The Millennium Development Goals require all the nations to eradicate gender disparity at all lev... more The Millennium Development Goals require all the nations to eradicate gender disparity at all levels of education by year 2015. Pakistan is far from attaining the target even at the school level. This study took a step forward and explored the gender disparity in high school mathematics achievement in the rural and urban areas of the Province of Punjab, Pakistan. The sample for the study consists of 22,824 boys and 23,796 girls from rural schools, and 18,805 boys and 21,905 girls from urban schools. In all, there are 957 rural schools and 596 urban schools. The data is analyzed by using correlation analysis, univariate ANOVA and multiple regression analysis techniques. It is revealed that the boys performed, on average, significantly higher than girls on mathematics achievement. It is also evident that students from urban schools significantly outperformed their counterparts. The effect of gender and school location was found to be independent of each other.
Pakistan Education System is not according to the Constitution of Pakistan 1973. It is moulding y... more Pakistan Education System is not according to the Constitution of Pakistan 1973. It is moulding youth in divergent matrixes that cause injustice and disappointment in society. Therefore, it a barrier in achieving the goal of national harmony and social cohesion; and also, it is one of the contributory factors in dispersing the nation from its ideals. This paper discusses the key flaw in the educational structure of Pakistan, and suggests the ways to achieve the goal of " uniform, equitable and effective system of education " through a " national education system " as ensured in the Constitution of Pakistan.
M-learning technology has reshaped the existing education system and is rapidly being integrated ... more M-learning technology has reshaped the existing education system and is rapidly being integrated in the education sector especially outside the formal classroom settings. The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that influence the behavior intentions of the distant learners towards the use of m-learning. These factors include utility of m-learning, ease in m-learning, self-management of the m-learner and the behavior intentions towards the use of m-learning. The participants of the study were 100 male and female prospective teachers studying under distance education system. The data was collected using a questionnaire consisting of 20 items. The results showed that there is a significant relationship between utility of m-learning, ease in m-learning, and the behavior intentions of the prospective teachers towards the use of m-learning. The correlation between self-management of the e-learner and behavior intentions was found to be non-significant.
This article reports Action Research project carried out with the student teachers of a private s... more This article reports Action Research project carried out with the student teachers of a private sector teacher education institute in Pakistan. Professional Development Portfolio was introduced during the final, eight week practicum of the student teachers to improve their self-knowledge and professional skills particularly problem solving and decision-making. The study was carried out in two cycles and data were gathered through examination of portfolios, non-participant observation of the critical friend and Focus Group Discussions. The major findings of the study are that reflective writing helped the student teachers to identify classroom problems. Reflection paired with initial self-audit improved student teachers' problem-solving as well as decision-making skills. The data also indicated that the student teachers needed more practice in completing different sections of the professional development portfolio.
The Millennium Development Goals require all the nations to eradicate gender disparity at all lev... more The Millennium Development Goals require all the nations to eradicate gender disparity at all levels of education by year 2015. Pakistan is far from attaining the target even at the school level. This study took a step forward and explored the gender disparity in high school mathematics achievement in the rural and urban areas of the Province of Punjab, Pakistan. The sample for the study consists of 22,824 boys and 23,796 girls from rural schools, and 18,805 boys and 21,905 girls from urban schools. In all, there are 957 rural schools and 596 urban schools. The data is analyzed by using correlation analysis, univariate ANOVA and multiple regression analysis techniques. It is revealed that the boys performed, on average, significantly higher than girls on mathematics achievement. It is also evident that students from urban schools significantly outperformed their counterparts. The effect of gender and school location was found to be independent of each other.
In modern world, attitudes of people are considered more important than their experiences and aca... more In modern world, attitudes of people are considered more important than their experiences and academic preparation. A positive attitude towards research is a key to success and progress in the knowledge based societies. This study explored the student teacher attitudes towards research. The sample consisted of 194 participants from two public universities of Pakistan and it was taken by using census sampling technique. The participants were Master in Education students in their second semester. The Attitude towards Research scale was used for data collection. The scale was consisted of 30 items which were divided into five factors: research usefulness, research anxiety, positive attitudes, relevance to life, and research difficulties. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA. The results showed that student teachers have a negative attitude towards research. A significant difference was found in the attitudes with respect to the type of program and prior areas of specialization. The paper demonstrates a clear need for focus on research into student teacher attitudes towards research. Low student teacher attitudes have negative impact on the pupils. The ability of teacher education programs to alleviate the problem has widespread implications. The paper produces empirical evidence about the low student teacher attitudes towards research and raises questions relevant to teacher preparation role of the teacher education programs in developing higher attitudes towards research.
Free and compulsory education has become a constitutional right of all the Pakistanis since the e... more Free and compulsory education has become a constitutional right of all the Pakistanis since the eighteenth amendment has come into effect. Compulsory and free education requires the laws to implement the education offerings in the compulsory age group. This study draws on a desk review of the compulsory education offerings in five countries: India, USA, UK, Singapore and Finland. The study is aimed at getting insights into how compulsory education is being organized in the region and globally, and forwards some recommendations regarding how it may be organized by various provinces of Pakistan.
The study shows how students' discourse that emerges during Collaborative Group Work (CGW) contri... more The study shows how students' discourse that emerges during Collaborative Group Work (CGW) contributes to the ways that students make sense in joint mathematical activity and gain knowledge from social interaction. It is assumed that placing friends into groups can allow the teachers to use their relations for potentially productive collaboration. My focus is how the relation of individuals affects CGW and review the impact of social relationships on the students' discourse during CGW. It is evaluated through the indirect evidence of its effects on students' interactions. I examine type of discourse either disputational, cumulative, or exploratory emerged with the interaction of friend/non-friend group work. An exploratory discourse enables meaning and knowledge to be constructed, and the evaluation is based on the assumption that groups/pairs that bring about exploratory interaction is productive. For this I take three examples from the larger data set: first example is the pair work between two non-friend participants. The second and third examples depict the pair work between friend groups. The result shows that friendship relationships have an influence on the students' collaborative work within groups and may be an important factor to enhance students' cognitive development during CGW.
Research is said to be the significant factor for technological advancement, social development a... more Research is said to be the significant factor for technological advancement, social development and institutional fame. For quality research positive attitude towards research is a prerequisite which itself is influenced by different factors including the cost of research, institutional research facilities, etc. The presents study is an effort to determine whether or not the institutional fees have any effect upon the students' attitude towards research. Student Attitude towards Research Scale developed by Papanastasiou was adapted to collect data from randomly selected 218 MS/MPhil level students from 10 different universities. Significant negative correlation was observed between institutional fees and students' attitude towards research.
The Millennium Development Goals require all the nations to eradicate gender disparity at all lev... more The Millennium Development Goals require all the nations to eradicate gender disparity at all levels of education by year 2015. Pakistan is far from attaining the target even at the school level. This study took a step forward and explored the gender disparity in high school mathematics achievement in the rural and urban areas of the Province of Punjab, Pakistan. The sample for the study consists of 22,824 boys and 23,796 girls from rural schools, and 18,805 boys and 21,905 girls from urban schools. In all, there are 957 rural schools and 596 urban schools. The data is analyzed by using correlation analysis, univariate ANOVA and multiple regression analysis techniques. It is revealed that the boys performed, on average, significantly higher than girls on mathematics achievement. It is also evident that students from urban schools significantly outperformed their counterparts. The effect of gender and school location was found to be independent of each other.
Pakistan Education System is not according to the Constitution of Pakistan 1973. It is moulding y... more Pakistan Education System is not according to the Constitution of Pakistan 1973. It is moulding youth in divergent matrixes that cause injustice and disappointment in society. Therefore, it a barrier in achieving the goal of national harmony and social cohesion; and also, it is one of the contributory factors in dispersing the nation from its ideals. This paper discusses the key flaw in the educational structure of Pakistan, and suggests the ways to achieve the goal of " uniform, equitable and effective system of education " through a " national education system " as ensured in the Constitution of Pakistan.
M-learning technology has reshaped the existing education system and is rapidly being integrated ... more M-learning technology has reshaped the existing education system and is rapidly being integrated in the education sector especially outside the formal classroom settings. The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that influence the behavior intentions of the distant learners towards the use of m-learning. These factors include utility of m-learning, ease in m-learning, self-management of the m-learner and the behavior intentions towards the use of m-learning. The participants of the study were 100 male and female prospective teachers studying under distance education system. The data was collected using a questionnaire consisting of 20 items. The results showed that there is a significant relationship between utility of m-learning, ease in m-learning, and the behavior intentions of the prospective teachers towards the use of m-learning. The correlation between self-management of the e-learner and behavior intentions was found to be non-significant.
This article reports Action Research project carried out with the student teachers of a private s... more This article reports Action Research project carried out with the student teachers of a private sector teacher education institute in Pakistan. Professional Development Portfolio was introduced during the final, eight week practicum of the student teachers to improve their self-knowledge and professional skills particularly problem solving and decision-making. The study was carried out in two cycles and data were gathered through examination of portfolios, non-participant observation of the critical friend and Focus Group Discussions. The major findings of the study are that reflective writing helped the student teachers to identify classroom problems. Reflection paired with initial self-audit improved student teachers' problem-solving as well as decision-making skills. The data also indicated that the student teachers needed more practice in completing different sections of the professional development portfolio.
The Millennium Development Goals require all the nations to eradicate gender disparity at all lev... more The Millennium Development Goals require all the nations to eradicate gender disparity at all levels of education by year 2015. Pakistan is far from attaining the target even at the school level. This study took a step forward and explored the gender disparity in high school mathematics achievement in the rural and urban areas of the Province of Punjab, Pakistan. The sample for the study consists of 22,824 boys and 23,796 girls from rural schools, and 18,805 boys and 21,905 girls from urban schools. In all, there are 957 rural schools and 596 urban schools. The data is analyzed by using correlation analysis, univariate ANOVA and multiple regression analysis techniques. It is revealed that the boys performed, on average, significantly higher than girls on mathematics achievement. It is also evident that students from urban schools significantly outperformed their counterparts. The effect of gender and school location was found to be independent of each other.
In modern world, attitudes of people are considered more important than their experiences and aca... more In modern world, attitudes of people are considered more important than their experiences and academic preparation. A positive attitude towards research is a key to success and progress in the knowledge based societies. This study explored the student teacher attitudes towards research. The sample consisted of 194 participants from two public universities of Pakistan and it was taken by using census sampling technique. The participants were Master in Education students in their second semester. The Attitude towards Research scale was used for data collection. The scale was consisted of 30 items which were divided into five factors: research usefulness, research anxiety, positive attitudes, relevance to life, and research difficulties. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA. The results showed that student teachers have a negative attitude towards research. A significant difference was found in the attitudes with respect to the type of program and prior areas of specialization. The paper demonstrates a clear need for focus on research into student teacher attitudes towards research. Low student teacher attitudes have negative impact on the pupils. The ability of teacher education programs to alleviate the problem has widespread implications. The paper produces empirical evidence about the low student teacher attitudes towards research and raises questions relevant to teacher preparation role of the teacher education programs in developing higher attitudes towards research.
Free and compulsory education has become a constitutional right of all the Pakistanis since the e... more Free and compulsory education has become a constitutional right of all the Pakistanis since the eighteenth amendment has come into effect. Compulsory and free education requires the laws to implement the education offerings in the compulsory age group. This study draws on a desk review of the compulsory education offerings in five countries: India, USA, UK, Singapore and Finland. The study is aimed at getting insights into how compulsory education is being organized in the region and globally, and forwards some recommendations regarding how it may be organized by various provinces of Pakistan.
The study shows how students' discourse that emerges during Collaborative Group Work (CGW) contri... more The study shows how students' discourse that emerges during Collaborative Group Work (CGW) contributes to the ways that students make sense in joint mathematical activity and gain knowledge from social interaction. It is assumed that placing friends into groups can allow the teachers to use their relations for potentially productive collaboration. My focus is how the relation of individuals affects CGW and review the impact of social relationships on the students' discourse during CGW. It is evaluated through the indirect evidence of its effects on students' interactions. I examine type of discourse either disputational, cumulative, or exploratory emerged with the interaction of friend/non-friend group work. An exploratory discourse enables meaning and knowledge to be constructed, and the evaluation is based on the assumption that groups/pairs that bring about exploratory interaction is productive. For this I take three examples from the larger data set: first example is the pair work between two non-friend participants. The second and third examples depict the pair work between friend groups. The result shows that friendship relationships have an influence on the students' collaborative work within groups and may be an important factor to enhance students' cognitive development during CGW.
Research is said to be the significant factor for technological advancement, social development a... more Research is said to be the significant factor for technological advancement, social development and institutional fame. For quality research positive attitude towards research is a prerequisite which itself is influenced by different factors including the cost of research, institutional research facilities, etc. The presents study is an effort to determine whether or not the institutional fees have any effect upon the students' attitude towards research. Student Attitude towards Research Scale developed by Papanastasiou was adapted to collect data from randomly selected 218 MS/MPhil level students from 10 different universities. Significant negative correlation was observed between institutional fees and students' attitude towards research.
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