Can I evaluate the effectiveness of classroom lessons and activities based on student perception and is this perception connected to certain student characteristics such as age, gender, nationality and level of education?

Debra Blaine, RIRAL

return to Debra Blaine's report narrative

TABLES : What is important in the classroom?

B 15 What is important in the classroom?

I think grammar is very important and should be taught at the beginning of each lesson.

    yes %   no %
AGE 20-36 10 100%   0 0%
  44-69 8 89%   1 11%
             
SEX male 5 83%   1 17%
  female 13 100%   0 0%
           
YEARS of EDUCATION 4-8 8 89%   1 11%
  9-14 10 100%   0 0%

The majority of students answered yes to this question. Many students don't like surprises. They don't have the confidence or enough past academic experience to feel comfortable "discovering" the grammar.

B 16 What is important in the classroom?

I think grammar is very important and should be taught anytime during the lesson.

    yes %   no %
AGE 20-36 1 10%   9 90%
  44-69 6 67%   3 33%
             
SEX male 3 50%   3 50%
  female 4 31%   9 69%
             
YEARS of EDUCATION 4-8 6 67%   3 33%
  9-14 1 10%   9 90%

90% of the younger students answered no while 67% of older students answered yes.

Men felt 50-50 about this while 69% of women did not agree.

Those with less education answered yes while those with more education answered no.

B 17 What is important in the classroom?

I think lifeskills English (banking, jobs, the doctor, forms, supermarket) is more important than formal English.

    yes %   no %
AGE 20-36 6 60%   4 40%
  44-69 7 78%   2 22%
             
SEX male 2 33%   4 67%
  female 11 85%   2 15%
             
YEARS of EDUCATION 4-8 7 78%   2 22%
  9-14 6 60%   4 40%

Both age groups and levels of education agreed that this was true, but women answered yes 85% and men answered no 67%.

As seen in Goals A6, women may take more of a role in communicating with the services in their communities. Learning how to do this is important for them and their families.

B 18 What is important in the classroom?

I think formal English (grammar, writing, spelling) is more important than life skills English.

    yes %   no %
AGE 20-36 5 50%   5 50%
  44-69 3 33%   6 67%
             
SEX male 4 67%   2 33%
  female 4 31%   9 69%
             
YEARS of EDUCATION 4-8 3 33%   6 67%
  9-14 5 50%   5 50%

Older students felt that formal English lessons were not more important. They felt that they needed English for survival, not academics.

Interestingly, male students and those with more education felt that formal English was more important. These students may have future goals that include higher education or specific job training.

B 19 What is important in the classroom?

I think listening and speaking are more important than reading and writing.

    yes %   no %
AGE 20-36 8 80%   2 20%
  44-69 7 78%   2 22%
             
SEX male 5 83%   1 17%
  female 10 77%   3 23%
             
YEARS of EDUCATION 4-8 7 78%   2 22%
  9-14 8 80%   2 20%

All students in all groups had a high percentage of yes answers here.

Considering how important these skills are, it is easy to understand their views.

B 20 What is important in the classroom?

I think reading and writing are more important than listening and speaking.

    yes %   no %
AGE 20-36 1 10%   9 90%
  44-69 5 56%   4 44%
             
SEX male 3 50%   3 50%
  female 3 23%   10 77%
             
YEARS of EDUCATION 4-8 5 56%   4 44%
  9-14 1 10%   9 90%

Students that are more social (younger students and women) may feel that this is less important in their daily lives.

B 21What is important in the classroom?

I think the teacher should correct every mistake (writing, pronunciation, grammar).

    yes %   no %
AGE 20-36 9 90%   1 10%
  44-69 7 78%   2 22%
             
SEX male 6 100%   0 0%
  female 10 77%   3 23%
             
YEARS of EDUCATION 4-8 7 78%   2 22%
  9-14 9 90%   2 20%

All students answered yes in large numbers to this question.

Considering I don't correct every mistake, this could be their way of telling me I should.

B 22 What is important in the classroom?

I think only the teacher should correct mistakes.

    yes %   no %
AGE 20-36 6 60%   4 40%
  44-69 7 78%   2 22%
             
SEX male 3 50%   3 50%
  female 10 77%   3 23%
             
YEARS of EDUCATION 4-8 7 78%   2 22%
  9-14 6 60%   4 40%

The students' responses in the age and education categories gave high percentage to yes answers. In the gender category, the women also answered yes a majority of the time, but the men's responses were half and half.

Maybe the men feel uncomfortable having other students correct them. Yet, in the class, the students are always helping each other and there never seems to be a problem.

B 23 What is important in the classroom?

I think the teacher should know about my culture and language.

    yes %   no %
AGE 20-36 8 80%   2 20%
  44-69 7 78%   2 22%
             
SEX male 5 83%   1 17%
  female 10 77%   3 23%
             
YEARS of EDUCATION 4-8 8 89%   1 11%
  9-14 7 70%   3 30%

All groups believed that this was true.

B 24 What is important in the classroom?

I think it's ok for the class to be relaxed and fun.

    yes %   no %
AGE 20-36 8 80%   2 20%
  44-69 8 89%   1 11%
             
SEX male 5 83%   1 17%
  female 11 85%   2 15%
             
YEARS of EDUCATION 4-8 9 100%   0 0%
  9-14 7 70%   3 30%

The majority of students answeredyes to this question.

I did not include nationality in this analysis, however, there were three exceptions to this majority. The two Chinese students and one Russian student answered no to this question. These three students have the most education and may have very strong feelings that education is serious and doesn't need to be fun. However, they told me that they enjoyed the class.

7/24 cumulative tables to appear soon