Pakistan Journal of Education
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Effectiveness of Kumon Teaching Method for Academic Achievement of Children in Mathematics
Get PDFThe experimental study was designed to investigate the effectiveness ofKumon method in comparison with traditional lecture method in theteaching of Mathematics to grade-5. Kumon is a math and readingenrichment program, which provides practice and instruction to eachindividual. This helps to think and work independently. The hypothesisof this study was that in Mathematics, Grade-5 students have nosignificant difference in their academic achievement treated by Kumonmethod and by traditional lecture method. The objective of the study wasto determine the effectiveness of Kumon method for academicachievement of children in Mathematics. All grade-5 students of Fazaiainter colleges of Rawalpindi and Islamabad was the population. Clustersampling technique was used. One of the three Fazaia colleges (juniorsection) was selected randomly. All grade-5 students of the selectedcluster formed the sample of the study. Data was collected and analyzedby applying t-test and recommendations were given on the basis offindings of the study. This study shows that Kumon method is moreeffective for teaching mathematics to Grade 5 students in comparisonwith traditional lecture method and equally helpful in teachingmathematics effectively to boys and girls
Examining Performance of Geometrical Thinking in Mathematics at Secondary School Level in Pakistan
Get PDFGeometrical thinking is important for students to perform well inmathematics as a whole. This study aimed at assessing performance ofgrade 9th students in Geometrical thinking. Furthermore, comparisonamong students in different strata was made like sector wise, gender wiseand location wise. A test of reasoning was administered to a sample ofabove 500 hundred. Sample of the study was taken with proportionateapproach from the whole population. The test was properly validated andreliably checked using SPSS. Factor analysis of the test shows that allitems were statistically aligned with theoretical model. The results showthat the students perform in a variety of ways like performance of privateschools students was significantly better than students of public schools.Similarly, male and urban students performed well than female and ruralstudents respectively. However, the difference between score of thestudents in private and public schools were found significant. Interactionanalysis of gender, rural urban divide shows; that some items showinteraction effect by behaving differently in response to backgroundvariables. It was recommended for further research to replicated thisstudy on different level with tools suitable for their level and also can bebetter conducted using tools that involve diagrammatic reasoning
Language Anxiety and Attitude of Secondary School Students towards Learning English
Get PDFIn countries where English is taught as a foreign language, learners suffervarious levels of being anxious and develop a specific attitude towardsEnglish. The paper examined foreign language anxiety of 10th gradestudents and their attitude towards foreign language learning. Sample ofthe study was 360 male and 360 female students of 10th grade studentsof public sector secondary schools from six districts of the PunjabProvince of Pakistan. Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety (FLCAS)scale was used to investigate anxiety of the students and attitude towardsEnglish was found by using English language attitude scale. The datawere analyzed quantitatively using SPSS. t-test was used to find outgender differences for language anxiety and attitude. Relationship ofanxiety with attitude of the students was determined though Pearsonproduct moment coefficient. Results revealed that significant differencesexisted between male and female students for foreign language anxietyand attitude towards foreign language learning. Results also indicatedthat significant negative correlation was found between foreign languageanxiety and students’ attitude towards foreign language learning. Girlsshowed less anxiety in English language class and had more positiveattitude towards English. It was suggested that training might be given toEnglish language teachers on modern pedagogical patterns. Englishlanguage Curriculum might be redesigned keeping the context of thelearners in mind
Quality of Teachers’ Performance Evaluation in Public and Private Secondary Schools of Karachi, Pakistan
Get PDFThis descriptive study explored the quality of teachers’ performanceevaluation process used in schools of Karachi city. The sample of thisstudy included 50 principals and 250 teachers from public and privateschools. Using structured, closed-ended questionnaire, data wereanalyzed by descriptive statistics and Independent t test. The results ofthe study indicate that both private and public secondary schools inKarachi have a proper system of teachers’ performance evaluation but asignificant difference exists in terms of quality. Unlike private schools,the performance of teachers in public schools is not monitored regularly,the results of performance evaluation do not accurately reflect a teacher’sability, and the rating system used to evaluate teachers is not useful forthe growth of teachers and principals. The results concluded that bothpublic and private secondary schools in Karachi have a trustworthysystem of teachers’ performance evaluation. The study also revealed thatthe quality of teachers’ performance evaluation in private secondaryschools is better than public secondary schools in Karachi. The privateschools have a formative system of teachers’ performance evaluation thatis reflected through regular informal visits by their principal to check theperformance of teachers. In contrast the public schools have a summativeevaluation system to check the performance of teachers which wasreflected through lack of regular visits by principal to check theperformance of teachers
Influence of the Supervision Related Background Variables on the Supervisees’ Supervision Experiences at Postgraduate Level
Get PDFThis research aims to investigate the influence of some supervision related background variables on the supervisees’ supervision experiences during their research at postgraduate level. We conducted a survey from (N= 422) supervisees using Supervisor-Supervisee. Relationship Questionnaire (SSRQ, 65 items) scored on six point scale. The items of SSRQ were developed on six supervision aspects to find the supervision related experiences in addition to the selected background variables. The subscale wise content validity and reliability of the SSRQ was ensured. Inferential statistics were applied to achieve the main objectives of the research. The findings of the research highlighted the importance of supervisors’ expertise and research skills in the supervisees’ area of research. The supervisees who were not given choice for the selection of the supervisor have reported negative supervision experiences. Giving choice to the selection of a supervisor can improve the supervision experiences of supervisees and can minimize the potential personality and research interest related anomalies. Supervisees from the social sciences disciplines reported the problem of workload management during the supervision process. On the basis of findings it is suggested that supervision allotment procedure, alignment between supervisors’ area of specialization and supervisee research topic and discipline specific supervision trainings may be initiated
Job Stress of Academia and its Effect on their Performance in Public Sector Universities of Punjab
Get PDFThe study was aimed to examine the job stress of academia and its effects on their performance in public sector universities of Punjab. The objectives were to identify the nature of job stress, factors responsible for job stress, and relationship between job stress and performance of academia. There were nine regions in the Punjab. Seven universities representing each region were the population of the study. These universities were, PU from Lahore, BZU from Multan, PMAS-Arid from Rawalpindi, UOS form Sargodha, UOG from Gujrat, IUB from Bahawalpur and GCU from Faisalabad. Stratified random sampling techniques were used and strata were made with respect to the population of the study. A sample of 373 academic heads, 434 academia and 1008 students were taken for study. It was concluded from the results that academia stress is multiple factor construct, and these entire factors associated with each other’s. It is also found from academia job stress negatively effect on their performance. It was recommended from results that university as an organization may conduct need assessment program for academia to explore the causes of their stress and dissatisfaction
Validation of Test of Nonverbal Intelligence for Pakistani Youth
Get PDFof nonverbal intelligence. The test was developed to assess the generalcognitive ability of Pakistani youth. The items were constructed keeping inmind to tab the cognitive domains of fluid intelligence, abstract reasoning,spatial ability, working memory, processing speed, inductive anddeductive reasoning, application of logics, drawing of inferences andrelated abilities. Multidimensional construct methods were used todetermine the construct validity. The principal factor analysis withvarimax rotations yielded a single factor loading, an indicative of unifactor test. Inter correlation of five subscales and total test scores werefound to be highly significant (p < .001). The results showed thehomogeneity of the test. The discrimination validity of the test wasestablished by correlating the test scores with test takers performance ontest of physical agility and stamina. The Pearson correlation produced nonsignificant results between the two measures. The criterion validity wasestablished by correlating the test scores with academic achievementswhich generated highly significant correlations at p < .001. The convergentvalidity was established by correlation the scores with Raven progressivematrices, verbal intelligence tests and nonverbal intelligence being used atinter services selection boards. The results showed coefficient ofcorrelation .384, .227 and .396 respectively for RSPM, VIT and NVITwhich was highly significant at p. < .001. The age and grade differencesalso showed that the mean test score increases with age and grade. Theresults of the validity studies indicate that the proposed nonverbal test is avalid measure to assess the intelligence of Pakistani youth
Experience of Professional Development Strategies: Context of Nepalese EFL Teachers
Get PDFProfessional Development (PD) for teachers in developing countries isan emerging emphasis despite limited resources. Evidence regarding theteachers’ experiences of PD activities in developing countries, includingNepal, are not well known. This study aimed to identify and discuss PDstrategies employed by Nepalese English as a foreign language (EFL)teachers and experiences. The study employed a qualitative researchdesign for data collection among 45 EFL teachers recruited from 15 highschools and colleges across the districts of Kathmandu and Lalitpur. Dataon teachers’ age, gender, academic qualification, teaching experience (interms of number of years), and teacher training, their experiences aboutPD and the perceived benefits of the different learning strategies of PDwere collected using a questionnaire. The findings are presented in termsof the four main groups of PD strategies - self-directed, professionrelated,peer-supported and study-(research-) focused. We report that theNepalese EFL teachers have positive experience towards different PDstrategies. The EFL teachers have been benefited mostly from selfdirected(own teaching experience and self -monitoring), professionrelated (workshops, seminars and conferences), and peer-supported(learning from colleagues) PD strategies. The study recommends thatthere is a need for on-going PD activities for EFL teachers in Nepal
A Survey for Need Assessment to Classify Learning Styles of Students Studying in Master Degree Programs at Universities
Get PDFStudents’ learning is highly subjective owing to their individual differences, environment and background which decide their learning styles. The purpose of this study was to explore learning styles of university students owing to generic role in their learning. There is need to assess whether students of different universities with different backgrounds but with same discipline prefer same or different learning styles. Four general universities were selected; two from each, public sector and privatesector.314 students were involved in the study from selected universities. A questionnaire was developed in the light of literature to explore learning styles of students mainly based on Grasha Reichmann Learning Style Survey (1974). Survey research design was used to collect data. The number of students against every learning style was calculated through statistical distribution. To infer the significance of results, t-test and ANOVA were applied. The findings showed that learning styles were closely linked gender wise. Further, there was no vast difference in learning styles of the students in respect of public and private sector universities. Subject based results are generally aligned but there are variations in couple of subjects like mass communication. The study concludes that students use variety of learning styles in different situations. If teacher used teaching style compatible to preferred students learning style then they would take more interest in the lesson and learn better
Inquiry into Gendered Teacher-Student Classroom Interactions
Get PDFteacher–student interactions in the classroom. Moreover, the differencesin frequency of interaction, differences in types of teacher initiatives andresponses towards boys and girls in the classroom were also identified.Total 36 lessons were observed in grade 8th classroom in a local school inGujranwala. Each class lesson was observed for 30 minutes.Observations were coded using the Interactions for Sex Equity inClassroom Teaching (INTERSECT) observational research tool. Thestudy found that boys received more praise from female teachers thanmale teachers. Moreover, both male and female teachers criticize boysmore while male teachers tend to interact more with girls than boys. Thispaper provides guide lines to the curriculum planners to recommendgender neutral teaching techniques for the male and female teachers to bepracticed in mixed gender (coed) classes