Implementation Of The Special Education Programme (Learning Disabilities) In Penang: An Evaluation From Special Education Teachers’ And Programme Coordinators’ Perspectives
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Date
2011-01
Authors
Lee, Seoh Choon
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
This study evaluates the special education programme for students with learning disabilities in Penang in three main domains: (a) school administrative policy in planning and implementation, teachers’ training and support, and resources available for teaching/learning, (b) special education delivery system in planning and collaboration for teaching, instructional strategies and learning activities, application of teaching/learning resources, student evaluation system/process and classroom management, and (c) program outcome in term of students’ participation, progress/improvement and achievement.
This study uses an adapted CIPP Model of Evaluation (Stufflebeam et al., 1971) in a sequential and integrated design with the help of a matrix suggested by Singh (2004). It uses various methods of data collection. The research instruments used are survey-questionnaire, an adapted survey to evaluate teaching competency (Guerin & Maier, 1983), interviews, non-participatory observations and document review analysis.
The sample of the study involves 120 respondents (special education teachers) from the questionnaires survey, 75 samples of survey to evaluate teaching competency carried out by 25 school administrators/programme coordinators, 15 participants in semi-structured interviews (5 program coordinators and 10 special teachers). This study also covers 20 non-participatory observations in three primary schools and two secondary schools. As a way of triangulating data, documents/records collected from 25 schools in the programme were examined to support the findings from the study.
Quantitative data of this study is analyzed by using SPSS version 14 to obtain descriptive statistics (Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients, percentages, means and standard deviations). Qualitative data of this study is analyzed by adapting the methods suggested by Miles and Huberman (1984) and Trochim (2000). Data from the interviews with the different category of respondents and data from the observations and document reviews, and field notes, together with the data from the questionnaires, were triangulated and categorized into congruent themes that are summarized in the findings of the study.
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Keywords
The special education programme for students , with learning disabilities in Penang