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Full-Text Articles in Education

Inquiry-Based Teaching In Mathematics Classroom In A Lower Secondary School Of Karachi, Pakistan, Abdul Wali Khan Apr 2012

Inquiry-Based Teaching In Mathematics Classroom In A Lower Secondary School Of Karachi, Pakistan, Abdul Wali Khan

Professional Development Centre, Chitral

There is greater demand on schools to provide autonomy to the learners in the learning process. Diverse strategies are suggested by academicians to achieve the desired autonomy. One such strategy is inquiry-based teaching which provides students with enhanced autonomy in the learning process. This study explores how inquiry-based teaching could be introduced in mathematics classroom in a lower secondary school of Pakistan through an action research process? Analytic memos, sample of students work, reflections from critical friend, observations, field notes and interviews were the main tools of data generation during the study. The results of the study report that inquiry-based …


Teachers Learning From Professional Development Programme For Primary School Teachers And Translating Their New Learning Into Actions In Primary Schools In The Context Of Chitral Pakistan, Mohammad Khan Apr 2012

Teachers Learning From Professional Development Programme For Primary School Teachers And Translating Their New Learning Into Actions In Primary Schools In The Context Of Chitral Pakistan, Mohammad Khan

Professional Development Centre, Chitral

Professional development programmes are criticized for not meeting the practical needs of teachers and teachers are blamed for going to their comfort zones despite their participations in professional development programmes. This qualitative case study explored effectiveness of the program of primary education certificate course looking into participant teachers’ new knowledge, skills and attitude gained from the programme and the implementation of their new learning into their respective classrooms. One program graduate from each nine participating schools participated in the study. Data was collected through semi-structured and open-ended interviews, classroom observations, documents analysis and conducting focused group discussions with students. The …


Helping Primary School Teachers In The Mountainous Valley Of Chitral Pakistan To Enhance Students’ Learning Through Questioning, Mohammad Khan Mar 2012

Helping Primary School Teachers In The Mountainous Valley Of Chitral Pakistan To Enhance Students’ Learning Through Questioning, Mohammad Khan

Professional Development Centre, Chitral

This paper highlights efforts being made to help two primary school teachers introduce questioning as a teaching strategy to maximize learning capacity of their students. Findings of the study indicate that provision of constant technical support is essential in getting the teachers conceptualized and internalized the importance, types and techniques of effective classroom questioning. It further indicates positive changes in the classroom practices of the research participants, as they started planning and executing more interactive lessons through incorporating questions of various levels for the learners. Change in teachers’ attitude towards questioning was also visible. They started believing that questioning is …


The Informal Learning Approaches Of Teachers In A Secondary School In Pakistan, Ali Nawab Jan 2012

The Informal Learning Approaches Of Teachers In A Secondary School In Pakistan, Ali Nawab

Professional Development Centre, Chitral

The advocates of informal learning believe that learning is not always necessarily planned rather it could also happen informally in the workplace. Does informal learning equally happen in every context and setting? Using a qualitative approach, this study explores the nature of teachers’ informal learning in a secondary school in rural Pakistan. Data were generated through interviews and observations. The study finds that though limited in nature, there are some informal learning activities which the teachers are engaged in. Most of the informal learning happens through observations of the practices of senior colleagues. Moreover, the teachers also learn from the …


Relationship Between Assessment And Students’ Learning, Babar Khan Jan 2012

Relationship Between Assessment And Students’ Learning, Babar Khan

Professional Development Centre, Gilgit

Assessment is a critical aspect of teaching and learning process which aim at collecting, interpreting and analyzing the regarding students’ performance. The quality of learning is determined by the quality of assessment practices in the classroom. There are many purposes of assessment that focus on the different dimensions of educational development, however, the most dominant purposes of assessment are improving students’ learning and develop accountability measures for learning at classroom and school levels. For effective assessment, using appropriate assessment strategies is significant. There are number of that can be employed to enhance students’ learning outcome but teacher rely on only …


Crafting Leaders For Educational Change: Head Teacher’S Perspectives, Sultan Alam Jan 2012

Crafting Leaders For Educational Change: Head Teacher’S Perspectives, Sultan Alam

Professional Development Centre, Gilgit

This research reports a study conducted in Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan. The purpose of the study is to explore the CELM experiences of a government school head teacher. A qualitative case study method was used to investigate the subject matter. The participant was selected on the basis of pre-determined criteria that s/he has participated in the whole intervention programme, and completed all the mandatory tasks assigned during the whole intervention period. The findings of the study showed that CELM intervention has been instrumental in bringing about a significant effect on the professional approaches of the head teacher. On one hand he …


A Secondary Science Teacher’S Beliefs About Environmental Education And Its Relationship With The Classroom Practices, Salima Begum Jan 2012

A Secondary Science Teacher’S Beliefs About Environmental Education And Its Relationship With The Classroom Practices, Salima Begum

Professional Development Centre, Gilgit

Global environmental issues are increasing due to the rapid developments in science and technology. To address these environmental issues there is a need to create awareness about environmental education among the masses. This can only be possible through teachers and teacher educators. It is assumed that science teachers are teaching environmental concepts as scientific facts, without creating awareness about environmental education. The ultimate purpose of this study was to explore the beliefs of a secondary science teacher about environmental education and how his stated beliefs matched with his classroom practices. The study was conducted in one of the co-operative schools …


Transition From Lecture Based To Activity Based Teaching Through Whole School Improvement In Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan, Salima Begum Jan 2012

Transition From Lecture Based To Activity Based Teaching Through Whole School Improvement In Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan, Salima Begum

Professional Development Centre, Gilgit

The study sets out to answer the question, “How and to what extent has Whole School Improvement Program influenced the teachers to shift from lecture to activity based teaching and learning processes in the project schools in Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan? The study was conducted in two Whole School Improvement Programme (WSIP) project schools in district Gilgit from public and private education sector of Pakistan. A case study approach was used in qualitative paradigm and Context, Input, Process and Product model was used in data collection and analysis to evaluate the input given by Professional Development Teachers (PDTs) and outcomes of …


Portfolio: A Professional Development And Learning Tool For Teachers, Babar Khan, Salima Begum Jan 2012

Portfolio: A Professional Development And Learning Tool For Teachers, Babar Khan, Salima Begum

Professional Development Centre, Gilgit

Professional development of teachers is considered a source to enhance teachers’ content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge. To meet this purpose teacher education institutions use a variety of ways for teachers’ development programs. Mostly these ways and strategies are used in short and long programs where teachers are provided opportunities to learn knowledge and skills outside classroom and schools. The purpose of these courses is to enhance the teachers’ capacity and improve students’ learning outcomes. However, most of these learning and strategies are limited to the training centers and teachers face challenges while implementing the learning in their respective schools. Teachers …


Exploring Leadership Practices In Rural Context Of A Developing Country, Ali Nawab Oct 2011

Exploring Leadership Practices In Rural Context Of A Developing Country, Ali Nawab

Professional Development Centre, Chitral

The success or failure of any institution has closely been linked with the leadership practices exercised in the institution. Whereas the number of private schools is rapidly increasing in the rural context of Pakistan, the leadership practices of these institutions are interesting and timely questions to ponder upon. Drawing upon the data of a qualitative case study, this paper discusses the leadership practices in a private school in rural Pakistan. It is found that the school leaders in this context have still traditional approach to leadership with little possibilities of shared or distributed leadership. Since the private schools are owned …


Developing Child Friendly Environment In Early Childhood Education Classroom In Pakistan, Khush Funer Murtaza Oct 2011

Developing Child Friendly Environment In Early Childhood Education Classroom In Pakistan, Khush Funer Murtaza

Professional Development Centre, Gilgit

Among all levels of education, Early Childhood Education and Development (ECEd) is considered to be the most critical level for social (relationship to others), emotional (self-image and security), cognitive (thinking and reasoning) and physical development of children. Therefore, the teachers of early years need to play a significant role in the teaching and learning process through providing a friendly environment in their schools. The study employed a case study approach. Information was gathered through a combination of methods, which included classroom observations, field notes, document analysis, focus group and semi structured interviews. The focus group participants and the interviewees were …


Role Of Head Teachers In Managing The Forces Emanating From The External World Of Schools In Gilgit-Baltistan Of Pakistan, Mola Dad Shafa Sep 2011

Role Of Head Teachers In Managing The Forces Emanating From The External World Of Schools In Gilgit-Baltistan Of Pakistan, Mola Dad Shafa

Professional Development Centre, Gilgit

This paper reviews the nature and intensity of some external forces that shape and re-shape headteachers’ school improvement efforts in the mountainous and rural Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan. The external forces emanating from the outside world of the schools are categorized under three themes: divisions within the school community, influences of the district office, and issues of communication with parents. The divisions within the school community were clear and deep. The major divisions included the uneven socioeconomic levels, the various tribal systems, the sense of local and non-locals, and the different religious denominations. The challenges related to the District Office were: …


What Works In Education In Pakistan, And Why? The Case Of Pdcn’S Whole School Improvement Program In Gilgit-Baltistan Of Pakistan, Mola Dad Shafa, Darvesh Karim, Sultan Alam Sep 2011

What Works In Education In Pakistan, And Why? The Case Of Pdcn’S Whole School Improvement Program In Gilgit-Baltistan Of Pakistan, Mola Dad Shafa, Darvesh Karim, Sultan Alam

Professional Development Centre, Gilgit

This inquiry is part of a country-wide study conducted to explore What Works in Education in Pakistan, and Why? The Whole School Improvement Programme (WSIP) of Aga Khan University-Professional Development Center, North (AKU-PDCN) offered in Gilgit-Baltistan is one of the seven cases chosen based on its best practices in teacher professional development and school improvement in the mountainous and rural Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan. Three schools representing the public, private and AKESP systems were selected for this study. The findings emanating from the three cases have been structured and discussed under the themes of „Teachers Professional Development,‟ „School-Community Relations,‟ „Monitoring and …


The Possibilities And Challenges Of Multigrade Teaching In Rural Pakistan, Ali Nawab, Salima Rahim Baig Aug 2011

The Possibilities And Challenges Of Multigrade Teaching In Rural Pakistan, Ali Nawab, Salima Rahim Baig

Professional Development Centre, Chitral

In rural Pakistan instruction frequently occurs in multigrade settings where, due to lack of teachers and space, two to three teachers teach six classes. Manyteachers lack the knowledge and skills to manage multigrade classes effectively as they have been trained for single-grade teaching. Thisqualitative study was conducted to explore the possibilities and challenges of implementing multigrade course strategies in four project schools. Based on the findings of the study, this paper argues that multigrade courses have positive impact upon the teaching learning practices of schools. However, government has to play a key role in sustaining the implementation and impact of …


Getting The Girls To School: The Community Schools Project In Gilgit-Baltistan Of Pakistan, Mola Dad Shafa Apr 2011

Getting The Girls To School: The Community Schools Project In Gilgit-Baltistan Of Pakistan, Mola Dad Shafa

Professional Development Centre, Gilgit

This paper reviews a ten-year, two-phase educational project that, amongst its main aims, attempted to increase significantly the enrolment of girls in schools. After discussing the constraints on the lives of females in the region, the paper analyses the effects of the project on enrolment. Although girls’ enrolment doubled, a large proportion of girls remained out of school and the drop-out rate of girls was significantly higher than that of boys. The paper examines the reasons for these trends and suggests that, contrary to some expectations, many parents are willing to send their girls to school, but only under strictly …


Change Agents’ Orientations To Change: Experience From Pakistan, Mir Afzal Tajik Feb 2011

Change Agents’ Orientations To Change: Experience From Pakistan, Mir Afzal Tajik

Professional Development Centre, Chitral

In this article, I report on a qualitative study conducted in the rural, mountain district of Chitral, Pakistan. The study examined 5 Teacher Educators (TEs’) specific actions and methods (strategies) and their underlying assumptions and core values (orientations) of change in schools. These TEs work as change agents in the schools established by the Aga Khan Education Service, Pakistan (AKES,P) in partnership with local communities. The TEs’ mandate from AKES,P insists that educational change and community development must go hand-in-hand. They therefore play a unique role as both educational reformers and community developers, stimulating change in schools on the one …


The Personal Values Of School Leaders In Pakistan: A Contextual Model Of Regulation And Influence, Sharifullah Baig Jan 2011

The Personal Values Of School Leaders In Pakistan: A Contextual Model Of Regulation And Influence, Sharifullah Baig

Professional Development Centre, Gilgit

This paper illuminates the sources of personal values and their influence on the leadership practices of two school head teachers in the particular context of Pakistan. A comparative case study method has been followed within the qualitative research paradigm where semistructured interviews, observations, and document analyses were used as the main data collection tools. This study finds that the types of personal values and the motivational bases for the acquisition of such values are very much contextually-centered. The data for both principals, despite the exceedingly different characteristics of their childhood communities, reveals that the inherent religious and communal values of …


The Place Of Personal Values In Educational Leadership In Pakistan, Sharifullah Baig Jan 2010

The Place Of Personal Values In Educational Leadership In Pakistan, Sharifullah Baig

Professional Development Centre, Gilgit

No abstract provided.