Representation of Students with Special Educational Needs in Language Testing Research
Taylor Hallenbeck Rashed Fehaid AlqahtaniPages: 124-132
The presence of students identified as English Language Learners (ELL) and Special Education Students (SES) in mainstream settings is growing. However, representation of these populations within language testing research remains unknown. This is important because language testing scores are increasingly used to evaluate student learning, teacher quality, and school quality. This meta-synthesis examined the representation of these two exceptional populations within the mainstream language testing literature published in two language testing journals. This meta-synthesis utilized inductive analysis and descriptive statistics. Findings indicated highly skewed representations of ELL and SES within the research corpus of the reviewed journals. Further analysis of participant demographics, research settings, test formats and test modalities are reported and discussed. Results highlight critical needs for the fields of exceptional education regarding the language testing of ELL and SES populations. The paper closes with suggestions regarding such needed research
View it in PDFEvaluation of Internal Quality Assurance Implementation at Atma Jaya Catholic University
Matheus Beny Mite Maruf Akbar R. MadhakomalaPages: 133-142
This study evaluates the implementation of quality assurance at a private university in Indonesia, namely Atma Jaya Catholic University, Jakarta (UAJJ). The aim is to find out the quality (merit) and benefits (worth) of implementing the SPMI program at UAJJ comprehensively, because stakeholders do not understand it. UAJJ itself has implemented SPMI (Internal Quality Assurance System) consistently since 2017 based on the PPEPP model cycle (Determination, Implementation, Evaluation, Development, and Improvement) as an implementation guideline. This qualitative method uses the evaluation of the CIPP model developed by Stufflebeam. The CIPP model consists of the Context, Input, Process, and Product components and each related sub-component. The components and sub-components become the object of this research. The results and data analysis show that the implementation of Internal Quality Assurance in the UAJJ is of high quality and beneficial for all stakeholders. The conclusion and discussion materials are that quality assurance efforts and internal QA implementation, both at UAJJ, other higher education institutions, and professional researchers need to develop and seek internal QA implementation strategies to ensure the health of higher education institutions, especially in the three core values, namely student learning, research, and community service.
View it in PDFAn Examination of Creative Leadership Skills of Preschool Administrators and Teachers
Banu Dikmen Ada Rengin ZembatPages: 143-156
The purpose of this study is to determine whether creative leadership characteristics of administrators and teachers working at state and private preschools and institutions with a preschool vary based on their post types. A survey was conducted to examine the aforementioned relationship. The study group consisted of administrators and teachers working at state and private preschools and institutions with a preschool in central districts of Eskişehir. The study used the following data collection tools: ’Personal Information Form’ to gather information about demographic characteristics of administrators and teachers, and ’Creative Leadership Scale’ designed by the researcher to examine the creative leadership skills of administrators and teachers. The study results are as follows: exploratory factor analysis values for the Creative Leadership Scale (CLS) KMO=.964, x2 Bartlett’s test (5671) =40508,971 p=.000, and Cronbach alpha coefficient of the total scale is .986. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant difference in favour of teachers in the scores from the scales and subscales of teachers and administrators according to their post types. It was observed that teachers’ characteristics in the scale and subscales are higher than the administrators
View it in PDFA General Perspective about Institutional Rankings, Ranking Framework, Benefits of Rankings and Ranking Methodological Flaws and Best Approach for Being A World Class Institution
Ali Mohammad GhulamPages: 156-164
Ranking scales is an important tool which serves learning outcomes. Accuracy of Ranking depends upon how accurately & honestly the data is submitted according to the ranking methodology, how accurately Peers are giving their responses and how efficiently the ranking agencies are validating and evaluating the submitted data. However, giving more emphasis on pedagogy, teaching & learning environment, periodic curriculum review, strengthening the existing infrastructure resource, graduate outcome in minimum stipulated time, employability including entrepreneurship and higher studies, regular evaluation & assessments, research & outcomes, collaborations and new course offering according to the market demand, Ranking will improve, International outlook will also improve accordingly. Ranking is essential for strategic planning and enhancement of institutional transparency and stimulating the quality culture in education. Rankings also influence national and international partnerships and collaborations. Rankings are a manifestation of global competition and are used as a policy instrument. Rankings are provoking an important debate about the quality and performance of HEIs. We can also say one of the manifestations of Rankings is to build a competitive institutional competence of world class universities. In this paper, I have discussed mainly on general perspective about institutional rankings, ranking framework, benefits of rankings and flaws in the ranking methodology.
View it in PDFEffects of Metaphor Instructional Strategy on Senior School Students Achievement in Genetics in Ilorin-Nigeria
Sulaiman Musa Mohammed Bello GaniyuPages: 165-175
Genetics, the biology of heredity provides a unifying conceptual framework linking all the life sciences and has been identified as one of the difficult concepts in biology to teach and learn. The presence of terminologies with meanings different from common usage and the teaching strategies employed by teachers have been identified in the literature as influencing student performance. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design of pre-test, post-test and non-randomized control group. The study sample was 119 senior school students from two intact classrooms. Data were collected using the Genetic Achievement Test, and Group Embedded Figure Test.Data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, hypotheses were tested using ANCOVA at0.05 level of significance. The results of the study revealed that students exposed to MIS performed better than their counterparts in the control group. It was also revealed that there was no significant difference between the results of the students according to their cognitive styles. Therefore, it was recommended that teachers could adopt the use of MIS in teaching genetics and other hard-to-teach biological concepts.
View it in PDFReflective Practice and Professional Development as an English Language Teacher
Vidhya PokhrelPages: 176-186
The paper explores reflective practices of how they shape English teachers’ professional life. It discloses the experiences of English language teachers of cultivating a reflective mindset to examine a theory-practice gap in classroom teaching, understanding pedagogical practices, using different strategies in EFL class, and developing self-efficacy being a reflective practitioner. Using ‘Reflective Practice’ as a method of the study, the paper reveals reflective practices as pertinent to developing pedagogical skills, teachers’ efficacy, and criticality in the teaching profession which motivates teachers for professional development although different social conditions prohibit them from having reflective practice. The paper is a foundation for motivating English teachers to grow the spirit of willingness and responsibility which aids them to reflect on their teaching practice, transforming them into professional teachers
View it in PDFA Study of Anxiety Levels of Children Attending Preschool Institutions According To Teachers’ Views
Hakan Şahin Feyza Uçar ÇabukPages: 187-197
The goal of this study is to reveal anxiety levels of children attending preschool institutions according to teachers’ views, identify any correlation between anxiety levels and demographic features of children and their teachers. Study group of the research comprise 1465 children attending preschool institutions in Ankara province. Study data were collected by means of Personal Data Form and Preschool Children Anxiety Scale- Teacher’s Form. The study was designed in survey model, one of the quantitative research methods. Study results conclude that anxiety levels are significantly correlated with children’s age. It was also revealed that anxiety levels are not significantly correlated with children’s gender, parental educational status, monthly income and family structure. It is revealed that children’s anxiety levels are correlated with teachers’ educational status; anxiety levels of children whose teachers are graduates of high school are lower while anxiety levels of children whose teachers have master’s degree are higher than other children.
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