Development and Evaluation of an Audio System Trainer

Guided by the desire to contribute a little in the development of an innovative instructional technology for the teaching of electronics, this researcher constructed a prototype audio system trainer. Electronics teachers will find the instructional tool convenient and practical to use for visual instruction, laboratory activities and troubleshooting works in electronics. To support the functionality of the audio system trainer, the researcher developed a supplementary laboratory manual. The project whose production costs totaled fourteen thousand two hundred seventy two pesos and fifty centavos (Php 14,272.50) was finished in two weeks’ time. However, this amount is small if compared to the prices of commercially available instructional device developed for the same purpose. The completed project and the supplementary laboratory exercises were evaluated by selected technical faculty members of the College of Industrial Technology of the Bulacan State University, Bulacan Polytechnic College, University of Rizal System, and Lyceum of the Philippines University. Sampling technique as used in the study is both purposive and incidental. The prototype audio system trainer received an over-all mean rating of 4.62 which means that the project is highly acceptable on a set of criteria which includes – physical features, cost, function / operations, and durability. Furthermore, the supplementary laboratory exercises obtained a mean of 4.70 which could be interpreted that the respondents strongly agree on the validity of the manual.

Self Evaluation Processes and School Improvement

This study aimed at exploring self-evaluation processes and their contribution to school improvement in a school system. As the research sought to study the lived experiences of the key participants of the phenomenon of self-evaluation in a school system, I chose to conduct a phenomenological study in the qualitative paradigm. The research was conducted in three units (two secondary schools and a college, including the girls' college section) working under the umbrella of a community-based educational network in Karachi, Pakistan. The research participants included the Executive Director, three Principals, the Coordinator, the Vice Principal, a Professional Development Teacher and six Lead Teachers. There are various self-evaluation procedures in place at the Leaders' Educational Network (pseudonym). All the activities like students' academic and co-curricular progress, teaching and learning processes, admissions and staff performance are monitored and evaluated through these procedures. The study found that the procedures are internallydriven and involve the stakeholders at various levels, like principals, lead teachers and teachers. The management has developed an understanding of the meaning and purpose of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) across the board, and is enthusiastic and committed about M&E of all the aspects of their units with a focus on the smooth functioning of the work, accountability and improvement. Self-evaluation and school improvement is an under-researched areas in Pakistan; hence, the study is significant as it brings to light the processes and activities through which schools monitor themselves, either consciously or unconsciously, how much and to what end the data, which are collected through different means, are utilized and how much the stakeholders like teachers, students and parents are involved in the evaluation process; the study also explores the contribution of M&E/self-evaluation to school improvement.