IIUM Journal of Educational Studies
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Promoting a Community of Inquiry in a Civics and Citizenship Education Class through the Pedagogy of Philosophical Inquiry
Get PDFIn realising the development of ethics and values among Malaysian school-going students, depicted in Shift 3 Aspirations of the Malaysian Educational Blueprint 2013-3025, the study examined how the pedagogy of philosophical inquiry helped in the development of a community of inquiry (CI) in the Civics and Citizenship Education classroom. The study employed a qualitative action research design, where the researcher used the observational method, which is based on the Lipman’s CI checklist, to identify seven elements of CI in the classroom; namely, participation, quest for meaning, shared cognition, challenging as a procedure, deliberation, impartiality and thinking for oneself. Findings of the study showed that the philosophical inquiry pedagogy and the community of inquiry assisted in the effective teaching of CCE as students discovered a more meaningful learning experience, became more empowered in their thinking and views, and more sensitive to the current issues, paving the way to become good citizens of the nation
Challenges to Parental Involvement in Children’s Education at a Primary School: A Rasch Analysis
Get PDFAbstractLiterature has evidenced the positive significant role of parental involvement in children’s personality development and education. However, research on parental involvement in children’s education is sparse in rural areas, especially among ethnic minorities in China. Hence, a research project was conducted to examine the level of parental involvement and its role in influencing children’s academic achievement in these areas; and to identify the challenges to parental involvement. This paper aimed to identify the challenges to parental involvement using the cross-sectional survey design. The parents’ of Grades Three and Four school children were selected to answer a questionnaire on parental involvement. The items on challenges to parental involvement were analyzed using the Rasch Measurement Model (Winsteps software program, version 4.1.0). The Rasch analyses revealed that the research instrument met the measurement requirements. Parents’ low proficiency in the Chinese language and the complexity of the school subjects were the biggest challenges to parental involvement. This research has provided useful information to parents, teachers, school administration and policy makers. Further research could be conducted using more items and larger samples from other school grades. Qualitative research is recommended to obtain more in-depth information on parental involvement in general, and the challenges in particular.
Keywords: Parental involvement, Rasch measurement model, challenges to parental involvement, children’s personality development, China's ethnic minoritie
The Effectiveness of ThingLink in Teaching New Vocabulary to Non-Native Beginners of the Arabic Language
Get PDFLow proficiency in the Arabic language, specifically in vocabulary learning, has been a long-standing issue for non-native Arabic speakers. Traditional language pedagogy, such as chalk and talk and memorization, continues to be a widely-known cause of low proficiency that affects 21st century students. Thus, this study sought to investigate the effectiveness of using ThingLink, an interactive image annotation tool, as an intervention to teach Arabic vocabulary to beginners of the language at a public university in Malaysia. The study adopted a pre-experimental design, i.e., the pretest-posttest one group design, involving 30 students who were beginners of Arabic. The Vocabulary Knowledge Scale (VKS) and a modified TAM questionnaire were utilized to examine ThingLink’s effectiveness in three aspects, i.e., perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and students’ vocabulary achievement. The data were analyzed descriptively and with a paired samples t-test. The results showed a statistically significant increase in vocabulary achievement among the subjects, but the effect of the intervention was only moderate at Cohen’s d = 0.42. The subjects rated ThingLink positively on both usefulness and ease of use, although their endorsement of the app’s ease of use was higher than their rating of its usefulness. The subjects’ reactions to ThingLink indicate that it is an effective tool for language teachers and students to use. The results of the study support the use of ThingLink as language learning app capable of meeting the needs and goals of 21st century education
Reading Skill among Malaysian ESL Lower Secondary Students: Which Girls and Which Boys are Achieving and Underachieving?
Get PDFThe literature on educational achievement has shown consistently that boys are underachieving. They are disengaged with learning, and their dropout rates in schools are higher than those for girls. Although the problem of underachievement and disengagement with learning is largely associated with boys, not all boys are underachieving or disengaged with learning, and not all girls are achieving and engaged with learning. There is also strong evidence to suggest that differences within gender are more significant than the difference between gender. Recent research findings have shown that educational performance is highly influenced by socio-demographic factors such as school location, race or ethnicity, socio-economic status, and parents’ education. Given that reading is a critical literacy skill for academic achievement and English is an important second language in Malaysia, this study sought to identify groups of Malaysian lower secondary students who are at risk of underachieving in English reading skill. A sample of 944 Malaysian ESL Form 1, 2 and 3 students, randomly selected from national-type schools, participated in the study. A test of English reading skill, consisting of 60 multiple-choice items was used. The Rasch Model analysis as well as selected descriptive statistics were used to answer the research questions. The results showed that students’ performance in English reading differed from one group to another, implying that gender did not exclusively influence student performance. Based on the findings, more sound and informed decisions on students’ performance in English reading skill and the most effective teaching methods can be made. Qualitative investigation of the factors behind high or low performance among these groups of students is also needed to further understand the influence of these factors on achievement and underachievement
Exploring Married Malay Couples' Conceptions of a Satisfying Marriage: Some Implications for the Education of Family Counsellors
Get PDFThe objective of this study was to understand the phenomenon of a satisfying marriage among Malay married couples in Malaysia. It is submitted that a happy marriage starts from the feeling of satisfaction felt by married couples. However, with the rising statistics of marital problems and divorce cases reported in Malaysia, the phenomenon of satisfaction among married couples, the factors that contribute to it, as well as the challenges and ways to overcome them, need to be understood. The research employed a qualitative phenomenological method of enquiry. Two married couples, consisting of two males and two females, were selected as participants for in-depth one-on-one interviews. They were of different couple profiles, age groups and lengths of marriage that fit into the intended selection criteria. In this study, a satisfying marriage was described through the feelings of peace, tranquillity and calmness, the happiness of family members, the positive feelings felt from the presence of family, the sense of togetherness, strength and support as well as the grateful feeling of having a spouse with commendable attributes. With regard to the factors that contribute to marital satisfaction, four major themes and eight subthemes were identified. The four major themes were “Attitudes and Actions of Spouse”, “Relationship with Others”, “Finance and Career” and “Religion”. The subthemes that emerged from “Attitudes and Actions of Spouse” included “Complementary Roles”, “Respect and Tolerance”, “Physical Intimacy, Bonding and Fulfilment”, “Understanding and Trust”, “Communication,” and “Humor.” Meanwhile, the subthemes that emerged from “Relationship with Others” were “Relationship with Children” and “Relationship with In-Laws and Relatives.” Two major themes emerged in regard to the challenges in achieving a satisfying marriage, which were “Attitude of Couples” and “External Factors.” There are three main highlights in the findings of this study, namely “peace” as an important element in a satisfying marriage, the role of religion in a satisfying marriage, and the existence of gender differences in needs and expectations in a marriage. This study is hoped to be a significant endeavor in creating an awareness on the subject of marital satisfaction in Malaysia. It has implications for education, marriage and family counselling, as well as personal growth, and could serve as a basis for further efforts to promote a more satisfying marital institution.
Keywords: Marital satisfaction, satisfying marriage, marital institution, phenomenology, family counsellin
مستوى ممارسة مديري مدارس التعليم الأساسي القيادةَ التحويلي ة بمحافظة مسندم في سلطنة عما ن: Examining Transformational Leadership Practices of Primary School Principals in the Musandam Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman
No full textهدفت الدراسة إلى التعرف على مستوى القيادة التحويلية لمديري مدارس التعليم الأساسي بمحافظة مسندم في سلطنة عمان من وجهة نظر المعلمين والمعلمات. تكوَّن مجتمع الدراسة من جميع المعلمين والمعلمات في مدارس التعليم الأساسي للصفوف (5-12) في المحافظة، والبالغ عددهم (256) معلمًا ومعلمةً. اختيرت منهم عينة عشوائية طبقية تكونت من (154) معلماً ومعلمة. تم استخدام المنهج الوصفي المسحي وجمع البيانات من خلال استبانة مكونة من 47 فقرة ، وتحليلها باستخدام الإحصاء الوصفي والإحصاء الاستدلالي. أظهرت نتائج التحليل بأن مستوى القيادة التحويلية لدى مديري مدارس التعليم الأساسي للصفوف (5-12) مرتفع بشكل عام ؛ وكذل عدم وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية في متوسطات إجابات أفراد عينة الدراسة على القيادة التحويلية لدى مديري مدارس التعليم الأســـــــــــاسي للصفوف (5-12) بمحافظة مسندم تُعزى لمتغيرات النوع الاجتماعي، المؤهل العلمي، سنوات الخبرة عند مستوى دلالة (0.05 a≤). أكَّدت الدراسة على أهمية استمرار جهود وزارة التربية والتعليم بسلطنة عمان في تدريب مدراء المدارس على القيادة التحويلية؛ والاستفادة منهم في تطوير زملائهم الأقل خبرة في ممارسة القيادة التحويلية. وأوصت الدراسة بإعداد أبحاث من النوع الكيفي للحصول على بيانات أكثر عمقا.The study explored teachers’ perceptions of transformational leadership practiced by primary school principals in the Musandam Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman. The population included all teachers (N = 256) teaching Grades 5 to 12 in all primary schools in the governorate. A stratified random sample of 154 teachers (100 male and 54 female) was drawn from the population. Data were collected using a 47 item-questionnaire administered in a cross-sectional survey. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the data analysis. The results showed that teachers perceived transformational leadership practices to be prevalent among the school principals. Moreover, no statistically significant differences were found in the teachers’ perceptions of the principals’ transformational leadership practices by gender, academic qualification and years of experience, p ≤ 0.05. Pursuant to the findings, this study urges the Omani Ministry of Education to continue their effort in training principals on transformational leadership practices, and make use of the principals’ expertise to help other school principals with less experience in this type of school management. To obtain a greater depth of understanding regarding transformational leadership among school principals, qualitative research is, therefore, recommended
تقنيين مقياس ميداس للذكاءات المتعددة لطلاب الصف الحادي عشر في محافظة شمالي الباطنة بسلطنة عمان: Standardization of MIDAS with Grade Eleven Omani Students in the Governate of North Albatinah
No full textسعى هذا البحث إلى تقنين مقياس ميداس MIDAS للذكاءات المتعددة للمراهقين من تأليف برانتون شيرر(1996) واستخراج المعايير لدرجاته. تألفت عينة الدراسة من 700 طالبٍ وطالبة (321 ذكور و379 إناث) من طلبة الصف الحادي عشر بمحافظة شمال الباطنة في سلطنة عمان. واستخدم مع البحث كلا من اختبار المصفوفات المتتابعة لرافن على 120 طالبٍ وطالبة واختبار الذكاء اللغوي على 103 من الطلاب وذلك لحساب الصدق التلازمي للمقياس. تم تحليل البيانات باستخدام برنامج SPSS، وبرنامج الليزرال LISREL8.14. وقد أشارت النتائج إلى تمتع المقياس بالصدق البنائي، والصدق التلازمي مع اختبار رافن، ومع اختبار الذكاء اللغوي. وأشارت نتائج التحليل العاملي التوكيدي أن مقياس ميداس حقق مؤشرات حسن المطابقة المقبولة. وأظهر المقياس معاملات ثبات عالية بطريقة ألفا كرونباخ، وطريقة إعادة التطبيق. كما تم حساب الرتب المئينية وذلك لإشتقاق معايير للدرجات الخام. وفي ضوء نتائج البحث يمكن استخدام مقياس ميداس في التوجيه المهني، والإستفادة من معايير الدراسة في التعرف على مستوى الذكاءات المتعددة لدى كل طالب، والعمل على تنمية هذه الذكاءات من خلال استخدام أساليب وأنشطة تدريس مناسبة.The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of Shearer’s (1996) Multiple Intelligence Developmental Assessment Scale (MIDAS) used with a sample of Grade 11 Omani students. The sample consisted of 700 Grade 11 students (321 males and 379 females) from the Governorate of North Albatinah in the Sultanate of Oman. The study also administered the Raven progressive matrices test and the verbal intelligence test to two different samples of 120 and 103 students, respectively, for concurrent validity. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS and LISREL8.14. The results showed that MIDAS has acceptable construct and concurrent validity for both tests. Also, the results of a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed acceptable goodness of fit indices for MIDAS. Similarly, both the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the scale showed satisfactory results. Finally, the percentile ranks for MIDAS scores were computed as norm scores for the scale. In conclusion, the study confirms the possibility of using the MIDAS test for career guidance purposes. It also provides indicators to identify the multiple intelligence levels of students with the aim of enhancing their intellectual capability using appropriate instructional methods and activities
Exploring Conflict Management Strategies among School Administrators: A Case Study of an International Islamic School in Malaysia
Get PDFAbstractAs educational organizations, schools are vulnerable to experiencing conflict. Notwithstanding the views of many scholars in the existence of functional conflict in a formal organization like school setting, proper management of conflict is required to be established by school administrators in order to ensure the smooth running of the school. The aim of this study was to explore the understanding of sources of conflict and conflict management among Islamic school administrators with the aim of formulating practical and effective strategies in conflict management within the school setting. The researchers used the qualitative case study method to explore the strategies adopted by three Islamic school administrators in handling conflict. The findings show that individual differences, commodification of education, school system and policy, human resource issues and practices, and attitude were the main factors giving rise to school conflict, while depression was identified as its resulting effect. The school needs to build trust, respect, stability, and teamwork into its atmosphere, culture and practices in order to prevent misunderstanding and conflict within its community.Keywords: Conflict management, functional conflict, dysfunctional conflict, Muslim administrators, Islamic schools, Islamic administratio
Choosing between the Truth and Participants' Rights: The Dilemma of a Qualitative Researcher
Get PDFAbstractMaking group work works in a classroom can be challenging, not only in the attainment of the objectives or results of the group work, but also of the whole process. This phenomenological study on the use of group work among pre-service teachers was initially aimed at exploring their experiences and understanding of group work as a process of learning and teaching. The study involved twelve final year female students enrolled in an undergraduate skill-based course. The students were given the task of organizing a field trip to an orphanage. They were provided with guidelines in planning and managing the trip, after which they were required to write a report. Students also documented their experience in a journal. Students’ reports and journals were analysed, and resulted in three broad themes, which were group work as a constructive pedagogy, as a process of development or learning, and the challenges of group work in terms of group dynamics. However, the third theme, which is, the intra and inter group relations and interactions, put the researcher in a situation where she found herself in a dilemma to present either the truth of the study (i.e. the results), or to maintain the rights of the participants. This paper discusses how the researcher managed her dilemma through the negotiation of her roles as a researcher and course instructor. At the same time, she was compelled to redefine the boundaries of the study with the participants’ consent. The paper reveals that a researcher’s readiness to return to the field and to the participants is imperative in our attempt to ensure that the ethical issues of a research are carefully attended to.Keywords: Qualitative study, phenomenology, researcher’s roles, ethical issues, group work, group dynamics, pre-service teacher
أهداف تدريس العلوم الطبيعية في مراحل التعليم العام من منظور إسلامي: Aims of Science Education from an Islamic Perspective
Get PDFهدفت الدراسة إلى اشتقاق أهداف تعليم العلوم في التعليم العام وفق المنظور الإسلامي باستخدام التحليل الكيفي للوثائق من المصادر الآتية: (الآيات الكونية في القرآن الكريم، مقاصد الشريعة، التراكم المعرفي الإنساني، واقع المجتمع واحتياجاته "زمانا ومكانا". وتمت عملية الاستنباط من المصادر السابقة للخروج بأهداف تعليم العلوم في التعليم العام وفق المنظور الإسلامي، حيث بلغت (59) هدفا، ومن ثم تم تصنيفها إلى (20) مجالا من مجالات أهداف تعليم العلوم في التعليم العام وفق المنظور الإسلامي. وعليه فينبغي إعادة النظر في مناهج العلوم وأهدافها بما يتسق وما تم التوصل إليه في البحث.The fundamental purpose of the study is to establish what should be the primary aims of science education from an Islamic perspective via a content analysis. The qualitative method of content analysis was adopted to derive the aims where a total of 4 types of texts of different sources were analyzed namely Quranic verses related to natural phenomena, Islamic Maqasid, acquired human knowledge in science education, and the current situations/contexts and needs of society. A researcher-developed thematization process consisting of 20 categories was followed to guide the analysis process. The process resulted in fifty-nine (59) aims being derived from the four categories of Islamic resources, subsequently classified into twenty dimensions. The aims and dimensions include Aqeda, thinking, scientific applications, integration, and scientific literacy. Based on the research results, the study recommends that the science curricula of Muslim schools be restructured along the extracted aims so that the science education imparted to Muslim students is more in line with Islamic teachings and Islamic world view