Project Title: A critical review and analysis of the Integrated Curriculum with particular reference to Science and Technology in Pre-service Primary Teacher Education Programme in New Zealand with the aim of designing a suitable programme in the Environment Related Activities Curriculum for Pre-service Primary Teacher Education Programmes in Sri Lanka.
Researcher Introduction
This letter is intended to provide a brief introduction to my research project and the implementation procedures.
After having been a Teacher Educator for more than 14 years at the National Institute of Education, Sri Lanka, I (Kalyani Wijayawardana, the researcher) am currently undertaking a Doctor of Education Degree at the College of Education, Massey University.
As part of undertake (researcher) Doctoral Degree I (researcher) am engaged in a research project to do a critical review and analysis of the 210.210 Integrated Curriculum: Science and Technology paper in the Pre-service Teacher Education programme conducted by the College of Education, Massey University with special attention to design of a suitable programme in Environment Related Activities Curriculum for pre-service Teacher Education in Sri Lanka.
In this connection I (researcher) intend to conduct questionnaire survey and focus group interviews (audio recording only) of the students (both Internal and Extramural) in the paper 210.210 Integrated Curriculum: Science and Technology and academic staff members involved in design and delivery of the paper (210.210 Integrated Curriculum: Science and Technology).
All the data collected in this regard will be anonymous and will be kept confidential. Results of the data analysis will be used only for this research and any other outcome such as conference presentations and publications related to this research.
Contact details of the Researcher: Kalyani Wijayawardana
31B, Oswald Crescent, Newlands, Wellington, New Zealand.
Tel.No. +64 4 478 3653
Email: [email protected]
Supervisor:
Dr. Madhumita Bhattacharya,
Department of Science, Technology and Mathematics Education Massey University College of Education,
Hokowitu Campus, Private Bag 11222 Palmerston North. New Zealand. Tel. +64 6 356 9099 ex 8875 [email protected]
In the proposed study researcher intends to carry out a a critical review and analysis of the ongoing paper 210.210 Integrated Curriculum: Science and Technology based on the study material (study guide, CDROM and readings), New Zealand curriculum documents (science and technology), interviews of the academic staff involved in the design and delivery of the paper 210.210, interviews of present and past students (both Extramural and Internal) of paper 210.210 and the responses to the questionnaire by the present students (both Extramural and Internal) in paper 210.210. with a view to design and develop a suitable programme in Environment Related Activities Curriculum for Pre- Service Teacher Education in Sri Lanka.
Participant Recruitment Recruitment method
I (Kalyani Wijayawardana, researcher) would like to recruit four academic staff involved in the design and delivery of the 210.210 Integrated Curriculum: Science and Technology paper from College of Education, Massey University
Eight students (four students each from Extramural and from Internal classes) studying in 210.210 Integrated Curriculum: Science and Technology paper in Semester I 2005 based on voluntary participation of the students.
Four students who have already graduated from the course and have taken the 210.210 Integrated Curriculum: Science and Technology paper in the year 2004.
Number of Participants:
Six academic staff from College of Education (All together 6)
Eight students (four students each from Extramural and Internal classes) from College of Education, Massey University (All together 8 student teachers)
Four ex-students, who have graduated from the Pre-service Teacher Education Programme (where 210.210 Integrated Curriculum: Science and Technology is a compulsory paper in the 3rd year of the teacher education programme), College of Education, Massey University in 2004.
Reason for this number:
Manageable within the requirement for Ed.D in terms of time and resources available.
There is no risk of harm to the participants involved in this study because the researcher is doing a critical review on the design and implementation of the 210.210 Integrated Curriculum: Science and Technology paper in the Pre- service Primary Teacher Education Programme at the College of Education, Massey University and the researcher is not involved in any way in the design and implementation of the 210.210 Integrated Curriculum: Science and Technology paper in the Pre-service Primary Teacher Education Programme at the College of Education, Massey University.
Project Procedures
The main aim of the research is to design and develop a suitable programme for Sri Lanka on the basis of a critical review of the design, implementation and effectiveness of the paper 210.210 Integrated Curriculum: Science and Technology in the Pre-service Primary Teacher Education Programme at the College of Education, Massey University, New Zealand.
In this regard the researcher will review the study material (study guide and readings) and the New Zealand curriculum documents (Science, Technology and Social Studies).
Researcher will conduct interviews of the academic staff (selected on the basis of voluntary participation) involved in the design and implementation of the paper 21.210. This will be followed by a questionnaire survey for the students (both Extramural and Internal) to find out the specific design and features and implementation strategies of the paper 210.210 and interviews with students (selected on the basis of voluntary participation).
Finally, the researcher will design a programme for Environment Related Activities curriculum for pre-service teacher education, Sri Lanka
Participant Involvement
Theresearcher would like to interview four academic staff from the College of Education, Massey University, four student teachers from each from Extramural and Internal students enrolled in the paper 210.210 Integrated Curriculum: Science and Technology in Semester I 2005 in the Pre-service Primary Teacher Education Programme and four student teachers who graduated from the Pre-service Primary Teacher Education Programme in 2004.
Further, the researcher will distribute a questionnaire among the students (Internal and Extramural) enrolled in paper 210.210 to gather information from a larger sample on the design and implementation of the paper.
Participant’s Rights
Participants are under no obligation to accept this invitation. If you decide to participate you have the right to:
Decline to answer any particular question
Withdraw from the study
Ask any questions about the study at any time during participation
Provide information on the understanding that your name will not be used unless you give permission to the researcher
Be given access to a summary of the project findings when it is concluded
Support processes
If you have any concerns about details of the research procedure, please contact my Supervisor, Dr. Madhumita Bhattacharya, College of Education Massey University.
Project contact
If you have any concerns about the conduct of the research, please contact me (researcher, Kalyani Wijayawardana) or my supervisor Dr. Madhumita Bhattacharya.
If you agree to participate in this research study please fill the consent forms and use the enclosed envelope to return it to me by 15 October, 2005.
The success of this study depends very much on your willing cooperation and support.
Thank you.
Kalyani Wijayawardana (Researcher)
This project has been evaluated by peer review and judged to be low risk. Consequently, it has not been reviewed by one of the University’s Human Ethics Committees. The researcher named above is responsible for the ethical conduct of this research.
If you have any concerns about the conduct of this research that you wish to raise with someone other than the researcher, please contact Professor Sylvia
V Rumball, Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor (Ethics & Equity), Telephone 0064 6 350 5249,