Vol.

: 68-71 ISSN-0084-621

RESEARCHES
AND
STUDIES
A PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL OF EDUCATION

Department of Education
University of Allahabad
Year : 2016-2019
ii | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Research and Studies

ISSN : 0084-621
Vol. : 68-71
Year : 2016-2019

Patron
Prof. Sangita Shrivastav
Vice Chancellor

Advisory Board
Prof. Heramb Chaturvedi
Prof. P.C. Saxena
Prof. K.S. Misra
Prof. P.K. Sahoo

Reviewers
Prof. V. Agarwal
Prof. Usha Mishra
Prof. D.R. Singh
Prof. P. Upadhyay
Prof. S. Raghuvansh
Prof. Ashish Saxena

Editor-in-Chief
Prof. Dhananjai Yadav

Co-Editor
Dr. Ruchi Dubey

Editorial Board
Dr. Akanksha Singh
Dr. Saroj Yadav
Dr. P.K. Astalin

Researches and Studies is a peer reviewed annual journal published by Department

of Education, University of Allahabad
 |iii

Editorial
The Department of Education, University of Allahabad, is presenting a
combined issue of its Annual Peer Reviewed Journal “Researches and
Studies”. It has continuously served as an academic platform to the
researchers and scholars of education to disseminate their research findings
to the world of academics in different domains of education. The
department is coming out with 68 – 71 volume as a compilation of research
papers and abstracts of doctoral work during 2016 – 2019.
The present volume includes studies from various branches of educational
researches such as Educational Philosophy, Educational Psychology,
Educational Sociology, Educational Technology, Educational Management,
Teacher Education and Economics of Education as well as some current
issues in Education. More specifically the research papers and abstracts
published in this combo volume are from – Emotional Intelligence,
Leadership Styles, Job satisfaction, Social Media, Mental Health, Sex
Education, Professional Competence, Scientific Creativity, Scientific
Aptitude, Inclusive Education, Ecological Literacy, Relevance of MOOCs,
Sustainable Development, Concept of Theory, Impact of Video
Conferencing, Cost Benefit Analysis, Right to Education, Examination
Stress, Quality of Education & Supervision Practices, Problem solving
ability and Interest, etc.
I extend my heart full thanks to senior stalwarts of education like Prof. P. C.
Saxena, Prof. K. S. Misra and Prof. P. K. Sahoo, who have always been a
source of inspiration and guidance to this academic endeavour. Members of
Reviewer Board Prof. Vidya Agarwal, Prof. Usha Mishra, Prof. D. R.
Singh, Prof. Pratibha Upadhyay, Prof. S. Raghuvansh and Prof. Ashish
Saxena have always extended their academic services in bringing out this
issue.
I also thank our younger colleagues Dr. Ruchi Dubey, Dr. Akanksha Singh,
Dr. Saroj Yadav and Dr. P. K. Astalin, who not only contributed but worked
day and night to come this venture true.

Dhananjai Yadav
Editor In Chief
iv | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Index
Research Papers
1. Emotional intelligence in relation to leadership style among …1
secondary school teachers
Prof. Anil Shukla & Shruti Malviya
2. Comparative study of job satisfaction of faculty members of …6
self financed and government financed courses at university
and college level.
Dr. Ruchi Dubey & Shalini Tiwari
3. Indulgence with social media and mental health …10
Dr. Akanksha Singh
4. Parent’s and teacher’s attitude towards sex education in …14
schools
Dr. Chetna Pandey
5. Professional competencies for prospective teachers and …18
teacher educators
Dr. Renu Chouhan & Jyotsana Gaur
6. Rejuvination of teacher education …28
Dr. Saroj Yadav
7. Scientific creativity among secondary students in relation to …36
achievement in Mathematics
Dr. Pratik Upadhyaya
8. Vision of inclusive education: Some reflections …44
Dr. Dinesh Singh
9. A study of ecological literacy among post graduate students …53
of district Prayagraj
Divya Singh & Prof. Usha Mishra
10. A study of interest in Geometry among VII grade students’ …58
in relation to gender of students
Archana Pandey & Prof. D. Yadav
11. Relevance of MOOCs program for ensuring social inclusion …62
and quality learning
Usha Devi & Prof. D. Yadav

12. A study on learning for sustainable development: A …70

qualitative approach
Anamika Tiwari & Dr. Ruchi Dubey
 |v

13. Theory and its relationship with practice …79

Dr. Akanksha Singh & Toseef Bari Khan
14. Impact of trauma on learning and school performance ..84
Dr. Kaneez Mehdi Zaidi
15. Impact of video-conferencing on teaching-learning process …91
in education
Mohammad Saquib Taufique & Dr. Neeti

D. Phil. Abstracts
• Cost benefit analysis of pre service teacher education …99
programme at secondary stage
Prerna Madhyan
• Educational provisions for child labour under right to …101
education with respect to their habitation and educational
aspirations
Anupama Mehta
• A study of achievement in physical sciences of …103
Mathematics and non-Mathematics group students of
science stream of class XI in relation to their scientific
aptitude and reasoning ability
Justin Pradeep Sahae
• A study of examination stress among university students in …105
relation to their emotional intelligence, academic
engagement and personality
Aradhana Tripathi
• A study of reasoning ability, numerical ability, memory and …107
scientific aptitude as predictors of achievement in
Biological science in intermediate classes
Dilip Kumar Singh
• A study of values, social behaviour, adjustment and …109
academic achievement motivation of the students belonging
to orphanages
Carolene Beck
• A study of emotional intelligence, personality, classroom …111
learning environment and self-concept as predictors of
achievement in Commerce among higher secondary
students
Ashish Mishra
vi | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

• A study of the impact of scientific attitude on academic …113

achievement, occupational aspiration and adjustment
Dharmendra Kumar Sarraf
• Effectiveness of concept attainment and concept mapping …115
teaching strategies for teaching Biology to class IX students
Deepika Pandey
• Aggression among undergraduate students in relation to …117
their self-esteem, family environment and academic
facilities in institutions.
Kiran Noopur Shukla
• A study of academic motivation and academic problems …119
among minority students studying in Open Universities in
general and professional streams
Mohammad SaquibTaufique
• A study of learning styles and process of development of …121
professional skills among students of professional courses
of Open Universities
Subhash Chandra
• A study of learning stress, adjustment and mental health as …123
correlates of achievement in Mathematics and Science
among VIII grade students
Suman Pandey
• Stress, teaching aptitude and emotional intelligence as …125
predictors of mental health among B.Ed. students.
Swangi
• A study of occupational stress and job involvement in …127
relation to professional commitment among teachers
serving in aided and self-financed colleges.
Vandana Yadav
• Effectiveness of computer based and paper – pencil tests at …130
intermediate stage
Ananya Singh
• izkFkfed f”k{kk dh xq.koŸkk muu;u esa i;Zos{k.k iz.kkyh dh …132
izHkko”khyrk dk v/;;u
jkts”k dqekj ;kno
• Lukrd Lrj ds fo|kfFkZ;ksa dh xf.kr esa miyfC/k ij …135
l`tu'khyrk] leL;k&lek/kku ;ksX;rk] vkafdd ;ksX;rk
rFkk xf.kr fo”k; esa #fp ds izHkko dk v/;;u
jke/kuh flag
 Emotional Intelligence in Relation to
Leadership Style among Secondary School
Teachers
Prof. Anil Shukla *
Shruti Malviya**

Abstract

This study was undertaken to study the relationship between emotional intelligence
and leadership style among secondary school teachers. The sample consisted of
300 teachers of private U.P. Board Schools. Test of Emotional Intelligence(School
Teacher Form ) of K.S. Misra and Leader Behaviour Description Questionnaire-
Self by Andrew W Halpin : Adapted form were used as tools for the study.
Analysis of data was done by computing product moment co-efficients of
correlation. The main findings were- emotional intelligence is not related to
initiating structure and consideration among male teachers. Emotional
intelligence is positively related to initiating structure and consideration among
female teachers.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive emotions, to access and generate

emotions so as to assist thought, to understand emotions and emotional knowledge,
and to reflectively regulate emotions so as to promote emotional and intellectual
growth (Mayer & Salovey,1997). Ishak, Mustapha, Mahmud and Ariffin (2006)
suggested additional domains (spirituality and maturity) and subdomains
(intention, interest, compassion, and helping others) that described emotional
intelligence of the teachers. Sanders(2009), Bumphus (2008) indicated a positive
relationship between emotional intelligence and leadership but Condren (2002)
concluded that the overall emotional intelligence is not related to specific areas of
leadership. There is a positive relationship between emotional intelligence and
personality( Kappagoda, 2013, Jackson,2008) ,adjustment (Thilagavathy,2013))
and conflict management styles (Farzadnia ,2014).

The term "leadership style" refers to a leader’s manner of behavior in a work

situation. According to Fred E. Fiedler, one’s leadership style depends on one’s

*
Department of Education, University of Lucknow
**
Research Scholar, Department of Education, University of Lucknow
2 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

personality and is therefore relatively fixed. Hardman(2011) and Rautiola (2009)

found that leadership styles were statistically significant predictors of student
achievement. Ko (2006) and Noland(2005) indicated a correlation between
teachers’ leadership and students’ motivation. Transformational leadership,
authoritative leadership and situational leadership influences students discipline at
the school (Kanana, 2012). There has been found a significant correlation between
leadership style and school climate (Williamson,2007). In the three leadership
styles- transformational leadership, transactional leadership and laissez-faire
leadership- perceived transactional leadership was reported with the highest
scores(Ko,2006). There has also been a report of employing transformational
leadership style more than any other (Sloan,2009 & Shelton,2008).Good
leadership encompasses both ‘transformational’ and ‘transactional’ styles(
Nyenyembe, Maslowski , Nimrod & Peter,2016). The leadership style of “high
initiating structure and high consideration” should be preferable and effective in
terms of nearly all of the climate and affective measures (Cheng,1994).

Objective of the Study:

1. To study the relationship between emotional intelligence and

leadership style of male teachers

2. To study the relationship between emotional intelligence and

leadership style of female teachers

Hypothesis of the Study:

1. There is no significant relationship between emotional intelligence and

leadership style of male teachers.

2. There is no significant relationship between emotional intelligence and

leadership style of female teachers.

Methodology: The sample consisted of 300 teachers of private U.P. Board

Schools.150 male and 150 female secondary class teachers of 30 private U.P.
Board schools were included in the sample. Test of Emotional Intelligence (School
Teacher Form) of K.S. Misra and Leader Behaviour Description Questionnaire-
Self by Andrew W Halpin : Adapted form were used as tools for the study.
Product moment co-efficient of correlation were computed for the analysis of the
data.
 |3

Result and discussion:

Table 1

Correlation between emotional intelligence and initiating structure dimension of

leadership style of male and female teachers

Groups N Values of Correlation

Male teachers 150 .048

Female teachers 150 .423**

**Significant at .01 level

Observation of the Table 1 shows that the values of correlation between emotional
intelligence and initiating structure dimension of leadership style for male and
female teachers are .048 and .423 respectively. The former is not significant at .05
level while the latter is significant at .01 level. So, it can be inferred that emotional
intelligence is not related to initiating structure leadership style among male
teachers, while for the female teachers emotional intelligence is positively related
to initiating structure style of leadership.

Table 2

Correlation between emotional intelligence and consideration dimension of

leadership style of male and female teachers

Groups N Values of Correlation

Male teachers 150 .083

Female teachers 150 .482**

**Significant at .01 level

Observation of the Table 2 shows that the values of correlation between emotional
intelligence and consideration dimension of leadership for male and female
teachers are .083 and .482 respectively. The former is not significant at .05 level
while the latter is significant at .01 level. So, it can be inferred that emotional
intelligence is not related to consideration leadership style among male teachers,
while for the female teachers emotional intelligence is positively related to
consideration leadership style.

Thus, it can be concluded that emotional intelligence is not related to initiating

structure and consideration leadership style among male teachers. While emotional
4 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

intelligence is positively related to initiating structure and consideration leadership

style among female teachers. It means that female teachers with high initiating
structure or high consideration have high emotional intelligence.

References:
• Bumphus, A. T. (2008). The emotional intelligence & resilience of school
leaders: An investigation into leadership behaviours. Dissertation Abstracts
International, 69 (9), 3401-A.
• Cheng, Y. C. (1994).Teacher leadership Style: A classroom‐level study,
Journal of Educational Administration, 32 (3),54 – 71.
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/09578239410063111
• Condren, T. D. (2002). The relationship between principals’ emotional
intelligence and leadership effectiveness. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation,
University of Missouri-Columbia.
http://www.leadershipchallenge.com/Research-section-Others-Research-
Detail/abstract-condren---the-relationship-between-principals-emotional-
intelligence-and-leadership-effectiveness.aspx
• Farzadnia, F. (2014). The relationship between emotional intelligence and
conflict management styles among teachers. Unpublished Thesis,
• Hardman, B. K. (2011). Teacher's perception of their principal's leadership
style and the effects on student achievement in improving and non-improving
schools. Doctor of Education Dissertation, University of South Florida.
http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4921&context=etd
• Jackson, C. W. (2008).An analysis of the emotional intelligence & personality
of principals leading professional learning communities. Dissertation
Abstracts International, 69 (8), 2963-A.
• Kappagoda, S. (2013).The relationship between emotional intelligence and
five factor model of personality of English teachers in Sri Lanka. International
Journal of Business, Economics and Law, 2(1).
• Kanana, M. F. (2012). Influence of head teachers’ leadership styles on
discipline of secondary school students in central division, Isiolo District,
Kenya. Postgraduate Thesis, Mount Kenya University.
http://www.mku.ac.ke/research/images/publications/Abstracts%20.pdf
• Ko, N. (2006).A study of university teachers’ leadership style & students’
motivation in Taiwan foreign language education. Dissertation Abstracts
International,67(11),4123A.
 |5

• Mayer, J. D. and Salovey, P. (1997). What is Emotional Intelligence, In Peter

Salovey and David Sluyter Emotional Development and Emotional
Intelligence: Educational Implications,10-11.
• Noland, A. (2005).The Relationship between teacher transformational
leadership and student outcomes. Master of Arts Thesis, Miami University,
Oxford, Ohio. https://etd.ohiolink.edu/rws_etd/document/get/miami11231
68677 / inline
• Nyenyembe, F.W., Maslowski, R. , Nimrod, B. S. & Peter, L. (2016).
Leadership Styles and Teachers’ Job Satisfaction in Tanzanian Public
Secondary Schools. Universal Journal of Educational Research 4(5), 980-988.
http://www.hrpub.org/download/20160430/UJER7-19505936.pdf
• Rautiola, J. D. (2009). Effects of leadership styles and student academic
achievement. Master of Arts in Education Dissertation, Northern Michigan
University. https://www.nmu.edu/sites/DrupalEducation/files/UserFiles/Files/P
re-Drupal/SiteSections/Students/GradPapers/Projects/Rautiola_James_MP.pdf
• Sanders, S. C. (2009).Emotional intelligence, a necessary component of
educational leadership programs, as perceived by professors of educational
leadership. Dissertation Abstracts International, 70(6), 1873-A.
• Shelton, M. E. (2008).Leadership style & outcome behaviours of higher
education consortium directors in the United States. Dissertation Abstracts
International, 69 (6), 2081-A.
• Sloan, R. H. (2009). A quantitative study of the relationship between
transformational & transactional leadership styles & strategic change within
the state University of New York. Dissertation Abstracts International, 70(6),
2142-A.
• Thilagavathy, T. (2013). Adjustment and emotional intelligence of high school
teacher’s in Tiruvarur district. International Journal of Teacher Educational
Research (IJTER), 2(5). http://ijter.com/pdf%20files%20folder/MAY%
202013/ P1.pdf
6 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Comparative Study of Job Satisfaction of

Faculty Members of Self Financed and
Government Financed Courses at University
and College Level
Ruchi Dubey *
Shalini Tiwari **

Abstract
Job satisfaction studies are valued for both humanistic and financial benefits.
Within educational context it becomes even more crucial as it determines the
quality of education. The present study attempted to compare job satisfaction of
faculty members of self financed and government financed courses of University of
Allahabad .A sample of 100 faculty members was taken in which 50 belonged to
self financed and rest 50 were of govt. financed. Teacher Job Satisfaction Scale
(TJSS) by Gupta and Srivastava (1980) was used as a tool to measure job
satisfaction. For comparison t-ratio was computed, which was found to be
significant at 0.01 level. Thus findings of the study clearly indicated that self
financed faculty members were less satisfied than those of government financed
courses as their mean score was higher. In present scenario every institution wants
to run self financed courses due to acute dearth of funding thus satisfaction of their
faculty members must be ensured otherwise future of our students will be at stake.
Job satisfaction is an essential part of any progressive institution to be developed.
The teaching profession faces challenges that continuously reconfigures
knowledge, rules, skills, attitudes and ways of professional development (Massari,
2015).There are many variables that may attribute to a teacher’s level of job
satisfaction including workplace conditions, pay, relationships with staff, student
behaviour, parent participation and supportive administration (Abu-Taleb, 2013).
Swadia (2016), analysed job satisfaction among university teachers by taking into
account both intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting it and found the effect of age,
gender, marital status, education, occupational level and length of employment on
the job satisfaction of academicians. Rastogi etal. (2016), did a comparative
analysis of job satisfaction among male and female faculty members in self
financed colleges of western Uttar Pradesh. Gius (2015), found that private school

*
Assistant Professor, Department of Education, University of Allahabad
**
Research Scholar, , Department of Education, University of Allahabad
 |7

teachers are much more satisfied with their chosen profession than their public
school teachers. Panda(2001), found that there was no significant difference
between the government college teachers and non-government college teachers in
respect of their job satisfaction. Ambrose, Huston and Narman(2005) qualitatively
investigated faculty satisfaction and retention of a private university over a period
of two years and found that salary was one of major factor. Malini(2006) assessed
the personality traits and job satisfaction of arts and science college teachers of
self- financing courses. Ch’ ng etal.,(2010) discovered that management support,
salary, promotion opportunities are significant in determining job satisfaction of
Penang private college lecturers. Tomar and Kapri(2019) found that maximum
number of teachers of self financed Teacher Education Colleges were average or
moderately satisfied, none found to be extremely dissatisfied. Research has found
that teachers who have higher level of job satisfaction are less likely to leave the
field of education and put future of students at risk (Larkin etal., 2016). Thus the
present study aims to compare job satisfaction of faculty members of self financed
and government financed courses of University of Allahabad
Objective: The objective of the study is as follows-
To compare the job satisfaction of faculty members of self financed and
government financed courses of University of Allahabad
Hypothesis:
To achieve the above mentioned objective the following hypothesis was
formulated and tested-
There is no significant difference between the job satisfaction of faculty members
of self financed and government financed courses of University of Allahabad.
Methodology:
The sample of the study comprised of 100 faculty members of University of
Allahabad and its affilitated colleges. Out of which 5o faculty members belonged
to self financed and rest 50 of government financed courses. Teacher Job
Satisfaction Scale developed by S.P. Gupta and J.P. Srivastava (1980) was used as
a tool for the study. It consists of 80 items belonging to 20 dimensions. For each
item responses on 5 point Likert scale were taken from strongly agree to strongly
disagree.14 items were negative, thus their scoring was done as 1,2,3,4,5 and for
rest items scoring was done as 5,4,3,2,1 respectively. For the analysis of data t-
ratio was calculated.
8 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Results and Discussion:

Table 1
Mean, S.D. and t-ratio showing the difference in job satisfaction of faculty
members of government and self-financed courses
Sample N M SD t-ratio
Govt. financed 50 322.72 30.45 2.79*
Self - financed 50 303.68 36.85
*significant at .01 level

The above observation of the table clearly indicates that null hypothesis is rejected
as t-ratio is significant at .01 level. This means that there is a significant difference
between the job satisfaction of faculty members of government financed and self
financed courses. Higher mean scores for government financed courses implies
that the faculty members of these courses are more satisfied than those of self
financed courses. This finding corroborates the findings of Malik (2013), Khan
(2012) and Kayalvizhi and Chakkanathan (2011). Malik also found t hat adhoc
basis faculties are highly dissatisfied than regular teachers in degree colleges. Khan
reported that government college teachers are more satisfied than private college
teachers. Kayalvizhi and Chakkanathan found that lecturers employed in self
financing colleges are extremely dissatisfied. However contrary are the findings of
Barman and Bhattacharyya (2017), who reported that teacher educators working in
different govt. aided and private B.Ed. colleges are overall satisfied with their job.
Thus on the basis of the findings of the study it can be concluded that the faculty
members of the self financed courses are comparatively less satisfied than those of
the government financed courses. The findings of the study implies that efforts
should be made on the parts of authorities of higher education and managing
committees of tbe educational institutes to take strict actions to enhance the job
satisfaction of the faculty members as self financed courses are the need of the
hour and in the absence of the satisfied teachers even the best education system is
bound to fail and collapse.
References:
• Abu-Taleb, T.F,(2013). Job satisfaction among Jordan’s kindergarten teachers:
effects of workplace conditions and demographic characteristics. Early
Childhood Education, 41, 143-152.
• Ambrose, S., Huston, T., and Norman, M. (2005). A qualitative method for
assessing faculty satisfaction. Research in Higher Education, 46, 803-830.
 |9

• Barman, P. and Bhattacharyya, D.(2017). Job satisfaction of teacher educators

in different types of B.Ed. colleges in West Bengal. Journal of Humanities and
Social Sciences, 22, 80-99.
• Ch’ng, H.K. et al. (2010). The satisfaction level of Penang private college
lecturers. International journal of Trade, Economics and Finance, 1, 168-172.
• Gius, M. (2015). A comparison of teacher job satisfaction in public and private
schools. Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, 19, 155-164.
• Khan, I. (2012). Job satisfaction among college teachers, VSRD. International
Journal of Business Management Research, 2, 585- 587.
• Kayalvizhi, S. and Chakkanathan, K. (2011). A study on factors influencing
the job satisfaction of lecturers employed in self financing arts colleges, South
India. International Journal of Research in Commerce and Management, 2,
34-37.
• Larkin, I. M., Brantley-Dias, L., and Lokey-Vaga, A. (2016). Job satisfaction,
organizational commitment and turnover intention of online teachers in k-12
settings. Online Learning, 20, 26-51.
• Malik, M. (2013). A comparative study on job satisfaction between adhoc
basis teacher and regular teacher – with reference to degree colleges of
Kurukshetra. International Journal of Social Science and Interdisciplinary
Research, 2, 52-60.
• Malini, R. (2006). Job satisfaction of arts and science college teachers - a study
with reference to self – financing courses. Indian Journal of Research, 2, 14-
16.
• Massari, G.A. (2015). Key factors of preschool and primary school teachers’
job satisfaction. Ped Acta, 5, 27-40.
• Panda, M. (2001). Job satisfaction of college teachers in the context of type of
management. Journal of Education Research and Extension, 38, 9-15.
• Rastogi, M., Srivastava. M. and Chawla, C. (2016). A comparative analysis of
job satisfaction among male and female faculty members in self financed
colleges of western Uttar Pradesh. International Journal of Advanced
Research, 4, 2344-2352.
• Swadia, B.U. (2016). Job satisfaction among university teachers: an empirical
study. International MultidisciplinaryResearch e-Journal.
• Tomar, L.S. and Kapri, U.C. (2019). A comparative study of job satisfaction of
teachers working in self financed teacher education colleges. International
Journal of Advanced Research, 5, 246-255.
10 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Indulgence with Social Media and Mental

Health
Dr. Akanksha Singh *

Abstract
Addiction of Internet at very early age is very harmful for our teenagers. It is
common feature that parents and child enter into arguments over the use of
electronic gadgets and internet. Especially overindulgence with social media
affects individual’s mental health. Recent violent incidents among teenagers and
discussion with specific group of parents attracted researcher to find out why a
group of girls are undergoing anti depression treatment. This phenomenological
study is based on 20 adolescent girls of urban setting undergoing mental health
related problems; emerged while discussion with their parents. The Purpose of
present paper is to understand the mental health problems of that particular group
of adolescent girls and how school and home can intervene for their well-being.
In 2017 sad incident took place in our society where one teenager killed his own
mother and sister in fit of anger. Another incident took place in Yamuna Nagar
where a class twelfth student shot dead his school’s principal inside her office with
his father’s revolver.
Eight year old student of school in Gurgaon was murdered by another senior
student of that school inside the toilet. He did it with this thought that it would
force the school to put off an exam and he wanted to avoid the parent teacher
meeting. In Lucknow class sixth girl took six year old boy to the toilet and attacked
him with a kitchen knife as she wanted to announce holiday. These incidents
indicate that mental health of our teenager is not normal. It is true that there is no
hard and fast dividing line between behavior that is normal and behavior that is not
normal. But this kind of Pattern of behavior is not typical in the society. Mental
disorders can be defined as disturbances of an individual’s behavioural and
psychological functioning that are not culturally accepted and that lead to
psychological distress, behavioural disability, or impaired overall functioning.
(Nietzel et al.1998)
Abnormal behavior which is not typical of Indian culture is due to changing
scenario of the society. Family environments are deteriorating. Psychologist Aruna
Broota says that Materialistic thrust reduces the Indian Values within the Indian
socio cultural context. Inter generation conflict is very high. Addiction of Internet

*
Asst. Professor, Department of Education, University of Allahabad.
 |11

at very early age is also very harmful for our teenagers. It is common feature that
parents and child enter into arguments over the use of electronic Gadgets and
internet.
Mental health is an integral part of health and well being, as reflected in the
definition of health in constitution of the World Health Organization “Health is a
state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity.”Mental Health, like other aspects of health, can be
impacted by range of socioeconomic factors that need to be addressed
comprehensively. Determinants of mental health are personal ability of an
individual to deal with his or her emotions as well social, cultural, economic,
political and environmental factors.
Report of World health organization (2017) says 20 percent of world’s children
and adolescents have mental disorders or problems and half of the mental disorders
begin at the age of 14.According to National Mental Health survey of India (2016)
prevalence of mental disorder in age group 13-17 years was 7.3% and nearly equal
in both genders and nearly 9.8millions of children 13-17years are in need of active
intervention. Common mental disorder includes depression, anxiety disorders and
substance use disorders. Survey shows that prevalence of mental disorder is nearly
twice (13.5%) as much in urban metros as compared to rural (6.9%) areas. It shows
that adolescents of urban metros are more vulnerable to depression, anxiety and
suicidal ideation.
Objective of present study was to find out the mental health issues of urban
adolescent girls.
Methodology-
Initial survey was conducted with the parents of 20 adolescent girls and parents
who accepted that their daughters are behaving differently. Initially they thought it
is typical teenager trouble but closure watch shows that these girls are having too
much mood swings and they are spending too much time with gazettes with
internet connectivity. They look very tired all the time even without any symptom
of disease. Further researcher selected 10 adolescent girls and tried to find out the
relation between behavioral changes, social media usage and mental health.
Research questions of present study are
1. What kind of mental health problem is associated with adolescent girls?
2. What kind of intervention needed and
3. Role of school and home for better mental health.
Few relevant modules developed by world health organization were used for
diagnosing depression. Researcher used phenomenological method for
understanding the deeper issues.
12 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Recommendation has been given to improve the school and home atmosphere for
the adolescent girls.
Findings of the Study-
Study shows that girls are experiencing severe mood fluctuation; selected
adolescent girls were spending too much time with electronic devices with internet
connectivity. They feel very much anxiety without interacting on social media
platform, internet is their daily doze, it is kind of new way of socialization, Now
they spend comparatively more time on interacting with each other than earlier.
Even few girls were taking anti depressant pills and parents were aware that their
daughter is taking anti depressant pill. Family is spending less time together, in
some cases parents complained that their teenager prefers to be in virtual company
of their friends rather than with them.
Researcher requested these girls to write their routine of vacations as these days
vacations were going on, Here is one sample of the routine of a girl.
“I usually get up 11 o clock during vacations as my winter vacation is going on,
that too when any of my family member started insisting too much. I got up and lie
down again as mother or father leaves the room. Finally after few minutes I get up
around 11:30. After spending some time in bathroom around 12’o clock I start
watching television with my breakfast. After spending two hours with television I
start my day with instagram feeds, replying texts or group calls. Sometimes I
perform both things television and mobile together although my parents keep
telling me that it is not good to do both things simultaneously. Rarely some days I
pick up a pen and draw just to make myself believe that I am not that useless.
Drawing gives me satisfaction too. At night my parents snatch my phone away
only then I tried to sleep otherwise if I get lucky I continue with my phone till late
hours.”
It shows how much disorganized routine they have. In busy metro life where both
parents are working, teenager don’t have strong disciplinary hand over him. They
easily deceive their parents. They demand gadgets for educational purpose but very
easily education take back seat and these platforms become the means of
socialization. Teenagers are communicating more on private platforms for them
like, comments and followers act as measurement of their popularity. In present
study it was found teenagers prefer to avoid those social media sites where more
and more adults are present like facebook. Instagram, Whatsapp and snapchat
provide them more control in terms of account privacy. Now they are aware that
whom to be friend without being caught by others. They spend most of the time in
uploading their latest pictures and they judge their self worth through likes and
comments. Over indulgence with online socialization make these teenagers
disconnect them with their real surroundings.
 |13

Recommendations:
Abnormal behavior of these teenagers is because of newly found addiction of
internet. Some are using these platforms to show their talent and some are wasting
their creative years into useless watching of these content. Self obsession,
obsession of clicking photographs, not being in moment but more engrossed in this
thought “that how to tell a large audience about this moment”. These tendencies
are very much destructive for our young generation.
School and home both are facing the danger so both should promote healthy face
to face socialization rather than socialization through various applications. It is not
possible to snatch electronic devices from the teenagers as they are using it for
educational purposes also it is essential to limit their online activity time. Schools
should spare time for teaching relaxation techniques. Regular counselor should be
appointed in school with whom students can discuss their problems and anxiety.
Develop the habit of maintaining journal in which ask them to write their feelings
it helps in flushing out negative thoughts. Irregular sleep pattern should be
monitored. Friend time should be real not virtual. Outdoor activities should be
enhanced. Understanding family and school atmosphere is indispensable, schools
are caring for individual learning needs but while using disciplinary actions they
forget about sensitive nature of few students because of that heinous crime are
reported. Parents support helps teenager to cope up with anxiety and depression
related disorders. Healthy life style is essential to cope up with any stress, anxiety
and depression.
References :
• Nietzel, M. T., Speltz, M. L., McCauley, E. A. &Bernstein, D. A. (1998).
Abnormal Psychology. Boston : Allyn & Bacon.
• Baron R.A. & Misra G. (2017) Psychology, Indian Subcontinent Adaptation:
Pearson Education.
• NIMHANS (2016) National Mental Health Survey of India, 2015-16:
Summary, Publication No. 128, 2016. Bangalore: National Institute of Mental
Health and Neuro Sciences.
14 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Parent’s and Teacher’s Attitude Towards Sex

Education in Schools
Dr. Chetna Pandey *

Destiny of any country is shaped in its classroom. To develop the well groomed
future of our country, it is very important that the students of the nation should be
healthy-physically and mentally both, which help them to develop a healthy
personality. In the present era our teenagers are moving from traditional to western
style due to fascination and which is proving to be disastrous for our society and
themselves also. With changing times it has become necessary that we impart sex
education to our teenagers. The physical and hormonal changes taking place in the
body of teenagers make them curious to explore these changes. Added to all this,
the increased amount of exposure through television, books, internet makes them
impulsive to try what is forbidden. The 'sexual arena' is a hot topic among the
adolescence currently and the absence of proper supervision can result in more
harm than good. Their easy access to the modern technologies not only provide
them with ample information about social and personal relationships, but also
inadequate and absurd information about intimate and sexual issues, which
motivate them and becomes the cause of many types of physical , mental and
sexual diseases. To protect our future generation from all these things our parents,
teachers and other members of the society should develop a positive attitude
towards sex education. In India, mostly parents, teachers and elders of the family
and society hesitate in discussing about sexual issues to their children. They are not
allowed to have access to sex related information because the society has the
perception that the exposure to such issues will corrupt the social system. To
overcome or reduce the problem of hesitation between two generations Indian
education system incorporated the sex education in schools. Teachers were
provided with the guidelines for the content of the syllabus of sex education that
has to be taught in the schools.
Burt defined sex education as’ the study of the characteristics of beings: a male and
female. Such characteristics make up the person's sexuality. Sexuality is an
important aspect of the life of a human being and almost all people, including
children, want to know about it. Sex education includes all the educational
measures which - regardless of the particular method used - may centre on sex.’ He
further said that sex education stands for protection, presentation extension,
improvement and development of the family based on accepted ethical ideas.

*
Assistant Professor, ASE, SHUATS, Allahabad
 |15

Lipson sees sex education as instruction in various physiological, psychological

and sociological aspects of sexual response and reproduction. Kearney (2008) also
defined sex education as "involving a comprehensive course of action by the
school, calculated to bring about the socially desirable attitudes, practices and
personal conduct on the part of children and adults, that will best protect the
individual as a human and the family as a social institution." Thus, sex education
may also be described as "sexuality education", which means that it encompasses
education about all aspects of sexuality, including information about family
planning, reproduction (fertilization, conception and development of the embryo
and foetus, through to childbirth), plus information about all aspects of one's
sexuality including: body image, sexual orientation, sexual pleasure, values,
decision making, communication, dating, relationships, sexually transmitted
infections (STIs) and how to avoid them, and birth control methods. Various
aspect of sex education are considered appropriate in schools depending on the age
of the students or what the children can comprehend at a particular point in time.
Rubin and Kinden also expressed that sex education is not merely a unit in
reproduction and teaching how babies are conceived and born. It has a far richer
scope and goal of helping the youngster to incorporate sex most meaningfully into
his present and future life, to provide him with some basic understanding of
virtually every aspect of sex by the time he reaches full maturity.
Many researchers have documented the need and justification of sex education.
K.K. Toro (2012) found that in the absence of effective sex education, the
immature adolescents make major decisions on sexual matters without knowing
any consequences. Parents and teachers have favourable attitude towards the
importance of imparting sex education in school. It is an ideal place for sex
education as many children from various communities gather there. But teachers
offering sex education often use more passive forms of learning and tend to
disregard skill-oriented learning activities, others put sexuality in a larger
developmental content including issues as self-esteem, setting goals and having
respect for others. In India, there are conflicting interests among teachers, parents
and students regarding sex education at school. On one side teachers often deliver
biological information, whereas parents are more interested in moral education, but
the students are looking to acquire more insight into practical issues regarding
sexuality of same or opposite gender. It was asserted that the majority of people
favour some sort of sex instruction in public schools, and this has become an
intensely controversial issue because, unlike most subjects sex education is
concerned with an especially sensitive and highly personal part of human life. But
to remove the misconception regarding sex education it should be taught in the
classroom. The answer to adolescents' sexual woes and pregnancy cannot lie
primarily in school programmes which at best can only be remedial; what is
needed is prevention education and as such parents should be involved.
16 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

When sex education is contentiously debated, the chief controversial points are
whether covering child sexuality is valuable or detrimental; whether sex education
should be integrated into the curriculum; the use of birth control such as condoms
and hormonal contraception; and the impact of such use on pregnancy outside
marriage, teenage pregnancy, and the transmission of STIs. On these issues, it was
found that mostly parents and teachers have suggested that sex education should be
taught in schools as they hesitate from discussing on this agenda to their
developing children. They further added that sex education should be taught
informally in schools, so that the child feel convenient and can discuss about
various issues on which he or she can never talk to his parents as it being
considered taboo as it is seen that mostly sex education includes shaming and fear-
based instruction, gender stereotypes are promoted, majority of students receive no
information about human sexuality except abstinence and the materials used
regularly contain factual errors and distort the truth about condoms and STDs.
Furthermore a U.S. review concludes that "the overwhelming weight of evidence
shows that sex education that discusses contraception does not increase sexual
activity". The 2007 study found that "No comprehensive program hastened the
initiation of sex or increased the frequency of sex, results that many people fear."
Further, the report showed "Comprehensive programs worked for both genders, for
all major ethnic groups, for sexually inexperienced and experienced teens, in
different settings, and in different communities." The United Nations Population
Fund (UNFPA) recommends comprehensive sexuality education, as it enables
young people to make informed decisions about their sexuality. According to
UNFPA," It is taught over several years, introducing age-appropriate information
consistent with the evolving capacities of young people. It includes scientifically
accurate, curriculum-based information about human development, anatomy and
pregnancy. It also includes information about contraception and sexually
transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. And it goes beyond information, to
encourage confidence and improved communication skills. Curricula should also
address the social issues surrounding sexuality and reproduction, including cultural
norms, family life and interpersonal relationships."
Thus sex education should include information regarding personal and social
hygiene, physical and psychological changes that are seen at the time of
adolescence which has to be accepted by them personally and socially without any
hesitation, as it is a part of the developmental process of any species including
human being. Comprehensive sex education does not only decrease the rate of
pregnancies in teenagers, but also the problem of overpopulation. It also helps a lot
in reducing sexually related crime, gender based violence and bullying and
increases healthy relationship among opposite gender. A Consultative Council for
Health and Human Relations Education has been established and its members
 |17

possessed considerable expertise in the area. The Council had three major
functions:
1. to advise and to be consulted on all aspects of Health and Human
Relations' Education in schools;
2. to develop, for consideration of the Government, appropriate
curriculum for schools;
3. To advise and recommend the standards for in-service courses for
teachers and relevant members of the school community.
In the current scenario, sex education to the teens should be considered as the
responsibility of every parent and teacher. Right information can enlighten a
teenager regarding the hazards related to sexual issues that can cause health
problems. You should make your child conscious of the fact that “it is better to be
safe than sorry.” Studies have also shown that effective sex education to
adolescence in school can increase the age at which they experiment with sex.
Certain schools have introduced novel health and hygiene workshops that handle
issues like health foods, usage of sanitary napkins, human anatomy and human
reproduction. But the education system in India is still has disagreement about
conducting workshops and programs within the school premises on sex education.
Therefore sex education should be given to all children, who are 12 and above. The
increasing incidence of teenage pregnancies and HIV in India makes it important
that we give our children sex education, so that they get the right information
rather than misconception.
References:
• Gayles. S. R. (2016). Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical Theory of the Politics
of Sexuality. Gender to Equality, 143-178. www. middlebury.edu>
sexandsociety>
• Toro, M. M & Sprecher, S. (2003). A cross cultural comparison of mate
preferences among university students. Journal of Comparative Family
Studies, Vol 34, 151-170
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4711229/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_education
• https://www.unfpa.org/comprehensive-sexuality-education
18 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Professional Competencies for Prospective

Teachers and Teacher Educators
Dr Renu Chouhan *
Jyotsana Gaur **

Abstract
Teachers play a vital role for educational system. Teachers are the backbone of
any education system because the effectiveness of an educational system is largely
determined by the quality of teachers. Professional competency is one of most
required skill for prospective teacher and teacher educator. Competency standards
are concerned with application of professional knowledge and skills within the
workplace and are underpinned by teachers’ professional values. Competence is
usually associated with highly professional performance and there is a direct link
in the field of education between a teacher’s professional competence and pupil
performance. This paper discusses professional competencies, Qualities that
requires for Prospective teachers and Teacher Educators to develop their
professional competency and suggests ways and means to improve it.
Teachers play a vital role for educational system. Teachers are the backbone of any
education system because the effectiveness of an educational system is largely
determined by the quality of teachers as they help in shaping and reshaping of the
society and determine the quality of life in the society. According to the Indian
Education Commission (1964-66), “Including of all the different factors, which
influence the quality of education and its contribution to national development, the
quality, competence and character of teachers are undoubtedly the most
significant.” Effective education can be achieved through the qualified,
competent, committed and effective teachers. So there is a need to enhance the
competency of the teachers because it enables them to adapting to change and
innovation, conscious use of knowledge, abilities, skills, talents, values, attitudes
and behaviour patterns, in order to resolve issues and problems, overcome
challenges, fulfilling duties and achieving the aims proposed.
Professional Competency
Professional competency is a combination of two words, profession and
competency.

*
Assistant Professor (DE), RIE. Ajmer
**
Assistant Professor (DEE), RIE. Ajmer
 |19

The word profession can be defined as an occupation in which one has a professed
expertise in a particular area especially one requiring a high level of skill or
training. In the case of teaching, teachers required pre- service and in-service
teacher training, necessary skills and competence to work upon.
To determine professions, National Education Organisation has listed out the
following points that are also carried out by teaching profession.
• To equip with intellectual tendencies.
• To acquire opportunities for various kinds of skills and abilities.
• To generate the desire for service than for personal gain.
• To generate its own standards.
• To provide opportunities for regular and systematic promotion during
the period of service.
• To posses strong professional organization behind it.
The word competency includes skill, knowledge and motive (attitudes). Walker
(1992), developed the following definition of competence, ― “the attributes
(knowledge, skills and attitudes) which enable an individual or group to perform a
role or set of tasks to an appropriate level or grade of quality or achievement (i.e.
an appropriate standard) and thus make the individual or group competent in that
role”.
Competence is generally associated with highly professional performance and has
a direct link in the field of education between a teacher’s professional competence
and pupil performance. According to Westera (2001), there are two distinct
meanings of competence in education:
1. From a theoretical point of view, competence is understood as a
cognitive structure that facilitates specified behaviors.
2. From an operational point of view, competence seems to cover a broad
range of higher order skills and behaviors that represent the ability to
deal with complex, unpredictable situations.
The quality of teachers is of prime importance for the success of educational
system. Teachers’ competence includes the following three fundamental
professional competencies:
1. Educational competencies- system of knowledge, skills, abilities and
motivation dispositions to realize educational professional roles.
2. Programme competencies or course content competencies- system of
knowledge and skills from the course content and developed activities
to teach the students about the knowledge and skills.
20 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

3. Communication competencies- system of the knowledge, skills,

abilities and motivational dispositions to realize the goals of
communication and teaching social interaction.
As mentioned above competency also includes commitment. Commitment is a
process that results from decisions. A teacher should be permanently committed to
his work because teaching is classified as profession, it is not simply an occupation
aimed at making money for livelihood but it is a social service for national
development.
Qualities that requires for Prospective teachers and Teacher Educators to
develop their professional competency
Professional Attributes
An effective teacher should possess following professional attributes:
• Interpersonal skills : Teachers should demonstrate good interpersonal
skills by creating opportunities to communicate and share knowledge,
ideas and experience with others. Teachers should devote to the
educational, personal, social, moral and cultural development of their
students and aim to teach them how to be life-long learners and active
members of society.
• Motives : Motive is an urge to achieve one’s goal. This continuous
concern of goal achievement directs a teacher to perform better and
better. So teacher educators should identify the motives (for self-
development, learner’s success, system or personal integrity etc.) for
taking up teaching among prospective teachers.
• Ethical : Teachers should respect the rights of others by acting with
consistency and impartiality. They should have an understanding of
the principles of social justice and demonstrate this by making just and
fair decisions.
• Effective Communication : According to the Concise Oxford
Dictionary the word communication means ‘the science and practice
of transmitting information’. This definition clearly show the link
between ‘teaching’ and ‘communication’ as teachers are constantly
imparting new knowledge, or transmitting information. Teachers
communicate with parents, students, colleagues and administrators
every day, that’s why communication skills are very important for
teaching professions. To be effective, teachers should have good
communication skills.
 |21

• Innovative : Teachers should creative and willing to take risks in order

to find new and enterprising solutions to educational issues and are
inventive when developing educational programs.
• Positive : Teachers should supportive and constructive in their
interaction. They should flexible in an ever-changing work
environment and are willing to consider critically and implement
change. Teachers are advocates of their profession.
Pedagogical Skills and Knowledge
Pedagogy is a combination of skills and knowledge required for effective teaching.
According to Lovat, (2003) pedagogy is “a highly complex blend of theoretical
understanding and practical skill”. This research is highlighting the vast
complexity of teachers’ work and specifying just what the nature of that work truly
is. Lovat further emphasises: a teacher is “a highly developed autonomous
professional, with a requisite professional knowledge base and practitioner skills
which could stand alongside the equivalent in medicine, law and engineering”.
Effective teachers should have a rich understanding of the subjects they teach and
appreciate how knowledge in their subject is created, organised, linked to other
disciplines and applied to real-world settings. Teacher knowledge is fundamental
to pedagogy.
Shulman (1987) defines seven categories to provide a framework for teacher
knowledge which are:
1. Content knowledge
2. General pedagogical knowledge like classroom control, using group
work
3. Pedagogical content knowledge
4. Curriculum knowledge
5. Knowledge of learners and their characteristics
6. Knowledge of educational contexts like schools and the wider
community
7. Knowledge of educational ends purposes and values
Teacher educators are expected to be self-aware and to reflect and articulate tacit
knowledge of teaching skills and make it available to prospective teachers to
bridging theory and practice. Teacher educators’ professional knowledge is
expected to be more comprehensive, rich and extensive, both in terms of the
22 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

specific subject matter taught and in relation to areas such as didactics, pedagogy
and psychology.
Personality Traits
Personality traits related to the professional role of a teacher, can nurtured and
developed by the training. Through the effective personality traits teacher truly
makes the difference in the lives of students. Some personality traits of an effective
teacher are as follows:
• Prepared : The most effective teachers come to class every day ready to
teach. It is easy to learn in their classes because they are ready for the day.
They don’t waste instructional time. They start class on time. They teach
for the entire class period in an interesting way.
• Hold High Expectations : The most effective teachers set no limits on
students and believe everyone can be successful. They follow the highest
standards. Inspire their students to do their best. Build students’ confidence
and teach them to believe in themselves.
• Creative : The effective teachers are resourceful and innovative in how
they teach their classes. Use technology effectively in the classroom.
• Fair : The effective teachers handle students and grading fairly. They
allow all students equal opportunities and privileges. Recognize that “fair”
doesn’t necessarily mean treating everyone the same but means giving
every student an opportunity to succeed. Understand that not all students
learn in the same way and at the same rate, so careful and aware about
every student.
• Display a Personal Touch : The effective teachers are approachable. They
connect with students personally and Share personal experiences with their
classes. Take personal interest in students and find out as much as possible
about them
• Cultivate a Sense of Belonging : The effective teachers have a way of
making students feel comfortable in their classrooms. Students repeatedly
mentioned that they felt as though they belonged in classrooms taught by
effective teachers. The students knew they had a good teacher who loved
teaching and preferred it to other occupations.
• Compassionate : The effective teachers are concerned about students’
personal problems and can relate to them and their problems.
• Have a Sense of Humor : The effective teachers do not take everything
seriously and make learning fun. They use humor to break the ice in
difficult situations. Bring humor into the everyday classroom.
 |23

• Respect Students : The effective teachers do not deliberately embarrass

students. Teachers, who give the highest respect, get the highest respect.
They respect students’ privacy when returning test papers. Speak to
students in private concerning grades or conduct. Show sensitivity to
feelings and consistently avoid situations that unnecessarily embarrass
students.
• Forgiving : The effective teachers do not hold grudges. They forgive
students for inappropriate behavior. Habitually start each day with a clean
slate. Understand that a forgiving attitude is essential to reaching difficult
students. Understand that disruptive or antisocial behavior can quickly turn
a teacher against a student, but that refusing to give up on difficult students
can produce success.
Above are some attributes, traits and skills that an effective teacher should posses
but now the question arises that how this effectiveness can be developed and
improved?
How to Improve Professional Competency
A lot of efforts and plannings are done in last few years to improve the quality of
teacher education at national and state level. By adopting following measures one
can improve his/her professional competency.
• Capacity building programmes : For capacity building, teachers should
attend the various academic programmes like Refresher courses,
Orientation programs , workshop, Seminar, Symposium etc. conducted by
the different educational agencies at national and state level like NCERT,
UGC, SCERT, DIET. These programmes enhance their professional
competency.
• Integration of technology : Integration of technology in teacher education
has proved to be effective at many teacher training institutions worldwide.
New technologies have been introduced in the field of education, still our
teacher-education could not raise up to the expected level. It is lacking
behind somewhere in realizing its purpose. Due to the advancement in
science and technology, the world has become interdependent and is
turning gradually into a global village. But educational programmes for
teachers or teacher-education has not made full use of their development
skill. Present teacher education programmes are not involved the
knowledge of latest technological advancement that’s why they produced
such types of teachers who are not able to use of upcoming techniques
according to the requirement of students of new generation. Therefore
24 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

techno-pedagogical skills should introduced in the teacher training

programmes.
• Developing Creativity : Development of creativity is very essential for the
all-round development of human being. As we know that knowledge
cannot be delivered, it has to be created. It means we should emphasis on
skills like problem solving, critical thinking, analysis, syntheses. .
• Reforms in Teacher-Education Institutions : The National Council for
teacher- education (NCTE) is a regulatory body which controls the
functioning of teacher –education institutions and prevent them from
becoming commercial institutions, but because the country is so diverse
with numerous institutions, it sometimes get difficult to monitor all the
institutions. Some unscrupulous institutions have become simply money
making centre and produce certified but incompetent teachers which is a
matter of great concern because incompetency of teachers can harm the
system of education. So there is a requirement of strict policies, and
reforms in norm and regulation to change present scenario of teacher –
education institutions for producing competent and committed teachers
• Developing Life Skills among prospective teachers : Life skills are certain
skills which are essential for personal development and growth. These
skills enable man to deal with the life’s difficulties and adversities more
effectively. These skills are thinking skills, self-awareness, problem
solving, creative thinking, decision making, critical thinking, social skills –
interpersonal relations, effective communication and empathy, emotional
skills – stress management. Main issue is that teacher-education is
memory based i.e. there is no active involvement of students, so we are
lacking in the development of life skills among the students, which are
essential for all round development of students.
• Sensitization towards Social Issues : There are various social problems and
issues that today our nation is facing. These are population explosion,
unemployment, diversity and communal tension, depletion in the mental
and physical health condition. Teacher can safeguard students against
these social problems if they are sensitive towards these issues.
• Structure of Teacher-Education Programme : A lot of stress is given on
teacher education course in India, unfortunately still there are several
loopholes in the system. are - Curriculum of teacher education porgramme
in India has been criticized much. Some educationists feel that it does not
fully address the need of contemporary Indian Schools and society and it
does not contain relevant contents for teachers who are to impart quality
 |25

education in schools. Quality in education relates to the quality of the work

undertaken by a teacher, which has significantly effect upon his / her
students. Teacher education has not come up to the requisite standards.
Teachers are not able to think critically and solve the issues related to
teaching methods, content etc. More emphasis has been given on the
knowledge of theoretical principles not on the practical principles
therefore teachers are not able to practice these theoretical principles in
actual classroom situations.
Suggestion to Improve Teaching Competency
• Inculcate value Education: Value education should be given to teachers, so
that they could educate young minds in the right direction.
• The quality of teacher education programme should be up graded.
• Teacher education institutions should be put under strict control of
regulatory body for the selection of teacher, students and provisions of
good infrastructure etc.
• Institutions working should be examined time to time.
• Teachers should train about stress management mechanism so that they
could help students in managing the stress and sustaining themselves in
this time of social isolation, parental pressure and cut throat competition.
• Teachers should be able to think critically make right decisions and
maintain harmonious relations with others.
• Teacher education programmes should enables the teachers to develop
there life skills among students.
• Techniques used in teaching should develop habit of self learning and
reduce dependence on teachers. It will help them to reflect on their own
and doing something new. Doing something new is creativeness.
• Teachers must understand the importance of the constitution in its true
prospective in the light of Indian Culture ethos and integrate it with the
philosophy of education.
• Teachers should prepare to own responsibility towards society and work to
build a better world, commitment to justice and zeal for social
reconstruction.
• The impact of science and technology and ICT on society and education
should be fully discussed in teacher educations institution.
26 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

• Scientific attitude and temper should be developed and its application for
the solution of problems of life should be encouraged.
• New knowledge and new experiences should be incorporated in the
curriculum and there should be a scope for teachers for reflection of
knowledge.
• Educational institutions should be graded according to the standards of the
institution and admission should be allowed according to standard of the
institutions.
Conclusion
Teaching requires expertness which proliferates over the time. Professional
development refers to skills and knowledge attained for personal as well as career
development. Thus it can be concluded that professional development of teachers
is the need of the hour and in the long run, the nation growth depends upon the
competence and professional outlook of teachers which in turn is dependent upon
their professional pedagogical skill, knowledge and on their personality traits. It
can improve by doing rigorous effort and commitment towards her/his profession.
If we want to develop and improve professional competency among our teachers,
there is a need to modify and restructure our educational policies, norms, measures
and framework.
References:
• Das, B.N. (1993). Principle of Education in the Emerging Indian Society.
New Delhi : Ajanta Prakashan.
• Dutta, A. & Mohakud, L. (2011) Teacher and his Professional
Competence.
Http://Www.Reflectionedu.Com/Attachments/File/Barnolipi/12_11_Teach
er_ .Pdf
• Kaur, D. (2009). Academic Achievement, Teaching Aptitude and the
Personality Trait as the Predictors of Success in Elementary Teacher
Training- A Study, Retrieved From Www.Ab2007_Iase_Dushyant.Pdf.
• Lovat., T. J (2003). The Role of the Teacher’ Coming of Age? Australian
Council Deans of Education, Discussion Paper, 2003
• Natesan, A, Jahithan Begum,A & Sridevi, S. (2010). Quality Concerns in
Teacher Education. New Delhi: A.P.H. Publising Corporation.
• Ramachandran, P.& Ramkumar, V.(2005). Education in India. New Delhi:
National Book Trust.
 |27

• Samant Rai, G.K, (1997) A Study of Teachers’ Attitude and tts’

Relationship with Teaching Efficiency. Sambalpur University. Unpub.
Thesis.
• Sharma, P. (2009) A Study of Teaching Aptitude in Relation to General
Teaching Competency, Profession Teaching and Academic Achievements
of B.Ed Pupil Teachers, Retrieved from Www.Praveen Sharma. Html.
• Smith, C. & Gillespie, M. (2009) Research on Professional Development
and Teacher Change: Implications for Adult Basic Education, Retrieved
from Www.Smith_Gilespie_07.Html. Wayne, A. M., & Youngs, P. (2003).
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Teaching Educational Research. 15(2), 4-14.
• Turner- Bisset, R. (1999). The Knowledge Bases Of The Expert Teacher.
British Educational Research Journal, 25, 1, 39-55.
• Turner- Bisset, R. (2001). Expert Teaching: Knowledge And Pedagogy To
Lead The Profession. London: David Fulton.
28 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Rejuvination of Teacher Education

Dr. Saroj Yadav *

Abstract

Success of a real teacher is not measured by the percentage of passed students

only, not even by the quality of his contribution to knowledge, but through the
quality of life and character of his students. For getting these competencies, a
teacher should be prepared through a regular training or orientation program in
these directions. But very less emphasis is given on the professional development
regarding the character building and inculcation of values. Development of
professional attitude is the one of the objective of teacher education program, but
very less emphasis is given for this purpose. Without having the positive attitude
about the teaching profession, teachers can not become competent and sincere
about their profession. Teacher Trainees should prepare an effective lesson plan,
anticipate students’ questions, maintain discipline and involve students in the
lesson. For rejuvenation of teacher education, certain rules and procedures should
be followed by all the colleges of different universities. Admission test should
include aptitude test, presentation, interview etc., so that professionally dedicated
teachers can enter in the teaching profession. Research and field experiments
should be promoted improving the quality of teaching. Evaluation and monitoring
should be the integral part of teacher education program

The changing role and accountability of teachers’ effectiveness have been

increasingly studied and analyzed these days. Outcomes of these researches are
feedback into the system to facilitate the process of educational reform. The
current focus of researchers, policy makers and practitioners with regard to teacher
education is on the development of professional competencies, accountability,
commitment and motivation for higher-level performance on the part of teachers.
In addition to it, important possibilities are arising with regard to current
developments involving the new information and communication technologies. As
a result, teacher education in India is on the brink of a major transformation.

Major goal of teacher education program at all stages has been to produce good
learners in terms of responsible, prescriptive and descriptive with moral overtones.
Teacher should enable to develop their own free judgment and a sense of

*
Assistant Professor, Department of Education, University of Allahabad
 |29

intellectual independence. Teacher should be self motivated so that he can

contribute positively in the quality improvement of education. Ministry of Human
Resource Development is starting new courses of teacher education program.
These courses are four year integrated pogramme, B.A. B.Ed. for art stream
students and B.Sc. B.Ed. for science stream students. Thus students can enter in
these courses even after intermediate. In two year B.Ed. and M.Ed. integrated
courses, internship of six months is compulsory. Some relevant subjects like ICT,
Moral education, Yoga, Fine arts, Performing Arts, Content Knowledge etc. has
been included. This is the time when new curriculum of two year teacher education
program is being implemented. Proper implementation of this curriculum is itself a
big challenge. It is the time for inclusive education which leads to the demand of
special teachers and educators. Internship in teacher education has been also
started. Advantages of internship are as follows-

• Classroom teaching experience.

• Get chance to work under experienced teachers who act as mentor.

• Get the opportunities to see how a school operates.

• Get feedback on teaching skills.

• Teacher trainees can get the experience of attending teachers meeting and
PTM.

• The semester long internship provides student teachers many opportunities

within diverse classroom settings to refine the knowledge, skills and
dispositions, they have developed as active participants in Teacher
education program.

India has a large number of populations so needs many more teachers for this big
population. All the processes of teachers’ recruitment, training, motivation,
retention, feedback etc. have to be planned on a large scale. Aim of in-service
teacher development should be to ensure that optimal learning takes place in the
classrooms. Some major aims of In-service teacher education program are as
follows-

• To utilize all possible kinds of institutions, including university

departments of education and teacher training institutions in the private
sector, for in-service training of teachers at all levels.

• To recognize teacher education for all levels of school education, from

pre-school to senior secondary as a sector of higher education and to
30 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

facilitate co-operation between institutes of teacher training and colleges

of general education or universities with a view to enabling interaction
between different departments of a local college and the institute of
teacher training.

• To envision a comprehensive model of teacher education, ensuring that

progress towards a new, comprehensive model is paralleled by necessary
modifications in policies of teacher recruitment, deployment and service
conditions including emoluments.

Rejuvenation of Teacher Education

The Department of Teacher Education has initiated the process of revision of the
Teacher Education Scheme. The revised Scheme is guided by the following
factors:
• To integrate teacher education with overall education development in the
States.

• The need for expansion of capacity of teacher education institutions,

especially in some of the deficit States of East and North-Eastern
Regions.

• Concern the problem of large number of untrained teachers and the

possibility of large number of persons being recruited without
possessing the prescribed professional qualification.

• Expanding institutional capacity to provide in-service training for

secondary school teachers in light of the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha
Abhiyan.

• Strengthening the decentralized structures of BRCs and CRCs to

provide adequate institutional support for professional development of
school teachers on a continuous basis.

• To link elementary teacher education with the higher education system.

• To develop and put in place a mechanism to monitor the

implementation of the Scheme on various physical and financial
parameters with pre-defined outcomes. Its purpose is to improve the
overall quality of various activities of the teacher education institutions.

While articulating the vision of teacher education, the National curriculum

Framework has some important dimensions of the new approach to teacher
education.
 |31

• Reflective practice to be the central aim of teacher education.

• Student-teachers should be provided opportunities for self-learning,

reflection, assimilation and articulation of new ideas.

• Developing capacities for self-directed learning and ability to think, be

critical and to work in groups.

• Providing opportunities to student-teachers to observe and engage with

children, communicate with them.

Major Challenges of Teacher Education

Student teaching internship has been very popular within the past five years. Most
Universities have the programs to help recent graduates get a head start in their
teaching careers. An internship program helps prepare aspiring teachers for their
future in Education. Internship in teaching includes practice teaching and wide
variety of field experiences under the guidance of a competent supervisor. Teacher
trainees evaluate his theoretical understanding which is acquired through pedagogy
classes. The term internship is directly borrowed from the medical profession.
Philosophy of internship is basically pragmatic. Internship in teaching includes
practice teaching and wide variety of field experiences under the guidance of a
competent supervisor. Teacher trainees evaluate his theoretical understanding
which is acquired through pedagogy classes. They share all the significant
experience going on in the school environment; develop meaningful skills and
attitudes towards his profession. According to Mangla, S. (2010), “teacher training
can never become active partners in developing teacher’s competence, enhancing
his performance in the school and all the theory he learns in education philosophy,
psychology, school organization and techniques of teaching are applied in the
school situation. The opportunity for this application can be given to the student
teachers only in a program of internship in teaching.” New curriculum of two year
teacher education program with 20 weeks of internship has been implemented
from the session 2015-16. Student teachers as well as teacher educators are facing
different types of problems and experiences and they are worry about the proper
implementation of the internship program in coming semesters of teacher
education. Availability of schools for internship is the major problem before the
teacher education institutions.

Teachers have no experience in methods, techniques and approaches like small

group interaction, group activities, laboratory and field studies etc. Methods of
teaching are lacking innovations also. Methods of teaching should be recognized
according to the need of the changing demand of education system; special
32 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

innovative programs such as seminars, workshops, co-operative learning etc. can

be conducted. Theory and practice of the curriculum of teacher education should
be complementary to each other. But this aspect is also not considered as
important. So there is artificiality in the courses of studies in theory and practice.

Success of a real teacher is not measured by the percentage of passed students

only, not even by the quality of his contribution to knowledge, but through the
quality of life and character of his students. For getting these competencies, a
teacher should be prepared through a regular training or orientation program in
these directions. But very less emphasis is given on the professional development
regarding the character building and inculcation of values. Development of
professional attitude is the one of the objective of teacher education program, but
very less emphasis is given for this purpose. Without having the positive attitude
about the teaching profession, teachers can not become competent and sincere
about their profession.

In many teacher education institutions, there is lack of physical resources such as

laboratory, library, teaching learning materials etc. These institutions also face
much difficulty in getting schools for practice teaching program. Most of the
teacher education institutions has the shortage of teachers. Their number is
according to the norms of NCTE, but only on the paper. There is no proper
regulation of demand of specific subject teachers and their supply also. There must
be suitable number of teachers for each subject. State Education Department has
planning unit which can help in the regulation of demand and supply of teachers of
various subjects and levels.

In conventional system of teacher Education, there is very less interaction with the
main academic stream of a university. There should be interaction of teacher
education department with the departments of other streams and subjects like
Science, Fine arts, Physical Education, Music, Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy
etc. Inter-disciplinary approach is essential for the quality improvement of teacher
Education. There is inadequate base of empirical research in various fields of
teacher education. Research should be conducted comprehensively to realize the
goals of teacher education. Results of these researches should be properly utilized
in designing the curriculum, evaluation and innovative techniques of teaching in
teacher education. Financial problem is also one of the problems in teacher
education for Government aided as well as Self-financing institutions. Due to the
lack of grants, many institutions have shortage of physical as well as human
resources.
 |33

Remedies of the Challenges

This is the critical phase of the implementation of internship in Teacher education

programme. So we are facing many difficulties and challenges. But slowly we will
be able to manage and overcome all these problems. Slowly schools may allow
happily to teacher education institutions for internship. There is the need of special
training of teacher educators through workshops. On the basis of need of teachers
in schools, where numbers of teacher is very less, student teacher can go for
internship in those schools. They need training in the art of guiding and
supervising the student teachers. They should know about their responsibilities
during the internship programme. Duration of internship should be less than 20
weeks. There should be active involvement of M.Ed. students in the activities and
teaching of teacher education institution during internship.

Isolation of different types of teacher education programs like Pre-primary,

primary, Secondary and college should be removed. There must be vertical
integration among them, so that most of the facilities and resources can be shared
by them. Teacher educators should also receive the training in techniques and
methods for their supervisory-tutorial role. For this purpose, their In-service
training must emphasis on these aspects.

In India, there are variety of schools like government aided school, private school,
urban and rural school, boys’ school, girls’ school and co-educational schools etc.
so teacher should be prepared for real schools. They must have the abilities to
understand the school situation, students, class size, lack of teaching facilities,
work load, supplementary teaching materials etc. India has a large number of
teachers and needs many more. All processes of teacher recruitment, training,
motivation, incentives, retention and feedback therefore have to be planned on a
large scale. Further the ultimate goal of in-service teacher development should be
to ensure that optimal learning takes place in the classrooms. Efforts should be
made to enhance the institutional capacity available at present for ensuring the
adequate supply of trained teachers for all levels of school education. There must
be proper utilization of all possible kinds of institutions, including university
departments of education and teacher training institutions in the private sector, for
in-service training of the existing cadre at all levels, in addition to State
institutions, including CTEs.

Attempts need to be made for self motivated teachers to become innovative and
creative. According to Mangla,S.(2010), “Pedagogy should be improved and a
shift in favor of androgogy from pedagogy should be should be improved and a
shift in favor of androgogy from pedagogy is a need of today.” Teachers have to
34 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

perform the responsibility to develop humanizing dimensions of the child and to

give discipline orientation. So he must have the experience of construction and use
of new type of tests, assessment of assignments, preparation of syllabus,
maintaining records of all types for academic, emotional, social and moral
development of the child. He should have the experience to understand the
behavior of the students and to guide them. They must have the experience of the
organization of co-curricular activities, preparation and use of audio-visual aids
and other activities in a comprehensive and effective manner. So during the school
internship program, these particular experiences should be provided to the teacher
trainees.

Conclusion

Teacher trainees should know the Psychology of learners, so that they can deliver
lessons in a way that is effective and comprehensible to all students. They should
prepare an effective lesson plan, anticipate students’ questions, maintain discipline
and involve students in the lesson. For rejuvenation of teacher education, certain
rules and procedures should be followed by all the colleges of different
universities. Admission test should include aptitude test, presentation, interview
etc., so that professionally dedicated teachers can enter in the teaching profession.
Research and field experiments should be promoted improving the quality of
teaching. Evaluation and monitoring should be the integral part of teacher
education program. The curriculum for teacher education should be developed in
co-ordination with NCTE, UGC and institutions. Innovation and experiments
should be encouraged.

There should be serious concern about the quality of practical training in teaching.
Teacher educator who practices conventional lectures themselves inadequately
equipped to guide the teacher trainees in innovative instructional training and
teaching methods. The teacher educators need rigorous training in various aspects
related to the innovative techniques like action research, group teaching, co-
operative learning, constructive approaches of teaching and learning. There is also
need of social sensitivity, social, cultural and economic awareness among teacher
trainees confronting present Indian scenario.

References:

• Hilliard, F. H. (1998), Teaching the Teachers. London: Georgee Allen Unwin

Ltd.

• Mangla, S. (2010), Student Teaching/Practice Teaching in Teacher Education:

Trends and Strategies. New Delhi: Radha Publications, 291-301.
 |35

• Pandey, S. et.al (2015), A Study of the Problems of Teachers in Using Gained

Knowledge of Training in the Classroom Situations. Shaikshiki International
Journal of Educational Research,

• Sharma, R. A. (2010), Teacher Education. Meerut : Loyal Book Depot.

• Singh, Dinesh and Yadav, Saroj (2016), Skill Development of B.Ed. and
M.Ed. Students through Art & Culture. In Mishra, J. (Ed.) Skill Development
through Art & Culture. New Delhi: Horizon Books, Pp. 156-160.

• Singh, Dinesh and Singh, S. P. (2007), Adhyapak Shiksha me Sudhar Hetu

Apekshit Pathyachrya ki Avashyakat. Tends and Thoughts in Education, Vol-
XXII, 30-34.

• NCTE (2015). Curriculum Framework for Quality Teacher Education. New

Delhi: National Council for Teacher Education.

• http://www.teindia.nic.in/Default.aspx retrieved on 12.04.2016

36 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Scientific Creativity among Secondary Students

in Relation to Achievement in Mathematics
Dr. Pratik Upadhyaya*

Abstract
The present study was conducted on 200 high school students of Bhadohi district
of U.P. The main aim of the study was to assess the relationship between
achievement in Mathematics and scientific creativity. Verbal Test of Scientific
Creativity of V. P. Sharma and J. P. Shukla was used for collection of data. Marks
obtained by the students in Mathematics in final examination served as an index of
achievement in Mathematics. The results of the study indicates that achievement in
Mathematics is positively related to total scientific creativity, fluency and
flexibility aspects of scientific creativity
Education is the axis for development of human life. Education is the means
through which an individual makes himself capable and uses his energy and power
in right direction. As the child grows up and comes in contact with the family and
society, his physical, mental, intellectual, emotional and social development takes
pace. These different aspects of development provide a new dimension to his
personality. The main base of this development begins from pre-natal stage and
continues till death, in between his, it passes from infancy, childhood, adolescence
and adulthood stages. Adolescence is an important stage in the stages of
development. It lasts from 12-18 years. Students at secondary classes are mostly in
adolescence period and being a student, their mental and intellectual development
is very important at this stage. Mental development means development of mental
abilities like, thinking, reasoning, perception, problem solving ability etc. At this
stage, adolescents tries to search for informations, concepts, intellectual abilities,
attitudes, social intelligence, habits etc.
In the present times importance of secondary education has increased due to
problem of unemployment and need of vocationalization of education. Curriculum
has been diversified at this stage so that students can choose their subjects
according to their need and interest. Keeping in view their future vocation,
different commissions and committees had emphasized cognitive and intellectual
development as an important aim of secondary education, subjects like
Mathematics and Science are made compulsory till high school stage so that

*
Assistant Professor, B.Ed. Department, K. N. Govt. P. G. College, Gyanpur, Bhadohi
 |37

cognitive abilities like thinking, problem solving, reasoning etc. can be developed.
According to Effandi and Normah (2009), a student needs to think and make
decisions using appropriate strategies to solve Mathematics problems. They add
that students’ success in achieving their goals encourage them to develop positive
attitude towards Mathematics and other problem solving activities. To a large
extent problem solving is related to cognitive abilities and cognitive abilities also
play an important role in Mathematics. Previous studies had shown that
intelligence increases achievement in Mathematics. Achievement in Mathematics
is also affected by gender. Effendi and Norwah (2009) and Patterson et al. (2003)
claim that males are more successful at Mathematics than their female
counterparts. Hyde (2008) reported no difference in Mathematics among male and
female students. According to House (1975), learning environment and academic
self-concept are important factor for achievement in Mathematics. Low
achievement in Mathematics is due to increased anxiety (Brian & David, 2003).
Bharadwaj and Maurya (2010) found positive relationship between creativity and
achievement in Mathematics. Creative thinking is not possible without cognition,
memory, divergent thinking and evaluation. Treffinger and Paogio (1972), and
Treffinger, Renzulli and Feldhusen (1971) found that fluency aspect of creativity is
the only aspect which is different from intellectual ability. It was also found that
performance in creative test is not related to creative ability of a person in real life.
Creative students can be scientifically creative. Scientific creativity is creative
thinking through media of Science. On the basis of Torrance’s definition, scientific
creativity may be defined as a process of becoming sensitive to problems related to
Science; deficiencies, gaps, missing elements, disharmonies and so in scientific
knowledge, identifying the difficulty; searching for solutions, making guesses or
formulating hypotheses about deficiencies; testing and retesting of these
hypotheses and finally communicating the results (Misra, 1986). Operationally,
scientific creativity is a multidimensional attribute differentially distributed among
people and includes chiefly the factors of fluency, flexibility, originality and
inquisitiveness. Misra (1986) reported that children’s exposure to different
amounts of stimulations in their home and school may be responsible for sex
differences in scientific creativity. Study done by Ahmed (2006) established no
difference in scientific creativity of male and female students. However
Gangadharrao (2012) and Hunashal (2013) found that girls have better scientific
creativity as compared to boys. Gotz and Gotz (1979) discovered negative
relationship between the factor of neuroticism and scientific creativity. Study done
by Weiping and Philip (2002) indicated that scientific creativity of secondary
school students increases with increase in age and Science ability is necessary but
not a sufficient condition for scientific creativity. Singh (2009) reported positive
relationship between interest in Science and fluency, flexibility and inquisitiveness
aspects of scientific creativity. Sharma (2015) reported that students with high
38 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

achievement in Science had significantly higher scientific creativity than students

with low achievement in Science. Sansanwal and Sharma (1993) reported
significant difference in scientific creativity of male and female students. They also
reported that scientific creativity of students belonging to high and low levels of
self-confidence differ significantly. Misra (1986) found significant correlation
between verbal intelligence and scientific creativity. However, Sansanwal and
Sharma (1993) reported no difference in scientific creativity of students with high
and low level of intelligence. Misra (1980) found that urban and rural students
significantly differ on scientific creativity.
Through the analysis of the above studies, it becomes evident that cognitive
abilities are inter-related and they affect each other. According to Tok, Bahtiyar
and Karalok (2015), teaching math creatively can be effective in increasing
mathematics achievement, attitudes towards math, and decreasing math anxiety. In
this context, the researcher tried to investigate the relationship of achievement in
mathematics with cognitive abilities like problem solving ability and scientific
creativity. Thus, the problem for the present study may be stated as ‘A study of
problem solving ability and scientific creativity in relation to achievement in
Mathematics among high school students’.
Objectives
The objectives of the study were-
1. To study the relationship between achievement in Mathematics and
total scientific creativity.
2. To study the relationship between achievement in Mathematics and
fluency aspect of scientific creativity.
3. To study the relationship between achievement in Mathematics and
flexibility aspect of scientific creativity.
4. To study the relationship between achievement in Mathematics and
originality aspect of scientific creativity.
Hypotheses
To achieve the above mentioned objectives, following hypotheses was formulated
and tested-
1. There is no significant relationship between achievement in
Mathematics and total scientific creativity.
2. There is no significant relationship between achievement in
Mathematics and fluency aspect of scientific creativity.
 |39

3. There is no significant relationship between achievement in

Mathematics and flexibility aspect of scientific creativity.
4. There is no significant relationship between achievement in
Mathematics and originality aspect of scientific creativity.
Methodology
Keeping in view the nature of the problem of the present study, correlational
survey method of descriptive research has been used. There are two variables in
the present study –scientific creativity and achievement in Mathematic. The
independent variable is achievement in Mathematics and dependent variable is
scientific creativity. The sample for the study comprised of 200 (100 Male + 100
Female) high school students of Bhadohi district of U.P. Verbal Test of Scientific
Creativity – VTSC developed by V. P. Sharma and J. P. Shukla was used to
measure scientific creativity of students. Marks obtained by the students in
Mathematics in class IX examination served as an index of achievement in
Mathematics. Product moment coefficients of correlation and t-test were computed
for the analysis of the data.
Results and Discussion
Table 1
Values of coefficient of correlation between achievement in Mathematics and
fluency aspect of scientific creativity
Groups N Value of Correlation ‘r’
Male 100 .129
Female 100 .208*
* Significant at . 05 level

Perusal of Table 1 reveals that the values of coefficient of correlation between

achievement in Mathematics and fluency aspect of scientific creativity for female
(= .208) students is significant at .05 level. Thus, the null hypothesis that ‘there is
no significant relationship between achievement in Mathematics and scientific
creativity (fluency aspect)’ can be rejected for female students. It means that
achievement in Mathematics is positively related to fluency aspect of scientific
creativity among female high school students. The present finding is in accordance
with the findings of Sood (1999) who also found that fluency is significantly
correlated with Mathematical achievement of students. Ali (1999) also reported
that fluency aspect of creativity is related to achievement in Mathematics among
girls.
Perusal of Table 1 also shows that the value of coefficient of correlation between
achievement in Mathematics and fluency aspect of scientific creativity for male
40 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

students is not significant at .05 level. Thus, the null hypotheses for male students
can be accepted. It means that achievement in Mathematics is not related to
fluency aspect of scientific creativity among male high school students.
Table 2
Values of coefficient of correlation between achievement in Mathematics and
flexibility aspect of scientific creativity
Groups N Value of Correlation ‘r’
Male 100 .172
Female 100 .214*
* Significant at . 05 level

Observation of Table 2 shows that the values of coefficient of correlation between

achievement in Mathematics and flexibility aspect of scientific creativity for
female students is .214 which is significant at .05 level. Thus, the null hypothesis
can be rejected for female students. It means that achievement in Mathematics is
positively related to flexibility aspect of scientific creativity among female high
school students. Table 2 further shows that the values of coefficient of correlation
between achievement in Mathematics and flexibility aspect of scientific creativity
for male students (= .172) is not significant at .05 level. Thus, the null hypotheses
can be accepted. It can be inferred that achievement in Mathematics is not related
to flexibility aspect of scientific creativity among male high school students.
Table 3
Values of coefficient of correlation between achievement in Mathematics and
originality aspect of scientific creativity
Groups N Value of Correlation ‘r’
Male 100 .010
Female 100 .108

It can be observed from Table 2 that the values of coefficient of correlation

between achievement in Mathematics and originality aspect of scientific creativity
are.010 and .108 for male and female students respectively. None of the values are
significant at .05 level. Thus, the null hypothesis can be accepted. It means that
achievement in Mathematics is not related to originality aspect of scientific
creativity among male and female students.
 |41

Table 4

Values of coefficient of correlation between achievement in Mathematics and

total scientific creativity

Groups N Value of Correlation ‘r’

Male 100 .144
Female 100 .233*
* Significant at . 05 level

Table 4 shows that among female students, the value of ‘r’ is .233 which is
significant at .05 level. Thus, the null hypothesis can be rejected for female
students. It means that achievement in Mathematics is positively related to total
scientific creativity among female students. Bharadwaj and Maurya (2010) also
found positive relationship between achievement in Mathematics and creativity.
Florence et al. (2015) reported positive relationship between scientific creativity
and achievement in Chemistry. It can also be observed from the Table that the
values of ‘r’ is not significant for male (= .144) students. Thus, it can be inferred
that among male students achievement in Mathematics is not related to total
scientific creativity.

On the basis of the findings of the study, it can be concluded that – Among female
students, achievement in Mathematics is positively related to total scientific
creativity, fluency and flexibility aspects of scientific creativity.

Educational Implications

The present study revealed positive relationship between achievement in

Mathematics and total scientific creativity. It implies that through developing
scientific creativity among students their achievement in Mathematics can be
increased. For this teachers must bring novelty in his teaching and must also
improve their methods of teaching. Teachers must make the students sensitive
towards the problem.

Schools may also plan for scientific process skills education in order to increase
students’ achievement and scientific creativity (Aktamis & Ergin, 2008). It is the
responsibility of school to develop scientific attitudes in students so that they may
solve their problems independently for better adjustment in the future complex
society.
42 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

References:

• Ahmed, M. (2006). Investigating the scientific creativity of fifth-grade

students. Ph. D., University of Arizona.

• Aktamis, H. & Ergin, O. (2008). The effect of scientific process skills

education on students’ scientific creativity, scientific attitudes and academic
achievement. Asia Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, 9 (1).

• Ali, X. (1999). Creativity and academic achievement: An investigation of

gender differences. Creativity Research Journal, 12 (4), 329-337.

• Bharadwaj, K. & Maurya, V. (2010). Madhyamik starr par vidhyarthiyo ki

srijnatmakta aur gadit nishpatti mai sambandh ka adhyann. Eduquest, 3 (1),
67-72.

• Brian, F. S. & David, P. W. (2003). Mathematics anxiety and Mathematical

achievement. Mathematics Educational Research Journal, 15 (2), 138-150.

• Effandi, Z. & Normah, Y. (2009). Attitudes and problem solving skills in

Algebra among Malaysian college students. European Journal of Social
Sciences, 8, 232-245.

• Florence, K. W. et al. (2015). A correlation study of secondary students

academic achievement in Chemistry and their scientific creativity in chemistry.
International Journal of Science research & Innovation Technology, 2 (5), 86-
96.

• Gangadharrao, K. M. (2012). Scientific creativity of secondary level students:

A study. Research Expo International Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 2, 2
70-75.

• Gotz, K. O. & Gotz, K. (1979). Personality characteristics of successful artists.

Perceptual and Motor Skills, 49, 919-924.

• House, P. A. 1975. Learning environment, academic self-concept and

achievement in Mathematics. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education,
6 (4), 244-252.

• Hunashal, S. S. (2013). A Study of Scientific Creativity Scientific Attitude and

Scientific Interest in Relation to the Academic Achievement of Ninth Standard
Students of Bijapur. Ph.D. Karnataka State Womens University
 |43

• Misra, K. S. (1986). Effect of Home and School Environment on Scientific

Creativity. Kanpur: Sangyanalaya.

• Patterson, M. P., Decker, C., Eckert, R., Kaus, S. (2003). Factor associated
with high school Mathematical performance in the United States. Studies in
Educational Evaluation, 29, 91-108.

• Sansanwal, D. N. & Sharma, D. (1993). Scientific creativity as a function of

intelligence, self-confidence, sex and standard. Indian Journal of Psychometry
and Education, 24 (1), 37-44.

• Sharma, N. (2015). Scientific creativity in relation to cognitive style and

achievement in Science of secondary school students. Educational Quest.
https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Scientific-Creativity-in-relation-to-
Cognitive-and- Sharma/a62c35bd793a92f95a608e7576664e700267b07e

• Singh, N. (2009). A study of scientific creativity among students in relation to

their interest in Science. M. Ed. Dissertation, University of Allahabad.

• Sood, S. (1999). A study of creativity, problem solving ability and personality

characteristics as correlates of Mathematical achievement of students of
residential and non-residential schools. Ph. D. Punjab University.

• Treffenger, D. J., Renzuilli, J. S. & Feldhusen, J. F. (1971). Problems in the

assessment of creative thinking. Journal of Creative Behaviour, 5 (2), 104-
112.

• Treffinger, D. J. & Poggio, J. P. (1972). Needed research on the measurement

of creativity. Journal of Creative Behaviour, 6, 253-297.

• Weiping, H. U. & Philip, A. (2002). A scientific creativity test for secondary

school students. International Journal of Science Education, 24 (4), 389-403.
44 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Vision of Inclusive Education:

Some Reflections
Dr. Dinesh Singh *

Abstract

Inclusive education is rights-based approach to educating children and includes

those who are subject to exclusionary pressure. It differs from previously held
terms ‘integration and mainstreams’ which tended to be concerned principally
with disability and special educational needs. It implied learners changing or
becoming ready to accommodate by the mainstream. But inclusion is the child’s
right to participate and school’s duty to accept. The benefits of inclusive education
are numerous for both Students within or without Disabilities. It enhances skill
acquisition and generalization. Learners from different background came together
in a classroom to get the instructional training. Because of the diversity, the class
room becomes a mixed group of exceptional, slow learners and learners with some
forms of disabilities. Therefore, the prime concern in a country like India should
be equal care and attention to all learners. This will be a notable advance from
past practices and indicates an awareness of the important role of inclusive
education in the future. But there is a need to take up the task of effective
implementation of inclusive education very seriously. In this context only
governmental efforts are not sufficient. It needs full participation of NGOs and
other socially responsible agencies.

Aims of education expresses that the educational development of the individual is

the central aim and that education should allow children to reach their full potential
with respect to cognitive, emotional, social and creative capacities. A Right based
approach to education is based on three aspects as per guidelines for Inclusion by
UNESCO in year 2005, which are as follows-

• Access to free and compulsory education.

• Equality, inclusion and non-discrimination.

• The right to quality education content and processes.

*
Assistant Director, School of Education, U P Rajarshi Tandon Open University,
Allahabad
 |45

Inclusion is concerned with providing appropriate responses to the wide range of

comprehensive needs in formal and non-formal educational settings. Inclusion is
based upon the principle of normalization that is all persons regardless of ability
should live and learn in environment as close to normal as possible. According to
UNESCO report (1994)- “School should accommodate all children regardless of
their physical, intellectual, social, emotional, linguistic or other conditions. This
should include disabled and gifted, street and working children, children from
emote or nomadic populations, children from linguistic, ethnic or cultural
minorities and children from other disadvantaged or marginalized areas or groups.”
Inclusive education refers to the inclusion of marginalized groups such as
religious, racial, linguistic, minorities, girls, poor, migrants, street children, child
workers and many more that are culturally and socially disadvantaged including
children with special needs. Inclusion supports the involvement of each and every
member of the society and reaching his full potential.
Need of Inclusion
The world is changing rapidly, moral values are re-examined as stereo typical
thinking is increasingly exposed, so inclusion is necessary. National and
international guidance also advocates inclusion. Need of inclusion as follows-
• Maintaining barriers to some student’s participation in cultures,
curricula and communities of local schools is unacceptable.
• Valuing some people more than others is unethical.
• Thinking hat school changes made for some will not benefit others is
short sighed.
• Preserving school cultures, policies and practices that are non-
responsive to the diversity of learners perpetuates inequalities.
• Viewing differences between students as problems to be overcome is
disrespectful and limits learning opportunities.
• Separate schooling for physically challenged learners. Violates their
basic human right to education without discrimination.
• Perceiving inclusion in education as a separate issue from inclusion in
society is illogical.
Basic Elements of Inclusion
1. Inclusion is a process- Inclusion is a never ending search to find better
ways of responding to diversity. It is about the learning how to live
with differences and learning how to learn from differences.
46 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

2. Inclusion is concerned with the identification and removal of barriers-

Inclusion involves collecting and evaluation of the information fro a
wide variety of sources in order to plan for improvements in policy
and practices.

3. Inclusion is about the presence, participation and achievement of all

students- Presence refers to the reliably and punctually of the students
attended, participation refers to the quality of their experiences. These
aspects should be incorporated with the views off learners.
Achievement is concerned with the outcome of learning across the
curriculum.

4. Particular emphasis on marginalized group- Inclusion involves a

particular emphasis on these groups of learners who may be at risk of
marginalization, exclusion or under achievement.

Ways of Inclusion in Education

Inclusion should increase children’s learning opportunities. The quality of the

setting and its appropriateness for individual students is very important. This
process should involve parents, all school based personnel, support staff and the
student themselves. Students have the right to a quality education and access to all
aspects of school life. Inclusion in education involves the following aspects-

• Restructuring the cultures, policies and practices in schools and

colleges, so that they respond to the diversity of students in the
locality.

• Increasing the participation of students in and reducing their exclusion

from the cultures, curriculum and communities of local schools and
colleges.

• Acknowledging the right of students to an education in their locality.

• Reducing barriers to learning and participation for all students.

• Learning from attempts to overcome barriers to the access and

participation of particular students.

• Improving schools and colleges for staff as well as for students.

• Enhancing mutually sustaining relationship between schools, colleges

and communities.
 |47

• Emphasizing the role of schools in building community and

developing values, as well as in increasing achievement.

Strategies of Quality Inclusive Education

1. Community Participation- Panchayati Raj institutions have emerged as

the powerful institutions in bringing about rapid and sustainable
development in rural areas. Local governance should launch literacy
schemes which ensures participation of the representatives of rural
population. Panchayati Raj institutions can play very vital role in the
process of inclusive education which are as follows-

• Panchayati Raj institutions can create positive attitude amongst the

families of disadvantaged groups towards primary education.

• It can try to eliminate gender discrimination at school level.

• Encourage the parents of disabled students to send them in nearby

schools.

• Panchayati Raj institutions can insure the representation of

disadvantaged groups in the management of the schools etc.

2. Technological Applications- Students with the reading difficulties are

eligible for special education services supplemental academic supports
such as assistive technology (eg. text to speech, speech to text, spell
cheeking devices) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA), Assistive technology can act as a cognitive prosthesis,
which enhances students abilities to access, participate and make
progress in the general education curriculum (Bone & Higgins, 2007).

‘Web for all’ is an innovative technology that enables students/

persons with disabilities, low literacy levels as well as people
unfamiliar with computers, to use the internet. ‘Web for all’ is being
pilot tested at public internet access sites provide people with
affordable access to the internet in places such as community centres,
schools, disability and literacy resource centres, drop in centres and
seniors facilities (Pange, 2009).

3. Inclusive Curriculum- An inclusive curriculum takes gender, cultural

identity, language background etc into consideration. It addresses the
child’s cognitive, emotional, social and creative development.
Multilingual approaches in education can act as a source of inclusion.
48 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Technology is helpful in designing inclusive curriculum. Digital

curriculum instructional designers have the means to integrate learning
opportunities suited to all students within one curriculum a universally
designed digital curriculum (UDDC). Video with caption, video with
audio description, video with sign language are the different ways of
presenting content for the students of diverse learning needs.

4. Inclusive Teacher- Teacher of an inclusive classroom must be

sensitized and aware of the philosophy of inclusive education. He
should have the professional skill in the areas of cooperative learning,
peer tutoring, adoptive curriculum etc. He should be oriented towards
the different types of adjustment that school have to make in terms of
infrastructure, curriculum enhancing methods and other school
practices for the learners of diverse needs.

5. Teachers Training- In teachers training programme, there is lack of

experience and skills for working in inclusive settings, development of
attitude and value regarding inclusive education is not given
importance during training. Teacher must be taught to practices
inclusion and respect disabilities.

6. Inclusive Classroom- Inclusive education requires manageable

classrooms so that challenged learners receive teacher attention. So
teacher student ratio should be high in inclusive classroom. Barrier
free physical environment to accommodate the needs of various
disabled students are necessary in inclusive school.

7. Role of NGOs- NGOs and voluntary organizations can play very vital
role in creating awareness that main streaming excluded students. If
parents are educated about the advantage of inclusive education which
develops the virtues of empathy and compassion in students, they
become a strong pressure group of the cause, collaboration among
parents, teachers and administration is necessary.

8. Access to Success- There must be effort to expand enrolment and

retention and it must be accompanied by policies to enhance
educational quality at all levels informal and non-formal settings.
Excluded students must get success in inclusive schools with
programmes and practices.

9. Research- There should be a network of interdisciplinary researchers

to promote dialogue and dissemination of research findings on the
 |49

challenges of addressing diverse classrooms and inclusive practices

and processes in educational institutions.

Challenges to Implement Inclusive Education

Inclusive education in India, needs must contact with the present system of
education, which is provided under the integrated education programme for
children with mild disabilities in a regular school and the special school for the
more severely disabled child under the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment implemented through State Governments and NGOs. Perhaps the
much important is not whether inclusive education is relevant for us in India but
the problems associated with its implementation. A major issue has been the lack
of statistics on the prevalence of intellectual disabilities.

1. Negative Attitude towards Inclusion- Negative attitude towards

inclusion is in the form of social discrimination, lake of awareness and
traditional prejudice which are in no ways conducive for the education
of the children. If teachers do not believe in inclusion, they can
become a major barrier in progress o inclusion. In many cases,
teachers lack confidence and the basic knowledge needed to welcome
all children in their classroom. Inadequate, fragmented and
uncoordinated training of teachers may be one of the reason behind
this.

2. Physical Barriers-Physical infrastructure of schools is main barrier in

the way of educational inclusion. There are walls between schools and
children before they get enrolled, they face walls with curriculum in
side the classrooms and finally they face more walls when they have to
take examinations which determine how successful they will be in life
(Jha, 2002). Most of the schools or centres of learning are physically
inaccessible to special learners. Environmental barriers included doors,
passageways, stairs and ramps.

3. Curriculum- Designing an inclusive curriculum is also a challenging

task. Children face barriers within schools and classrooms owing to
organization of curriculum and teaching methodologies also. They feel
isolated within school and receive discriminatory curriculum.

4. Poverty and lack of awareness- Poverty is also a barrier for the

education of differently abled children. Poverty and lack of awareness
generally results in parents not assessing a large number of schemes
50 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

and entitlements that are offered for disabled children by the

government.

5. Insensitive Community- Differently abled children who have entered

school inspite of all the olds, the insensitive community members and
school peers become detrimental to their motivation to learn. Poor or
inadequate support of parents also dampens their spirit to go the
school. Due to illiteracy also, parents are unable to provide any
support to their children.

Overcoming the Challenges to Inclusive Education

Inclusive education should be designed with a vision and principle that believe in
the culture of rights, social justice and equity. All children are not the same and
acceptance of diversity as strength rather than a problem is necessary. Some of the
points to overcome the challenges to inclusive education are as follows-

1. Physical Accessibility- For designing the inclusive school setup, it

should be plan in advance for use by differently abled students. In
inclusive school there should be wheel chairs, standing frames and
ramp facility along with stairs. Assistive devices like communication
board, hearing aids, adopted toys, simulation aids, Braille atlases,
Braille rulers, talking calculators etc must be in inclusive classroom.
Some adaptive devices like Laser Cane, Sonic Guide, Optacon,
Qurzweil Reading Machine, Micro Computer, Computer Braille
Translator, Computer Automation Devices are also essential for the
learning of differently abled children. Toilet and taps of drinking water
should be adapted according to these students. There should be proper
space in the classroom for wheel chair. Ground of the classroom
should not be slippery.

2. Attitudinal Changes- Promoting positive attitudes and respect for

differences is a prerequisite for policy development and implication of
inclusive education in school and community. Attitude is something
which needs to be worked on first before implementing inclusive
education.

3. Curricular Adaptations- All the educational objective can be achieved

through curriculum. So for inclusive education, necessary adaptations
in curriculum are essential. According to Mittler (2000)-“Inclusion
implies a radical reforms in terms of curriculum, assessment,
pedagogy and grouping of people.” Inclusive curriculum should be
 |51

designed very carefully. The flexibility and success of an inclusive

curriculum reflects in its syllabus, teaching methods, strategies and
means of assessment.

4. Teaching Strategies- For inclusive classroom collaborative learning,

peer tutoring, activity based learning, team approach, problem solving
method, equity in assessment and examination should be adopted as
teaching strategies.

5. Teacher Training and support- To work in inclusive classroom,

teachers need to be re-trained in curriculum and evaluation.
Development of positive attitude towards inclusive education among
teachers during training is also necessary. Once teachers are in the
system after retraining in skills and attitudes, they must also be
supported with appropriate materials.

Conclusion

Inclusion is necessary in present scenario. For effective inclusion of excluded,

teachers will have to be non-traditional, unconventional and constructive,
Emphasis should be given on the development of attitude and values towards
inclusive education along with knowledge and skills in teachers training
programmes. Sensitizing programmes should be developed for positive attitude
building and inclusive skills development among teachers to deal with students of
diverse learning needs. It will definitely give positive results and promote better
inclusive education from primary to higher education.

Strengthening links with the community is very vital. There must be good
relationship among teachers, students, parents and society for developing inclusive
learning environment. Inclusion to a large extent depends on teacher’s attitudes
towards differently abled students on their capacity to enhance social relations, on
their view on differences in classrooms and their willingness to deal with those
differences effectively.

References:

• Adera, B. A., & Asimeng Boahene, L. (2011). The perils and promises of
Inclusive Education in Ghana. The Journal of International Association of Special
Education, 12(1), 28–32.

• Ainscow, M. (1999). Understanding the development of Inclusive Schools.

London: Falmer.
52 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

• Ainscow, M., Booth, T. & Dyson, A. (2006). Inclusion and the standards
agenda: Negotiating policy pressures in England. International Journal of
Inclusive Education, 10(4–5), 295–308.

• Armstrong, A. C., Armstrong, D., & Spandagou, I. (2010). Inclusive

Education: International policy and practice, London: Sage Publication.

• Boone, R. and Higgins, K. (2007). The role of Instructional Design in assistive

technology research and development. Reading Research quarterly, 42(1), pp
135-139.

• Gupta, S. P. and Singh, Dinesh (2016). Energizing Inclusive Education. New

Delhi: Pentagon Press.

• Jangira, N. K. (1995). Rethinking Teacher Education. Prospects, 25(2), pp

261-272.

• Jha, M. M. (2002). Barriers to access and success: is Inclusive Education an

answer? Durban, South Africa : Commonwealth Learning.

• Mastropieri, M. A. and Scruggs, T. E. (2004). The Inclusive Classroom:

Strategies for effective Instruction. NewYark: Pearson.

• Mittler, P. (2000). Working towards Inclusive Education-social context.

Landon: David Fulton Publishers.

• Thomas, G. and Walkev, D. (1998). The making of the Inclusive School.

Landon: Routledge.
 |53

A Study of Ecological Literacy among Post

Graduate Students of District Prayagraj
Divya Singh*
Prof. Usha Mishra**

Abstract
Ecological literacy is the skill or ability to understand the natural system which is
related to our life. It is the knowledge and understanding about how the Earth
functions and develops a way of thinking about the world in relation to their
interactions with the natural system and about consequences of human actions.
Ecological literacy provides the necessary knowledge and understanding to
indicate the solutions of environmental issues in a unified way. The study aims to
explore the ecological literacy among post graduate students. A self made
questionnaire was used to know about the knowledge and understanding of PG
students about the environment around them. The findings of the study indicated
that Science stream PG students have high ecological literacy as compared to Arts
stream PG students and no difference in ecological literacy was found among male
and female PG students.
In the present scenario, deforestation, soil erosion, air pollution, water pollution
and land degradation are our major environmental problems. In the environment,
pollutants are present in the physical, chemical and biological form in our
surroundings which harmed the human life and other living species. The
uncontrolled activities of human started the damage of healthy environment. There
can be no solution to these environmental problems unless the social and economic
ills besetting mankind are seriously addressed. Time has come to ensure that the
concepts of education for sustainability in the broad set sense are woven into a
framework upon which the present and future educational policy will be based.
The education system seems to be inadequate to educate the youth for the future in
a proper way. Besides that, students also did not observe ecological relationships
as their common sense. Bowers (2003) observes that ecological knowledge is not
seen as important for the students. Ecological literacy emphasizes the ecological,
economic and social relationship in students. It places human as integral parts of
ecosystems and recognizes the impacts of relations between humans and other
species. It also strengthens the care and respect for the other humans, species and

*
Research Scholar, Department of Education, University of Allahabad
**
Department of Education, University of Allahabad
54 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

their ecological needs for survival. Therefore it is vital that our society develops a
new understanding and a new awareness of human’s relation to his environment.
This study explore the student’s ecological literacy by the assessment of the level
of knowledge and understanding of ecological systems and process.
The term ‘Ecological Literacy’ appears to have been first used publicly in 1986 by
Paul Risser in an address to the Ecological Society of America. In 1992 Orr
proposed that achievement of a sustainable human society was in extricably linked
to ecological literacy and that the ecological crisis reflected a crisis in education.
Ecological literacy has been defined as the ability to use ecological understanding,
thinking and habits of mind for enjoying, living in nature and / or studying the
environment and as focusing on the key ecological knowledge necessary for
informed decision-making, acquired through scientific inquiry and system
thinking. Ecological literacy refers to a student’s understanding not only of
ecological concepts, but also of his or her place in the ecosystem (Meena & Alison,
2009) knowing, caring, and practical competence from the basis for ecological
literacy. Orr (1992) also argues that the ecologically literate person understands the
dynamics of the environmental crisis, which includes understanding of how people
have become so destructive. Therefore, identifying youth and students ecological
literacy level is a necessary step to investigate their behaviour, attitudes, sensitivity
and behavioural intention. In order to create awareness among students, it is
important to foster correct knowledge to ensure positive approach to the
environment (Hares, Eskonheimo, Myllytaus & Luukkanem, 2006). Previous
studies examined student’s environmental knowledge, attitude and activity levels
and found significant variations among students, based on their gender and
educational background (Tikka, Kuitunen & Tynys, 2000). Therefore, it is
observed that various factors like knowledge, attitudes, gender and subject matter
expertise may influence personal ecological literacy.
Objectives of the study:
The present study is undertaken keeping in view the following objectives:
• To study the difference in ecological literacy among male and female post
graduate students.
• To study the difference in ecological literacy among post graduate students
of science and arts streams.
Hypothesis of the study :
• There is no significant difference between male and female post graduate
students regarding ecological literacy.
 |55

• There is no significant difference between post graduate students of

Science and Arts stream regarding ecological literacy.
Methodology : For the present study, the sample is selected from district Prayagraj
of Uttar Pradesh. The simple random sampling method was used in this study. 120
students were taken as the sample for the present study. For the present study, the
researcher used the self-made questionnaire for Ecological literacy. It consists of
61 questions based on ecological knowledge and understanding which includes the
components viz. knowledge of natural systems, environmental issues, pollution,
population conservation and biodiversity. The items are of close ended type with
‘Yes’ or ‘No’ options. One mark awarded for the right answer and ‘0’ for the
wrong answer. t-test was used for the analysis of the dada.
Result & Discussion :
Table 1
Mean, S.D. and t-ratio showing the difference in ecological literacy of male
and female post graduate students.
Group N Mean S.D. t-ratio
Male 61 43.27 5.04 0.766
Female 59 43.59 5.47

It can be observed from the table 1 that the mean ecological literacy scores of Post
graduate male and female students are 43.27 and 43.59 and S.D is 5.04 and 5.47
respectively. The value of t-ratio between two groups has been found out to be
0.766 which is not significant at 0.05 level. Thus the null hypothesis that there is
no significant difference between post graduate male and female students
regarding Ecological literacy is accepted. It means that there exists no difference
between post graduate male and female students regarding their Ecological
Literacy.
The result of the present study is in line with the study of Bhatia & Bhatia (2013)
which also reveals no difference in environmental awareness between male and
female postgraduate students.
Table 2
Mean, S.D. and t-ratio showing difference in ecological literacy of Arts and
Science post graduate students.
Group N Mean S.D. t-ratio
Arts 63 42.99 5.58 2.362*
Science 57 43.96 4.79
*Significant at .05 level
56 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Table 2 shows that the mean ecological literacy scores of post graduate Arts and
Science students are 42.99 and 43.96 and S.D is 5.58 and 4.79 respectively. The
value of t-ratio between two groups has been found out to be 2.362 which is
significant at 0.05 level. Thus, the null hypothesis that there is no significant
difference between post graduate Arts and Science students regarding ecological
literacy is rejected. It means that there exists a significant difference between post
graduate Arts and Science students regarding their ecological literacy. Mean
ecological literacy score reveals that as compared to Arts stream post graduate
students, Science stream post graduate students have high ecological literacy.

In support of the findings of the present study, is the study of Kaur (2016) which
revealed that the mean scores of environmental awareness of the post graduate
students from Science stream is higher than the students of humanities.

The result of the study indicates that the post graduate students of science stream
of district Prayagraj are more ecological literate. It implies that attempt should be
made to strengthen the ecological literacy level of Arts stream students. Due
attention should be given to the need of practical exposure to environment, rather
than classrooms theories on Environment.

Future planning to integrate environmental education into the curriculum should

consider the subject differences of the students. The findings suggest that the
students should be encouraged to possess their own sense of responsibilities
toward the environment. Environmental education should not be restricted to only
in-class lessons. There is numerous ways by which they can learn about the
environment where they live.

Conclusion

Environment and Ecology is going to have a major impact in our country. Our
government has taken several steps in order to improve the awareness about
environment in general public. Thus more researches should be carried out to
access ecological literacy level, even among students, youth and old ones.
Emphasis should be given to environmental problems of local and regional
purpose. Mass media such as, Newspaper, TV, Radio, documentaries and short
films etc can be used for expansion of Environmental Education among people.
Various steps shall be taken to enhance the ecological literacy level among
students and preparing them with a sense of responsibility to protect the
environment for a better future.
 |57

References:

• Aggrawal, S.K and Garg, R.K. (1988). Environmental Issues and Researches
in India, , Udaipur : Himanshu Publications.

• Bhatia and Bhatia (2013). A Study of Environmental Awarness among Post

Graduate Students of Distt. Yamuna Nagar, Haryana:
http://www.pdfs.semantic.scholar.org

• Bowers, C. A. (2003). Mindful conservativism: Rethinking the ideological and

educational basis of an ecologically sustainable future: New York: Rowman
& Littlefield.

• Centre for Ecoliteracy. Ecological Principles. 2004-2014. Available:

http://www.ecoliteracy.org/essays/ecological_principles

• Hares, M., Eskonheimo, A., Myllytaus, T., & Luukkanen, O. (2006).

Environmental literacy in interpreting endangered sustainability case studies
from Thailand and the Sudan. Geoforum, 37(1), 128-144.

• Kaur, M. (2016). Study of environmental awareness among post graduate

students of Punjab University, Chandigarh. International Journal of Advanced
Research and Development 1(5), 79-81

• Meena, M. B., & Alison, M. W. (2009). Decisions and Dilemmas: Using

Writing to Learn Activities to Increase Ecological Literacy. Journal of
Environmental Education, 40(3), 13-26. doi: 10.3200/JOEE.40.3.13-26

• Orr, D. W. (1989). Ecological Literacy. Conservation Biology, 3, 334-335.

• Orr, D. W. (1992). Ecological literacy: Education and the transition to a post

modern world. Albany: State University of New York Press.

• Sharma,P.D. (1998). Ecology and Environment, Meerut : Rastogi Publications

• Tikka, P. M., Kuitunen, T. M., & Tynys, M. S. (2000). Effect of educational

background on students' attitudes, activity levels and knowledge concerning
environment. The Journal of Environmental Education, 31, 12-19.:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_education
58 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

A Study of Interest in Geometry among VII

Grade Students’ in Relation to Gender of
Students
Archana Pandey *
Prof. D. Yadav **

Abstract:
The present study investigates Interest in Geometry among VII grade students in
relation to gender of students. A sample of 80 class VII students (42 boys 38 girls)
belonging to CBSE English medium schools were taken for study. Students were
measured on Interest Inventory developed by the researcher. Descriptive survey
method was employed to find the geometry interest of the students. Percentage
analysis was done to find the interest of students towards geometry. t test was used
to compare Geometry interest of boys and girls. The findings of the study revealed
that in total students showed high interest in geometry, and no significant
difference was found in Geometry interest of boys and girls.
Introduction
Mathematics is the language in which universe was created. Education
Commission (1964-66), National Policy of Education (1986), considered the
importance of visual mathematics and suggested that, Mathematics should be
visualized as a vehicle to train a child to think, reason, analyze and to articulate
logically. National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE), 2000,
treated geometry as concomitant to any subject involving analysis and reasoning.
Geometry’s utility and importance in Mathematics is perceived by most pupils as
difficult, boring, not very practical, abstract etc. For most students, the subject is
not a source of satisfaction, but rather one of frustration, discouragement and
anxiety. In the field of education, it has become a burning problem and the number
of low achieving students in Mathematics at the school level is constantly
increasing. Inspite of the pedagogic progress and efforts of teachers of
Mathematics, results in general are unsatisfactory. This may be due to the lack of
interest of the students in the subject of Mathematics. Whatever one learns, interest
plays a dominant role in making him learn that thing. When a student attributes

*
JRF, Department of Education, University of Allahabad
**
Department of Education, University of Allahabad
 |59

high value to a particular subject area, then it is said that the student has interest in
that area. According to Berdie (1965), the term interest refers to engage in some
types of activities rather than others. ‘Interest’ may be regarded as a highly specific
type of attitude. When we are interested in a particular phenomenon or activity, we
are favorably inclined to it and give time to it. The term interest is used also to
indicate a permanent mental disposition. According to Mc Dougal (1979), ‘taking
interest’ means the bearing of a condition or subject. If a person takes ‘interest’ in
a subject, then he would centralize himself in it despite being tired.
It is utmost need to create interest of students in Mathematics, so that different
intellectual traits like power of thinking, reasoning, analysis, synthesis, discovery
etc. develop in the students and there by lead the society towards a positive and
constructive direction.
Different studies done so far clearly bring out the importance of interest on
students’ achievement. Several researchers Beena, (1998a, 1998b, 1999), Camp,
(1992) have proposed that interest influences academic achievement and learning
in school. Ramanathan (1963) confirmed positive correlation in interest in
Mathematics and Mathematics achievement.
One of the consistent finding in the literature on ‘mathematics interest’ is the effect
of gender. A number of studies have documented that boys are more interested in
Mathematics than girls (OECD, 2004; Watt,2004). So there is a great need to study
different factors which are responsible for making the students disinterested in
Mathematics.
Objectives of the study:
● To analyze students interest towards geometry among VII grade .
● To study the effect of gender in interest in Geometry among VII school
students
Hypothesis:
● There is no significant difference in interest in Geometry between boys
and girls of VII grade.
Methodology: Descriptive survey method was used to examine interest in
geometry among VII grade students. A sample of 80 students (42 boys 38 girls )
belonging to CBSE English medium schools were taken for study. A self-prepared
Geometry Interest Inventory was used as a tool for the study. There are 40 items in
the inventory, 20 items indicates liking and 20 indicate disliking towards
geometry. There is no right and wrong answer. Percentage analysis and t test were
employed for the analysis of the data.
60 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Results and Discussions:

Table 1
Percentage of students on interest in geometry
Level of Interest in geometry PERCENTAGE
Low 7.5 %
Below Average 11.25%
Average 18.75 %
Above Average 20 %
High 37.5 %
Table 1 shows percentage of students with different levels of interest in Geometry
and it is evident that 7.5% showed low interest. 11.25 % showed average interest.
37.5% showed high interest in geometry.

Table 2

Mean, S. D. and t-ratio showing the difference in interest in Geometry of boys and
girls.

Groups Mean S.D. t-ratio

Boys 33.27 6.58
0.884
Girls 32.20 6.64

Table 2 shows the mean of boys as 33.27 and that of girls as 32.20 and having SD
as 6.58 and 6.64 for boys and girls respectively. The t-ratio is found to be 0.884
which is not significant at 0.05 level of significance. Thus null hypothesis can be
accepted and it indicates that boys and girls do not differ on interest in geometry
scores. It may be due to the reason that different strategies and techniques are
applied in the teaching –learning process of Geometry in mathematics keeping in
view the individual pace of students and their level of learning. The curriculum
planner had taken initiative to plan the curriculum in such a way so as to make
both boys and girls interested in learning of the subject. Girls are showing equal
visual and abstract conception in comparison to boys due to curiosity and
individualized learning opportunities (Lutkus,2005).The findings also suggests that
perception regarding girls Mathematics performance are not dependent on rote
learning and they are no more marginalised and not given subordinate status in
mathematics classroom.
 |61

References:

• Beena .S. K. (1998). A Comparative achievement of boys and girls. Journal of

Educational Review. 11 (10).

• Berdie , R. F. (1965). Strong Vocational Interest. Journal of Applied

Psychology 8(3),10-13.

• Best, John W. and Kahn, James V. (1996), Research in Education, 7th edition.
New Delhi: Prentice Hall of India.

• Camp W.G. (1992). Resource for Development of Vocational Interest. Journal

of Consult Psychology 8(3), 10-15

• Lutkus, N (2005). Students Attitude towards Mathematics . African Journal of

Research in Mathematics , 9 (2) 167-174.

• Mc Dougall, (1979). An Outline of Psychology. Landon: Methuen & Co.

• Watt, M. (2004). Mathematics Interest Journal Of Applied Psychology, 7(3)

142-154.
62 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Relevance of MOOCs Program for Ensuring

Social Inclusion and Quality Learning
Usha Devi*
Prof. D. Yadav **

Abstract
MOOCs are providing access to quality learning all over the world and also help
learners to learn flexibility. This research paper aimed to examine the relevance of
MOOCs programs in the context of quality leaning and social inclusion; to
analyze the present status of MOOCs programs in India, to what context MOOCs
programs is ensuring the quality of education and to analyze the context to which
MOOCs programs is being use by different cross section of learners. The basic
research design of this research paper is descriptive survey. The study is based on
secondary data from the SWAYAM portal and MHRD LOK SABHA press bureau.
Researcher conclude in this study that MOOCs are equally available to the
learners of different disciplines and learners of different cross sections can easily
access these courses. It can be concluded that the MOOCs programs are ensuring
the social inclusion but not ensuring the quality of learning.
Introduction
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) is the way of distance learning with the
use of effective ICT. MOOCs are aimed at unlimited participation. MOOCs are
now very popular distance learning method for all over the world. The first
experiment of MOOCs related program has been done by the Dave Cornier in
2008 at the University of Prince Edward Island. MOOCs are generally open to all
type of learners whether they are from the urban areas or rural areas and any type
of backgrounds. It is necessary for MOOCs to have a decent internet connection
and computer system to a learner. Most of the MOOCs are free and open to
anyone. These courses are a series of prerecorded or live lectures for particular
subjects. These courses are provided by a platform in which it is possible to
browse several courses for learners and tutors. These video lectures are followed
by short quizzes or assignment for evaluating the learner’s knowledge in their
courses. MOOCs organize examination and give the certificate to learners which is
valuable as the regular school certificate according to UGC Credit Framework
Regulation 2016. At present time, MOOCs are very important for the

*
JRF, Department of Education, University of Allahabad
**
Department of Education, University of Allahabad
 |63

professionals, working persons and also for the homemakers. Coursera, edx,
Udacity and Future Learn are the some international MOOCs providers. India has
also taken initiative for ICT based distance learning. In 2012, IIT Delhi started
providing MOOCs for learners. After this beginning many institute started
providing MOOCs like IIT Kanpur developed a platform mooKIT in 2014, in the
same year NPTEL starts providing online courses by the Google’s open source
edx. These institutes were providing the online courses individually but in 2016
MHRD started an integrated MOOCs platform SWAYAM. Study Webs of Active
Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) is an online learning platform to
cover all the higher education subjects for ensuring the access to the best quality
education at affordable cost. Basically these courses are free for the self learning
but if any student want to take certificate of related courses then he has to pay
partial fees. At the SWAYAM platform MOOCs courses are available for ninth
class to post graduation courses. These courses are provided by their related
institute. 9 National Coordinators are appointed for these courses, they are NIOS
and NCERT for school education, IGNOU for out school education, NPTE,
AICTE, CEC, IIMB, NITTTR for under graduation education, NPTEL , AICTE,
IIMB, and UGC for post graduation education. These coordinators provide courses
in all possible discipline with the help of 1000 subject experts of the county. List
of their related disciplines is below in the table :
SWAYAM program is designed to achieve the three main principle of today’s
education policy ; easy access to education, to provide quality learning and create
the equality among all the learners. All the National coordinators of SWAYAM are
trying to provide the need based learning material for learners and trying to reduce
the education related barriers. Basically it wanted to do the democratization of our
education where the education is easily affordable to the disadvantaged and
socially deprived group as well as the women. So by applying this type of initiative
in education government want to ensure the quality of learning and social inclusion
of deprived.
Rationale of the study
MOOCs courses are free with, no restriction for learners and creates the flexibility
of learning. If someone wants to study individually and by self pace the also they
can concern the MOOCs. These open courses bring the new opportunities for
innovative learning and its allows the institution to explore new online learning
model and innovative practices in teaching learning. There is need of concern
because these courses are creating wider benefits to education.
It is assumed that MOOCs program is not good enough for the learners because
students are getting enroll in these courses but they are not completing the whole
course. Ebben and Murphy (2014) reviews a research which suggest that the
completion rate in MOOCs are less than 10%. If we talk about the accessibility of
64 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

education by MOOCs then we observe that MOOCs production is limited to the

“Elite Universities”. In contrast of traditional education tens of the thousands
learners can get the access to a single MOOCs offered by an Elite
University(Jorden 2014, Lewin 2012). In spite of these issues, MOOCs become
the latest trend in the field of distance learning which indicates a significant need
of research to reduce the threat related to MOOCs.
MOOCs have the potential to enable free University level education on an
enormous scale. A concern about MOOCs is also important because on one hand
while millions of student are being enrolled in MOOCs, on the other hand there is
a large dropouts of students from MOOCs programs. According to Bali and Carver
et al. (2014), educational innovation in MOOCs making higher education more
accessible to massive audience on a global scale, has gained increasing attention in
higher education during the past decades.
The Porto Declaration on European MOOCs (2014) highlights the aspects of
providing “opportunity to all” which can only be achieved if MOOCs are
accessible to all. Bonk et al. (2015) have identified the following concerns for
MOOCs in developing countries ; quality training of online educators, models of
MOOCs design and implementation, high attrition , inadequate motivation,
assessment strategies, teaching practices. Bezerra and Silva (2016) conducted a
research to identify and analysis the main problems related with design and
management of MOOCs and found six relevant issues with the MOOCs i.e. very
low completion rate, the certification of the courses, the process involving the
assurance and improvement of MOOCs quality, the pedagogical model, the
acceptance of the certification in additional to the concern with validation and
plagiarism. According to Hew and Watson et al. (2015), higher education
instructor considers MOOCs an opportunity to reach more people from diverse
background. So, to analyze how MOOCs are beneficial to social inclusion and
quality learning, the need arises to conduct the present study.
Research questions
The present paper is an attempt to find appropriate and reliable answers of
following research questions :
1. Whether the MOOCs program is equally accessible to learners of different
disciplines ?
2. Whether the MOOCs program is ensuring the quality of education ?
3. Whether the MOOCs program is being used by different cross section of
learners ?
Objectives of the study :
1. To analyze the present status of MOOCs program in India.
 |65

2. To analyse the context to which MOOCs program is ensuring the quality

of Education.
3. To analyze the context to which MOOCs program is being use by different
cross section of learners.
Method of the study
In the present study, descriptive survey method was used. The study is based on
secondary source of data. The data is collected from the official website of
SWAYAM portal, and Press Information Bureau Govt. of India MHRD and LOK
SABHA.
Analysis and interpretation
Research Question 1. Whether the MOOCS is equally accessible to learners
of different discipline.
Table 1
Available courses for different disciplines in session 2019-20
S.N. Name of Name of Number of courses
NC Provided
discipline Upcoming ongoing Total
1. AICTE Self- paced and 08 48 56(5.32%)
international
courses
2. NPTEL Engineering 386 253 639(60.74%)
3. UGC Non-technical 00 43 43(4.09%)
post graduation
education
4. CEC Non-technical 70 91 161(15.30%)
under
graduation
5. NCERT School 69 01` 70(6.65%)
and education
NIOS
6. IGNOU Out of school 16 14 30(2.85%)
education
7. IIMB Management 25 22 47(4.47%)
studies
8. NITTTR Teaching 06 00 06 (0.57%)
training program
Total 1052
courses
66 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

According to table 1, the majority of the provided MOOCs on SWAYAM platform

are engineering courses. 60.74% courses are available for engineering courses.
Non-technical and post graduation courses are 15.30%, school education courses
are 6.65%, self-paced and international courses are 5.32%, management courses
4.47%, non-technical graduation courses are 4.09%, out of school education
courses 2.85% and teachers training program are 0.57%. So, the above analysis
reveals that MOOCs program are not equally accessible to the learners of different
disciplines.
Research Question 2. Whether the MOOCs program is ensuring the quality of
education ?
Researcher has analyzed the quality of given MOOCs on the basis of student
enrollment, exam registration, successful certification and the financial investment
on SWAYAM platform by the Indian government.
Table 2
Students enrolled in MOOCs and successful certification
S.N. National Enrolled Exam Successful
Coordinator Students Registration Certification
1. AICTE 120141 16(0.0133%) 00 (00%)
2. NPTEL 8163683 881514(10.80%) 513825(6.29%)
3. UGC 164997 4965(3.01%) 1853 (1.12%)
4. CEC 263560 5221(1.98%) 1624 (0.62%)
5 NCERT and 3022805 00 (00%) 00(00%)
NIOS
6 IGNOU 47529 483 (1.02%) 00(00%)
7 IIMB 74627 1121(1.50%) 206(0.27%)
8 NITTTR 66179 1377(2.08%) 00(00%)

According table 2 there is a high dropout rate in the number of enrolled student
and successful certification in the courses. On AICTE platform course certification
in 0%, Successful certification of distance learning on IGNOU platform is
0%,successful certification of school education courses is 0%,successful
certification of teacher training courses is 0%, successful certification in
management courses is0.27%, successful certification in under graduation courses
is 0.62%, successful certification for post graduation courses is 1.12% and
successful certification in engineering is 6.29%. so there is a high dropout rate in
MOOCs on SWAYAM platform.
 |67

Table 3
Amount of money spent on SWAYAM by Indian Govt.( Rs. in crore)
Name of scheme 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
SWAYAM 52.00 61.00 63.07 44.97

Table 3 shows that government expenditure on this platform is decreasing. In first

3 year government expenditure was increasing but in the last year expenditure has
decreased. So according to the analysis of investment it reveals that the quality of
MOOCs is getting down because Indian government is also taking back foot from
this initiative.
Table 2 and table 3 data shows that quality of MOOCs is not good enough for the
learners because learners are not attending whole lecture series and also not giving
the certification exam on the same rate which is for the course enrollment.
Research Questions 3. Whether the MOOCs program is being used by the
different cross sections of the learners ?
Basically there are no boundaries for learners on SWAYAM platform. MHRD
has given the data of different learners who are enrolled on SWAYAM platform.
The data is given in the table 4.
Table 4
Data of registered learners and course offered in recent year
YEAR 2018-19 2019-20
Number of courses 1082 1052
Registered students 25,57,118 11,923,521

According to the data given in the table 4, for session 2018-19 the number of
registered learners including students, teachers, professionals, senior citizen,
housewives etc. in various courses on SWAYAM platform are 25,57,118. and the
number of registered learners on SWAYAM in the year 2019-20 is 11,923,521.
So on the basis of above data it can be said that the MOOCs are being used by the
learners of all cross sections.
Conclusion and Discussion
Thus, on the basis of the present study it can be concluded that the MOOCs are
accessible to all the cross sections of learners. By providing the easy access to
education MOOCs program is ensuring the social inclusion. But analyses of the
68 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

quality of MOOCs suggests that it is a need of great concern because students are
not completing the lecture series of the course in which they are enrolled. They
leave the course without taking certification of related courses. So the major
findings of the present study are :

• MOOCs program are not equally available for the different disciplines.
Because 60.74 % courses are available for the engineering and rest of
minor percentage is covered by the other learning discipline.

• MOOCs programs are not ensuring the quality of learning because there
are large dropout of the enrolled students from there courses and
government of India is also decreasing the investment amount for this
initiative. In 2015-16 government has invested 52 crore but in the last year
this investment amount was 44.97 crore.If we talk about the quality of the
course then we see that the maximum successful certification is 6.29 % in
the engineering courses. So according to this analysis we can say that
MOOCs are not ensuring the quality of learning.

• MOOCs programs are being used by the different cross section of the
learners because there were 25,57,118 learners in the last year and in the
current year the number of learners has increased to 11,923,521.

MOOCs program are ensuring the social inclusion but it is quite unsuccessful for
ensuring the quality of learning. So it’s is great concern for educational authorities
to improve the quality of these courses because it will ensure the qualifications of
our citizens and will give vast opportunity to take quality education. Although
these courses are best for the self learning and also for blended learning. It can
reduce the physical, financial and social boundaries of the education.
References:
• Bali, M. (2014). MOOC pedagogy: Gleaning good practice from existing
MOOCs. MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 10(1), 44.
Retrieved from http://jolt.merlot.org/vol10no1/bali0314.pdf
• Bonk, C. J., Lee. M. M., Reeves, T. C., & Reynolds, T. H. (Eds.). (2015).
MOOCs and Open Education Around the World. New York, NY: Routledge.
• Ebben, M., & Murphy, J. S. (2014). Unpacking MOOC scholarly discourse: a
review of nascent MOOC scholarship. Learning, Media and Technology,
39(3), 328e345. http://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2013.878352
 |69

• Hew, K. F., & Cheung, W. S. (2014). Students’ and instructors’ use of massive
open online courses (MOOCs): Motivations and challenges. Educational
Research Review, 12, 45–58.doi:10.1016/j.edurev.2014.05.001
• http://mooc.org/
• https://swayam.gov.in/
• https://mhrd.gov.in/
70 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

A Study on Learning for Sustainable

Development: A Qualitative Approach
Anamika Tiwari*
Dr. Ruchi Dubey **

Abstract

Government, International organizations, NGOs, educational institutions and

schools are now engaged in various initiatives and campaigns to promote
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) around the world. Along with other
stakeholders, higher education institutions across the world are also involved in
making contributions towards improvement of sustainability in general and aim at
increasing awareness and knowledge of students about social, environmental and
economic issues and their complexity. Promoting the ESD at higher level is a
difficult and complex task. There is no common vision on how the ESD should be
integrated into the higher secondary level. While some institutions believe that
there should be separate courses/programs on sustainable development focusing
mainly on the interactions between human activities and the environment, and
their implications for sustainable human development, others support usage of
integrated inter-disciplinary perspective throughout the whole education. So, the
present study made an effort to explore how the elements of sustainable
development can be incorporated into higher education through exploring
students' perception of their learning experience about sustainable development.

Introduction

UNESCO (2009) has defined Higher Education Institutions as a potential driving

force of change towards sustainability. In this way, the great challenge of the 21st
century for institutions of higher education is to train future professional students
capable of acting in favor of sustainable development (Junyent, 2007). In 2002 the
World Summit on Sustainable development has adopted the Johannesburg
Declaration on Sustainable Development aiming to focus on "the worldwide
conditions that pose severe threats to the sustainable development of our people”
(UN, 2002). The importance of the central role of education in helping societies,
worldwide, to achieve sustainability has also been emphasized at the summit.

*
Research Scholar, Department of Education, University of Allahabad
**
Assistant Professor, Department of Education, University of Allahabad
 |71

Three Dimensions of Sustainability : Sustainability has raised many discussions

around its different aspects and a lot of research has been conducted on this
subject. Still it remains a rather complex concept, which aims to combine aspects
of both nature and human development into one general idea (Raskin, 2008). In
general, it is considered that sustainable development is comprised of three
intrinsically linked pillars: economic development, social development, and
environmental development. In economical terms, sustainability means providing
economic welfare to the present and future generations and at the same time
managing the economic systems in such a way that resources are used effectively
with consideration for future generations (UN, Johannesburg Declaration on
Sustainable development). Sustainability from the social perspective means
achieving social fairness through a just and equitable resource allocation and
provision of social services to all members of the society now and in the future. An
environmentally sustainable system is characterized by rational use of natural
resources and protection of the environment for future generations through
conservation of biodiversity, preserving atmospheric balance, productivity of soil
and other systems of natural environment.

The Balance between Sustainability Dimensions : The concept of sustainability

has been interpreted and understood differently by the scholars and researchers all
over the world. There is a general agreement about three pillars of sustainability,
but the way how they are used to describe the concept and the role each of these
dimensions play are presented and treated differently in different studies and
researches. These different perspectives include: economists perspective, non-
environmental degradation perspective, integrational (encompassing
environmental, social and economic aspects), inter-generational and holistic
perspective (Lozano, 2008).

Education for Sustainable Development

―Education for Sustainable Development is a learning process (or approach to
teaching) based on the ideals and principles that underlie sustainability and is
concerned with all levels and types of education. Education for sustainable
development supports five fundamental types of learning to provide quality
education and foster sustainable human development –learning to know, learning
to be, learning to live together, learning to do and learning to transform oneself
and society (UNESCO, 2009). In the guidelines document it is also emphasized
that ESD must be comprehensive and should cover key issues on sustainable
development, i.e. poverty reduction, sustainable livelihoods, climate change,
gender equality, corporate social responsibility, protection of indigenous cultures,
72 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

etc. It should also contribute to achievement of Millennium Development Goals

and Education for All goals.

Despite the existence of a big variety of definitions of Education for Sustainable

Development, some of its common and core principles have been formulated and
described as:

• process that integrates values and perceptions about sustainability not only
into education, but into people’s everyday life;

• a mean for providing people with skills and knowledge to address global
societal challenges now and in the future;

• a holistic approach to attain economic and social justice ;

• a mean to improve the quality of education, reform existing education

curricula build on sustainability principles and values, raise awareness of
the concept of Sustainable Development.

Challenges to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) : McKeown

(2002) has identified twelve main impediments for reaching sustainability:

• low awareness of the public and education community about the essential
role of education in achieving sustainability and critical linkages between
education and sustainable development;

• introducing ESD into the curricula, including developing an ESD strategy

and deciding on whether to teach about sustainable development or to
change the goals and methods of education to achieve sustainable
development;

• making the link between the educational reform to include ESD into the
curriculum and the long-term economic well-being;

• understanding the complexity of the sustainable development concept;

• developing locally relevant and culturally appropriate ESD programs with

public participation;

• introducing ESD elements using a transdisciplinary approach;

• the responsibility should be shared between all sectors of the government

and cover both formal and nonformal sectors of education;
 |73

• reorienting teacher education to include ESD, creating knowledgeable

leadership;

• acking financial resources for reorienting education to address

sustainability;

• need for developing a policy on a government level; understanding that

both “top up” and “bottom down” efforts in order to implement
educational reforms;

• nurturing appropriate climate for accomplishing new educational and

sustainability goals;

• threading principles of sustainable development into people’s daily life

and governmental policy.

Purpose of the study –

The purpose of present study is to explore how sustainable development issues are
incorporated into the higher education institutions formally and informally along
with exploring students’ views towards attention required steps to handle the issue
of education for sustainability in more comfortable manner.

Research Questions –
Understanding how the students not yet exposed to the higher education institution
practice of sustainability perceive this concept. Furthermore, are there gaps where
information needs to be shared or misconceptions mitigated to help move the
university forward on its vision of sustainability? Although the main focus of this
research was on qualitatively reported perceptions and definitions, quantitative
information was collected on student opinions toward sustainability and its practice
within the university. In order to analyze the way how SD concepts are
incorporated into the higher education institution to make students able to
understand and value them, the following research questions were formulated:

1. What levels of connection do students have with sustainability?

a. Connection types included level of familiarity, awareness, knowledge,
interest and importance
b. Other questions addressed personal importance of learning,
importance as a university issue, interest in environmental issues, and
consideration of sustainability in day-to-day choices
74 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

2. In what ways have the concepts of sustainable development been

incorporated in higher education teaching-learning environment?
3. What projects and impacts are students most interested in for campus
sustainability?
Methodology
Hundred students of RIE, Bhopal enrolled in 4 years integrated course have been
selected purposively to conduct the present research. Open ended questionnaire
was used to get their perception of learning about Sustainable Development.
Content analysis approach has been used to analyse the open ended responses in
the present study.
Result and Discussion: Students were asked to respond the following four open
ended questions:
1. What do you understand by the term ‘Sustainable Development’?
2. Does your college involve you in any activity that contribute to
Sustainable Development?
3. Do you make any effort that contribute to Sustainable Development?
4. Can you give some suggestions to your college administration to make
students more aware about Sustainable Development as well as enhancing
students’ contribution in Sustainable Development?
In the response of first question students define Sustainable Development (SD) as a
concept that is connected mainly with environmental issues while failing to
acknowledge the equal importance of the social and economic aspect in SD. A
large percentage of participants (70%) included the environment in their
description of SD. On the other hand 15% participants included the social aspect
and 5% included the economical aspect in their description of SD, only 10%
participants responded Environmental, Social, and Economic Factors with respect
to their understanding of SD. To identify the definitions (N=100) based on the
three components of sustainability, researcher gave each response an overall code
to indicate whether it mentioned environmental, societal, and/or economic factors.
In response of second question majority of students (91%) responded the
contribution of college in making them aware through creative(like art and drama),
social and practical activities(like discussion and games) in college whereas 5%
responded previous academic institution 4% responded that mass media helps them
in understanding the values of sustainable development.
 |75

In response of second question majority of students (96%) responded that

plantation, working with community programme, awareness rally and cleanliness
program in which college involves the students for giving their contribution for
sustainable development on the other hand 4% responded that they are not
provided any opportunity to contribute for sustainable development
In response of third question majority of students (96%) responded that they avoid
the wasting of natural resources, follow public transport but 4% students responded
that they are not able to contribute for sustainable development.
In response of fourth question majority of students(95%) responded that
collaborative project involving students and expert, awareness campaign, inviting
guest speakers, innovative initiatives must be considered to create better
understanding of sustainable development whereas 5% not responded on this
question.
Students response on their learning experience about ESD (Education for
Sustainable Development) covered two aspects first that provided the students an
opportunity to learn about ESD and the second aspect that was ignored while
providing formally and informally learning about sustainable development.
Students perceived learning about ESD as experienced activities are physical
activities, problem solving with peers and discussions with other students. Social
and practical activities such as discussions and games were also perceived by the
students. On the other side students responded about some aspects that are need of
the hour but were not included in the opportunity for learning about ESD like
initiatives for innovations are not motivated as well as lack of opportunity to get
detailed updating about emerging issues of sustainable development etc.
A majority of participants alluded to sustainability in terms of environmental
components. Most included reference to usage (e.g. maintain, conserve, improve)
of resources and recognized a temporal aspect to that usage. However, complexity
within individual responses was limited, with a focus on human needs as the most
common element. Perceived importance levels of sustainability were moderately
high, whereas knowledge and interest levels were moderately low. Students
emphasized to take further improving steps like innovative projects, opportunity to
get details understanding of sustainable development with importance on saving
energy, developing renewable energy sources, and considering impacts on natural
systems. Interest in personal education and development of green courses and
sustainability initiatives was quite low.
76 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Conclusion
Understanding of college students’ perceptions of sustainability is significant in
the present scenario because they will shortly become the generation who is
responsible for driving the economy and maintaining a sustainable society. The
findings of this study support the growing awareness of the importance of
sustainable behavior among today’s students’ socially responsible behavior,
provide a benchmark against which to measure the impact of future changes to
sustainability education and foster sustainable behaviors over time among the
public. Awareness, interest, and knowledge levels regarding sustainability within
the sample population were quite low. These are the areas where the university
could focus efforts to further incorporate sustainability into the norms of campus.
Examples of options include providing more exposure for sustainability projects
on campus, increasing course offerings that contain sustainability components and
developing engaging and exciting sustainability initiatives for students.
Understanding appeared to contain high levels of anthropogenic elements. A high
level of respondents focused on providing for human needs now and in the future,
as well as maintaining lifestyles and protecting the environment as a way to ensure
those lifestyles. Environmental elements were considered as well, but may have
been linked closer to human needs than to protecting the environment. Other
factors, including economic, political, social justice, or cultural, were limited
within the dataset. In this case, the university may need to take specific action to
expand its portrayal of sustainability to include components outside of the
humanistic. In the context of a university, it behoves administrators and faculty to
be aware of student perceptions and understandings of sustainability to beat the
challenges to maintain the sustainable development in consistent manner.

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Environmental Knowledge and Actions.The Journal of Environmental
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• Clugston, R.M. & Calder, W. (2000). Critical Dimensions of Sustainability in

Higher Education. In W. Leal Filho (Ed.), Sustainability and University Life
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• Follows, S.B. and Jobber, D. (2000) Environmentally Responsible Purchase

Behavior: A Test of a Consumer Model.European Journal of Marketing, 34,
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 |77

• Gupta, S. and Ogden, D.T. (2009) To Buy or Not to Buy? A Social Dilemma
Perspective on Green Buying. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 26, 376-391.
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• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/45718477_Article_The
_Century_Ahead _Searching_for_Sustainability.

• https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/2/8/2626.

• J Clean Prod 16: 1838-1846. https:doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.

• Junyent, M. (2007) Network : Greening the Curriculum of Higher Education,

in : UNESCO Education Sector. Good Practices in Teacher Education
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• Lee, K. (2009) Gender Differences in Hong Kong Adolescent Consumers’

Green Purchasing Behavior. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 26, 87-96.
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Retrieved from http://www.esdtoolkit.org.

• Mostafa, M.M. (2007) Gender Differences in Egyptian Consumers’ Green

Purchase Behaviour: The Effects of Environmental Knowledge, Concern and
Attitude. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 31, 220-229.
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• Raskin, P.C. Electris, and R. Rosen (2010). The Century Ahead: Searching for
Sustainability, Sustainability 2: 2626-2651. Available at http:/www.mdpi.com
/2071-1050/2/8/2626.

• Raskin, P.D.; Kemp-Benedict, E. (2004) Global Environment Outlook

Scenario Framework: Background Paper for UNEP's Third global
Environmental Outlook Report (GEO-3); UNEP: Nairobo, Kenya.

• Raskin, P. (2005). Global Scenarios: Background Review for the Millennium

Ecosystem Assessment. Ecosystems 8, 133-142.

• Raskin, P. (2008). World Lines: A Framework for Exploring Global Pathway,

Ecological Economics 65, 461-470.

• Raskin, P. (2012). Scenes from the Great Transition, Solutions 3, 11-17.

Available at http:///www.thesolutionsjournal.com/node/1140.
78 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

• Raskin, P.T. Banuri, G. Gallopin, P. Gutam et al. (2002). Great Transition: The
Promise and the Lure of the Times Ahead. Boston: Tellus Institute. Available
at www.tellus.org.

• The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2012). Plumbing Supply

Fittings.https://www.asme.org/products/codes-standards/a112181csa-b1251-
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• UNESCO, (2009) World Conference on Education for Sustainable

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 |79

Theory and its Relationship with Practice

Dr. Akanksha Singh *
Toseef Bari Khan **

Abstract

Whatever subtle nuances of meaning it may have for educational theories, for
educational practitioners, theory is something to be regarded with suspicious and
mistrust. Theory is opposed to practice and that very opposition is usually enough
to arouse expectations of irrelevant jargon which has nothing to do with every day
practical problem and concerns.”Educational theories have made strenuous
efforts to overcome this kind of antagonism, but they are making little progress.
Problem of theory and practice in teacher education is matter of great concern.
Studies show that theories rarely affect the behavior of the teacher. In professional
courses theory and practice both plays an important role. Present paper is an
attempt to find the relationship between theory and practice in teacher education.

Nature of theory and practice

Simply, theory refers to a particular kind of explanation. A theory is an organized

body of concepts and principles intended to explain a particular phenomenon.
Theories provide predictions and explanations as well as guidelines for actions and
behavior. Theories might provide a structured thought through which the world can
be observed, studied or analyzed. Theories also provide a safeguard against
unscientific approaches to a problem, an issue or a theme.

According to McMillan and Schumacher (2001), a theory can develop scientific

knowledge congruent with the following criteria:

• provide simple explanation about the observed relations regarding their

relation to a phenomenon;

• be consistent with an already founded body of knowledge and the

observed relations;

• provide a device for verification and revision; and

• stimulate further research in areas which need investigation.

*
Assistant Professor, Department of Education, University of Allahabad
**
JRF, Department of Education, University of Allahabad
80 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

For a systematic concepts to be called a theory, the system has to be unchanged

over a long time, the components of the system have to be linked in a
comprehensive and non-contradictory way, and consistent in the sense that it
should not be possible to arrive at contradictory claims by means of the types of
derivation permitted in the theory. According to some theorists, theories must be
testable but there are a number of theories belonging to the humanities or the social
sciences /education are transcendental in this sense. Like as natural science, social
or educational sciences are required to hold the same features in terms of their
theories, it becomes evident that the theories of social sciences have more
competing in nature. According to Anfara and Mertz (2006) “The major
characteristic of social sciences in contrast to natural sciences is its multiple
theoretical orientations which never reaches a fixed consensus like the empirical
referents or explanatory schemes which characterize natural sciences. The theories
available in social sciences are commonly popular because the nature of the
phenomenon that is being studied allows its consideration through multiple
perspectives and thus each of these perspectives suggests a reasonable explanation
of the phenomenon.”

The logical character of the scientific theory can be measured even if not
definitively and conclusively. Some theorists crucially differentiate scientific
theory from metaphysical theory. Moore has discussed the distinction between
scientific and practical theorizing; and in this discussion he has argued that
educational theory is a type of practical theory.

There are two types of theory in education. The first kind of theory is a structural-
functionalist or explanatory theory and provides an explanation of the relationship
between education and the society. This is theorizing about education: attempting
to provide some explanation of education in terms of a rather more general theory;
in this case. Nothing follows for practice directly from such theorizing; the purpose
of such theorizing is explanation. Second type of theory is practical theory in
which an outline of procedure is directed. Practical theory plays role in improving
the practice. Theory of the teaching of certain kinds of skills is best promoted by
certain practical theory. A theory of this kind does not attempt to explain, but
outlines procedures by which certain aims are to be achieved.

First kind of theory attempts to explain practice in terms of a sociological theory.

We cannot therefore expect such a theory to be of direct value in terms of
improving practice. The second kind of theory on the other hand, stands in terms of
its value in improving practice. A theory whose purpose is explanatory is criticized
on the grounds that it fails to give guidance for practice. But this criticism fails
because it mistakes the logical character of the theory.
 |81

Practices are activities directed to some end, our understanding of that end, which
is theoretical rather than practical, is important as a regulator of our practices. A
teacher teaching a child to read must have some notion of what is involved in
reading. This is a simple illustration but the skills of reading are not simple, and a
full understanding of what is involved in reading may greatly enrich the practice of
the teacher.

Relationship of theory and practice in context of different approaches

The diverse range of approaches to educational theory that has emerged during the
last hundred years is not only the product of an ongoing philosophical debate about
the kind of theory appropriate for education to adopt but also the product of an
ongoing political debate about educational policy and practice. In order to make
connection between interpretation of educational theory and interpretations of
educational practice more explicit and visible, here is the summary of major form
of educational theorizing which emerged in the 20thcentury.

The Common Sense Approach

This approach is favored by many members of teaching profession. It refers to
those approaches in which educational theory is based on a common sense
understanding of ‘practice’. Thus, according to this approach, educational theory is
always ‘practice focused’. Educational theory is simply a matter of codifying
ideas, concepts and principals embedded in practice and then using this theory to
test practical competence and identify deficiencies in practical performance.
According to this theory, practice determines theory rather than theory determining
practice. According to this view, educational practice is simply a matter of action
within given tradition.
The Philosophical Approach
In this approach ‘common sense’ is regarded as too unreflective and uncritical to
provide an adequate basis for educational theory. It therefore offers a form of
theorizing designed to enable practitioners to extend and enrich their common
sense thinking by relating it to a philosophical understanding of the true meaning
and purpose of education. Educational practice, therefore, is not interpreted simply
as a form of common-sense action but as a form of reflective practice based on
educational ideas which can be articulated and justified in the light of some
coherent ‘philosophy’.
The ‘Applied Science’ Approach
This approach is adopted by those educational psychologists, educational
researchers, curriculum evaluator who insist that any defensible view of
82 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

educational theory must conform to standards laid down by science. According to

this view, educational theory is a form of ‘applied science’, using value free
empirical knowledge as bases of resolving educational problem and improving
educational practice. The only genuine scientific question that educational theory
can resolve is practical question about the most effective means of achieving those
educational aims which are desirable. The applied science approach always
interprets educational practice as a technical activity for bringing about some
‘given’ educational goals.

The Practical Approach

According to this approach, the aim of educational theory is not only to provide
solution to technical problem but also to help practitioner to make morally
defensible judgments. It seeks to do this by rehabilitating the practical art of
‘deliberation’ as a basis for acting in particular practical situation. Thus, from this
perspective, educational practice is morally informed action and it is an essentially
ethical activity by educational values rather than any narrow utilitarian concern.
‘practice’ is thus not considered as an instrumental means to some fixed
educational aims but as a flexible activity in which the choice of both means and
ends is guided by values in the educational process itself.

Conclusion

Today, in education, there are several views of theory and practice competing with
one another between theorist, researchers, policy makers and teachers. In most of
the views, theories show interdependent relationship to practice, although the
character of this relationship will, in part, rest upon the logical status of the theory
that theories play an enormous role in the creation and modification of educational
practices. Political, social, and economical theories influence educational systems,
and their relationships with the state, and the society of which they are a part and at
the classroom level. Pedagogical practices have been influenced by psychological
and sociological theories. In some views, educational practice is an instrumental
activity which can produce solution to many problems.

References:

• Anfara, V. A., & Mertz N. T. (Eds) (2006). Theoretical Frameworks in

Qualitative Research. Sage

• Argyris, C. and Schon, D. (1974). Theory in Practice: Increasing Professional

Effectiveness. Francisco: Jossey Bass.
 |83

• Curnock, K. and Hardiker, P. (1979). Towards Practice Theory. London:

Routledge & Kegan Paul.

• Hargreaves, D. H. (1967). Social Relations in a Secondary School. London:

Routledge & Kegan Paul.

• McMillan, J. H. and Schumacher (2001). Research in Education: A

Conceptual Introduction. Longman.

• Moore, T. W. (1974). Educational Theory: An Introduction. London:

Routledge and Kegan Paul.

• Peters, R. S. (1974). Psychology and Ethical Development. London: George

Allen and Unwin.

• Pilalis, J. (1986). The Integration of Theory and Practice: A Re-examination of

a Paradoxical Expectation. The British Journal of Social Work, 16(1), retrieved
from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23705124

• Popper K. (1968). The Logic of Scientific Discovery. London: Hutchinson.

• Tellings, A. (2001) Eclecticism and Integration in Educational Theories: A

Metatheoretical Analysis. retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249406165_Eclecticism_and_integra
tion_in_educational_theories_A_metatheoretical_analysis
84 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Impact of Trauma on Learning and School

Performance
Dr.Kaneez Mehdi Zaidi*

Abstract

The world in which our children are growing -where a vast majority of them are
exposed to some form of violence in family, in community, in neighborhood where
a child can witness violence just by switching on the television, logging on the
internet, it cannot be ignored that our culture of violence affects every child in one
way or the other either directly or indirectly. Violence leads to emotionally painful
traumatic influences which can cause lasting mental, emotional and psychological
effects. Children exposed to such traumatic events face serious learning and
behavioral problems .Major areas in which problems are witnessed are related to
attentiveness, problem solving, comprehension, sequential organization, cause and
effect relationship, linguistic, communication, and others. Such children require
trauma sensitive approach to studies, one that maximizes the student’s sense of
safety and acceptance. A trauma sensitive school environment can benefit all
children -not only those who are traumatized but also those impacted by their
traumatized classmates. This paper is an attempt to study the impact of trauma on
learning and school performance and thereby to reflect on the institutional
improvement and reforms in the direction of trauma sensitized education.

The world in which our children are growing -where a vast majority of them are
exposed to some form of violence in family, in community, in neighborhood where
a child can witness violence just by switching on the television, logging on the
internet, it cannot be ignored that our culture of violence affects every child in one
way or the other either directly or indirectly.

"Everyday, children enter their classroom bringing backpacks, pencil & paper -
and their unique views of the world. "

The opening line of the report 'Helping Traumatized Children Learn (2005)'
Massachusetts, clearly exemplify that children come to school carrying not only
the study material but also their previous experiences accompany the child to
school. Children are continually developing and life experiences influence their

*
Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Shia P.G. College, Lucknow
 |85

development both in positive and negative way. Children's unique view of the
world is formed from their interpretations of the relationship and experiences at
home and society. If a child is from a healthy background his development is
healthier he is well adjusted with the society and has positive outlook towards the
life on the other hand children who experience violence in home and society are
not so well adjusted and face difficulty in accepting others. A vast majority of
children experience some form of distress, crime or abuse in their earlier life with
some experiencing multiple traumas. Often they do not have the necessary coping
skills to manage the complications of the event. Violence leads to emotionally
painful traumatic influences which can cause lasting mental, emotional and
psychological effects. It not only influence their personality and behavior but also
handicaps them from the very foundations for learning. Traumatic experience in
childhood can diminish their concentration, cognition and communication power -
abilities children need to succeed in school.

Such children require trauma informed approach to studies, one that maximizes the
students’ sense of safety and acceptance. A trauma sensitive school environment
can benefit all children -not only those who are traumatized but also those
impacted by their traumatized classmates. This paper is an attempt to study the
impact of trauma on learning and school performance and thereby to reflect on the
institutional improvement and reforms in the direction of trauma informed
education.

Trauma in School Children

Traumatic experiences in early life -such as abuse, neglect, exposure to violence

can profoundly impact and limit brain development resulting in cognitive losses,
physical and emotional delays all of which undermine learning. Such experiences
have the potential to interfere with children's learning, school engagement and
academic success. Symptoms and impact of trauma in children are easily
identifiable as it is manifested in their behavior and responses. Educators who are
unaware of child's traumatic history or its importance may aggravate the situation
by holding unrealistic expectations or misinterpreting the symptoms as indicators
of bad conduct or misbehavior. Such symptoms and consequences of traumatic
experiences in school children are enumerated here-

• aggressive responses/angry outburst

• difficulty identifying and verbalizing experiences
• focusing ,attending and recalling difficulties
• feeling of vulnerability and powerlessness
• more often suspended and expelled from schools
86 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

• withdrawal from activities

• impulsivity /hyperactivity/hyper vigilance
• absenteeism
• emotional numbing
• short term memory suffer
• self harm
• learning difficulties
• likely to fail a grade
• score lower on test

Impact of Trauma on Learning

Learning is an essential element of children's growth & development. Consistent

and continuous learning in home, school and community helps children to grow
into a responsible and informed adult. Trauma resulting from overwhelming
experiences has the power to disturb a student's development of foundation for
learning. Learning to read, write, take part in a discussion and solve mathematical
problem rest on many underlying foundations like organization, comprehension
and ability to produce etc. Major areas in which problems are witnessed are related
to factors mentioned below-

• Organization of learning material

• Cause and effect relationship
• Attentiveness
• Inability to process information in a systematic and logical manner
• Tendency to over generalize and see things in good and bad term
• Engaging in curriculum
• Regulating emotions

Impact of Trauma and Educational Interventions

Learning about the impacts of trauma can help educators from misunderstanding
the reasons underlying some children's difficulties with learning, behavior and
relationship. Trauma is particularly challenging for educators to address because
children often don't express the distress they feel. They are mentally, emotionally
and psychologically affected and behave inappropriately or segregate themselves
from society which further exaggerates the situation. To deal with traumatized
children educators need to change the methods of interacting which requires a
commitment towards shaping school culture, practices and policies to be sensitive
to the needs of the learner. A trauma informed approach of educator can help them
 |87

to realize the impact of trauma, recognize signs and symptoms and resist re-
traumatization. Here are some of the academic and non-academic measures which
need to be taken at institutional level to assist traumatized children.

1. Academic Measures

Academic measures of trauma sensitive approach are concerned with the formal
system of education. Such measures are related to the infrastructure, institutional
policies which influence the teaching learning process. Following are the measures
which can assist a traumatized child in coping with their academics along with
their mental and emotional challenges-

• Supportive Environment
• The institution should ensure a safe and supportive environment in which
children can focus on learning and academic performance
• Helping children to verbalize feeling rather than engage in inappropriate
behavior
• Be sensitive to the cues in the environment that may cause reaction in the
traumatized children
• Increase the level of support and encouragement given to traumatized
children
• Provide children with routine ,structure and repeated positive experiences
to make them feel safe and free

• Re-evaluate Discipline Policies

• Strict discipline may intensify the emotions of traumatic child
• Follow inappropriate behaviour with natural consequences
• Understanding misbehaving as attention seeking behaviour
• setting limits instead of punishing
• Provide help not warning
• Accommodate child's need

• Physical and Emotional Safety

• Provide appropriate physical touch when a child seeks it .It can help them
to calm down and regulates their emotions.
• Designate time and space to students to talk.
• Monitor the children activities , to keep them ensured of bullying and
teasing
• Be aware of the non-verbal cues including body language ,voice
modulation and emotional state
88 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

• Opportunities for Emotional Regulation

• Children with traumatic history have difficulty in regulating their mood.
Integrate emotional literacy activities to manage identify and manage
feelings.
• Discuss calming strategies to manage stressful situation
• Don't let children's emotion escalate your own ,remain in control of your
emotions

• Flexible Teaching Methods

• Use short ,clear and sequenced instruction,
• Consistent repetition of instruction during the task,
• Use multiple strategies to communicate information ,
• Supplement with examples of meaning making, concept building,
information linking, and organization of assignment.
• Emphasis on individualized learning style.

• Provide Choices and Control

When children feel they have choice and control of situation they will be calmer
which helps in building the self-efficacy, trust and sense of identity.

• Nurture Competence
• Provide small challenges with achievable goals
• Integrate games , puzzle for fun and flexibility,
• Promote the strength and interest of the student ,
• Guided opportunities for participation ,
• Acknowledge choices ,provide concrete praise

• Prevent Re-Traumatization
When trauma causes emotional and psychological damage to children, they may
adopt a set of behavior pattern that put them on a path for further trauma .Their
behavior ,for instance their quicker resort to violence, or as a consequence for their
actions ,for instance punishment .Children may become re-traumatized and their
problems are compounded.

• The educators may understand the cycle of trauma

• Acknowledging trauma and its triggers
• Avoiding stigmatizing and punishing students
 |89

2. Non-Academic Measures

Non-Academic measures of assisting a traumatized child are informal in nature.

Such strategies focus on going beyond the formal system of education and helping
the traumatized child to cope up with the handicaps of life. Following are the ways
which can be adopted by educators in this respect-

• Fostering Relationship

• Relationship are integral in providing safety and security to develop and

grow
• Connecting in a compassionate and understanding manner
• Show genuine respect for students
• Be kind and empathies with the challenges and experiences of student
• Connect with a child on an emotional ,sensory level before moving to
cognitive level

• Linking to Mental Health Professionals

• Access to comprehensive health and mental health services
• confidential review and plan of individual cases

• Staff Training
• how to strengthen relationship between traumatized student and their
caregiver
• access outside support when needed
• help traumatized child to regulate their emotions to ensure academic and
social success

• Routine Screen for Traumatic Symptoms

• Regular screening of students with the help of counselors and psychiatrist

• Address Parents and Caregivers

• periodical address to parents and caregivers by the teachers
• address of mental health services on different aspects of trauma

• Extra-curricular activities
• engaging in sports and other physical activities
• participation in cultural activities -art ,music,
• Creative expressions like dancing, sketching, singing etc.
90 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Conclusion

Children who experience trauma are at high risk as their rapidly developing brain
is highly vulnerable .Very often their behavior is misinterpreted as misconduct.
The formative years of one's life in school should not be mishandled but need
intensive care, warmth and support. A trauma sensitive approach acknowledge the
prevalence of trauma occurrence in students lives and create a flexible framework
that provide universal support ,are sensitive to unique needs of the individual and
also ensure avoiding re-traumatization.

References:

• Cole, S.F., O’Brien, J.G., Gadd, M.G., Ristuccia, J., Wallace, D.L., & Gregory,
M. (2005). Helping Traumatized Children Learn: Supportive School
Environments for Children Traumatized by Family Violence. Boston, MA:
Massachusetts

• Goodman, R. D., Miller, M. D.& West Olatunji ,C.A. (2011). Traumatic

Stress, Socioeconomic status and Academic Achievement among Primary
School Children

• NCTSN (2013). Creating trauma-informed systems Retrieved on March 5,

2013 from http://www.nctsn.org/resources/topics/creating-trauma-informed-
systems.

• SAMHSA (2012). About the National Center for Trauma-Informed Care,

Retrieved from http://www.samhsa.gov/nctic/about.asp.

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA,

2014) .SAMHAS's concept of trauma and guidance for a trauma-informed
approach. Rockville, M.D.

• http://www.massadvocates.org/documents/HTCL_9-09.pdf.
 |91

Impact of Video-Conferencing on Teaching-

Learning Process in Education
Mohammad Saquib Taufique *
Dr. Neeti**

Abstract

Teaching and learning involves the process of transferring knowledge from the one
who is giving to the one who is receiving. Teaching process cannot be performed if
there is one element that is missing among the three of the teaching and learning
elements. The teacher is considered as the element that has the main role in the
teaching-learning process. Teachers teach through various ways and one such way
is through video conferencing. The notable advantages of video conferencing are
Faculty members keeping in touch with classes while attending conferences, Guest
lecturers brought in classes from other institutions, Researchers collaborating
with colleagues at other institutions on a regular basis without loss of time due to
travel, Schools with multiple campuses collaborating and sharing professors,
Schools from two separate nations engaging in cross-cultural exchanges, Faculty
members participating in thesis defenses at other institutions, Administrators on
tight schedules collaborating on budget preparation from different parts of
campus, Faculty committee auditioning scholarship candidates, Researchers
answering questions about grant proposals from agencies or review committees
and Student interviews with an employers in other cities.

“We need technology in every classroom and in every student and teacher’s hand,
because it is the pen and paper of our time, and it is the lens through which we
experience much of our world.”

-David Warlick

Teaching and learning involves the process of transferring knowledge from the one
who is giving to the one who is receiving. Teaching process cannot be performed if
there is one element that is missing among the three of the teaching and learning
elements. The teacher is considered as the element that has the main role in the

*
JRF, Department of Education, University of Allahabad
**
Associate Professor, Department of Teacher Education, CCSPG College, Hewnra,
Etawah.
92 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

teaching-learning process. He/she is considered as the so-called prime mover of the

educational processes, thus he or she directs the flow of the whole process. The
teacher is the one that facilitates the whole process of leaning. He or she directs its
flow and serve as main control of the teaching learning process. The learners are
considered as the key participant in the teaching and learning process. They are
considered as the primary subject or the main reason why the process is
implemented. The knowledge that acquired by the learners will decide if the
teaching and learning objectives are achieved. Learners vary from one another in
the aspects of learning. There are those learners that learn fast while there are those
learners that learn in average or slower.

Video conferencing in general can enable teaching and learning to take place in a
flexible environment, allowing dialogue and interactivity among participants based
in different geographical locations and in different cultures. This collaboration can
enhance the teaching and learning process and allow for various perspectives on
issues. It opens up the teaching and learning process to different points of view and
can create synergy between online communities which can lead to deeper
intercultural understanding. Video-conferencing is a technology that allows users
in different locations to hold face-to-face meetings without having to move to a
single location. This technology is particularly convenient for seekers in different
cities or even different countries because it saves the time, expense and hassle.

Video-conferencing is the conduct of a videoconference (also known as a video

conference or video-teleconference) by a set of telecommunication technologies
which allow two or more locations to communicate by simultaneous two-way
video and audio transmissions. It has also been called 'visual collaboration' and is a
type of groupware. In the 1990s, IP (Internet Protocol) based videoconferencing
became possible and more efficient video compression technologies were
developed, permitting desktop, or personal computer (PC)-based
videoconferencing. In 1992 CU-See Me was developed at Cornell by Tim Dorcey
et al. In 1995 the first public videoconference between North America and
Africa took place, linking a techno fair in San Francisco with a techno-rave
in Cape Town. Using video conferencing for initial teacher education has been
growing since the late 1990s. Geographically, such uses have been integrated
systematically into initial teacher-education programmes in Australia, followed by
the USA and the UK. The development of video conferencing in Australia
(Boylan, 1999; Crawford et al., 2002) reflects the long-standing tradition and
necessity of distance education. The increasing uses of video conferencing in the
UK are due to a range of factors: first, the additional funding that was made
available to schools and teacher-training institutions in the late 1990s, for example,
 |93

as part of the Training Schools initiative which funded the original equipment used
in the interactive Teaching and Learning Observatory at the University of
Nottingham’s School of Education (Coyle, 2004). Another factor was the increased
availability of video-conferencing equipment in the market and the fact that video
conferencing plays a significant role in maximizing staff time, reducing
unnecessary travel and related CO2 emissions (Wang et al., 2008).

Components of Video-Conferencing:

The components required for a videoconferencing system include:

• Video input: video camera or webcam.

• Video output: computer monitor, television or projector.

• Audio input: microphones, CD/DVD player, cassette player, or any

other source of Pre-Amp audio outlet.

• Audio output: usually loudspeakers associated with the display device

or telephone

• Data transfer: analog or digital telephone network, LAN or Internet.

• Computer: a data processing unit that ties together the other

components, does the compressing and decompressing, and initiates
and maintains the data linkage via the network.

Kinds of Video-Conferencing:

There are basically two kinds of videoconferencing systems:

1. Dedicated systems have all required components packaged into a single piece of
equipment, usually a console with a high quality remote controlled video camera.
These cameras can be controlled at a distance to pan left and right, tilt up and
down, and zoom. They became known as PTZ cameras. The console contains all
electrical interfaces, the control computer, and the software or hardware-based
codec. Omni directional microphones are connected to the console, as well as a TV
monitor with loudspeakers and/or a video projector. There are several types of
dedicated videoconferencing devices:

• Large group video-conferencing is non-portable, large, more expensive

devices used for large rooms and auditoriums.

• Small group video-conferencing is non-portable or portable, smaller, less

expensive devices used for small meeting rooms.
94 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

• Individual videoconferencing are usually portable devices, meant for

single users, have fixed cameras, microphones and loudspeakers integrated
into the console.

2. Desktop systems are add-ons (hardware boards, usually) to normal PCs,

transforming them into videoconferencing devices. A range of different cameras
and microphones can be used with the board, which contains the necessary codec
and transmission interfaces. Most of the desktops systems work with
the H.323 standard. Videoconferences carried out via dispersed PCs are also
known as e-meetings.

Use of video-conferencing in education:

There are five exact ways to use the video conferencing system in education are-

1. Connect with Experts- Turning point learning center makes frequent use
of video conferencing, and Ginger Lewman remarked, "It allows our
students, to begin to develop not only essential communications skills, but
also an acute awareness of global issues. It is always a joy to get to talk
with experts and peers face to face and in real-time."

2. Virtual Field Trips-Any school field trip usually requires a lot of

preparation — there’s the food, then the transportation, then the students,
and most importantly, making sure not to lose anybody. It’s a whole lot
harder to “wander off” when your field trip is on a screen in front of you.
Whether to a museum or a zoo, virtual field trips are becoming
increasingly common in video conferencing schools.

3. Working Together- Students in a classroom in, say, Wyoming could

connect with a classroom in Wisconsin and work together on a
collaborative activity. While in the past, collaborative activities might be
limited to one classroom or one school, video conferencing allows
students in multiple schools around the world to work together on relevant
issues.

4. Accessing Previously Unavailable Courses- Some schools, especially

those in rural areas, aren’t able to offer advanced or detailed courses that
their students might need. Even those in more populated areas often lack
enough teachers in certain subject areas. Many schools could benefit from
having an extra course over distance learning that they might not be able
to offer otherwise. Instead of having to commute long distances between
different schools, teachers would be able to instruct over video
 |95

conferencing. Video conferencing is a powerful medium for giving

students unparalleled access to places (or procedures) they could have
only dreamed of in the past.

5. Teaching the Teachers- Teachers speak to students over video

conferencing, but also to teachers, providing a “students eye view of the
classroom.”Because learning is a continual process for teachers, and
teachers must acquire a certain number of professional development hours
(a percentage of which should be dedicated to technology) to maintain
certification, video conferencing offers a convenient way for many school
districts to meet these requirements.

Impact of video-conferencing on education:

Videoconferencing provides students with the opportunity to learn by

participating in two-way communication forums. Furthermore, teachers and
lecturers worldwide can be brought to remote or otherwise isolated educational
facilities. Students from diverse communities and backgrounds can come together
to learn about one another, although language barriers will continue to persist.
Such students are able to explore, communicate, analyze and share information and
ideas with one another. Through videoconferencing, students can visit other parts
of the world to speak with their peers, and visit museums and educational facilities.
Such virtual field trips can provide enriched learning opportunities to students,
especially those in geographically isolated locations, and to the economically
disadvantaged. Small schools can use these technologies to pool resources and
provide courses, such as in foreign languages, which could not otherwise be
offered. The benefits of videoconferencing are:

1. Benefits of Teacher - Teachers are able to provide an increased variety of

content, guest speakers and joint, interschool content by the incorporation
of conferencing into the classroom. Students can better understand cultural
diversity by interacting with fellow students in foreign countries or receive
lectures from seasoned professionals and industrial experts on the other
side of the world or participate in virtual field trips from the comfort and
safety of the classroom. Educational video conferencing provides teachers
with more leeway, as they are able to administer both yearlong and/or
semester learning without the boundaries of distance. The daily commute
that some teachers typically make to reach their place of employment is
eliminated when their options for reaching students are expanded. Time,
money, and energy are saved in the process. Amongst fellow teachers,
general departmental meetings and school/district collaborations can now
96 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

take place in a more convenient and timely manner through video

conferencing. For some, the cumbersome early morning staff meeting can
occur at a more accommodating moment.

2. Benefits of Learner - With the help of video conferencing, the classroom

has become geographically limitless. No longer do students have to feel
confined to their rooms, schools, or even to their countries. With a video
conference set-up, they can reap the benefits of wisdom from all over the
world. Field trips are a thing of the past. No more expensive travel – in the
classroom itself, students can interact with researchers, other students, and
tour places and facilities at the click of a button. Boring classroom lectures
have been given a new lease of life. How? Because it is one thing for a
teacher to explain a telescope, and quite another, to have his or her class
look at an actual example being demonstrated by an astrologist from his
laboratory, via video conferencing. It’s simple and amazingly entertaining
too. Students actively participate in video conferences, they, by default,
learn the ability to out together presentations. There is a certain level of
pre-knowledge needed to gain the most from a video conference
interaction. This necessitates students to research in the library, and put
together their learning in an orderly flow in advance. As a result, they
inculcate in themselves the logic of presentations, and the value of quality
research. While actually participating in a video conference session,
students need to articulate their thoughts and communicate clearly and
effectively. It is only when there is a two-way sharing that a video
conference is successful. In doing so, students develop an inherent flair for
public speaking. More importantly, they lose their inhibitions and grow
into confident individuals, fully capable of putting across their points
forthrightly.

3. Benefits of Distance Education-The flexibility of instruction through

educational video conferencing is amazing, as Internet, email and other
online functions open up more effective lines of communication. For
some, this type of video conferencing allows students to take advantage of
distance learning completely from the comforts of their home. The ability
to study, complete assignments, and take tests on a more forgiving
timeline and schedule creates a better work environment for both the
teacher and student. Using advanced online techniques are becoming an
increasingly popular mode of learning within higher education. Many
students are now using video conferencing as they seek an online degree.
Professor lectures are often delivered through this mode of learning, while
 |97

project collaborations with other students also take place through this
medium.

4. Benefits of Parents-The bond between parent and teacher also increases, as

video conferencing widens the scope of communication. There is no need
to fret over ignored parent-teacher conferences, as these yearly meetings
can easily take place at more convenient times for both instructors and
parents. The guardian unable to touch bases with their child's teachers can
now schedule a video conference to gain a face-to-face understanding
regarding the curriculum and student progress. This saves both time and
travel expense for both parties involved.

Conclusion:

Education is changing very rapidly, and keeping pace with the evolving
technology of the day are teaching practices. As the world shrinks and becomes
one big united village, Video Conferencing has made its way into the classroom,
and has proved to have innumerable benefits. The notable advantages of video
conferencing are Faculty members keeping in touch with classes while attending
conferences, Guest lecturers brought in classes from other institutions, Researchers
collaborating with colleagues at other institutions on a regular basis without loss of
time due to travel, Schools with multiple campuses collaborating and sharing
professors, Schools from two separate nations engaging in cross-cultural
exchanges, Faculty members participating in thesis defenses at other institutions,
Administrators on tight schedules collaborating on budget preparation from
different parts of campus, Faculty committee auditioning scholarship candidates,
Researchers answering questions about grant proposals from agencies or review
committees and Student interviews with an employers in other cities.

References:

• Boylan, C. & Francis, R. (1999). Distance education via video-conferencing in

New South Wales schools: students' and teachers' perceptions. Education in
Rural Australia, 9(1), 9-31.

• Coyle, D. (2004). Redefining Classroom Boundaries: Learning to Teach Using

New Technologies. Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and
Policy, 32(July).

• Crawford, L., Sharpe, L., Chun, H., Gopinathan, S., Moo, S.N. & Wong, A.
(2002). Multipoint desktop video conferencing in teacher education:
98 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

preliminaries, problems and progress. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher

Education, 30(1), 67-78.

• Smyth, J. (1991). Teachers as Collaborative Learners. Milton Keynes: Open

University Press.

• Thomas, L. and S. harri-Augstein. (1995). Self-organized Learning:

Foundations of a conversational science for psychology. London: Routledge
and Kegan Paul.

• Wang, R., Dunne, L. & Rowe, J. (2008). The Exeter Pathfinder Journey. The
Higher Education Academy. Available online
at: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/ , accessed on 10 December 2009

• www.google.com

• www.wikipedia.org
 |99

D.Phil Abstracts

Cost Benefit Analysis of Pre Service Teacher

Education Programme at Secondary Stage
Prerna Madhyan

Objectives :
To analyze the current employment status, institutional cost, private cost, private
direct benefits, net present value of the total cost and the benefits, internal rate of
return of pre-service teacher education programme at secondary stage. Beside
these quantitative analysis few qualitative benefits (perception about individual
benefits, family benefits and societal benefits, attitude towards teaching, teaching
self – efficacy and job satisfaction) are also studied by the researcher. All
objectives are attained with reference to types of institutions, gender and type of
residence.
Methodology : The descriptive method had been used in the present study. All the
students registered in the session 2005-06 and 2006-07 and the session 2013-2014
for one year bachelor degree programme i.e. Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) of the
four institutions of Allahabad– K.P. Training College, S.S. Khanna Degree
College, Ewing Christian College and Allahabad Agriculture Deemed University, -
constituted the population for the study. The sample was consisted of 550 students
from different nature of teacher training institutions of Allahabad. Self constructed
tool (Information Schedule for the Institutional Costs and Information Schedule for
Private Costs and Benefits) and three standardized tool (Teaching Self Efficacy
Inventory by K. S. Misra and Ruchi Dubey (2012), Attitude towards Teaching by
K. S. Misra and Pratik Upadhyay (2012) and Job Satisfaction Scale for Teachers
by Dixit was used in the study. ANOVA ‘t’-test and Pearson’s product moment
correlation were used to analyse the data.
Major Findings :
• The 64% pass out students got employment and only 24% were
unemployed which showed that the larger percentage of students got
placement.
• Regarding the labor and non-labor cost govt. funded institution had
spent much higher.
100 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

• The unit cost was also derived for the different types of institutions. In
both the sessions the unit cost of S.S.K.G.D.C. was lowest
i.e.Rs.62480.56 and unit cost of K.P.T.C. was highest i.e. Rs.
492324.94.
• There was significant difference in tuition fees with reference to types
of institution.
• There was significant difference in the private costs with reference to
types of institutions, gender and type of residence.
• There was no difference in the private direct benefits with reference to
types of institutions and gender.
• There was no significant relationship between private costs and other
benefits for males. However, there was significant relationship
between private costs and teaching self efficacy, teaching attitude and
job satisfaction for males.
• There was no significant difference in the perception of individual
benefits, family benefits and social benefits with reference to types of
institution, gender and residence.
• The net present value was not uniform for different type of institutions
as well as for male and female.
• The internal rate of return of K.P.T.C., S.S.K.G.D.C., E.C.C. and
SHIATS were respectively, 8%, 5%, 4% and 2%.
 |101

Educational Provisions for Child Labour

Under Right to Education with Respect to their
Habitation and Educational Aspirations
Anupama Mehta

Objectives :
1. To identify children working as child labour with the help of
community and other partners directly associated to them.
2. To study the educational provisions under Right to Education to child
labour with respect to their habitation and educational aspiration.
3. To explain the phenomenon through substantive theory generated from
the data.
Methodology : The research study was qualitative in nature, being exploratory
study on children who are child labours Grounded Theory method was found to be
the appropriate methodology. All children working as labours in Allahabad city
formed the population of the study. The sample of the study included 20- child
labours (rag pickers),20 parents /guardians of child labours, 7-schools, 2-NGOs, 5-
corporators, 30-Teachers, 8-School Management Committee members. Data was
collected through observation, conversation and interview. After each bout of data
collection key issues were noted down; Constant comparison and triangulation
were the heart of the process. Compared interview (data) to interview (other data)
themes emerged, these emerged themes and properties link provided the theory.
Data collection, note-taking, coding and memoing occurred simultaneously from
the beginning data, sorting occurred when all categories/themes were saturated.
After sorting the researcher wrote the emergent themes.
Major Findings:
• Substantive theory grounded in data emerged from the analysis of the
themes.
• Motivation theory was the theoretic view underlying the analysis of
the narratives. While it was not the original intent of this study, it
became clear as the children’s narratives were explored and the theory
emerged that the child labour were bound by their basic needs and the
goal of their working is to satisfy their basic needs.
102 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

• The children and parent`s, first priority was work which compelled
them to migrate from their native place due to poverty.
• The children and their parents had full awareness of the work and
hazards in doing it, but their circumstances compelled them to work,
the children lacked educational awareness which even aggravated their
desire to work and prove their worth in earning.
• Poverty, educational aspiration and work awareness were working as
intrinsic motivation for them to work rather than to study.
• They lack love and safety in their homes; they find solace and
emotional safety in their work area among their peer group adult
 |103

A Study of Achievement in Physical

Sciences of Mathematics and Non-Mathematics
Group Students of Science Stream of Class XI
in Relation to their Scientific Aptitude and
Reasoning Ability
Justin Pradeep Sahae

Objectives :

1. To study the relationship between Achievement in Physical Sciences

and Scientific Aptitude of students of Science stream of class XI.

2. To study the relationship between Achievement in Physical Sciences

and Reasoning Ability of students of Science stream of class XI.

3. To compare the Achievement in Physical Sciences of students of

Science stream having high, moderate and low Scientific Aptitude.

4. To compare the Achievement in Physical Sciences of students of

Science stream having high, moderate and low Reasoning Ability.

5. To find out the extent to which Scientific Aptitude and Reasoning

Ability contribute to the prediction of Achievement in Physical
Sciences of students of Science stream of class XI.

6. To compare the Achievement in Physical Sciences of Mathematics and

Non- Mathematics group students of Science stream of class XI.

Methodology : The present study is based on the Descriptive method of

Educational Research. The population for the study includes all the students of
Science Stream of Class XI of both Mathematics and Non-Mathematics Group of
all the schools of CBSE and ISE Board of Allahabad. The sample of the study
includes 305 Science Stream Class XI students each of CBSE and ISE Board
Schools which is selected by Random Sampling from different areas of Allahabad.
The total sample of students was 610. To study the achievement in Physical
Sciences, two achievement tests in Physics and Chemistry have been constructed
and standardized. Scientific Aptitude Test constructed by D.R. Singh was adopted.
104 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

To measure reasoning ability test constructed by Sadhna Bhatnagar was adopted.

Product moment coefficient of correlation, ANOVA, regression, and t-test were
used to analyze the data.

Findings :

• The Achievement in Physical Sciences of students (both Mathematics

and Non-Mathematics group) of Science stream of Class XI is
positively related to their Scientific Aptitude.

• The Achievement in Physical Sciences of students (both Mathematics

and Non-Mathematics group) of Science stream of Class XI is
positively related to their Reasoning Ability.

• The Achievement in Physical Sciences is different for students (both

Mathematics and Non-Mathematics group) of Science stream of Class
XI having different levels of Scientific Aptitude.

• The Achievement in Physical Sciences is different for students (both

Mathematics and Non-Mathematics group) of Science stream of Class
XI having different levels of Reasoning Ability.

• Scientific Aptitude and Reasoning Ability of students (both

Mathematics and Non-Mathematics group) of Science stream of Class
XI contribute significantly in the prediction of Achievement in
Physical Sciences.

• There is a significant difference between the Mathematics and Non-

Mathematics groups students’ Achievement in Physical Sciences in
class XI. This stands true Genderwise and also Boardwise.
 |105

A Study of Examination Stress among

University Students in Relation to their
Emotional Intelligence, Academic Engagement
and Personality
Aradhana Tripathi

Objectives :

1. To study the relationship between examination stress and emotional

Intelligence.

2. To study the relationship between examination stress and academic

engagement.

3. To study the relationship between examination stress and personality.

4. To find out whether students differing with respect to emotional

intelligence differ on examination stress.

5. To find out whether students differing with respect to academic

engagement differ on examination stress.

6. To find out whether students with high, moderate and low neuroticism
differ on examination stress.

7. To find out whether a difference exists in the examination stress of

students with high, moderate and low extraversion.

8. To find out the extent to which academic engagement, emotional

intelligence, personality contributes to prediction of examination
stress.

Methodology : Causal comparative and correlational survey method of descriptive

research have been used to conduct the present study. A sample of 640 students
university students were selected through multistage random sampling method.
Examination Stress Scale of K. S. Misra, Test of Emotional Intelligence (student
form) of K. S. Misra, Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI) of Jalota and Kapoor
and self-constructed Academic Engagement Inventory: were as tools for collection
of data.
106 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Major Findings :

• Examination stress is negatively related to academic engagement,

positively related to neuroticism, and not related to emotional
intelligence and extraversion dimension of the personality.

• As compared to students with moderate academic engagement,

students with high level of academic engagement feel less examination
stress. Students with high or moderate academic engagement do not
differ from those having low level of academic engagement on
examination stress.

• Students with low, moderate and high emotional intelligence do not

differ from one another on examination stress.

• As compared to students with moderate neuroticism, students with

high level of neuroticism feel more examination stress. Students with
moderate neuroticism feel more examination stress than those with
low neuroticism.

• As compared to students with low or moderate extraversion, students

with high level of extraversion feel more examination stress. Students
with high or moderate extraversion do not differ from those with low
extraversion.

• Neuroticism emerged as the best predictor of examination stress

among students.
 |107

A Study of Reasoning Ability, Numerical

Ability, Memory and Scientific Aptitude as
Predictors of Achievement in Biological Science
in Intermediate Classes
Dilip Kumar Singh

Objectives :
1. To study the relationship between achievement in Biological Science
and Reasoning ability, Numerical ability, Memory and Scientific
Aptitude of Intermediate students.
2. To compare the achievement in Biological Science of Intermediate
students having high, moderate and low Reasoning ability Numerical
ability, Memory and Scientific Aptitude.
3. To find out the extent to which Reasoning ability, Numerical ability,
Memory and Scientific Aptitude contribute to the prediction of
achievement in Biological Science among Intermediate students.
Methodology : In this study Causal comparative and correlation survey method of
descriptive research have been used. In the present study the population constituted
of all the students (both boys and girls students) studying Biology at intermediate
level of Uttar Pradesh. Multistage Random sampling technique was employed by
the researcher. The data for the present study was collected from 600 students of
class XI who have opted Biology in intermediate classes belonging to the various
regions of Uttar Pradesh. To know achievement in Biological Science, Reasoning
ability, Numerical ability, Memory and Scientific Aptitude of Students different
standardized tools namely; Biological Science Achievement Test constructed and
standardized by researcher, Reasoning Ability Test by Sadhna Bhatnagar,
Numerical Ability Test by D.R. Singh, Test of Memory by D.R. Singh, and
Scientific Aptitude Testby D.R. Singh were used. To analyze the data the Product-
Moment Correlation, ANOVA, and Multiple Regression Analysis were used.
Findings :
• Reasoning ability Numerical ability, Memory and Scientific Aptitude
are positively related to achievement in Biological Science among
boys and girls.
108 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

• As compared to students with low Reasoning ability, Numerical

ability, Memory and Scientific Aptitude students with moderate or
high Reasoning ability, Numerical ability, Memory and Scientific
Aptitude have high achievement in Biological Science among both
boys and girls.
• Reasoning Ability and Numerical Ability emerged as the best
predictors of achievement in Biological Science among both boys and
girls. Memory and Scientific Aptitude act as the suppression variables
i.e. they reduce spurious influence of other variables and minimize
undesirable effect of the factors.
 |109

A Study of Values, Social Behaviour,

Adjustment and Academic Achievement
Motivation of the Students Belonging to
Orphanages
Caroline Beck

Objectives:

1. To study the values of students belonging to orphanages.

2. To study the social behaviour of students belonging to orphanages.

3. To study the adjustment of students belonging to orphanages.

4. To study the academic achievement motivation of students belonging to

orphanages.

5. To do case study on any 10 selected cases.

6. To compare the values, social behaviour, adjustment, academic

achievement motivation of family reared students and orphanage reared
students.

Methodology : Descriptive Survey method was used to conduct the study. The
population of the study comprised of orphanage- reared students and family-reared
students from 3 KAVAL towns (Allahabad, Varanasi and Lucknow) of Uttar
Pradesh. The sample consisted of 317 orphanage-reared children of classes’ 6 to 8
standard. A purposive sampling method was followed for selecting the sample. 102
family-reared students were studying with them were also selected randomly for
the study. Case study was done on 10 selected orphan students.

Findings :

• Material incentive was most preferred among total orphan students.

• Aggression was found to highest and concern for others was found to
be lowest among total orphan students.

• Social adjustment is higher than emotional and educational adjustment

among total orphan students.
110 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

• Orphan students have average academic achievement motivation.

• Significant difference was seen in Values, Social behaviour,

Adjustment and Academic achievement motivation orphanage-reared
students and family-reared students belonging to orphanages.
 |111

A study of emotional intelligence, personality,

classroom learning environment and self-
concept as predictors of achievement in
Commerce among higher secondary students
Ashish Mishra

Objectives :

1. To find out the relationship of achievement in Commerce with emotional

intelligence, personality, classroom learning environment & self-concept

2. To find out whether students with high, moderate and low emotional
intelligence, personality factors, classroom learning environment & self-
concept differ from one another in their achievement in Commerce.

3. To find out the extent to which emotional intelligence, personality,

classroom learning environment and self-concept can predict achievement
in Commerce among higher secondary students.

4. To construct and standardize a ‘Commerce Achievement Test’

5. To find out whether male students differ from female students on

emotional intelligence personality factors, classroom learning
environment, self-concept & achievement in Commerce.

Methodology : Causal-comparative and correlational survey method of descriptive

research have been used to conduct the present research. The population of this
study comprises of male and female students studying in Intermediate classes
(Commerce stream) of U.P. Board schools in Allahabad city of Uttar Pradesh. Six
hundred students (300 male and 300 female) studying in twelve schools of
Allahabad city have been selected as sample by using multi-stage stratified
sampling method. Data collection has been done by using Commerce Achievement
Test constructed by the researcher (CAT), Test of Emotional Intelligence (Student
Form) constructed by K.S. Misra, Sixteen Personality Factor questionnaire
constructed by R.B. Cattell and adopted by S.D. Kapoor and V. K. D. Tripathi
(Hindi Version) Form-C, Learning Environment Inventory constructed by K.S.
Misra, Swatva Bodh Parikshan (SBP- A test of self-concept), constructed by
Sherry, Verma and Goswami. For the purpose of data analysis t-ratio, product
112 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

moment coefficient of correlation, one way ANOVA, L. S. D. test and Step-wise

multiple regression analysis have been used to by using SPSS 17.

Major Findings :

• For male students, two dimensions of self-concept- emotional tendencies

and academic status, two dimensions of classroom learning environment-
apathy and diversity, personality factor O (Self-assured vs. Apprehensive)
and emotional intelligence emerged as the best predictors of achievement
in Commerce

• For female students, four dimensions of classroom learning environment-

encouragement, friction, difficulty and speed, three areas of self-concept-
health & physique, habits & behaviour, and mental health, personality
factor B (Concrete-thinking vs. Abstract-thinking) and emotional
intelligence emerged as the best predictors of achievement in Commerce.
 |113

A Study of the Impact of Scientific Attitude on

Academic Achievement, Occupational
Aspiration and Adjustment
Dharmendra Kumar Sarraf

Objectives :

1. To study the relationship between academic achievement and scientific attitude

among secondary class students of class XI.

2. To study the relationship between occupational aspiration and scientific

attitude among secondary class students of class XI.

3. To study the relationship between adjustment and scientific attitude among

secondary class students of class XI.

4. To compare the academic achievement among secondary class students having

high, moderate and low scientific attitude of class XI.

5. To compare the occupational aspiration among secondary class students of

class XI having high, moderate and low scientific attitude.

6. To compare the adjustment among secondary class students of class XI having

high, moderate and low scientific attitude.

7. To study the contribution of scientific attitude in the prediction of academic

achievement, occupational aspiration and adjustment among secondary class
students of class XI.

Methodology : Causal-comparative survey method of descriptive research was

used in the present study. The sample for the study consisted of 600 class XI
students of Allahabad district of Uttar Pradesh The tools used in the study includes
- Scientific Attitude Questionnaire by K.S. Misra, Occupational Aspiration Scale
by J.S. Grewal, Adjustment Inventory for School Students by A. K. P. Sinha & R.
P. Singh and annual examination marks of class X of Board of High School and
Intermediate Uttar Pradesh. Product moment coefficient of correlation, ANOVA
and linear regression were used for the analysis of the data.
114 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Major Findings :

1. Academic achievement, occupational aspiration and adjustment are

positively related with scientific attitude among secondary students of
class XI.

2. Secondary students of class XI with the high, moderate and low level of
scientific attitude do not differ from one another on academic
achievement.

3. Secondary students of class XI with the high, moderate and low level of
scientific attitude do not differ from one another on occupational
aspiration.

4. Secondary students of class XI with the high, moderate and low level of
scientific attitude do not differ from one another on adjustment.

5. Scientific attitude can explain 6.81% variance of academic achievement

among secondary students of class XI.

6. Scientific attitude can explain 2.01% variance of occupational aspiration

among secondary students of class XI.

7. Scientific attitude can explain 3.24% variance of adjustment among

secondary students of class XI.
 |115

Effectiveness of Concept Attainment and

Concept Mapping Teaching Strategies for
Teaching Biology to Class IX Students
Deepika Pandey

Objectives :

1. To investigate the effectiveness of concept mapping teaching strategy

forteaching Biology.

2. To investigate the effectiveness of concept attainment teaching strategy

forteaching Biology.

3. To compare the effectiveness of concept mapping, concept attainment

andtraditional strategies of teaching Biology.

4. To compare gain scores of more and less intelligent students.

5. To compare gain scores of more and less intelligent students exposed to

different teaching strategies.

6. To compare gain scores of students differing with respect to personality traits.

7. To study the effect of interaction between teaching strategy and personality

trait on gain score.

Methodology : For finding out the effectiveness of concept attainment and

concept mapping teaching strategies for teaching Biology to boys/girls of IX class,
non-equivalent single group pre-test post-test quasi experimental design was used.
For studying the effects of exposure to concept mapping, concept attainment and
traditional teaching strategies on gain score of students differing with respect to
intelligence or personality traits 3x2factorial design was used. The population for
this study consisted of 310 students (boys and girls) of class IX of Prayagraj city of
U.P.. Cluster sampling was adopted . Three teaching strategies have been taken as
independent variable, Achievement in terms of gain scores’ has been taken as
dependent variable, and Personality traits and intelligence have been considered as
the intervening variables. Biology Achievement Test constructed by the researcher,
Neo- Personality Questionnaire constructed by K. S. Misra and Culture Fair
Intelligence Test Scale 3, Form A constructed by Cattell & Cattell have been used.
116 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Product moment coefficients of correlation, 't' test and ANOVA on 3 x 2 factorial

design has been used

Major Findings:

• Concept mapping and concept attainment teaching strategies are effective for
teaching Biology to boys and girls. Concept attainment teaching strategy is
more effective than traditional teaching strategy for teaching Biology to boys
while concept mapping teaching strategy is more effective than concept
attainment teaching strategy for teaching Biology to girls.

• For more intelligent girls’ exposure to traditional teaching is more effective

than concept attainment and concept mapping teaching strategies for teaching
Biology while exposure to concept mapping teaching strategy is more effective
than concept attainment teaching strategy for teaching Biology to more
intelligent girls’. For less intelligent girls’ exposure to concept mapping and
concept attainment teaching strategies are more effective than traditional
teaching strategy for teaching Biology whereas exposure to concept mapping
teaching strategy is more effective than concept attainment teaching strategy
for teaching Biology for the same group. On the other hand Concept mapping,
concept attainment and traditional teaching strategies are equally effective for
teaching Biology to more and less intelligent boys.

• For more alienated, anxious and divergent girls exposure to traditional

teaching is more effective than concept mapping and concept attainment
teaching strategies for teaching Biology while exposure to concept mapping
teaching strategy is more effective than concept attainment teaching strategy
for teaching Biology for the same. For less alienated, anxious and divergent
girls exposure to concept mapping and concept attainment teaching strategies
are more effective than traditional teaching strategy for teaching Biology
whereas exposure to concept mapping teaching strategy is more effective than
concept attainment teaching strategy for teaching Biology for the same.
Exposure to concept mapping, concept attainment and traditional teaching
strategies is equally effective for teaching Biology to more and less alienated,
anxious and divergent boys.

• Mean gain score for more intelligent girls is greater than that for less
intelligent girls. Mean gain score for less crooked girls is greater than that for
more crooked girls. Mean gain score for less analytical boys is greater than
that for more analytical boys. Mean gain score for more divergent girls is
greater than that for less divergent girls.
 |117

Aggression among Undergraduate Students in

Relation to their Self-Esteem, Family
Environment and Academic Facilities in
Institutions.
Kiran Noopur Shukla

Objectives :

1. To study the relationship between aggression among students and their self-
esteem.

2. To study the relationship between aggression among students and their family
environment.

3. To study the relationship between aggression among students and academic

facilities in Institutions.

4. To find out whether students having different levels of self-esteem differ one
another in aggression.

5. To find out whether students perceiving different levels of various dimensions

of family environment differ one another in aggression.

6. To find out whether students perceiving different levels of academic facilities

differ from one another in aggression.

7. To study the contribution of self-esteem, family environment and academic

facilities to aggression.

Methodology : Survey method of descriptive research has been used in the present
study. Sample of study was comprised of 550 undergraduates’ students, studying
in arts stream of Allahabad University and its constituent colleges. For the purpose
of data collection Aggression Inventory (AI) adapted by M.K. Sultana (2006),
originally constructed by Buss-Durkee (1957), Family Environment Scale –
originally constructed by Moos (1974), adapted and standardized by M.C. Joshi &
Om Prakash Vyas. (1987), Academic Facility Questionnaire - questionnaire
constructed by the researcher and Self-esteem Inventory – constructed and
standardized by M.S. Prasad & G.P. Thakur (1977) were used..To analyse the data
118 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Product moment coefficients of correlation, One Way ANOVA followed by

multiple comparisons (Post hoc test) , stepwise multiple regression and t-ratio were
used. Significance of F-ratio, t-ratio and r was tested at.05 level

Major Findings :

• Aggression among male and female students is negatively related to self-

esteem.

• No relationship was found between aggression and family environment and

aggression and academic facilities in institutions.

• As compared to male students with low self-esteem, male students with high
self-esteem have low aggression.

• Male students with moderate self-esteem do not differ from male students with
low and high self-esteem on aggression.

• As compared to female students with low self-esteem, female students with

high self-esteem have low aggression.

• Female students with moderate self-esteem do not differ from female students
with low and high self-esteem on aggression.

• Male and female students perceiving low, moderate and high levels of
dimensions of family environment do not differ from one another in
aggression, except in the case of female students, where in conflict dimension,
as compared to female students perceiving low conflict, female students
perceiving moderate and high conflict have high aggression.

• As compared to female students perceiving moderate conflict, female students

perceiving high conflict in family environment do not differ from one another
in aggression.

• Students perceiving good, average and poor academic facilities in institutions

do not differ from one another in aggression. Finally, self-esteem emerged as
the only variable contributing to aggression.
 |119

A Study of Academic Motivation and Academic

Problems among Minority Students Studying
in Open Universities in General and
Professional Streams
Mohammad SaquibTaufique

Objectives :
1. To describe academic motivation of minority and majority students of open
and distance learning system in the context of gender, course, and institution.
2. To describe academic problems of minority and majority students of open and
distance learning system in the context of gender, course, and institution.
3. To compare academic motivation of minority community open leaning system
with that of majority community open distance learning system students in the
context of their gender, course, and institution.
4. To compare academic problems of minority community open leaning system
with that of majority community open distance learning system students in the
context of their gender, course, and institution.
Methodology : In the study survey method of research was used..The sample of
the present study was 800students. The sample of present study was selected
continuously on the basis of presence of students during study centre visits of
Distance Education students. Firstly160 students selected from National Open
University (IGNOU) and 340 students were selected from three Institutes of
Distance Education viz. MAANU, JMI, and AMU, and lastly 300 students were
selected from Uttar Pradesh RajarshiTondon Open University (UPRTOU). The
sample covered 445Boys and 255Girls students, 475 students of General courses
and 325 students of Professional courses. The majority group students were 340
and minority group students were 460. Self-constructed Academic Motivation
Scale and Academic Problems Scale were used for the collection of the data. The
data collected was analyzed by the following descriptive statistical techniques.
Percentages, Mean and graphical presentation (Bar diagram).
120 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Major Findings:

• The minority students faced major problems related to the area of study centre
i.e. regarding library, teacher/coordinator behaviour, educational counselling,
examination centre related and examination system related problems.
• The minority students faced same problem related to admission, curriculum,
self-learning material, internal/external assessment and examination results.

• Minority students faced more number of problems concerning different areas

than that of their majority counterparts.
 |121

A Study of Learning Styles and Process of

Development of Professional Skills among
Students of Professional Courses of Open
Universities
Subhash Chandra

Objectives :

1. To study the learning styles of learners of professional courses offered by

Open Universities in the context of nature of courses and universities.

2. To study the processes of development of professional skills as perceived by

learners of professional courses offered by open universities: coursewise and
universitywise.

3. To study the association between the perceptions of students towards ODL

based instructional processes of professional programmes and their learning
styles in the context of universities.

Methodology : Population of the study consisted of all the second year B.Ed.
trainees and MBA students enrolled in different programme study centres of
IGNOU and UPRTOU in Uttar Pradesh. The sample of the study covered 200 final
year B.Ed. trainees of IGNOU and 200 final year B.Ed. trainees of UPRTOU. 60
MBA final year students were selected from IGNOU and 60 MBA students from
UPRTOU. In order to collect data the researcher used adapted GRSLS Scales,
Questionnaires for B.Ed. trainees, Questionnaires for MBA students, Perception
scale.

Major Findings :

• Different learning style and nature of professional courses offered by IGNOU

and UPRTOU are significantly associated with each other.

• Majority B.Ed. students possessing higher level on different learning styles

than that of their MBA counterparts.

• Different learning styles of ODL mode B.Ed. and MBA students and
university background are not significantly associated with each other.
122 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

• Professional courses students of state Open University and national Open

University possessed similar pattern of learning styles.

• Learning styles of ODL mode students of B.Ed. and MBA courses are of
independent nature. However they adopted collaborative and participant
behavior in different kinds of instructional practices organized at study centre
level, as well as at their own practicing organisations.

• They were dependent on various learning resources provided by IGNOU and

UPRTOU in the form of study materials, lectures, workshops and
supervisors/mentors.

• Examination orientations also made them competitive in nature.

• Higher percentages of students were adopting positive learning styles,

competitions in instructional practices were visible among ODL mode
professional course students.
 |123

A Study of Learning Stress, Adjustment

and Mental Health as Correlates of
Achievement in Mathematics and Science
among VIII Grade Students
Suman Pandey

Objectives :

1. To find out the relationship between learning stress and achievement in

Mathematics and Science among VIII grade students.

2. To find out the relationship between adjustment and achievement in

Mathematics and Science among VIII grade students.

3. To find out the relationship between mental health and achievement in

Mathematics and Science among VIII grade students.

4. To find out the difference between high and low learning stress groups of
students on achievement in Mathematics and Science among VIII grade
students.

5. To find out the difference between high and low adjustment groups of students
on achievement in Mathematics and Science among VIII grade students.

6. To find out the difference between high and low mental health groups of
students on achievement in Mathematics and Science among VIII grade
students.

Methodology : The survey method was selected for conducting the present study.
All the students of class VIII studying in Parishadeeya Vidhalayas of Allahabad
district constitute a population for this study. The sampling has been completed in
two steps. First of all, the list of upper primary schools in urban area has been
received from Shiksha Adhikshak. Out of 33 schools, 18 schools have been
randomly selected and all the students of class VIII were included in the sample.
262 students have been selected from urban area. Multistage random sampling
method has been applied for selecting sample from rural area. Out of total eight
tehsils of Allahabad district, three tehsils i.e. Phulpur, Handia and Karchhana were
124 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

selected randomly for the data collection. From each tehsil, one block i.e. Phulpur,
Dhanupur and Chaka has been selected randomly and six schools were selected
randomly from each block and all the students of class VIII were included in the
sample. 342 students have been selected from rural area. Total 604 (262
urban=342 rural) students have been included in the present study.For measuring
learning stress "Learning Stress Inventory developed by Mishra has been used.
For measuring adjustment "Adjustment Inventory for school students" developed
by A.K.P. Sinha and R.P. Singh has been used. For measuring mental health
"Mental Health Battery" developed by Arun Kumar Singh and Alpana Sen Gupta
has been used. For measuring achievement in Mathematics and Science
achievement test developed by researcher herself has been used. The collected data
was analyzed with the help of t-test and Pearson’s co-efficient of correlation.

Major Findings :
• Learning stress was found to be negatively related to achievement in
Mathematics
• Learning stress was found to be negatively related to achievement in Science.
• Adjustment was found to be positively related to achievement in Mathematics.
• Adjustment was found to be positively related to achievement in Science.
• Mental health was found to be positively related to achievement in
Mathematics.
• Mental health was found to be positively related to achievement in Science.
• High and low learning stress groups of students were found significantly
different on achievement in Mathematics.
• High and low learning stress groups of students were found significantly
different on achievement in Science.
• High and low adjustment groups of students were found significantly different
on achievement in Mathematics.
• High and low adjustment groups of students were found significantly different
on achievement in Science.
• High and low mental health groups of students were found significantly
different on achievement in Mathematics.
• High and low mental health groups of students were found significantly
different on achievement in Science.
 |125

Stress, Teaching Aptitude and Emotional

Intelligence as Predictors of Mental Health
among B.Ed. Students.
Swangi

Objectives :

1. To study the relationship between stress and mental health among B.Ed.
students.

2. To study the relationship between teaching aptitude and mental health among
B.Ed. students.

3. To study the relationship between emotional intelligence and mental health

among B.Ed. students.

4. To compare mental health of B.Ed. students with high, moderate and low
levels of stress.

5. To compare mental health of B.Ed. students with high, moderate and low
teaching aptitude. To compare mental health of B.Ed. students with high,
moderate and low emotional intelligence.

6. To find out the extent to which stress, teaching aptitude and emotional
intelligence predict mental health among B.Ed. students.

Methodology : In this study causal comparative and correlation type survey

method of descriptive research have been used. The population of the study
comprises of the student-teachers enrolled in B.Ed. course of colleges and
Universities located in Allahabad and Varanasi cities. Cluster sampling technique
was adopted to select 602 B.Ed. students as sample subjects. The independent
variables of the study are stress, teaching aptitude and emotional intelligence and
mental health is the dependent variable. Mental Health Inventory constructed by
K.S. Misra and Nidhi Srivastava and adapted by the researcher, Stress Scale for
Student-teachers and Test of Emotional Intelligence both constructed by K.S.
Misra and Teaching Aptitude Test constructed by Jai Prakash and R.P. Srivastava
were used for the collection of relevant data. Stepwise multiple regression, Product
moment coefficients of correlation, F-ratios, t-ratios have been used for the
analysis of data.
126 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Major Findings -

• Female B.Ed. students are better on mental health, emotional intelligence and
teaching aptitude than male B.Ed. students.

• Stress is negatively related to overall mental health among male B.Ed. students
while for female B.Ed. students' overall mental health is not related to stress.

• Emotional intelligence is positively related to overall mental health and its

seven dimensions among male and female B.Ed. students.

• Teaching aptitude is positively related to overall mental health and its seven
dimensions among male and female B.Ed. students.

• Male B.Ed. students with low, moderate and high stress do not differ on their
overall mental health and its seven dimensions whereas female B.Ed. students
with low stress are better than female B.Ed. students with moderate stress on
overall mental health.

• Male and female B.Ed. students with high emotional intelligence are better
than male and female B.Ed. students with low or moderate emotional
intelligence on overall mental health as well as its seven dimensions.

• Male and female B.Ed. students with high teaching aptitude are better than
male and female B.Ed. students with low or moderate teaching aptitude on
overall mental health as well as its seven dimensions.

• Teaching aptitude and emotional intelligence emerged as the best predictors of

overall mental health as well as social, emotional, physiological, life-attitude
dimensions of mental health among male and female B.Ed. students.

• Teaching aptitude, emotional intelligence and stress emerged as the best

predictors of self-esteem dimensions of mental health among male and female
B.Ed. students.

• Emotional intelligence, teaching aptitude and stress emerged as the best

predictors of cognitive and self-efficacy dimensions of mental health among
female B.Ed. students.
 |127

A Study of Occupational Stress and Job

Involvement in Relation to Professional
Commitment among Teachers Serving in Aided
and Self-financed Colleges.
Vandana Yadav

Objectives :
1. To study the relationship between occupational stress and professional
commitment among teachers serving in aided degree colleges.
2. To study the relationship between occupational stress and professional
commitment among teachers serving in self-financed degree colleges.
3. To study the relationship between job involvement and professional
commitment among teachers serving in aided degree colleges.
4. To study the relationship between job involvement and professional
commitment among teachers serving in self-financed degree colleges.
5. To study the relationship between occupational stress and job involvement
among teachers serving in aided degree colleges.
6. To study the relationship between occupational stress and job involvement
among teachers serving in self-financed degree colleges.
7. To compare the occupational stress among teachers serving in aided and self-
financed degree colleges.
8. To compare the job involvement among teachers serving in aided and self-
financed degree colleges.
9. To compare the professional commitment among teachers serving in aided and
self-financed degree colleges.
10. To compare the professional commitment of aided degree college teachers
having high, moderate and low occupational stress.
11. To compare the professional commitment of self-financed degree college
teachers having high, moderate and low occupational stress.
12. To compare the professional commitment of aided degree college teachers
having high, moderate and low job involvement.
128 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

13. To compare the professional commitment of self-financed degree college

teachers having high, moderate and low job involvement.
Methodology : In the present study descriptive method of the research was used.
The population of the present study comprised of all male and female degree
college teachers serving in aided and self-financed colleges in KAVAL towns of
Uttar Pradesh. The investigator selected three KAVAL towns; they were Kanpur,
Agra and Lucknow. By using the random sampling, investigator selected 7 aided
and 7 self-financed colleges affiliated with Kanpur, Agra and Lucknow
Universities. Thus 21 aided and 21 self-financed colleges were selected. Ten
teachers were randomly selected from each college. The final sample consisted of
420 teachers. The multistage stratified sampling method has been employed for the
study. To analyze the raw scores of occupational stress, job involvement and
professional commitment Product moment coefficients of correlation, t-ratio and
one way ANOVA were used. Teacher’s Stress Scale constructed by Misra (2014),
Job Involvement Scale constructed by Singh (1984) and Professional Commitment
Scale For Teachers constructed by Kaur, Ranu & Brar (2011) were used as tools
for data collection.
Major Findings :
• Occupational stress was not found to be significantly related with the
professional commitment of teachers, science and arts teachers, male and
female teachers of aided degree colleges.
• Occupational stress was found to be significantly and positively related with
the professional commitment of teachers and science teacher of self-financed
degree colleges. With regard to male and female teachers and arts teachers of
self-financed degree colleges occupational stress was not found to be
significantly related with the professional commitment.
• Job involvement was not found to be significantly related with the professional
commitment of teachers, male and female teachers, science and arts teachers of
aided degree colleges.
• Job involvement was not found to be significantly related with the professional
commitment of male teachers, arts and science teachers of self-financed degree
colleges. While, job involvement of female teachers of self-financed degree
colleges was found to be significantly and positively related with the
professional commitment.
• Occupational stress was found to be negatively related with the job
involvement of teachers, male and science teachers of aided degree colleges.
 |129

But, in case of Female and arts teachers of aided degree colleges, occupational
stress was not found to be significantly related with the job involvement.
• Occupational stress was found to be negatively related with the job
involvement of teachers, male and female and arts teachers of self-financed
degree colleges. While science teachers of self-financed degree colleges was
not found to be significantly related with the job involvement.
• As compared to teachers of self-financed degree colleges, teachers, male and
female teachers, science and arts teachers of aided degree college have more
occupational stress.
• As compared to teachers of self-financed degree colleges, teachers, male and
female teachers and arts and science teachers of aided degree colleges have
more job involvement.
• As compared to teachers of self-financed degree colleges, teachers, male and
female teachers, science and arts of aided degree college have more
professional commitment.
• As compared to aided degree colleges, teachers with low occupational stress,
teachers with moderate or high occupational stress had high professional
commitment. While aided degree college male and female teachers, science
and arts teachers with low, moderate or high occupational stress did not differ
significantly from one another on professional commitment.
• Self-financed degree college teachers, male and female teachers and science
and arts teachers with low, moderate or high occupational stress did not differ
significantly from one another on professional commitment.
• Aided degree college teachers, male and female teachers and science and arts
teachers with low, moderate or high job involvement did not differ
significantly from one another on professional commitment.
• Self-financed degree college teachers, female teachers and science and arts
teachers with low, moderate or high job involvement did not differ
significantly from one another on professional commitment. while male
teachers with low job involvement, male teachers with high job involvement
had high professional commitment
130 | Research and Studies : A Journal of Education

Effectiveness of Computer Based and Paper –

Pencil Tests at Intermediate Stage
Ananya Singh

Objectives :

1. To study the correlation of achievement scores of intermediate students in

biology administered through PPT and CBT.

2. To study the association of the perceptions of intermediate teachers regarding

PPT and CBT with respect to their gender, subject background and their
computer efficiency level.

3. To study the association of the perceptions of intermediate students regarding

PPT and CBT with respect to their gender, subject background and their
computer efficiency level.

Methodology : In this study, descriptive survey method was used. For sampling,
purposive techniques were used along with two tools of perception tool regarding
computer-based test and a standardized test for 11th class based on NCERT biology
book. These test were prepared in parallel mode for paper-pencil and computer-
based test separately.

Major Findings :

• Overall achievement score of the students are giving significant correlation

through these two modes so the conventional method i.e. paper pencil method
may be substituted by the new one, computer based test method. Further it can
also be inferred that mode of presentation of stimulus on students has no effect
on their responses and they will performed equally.

• Achievement score of the students at the knowledge, comprehension and

application domain are giving significant correlation through both of these
modes therefore it can be said that both of these two test methods have same
effect on the achievement score of students in the biology subject when rest
other factors remains the same

• Further, the perception of school stakeholders, consisting of teachers and

students inferred that computer based test is effective to the paper pencil test in
enabling the immense set of question paper set, in its accessibility, giving real
 |131

time quick results, disabled students friendly, needed less support staff,
providing extra time during, efficient test and users adaptive.

• Perception of stakeholders depicted that computer-based test is equally

effective in future saving, enabling full security and its cost effectiveness.