Wednesday, April 18, 2012

The Role of Educational Research
The research undertaken in educational profession is more than a set of a skills and way of thinking: examining critically the various aspect of your day to day professional work; understanding and formulating, guiding principle that governs a particular procedure; and developing and testing new theory for the enhancement of your practices. “It is a habit of questioning what you do and systematic examination of the observed information to find answer, with the view to instituting appropriate changes for more effective professional services” Kumar, R. (2005). The educational research looks into the matter such as teaching, learning, infrastructure, environment, teachers, students and management within the context of education system. The research in education has been playing many vital role out of which three most important are; add to our knowledge, improve the practices and inform policy debate.
It is difficult for many of the researchers to locate exact sources of information and find authentic data to write literature review.  I am not being reckless to this point either, but thorough understanding of the research finding, is biggest challenges to the researcher, they needs to devote greater portion of time, effort and money looking for valid details from multi resources. Nonetheless “the research add to our knowledge, it need innumerable finding, careful study and in depth exploration on the issues. In the process we need to locate many of the resources like library, internet, interviewing etc… to accumulate data. As a result of encountering many information and series of inner learning through different resources, expand the knowledge of researcher as well as those concern, through presentation, conference etc… on top of that the knowledge on the aspect of our day to day professional work increases its boundary” (Creswell, 2009.). Research can allow us to extend what we know in ways we never conceived. It gives us wide hope and area to explore on new things practically and manually. Research address gaps in knowledge, it can address areas in which little is known, like perhaps the effects of online versus traditional classroom learning.
The influence of research into practicality should undergo long process. It needs lots of sacrifices and hard work to really influence and gains the attention of policy maker and administration. The researchers need to produce valid testimony and legitimate explanation to pursue the authority which would bring beneficiary in the right place, through policies. To do that, are the complications, when researcher cannot cover the depth, breath and length of the problems, as a result they are questioned and even possibly reject their proposal. But on the other side,  the research improves practices and in this sentences I would understand in two ways, research would improve the older practices with new practices and researcher improve the practices over researching skills and methods. Research is done with the problem being raised at high. The problem can be very much related within the context of the education environment. To resolve, researcher come up with multi skills and method to proof necessary evidence and institute appropriate changes for more effective services. Through the data analysis and interpretation, ingredient with necessary reason and proof, I belief they can entice greater influences in improving the earlier practice, which have been monotonous and ineffective, meaning they act as a test to verify previous findings and accordingly illustrate the proposed solution. Since action research start with every day experience and is concern with the development of living knowledge in many ways the process of enquiry is important as specific outcome. Good action research emerges over time in an individual develop skills of inquiry and communities of enquiry develop within community of practices. Research is more than a set of skill, it demand thinking, analyzing, understanding and formulating. It is designed to solve particular existing problems so there is a much larger audience eager to support research that is likely to be profitable or solve problems of immediate concern.  We also must understand how research impacts our decision making.  Most people make decisions without gathered information to back them up.  Only few do.  The problem is most people aren't patient enough to put in the effort.  Research requires time, effort, and sometimes money to have the evidence you need to make a sound decision that's why many avoid it.  The research you do and evidence you gathered will have impact on your future. For that researcher must be equipped with all essential skill and tools to go about successful and productive research.
As the greater authority holds in the hand of policy maker, the researcher should target to convince them and have their faith in our proposal. In doing so, the research base and conclusion needs to be very strong and influential indeed, where upon it is another challenge for researcher. Despite this difficulty, researchers inform policy, “if the research piece is advertised to higher level, with all the appropriate reasons, prove and argument, research in turn will get political commitment and support” (Creswell, 2009.). It adds an important perspective for different learning types and helps revise theory and practice to reflect different student’s needs. With authority in their palm, they raise their voice to debate on the issue. As product of debate and discussion the problem is brought down to the solution. So “Political can influence the practice” by rephrasing, reshaping, reformulating the policy and in turn their policy will influence the practices. These are only a few of the many reasons research is important, particularly to educators. In an increasingly data-driven society, it is vital that educators know how to locate, find, and interpret research on their own. Further, educators need to be able to conduct quality research to examine issues within their own contexts.
Other important roles of educational research, would be obviously understood through the answer for the question why, collectively, do we perform educational research? At first glance the answers seem clear. We want to learn about effective programs and teaching methods to help students learn. We want to discover relationships between variables in educational settings to plan interventions. We want to understand cultural contexts of schools to create schools that embody justice and reduce prejudice and inequality to children.
From the individual researcher’s perspective we investigate topics about which we are curious or passionate; as well, we do research because it is an integral part of the academic role and a central factor in academic promotion. We may sometimes be paid or co-opted to do research in a setting that we did not choose out of personal-professional interest. Individually and collectively, we do educational research as part of a quest for meaning and necessary solution for the problem. Research also allows you to pursue your interests, to learn something new, to hone your problem-solving skills and to challenge yourself in new ways. Working on a faculty-initiated research project gives you the opportunity work closely with a mentor–a faculty member or other experienced researcher.
In conclusion research is very vital to our everyday decision making. Research Papers in Education is not only a vital source of pertinent information for educational researchers, but also required reading for educational policy-makers and planners. It arms you from wrong information and save time and money.  It is important to your success as you take on life's challenges and career decisions making. The research plays vital role in adding, to our knowledge through innumerable finding, careful study and in depth exploration on the issues. It improves older practices with the new practices and researcher improves the practices over researching skills and methods too. On top of that, a researcher informs policy, once research piece is advertised to higher level, with all the appropriate reasons, prove and argument. So the research has become indispensable part, to cater the positive changes in educational field.
 

Reference
Biddix, Patrick,  J. (n.d.). What is Educational Research? Retrieved on 11th April, 2012 from, http://researchrundowns.wordpress.com/intro/whatisedresearch/
Creswell, John, W. (2009, 3rd ed.). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed       methods approach. SAGE Publication ltd: California.
Kumar. (2011). Research Methodology: A Step By Step Guide for Beginners. Retrieved on 11th April, 2012 from, http://books.google.com/books?id=Fn77k1mAl2IC&pg=PA20&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false
The Quest for Meaning in Educational Research. (2004). Retrieved on 11th April, 2012 from, http://www.rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/cho27244j.htm.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

 
New students’ new problems
With the recruitment of 288 new students, both boys and girls freshly from high school for their bachelor’s degree in education, there is likely to be a classroom shortage in the college. Unlike previous years, the number of the intake of students was high, says the administration of the college.
With this concern in mind, the administration put a fresh measure in place to address the accommodation problem. As a solution, they came up with a new system of adjusting the classrooms on a rotational basis. Although the scheme was taken into account as a measure to solve the problem, there are other sides of the coin. Despite giving opportunity for personal responsibility and inculcating in us the ethical value of respecting the other’s time and place, there are a number of ambiguities on the scheme, considering the execution part.
 On the initial day of the system, I saw one of the lecturers confounded with the exact class location. He made one entire round to locate the class and in the intervening time I am sure he lost a few precious times.
Moreover, many classes are ignoring the very significant of sanitation. There is a notion conflict amongst the students that, it is a business of other section to maintain the cleanliness, but recklessly a classrooms remained mess up and tainted. In addition, an extremely expensive teaching and learning amenities, which are obtainable in the classes, were unattended behind. The heaters light were on, the overhead projector and LCD are not taken care appropriately, and it has become a tendency of use and throw.
In some cases, the furniture like chairs, tables, and even the OHP started to move from a place to another, all along with students, probably introducing another problem of insufficient furniture with a large number of students.
Looking very closely, there are problems embedded within the four walls of each class. The problems concerning, the preparation of a teaching and learning materials for students and lecturer. There is a mismatch, between the presentation materials prepared by a lecturer and students with that of the facilities available in a class. For instance in one of the session, lopen had prepared his lesson on the OHP slide; unfortunately, the class scheduled for a session was equipped with a LCD. Further, it is also unsuitable for all the classes to find out a permanent walls and area to paste their presentation and an academic work. Consequently, most of the classes continue to be an unfavorable environment for learning, as it remains unfilled around the wall.
The problems reflected above are personal observation, after keeping a careful watch in the new system and it is a genuine, as far as concern of a self. Although the change in a system operates as an alternative solution for the problem, we can always weigh the pros and cons in it, to bring improvement and favor ability in the system.
The few lines of proposition made here necessarily do not demand consideration in the system change, rather thinking of solution along with the problems would be a best strategy to come into acceptable solution, as said two head is better than one.
First solution for the problem could be, possibly looking for adequate classroom construction, in the college, although it is financially pinching. That would solve the problems permanently be it in the present as well as future.
 Looking for an unnecessary usage of the space and changing into classroom could be another answer to the problem. For example, the space, once used by CAPSD and other storeroom near bookshop could have been classroom for time being.

The other alternative could be, making available of a needed facilities in all the classes, so that it matches the teaching and learning needs of lectures and students. By the absence of these facilities, it is for sure that, our prime purpose of being here is defeated. If the college does not have sufficient teaching and learning aids, it would have been better organization, to keep fix classroom, for half of the classes. In this way, those classes with fixed room would use one kind of teaching and learning aid that would probably solve the contradiction in the preparation of presentation in the class.
Finally, one of the solutions could be restriction of the rotation between two classrooms only, because in this way, student becomes responsible in keeping the classes clean and accountable for the facilities. At the same time, this would suit the teaching and learning needs and provide a fitting environment for the learning.

Friday, March 16, 2012

TO FIVE BRAVE

The constitution of Kingdom of Bhutan under the article seven, the fundamental right states “all persons are equal before law and are entitled to equal and effective protection of the law and shall not be discriminated against on the ground of race, sex, language, religion, politics or other status
This exactly applies to five brave individuals who disclosed their identity as HIV status on Bhutan Broadcasting Services, the national television on 1st December 2011. It was an inspiring courage and selfless act of those individuals and personally, I would like to congrats them as a concern citizen for their bravery. Their appearance on the national television was shocking to many of the peoples around the nation, not as a HIV Patient but for their guts to appear. Particularly I have an enormous admiration to all of them individually, for the message they carried along with their appearance on the television.
 The personal notion of a HIV patient was very different during my tender age. I fear the name of the diseases itself and gave me horror as soon as I heard people with the diseases identity. I would be reluctant to go near those victims and avoid at far distant. The similar behaviour was also seen with my friends and usually we do gather in one of the corner to discuss and jeer as a united, but now when I realize, they are like you and me.  They are no different than every one of us, the diseases is like any other diseases, although it appear terrible in the eye of society with stigmatization and discrimination.
Now to understand them really, why don’t we assume their status? How would we think and what would be our reaction to the society if they look upon with that stigma. What would we imagine to different level of discrimination from relatives, office goers, parents, and community? I think with the pressures from different level of society the solution available would be suicide and do we think, that is the moral encouragement in the society of Gross National Happiness?
Now listening to the experiences, from those HIV infected, I felt extremely sorry and pity for my misconception. The physical pain of austerity and emotional fear of death they explain gave me strong blow at heart. The multi level of prejudice and criticism from humanity and disgrace situation they came across made their environment unfeasible to show their face.
The ways of treatment to those victims are no different than animals; even I feel animals are happy and better. They are neglected and considered as lifeless body that would take all the blames. Does it sound right? I guess NO.
The story needs revolution, the commitment from people, to support morally and treat as any other normal human being. We should clear those stigmas the society is bound with. Be compassionate and let our victim execute their fundamental right after all we are Buddhist.


December 1st is observed as International HIV and AIDs day.  The day in Bhutan is observed in the capital city, Thimphu with those five brave and selfless individual who disclosed their identities as HIV status. The theme for the year was “ZERO NEW INFECTION AND ZERO DISCRIMINATION OF HIV INFECTION”

Thursday, March 15, 2012

NATIONAL IDENTITY CRISIS

Hey Dawa! “It does not look nice, why don’t you remove it, you look like tourist guide” said two of my college friend. I was aback to listen to, as far as my right and respect to national identity concern.
 Why? In turn, I made inquiries to them, but they didn’t give me any concrete reason.
Then I was wondering, what was the blunder in wearing national flag stripe around my neck to hang college ID card. What faulty I have as a proud Bhutanese, hanging its national flag with respect and the importance of it in the mind. May be it appeared odd or nonsense, but no matter whatever the hidden reason it be, I would love to put it on.
Including me, many Bhutanese do have reverence and loyalty to any national identity, be it in the office, the dzong, the school, the institute and in any social context within Bhutan. The exclusive significant and indigenous implication it has, gives us separate boundary of self-governing and wealthy in culture. The national fortification of culture could be a reason why I guess is instigated to protect and uphold our unique culture and national identity. The issue raised in one of the K2 weekend magazine, regarding the mistreatment of national identity in commercial was disrespectful. The print of national flag on the shoe, do we think, it is morally right treatment? (When it has bigger imperative in our country) I think it is totally against the constitution of Bhutan and most contempt which needs deep thought over it. We being as Bhutanese if we don’t argue and defend our values and give correct treatment to any identity, who would you think will behalf us to protect? I guess none other than me, you and all the Bhutanese.
Within the friends I have intermingled in schools and college until today, I heard many times the praise and hopeful statement, when clothed in western fashion such as logo on the chest, scarf with western flag on the head and other latest trend cloths. Nonetheless these days, it was shocking to hear from my thoughtful friends of Education College, complaining and daunting on national flag strip being dangled around the neck. Does it sound right? I think it is a time for us to give deeper thought of where we are heading to.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

THE LOST ONE

Bygone, are those days
Remembered, very little
I was than a small kid
Too old for the breast feeding
In the enfold of rural environment
Right in the center of the scattered village
My play fields are those jungles
Standing tall, thick and bush
A doggy, a piggy, and a pussy
Became playmates almost all the time
Special events are marked,
Very much entertaining and pleasurable
Every person in the neighborhood assembles,
To commemorate as one union
I was a youthful to dance and chant
On the top of the strength and prickly voice
Elders in a line, became an audience
On the flat timber floor
With the Bangchang and ara
Flooding out of the basin like mug and
Breaking the collection of gossip
Its, a wonderful social gathering, I guess!
Living seems to be, a joyful and splendid
When small, and have no responsibility
Tension lingers, far away at the distant
Reliefs are those moments

The era for the schooling
Was not as funny and enjoyable
As I thought in the times of yore
With the love and care
Knotted with a mom and dad
It was a sorrowfulness to depart
But my faith of the education
Could defeat those unhappiness
And pushed on the journey of education

When I first joint in the school channel
I vividly remember the words
My beloved uttered in my ear
Always be a good boy and
Listen to the teacher

Today, as I stand here
With the little education background
Cheerfulness of those days is, not a genuine
Fairly, I claim as “Joy of Village”
As I experience the true contentment
Amongst the educated society
To only you, my beloved
Who, reached me in this juncture
From the darkness of the isolated rural
Pays bottomless sense, of adore and admiration
You were everything
That, transformed and shaped me
Into a person, I am today
You were the basic pillar, of my position
The source, of an inspiration
The channel, of guidance
Sweet honey
The breathe, of my life
The glow, in my darkness
The bridge, that connected me
The shoulder, I could lean on
The water that extinguished the thirst
Role model
An example, I explain to
The food that contented the hunger
Valuable diamond
 Alternative parents
The educator, of all the knowledge AND
The reliable wealth I possess…
YET, you shall stay, implanted in my heart, as the whole lot.

As, I reflect with more thinking ability
I feel tremendously sorry for, the late realization   
I wish I could, turn back the clock
I desire, had I expressed those words
I aspire, could you be among us
Nonetheless, it ruins as a “WISHES”
The truth is you already left me…
Your departure, was a massive loss
With the thorny, pinch and ache
It left me, the scar of naked tree
With no leaves, roots, branches, and flowers
However, with the little strength, I stand to utter:
“I MISS YOU, MY SISTER” and “MAY YOURS SOUL, REST IN PEACE EVER”
Dawa
Paro College of Education

Monday, November 14, 2011

Mid-night Paro

Paro dzong in the sky of darkness

In the stillness of midnight
Breaking the loudness of the dark
Over gaze the Paro dzong
From the apex of Hungral rock






Encircle by the rays of wealth
Outshine the gloomy hours of darkness
Glittering in luminous glow
Lighten the entire valley
Paa Chu the basis of dzong glowing in the center of light


Beautiful and tranquil castle
In the heart of Paro
Like a paradise on the earth
Shall stand eye-catching and prominent

Birth Anniversary

Your magnificence
The fourth sovereign of Bhutan
Jigme Singye Wangchuk,
Dawn on 11/11/1955
Was a momentous day
Today is 56th years of that day
The day that gave you a life
Most to be cherished by all
34 anniversaries, I fail to see
But others celebrated directly or indirectly
As a infant, toddler, child, and school boy
With much delight at heart
Today as a college boy
On this significant day
I want to send your majesty
Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuk
Wishing of abundant happiness
Wrapped with affection
Tied with care and
Sealed with prayer
For your 56th birth anniversary
May your Majesty live long and happy ever
HAPPY BIRTH DAY!