Proposed Study:

A Qualitative Description on the

Asynchronous Learning Experiences of
STEM Xavier University Senior High
School Students of S.Y. 2020-2021

1. Title of the Thesis: Effectiveness of

Hands-on Pedagogy in STEM
Education

Author: John Kyere

School: Walden University

Year: 2017

Relevant Findings:

In the 21st century, the country’s

need for a world-leading STEM workforce
and a scientifically, mathematically, and
technologically literate populace has become
even greater, and it will continue to grow –
particularly as other nations continue to make
rapid advances in science and technology.
STEM education is essential 3 to our
economic competitiveness and our national,
health, and environmental security. It is also
our obligation to empower future generations
with the tools and knowledge they will need
to seize the opportunities and solve the
global problems that they will inherit. STEM
education is critical to the Nation’s roles and
responsibilities in the world, including our
ability to play a role in international
development. The study tries to find out the
effectiveness of hands-on activities to STEM
students.

According to a further report from the

U.S. Council of Advisors on Science and
Technology (2010), some of the factors that
lead to the attrition rate of students and their
poor performance in STEM fields may be
attributed to lack of adequate preparation
regarding instruction and content knowledge,
lack of coherency and isolated instruction of
science and math, uninspiring introductory
courses, and academic culture that does not
address the learning needs of students.

The paper also talks about the stages

of developmental theory in which it is stated
there that Hands-on operations have a link to
the stages of developmental theory. The
highest stage of development theory includes
the ability to work with abstractions. The
second highest stage may be reached when
the mind begins to work well with concrete
things through interactions with the physical
environment (Gage & Berliner 1994; Lawson,
1995; Piaget, 1973). In other words, hands-
on science can help students to pass through
the second highest stage to the highest
stage as it is able to provide concrete
illustrations of abstract ideas when the mind
needs concrete and physical activities for
understanding. Once at the highest stage,
however, hands-on science is of much less
importance in helping the student gain
understanding as the student tries to
understand abstract ideas.

Relationship to the present study:

The relationship of this thesis to the present

study is since our target audience are STEM
students and we would like to know their
Asynchronous Learning Experiences, what
are the pros and cons especially
asynchronous learning is limited to activities
and pre-recorded videos, in which if we put it
in a face-to-face set-up STEM student will
have hands on activities such as in
laboratories conducting different
experiments. So, this paper will help us
researchers to understand how important
and effective if STEM students will have
hands on experience.

Source: Kyere, J. (2017). Effectiveness of

hands-on pedagogy in STEM education.

2. Title of the Thesis: A Content

Analysis Study About STEM
Education

Author: Sevda Göktepe Yildiz and Ahmet

Şükrü Özdemir

School: Biruni University and Marmara

University

Year: 2015

Relevant Findings:

In the recent years, STEM education

received a great attention (Bybee, 2010). In
the year 2001, the term STEM was first
called as Science, Mathematics, Engineering
and Technology (SMET). But eventually, its
was called STEM and it was created by
Judith Ramley. Additionally, science and
technology have supported mathematics and
engineering (Sanders, 2009).

In accordance with America National

Research Council (NRC) (2011) gives
importance to STEM education because the
scientific provision and economic superiority
of the country depends on the trained
individuals of STEM disciplines (Raines,
2012). Therefore, STEM education is
considered important for economic growth
and scientific progress (Lacey & Wright,
2009).

There are various models offered by

STEM education (Bybee, 2013). In a chosen
discipline, teachers fulfill its course outline
and effectively integrate this course together
with the other STEM disciplines (Lin &
Williams, 2015). STEM activities are more on
constructive applications and student-
centered (Bransford, Brown & Cocking,
2000).

Relationship to the present study:

This thesis in relation to the present study will

be able to help us researchers to know if the
activities given by their teachers are effective
despite having an asynchronous type of
learning. And also to understand more what
is really STEM strand is all about

Source: Göktepe Yildiz, S. & Özdemir, A.

(2015). A Content Analysis Study About
Stem Education.

3. Title of the Thesis: E-learning:

Students' Perspectives about
Asynchronous and Synchronous
Resources at Higher Education
Level

Author: Misbah Malik, Ghulam Fatima, Abid

Hussain Ch. And Ayesha Sarwar

School: University of the Punjab, Lahore,

Pakistan

Year: 2017

Relevant Findings:

E-Learning: Students' Perspectives

about Asynchronous and Synchronous
Resources at Higher Education Level. The
adequacy of videoconferencing contrasted
with close up and personal interaction and
capability of video-conferencing in training for
geographically remote learners, who don't
have access to traditional educational setup,
has been proved of incredible benefit.
regarding utilization of video conferencing at
higher education level in synchronous
instruction use of videos impacts the
learners' feeling of association with their
instructor.

Transactional distance is a
pedagogical phenomenon that learners
experience while living apart from their
instructors and fellows, collaborating with
each other and the way of their relationship.

Many individuals who participated in

asynchronous online courses, the experience
involved in developmental process for
understanding and becoming an active
learner was totally new for them. Most of the
individuals need to modify their role as online
learner and their assumption regarding the
role of their instructor. The blended learning
as changes in institutions of higher education
due to mixing old and new methods, but they
suggested that there must be better definition
so that institutions of higher education may
align their goals to be successful to initiate
blended learning. In this manner, blended
learning has been found to develop
adaptability into individuals' learning, as well
as to help organizations for productive
utilization of time and workforce.
Asynchronous means that there is no set
time for the learning to be occurring.
Learners can learn anywhere and can
consume their time to gain knowledge of
what they want to know and when they need
to know. Synchronous e-learning is related to
structure and time bounded activities, which
are offered through web conferencing and
chatting options. E-learning resources give
option to do one, or both.

Relationship to the present study:

Students' preferences to use asynchronous

and synchronous e-learning resources. This
paper also gives us researchers a deeper
idea about what is asynchronous all about
and how it differ from synchronous learning.

Source:
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1210223.pdf

4. Title of the Thesis: Synchronous

vs. Asynchronous Tutorials: Factors
Affecting Students’ Preferences and
Choices

Author: Ruth Beyth-Marom, Kelly Saporta,

and Avner Caspi

School: The Open University of Israel

Year: 2005

Relevant Findings:

The study aims to determine the

factors that affect students’ preferences
regarding tutorial modes. The study
enumerated potential factors that may affect
students' academic performances. The
factors included were: “time management,”
“ease of access" to learning materials,
“positive aspects of interaction,” and
“negative aspects of interaction.”. It was
mentioned in the study that most students
prefer a synchronous learning over an
asynchronous one.

Relationship to the present study:

The study revealed some important findings

regarding the factors affecting students'
academic performance. Academic
performance in our present study determines
a student's involvement with online learning.
There is an evident distinction within the
students’ academic performance when it
comes to asynchronous and synchronous
learning.

Source:
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ690972.pdf