Can I evaluate the effectiveness of classroom lessons and activities based on student perception and is this perception connected to certain student characteristics such as age, gender, nationality and level of education?
Debra Blaine, RIRAL
return to Debra Blaine's report narrative
TABLES : Classroom activities
B1 CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES Do you like working in groups?
| yes | % | no | % | usually | % | a little | % | ||
| AGE | 20-36 | 8 | 80% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 10% | 1 | 10% |
| 44-69 | 6 | 67% | 1 | 11% | 1 | 11% | 1 | 11% | |
| SEX | male | 4 | 67% | 1 | 17% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 17% |
| female | 10 | 77% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 15% | 1 | 8% | |
| YEARS of EDUCATION | 4-8 | 7 | 78% | 1 | 11% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 11% |
| 9-14 | 7 | 70% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 20% | 1 | 10% |
All groups responded yes with higher percentages, however, women seemed to enjoy this more than men. Younger students enjoyed this more than older students.
Women and younger students may be more social with older students being more serious.
B2 CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES Do you like working with partners?
| yes | % | no | % | usually | % | a little | % | |
| AGE | 10 | 100% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| 6 | 67% | 1 | 11% | 2 | 22% | 0 | 0% | |
| SEX | 5 | 83% | 1 | 17% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| 11 | 85% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 15% | 0 | 0% | |
| YEARS of EDUCATION | 7 | 78% | 1 | 11% | 1 | 11% | 0 | 0% |
| 9 | 90% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 10% | 0 | 0% |
Students overwhelmingly answered yes to this question, however, the younger students still liked this more than the older students.
B3 CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES Do you like working only alone?
| yes | % | no | % | usually | % | a little | % | ||
| AGE | 20-36 | 1 | 10% | 7 | 70% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 20% |
| 44-69 | 1 | 11% | 3 | 33% | 1 | 11% | 4 | 44% | |
| SEX | male | 1 | 17% | 2 | 33% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 50% |
| female | 1 | 8% | 8 | 62% | 1 | 8% | 3 | 23% | |
| YEARS of EDUCATION | 4-8 | 1 | 11% | 5 | 56% | 1 | 11% | 2 | 22% |
| 9-14 | 1 | 10% | 5 | 50% | 0 | 0% | 4 | 40% |
The majority of students responded either no or a little to this question. This is not surprising since most of the students preferred working in groups or with partners.
B4 CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES Do you like writing on the board?
| yes | % | no | % | usually | % | a little | % | ||
| AGE | 20-36 | 6 | 60% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 20% | 2 | 20% |
| 44-69 | 1 | 11% | 1 | 11% | 2 | 22% | 5 | 56% | |
| SEX | male | 2 | 33% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 17% | 3 | 50% |
| female | 5 | 38% | 1 | 8% | 3 | 23% | 4 | 31% | |
| YEARS of EDUCATION | 4-8 | 3 | 33% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 11% | 5 | 56% |
| 9-14 | 4 | 40% | 1 | 10% | 3 | 30% | 2 | 20% |
Younger students responded yes 60% of the time while older students said yes 11% of the time, and a little 56% of the time.
Men liked to write on the board more than women and those with less education preferred this activity over those with more education.
It is possible that younger students like this because they consider it fun.
I'm not sure what the gender of education responses mean.
B5 CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES Do you like listening and dictation activities?
| yes | % | no | % | usually | % | a little | % | ||
| AGE | 20-36 | 6 | 60% | 1 | 10% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 30% |
| 44-69 | 6 | 67% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 11% | 2 | 22% | |
| SEX | male | 4 | 67% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 33% |
| female | 8 | 62% | 1 | 8% | 1 | 8% | 3 | 23% | |
| YEARS of EDUCATION | 4-8 | 7 | 78% | 1 | 11% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 11% |
| 9-14 | 5 | 50% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 10% | 4 | 40% |
All students responded yes in high numbers, however, students with more education responded yes 50% of the time and a little 40% of the time.
B6 CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES Do you like reading and answering questions?
| yes | % | no | % | usually | % | a little | % | ||
| AGE | 20-36 | 6 | 60% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 10% | 3 | 30% |
| 44-69 | 7 | 78% | 1 | 11% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 11% | |
| SEX | male | 3 | 50% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 50% |
| female | 10 | 77% | 1 | 8% | 1 | 8% | 1 | 8% | |
| YEARS of EDUCATION | 4-8 | 8 | 89% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 11% |
| 9-14 | 5 | 50% | 1 | 10% | 1 | 10% | 3 | 30% |
Again, the majority of students responded yes in each category, however, men answered yes 50% of the time and a little 50% of the time.
B7 CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES Do you like writing activities?
| yes | % | no | % | usually | % | a little | % | ||
| AGE | 20-36 | 6 | 60% | 0 | 0% | 4 | 40% | 0 | 0% |
| 44-69 | 5 | 56% | 1 | 11% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 33% | |
| SEX | male | 3 | 50% | 1 | 17% | 1 | 17% | 1 | 17% |
| female | 8 | 62% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 23% | 2 | 15% | |
| YEARS of EDUCATION | 4-8 | 5 | 56% | 1 | 11% | 1 | 11% | 2 | 22% |
| 9-14 | 6 | 60% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 30% | 1 | 10% |
The majority of students answered yes to this question. The nexthighest percentage was usually, which is also a positive answer.
Women seemed to like writing more than men.
B8 CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES Do you like writing in your journal?
| yes | % | no | % | usually | % | a little | % | ||
| AGE | 20-36 | 2 | 20% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 20% | 6 | 60% |
| 44-69 | 5 | 56% | 2 | 22% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 22% | |
| SEX | male | 2 | 33% | 1 | 17% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 50% |
| female | 5 | 38% | 1 | 8% | 2 | 15% | 5 | 38% | |
| YEARS of EDUCATION | 4-8 | 5 | 56% | 1 | 11% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 33% |
| 9-14 | 2 | 20% | 1 | 10% | 2 | 20% | 5 | 50% |
Older students had a higher percentage of yes answers than younger students. Also, students with less education enjoyed this more than students with more education.
In my clasas, I communicate with my students through their journals, but I do not correct their entries. This may make the older and less educated students more comfortable with this activity.
B9 CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES Do you like speaking and discussion activities?
| yes | % | no | % | usually | % | a little | % | ||
| AGE | 20-36 | 7 | 70% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 30% |
| 44-69 | 6 | 67% | 1 | 11% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 22% | |
| SEX | male | 2 | 33% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 4 | 67% |
| female | 11 | 85% | 1 | 8% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 8% | |
| YEARS of EDUCATION | 4-8 | 8 | 89% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 11% |
| 9-14 | 5 | 50% | 1 | 10% | 0 | 0% | 4 | 40% |
Both age groups answered yes on this question, however, women answered yes more often (85%) than men (33%). 67% of the men like these activities a little. Once again, this may be due to women being more social and talkative.
Students with 4-8 years of education enjoyed these activities more. They may be more comfortable speaking than writing.
B10 CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES Do you like role play activities?
| yes | % | no | % | usually | % | a little | % | ||
| AGE | 20-36 | 7 | 70% | 2 | 20% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 10% |
| 44-69 | 5 | 56% | 1 | 11% | 1 | 11% | 2 | 22% | |
| SEX | male | 3 | 50% | 1 | 17% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 33% |
| female | 9 | 69% | 2 | 15% | 1 | 8% | 1 | 8% | |
| EDUCATION | 4-8 | 6 | 67% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 33% |
| 9-14 | 6 | 60% | 3 | 30% | 1 | 10% | 0 | 0% |
Younger students and female students had the highest percentage of yes answers. These students may be more willing to get up and perform in front of a group then the older or male students.
B11 CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES Do you like games and puzzles?
| yes | % | no | % | usually | % | a little | % | ||
| AGE | 20-36 | 8 | 80% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 10% | 1 | 10% |
| 44-69 | 5 | 56% | 1 | 11% | 2 | 22% | 1 | 11% | |
| SEX | male | 9 | 69% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 15% | 2 | 15% |
| female | 4 | 67% | 1 | 17% | 1 | 17% | 0 | 0% | |
| YEARS of EDUCATION | 4-8 | 6 | 67% | 1 | 11% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 22% |
| 9-14 | 7 | 70% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 30% | 0 | 0% |
Younger students enjoyed this more than older students which is understandable.
Older students may not see the educational value of games because they do not see it as a serious classroom activity.
B12 CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES Do you like pronunciation activities?
| yes | % | no | % | usually | % | a little | % | ||
| AGE | 20-36 | 9 | 90% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 10% |
| 44-69 | 7 | 78% | 1 | 11% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 11% | |
| SEX | male | 5 | 83% | 1 | 17% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| female | 11 | 85% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 15% | |
| YEARS of EDUCATION | 4-8 | 7 | 78% | 1 | 11% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 11% |
| 9-14 | 9 | 90% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 10% |
There was not much difference in the age and gender group. Both had high positive responses. However, students with less education didn't enjoy these activities as much as students with more education.
B13 CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES Do you like the computer?
| yes | % | no | % | usually | % | a little | % | ||
| AGE | 20-36 | 5 | 50% | 1 | 10% | 0 | 0% | 4 | 40% |
| 44-69 | 3 | 33% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 11% | 5 | 56% | |
| SEX | male | 3 | 50% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 17% | 2 | 33% |
| female | 5 | 38% | 1 | 8% | 0 | 0% | 7 | 54% | |
| YEARS of EDUCATION | 4-8 | 5 | 56% | 1 | 11% | 1 | 11% | 2 | 22% |
| 9-14 | 3 | 30% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 7 | 70% |
Younger students liked the computer more than older students. Also, men liked it more than women. These students may be more comfortable with technology and familiar with video games, etc.
Students with less education liked it more than those with more education.