HILTON ROSE HALL, MONTEGO BAY WEDNESDAY APRIL 23,2014 DR KNOLA OLIPHANT, PHD. BEST PRACTICES IN TEACHER EDUCATION 5/19/2015 Dr.Knola Oliphant 1 Jamaica

HILTON ROSE HALL, MONTEGO BAY

WEDNESDAY APRIL 23,2014

DR KNOLA OLIPHANT, PHD.

BEST PRACTICES IN TEACHER EDUCATION

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Jamaica Teachers’ AssociationInternational Best Practices in Education Conference 2014

Topic

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Integrating Microsoft Word Advanced

Formatting Features with APA to Prepare

Academic Papers

at the Tertiary Level

Definition of Terms


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APA:

APA is the publication manual by the American Psychological

Association that provides style rules, guidelines, and new

standards in publishing ,and new practices in information

dissemination. (APA,2000).

Microsoft Word


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Microsoft Word:

Microsoft Word is a full-featured word processing

programme for Windows that contains desktop

publishing capabilities. Word files are used as the

format for sending text documents. (PC Enclopedia

2000).

APA style

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APA style:

APA style is a documentary style for research papers and

all aspects of scholarly writings.(ERIC 2012)

Background to the Study


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1. The year three student teachers under study were

introduced to APA style during their second year.

2. The duration of the period of training for student

teachers is four years.

3. Information technology is currently not a compulsory

subject in most high schools.

Background to the Study


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4.There is the generational differences in the tertiary

classrooms.

5. Lecturers assume that student teachers entering tertiary

institutions have experience with computer technology.

6. Student teachers experience challenges mastering routine

exercises involving APA style.

Statement of the Problem


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1. Curricula of Teachers Colleges of Jamaica lacks explicit

teaching of APA style.

2. Student teachers experience problem determining how

to translate APA style into the commands necessary to

format word processing documents.

3. Student teachers are not able to ‘make” the computer

format pages in APA style.

Triangulation Matrix Research Questions


9 1.To what extent do Data Source 1 Data source 2 Data source 3

the Teachers’ Colleges of Jamaica curricula include Documents Interviews with explicit teaching of APA? IT teachers 2. How do student teachers perceive and understand Focus group Journaling Open the reasons for poor citation Interview Questionnaire style and inattention to accuracy ?

3. What would a curriculum Lecture programme for student Demonstration Question and teachers that include Answer Worksheets Microsoft Word Advanced Session formatting features look like?

Review of Literature:Theoretical

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1. Constructivism (Brookfield, 1995)

2. Symbolic Interaction (Blumer,1969), Denzin (1987),and

Prus (1969).

3. American Pragmatism (Brookfield (1997)

Review of Literature: Empirical

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Criteria for selecting participants

1. Participation in year group sessions on APA conducted

during year 1 and year 2.

2. Presently pursuing the course Introduction to

Educational Research Methods, in year3 semester1.

3. Differences in specialization and gender.

Review of Literature: Empirical


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1. Chism and Shrinika (2012):Task performance analysis

2. Gelfand and Walker (1990) :Workbooks and guides to

simplify the Publication Manual.

3.Smith (1992):Guide to use with Microsoft Word.

4. Niles and Associates (1988): Computer programme

EndNote to create computer formatted references in word

perfect.

Methodology

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Research Tradition: Qualitative Research Type: Qualitative

Interpretive

Research

Sampling: Purposeful

Methodology


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Sample

5 students teachers

A. Enrolled at a teacher training institution.

B. All are in their third year of training.

C. Currently pursing The Introduction to Educational

Research Methods course.

Study site: A teacher training institution in Central Jamaica

Analysis of Data


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Procedure

1. Read and reread the interview transcripts and

notes.

2. Identified patterns in the data

3. Use participants words to develop themes

Analysis of Data


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4. Choose themes that answered research questions

5. Examined themes for relationships and patterns

6. Reviewed database to organize information in study

Findings Research Question 1


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1. The Teachers Colleges of Jamaica curricula reflected a

lack in the explicit teaching of APA in all its courses.

2. There is no Student Handbook stipulating guidelines and

mechanics of APA format for writing academic papers.

Findings: Research question 2


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1. Student teachers perceptions of APA –advanced

formatting features revealed

1. personal views

2. critical questioning

2. Their understanding of the mechanics of APA format was

provided through opportunities to practice page

formatting mechanics

Findings: Research Question 3


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Model for Learning APA Advanced Formatting Features

1. Curriculum Guide2. Handbook3. Student Workbook and Training Guide4. Training Model5. Video reviews of training episodes6 Performance results

Recommendations


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1. Teachers Colleges of Jamaica training institutions

should make explicit in their curricula a one (1)

Credit course to undertaken by all year 1 students

during Orientation week.

Recommendations


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2. College administrators as instructional leaders

should facilitate the process by planning staff

development workshops and seminars on APA

standards.

Recommendations for Further Research


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1. Colleges should do Content Analysis of student

teachers reflective journals about their APA style

experiences.

2. Another study could examine the learning patterns

of students as they use worksheets.

Research Presentation

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Jamaica Teachers’ Association International Education Conference 2014 Hilton Rose Hall, Montego Bay,St. James

Wednesday April 23,2014

Dr. Knola Oliphant, PhD.Presenter

Dr. Knola Oliphant