Jamaica Teachers’ Association
International Best Practices in
Education Conference 2014
1
H I LT O N R O S E H A L L , M O N T E G O B A Y
W E D N E S D AY A P R I L 2 3 , 2 0 1 4
D R K N O L A O L I P H A N T, P H D .
BEST PRACTICES IN TEACHER EDUCATION
Dr.Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
Topic
2
Integrating Microsoft Word Advanced Formatting
Features with APA to Prepare Academic Papers
at the Tertiary Level
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
Definition of Terms
3
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).
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
Microsoft Word
4
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).
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
APA style
5
APA style:
APA style is a documentary style for research papers and
all aspects of scholarly writings.(ERIC 2012)
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
Background to the Study
6
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.
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
Background to the Study
7
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.
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
Statement of the Problem
8
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.
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
Triangulation Matrix
Research Questions
1.To what
9
extent do
Data Source 1
the Teachers’ Colleges
of Jamaica curricula include
explicit teaching of APA?
Documents
2. How do student teachers
perceive and understand
the reasons for poor citation
style and inattention to
accuracy ?
3. What would a curriculum
programme for student
teachers that include
Microsoft Word Advanced
formatting features look like?
Dr. Knola Oliphant
Focus group
Interview
Lecture
Demonstration
Data source 2
Data source 3
Interviews with
IT teachers
Journaling
Question and
Answer
Session
Open
Questionnaire
Worksheets
4/9/2015
Review of Literature:Theoretical
10
1. Constructivism (Brookfield, 1995)
2. Symbolic Interaction (Blumer,1969), Denzin (1987),and
Prus (1969).
3. American Pragmatism (Brookfield (1997)
Dr.Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
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.
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
Review of Literature: Empirical
12
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.
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
Methodology
13
Research Tradition:
Qualitative
Research Type:
Qualitative Interpretive
Research
Sampling:
Purposeful
4/9/2015
Methodology
14
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
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
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
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
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
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
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.
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
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
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
Findings: Research Question 3
19
Model for Learning APA Advanced Formatting
Features
1. Curriculum Guide
2. Handbook
3. Student Workbook and Training Guide
4. Training Model
5. Video reviews of training episodes
6 Performance results
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
Recommendations
20
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.
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
Recommendations
21
2. College administrators as instructional leaders
should facilitate the process by planning staff
development workshops and seminars on APA
standards.
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
Recommendations for Further Research
22
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.
Dr. Knola Oliphant
4/9/2015
Research Presentation
23
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
4/9/2015