The Digital Era in Teaching Religious Education: An Empowering Perspective on Primary Education.
Background: The way of teaching Religious Studies hasn't been modernized for several years while there are more effective and innovative teaching and learning strategies. Blended learning combines the traditional form of learning with new technologies and is known for its ability to improve learning...
| Published in: | Journal of Computer Assisted Learning Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 1 - 23 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | research tables/charts randomized controlled trial Journal Article |
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Wiley-Blackwell
Aug2026
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=195655216&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 195655216 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 02664909 6M1 jtl: Journal of Computer Assisted Learning issn: 02664909 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: Aug2026 vid: 42 iid: 4 pid: 480 pub: Wiley-Blackwell place: Malden, Massachusetts artinfo: ui: 195655216 195655216 195655216 10.1002/jcal.70289 195655216 ppf: 1 ppct: 22 formats: tig: atl: The Digital Era in Teaching Religious Education: An Empowering Perspective on Primary Education. aug: au: Karakostantaki, Evangelia Stavrianos, Kyriakos Zaranis, Nicholas Linardakis, Michalis affil: Department of Preschool Education, University of Crete, Panepistimioupoli Gallou Rethymno, Crete, Greece sug: subj: Digital Technology Utilization Educational Technology Utilization Learning Methods Christianity Education Schools, Elementary Greece Empowerment Outcomes of Education Human Greece Male Female Child Quasi-Experimental Studies Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design Randomized Controlled Trials Random Assignment Descriptive Statistics Data Analysis Software Chi Square Test T-Tests Analysis of Covariance Teaching Methods Comparative Studies Holidays Bible Education Motivation Child: 6-12 years Male Female ab: Background: The way of teaching Religious Studies hasn't been modernized for several years while there are more effective and innovative teaching and learning strategies. Blended learning combines the traditional form of learning with new technologies and is known for its ability to improve learning. Objectives: The purpose of this paper was to investigate the effect of didactic interventions through blended learning with the aid of Information and Communication Technologies in Education; concerning the Religious Studies course, and more precisely the teaching of modules from the textbook for the third grade of Elementary School "Narratives from the New Testament" and "Christian Celebration Days". Methods: This research employed quantitative planning, focusing on a quasi‐experimental design. The sample which participated was comprised of 10 identical classes, aged 8–9, attending the third grade of primary school in different schools of the prefecture of Heraklion, Crete. The sample was divided into two groups: five classes were the experimental group and the other five classes were the control group. The experimental group learned through a mix of traditional teaching and technology (blended teaching), with ICTs used as additional teaching aids. On the other hand, the control group followed the curriculum of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs of Greece. Results and Conclusions: The findings indicate a noticeable enhancement in comprehension of the Religious Studies course in the experimental group in comparison with the improvement in the control group. This study suggests that blending traditional teaching with technology in education is necessary. The findings highlight the significant contribution of ICT to the Religious Education curriculum, showcasing its potential to profoundly impact learning outcomes and bolster students' engagement and enthusiasm for the lesson. Key Points: What is already known about this topic ○Religious Studies course in primary education is typically taught through traditional teaching methods.○Blended learning, which combines face‐to‐face teaching with digital tools, is increasingly recognized for its effectiveness across various subjects.○The integration of ICT in teaching has been shown to boost student engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes.What this paper adds ○Introduces a blended learning approach specifically within the context of Religious Studies in primary education, where such methods are rarely implemented○Provides empirical evidence, using a quasi‐experimental design, that blended learning with ICTs significantly improves student understanding in Religious Studies.Implications for practice and/or policy: ○Teachers should consider incorporating blended learning strategies into Religious Studies to foster deeper understanding and increased pupil participation.○There are many free programs and apps available that teachers and students can use to make learning procedures more interesting and effective. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: research tables/charts randomized controlled trial Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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