Reflections of Session 4

Some key learning points for Session 4:

Different types of forms available for different tests:

• Preferred Forms (the learning environments students prefer) and Actual Forms (the learning environment that the students experienced). Results from the two types of forms gives quantitative data as to whether there is significant difference between the preferred learning environment and the actual learning environment. Paired sample t-test could be performed on the two tests to test for any statistically significant differences.
• Class Forms (elicit individuals' perceptions of the class) and Personal Forms (evaluate an individuals' perceptions of her own role within the class)

We were also introduced to the OLES (Online learning environment survey). This is an instrument used to evaluate e-learning in an online environment. "Oodles" and "Survey Monkey" are some free softwares we can use to create our own online surveys!

Considerations when choosing a LE Instrument:

• Whether the language used in the instrument is suitable: appropriate difficulty level of the language used for the level and age of students, cultural suitability of the wordings used in the instrument.
• Whether the dimensions in the instrument is relevant for the research question.
• We can select and choose the scales and items to use in each instrument and we can even plug scales from other instruments to include in the instrument to be used in our own study if necessary. However, it is important to note that QTI measures slightly different dimensions compared to the rest of the LE instruments.

We also did a group case study of three different schools and sift out some factors in the school learning environment that actually makes it conducive and non-conducive for learning to take place. Overall, factors that contribute to effective learning environment include good leadership, teachers' intrinsic motivation to help students improve, students' self-discipline in their own learning, good overall discipline of the school, strong and good school culture.

We were privileged to attend a conference presentation in the APERA (Asia-Pacific Education Research Association) conference 2008 where Marsiling Secondary School teachers were sharing on using Knowledge Forum (KF) in an online environment to scaffold and enhance students' learning in D&T.

That's all for today.. Cheers and have a great weekend! :)

Reflections of Sesson 3

Some key learning points from Session 3:

1) 3 aspects of the learning environment: Physical environment, Social environment and the Student interaction in the environment.
2) Scales used to assess the learning environment can be categorised into Rudolf Moo's 3 dimensions: Relationship dimension (extent of people involvement and support for each other), Personal Development dimension (Direction along which personal growth and self-enhancement occur) and System maintenance and system change (extent ofwhich the environment is orderly).
3) Kurt Lewin's field theory states that a person's behaviour is influenced by the person and the environment. Behaviour = f(Person, Environment). Applications of the field theory include Group dynamics, Experiential learning and Action research.

Tired.. tired.. tired.. ;(

Reflections of Session 2

The first official lesson of this new module.. Went to Hall 13's "Bus Stop" for a delicious lunch.. (thanks to Dr Quek who took pains to make sure that our physical needs of a good lunch is well taken care of and even bought drinks for us! Thanks! :D)


Some key learning points for Session 2:

1) Inter-relationship of Lewinian theory (Human behaviour is influenced by the Learning Environment) and Murray's Need-Press Theory - Termed dearly as "THE BIG PICTURE" of this module.

In this BIG PICTURE:
- The learning environment must be congruent with the person, it either supports or hinders the realisation of personal needs and it determines human behaviour. A person has personal needs and his personal needs affect his human behaviour.
- Learning environment can be assessed either by a detached observer (alpha press) or by a participant or group of people in the environment itself (beta press). Key concern of collecting data via alpha press is the high cost while key concerns of collecting data via beta press is biasness of data collected and the expertise and maturity of the participants assessing the learning environment.

2) Different Learning Environments: Learner-Centred, Knowledge-Centred, Assessment Centred and Community-Centred - Based on the book "How People Learn" by Bransford

All these learning environments must overlap to constitute an effective learning environment.


But true to my first post.. the expectations of Dr Quek on us is extremely high.. Nearing the end of the session, just when everyone is ready to pack up and head for home, we are tasked to do a group research on one of the pioneer researchers for learning environment research as homework... sigh.. and to create a WIKI (?!) on it using wetpaint.com.! (Read: Dr Quek is determined to work us hard during our course with her! ;P) Our group is to research on Kurt Lewin and his Field Theory. Found some interesting information on this Founder of Social Psychology and created the wetpaint.com account. Feel free to browse our website at http://www.kurtlewin.wetpaint.com/ but note that it is still "work-in-progress" :) See all of you on Thurs for our next session... Cheers

Here we go again...

A start of a new module after a few "rest" weeks... MEd 858.. Classroom Learning Environment... What is this course about? Well, the first session was a real shocker. HIGH expectations were set. Numerous readings were assigned and guess what? We are expected to create a blog! My first (but definitely not last) blog to record online reflections of what we have learnt throughout this course... Beginning to enjoy penning my thoughts in an open way like this..

Have learnt quite a few stuff from the podcast and some of the readings disseminated. Better record it down before it slips my frail memory..

Learning points:
1) Definitions of common terms in learning environment research: school climate (how the participants perceive the school environment), school culture (usual practice present in an organisation) and perception (how an individual views and interprets a situation).
2) A learning environment involves the person, personal needs, and the observed human behaviour.
3) Learning environment influences the person: An individual must feel a sense of belonging, empowerment and the ease of cooperation among peers in an effective learning environment.
4) Physical needs, safety needs, need for affection, love and belonging, need for esteem and need for actualisation must be met in an effective learning environment, with the priority similar to that of Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
5) Learning environment influences human behaviour: human instincts, habits and behaviour are shaped by the environment.
6) Historically important and contemporary instruments: LEI, CES, ICEQ, MCI, CUCEI, QTI, SLEI, CLES, WIHIC (can you decode the names of these instruments used to assess classroom environment? ;)) I would sure aim to know all these instruments well by the end of the course.. :P

That's all for now.. Cheers..