A Study Of Health Education And Its Needs For Elementary School Students

Vol. 10  Issue 3
Year:2015
Issue:Dec-Feb 
Title:A Study Of Health Education And Its Needs For Elementary School Students
Author Name:Irshad Hussain, Muhammad Ahmad Alamgir and Muhammad Shahzad
Synopsis:
Health Education, particularly in elementary schools, appears to be a neglected area in Pakistan. This study investigated the health education needs of elementary school students. The purpose of the present study is to assess health education needs of elementary school students. The study adopted mix approach of (qualitative and quantitative) research for data collection. The quantitative data were collected by administering piloted questionnaire on elementary school students (n=400) and the response rate was 82% (as 328 responses were complete). The same participants were also interviewed in groups of 4-6 students. The data collected through questionnaire were analyzed quantitatively; whereas, interviews were analyzed thematically. Overall 68% of the elementary school students required information about the main constructs of health education; 69% appeared to be keen on knowing about physical environment in and around their schools and homes; 77% were interested to get awareness about commonly spreading out diseases and puberty issues. The results of this study appeared to be aligned to the social context of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. The elementary school students were merely aware of the main constructs of health education and needed awareness, specifically in food and nutrition, hygiene, seasonal and tropical diseases, infectious diseases, and psychological problems. Proper school health education programme may be initiated for elementary school students.

Effects of Information and Communication Technology on Engagement and Art Production for Eighth-Grade Students

Vol. 10  Issue 3
Year:2015
Issue:Dec-Feb 
Title:Effects of Information and Communication Technology on Engagement and Art Production for Eighth-Grade Students
Author Name:Elizabeth Lovin and Dawn T. Lambeth
Synopsis:
The purpose of this research was to explore the impact of an online-learning component incorporating peer discussion groups on art achievement, digital literacy practice, student engagement, and student attitude of an eighth-grade visual arts classroom. Participants included 30 students in two 8th-grade art classes. Students in one class received faceto- face art instruction, while the other class completed additional assignments using online-learning components and peer discussion groups. Art achievement was measured with project scores from printmaking, ceramics, and cut paper units. Digital literacy practice and engagement were recorded with a teacher checklist and field notes. Student attitude was measured by a survey administered at the end of the study. The online-learning component group scored slightly higher on art projects than the face-to-face group. Results indicated that, using online-learning components did not have a significant impact on art achievement, but notably improved digital literacy practice, student engagement, and student attitude towards art.

Setting Objectives of Value Education in Constructivist Approach in the Light of Revised Blooms Taxonomy (RBT)

Vol. 10  Issue 3
Year:2015
Issue:Dec-Feb 
Title:Setting Objectives of Value Education in Constructivist Approach in the Light of Revised Blooms Taxonomy (RBT)
Author Name:Sankaranarayanan Paleeri
Synopsis:
Transaction methods and approaches of value education have to change from lecturing to process based methods according to the development of constructivist approach. The process based methods provide creative interpretation and active participation from student side. Teachers have to organize suitable activities to transact values through process based teaching. This paper deals with the ideas of preparing Educational objectives and organizing student centered or process based classes on value education in accordance with the Process Dimensions proposed in Revised Blooms Taxonomy (RBT). RBT suggests Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate and Create as the process dimensions. Teachers can organize the objectives of value education classes according to these process dimensions. It will promote effective transaction of values in modern methods.

Implications of the School Leadership for Handling Practical Administrative Problems

Vol. 10  Issue 3
Year:2015
Issue:Dec-Feb 
Title:Implications of the School Leadership for Handling Practical Administrative Problems
Author Name:Ismail Thamarasseri
Synopsis:
Leadership is the process of influencing others to get the work done. It involves motivating, influencing, and directing individuals towards the attainment of long term organizational goals. A leader remains in the limelight. The success or failure of an organizational endeavour is attributed upon its leader. School leadership includes any individual in the school who has a decision-making role. These roles typically require an advanced degree, experience and some skills. These positions are the top paid positions in a school, but they also come with the most responsibility. These people are ultimately responsible for the successes and failures within their realm of administration. This paper helps you to define the term leader and leadership and it discusses about leadership in Educational administration. The main purpose of the study is to describe the nature and ways of leadership with special reference to the implications of school leadership for handling day to day practical administrative problems.

Impact of Metacognitive Practices and Assorted Assessment Modalities towards Creating Self-Regulated Learners

Vol. 10  Issue 2
Year:2014
Issue:Sep-Nov
Title:Impact of Metacognitive Practices and Assorted Assessment Modalities towards Creating Self-Regulated Learners
Author Name:Sreevrinda Nair. N
Synopsis:
Worldwide efforts are increasing to infuse thinking skills into the curriculum, which are part of cognitive behavior, and to include them in the instructional strategies, which will make the learner producer of knowledge and help to create a sense of responsibility among them. Meta cognitive learning activities immerse students in challenging tasks and it creates a space for students to discuss, debate new ideas and allows them to introspect, assess and set targets for learning. The objectives of the study is aimed at implementing Meta cognitive practice namely problem solving towards constructing a culture of thinking in classrooms and to capacitate the students to practice self-assessment modalities through the creation of a strategy evaluation proforma on the select classroom practice. 45 Secondary school students from three schools belonging to three districts of Kerala namely Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Kottayam were selected for the study. The data was collected through a Strategy Evaluation Proforma. The strudy reveals that highly participative and interactive instructional climate inculcated in the problem solving practice allowed the students to strengthen their motivation towards becoming better problem solvers. The study also reveals that this type of assessment technique will enhance creative thoughts of students as well as promote their thinking capabilities in a worthy manner. Such type of enriched environment helps the students to flourish the learning process and engage their brain with intriguing and inviting intellectual challenges.

A Study on Institutional Perception of Student Teachers on the Principles of Total Quality Management

Vol. 10  Issue 2
Year:2014
Issue:Sep-Nov
Title:A Study on Institutional Perception of Student Teachers on the Principles of Total Quality Management
Author Name:S. Sundaresan and N. Muthaiah
Synopsis:
Education shapes the destiny of a nation, and is the principal instrument for developing human capabilities. Educational quality is highly influenced by the learning experiences gained during the teaching-learning process. The concern for improving quality of teaching-learning process is significant, since this is a mechanism through which the content and intent of curriculum is transacted at elementary, secondary as well as higher education level. In order to impart quality education, our education system has to acquire the following qualities such as quality syllabus, quality faculty, quality teaching and evaluation, quality research and quality character. As quality education is need of hour, all the quality issues should be given top most priority with equal attention. Hence the present study was focused in such a way to study the perception of students of teacher education institution towards different quality parameters. A survey was made with the help of the Student's Institutional Perception Scale (SIPS) constructed by Subramonian and Muthaiah (2006). This survey was conducted among 150 student teachers and the results revealed that, in studying the quality management of the institution, the perception of students towards their institution varied with regard to their gender and there was no variation with regard to their educational qualification with their locality.

An In–Depth Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis to Determine the Factors That Affect the Existence of African American Women Superintendents in the North Carolina K–12 Public School System

Vol. 10  Issue 2
Year:2014
Issue:Sep-Nov
Title:An In–Depth Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis to Determine the Factors That Affect the Existence of African American Women Superintendents in the North Carolina K–12 Public School System
Author Name:James E. Osler and Renita L. Webb
Synopsis:
The purpose of this study is to study how race, gender, values, attitudes and power perceptions of leaders contribute to the recruitment, retention, and training of African American female superintendents. This study is focused on African American female superintendents and their experiences that led to the acquisition of the position. The overarching question in this study is: how do race, gender, values, attitudes and power perceptions influence the success of African American female superintendents?. The data collection tools for this qualitative study include observations, focus group with African American women from the same state who are in the Education field but not superintendents, and interviews with current and former African American female superintendents and those who report directly to them. Through the lenses of critical race and social power theories, the researcher seeks to identify commonalities amongst the experiences of the participants to extract key elements that affect their success. With these key elements to success identified, they can be incorporated into the journeys of future leaders and increase the number of African American females who can successfully attain this position of power in the Southern State in this study. The implications of this study show that there is a need for a change in the way and timing of the way African American women are trained to lead.