American Journal of Educational Research

With this study, we sought to address some deficiencies in the image of scientists held by pre-service teachers in Israel. These include a few concerns for women scientists, as well as a lack of understanding about fieldwork and contemporary scientific equipment. The study was carried out with two groups of pre-service science students, mostly women. It was done through interference: following the web, meeting with experts and constructing leaning materials for pupils by the participants. Research was in the form of one strand research using qualitative methods. During the research, the image of women scientists changed considerably. Pre interference views were: there are no women scientists and physics and astrophysics are not for women. Women scientists were described as torn between family and work. In the post interference stage, a high appreciation for women scientists and their work in all domains was observed, woman scientist were portrayed as relaxed, taking part in team work, doing field work, and using specialized sophisticated equipment.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2013, 1(9), 396-405. DOI: 10.12691/education-1-9-8
Pub. Date: November 24, 2013

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Computing Education Competence in Higher Education: Challenges for Teachers

by Cristina Hennig Manzuoli and Yasbley Segovia Cifuentes

Review Article

This paper presents positions and reflections about integrating Information and Communication Technologies (ICT’s) to teaching practice in higher education and teaching-learning digital environments. The main issues discussed deal with the education a teacher must receive in order to achieve an ICT pedagogical integration in virtual or non-virtual environments, andto designlearning activities that contribute to knowledge building and application for problem solving froma transdisciplinaryapproach.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2013, 1(9), 406-412. DOI: 10.12691/education-1-9-9
Pub. Date: November 25, 2013

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Case Studying Educational Research: A Way of Looking at Reality

by Maria de Nazaré Castro Trigo Coimbra and Alcina Manuela de Oliveira Martins

Original Research

This study has investigated the use of case studies, applied by Master´s students in Educational Sciences. Given the increasing use of case study in educational research, key aspects of its construction were analysed, including literature review, methodological choices, data collection and analysis, the researcher´s positioning and the applicability of the results. The research was predominantly qualitative and category-based, having as sample 42 Master´s dissertations, including single and multiple case studies, from students attending a Portuguese university. The results show that mixed methodology, qualitative and quantitative, is predominant. However, not all students connect theory to their empirical study, nor do they look for the common and the particular. Even though students reveal awareness of the multidimensionality of social phenomena and the researcher´s role, only a minority adds alternative perspectives and control mechanisms, so as to safeguard methodological rigour. Often, it lacks the researcher’s reflexivity, usually implicated in the context research. In addition, the research report does not always present an appealing writing, capable of attracting the reader's attention and enabling forms of generalization, by approximation to similar contexts. Finally, the study shows Master´s students need more training, to strengthen their knowledge of methodological approaches. University courses, about empirical research in education, should prepare students to design and conduct their research project, in order to achieve a new way of looking at educational reality.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2013, 1(9), 391-395. DOI: 10.12691/education-1-9-7
Pub. Date: November 20, 2013

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Exploring the Side Effects of Assessment in Secondary Schools and Its Impact on Students: Perspective from Bangladesh

by Sumaiya Khanam Chowdhury and Shah Shamim Ahmed

Original Research

The main objective of the study was to explore the side effects of assessment in secondary schools and its impact on students. The study was descriptive in nature and the researcher used a qualitative approach to collect and analyze data. The researcher selected three schools, as a sample of the study, by Stratified Sampling method based on their last two years board result. She also selected fifteen students of secondary schools conveniently from the sample schools. For collecting relevant evidence and data from respondents, the researcher used tools like classroom observation, in-depth interview and focus group discussion. From the study it was found that, some noticeable side effects of assessment are suffering from Self-inferiority complex, losing self- confidence, disregard for school and teachers, attempt of hurting them, selecting wrong path, increase of competitive behavior etc. Based on the findings of the study the researcher recommended allowing students’ participation while developing assessment tool for them.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2013, 1(9), 380-390. DOI: 10.12691/education-1-9-6
Pub. Date: November 19, 2013

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Fairclough’s Concepts of Language Policy and Language Planning: A Comparative Study between Malaysia and Cambodia

by Mohd Nazri Latiff Azmi, Nurul Wahida Samsuddin and Mairas Abd Rahman

Original Research

This paper is a comparative study of two important journals which reflect the challenges faced by two developing countries: Malaysia and Cambodia. The objectives of this study are to investigate the problems, planning and challenges faced by both countries and also to justify the language policy and planning of both countries using Fairclough’s concepts in Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). The findings show that language policy and language planning in Malaysia and Cambodia are majorly influenced by the political development at both of the countries themselves. Obviously, the national language of Bahasa Malaysia and Khmer has experienced development and standardization surrounded with the influence of second language, that is English.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2013, 1(9), 375-379. DOI: 10.12691/education-1-9-5
Pub. Date: November 18, 2013

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Relations of Gender, Body and Sexuality: Students’ Conceptions on Self-care Related to Teaching Sexually Transmitted Diseases

by Roberta Ribeiro De Cicco and Eliane Portes Vargas

Original Research

Adolescence, a fundamental stage of youth development experienced by all young students, is marked by a moment of transition, when several changes take place, from attitudes, questioning and opinions to the passage towards sexuality, with a partner. During this stage, the body becomes loaded with connotations in relation to self representation and care, being interpreted in very specific ways by different societies and social groups. The study aims to present reflections on differences related to gender and body care found in the conception of young students between ages 17 to 20 from a class of secondary school in a State School located in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro – Brazil encompassing sexuality. The results indicate distinct conceptions of gender related to decision making linked to sexual initiation, as well as body care in connection with the acknowledging of body signals and attitudes for STD prevention.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2013, 1(9), 366-374. DOI: 10.12691/education-1-9-4
Pub. Date: October 29, 2013

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Effectiveness of Task-Based Instructional Materials in Developing Writing Skills of BS Fisheries Freshmen

by Loreto B. Waguey and Esther R. Hufana

Original Research

The study generally aimed to enhance the writing skills of the Bachelor of Science in Fisheries freshman students enrolled in English 102 (Writing in the Discipline) at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU)-Institute of Fisheries (IF). Specifically, it aimed to: 1) determine the writing competency level of the students; 2) identify the learning strategies frequently used by the students; 3) develop task-based instructional materials based on the writing competency level of the students and their frequency of use of learning strategies; 4) determine the effectiveness of the task-based instructional materials in enhancing the writing performance of the students; and 5) determine the relationship between the effectiveness of the task-based instructional materials and the frequency of use of learning strategies. The first year BSF students had low level of competence in writing four types of texts (explanation of a process, recount, essay and paraphrase) and in nine writing skill areas (sentence unity, ability to carry out the task with minimal support, sentence emphasis, paragraph coherence, paragraph unity, paragraph emphasis, accuracy, sentence structure, and language features). The students’ frequency of use of learning strategies was “Medium” or “Sometimes Used” for both direct and indirect strategies. The use of the task-based instructional materials significantly increased the posttest scores of the students in paragraph unity, paragraph coherence, paragraph emphasis, methods of beginning and ending compositions and mechanics. Frequency of use of learning strategies is significantly and positively related with the pretest and posttest scores of the students. Based on the findings, the task-based instructional materials are recommended for use in order to improve students’ writing skills particularly to students who frequently use their learning strategies. Likewise, the development of task-based instructional materials is encouraged in other subjects or disciplines.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2013, 1(9), 359-365. DOI: 10.12691/education-1-9-3
Pub. Date: October 24, 2013

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Students’ Proficiency in English Language Relationship with Academic Performance in Science and Technical Education

by Jacob Kola Aina, Alexander Gbenga Ogundele and Shola Sunday Olanipekun

Original Research

This is a descriptive research of a correlation type where 120 students were sampled from a college of education to find out the relationship between proficiency in English language and academic performance among students of science and technical education. Findings revealed that there is correlation between proficiency in English language and academic performance of students in science and technical education; students in technical education performed better than their counterpart in science education; students who passed English language performed better than those who failed both in science and technical education. Some recommendations were suggested at the end of the study.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2013, 1(9), 355-358. DOI: 10.12691/education-1-9-2
Pub. Date: October 24, 2013

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Types and Causes of Students’ Disruptive Behavior in Classroom at Secondary Level in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

by Safdar Rehman Ghazi, Gulap Shahzada, Muhammad Tariq and Abdul Qayum Khan

Original Research

Secondary school teachers have repeatedly ranked disruptive behaviour as one of the most serious hurdle in effective teaching learning process in the classroom. It has also been reported that the students in public schools feel insecure due to lack of effective disciplinary measures and probable for aggression and unpleasant situation. Teachers are often not well prepared to manage classrooms’ discipline. The present study aimed to investigate the types and causes of disruptive behaviour in classroom at secondary level. Teachers who were teaching in the secondary schools of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa constituted the population of the study. Five hundred (500) teachers were taken as sample, using multi-stage random sampling method. A questionnaire was developed on five point Likert Scale and was distributed among the sampled teachers and collected their responses regarding the types and causes of students’ disruptive behaviour in classroom. Some of the types of disruptive behaviour were reported unanimously reported by most of the teacher however a significant deviation has been reported. It is recommended that the disruptive behaviour of students of secondary schools in Pakistan needs an extensive attention of educators, policy makers and the government to address this area for quality education in the country. For this purpose proper trainings may be arranged for administrators and teachers to equip them regarding disruptive behavior and classroom management.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2013, 1(9), 350-354. DOI: 10.12691/education-1-9-1
Pub. Date: October 13, 2013

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