the Effect of E-Learning on Higher Education. Int. J. Emerg. Technol. Learn. 2014;9:689–695.

[16] Peytcheva-Forsyth, Roumiana, Blagovesna Yovkova, and Lyubka Aleksieva. Factors affecting students’ attitudes towards online learning - The case of Sofia University. AIP Conference Proceedings 2048, 020025; 2018. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5082043.

[17] Check, J., Schutt R. K. Survey Research. In: J. Check, R. K. Schutt., editors. Research methods in education. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications; 2012:159–185.

[18] Ponto, Julie. Understanding and Evaluating Survey Research. J Adv Pract Oncol. 2015;6(2):168–171.

[19] Alali, O.M, Abdul Rashid, R.,Alsmadi, O.A. A Perspective Evaluation of Group work in an English Language Classroom. International Journal of English Language and Literature Studies; 2020. http://www.aessweb.com/journals/5019/March2020

[20] Norasmah, H. O., & Salmah, I. Kecenderungan terhadap pemilihan kerjaya keusahawanan mengikut persepsi peserta skim usahawan siswa. Jurnal Teknologi, 2011;56:47-63

[21] Singleton R. A., Straits B. C. Approaches to social research. New York: Oxford University Press; 2009.

[22] Wiersma, W. Research methods in education: An introduction. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Chicago; 1991.

[23] Steinberg, W. J. Statistics Alive! Sage Publications, Inc.; 2008.

[24] Prensky, M. Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1. On the Horizon, 2001;9(5):1-6. https://doi.org/10.1108/10748120110424816

[25] Ming Thang, Siew, Kean Wah Lee, Puvaneswary Murugaiah, Nurjanah Mohd Jaafar, Choon Keong Tan, Nurul Iman Ahmad Bukhari. ICT Tools Patterns of Use among Malaysian ESL Undergraduates. Journal of Language Studies. 2016;16(1). https://ejournal.ukm.my/gema/issue/view/750

[26] Abdulbagi Babiker Ali Abulhassan & Fatima Ibrahim Eltayeb Hamid. Perception and Interest of English Language Learners (ELL) toward Collaborative Teaching; Evaluation towards Group Activities. English Language Teaching. 2012;14(5).

[27] Johnson, Mark H et al. The emergence of the social brain network:evidence from typical and atypical development. Developmental Psychopathology. 2015;17(3):599-619. https:// doi. 10.1017/S0954579405050297.

[28] Servaas, Nadine et al. The Effect of Criticism on Functional Brain Connectivity and Associations with Neuroticism. Cognitive Neuroscience Social Cognition; July 26, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0069606