Investigating Classroom-Level Barriers to Cooperative Learning Implementation in Saudi Middle Schools (Published)
The change process is not easy; effort is required to implement a change in any system. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education is working to bring a change to their education system by implementing cooperative learning. This approach is different from traditional learning, so there are different barriers faced by teachers, students, and administrators. This study focuses on analyzing the perceptions of teachers which may act as barriers while they implement cooperative learning in schools in Saudi Arabia. This study aims to investigate the level of preparedness of teachers while implementing cooperative learning; the professional perspective of teachers regarding cooperative learning; and the perception of teachers regarding the benefits and use of cooperative learning. The study used a quantitative research design and a survey was distributed among the teachers working at a public school in Saudi Arabia. Teachers’ preparedness, perception, and personal perspectives were tested and quantitative data revealed the barriers limiting the implementation of cooperative learning in schools. Findings can be utilized by policy makers and administrators to dictate necessary changes in the system which will help in the effective implementation of cooperative learning. The policymakers may need to work on the policy framework to equip teachers to mitigate these barriers.
Keywords: Barriers, Cooperative learning, Professional Development, Teachers
Impact of early reading skills and teachers perceptions in English as a foreign language using ICT: Evidence from Vietnam (Published)
This study aimed to identify the early reading skills in English as a foreign language via information and communication technology in Vietnam as well as early childhood student teachers perception. Currently, information and communication technology and part of the teacher’s perception in the classroom practices performed an effective role in the learning aptitude of students and enhanced their reading skills in English as a foreign language. The nature of the study was cross-sectional and data were collected from 100 students and teachers from Hanoi National University of Education. The output of the study revealed that more students were agreed and had a positive perception towards the uses of information and communication technology in teaching reading in English as a foreign language. The results also indicated that teachers used the best skills and strategies to enhance children’s vocabulary in the classrooms. Lastly, findings indicated that students faced a lack of resources and technical support as significant barriers. Implications for early childhood pre-service teacher training and educational policy are discussed.
Keywords: Barriers, Early Childhood Education, Reading, Strategies., Students, Teachers’ Perception, Vietnam, and skills
English Language Learning in Adulthood: Perceptions of female adult learners (Published)
Adult learning in an EFL context is one of the most current issues researched in education. Just as the importance of learning a language is growing by the minute, the number of adult learners is enhancing too. The current study investigates the motivation of EFL adult Learners to go back to higher education, their preferred learning styles, and difficulties faced by them. The study consisted of 132 female participants from the College of Basic Education, who answered a 45 statements questionnaire. The answers were analysed quantitatively through SPSS to find the means, frequencies, and significance in correlation with several independent variables. It has been found that female adult learners have mixed intrinsic and extrinsic motives towards learning EFL, and while learning styles varied, institutional barriers such as poor facilities, strict regulations and traditional teaching practice appear to be the greatest difficulties to learners. The study is concluded with several suggestions that aim to provide effective adult EFL learning.
Keywords: Barriers, EFL, Learning strategies, PLS, adult-learner, motivations
Psychological Barriers to Satisfaction of Reproductive Health Needs of the Age-Cohort 10-24 Years in Imo State, Nigeria (Published)
This study sought to investigate psychological barriers to satisfaction of reproductive health needs of the age-cohort 10-24 years in Imo State, Nigeria. To facilitate the realization of this objective, three research questions and two hypotheses were postulated for the study. The population for the study was 93,250 which comprised students in all the secondary and tertiary institutions in Imo State. Using the multi-stage sampling procedure, a sample size of 5010 students was drawn. The sample size represented 5 per cent of the population. The study adopted cross-sectional survey research design. The instrument used for data collection was a self-constructed questionnaire, known as PSYBARNAC which contained 13 items in two sections A and B. Section ‘A’ contained the personal data (age and gender) of respondents while section ‘B’ contained the psychological barriers to satisfaction of reproductive health needs. The instrument was validated by a jury of three drawn from the Department of Physical and Health Education, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri. The reliability co-efficient of 0.88 was derived using Pearson Product Moment Reliability co-efficient. The data obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics of percentage and mean in answering the research questions, while inferential statistic of Z-test and ANOVA were used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that young persons are faced with psychological barriers to reproductive health needs. The findings further revealed that the psychological barriers experienced by age cohort 10-24 years vary by age and gender. Based on the findings of the study, the investigators recommended that, the government through the Ministry of Education and Health should package a sex education programme for young persons of varying age and other status (gender, sexual activity). This is to meet their unique reproductive health needs; the government, NGOs and communities should also develop appropriate strategies to up-date the home (parents and older siblings) with the reproductive health needs of youths and barriers to such needs. This will equip them to join effectively in providing and supporting the young persons in satisfying their reproductive health needs; health stakeholders should organize reproductive health programmes which should be comprehensive, well located and attractive to youths in terms of cost and relationship. This will motivate youths to participate in such programmes; reproductive health service providers should be trained by the government to help them evaluate their own values and understanding of needs of those they are serving, so as to ensure that all young people are treated with dignity and receive comprehensive reproductive health services that address their reproductive health needs; service providers and parents should improve on their interpersonal relationship with young person; this will help to reduce the psychological barriers that hinder young persons from accessing reproductive health services, as well as, make the services more attractive to young persons.
Keywords: Age And Gender, Barriers, Needs Psychological, Reproductive Health