1st Subject Based School visit on 6th March

We had our first History subject based meeting yesterday. I was anxious before the meeting as there were many things grappling around in my head which I couldn't really link. There were so many issues that our SCI is facing and many loose ends that needs to be tied up...

The issues that we have discussed and have somewhat resolved:

1. Be more selective in choosing our learner's profile. As our intended target group is the academically weak pupils with NO study skills, then we will need to choose selectively. If possible, we might need to get external vendors to conduct a diagnostic profiling of our Sec 2 pupils.
2. Is there a generic set of study skills for all pupils? Not really, so we will be focusing more on mind-mapping skills, critical reading and memorising techniques.
3. We will be using Assessment for Learning in order to assess pupils on their learning through the use of the skills. Hence, rubrics will need to be created on different skills, so that pupils can gain feedback and improve on a particular study skill.
4. The teachers involved in the SCI will be undergoing a course on mind-mapping before training the pupils. We will need to get a vendor to train teachers on how to impart the skills effectively to the pupils.
5. The PETALS survey will be done by all Sec 2E pupils next Thursday. This is because we will not know the exact number of pupils who will be in our experimental group. After the numbers are confirmed, we will be selecting only the survey results of the involved pupils to be part of the study.
6. The tests conducted after the training need not be the same test conducted before the training. It can be a similar test as an exact test will gather results that could be based on memory recall and not due to the specific study skill.

My concerns:

1. What are we measuring besides pupils academic performance? Are we measuring engagement as well?
2. What are our research methods? Is is only quantitative? Is there a need to conduct a qualitative survey as well? If qualitative, then what kind of questions must be crafted out?

Anyway, I felt relieved after the meeting because I feel that we did manage to settle ALOT of things. I appreciate the fact that the whole team has been supportive and are open to feedback and learning. Now, I definitely have a clearer picture of the SCI in my head and Im glad that the ideas that were loosely hanging is now somewhat secured together. The next step will be to focus on the data collection and the implementation part. Now, we are moving somewhere!