Home > A Case Study of Possibilities and Constraints in Conducting Project-Based Learning in a Lower Secondary Social Studies Classroom in Karachi, Pakistan
A Case Study of Possibilities and Constraints in Conducting Project-Based Learning in a Lower Secondary Social Studies Classroom in Karachi, Pakistan
Project-based learning (PBL) is a teaching and learning strategy, which is gaining popularity rapidly among educators, teachers, parents and students. PBL is not a new concept: it is a well-established teaching strategy in certain parts of the world, but in some it is either alien or newly introduced. This study was conducted in one of the schools in the context of Karachi, Pakistan, which has adopted project-based learning as an initiative towards school improvement. In this context, PBL is practiced in all subject areas and has been in place for the last four years. The purpose of this study was to examine factors which facilitate or hinder the process of conducting project-based learning in a Social Studies classroom. The rationale behind this study was to get insights on how to conduct PBL in other schools as an initiative for school reform and change. To do so, the qualitative case study paradigm was employed for an in-depth investigation of the case as well as to understand the process. Data collection methods such as interviews, observations, and document analysis were used. Findings of the study disclosed that PBL in this particular context was primarily the school management's initiative. And this had consequences for its adoption process. PBL has brought tremendous changes in the school culture by engaging all the stakeholders (Director of the system, principal, vice-principal, teachers, students and parents). Findings suggest that PBL has played an important role in turning the school into a learning community. Nonetheless, factors like a prescribed syllabus and public examinations have greatly shaped the nature of PBL in this context. The findings also indicate that successful implementation of PBL is largely dependent on a thorough understanding of a teacher about the nature and expected outcomes of PBL. Finally, it is realized that students should be included in the planning of PBL activities and given some level of autonomy in the choice of topics, as this would enhance their feelings of ownership and responsibility over their learning. The study recommends that PBL can be successfully conducted and sustained in any school if the stakeholders believe in its importance and benefits. It is also important that the teachers should have a sound understanding of the concept of PBL.
پنڈت ہردے ناتھ کنزرو یہ سطریں لکھی جارہی تھیں کہ پنڈت ہردنے ناتھ کنزرد کی وفات کی خبر ملی، انھوں نے بڑی لمبی عمر پائی، نوے سال کے تھے، وہ ایک جلیل القدر، مرنجان مرنج، بامروت، وضعدار شخصیت، پارلیمانی دستور کے بڑے ماہر ہندو مسلمان کی ملی جلی تہذیب کے عمدہ نمونہ اور اردو زبان کے بڑے محسن کی حیثیت سے برابر یاد کئے جائیں گے، وہ اپنی ترشی ہوئی بھلمنساہت کی وجہ سے ہندوستان کی سیاست کی جذباتی ہم آہنگی کے قابل تقلید نمونہ بن سکتے ہیں، بشرطیکہ موجودہ قومی دھارے کے بنانے والے ان کو ایسا ہی سمجھیں۔ (’صباح الدین عبدالرحمن، اپریل ۱۹۷۸ء)
This study examines the economic conditions of Jews in Fatimid Egypt from the 10th to 12th centuries CE. Through an analysis of primary sources, the study provides a nuanced understanding of the economic and social factors that affected the Jewish community during this period. The study argues that while Jews in Fatimid Egypt enjoyed certain economic privileges such as their involvement in international trade networks and their exemption from some taxes, they also faced some social and political restrictions, including forced conversion and discriminatory laws in the era of some Fatimid rulers. Despite these challenges, the Jewish community in Fatimid Egypt demonstrated resilience and adaptability, developing a range of economic strategies to maintain their livelihoods and build social networks. These strategies included investment in trade and finance, engagement with the wider Muslim society, and the development of communal institutions. The study highlights the complexity of Jewish economic life in medieval Egypt, challenging simplistic assumptions about the economic conditions of minority groups in pre-modern societies.
Aging’ previously regarded as an emerging problem of the industrialized countries is now recognized as a global phenomenon. Currently, more than half of the world’s women aged 60 years and over are living in developing regions, i.e. 198 million compared with 135 million in the developed regions. Aging being an important global phenomena has attracted the attention of sociologists who are looking into the socio- economic and cultural antecedents of the process of ageing. The present study was planned to be conducted in Punjab province of Pakistan. Multistage Random Sampling Technique was used. According to this technique, sampling is done in two or more stages. At the first stage, from 36 districts of the ‘Punjab’ province, two districts were selected randomly. These were ‘Faisalabad’ and Rawalpindi’. At the second stage, out of eight towns, (of each district) two towns were randomly selected from each of the two districts, constituting a sampling of four towns. At the third Stage, two union councils (one rural and one urban) were randomly selected from each of the four above mentioned towns to constitute a sample of eight union councils. The desired sample of 500 respondents was to be divided on two districts of the ‘Punjab’ province. Both quantitative and qualitative methods (focus group) were used to collect data. Information on selected demographic and socio-cultural variables i.e. age, education, income, housing/living arrangements, nutritional status, social support and social network of the elderly women was collected through well organized interview schedule. Influence of these independent variables was observed on the ‘health status’ of elderly women (social, mental/ psychological and physical health status).Both independent and dependent variables were measured by operational zing and constructing the indexation. Analysis of data was made on the basis of uni-variate, bi-variate and multivariate analysis. Findings of uni-variate analysis: Mean age of the women was 69.4, around 35.0 percent were ‘widows’, 94.8 percent were living with their married/unmarried children. Only 13.4 percent of the elderly women and 26.6 percent of their husbands were literate. Only 3.4 percent of respondents were involved in some type of economic activity. The mean no. of children was around 5 children. Findings of bi-variate analysis: Statistical test indicated that the age of the elderly women was inversely related with the health status. However education, income, housing / living arrangements, nutritional status, social support and social network of the elderly women was positively associated with their health status. Findings of multivariate analysis: Results of ordinal regression analysis also showed that family income, housing/living arrangements, nutritional status, social support and social network had highly significant influence on the health status of the elderly women. Study suggests that the policy makers as well as health providers need to focus on the health and well-being of the older population, particularly in the context of poverty, low levels of education, nutrition and poor health system.