A comparison of students' and instructors' opionions concerning the curriculum in the area of community development at the higher certificate of education level in teachers colleges
Abstract:
Purposes of the Study. 1. To study and compare students and Instructors opinions concerning the objectives, subject matter, teaching learning process, measurement and evaluation according to the curriculum in the area of community development at the Higher Certificate of Education Level in Teachers Colleges issued by the National Teachers Training Council in 2519 B.E. with the addition of 2524 B.E. 2. To compare the opinions concerning the reasons between male and female students in selecting this major. Method of Study A sample of 588 persons was used in the study. The sampling composed of students and instructors in the area of community development at the higher certificate of education level at twelve Teachers Colleges in academic Year 1983. A questionnaire was constructed by the author to because as a research device and was devided into 3 parts. Its first part deals with the general personal information of the subjects, while the second part deals with the curriculum in the objectives, subject matter, teaching learning process, measurement and evaluation. The third part deals with the opinions concerning the reasons between male and female students in selecting this major. The data were then analyzed by percent, means, standard deviations and t-test. The data were presented in the timetable from with explanation. Finding1. The opinion of the students and the instructors curriculum in the area of community development of the higher certificate of education level in Teacher Colleges in several aspects as followes. 1.1 Objectives : their opinions at a significantly high level were that the objectives of the curriculum were suitable : the objectives of curriculum were assigned in accordance with five items policy of the Teachers Training Department, present social condition, psychological principal of learning, practicable and helping trained teachers to be community leaders. 1.2 Compulsory subject matter A : their opinions at a significantly high level were that subject matter helped the students to accomplish the objectives of curriculum at higher certificate level. Each course was suitable to this level. Some were complex. Eleven units of selective subject matter were adequate. Compulsory subject matter B : students and instructors thought that each subject matter in five compulsory subject matter was important and useful but there was a little unsuitable therefore it was to have a little alternation to make it more complete. According to the instructors, only theories of social science and community development were important and useful but should be alternated and improved to make them suitable without the alternation of the original matter.1.3 Teaching learning process : their opinions at a significantly high level were that method of teaching were most used, instructors studied curriculum and made the objectives of the lessons before teaching. The students least the opportunity to select some courses in order to not to give rise to teaching and learning difficulties. Explanation was the teaching method most commonly used. Students and instructors thought that activities least used were teaching aids as models. 1.4 Measurement and evaluation : their opinions at a significantly level were that activities most used were the measurement in closely relationship to the objectives and subject matter. The instructors evaluated the students by testing and their assigned activities. The measurement and evaluation should be done twice ; midterm and final. The evaluation of teaching and learning was the duty of the instructors. The instructors should be fair on giving grades. The students and instructors thought that the least used activity was the instructors did not use the written exam for final test except for the evaluation from other activities. Opened texts, oral test, take home exam and exhibition or seminar were least used in final measurement. There was no significant difference between the opinions of most of the students and instructors (p>.05) in required compulsory subject matter A and B, teaching learning process, measurement , and evaluation, while there was significant difference (p<.05) in objectives of curriculum by the means of the students opinions about the most suitable of the objectives were higher than the instructors. 2. There was no significant difference between male and female students on comparing the reasons for selecting this major (p>.05). The reason used most from both male and female students was the subject was interesting and suitable for the present social condition, while the reason used least was they did not know what to select.