Abdilla Dorianne
Attitudes and Achievement in Chemistry:
A Longitudinal Study
B.Ed. (Hons.)
This study attempted to investigate the factors
that affect the students’ attitudes
towards Chemistry and analyse whether attitude varies with gender, school type
and grade level. It also aimed to investigate whether the attitudes of students
who study a subject from their own accord, by choosing it as option, differ
from the attitudes of students that study a
subject compulsorily. The study also considered
the relationship between attitudes and achievement. The data for this research
study were obtained mainly by means of questionnaires distributed to Form 3
Chemistry
students when they had being studying Chemistry for eight months. The same
students were given a similar questionnaire
eight months later, when they were in Form
4. Some interviews with Chemistry students were also conducted. The results
of the study revealed that various school and
non-school factors affect students’ attitudes,
with some factors leaving a greater impact than others do. The students’ attitudes
did not vary significantly with gender, but they varied significantly with
grade level and to a certain extent with school type. A very significant difference
in attitude was revealed between students who study Chemistry as a compulsory
subject and those who study it as an optional subject. A low to moderate correlation
of 0.327 to 0.610 between attitudes and achievement was noted. These findings
have relevant implications for Chemistry teaching, providing an insight into
how teachers can be instrumental in enhancing positive attitudes towards Chemistry.
Abela
Tony
Resistant Materials – A Teaching Approach
B.Ed (Hons)
Resistant Material is a topic to be studied
in the proposed Design and Technology SEC Syllabus
in Malta. Students will be required to demonstrate
knowledge
and understanding of the various materials and their uses.
The work will suggest ways to planning, delivering, assessment and evaluating
students’ work. During an observation I noticed that teaching resistant
materials to students is quite a difficult task since students have difficulty
in understanding the way the knowledge is presented to them therefore I opted
for this challenge.
Curriculum material will be presented to show various approaches teachers
may follow/use to enhance the effectiveness of their resistant material
lessons. A design and make project will be assigned for an extended period – seven
weeks with two periods of forty five minutes per week. The curriculum material
included will contain a variety of activities both for pupil and the teacher.
To prove the reliability of the constructed curriculum material interviews
will be carried out with experienced teachers. The syllabus deliverance,
the ability
of the students to assess their own learning needs and the quality of coverage
suggested will be expressed in the interviews.
Agius Marie Louise
A child with a profile of learning
disability – A Case Study
Diploma in Facilitating Inclusive Education
This
case study is an investigation into what
a Learning Disability is and how a student
with a Specific Learning Disability functions
at school,
home
and in
the community. It attempts to identify the difficulties encountered
by this group of students. Data were gathered
through participant and non-participant
observations
and interviews. The essay concludes by proposing measures which could
support the student in the study and others
with similar difficulties to realize
their potential.
Aidi Vella Chamarie
A Case-Study of a child who has Dyslexia
Diploma in Facilitating Inclusive Education
Dyslexia
is often referred to as a Specific Learning
Difficulty in relation to literacy.
Although experts still debate on the specific
definition
of it, its
indicative signs and characteristics are widely spread across different
communities.
This study has attempted to present a case-study
of a child who has dyslexia. A profile of the
child has been presented, based
on observations
and
first hand experience. Meanwhile, a survey method based on a
set
of interviews was used
to carry out the investigation.
The main conclusion of this study
was that very often dyslexia reaches well beyond the classroom
as it can also affect a person’s self-image. However the
effectiveness of preventing such an issue can be drastically
improved by empowering the teaching staff to cater for all students
as if
they were all dyslexics.
Armeni Kawka Erica
Reference Sources in Maltese State Secondary
School Libraries:
An Evaluation
Dip. Lib. & Inf. Studies
This long essay
aims to define what reference sources entail
in relation to secondary school
libraries and evaluates the local
situation by
giving a detailed
account
on the development of reference collections in Maltese State
secondary
school libraries and by identifying the condition of reference
sources at the present
time. The Melitensia works are not included.
A questionnaire
has been carried out to gather information
from school librarians on the state of their
reference sources,
on
their level
of skills in evaluating
reference sources and on how they deal with reference services,
especially in conducting reference interviews and library
instruction. Furthermore
it analyses
the use of electronic reference sources by school librarians
and library users.
Recommendations based on research and on the situation
abroad, have been given to improve reference sources and
reference
services in
secondary school libraries
for the benefit of the users, thus meeting the objectives
of the National Minimum Curriculum.
Attard Claire
Creative Expression and the Midweek Project
in Gozitan Primary State Schools
B.Ed. (Hons.)
On Wednesday 15th October
1997 the Midweek Project was introduced
in Maltese and Gozitan
state schools. The directive to implement
this
project, aimed
at enhancing children’s creative expression,
was that creative activities should be carried out
in Year
1-6 primary classes every Wednesday from 1pm-2.30pm.
During this time no formal learning should be carried
out. This dissertation investigates whether creative
expression is in fact used in schools which claim
they still implement the Midweek Project or whether
schools use creative expression through subject teaching.
Moreover
it examines head teachers’ and teachers’ perceptions
of creativity and which pedagogy they perceive as the
most effective of the two for holistic education: whether
it is isolating creative expression or integrating
this with other subjects. This dissertation also seeks
to discover whether there are obstacles to using creativity,
and, if so, what these are. This is done primarily
through the analysis of questionnaires administered
to head teachers, Year 2 teachers and Year 5 teachers
in
the eleven primary state schools in Gozo, and
secondly, the analysis of interviews carried out with
a Year 2 teacher and a Year 5 teacher who were later
observed for three sessions each. In its attempt
to show the importance of creativity in primary schools,
this dissertation illuminates ways how to improve the
practice of creativity in primary schools. On the basis
of the findings, this thesis suggests further teacher
training and teachers’ understanding
of the significance of creativity and its benefits.
Attard
Marilyn
Education and Employment
Aspirations of Female Secondadry Students in Gozo
B.A. (Hons.) Sociology
In this dissertation I shall
analyse whether Gozitan girls who attend Area Secondary
Schools are interested
in continuing
with
their education
or
not after finishing
Secondary schooling. Do they want to find a job
or do they want to continue studying? Or do
they want
to stay at home
without
participating in the
labour market? In
this regard qualitative methodology shall be used
and I intend to
pick several students from a Gozitan Area-Secondary
school and carry out
in-depth interviews
with them since I want to find out the reasons
of their choice. A qualitative research method
was chosen
because
it demonstrates
the
variety of perspectives
of the students and the related social meanings.
The hypothesis of the dissertation is that Gozitan
female students in secondary schools prefer to
go to work rather
than to continue
studying. Through
this research I will be able to verify if this
statement is true or not.
Attard Ruth & Cefai
Denise
A Home Economics Students’ Activity
Book For Form 1:
Focus On Choice And Management Of Resources
B.Ed (Hons.)
The aim of this study was to develop
an activity book for Form 1 students on the
section of Choice
and Management
of Resources
in
line with the
Maltese Home Economics Curriculum. This activity
book is
aimed to enhance student-centred
learning, motivate pupils and reflects a constructivist
approach through different
activities. A needs assessment analysis was
conducted to enable the researchers to establish
the needs
and lacunae
in this
area in order
to design appropriate
activities for an activity book. This was achieved
by visiting several bookshops together with
a search of
relevant sites
available on internet.
Pre-interviews
with Home Economics teachers were also carried
out to define the needs of this activity book.
The needs
assessment
exercise
brings
forward
the need
of an
activity
book on the section of Choice and Management
of Resources. Based on these findings, a first
version
of the activity
book was produced
and
trialled
in local Form
1 schools. A detailed analysis of each activity
was done on the feedback provided in the evaluation
sheets
and
the post-interviews
with teachers.
The necessary
modifications were carried out to produce the
final version of
the activity book. It was concluded that the
variety of activities enhanced
the learning
process
and motivated the students throughout the lesson.
Above all, the teachers commented that the
constructivist approach
in
this activity
book was
effective.
Azzopardi Charlene
Implementation of Educational Software and
Internet in Maltese State Primary Schools
(Early Years).
B.Ed (Hons.)
In the rationale for the ICT
programme for primary schools (2005), it
is stated that “ICT implementation
must always be seen in the light of curriculum
subjects” (p.i). This research investigates
whether the teachers are helped and encouraged
to achieve this,
and whether there are any factors which
influence their attitudes and approaches
towards the
use of software packages and the Internet
in class. How do teachers assess
the present software packages which are
available in class? How and when do they
incorporate
their use in their teaching? Do they use
the Internet to compensate
for any limitations which they might perceive
in the software packages? From the data
gathered in this research, it was found
that software
use is more frequent
than Internet use in teaching. Difficulty
of Internet access in the classes studied
could be one of the factors leading to
this.
Azzopardi Claire
Assessment in the Chemistry Classroom:
Teachers’ and Students’ Preferences
B.Ed (Hons.)
The study involved researching
the most predominant assessment methods
(both formative and summative)
used by Chemistry
teachers in schools,
the aim of
these methods and the reasons why they
are used. These were compared with
the assessment
methods preferred by the Chemistry
students. Data were obtained from questionnaires
given to all
Chemistry teachers in Malta
and Gozo
and to 350 students attending
the three School Sectors in Malta:
Junior
Lyceums, Church Schools, and Independent
Schools. Data
were analysed
by gender and by
school type.
Results have shown
that the predominant assessment methods
used by Chemistry teachers are class
work, homework,
tests,
use of
computer,
observing
students while
they work,
giving feedback to students and asking
questions. Most of these methods are
used with
a summative purpose whereas formative
assessment is mostly used by teachers when
they require
feedback on the effectiveness of
their
teaching methods.
The majority
of students showed high preference
for the assessment
methods used by teachers but also to
other non-pen-and-paper methods.
For the
majority of students,
although assessment is important, it
is nevertheless something dreadful
and boring, and
students do not seem to know the difference
between learning and studying. The
findings of the study
have
led to the conclusion
that the present
assessment practices need to be improved
in order to promote assessment
for learning.
The
limited view students have of assessment
is hinders them from making use of
the great potential assessment has
to help students
learn.
Azzopardi Juliette
The Current Situation of Social Studies’
Teaching in Maltese Secondary Schools
P.G.C.E.
There seems to be the perception
that Social Studies is a common-sense
subject, since
certain aspects
of the subject
are observed
in real-life situations – in
news, discussions and current affairs.
This is even sustained by the involvement
of teachers who are teaching the
subject.
Actually, there are certain cases
where the teaching of Social Studies
is assigned to non-specialized
teachers, for the precise reason
that it is taken lightly and considered
common-sense. But are
such teachers delivering the same
knowledge and skills to students
that specialized teachers are providing
during
their lessons? Are the heads of
schools acknowledging this reality?
But after
all, is everybody giving Social
Studies its due importance?
This
study includes the use of questionnaires,
conducted with
the heads of schools
and teachers of Social
Studies.
Baeva Olena Ch.
An Enquiry into the Possible Correlation
Between
Creativity and Negative Behavioural
Patterns
Masters of Arts in Creativity
and Innovation
This dissertation
seeks to explore the possible link
between creativity
and
its effect on
behaviour labeled
as deviant.
I put forward a
number of recommendations,
based on an interpretation of
the role creativity plays in
forming
our behaviour
patterns.
A suggested three-dimensional
deviance
model is based
on a cross-disciplinary
approach and integrates the changing
societal perception of deviance,
the evolving ideas
on creativity and
seeks to
find
correlations,
which may
further our understanding
of society’s dynamics.
Present research offers an insight
into causes that influence creativity
expression
and behavioural patterns. The
practical application of the
proposal that is put forward
would help educational
professionals to understand that
a number of troubled children
exhibit deviant behaviour through
a sense
of disassociation with their
perceived surroundings, their
teachers and their peers, as
they feel tormented
by the need to express their
creativity, yet they feel stifled
by a given dismissive environment.
The proposed
recommendations may allow those
marginalized into subcultures
to find acceptance and value
in a broader and more inclusive
society.
Bajada Marisa & Said
Sara Jane
Education & Employment
Aspirations of Female Secondary
Students in Gozo
B.Ed (Hons.)
In this dissertation I
shall analyse whether Gozitan girls
who attend
Area Secondary
Schools are interested
in continuing
with
their education
or
not after finishing
Secondary schooling. Do they
want to find a job or do they
want to
continue
studying?
Or
do they
want
to stay at home
without
participating in the
labour market? In
this regard qualitative methodology
shall be used and I intend to
pick several students from a
Gozitan Area-Secondary school
and carry
out in-depth interviews
with them since I want to find
out the reasons of their choice.
A qualitative
research method
was chosen
because
it demonstrates
the
variety of perspectives
of the students and the related
social meanings.
The hypothesis
of the dissertation is that
Gozitan female students
in secondary
schools
prefer to
go to work rather
than to continue
studying. Through
this research I will be able
to verify if this statement
is true
or not.
Blundell Ramona
A School Development
Plan – An Analysis
Diploma in Education
(Administration and Management)
In this
study, the School Development Plan
of Anthony Valletta was
studied. A qualitative
research
was
carried out, detailing
how the
Head of School
goes about
planning, preparing for and
managing the planning and drawing
up of
the School Development
Plan.
A quantitative
research
was also
carried
out
to describe
the teachers’ view and
feeling regarding the School
development Plan. The School
Development Plan process and
write up were analysed to determine
the strengths
and weaknesses of the whole
process.
It was found that time
is made available for the whole
process
to take place.
Meetings between
the
School
Management team
and teachers
are
held during
class visits as there is no
time for such activities. Teachers
together with the
School Management team review
the school’s current
situation and audit the School
Development Plan so that the
school’s strengths
and weaknesses could be listed.
The teachers write action plans
which are later prioritised.
Even
though the school has gone
through the process for
a number
of years
there are still
areas that
need to be
improved.
Such
an area
is the participation
of stake holders. The external
stakeholders, namely parents
and other stakeholders
of the local community
of the school
do not
take part
in the whole process.
The
Financial plan is not being
included in the process and
too many priority
targets
are set. Many of the latter
may be maintenance area but
it is
not specified.
The school is
in need of a critical friend to help them
through the
process and
points out
the strengths
and the
area in
need of improvement.
Borg
Daniel N.
Self Esteem and Streaming
P.G.C.E.
Numerous studies have found
a relationship between
self esteem
and streaming
(Hargreaves, Earl & Ryans,
1996; Pace Asciak, 2004;
Ellul, 2006). One of the
aims behind this study
was to identify the difference
between individual’s
self-esteem than hypothesis
that students in a lower
streamed school would have
a lower self-esteem than
children who are both attending
a higher streamed school
and a non-streamed school.
The other hypothesis was
that there is a significant
difference in students’ self
esteem between the high
streamed classes and the
lower streamed ones attending
St. Benedict’s College.
The Rosenberg’s
Self-Esteem Scale was administered
to 400 secondary school
students between the ages
of ten and thirteen, mainly
Form 1, in four different
types of schools,
namely Stella Maris College,
St. Benedict’s College,
Dun Guzepp Zammit Brighella
Junior Lyceum, and Antonio
Bosio Area Secondary. Results
confirmed
both hypotheses. A very
high significant difference
was found between self-esteem
and streaming when comparing
the schools. Streamed students
showed to have lower self-esteem
scores, especially those
coming from lower streams.
There was also
significant difference
between self-esteem and ‘Area
Secondary’ classes
when compared with ‘Junior
Lyceum’ classes in
St. Benedict’s
College. The findings from
this study support other
local and foreign research.
This study has implications
within
the educational context
since streaming has proved
to have negative consequences
on self-esteem.
Borg Sant
Katia
The Affective and Effective
Impact of Art on
Secondary Students in Girls’ Junior
Lyceums
B.Ed (Hons.)
The title of the project
holds the key as to what
the journey
that we
are about
to
embark
is all
about. Art
commonly
refers to the
act and
process
of making
material works or artworks
which, from concept to
creation, holds
a fidelity
to the creative
impulse. The creative
arts essentially
denotes
a collection
of disciplines whose principal
purpose is in the output
of material whose
creation is compelled
by
a personal
drive or reflecting
a message, mood,
and a symbol
for the viewer to interpret.
Art is a broad term which
may be interpreted in different
ways often relating
to creativity, aesthetics
and
generation of emotion.
This study focuses on the
teaching
of art – ‘visual
arts’ in
Girls’ Junior Lyceums
and how teachers are using
part to help their students
express themselves and
even get along with their
problems and their emotions.
Often young people look
for counselling from professionals
(counsellors, psychologists
and psychiatrist); but
most of them ask for advice
from friends, family and
teachers or simply follow
the trends in what the
society has to offer to
help them face
and solve their problems.
This dissertation, with
the examples of drawings
as additional understanding
of how problems can be
depicted in form when following
a theme, will show how
art can be used as a medium
that offers solutions to
one’s
problems through self-expression.
What results from this
research are: how effective
art is and how relevant
it
is to help youth take a
look at the inner-self
Borg
Maria
Teachers’ and Facilitators’ Perspectives and Attitudes towards Pupils
with Autism – A State
Primary School Analysis
Post Graduate Diploma in
Inclusive Education
During
the past decades, pupils with autism
started
their education
in
mainstream schools
together
with other children
with and
without individual
educational
needs. My study is an attempt
to describe the impact
of pupils with
autism in
mainstream schools and
teachers’ and facilitators’ viewpoints
and reactions to the inclusion
of these pupils.
In order
to conduct my research,
a qualitative
approach was
adopted. Two
pupils from
a junior school and
another two
pupils from the
senior school
were chosen
for my study. Interviews
were conducted with the
pupil’s
parents, teachers and facilitators.
From
these interviews I concluded
that the inclusion
of autistic
pupils in
mainstream schools is being
met by a
lot of resistance.
Teachers
and facilitators
differentiate
between the severities
of autism. They do
not believe that pupils
with severe autism should
attend mainstream
schools
but alternative
schools,
such as
special schools.
Borg Sabrina & Galea
Ritienne
The problem of gender as
experienced by Maltese
students of German.
B.Ed (Hons.)
The German language classifies
nouns into three categories:
masculine, feminine and
neuter.
This classification,
known as grammatical
gender, does not always
reflect the natural gender
of nouns. Most languages,
like Maltese
and
English, do
not classify nouns
in this manner.
For this
reason, learners
of German
as a foreign language,
often experience difficulties
in
this area. This
is
underlined in the first
part of this dissertation
through
an analysis of various
studies
conducted in foreign countries.
The intensity of this problem
in the Maltese
scenario is later examined.
Results obtained from a
sample of
SEC examination scripts
and tests given to Form
1
and Form 2 students
show that Maltese
students of all levels
experience the same problems
to the
same degree. SEC
examination
scripts and interviews
with teachers show that
a problem
with grammatical
gender
affects other
areas
of the
language. In
the light of this fact,
we sought to identify the
possible causes leading
to this
problem. Language interference
is the main cause
of this
difficulty. Although
almost all teachers
interviewed admit
that grammatical gender
is a fundamental aspect,
most of them do not emphasise
its importance during lessons.
Special
sessions
on
the use
of the dictionary
are hardly conducted, leading
to a situation where students
cannot refer to a dictionary
to check grammatical gender.
The textbook
Zick Zack Neu
used in
most
Maltese secondary schools
does not adopt particular
strategies
that can help students
learn nouns with their
gender. Finally, we suggest
methods
and devised
lesson plans that can aid
learners practise the vocabulary
items with their gender.
Brincat
Christine
Students’ Understanding
Of Fractions In A Form
2 Junior Lyceum
B.Ed (Hons.)
The Dutch theory of Realistic
Mathematics Education (RME)
is a teaching and
learning theory based
on five interconnected
principles: the
role of contextual
problems,
the reinvention of mathematics
by mathematising, the use
of models for level raising,
the
importance of interaction
and the intertwining
of
the learning
strands. This study attempts
to study the RME pedagogy
and apply
the RME
process to the
teaching and learning of
fractions in a
Form 2 Junior Lyceum. As
the area of fractions is
very vast a test was designed
to
identify the learning goal
for
the RME lessons and was
given to
four Form 2 Junior Lyceum
classes. Subsequently,
four contextual
tasks
were designed
and presented
to a class of twenty-two
Form 2 Junior Lyceum students.
The activities
were worked in pairs, with
no help from the researcher.
The
students’ responses
were then analysed to identify
the students’ strategies,
misconceptions and difficulties.
The students’ responses
provided a picture of the
students’ understanding
of fractions and were then
used as a basis for the
planning of two lessons,
based on the principles
of RME. This study includes
a discussion of the students’ work
on the four tasks presented
in these two lessons. The
extent to which the lessons
were effective in helping
them build on their informal
strategies to
facilitate their learning
was also evaluated.
Brincat
Glorianne
NUTRITION IN TEENAGE PREGNANCY
B. Sc. (Hons.)
Adolescence is a period
of transition between childhood
and adulthood,
with increased
nutritional requirements
to support
growth and
development (Owen,
Kendau & Wilken,
1997; Story & Hermanson,
2000). Coupling pregnancy
and adolescence at this
stage of growth can lead
to health and behavioural
risks, since when needs
are highest, many teenagers
are dieting, snacking,
consuming fast foods and
skipping
meals (Mathews, Yudkin & Neil,
1999). This, together with
the rise in number of teenage
pregnancy locally,
has increased interest
in researching this area.
A simple descriptive design
was conducted at “Ghozza”,
a section of the Guidance
and Counselling Services
in the Department of Student
Services
and International Relations
of the Education Division,
which provide support and
education on pregnancy
to unmarried pregnant minors.
This study aimed to
identify pregnant teenagers’ knowledge
on nutrition during pregnancy
and their actual food intake,
through
the use of a questionnaire
and a three-day food diary.
Knowledge on nutrition
seems to be limited amongst
these
pregnant teenagers,
with
inadequate knowledge
on the ‘Food Guide
Pyramid’ and
the nutrients found in
food, together with their
function in pregnancy.
Furthermore, the food
diary showed that the participants
were not consuming foods
in concordance to the recommended
daily intake
of the macro and micronutrients.
Thus, findings suggest
the need for more education
on nutrition during
pregnancy amongst these
pregnant teenagers.
Brincat
Lara Ann
DO OUR STUDENTS HAVE AN
ATTITUDE PROBLEM TOWARDS
ENGLISH?
A SOCIOLINGUISTIC STUDY.
B.Ed (Hons.)
Language learning is not
a merely individualistic
act
but is strongly
related to social
attitudes prevailing in
the learner’s community.
Throughout its journey
towards becoming a bilingual
country, Malta has
been bestowed with a rich
linguistic inheritance,
charged with social implications
related to particular
languages.
This study is
a quantitative investigation
of language
attitudes towards English
existing among
Form 3
students attending
six Secondary Schools.
Attitudes were
elicited during face-to-face
interviews, using direct
methods
of inquiry
and these were contrasted
along
four major variables:
gender,
type
of school attended,
locality and socio-economic
status. The results indicate
that there
are some
significant attitudinal
differences in relation
to specific
contexts.
Generally,
students show a positive
inclination towards learning
English because
they are well
aware
of the opportunities
that such
knowledge will
provide them
with. Thus,
respondents indicate a
general
positive attitude towards
instrumental orientation
as they
value English as a
key for economic success.
On the other hand
participants do not feel
the need to use the English
language
in their most intimate
domains, thus indicating
a negative integrative
motive.
Contrary to what was predicted,
students attending the
private
schools do not
use English
more than their
counterparts, nor do they
show a more positive integrative
outlook towards the English
language.
Females harbour positive
attitudes more than males.
Despite these general positive
instrumental
attitudes, the conclusion
drawn
by this study
was that there is
no inclination from these
students to accept English
as part of their bilingual
identity. Thus, there is
a marked division
between
utilitarian
value and
the question of identity.
Bugeja
Georgette Marie
FORM FOUR STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES
TOWARDS THE TEACHING OF HISTORY IN
SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN GOZO
P.G.C.E. in History
My study aims to
investigate the attitudes which Gozitan
Form Four
students have
towards History.
The tool used
to collect
the data
is a questionnaire.
The sample
of students who answered
the questionnaire was 148.
Apart
from making it my
study I wanted, indirectly,
to promote the subject,
as can
be seen from
the
type of
questions asked. Therefore,
the scope of my Long
Essay is to scaffold the
History subject,
which is
compulsory
in all
Gozitan
Secondary
Schools as
part of their
Environmental Studies.
The main research findings
were
that History
is still
taught in a traditional
way in
most schools
surveyed
and that students,
with
only few exceptions, do
not particularly like the
subject.
Bugeja Melanie
Exploring the Effects of
Participating in School
Community Life on Home
School Links; Living with One Family
B. Ed (Hons.)
Parents are the children’s
first teachers and educators. In fact,
children enter the classrooms with
a baggage of knowledge and skills which
they have acquired
from home. When children
enter the school setting, the role
of teaching is divided primarily between
the parents and the teacher. In turn,
children benefit a lot
from strong teacher-parent
relationships. This depends on the
level of communication and involvement
on both parts. This was the rationale
behind my research within
a state school situated
in the Cottonera region. This study
explored the home-school links present
between one family, the ‘Cassars’ and
the school. The research was carried
out through the use of interviews,
informal conversations
and also through participant
observation. The data gathered is related
to communication, the parents’ involvement,
empowerment and the father’s
role in education.
Primarily,
the study aimed at asking three
main questions:
1) How
was the Cassar family involved in the
school?
2) What methods were
used by the family
and the school
to
communicate?
3) What effects did
such level of communication
have on the
family members?
The study
started by identifying the various
ways and methods
used in order
for the
head of school,
teacher
and parents
to communicate.
What
stood
out immediately
was the mother’s
high level of involvement
especially after she
has joined the local
council. This study also
elaborated on the effects
of such involvement
especially after she
joined the school council.
This study also elaborated
on the effects of such
involvement on the Cassar
members. The issue of
empowerment
and the mother’s
views on power relations
were also tackled. It
was found that through
such involvement experiences,
the mother felt that
through such
involvement experiences,
the mother felt that
she was contributing
to life long learning.
Data about the father’s
role was also obtained.
It was found that in
this case, the father
was not as involved as
the mother. All this
research
was done whilst examining
the connection between
literature and practice.
Buhagiar
Antonella
Dyslexia within the Learning
Disabilities Spectrum
A Case Study
Diploma in Inclusive
Education
This long
essay has focused on
Dyslexia within the
Learning Disabilities
Spectrum in
a 12
year old Student
which
was identified as having ‘Learning
Difficulties of a marked
degree’. The purpose
of this study was to
understand how a student
with Dyslexia learns;
sustaining that Dyslexia
is actually a different
profile of learning rather
then a disability.
Also
throughout this study
I have attempted
to try
to identify
effective
teaching
strategies that can
be adopted
to reinforce
learning, certain
data was gathered
from interviews, observations
and a sample from
the student’s
writings. Throughout
this research, it was
clearly shown that a
clear pattern emerged
from
the data collected.
The
project concluded with
strategies which
can be
taught to the student
in order to
be able
to learn
better in class,
thus
leading
to a better
understanding of
literacy.
Calleja Pia
“ Homework: Fundamental or redundant?
A study of
physics homework given in Maltese girls’ Junior Lyceums”.
B. Ed (Hons.)
The main aim of this study was to investigate
the importance given to physics homework
by teachers and students. A questionnaire was
used with
three
hundred and twenty,
Form 4 students from Malta’s girls’ Junior
Lyceums. Questionnaires
were administered with at least three classes from each school and results
were
then analysed quantitatively.
Interviews were used with at least three teachers from each school and
in total
seventeen interviews
were carried out to elicit detailed information. The information obtained
from the
interviews was analysed
qualitatively. Results from this study confirmed the literature which
had been
reviewed by showing
that there are conflicting ideas about the importance of homework. The majority
of teachers
assign some form of
physics
homework and correct it regularly, however some do not believe that homework
is useful. The majority
of students think that they should
be assigned physics
homework and feel that homework is important for their learning. They also
feel
they need help while
doing their homework, which they usually get from their friends. Most
schools also have a homework
policy which gives suggestions about
the types and amount
of homework that should be assigned.
Camenzuli Mary Rose
A Case Study Of a Child
with a Profile of
Dyslexia
Diploma in Facilitating
Inclusive Education
This
study develops the profile of a
child who
has been identified
as
having
specific
learning
difficulties
in
reading and spelling.
Interviews
with the child, parents and
past and
present educators
were carried
out. Psychological
reports,
rating scales and
unstandardized
reading and spelling tests
were also
employed. Moreover,
observations in
class and in the community
were performed.
These various methodology
strategies
were instrumental
in building up
a profile
of
a child’s
general functioning.
Various aspects,
including development,
socialization,
attitudes, relationships,
support, academic,
behavioural
and emotional factors
proved useful in
establishing the
strengths and weaknesses
of the child.
By
focussing on the
individual
strengths
and keeping
in mind the importance
of practical implementation,
strategies for
further development
are recommended.
These include
a multisensory
structured approach,
paired reading,
use
of the computer,
occupational therapy
and speech-language
pathology sessions.
Eventually
support strategies
for home and school
environments
tailored
to the child’s
individual needs
are recommended.
Camilleri Joanne & Vella
Jeanelle
ANALYSIS OF READING
SKILLS USING ICT
AND BIG BOOK IN A YEAR 3 SETTING
B. Ed (Hons.)
The aim of our
research study
was to identify
which strategy,
either
ICT
or Big Book
, enhances reading
and comprehension
skills. The
analysis was
carried
out
in eight Year 3
classes
from the state
sector; having
three schools
in Malta
and one in
Gozo. We used the
Reader Rabbit’s
Reading Development
Library 2 – ‘City
Mouse, Country
Mouse’ (
a CD-ROM which
is already available
in Year 3 classrooms)
and a Big Book
consisting of the
same story which
was designed by
ourselves. Our
research was based
on a series of
lesson plans
which were planned
and delivered by
both of us. These
lessons mainly
focused on vocabulary,
comprehension skills
and enjoyment in
Reading. Analysis
was carried
out by comparing
and contrasting
the pupils’ exposure
of the sample to
a story from the
Cd package or
from the Big Book.
Related activities
were also
assigned to the
pupils so as to
facilitate our
analysis. From
our study it is
clear that Big
