TT60204 Data Reasoning In Education Research (Qualitative) MET Group 2

Students perception on online discussion towards their writing skills

Abstract

The purpose of this grounded theory research is to understand students perception on

using online discussion towards their writing skills. Five university students from Kota
Kinabalu, Sabah were involved in this study. Data were collected through semi-structured
interviews. It was found from the data gathered that there are overall positive perceptions
on the use of online discussion towards students writing skills. Most responses from the
informers showed that there are pros and cons of doing online discussion using social
network based on their previous experiences in English language courses in their university.
However, there are also recommendations made for future researches.

Keywords: Writing skills, online discussion, social network , ESL classroom

Introduction

We are living in a world where technologies are vast evolving every day. In keeping up with
the fast pace of changes in technology all around the world, education are changing as well
in terms of making use of the resources available to assist in teaching and learning. Internet
is one of the technologies that have gained the most attention since it was first introduced.
From these resources, e-learning has become the new platform for educators to educate
and interact with learners faster and easily. Recently, there has been an increasing use of
social network as a medium of implementing online discussion tasks among educators.
Therefore this research aims to understand what students think of online discussion task
towards their writing skills specifically. Writing skills are chosen specifically as the focus for
this research mainly because in Malaysia it is known by ESL teachers that students have
poor writing skills and are aware that it is an important skill to master for students.

Writing skills is fairly an important skill in mastering English as the second language. Ismail
(2010) mentioned in an article he wrote on the importance of writing skills and how it
should receive more spotlight in ESL classroom to prepare learners on communicating
effectively in real life. Exposure to various genres of writing could help ESL learners become
good writer that they can use later in real life. It is one of the language skill that needed a
lot of time to master therefore it is suitable to use different kinds of activity such as online
discussion to help learn the language.
TT60204 Data Reasoning In Education Research (Qualitative) MET Group 2

Problem Statement

ESL teachers in Malaysia have confirmed that many Malaysian students face problems in
their writing development. Chuo (2007) reveals that one of the most prominent problems
affecting students success in college compositions besides language areas difficulties are
the students attitude towards their writing task. The concern over students poor writing
skills in the English language make

Research Questions

The research questions for this study are:

1. What are students perception on online discussion?

2. What are the implications of online discussions on writing skills?

Literature Review

McIntosh (2005) mentioned that by using technologies available such as blogs and social
networks learning will never be the same. There will be no limit to language learning as it is
constantly within reach and not just limited in the classroom. The communication between
teacher and students is an on-going process where students can always have the freedom
to do their learning blogs at any time that they want. Doing online discussion via social
network is taking full advantage of the resources available to cater the learning needs thus
help to improve the language proficiency especially in the Malaysian context. Learners need
to understand that in the modern and fast changing world, it is crucial for them to take
every opportunity that they are given in improving their own language proficiency. It is
impossible that students nowadays do not have a social network account as we are in the
time where everything is done using the internet.

Writing is definitely one of the skills that is dreaded by many language learners, thus as to
why the level of writing skills among Malaysian students is on the alarming level. This issue
is somehow related to how teaching and learning of English in an institution can help
change this alarming issue so that the overall proficiency of Malaysian students can be
improved on. Recent survey by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) showed that lecture method
of teaching English language is least effective and least favoured. These means that
language teachers have to find a more interesting way of conducting an English lesson to
TT60204 Data Reasoning In Education Research (Qualitative) MET Group 2

interest language learners. They proposed a more innovative learning method such as
through online learning. That is why this study, uses online discussion task using social
network to get learners to enjoy writing and learning the English language (Supyan Hussin,
2008). Having an enjoyable time in an English language classroom will result in a more
positive outcome on the learning process.

Methodology

6.1 Informants

In conducting this study, five university students that were previously exposed to online
discussion task via social network were chosen as informants. These five students are
currently studying in a local university. They each went for an English subject course during
their second year that uses online discussion as one of the writing task. These informants
have a low to intermediate level of proficiency in using English language.

6.2 Instruments

The research instrument was semi-structured interviews and online discussion entry that
they have previously done. The interview was done using these questions:

1. What are your perceptions on online discussion in learning English?

2. What are the implications of online discussion on your writing skills?

3. Tell me about any online discussion that you have been involved in.

4. What is your opinion on using proper English for online discussion?

6.3 Data Gathering

The researcher started gathering data and doing interviews in April 2015 by doing a one on
one interview and voice recording using the social network WhatsApp. The interview was
conducted for 4 sessions for each informant. After interviewing the informants for the first
session, the researcher listens to the responses given and wrote down a few questions to
ask for clarification on the next session. This process was repeated for a few sessions with
the informants so that the data gathered will have reliability and validity.

6.4 Data Analysis

TT60204 Data Reasoning In Education Research (Qualitative) MET Group 2

The data was the systematically gathered and analysed using qualitative techniques to
develop a theory that fits the study. The data was analysed using open coding method
where a few themes and sub-themes were used to categorize the data. The analysis focused
on the resemblances and differences in the view of these informants. This study used a
purposive sampling where all the samples are purposely chosen to help with data gathering.

Results And Discussion

The data gathered was transcribed and coded to a few themes and sub-themes according to
the interview questions.

Question 1

What are your perceptions on online discussion in learning English?

Codes Generated from Sub - theme Theme

the transcript
Saves time Advantages Students perception
Learner-friendly
extra information
improve use of
language

Allow plagiarism Disadvantages

limited interaction
ineffective
demotivating

Responses from informers are mainly divided into a sub-theme of advantages and
disadvantages. The responses showed that they think online discussion saves time,is
learner friendly, gives extra information and improve use of language as the advantages
while mentioned plagiarism, limited interaction , ineffective and demotivating as the
disadvantages. For this question, the researcher coded students perception as the theme
while advantages and disadvantages coded as the sub-theme. These are a few response
gathered: -

Informant 1 : If virtual they only have to plagiarism with on the occasion.

TT60204 Data Reasoning In Education Research (Qualitative) MET Group 2

Informant 2: .online discussion also easy help us to find another extra information.

Informant 3 : good thing about online discussion is students can save their time and

energy

Informant 4 : can refer to the internet for any learning purpose.

Question 2

Tell me about any online discussion that you have been involved in.

Codes Generated Sub - theme Theme

from the transcript
Fun Positive Attitudes
Interactive
participants
Interesting
topics
Independent
too shy to try Negative
limiting self
from using
language
refuse to
participate
Based from the response, theme and sub-themes were identified and categorize into similar
patterns. Their overall response shows their own attitude upon the use of online discussion
where it is divided into two parts which are the positive and negative attitude that they have
when using online discussion. Below are a few responses from the informant themselves
using their own words during the interview. Informant 1 mentioned check dictionary
showing that they become independent in an online discussion when they do not know what
to write for their responses.

Informant 1 : check the dictionary to make our sentences.

Informant 4 : ..certain people that i know is too shy to speak English.

TT60204 Data Reasoning In Education Research (Qualitative) MET Group 2

Question 3

What are the implications of online discussion on your writing skills?

A few responses from the informants will be shared below :

i) online discussion is very helpful in their writing skills because sometimes the online
discussion we can read another article directly err compared to the manual. Manually, we
can we have to check the dictionary to make our sentences. In online discussion, we have to
Google like Google software to yes translate our sentences. So it umm really helps in
classroom.

ii) For example, my structure for my sentence in my in my writing. Is getting improved.

My grammar also improving when Im doing online discussion. Lastly, Im also can use in a..
a new words in my ..when Im writing an essay because new words can easily found in an
online party.

iii) online discussion err we can improve our writing skills. For example, word wizard role
make us know the meaning of many word.

These are some of what has been transcribed from the informants themselves. They
mentioned that doing online discussion are helpful as they can refer to the internet to check
one their errors and vocabularies before posting online. This managed to help them improve
their writing skills while having more motivation in their writing skills.

Question 4

What is your opinion on using proper English for online discussion?

Codes Generated from Sub-theme Theme

the transcript
Help improve Positive Importance
language
better understanding
All of the informant when asked this question, gave the similar feedback on using proper
English in their online discussion. As we know, sometime we tend to use the wrong
TT60204 Data Reasoning In Education Research (Qualitative) MET Group 2

grammatical sentence structure when it comes to online writing. However, the informants
agree that there are importance of using proper English for example proper grammar and
spelling where it can help improve the English language while promote better
communication skill with other to avoid misunderstanding.

Recommendations

The findings of this study highlighted the implementation of online discussion using social
network towards students writing skills. For future research, a few recommendations will
help make this study more trustworthy by having more additional data to support what the
informants mentioned from the interviews. Triangulation of data should be more thorough
to make sure the reliability of the data gathered to come up with a theory at the end of the
study. Another recommendation will be to add more informants and getting to know them
better before conducting the interview to create a better rapport between researcher and
informant.

Conclusion

The conclusion of the study is that we can see how students have overall positive
perceptions on using online discussion via social network towards their own writing skill.
Although there are negative feedbacks on their previous discussion but it can be improved
from time to time to make sure that the English language learning is favourable to all no
matter the age. Therefore, English language teachers can use online discussion using social
network to enhance learners writing skills. Teacher and learners can discuss on which
platform they can use to do the online discussion task for long term benefit.
TT60204 Data Reasoning In Education Research (Qualitative) MET Group 2

References

Chuo, Tun-Whei I. (2007). The effects of the WebQuest writing instruction program onEFL

earners writing performance, writing apprehension and perception TESL-EJ .11(3),

127.

Ismail, S . A. A (2010) .Exploring Students Perception of ESL writing. English Language

Teaching. Vol. 4, No. 2: June 2011.

McIntosh, E. (2005). From learning logs to learning blogs. Scottish Centre for Information on
Language Teaching and Research.

Supyan Hussin. (2008). Creating a bigger Z.P.D. for ESL learners via online forum.
TheCollege Teaching Methods and Styles Journal,4(11), 1-9.
TT60204 Data Reasoning In Education Research (Qualitative) MET Group 2

Appendix A : Semi-Structured Interview Questions

1. What are your perceptions on online discussion in learning English?

2. What are the implications of online discussion on your writing skills?

3. What do you notice from your writing skills?

4. Tell me about any online discussion that you have been involved in.

5. What is your opinion on using proper English for online discussion?

TT60204 Data Reasoning In Education Research (Qualitative) MET Group 2

Appendix B : Informer Consent forms

Consent Forms for Informers

I have been told about this study and understand what it is about. All my questions have been
answered to my satisfaction. I understand that I am free to request further information at any stage.

I know that:

1. Participation in this study is voluntary, which means that I do not have to take part if I do not want
to and nothing will happen to me. I can also stop taking part at any time and is not required to give
reason as to why.

2. All information provided for this study is recorded for the sole purpose of the study only.

3. If I dont want to answer some of the questions, thats fine.

4. My name will not be on anything for the final report of this study.

I agree to take part in the study.

Signed Date
TT60204 Data Reasoning In Education Research (Qualitative) MET Group 2

Appendix C: Sample of interview transcription

Informer1.

19 April 2015 UMS library 1 pm

Iv: ok. um thank you for willing to be the respondent for this research. So.. first questions that
i will ask you, i would like to know what are your perceptions on online discussion in
learning English.

R1: Welcome. Good evening. In my opinion online discussion is have a good and not good
like pro and contrast. um online discussion in classroom maybe help some time and maybe
not help because some smarter student have their own way to..uh to lie on the online
discussion because...they uh emm..online discussion have a, have to err launch internet
because sometimes internet and student they cannot launch because on a specific time student
are busy with their own assignment on their own daily life. So, the one factor is time. Time is
influence their their umm their to use the online discussion. um Secondly, online discussion
also not good, eh i think online discussion is virtual, virtual not the contact directly with the
teacher or lecturer because sometimes students need to contact with their lecturer because err
its a good way interaction. If virtual they only have to plagiarism with the other sources on
the occasion. So, i think this is my my opinion.

Iv: ok thank you for that opinion. um what else, time consuming , plagiarism. How about
question number 2. do you think that if you do a lot of online discussion can it help you in
terms of your writing skills.

R1: Yes, i think online discussion is very helpful in their writing skills because sometimes the
online discussion we can read another article directly err compared to the manual. Manually,
we can we have to check the dictionary to make our sentences. In online discussion, we have
to Google like Google software to yes translate our sentences. So it umm really helps in
classroom.

Iv: Ok..so do you do Google translating always?

R1: yes, always because its very help us because the internet the err Google translate have to
fast our job our task. um our time is save and its good for us. It's very convenient.

Iv: er Okay. Tell me about any online discussion that you have been involved in. Do you
think that it was an interesting discussion? Why?

R1: For me err I have many group online discussion but the early one happened in my
English class for Writing and Reading and we discuss online in Facebook in our group. I get
some ermm adventure in.. advantages and disadvantages. So.. in my opinion it was an
interesting discussion because we can interact with err the other people at the different time
but we can interact with each other with same time. So for me, it was got and I think if
a..more online discussion should be doing in the holidays because its good for us lah. Err
its my opinion for me that is interesting. Thank you.
TT60204 Data Reasoning In Education Research (Qualitative) MET Group 2

IV: One last question. Do you think its important to use proper English when doing online
discussion?

R1: Yes..for me I think use proper English is good when we doing in a team including the
discussion online. When use proper English when doing discussion online we practice us to
er became more good in English. If use not proper English we will practice us ourselves to er
to be help with the broken English. so when we use broken English there are many
advantage. We us in audio, nowadays English is number emm one language in the world. If
place we are going many will use English because er a lot of people know about their English
language. If we not use the proper English maybe sometime the people will not understand
what we said so for me its very important to use proper English during discussion online.

Iv : Thank you for your cooperation.