UNIVERSIDAD MAGISTER

A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY ON THE IMPLICATIONS OF A LEARNING

COMMUNITY METHODOLOGY FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS READING

COMPETENCIES IN TENTH GRADERS IN CARTAGO NIGHT SCHOOL

EDGAR MONESTEL PIEDRALICENCIATURA ENSEÑANZA DEL INGLES

SETIEMBRE 2015

BACKGROUND

• Bachillerato.

• Students issues.

• Institution issues

JUSTIFICATION

• Purpose of this investigation.

• To improve Reading skills.

• To help teachers to improve

the quality of teaching

PROBLEM STATEMENT

How a Knowledge Community methodology can

improve English Reading Skills in tenth grade

Students in the Colegio Nocturno de Cartago?

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

To describe the implications of enacting the

Knowledge Community for the improvement of English

Reading Skills at Cartago Night School.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

•To identify the reading competencies in the students.

•To document the methodologies in usage.

•To state the strategies implemented in classrooms

•To estimate teacher´s knowledge about Community Learning.

• To create a pilot scheme for the implementation of a Knowledge

Community.

VARIABLES

•Knowledge Community Methodology

•Reading Competencies

•Methodologies in usage

•Teachers Background

•Strategies used by Teachers

CARTAGO NIGHT SCHOOL

Location

Population

History

INVESTIGATION TYPE

• MIXED APPROACH

SUBJECTS AND RESOURCES OF INFORMATION

• Primary Sources

• Secondary Sources

POPULATION AND SAMPLE

• POPULATION (TENTH GRADERS)

• SAMPLE (30 students, 10-8)

GRAPH N°2 FAVORABILITY IN CLASSROOM FOR LEARNING ENGLISH

3%

17%

26%37%

17%

A lot

Quite

Somewhat

Little

Nothing

GRAPH N°3 STUDENTS OPINION TO KNOW IF TEACHER USES VARIED ACTIVITIES

7%

16%

37%

33%

7%

Always

Almost Always

Sometimes

Almost Never

Never

GRAPH N°4 HOW OFTEN STUDENTS PRESENT DIFFICULTIES IN READING

COMPREHENSION

23%

27%

20%

13%

17%

AlwaysAlmost AlwaysSometimesAlmost NeverNever

GRAPH N°6 STUDENTS OPINION ABOUT COOPERATION AND TEAMWORKS

ACTIVITIES

37%

43%

10%3%

7%

A lot Quite

Somewhat Little

Nothing

GRAPH N°7 STUDENTS OPINION ABOUT THE USE OF COOPERATION STRATEGIES

43%

27%

24%

3% 3%

A lot Quite

Somewhat Little

Nothing

READING COMPETENCIES

Conclusion: Insufficient level

Recommendation: Activities based on Knowledge Community method

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMENDATIONS

METHODOLOGIES IN USAGE

Conclusion: Grammar Translation is not effective

Recommendation: Increase the use of target content.

STRATEGIES USED BY TEACHERS

Conclusion: Obsolete Strategies

Recommendation: Learner centered activities

KNOWLEDGE COMMUNITY/ TEACHERS BACKGROUND

Conclusion: Teachers know the method but they do not use it

Recommendation: To train Teachers

COST OF THE STUDY

Concept Amount COST PER UNIT

Amount (colones)

Amount (dollars)

Professional Services

50 18.000 810.000 1500.00

Photocopies and handouts

80 15 1.200 2.22

Registration process fee every

quarter

2 55.000 110.000 203.70

Bus Tickets 20 1700 34.000 62.96

TOTAL 955.200 $ 1768.88

PROPOSAL

TO CREATE A PILOT SCHEME FOR THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF A KNOWLEDGE COMMUNITY

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

• To create a pilot scheme to implement of a

Knowledge Community in Cartago Night

School.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

• To promote the innovation of English Teaching methodologies.

• To develop a pilot scheme for Teachers about Knowledge Community.

• To provide students with different learning opportunities

IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL

• EDUCATIONAL IMPACT

• POLITICAL IMPACT

• SOCIAL IMPACT

OTHER RESEARCHES DERIVED FROM THIS STUDY

• A study on the application of a community knowledge in

children

• An analysis of the implementation of a community

knowledge in elderly people

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS