American Journal of Educational Research

This study examined and compared science teacher efficacy beliefs of elementary pre-service teachers in Kenya and U.S.A. by surveying 168 Kenyan and 189 US Pre-service teachers through a cross-sectional survey research design. Data were collected using STEBI-B scale, an inventory developed by by Enochs and Riggs (1990), with a reported Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients as 0.90 and 0.76 for Personal Science Teacher Efficacy (PSTE) and Science Teacher Outcome Expectancy (STOE), respectively. Data were analysed both descriptively (means and standard deviations) and inferentially using a 2 x 2 factorial MANOVA. The dependent variables were PSTE and STOE scores. The independent variables were participant gender and country of origin. Results indicate a significant interaction between gender and country. There was a significant main effect for country but not for gender. With a significant MANOVA, follow-up univariate ANOVA tests indicated a statistically significant difference in the PSTE with USA scoring higher on average and a significant difference in the STOE score with Kenya scoring higher. Implications for teacher education programs are discussed.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(4), 233-239. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-4-9
Pub. Date: April 16, 2014

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The Conflict between the Right to Religion and University Policies: Analysing a Policy Impact

by Kimoga Joseph

Original Research

A country that has no state religion demands that government institutions shall not take on a particular religion as their main. Makerere University being a government institution is committed to recognising and treating equally all people from the religious divide. This article explores the relationship between University policies and students’ right to religion. Focusing mainly on students wearing religious symbols, being availed physical places of worship, and having days of worship free of other academic programmes, the study explores a conflict between policies and the right to religion. It concludes that a positive attitude should be developed that religious symbols not only regulate students’ behaviour but also identify them with their religions; doing justice to all in a pluralistic society demands that all or none is catered for by the university as regards providing a place of worship; and university and religious groups should make flexible programmes to enable students who fail to attend at some hours to do on other hours.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(4), 225-232. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-4-8
Pub. Date: April 09, 2014

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An Appraisal of Sciences and Mathematics Dyslexia and Dyscalculia Syndrome among Secondary Schools Students

by OGINNI Omoniyi Israel and OLUGBUYI Peter Olubunmi

Original Research

This study investigated the impact of student’s dyscalculia and dyslexia on the teaching and learning of science and mathematics among secondary school students. A descriptive research of survey was adopted for the study. The instrument used to collect data was a structured questionnaire (SQ) designed to elicit response from 200 students that were selected randomly from schools. Data collected were analysed using chi-square. The findings revealed that teachers’ students’ relationship has a significant effects on dyslexia and dyscalculia among secondary school students. Based on the findings, it was recommended that, teachers should discover the best method that will bring the best performance out of their students. However, continuous assessment and individual differences in learners should be prioritized.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(4), 219-224. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-4-7
Pub. Date: April 09, 2014

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Greek Teachers’ Attitudes toward the Inclusion of Students with Special Educational Needs

by H. Tsakiridou and K. Polyzopoulou

Original Research

The aim of this study is to examine the teachers’ attitudes toward the inclusion of students with special educational needs, in public schools and how these attitudes are influenced by their self-efficacy perceptions. The sample is comprised of 416 preschool, primary and secondary education teachers. The results show that, in general, teachers develop positive attitude toward the inclusive education. Higher self-efficacy was associated rather with their capacity to come up against negative experiences at school, than with their attitude toward disabled learners in the classroom and their ability to meet successfully the special educational needs students. The results are consistent with similar studies and reveal the need of establishing collaborative support networks in school districts and the development of teacher education programs, in order to achieve the enrichment of their knowledge and skills to address diverse needs appropriately.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(4), 208-218. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-4-6
Pub. Date: April 08, 2014

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Mediating Social Network Education Teaching OOP

by Elias Vidal Bezerra Junior, Alex Sandro Gomes and Flavia Veloso Souza

Original Research

This article examines the practice of teaching object-oriented programming technology through social networking educational Redu and presents the functional requirements for improving the process of teaching. Observations were done in the classroom and online. Preliminary results indicate that social networking has proved to be an innovative teaching method and presents itself as an effective tool helping teachers in educational practice.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(4), 204-207. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-4-5
Pub. Date: April 07, 2014

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The Theoretical Field of Education Policy: Characteristics, Objects of Study, and Mediations. A Latin American Perspective

by César Tello

Meta-Analysis

This paper, of a theoretical nature, analyzes the main characteristics that the theoretical field of education policy has taken in the reality of the studies developed in Latin America during the last sixty years, analyzing its epistemic constitution under the Epistemologies of Education Policy Approach and describing the main theoretical outlines of the scientific production development in education policy since 1950. From this theoretical thread, a number of theoretical analyses which allow for reflection upon the mutation of the field and the various knowledge production modes that took place during the last twenty years in the Latin American region are displayed and some reflective notes are introduced in order to discuss several knowledge production modes in education policy developed from the connection that had notably began in the nineties between academic researchers and decision-makers.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(4), 197-203. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-4-4
Pub. Date: April 02, 2014

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Measuring Emotional Intelligence of Secondary School Students in Relation to Gender and Residence: an Empirical Study

by Dhiman Kar, Birbal Saha and Bhim Chandra Mondal

Original Research

In the age of zero-tolerance, virtual reality and ultramodern technology, the studying of human emotion has become so urgent that it demands our serious concentration for its scientific measurement. This present paper will make a thorough investigation in understanding the deeper interrelations between human emotion and intelligence. This article will also focus the emotional intelligence of secondary school students in relation to their gender and residential background. Emotional intelligence has been measured by applying Mondal’s Emotional Intelligence Inventory (MEII) consisted with 100 items. 235 samples were randomly selected from the district of Purulia, WB, India. ANOVA and‘t’ test has been applied for the interpretation of the findings. The results reveal that residential place plays a significant role for the enlargement of emotional development whereas gender does not affect the level of Emotional Intelligence.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(4), 193-196. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-4-3
Pub. Date: April 01, 2014

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Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs of Meditation in College Students: Barriers and Opportunities

by Peter Gryffin, William Chen and Naz Erenguc

Original Research

College students have a high burden of stress resulting from balancing college life, academic studies, work, and family. Meditation has been shown to be an effective coping tool for dealing with stress. Current uses of meditation and mindfulness to enhance college student success is also presented. Studies regarding various benefits of meditation have addressed the need for understanding barriers to meditation. To determine barriers and opportunities for meditation and related practices, a Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs (KAB) survey was conducted to determine student perceptions regarding the use of meditation in a college population. The constructs of the Health Belief Model (HBM) were utilized to categorize student responses. Opportunities for promoting meditation are presented, including increase mindfulness, better sleep quality, enhanced forgiveness, reduced mood disturbance, increased GPA, and increased awareness and stopping of incessant and destructive thoughts. Ignorance of the benefits of meditative practices were identified as the primary barrier

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(4), 189-192. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-4-2
Pub. Date: March 27, 2014

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Students Enrolled in Biology Majors Pre-Requisite Courses: Effect of High School Academic Performance

by Mamta Singh and Sandra West

Original Research

The purpose of this study was to enhance the ability of an institution to provide biology major students the best opportunity to succeed. Grades are universally measured variables. Regardless of different instructors teaching the same course in different sections, the final course grade is combined for all the sections representing one course. This study reflects the differences in students as they were successful in courses due to performance verse students who were not successful because of their low performance. The study used logistic regression analysis to assess students’ performance in biology major courses. The findings suggest that high school GPA and high school chemistry were the predictors of students’ success in entry-level biology courses.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(4), 183-188. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-4-1
Pub. Date: March 26, 2014

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