Portfolio For Sociology of Education-2010 byMYBJ88

Newspapers
Article Review
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1)Newspaper Cutting: Make Sex Education part of syllabus

This is the first article that I would to like to review because it is famous and hot
issues nowadays in our country. This article actually is a letter that was written by
Suthichana Tharmapalan who come from Kuala Lumpur. Firstly I would like to praise her
because she brave to give and caring about the issues that related with our Malaysian
condition nowadays if compared to anyone who just know to complaint but do not
contribute anything.Based on the letter that was written by her she tried to share her opinion
or feeling towards the action of government against sex education that will be implemented
in school. She object the fact because she thought that the sex education is relevant to be
implement nowadays in school because our country famous with damping babies issues .

In addition she clarify that it happens because of lack of awareness of rights and
responsibilities related to sexuality among young people. She also stressed that marriage
does not and will not solve the problem such as unwanted pregnancies and dumping babies.
Furthermore she said that encouraging marriage ,even ‘suspended’ or otherwise is purely a
way to legitimize relationship ,sexual or otherwise ,regardless of whether these relationship
are healthy and responsible. However she emphasize again that the young generation who
still lack of maturity ,knowledge and skill to cope with adult responsibilities required for
marriage.

According to this letter in my point of view ,I am not totally agreed with her
opinion. Although her statement which agreed with the implementation sex of education is
one of the method to solve the unwanted pregnancies and dumping babies. In my opinion
the knowledge about sex of education is very important but if followed as in west which
implement to the teenagers just to educate how to apply the healthy sex but not to avoid the
sex among teenagers. Based on the problem we have to make a specific research that what
is the main problem that causes the carnal activities among the teenagers. If we look at in
term of our religion we could identify the main problem of the issues is because of lack
discipline either in their religion themselves or to school’s rules that provided. Therefore the
main problem is because of their attitude and behaviors have to be shaped since in children.
Thus in my judgment the suggestion to implement the sex education is not relevant because
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it might change the children to the subject, that after the lesson they could apply or just give
them green light to do something wrong although in west assume that it is a healthy sex.

In my thought it is relevant to include the sex education in Islamic Education subject

or civil or moral subject rather than add a new subject which besides burden the students
and not seen that the subject as encouragement subject to have the healthy sex rather than to
prevent it from happen. If the sex education is included in Islamic Education ,the teachers
could relate the consequences in our religions perspective and at the same in order to give
them the benefit input of sex education it also one of the prevention method to them to do
sex before marriage.

In this article the theory that related with the sociology education is based on the
functional and conflict theory. The fuctional theory that could be related is how the
government and school cooperation each other to solve the unwanted pregnant and dumping
baby problem among the teenagers. While the conflict theory arise when there are different
opinion and comment with the fact that government against the implementation of sex
education in school system. The other related theory that could be discuss in this article is
the rationale theory which involve the cost and rewards when the interactions involved via
the problem that stated by writer that the comprising situation between school boys and
girls. The action will result to the bad effect which lead to the unwanted pregnancy and
dumping babies.

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2)Newspaper Cutting: Automatic expulsion for students involved with the gangs.

This article is reported by the Star Newspaper on Monday, 26 July 2010 in the
nation space. In this article is discussed about the issues of the student’s involvement with
gangsterism that highlighted issues by Ministry Of Education. The Ministry of Education
assumed that issues as a serious issues which the students who did the serious offence will
be automatically expelled from the school. The issues is stressed by the Deputy Education
Minister said the school have been told to work closely with the respective school liaison
police personnel which important to curb the problem. Related to the issues of students
discipline the Dr Wee Ka Siong, the deputy Education Minister also emphasize on Internets
surfing habits. He advice to the parent to monitor and observe their children’s internet
surfing habits to avoid them from viewing pornographic materials online. It is because he
proves that statistics from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission had
received 202 complaints on obscene content found in Malaysian websites and personal
blogs at June 16 this year.

Therefore for my comment to this news, it is good news to the teachers who always
face with kind of discipline problem among students in school. Actually the gangsterism is
common issues that had been told before this which nowadays arise again with the serious
issues until cause dead. Thus it is possible this case to be taken serious by Ministry of
Education. However the expulsion of from the school actually is not best solution based on
my opinion. It is because of the drastic action just will make students be more actively
involved in their gang in outside and will make them become worst because no attention be
given by school. Moreover when their parent also just ignores them and do not take any
action to change their children attitudes and behavior. In my thought of future teacher I
think the best way is send them to Centre of Attitudes Rehabilitations or just send them to
Henry Gurney School for a while to give lesson to them.

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Since this article involved the stakeholders, school, and teachers and students and
also parent included, thus the theory is based on the functional theorist which all part in
education system must have their own roles or function to solve the problem. If one of part
in the system will collapsed the others part and the whole system. Begin from the top to the
bottom have to follow the same rules or policies that been implemented by government.

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3)Newspaper Cutting: Boost for sports development

In educational system nowadays if we realized there are a lot of encouragement to

students to involved in sports in school. In addition under new administration of Minister of
Education who is Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, he really support in development of sports
among of students. The statement is clarified by this article in the Star Newspaper that
expose two more high –performance schools in for Malaysians in the pipeline in an effort to
boost sports development among Malaysian students. The main goal of Ministry is to
increase the numbers of students who actively and expert in sports area. The drastically
development that be done it is according to the inspiring of our success to become the
champion in Asian School Games with 46 gold medals. The development of sports also is
emphasized until high education level such as in universities in Malaysia. In progress the
Ministry planned that to build a sport teachers training institute which will increase the main
power to teach sport in school. Either support the sports in school level, the ministry also
focused on the development of sports in university level which also important to produce
more person who are professional in sports area.

The importance of the development of sports since in students is because our

country has to prepare early the athletes who will replace the professional athletes nowadays
such as Dato’ Nicol David and Dato Lee Chong We. Both are the famous athlete of purely
from our country that popularize our country Malaysia all over the world with the best
performance until both of them are among the top five ranking in the world. Therefore the
government approach in increasing the performance of our Malaysian quality of sport since
in school again will increase many of professional athletes that will replace our athletes
nowadays to continue the same mission.In order to produce the best quality of athlete in our
country, the two new projects is categorized as good approach to achieve the goals.

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Therefore in this condition that related with the educational sociology that we had learnt
that explained the each part of same system have the same goal to be achieved like goal of
producing more athlete who are professional by governments. It also called as the
homogenous society which has the same goal to be achieved. The homogenous society is
under the school goal systems. Then functional theory also exist when each part of the
systems have their own role to achieve the same goal that to boost the development of
sports among school .

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4)Newspaper Cutting: Rosmah to Visit centre for pregnant teens during trip to
Belgium.

This types article would like to draw attention to the issues of teenagers pregnancies
nowadays that happen in our country. The issues had been discussed in the first article
review on the same related topic which about the method to solve the unwanted pregnancy
and dumping babies. However in this article is stress on how to manage a centre for
pregnant teen in our country as called as ‘Sekolah Harapan’ in Malacca recently. Therefore
Datin Rosmah had visited to Belgium which has a centre for pregnant youngsters in
Kasterlee to observe and get the idea to set up a one-stop centre for youth especially
unmarried pregnant teenagers. Besides she said we also have to know the best measurement
to control such that problems.

The first comment from the future teacher, the intention to care about the pregnant
teen’s welfare is good but there is the weakness beyond the existing of the centre. Recently
our government really takes this issue as serious issue but most of the method to solve the
problem is based on cure rather than prevention. In my thought I am reasonably disagree
with the existing of the ‘Sekolah Harapan’ as had built in Malacca. If we look forward in
the future could you imagine after they graduated from that school which company or
institution will offer them any job. Secondly the existing of this centre will encourage them
to do the free sex before married because in their mind set still there is place and people will
take care for her after the bad things that they had done. But if consider to care about the
welfare of own generation the centre that already exist must have firm rules that will change

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their behavior after they finished in that school. Then the government has to prepare and
give guidance to them to adapt and survive in outside environment since they graduated
from that school so that they are not being isolated.

Referring to the education sociology the best theory that could be related to this
article is about the feminist theory. This theory is learnt in class but explained in the
educational sociology book by Jeanne H.Ballantine which concentrate on the girls and
women issues which the injustices and differential treatment faced by them especially in
school. Related to the issue in this article that many of girls and women are being victims by
the cruel people who take the opportunity to them. Therefore it is the best theory to explain
in this article about the unwanted pregnant teenagers in order to decrease the dumping
babies.

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5)Newspaper Cutting:Kerajaan digesa kaji beri kuasa polis tambahan;langkah

bendung pengaruh kumpulan samseng.

Issue that had been discussed in this article could be categorized as famous issues in
school nowadays. The issues become more serious because teachers have limited of power
to take any drastically action for the students who involved in the disciplinary cases. Before
this issue rampant among the students in the school, the government is forced to give extra
police authority to discipline teachers as an approach to solve the influences of gangsterism
in school to avoid it rampant to become worst.

This suggestion had already been proposed by Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak while he
hold the title of Ministry of Education since 1997. That issue become attraction to all public
after Dato Sri Najib had a special meeting with of Chief of Malaysia Police at that time Tan
Sri Rahim to discuss the social problem among students in school. According to Dato Sro
Najib, he said that the extra police authority which will give to disciplinary teachers will
enhance teachers’ action towards disciplinary problems. They could act as the police which
have the authority to arrest the students who involved in disciplinary problems or which
against with our rules. The suggestion also relevant because it will increase teachers’

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confidence to take action to any cases without worry about their own safety or from any
threat from parent who that will sue teachers in courts.

In my opinion this proposal could be concerned by government and Ministry of

Education to decrease the disciplinary problem among the students to avoid it become
rampant and worst in the future. The prevention steps are more important rather than secure.
Therefore the authority that will be given to discipline teachers would change students’
assumption to the teachers to become more respect and aware to discipline problems. In
order to relate with the theory or lesson that had been learnt in educational sociology this
issue is relate with the functions and the process of education. There are five specific
function of education which one of them are the function of social control and personal
development. The social controls are divided by two which are through the authoritarian or
humanistic approaches. For this issues the writer classified the approach is authoritarian
approach rather than humanistic because through humanistic approach is quite not affected
to solve that problems. Based on what we had learnt the discipline problem as a major to
solve one of the three major issues that popular in school which gang in school. Via the
extra police authority that will be given to discipline teachers will decrease the gangsterism
and other disciplines problems in school in the future.

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6)Newspaper Cutting:Parents want Tamil school allocations sent to PTAs(Parent

Teacher Association).

Parent and school are the main important component that related each other. Both of
them have their importance contribution to achieve the educational goal. In order to achieve
the goal each of them must have their own function to contribute to the educational system.
At the same time each of them also must exist conflict each other. Therefore as same as to
this article that reported by the Star which discuss about the parents complaint about the
budget from the government for the Tamil School about RM4mil which not be channeled
directly to schools’ parent –teacher associations (PTAs) but there is irrelevant third parties.
This issue was taken serious by the president of the PTAs by highlighted eight –point
memorandum to be presented to the Menteri Besar. According to him just RM2.4mil was
dispersed out of RM4mil while the rest was channeled to three non- governmental
organizations to carry out Tamil Education development programmes in the state. The
problem that tried be highlighted by the PTAs is the budget that transferred to other three
NGO is not accepted by the Tamil School for development of the school.

Therefore they suggested that the government separately allocate funding for the
NGO to avoid the budget for the Tamil School really accepted and is used for development
of Tamil School rather than the money lost to third parties who do not has responsibility
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using it for something else. Thus in my point of view this issues could be related by the
bureaucracy based on the educational sociology that had been learnt. The bureaucracy
system that exist in this problem happen when there are many level of position level that
manage the budget for Tamil School until the money could be accepted by right parties.
Therefore the conflict that exist between certain component in the organization as example
parents association and the government policies towards the Tamil School government
budget allocation. Each of the part in the systems have the different opinion and argument
towards the matter which lead to the conflict. But the decision could be made by the one
who are superior rather than inferior. However in this issue both of them have their own
importance in the education organization but the main power of government will decide the
best decision for that problem.

7)News from internet: Budget 2011 highlights

It is the latest issues that tried to be highlighted by the writer. Do not be surprise
with the title because the writer would discuss based on the budget which related to the
education area and it will related to the sociology educational that had been learnt.
Generally based on the budget our first assumption to the budget is mostly focus on
development but the government still have balance budget for education development in
Malaysia in each aspects.

The main things that would like to be discussed are not specifically about the whole
budget but just to stress on the difficulty of planning the budget either for educational or
each of aspects to make it balance and relevant with the Malaysian needs and significance.
For example the budget that been planned for the educational part is focus on all aspect
which start from childhood education development until the budget for higher level of
education in University and included increase the rewards for teachers and other
organization that contribute in development for education. The theory that could relate
based on the budget is absolutely the functional theory which each part of in the government
system that contributes in planning the Budget 2011. Specifically that we could conclude
the organization that be allocated the budget have their own role in support the development
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of our country .For example the development of educational system is very important to
born intellectuals generation who will be replaced our country leadership and become the
professional group to stabilize our country developments.

Conversely if the functional theory exist, the conflict theory also will be arise
according to responses from all level of Malaysian citizen towards the budget that been
announced. The conflict exist when there are positive and negative responses that will get
from them. The superior group will see the budget positively and grab the opportunity while
the inferior who categorized as not educated people just see the budget is not give any
benefit for them rather than for people who are in superior group. However the budget is
relatively balance for them. But in my opinion most of the budget is based on development
for our country and the benefit commonly the superior will get the highest profit to the
budget had planned. It is because the budget that had been planned not really accepted by
the right person but oppositely the superior group will monopolize the high profit rather
than inferior group like poor people in the rural area.

Therefore the government have to clearly make sure that the budget that had been
planned are really be disperse rightly and fairly without exist the third party that commonly
will get their own profit before the budget will accept by right person who ought to get it .

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8)Newspaper cutting: Tertekan Ejekan Rakan ;remaja perempuan hampir bunuh

diri.

As we know ,recently the latest issues is a father who killed his son might be
because of stress problem. This problem, if we do not find the best solution or do not
overcome the factors that contribute the stress problem it will be worse until burnout or until
can cause mental problems. This kind of problem is so worried among of our citizens who
really busy with works for workers either professional or not. Besides students or teenagers
also famous in stress problems which popular stress on preparation for examination, have to
finish assignments, test, quiz, presentation and many more. It same to the news that I had
read in a newspaper which involve a teenager who 15 years old that try to killed herself by
cutting her left wrist with knife. It is because she really stress with her friends that always
mock her.

If we read detail her story the main problem that she has, it come from her house or
about family background. She stay with foster family which also have problem who always
quarrel each other and they also not show that they really love to her. Her parent assumes
her as a burden for her family. Thus we can see that the problem that come from family
problem will lead to her have another kind of problem such as have low self-esteem. In her
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mind she will always think negatively about herself. In my point of view for her case have
to refer to the counselor which have expertise in handling that kind of problem. It is because
her problems that already reach the level of burn out until she wants to kill herself. The
most important things that the writer could relate with the lesson in education sociology is
the effect of home environment to students achievement in school. The family background
is one of the factor could be affected to the problem that faced by that girl. In addition she
stayed with foster family who are not really ignore and caring about her, absolutely they
also do not aware and provide her good preparation for education. As a result their
achievement in education also affected due to their family background and does not have
support by family aspiration.

Therefore it could be categorized also interaction and interpretive theory which

about how the individual interact to each other to socialize in their life as same as for this
article issue. The girl have to know the best way to handle her problem and how to interact
and face with her friends who always mock her rather than just take easy way to kill herself.

9) News from internet: Tool to ignite teaching passion; Trainee teachers are shown the
ropes of how to make lessons fun and interactive.

As review this article which a new from the Star Online ,the writer could learn a new
teaching approach by using newspaper as a supporting material for teaching and learning
process in the classroom. In this article actually about the trainees of Institute of Teacher
Education, Campus of International Language Centre in Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur
which have a workshop on teaching approach in literature class that handled by the
institution.

In the workshop the trainees were guided on how to use the newspaper as one of the
supporting material in teaching literature class to make the lesson not interesting and not
bored by the students. On the workshop that day they had trained them how to create
monster using the newspapers that provided. The class became happening with the trainees
laughing when each group have their own creativity to create the monster with the

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newspaper and their action in the drama based on the literary jargon in the literature
component in school. It is the preparation for them to familiarize with the alternative
method in teaching the literature. Their workshop were sponsored by the Star Newspaper in
Education and Pizza Hut.

In my thought as the future teacher ,the workshop is best method to expose the
trainees to familiarize with various teaching method especially the subject that quite boring
and not attract students like literature component . Furthermore in teaching the future have
to be creative and innovative to make their students understand better and have effective
and enjoy in teaching and learning process in the classroom. In addition beside use
newspaper as supporting material in teaching the teachers also could use recycle things like
bottle or aluminum can to create a new innovation especially to science students. Besides to
keep our environment it also could make our teaching and learning process become efficient
and interesting rather than just chalk and talk in the classroom.The best theory that could be
identified based on the article is the theory of interaction and interpretive theory which
about the interaction between teachers and the students. It discuss how the teachers could
attract students attention in the classroom to more interest in literature subjects.

10) News from internet: Be kind to school heads.

Be kind to school heads is the title of a new that discuss about the problem that be
complaint by the teachers nowadays towards principal behavior and attitude in the school
world. The issue is one of challenges that have to face by all teachers in order to be a
teacher. They have to face with their own principal style in handling the school. Reported
by the news in this article that the school principals can be quite demanding but the
teachers have to take consideration and become tolerate with them because we have to
appreciate them based on their many responsibilities that should be handled.

After reading this article the writer could conclude that the task of a principal is very
difficult as shared by one of retired-principal in one school and also as a woman. She
explained that the most challenge that she have to face with the teachers’ who have different

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opinion and egoist that have to take consideration. As enlighten in this article to become a
school principal they have to be patient and be cool towards multitask that have to be
handled. Besides to increase the achievement of their students at the same time they have to
think the teachers welfare and school management to be managed smoothly without any
problem. In addition the students disciplinary problem if it is become worst they have to
face with the stakeholders to answers that kind of problems. According to Nithya Sidhhu
reported in this article she stress that the teacher should not ask what the school could give
for them instead they have to ask what their contribution towards school improvement and
development. Therefore each part of component in the school organization have to
cooperate each other to achieve the same goal.

Moreover if we relate to the theory of sociology in education which under the

process of stratification that based functional theory; the inevitability of inequality and the
role education plays in the process stratification because of maintaining a working balance
between parts. As same as with the article which discuss of the position of the school
principal that have many responsibilities compared to normal teachers. Then the conflict
theory arise when there are exist conflict that teachers that complaint that certain school
principal demanding in management of school in term of giving command to the teachers.
However the conflict could be solve if each of part in school system have consideration and
tolerance on each other rather than being selfish.

Journal Review
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1)MATHEMATICS SCIENCE IN ENGLISH:TEACHERS EXPERIENCE INSIDE

THE CLASSROOM
The article on title of Mathematics and Sciences in English were written by two

researchers ,Ong Saw Lan and May Tan was focus on the experience of Mathematics and

Sciences Teachers (MSTs) in conducting the instruction of both subjects in international

language,English. The researchers objectives in this research were to provide more in-depth

information concerning teachers’ experiences in implementing the change in language

instruction for Math and Sciences. Based on the article, this report in the case study were

determined by asking two question which were ‘How are MSTs coping with the policy in
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the change in language of instruction? The second question was ‘How are their teaching

practices being modified as a result of implementing the policy? The researches focused on

the two question while interview the selected teachers.

Before going to further result of the research ,the researchers were introduce and

explain in their article about the issues and problems in implementing the new policy. One

of the common issues among Malaysian students was most learners students’ encounter

English for the first time in school. It meant that our Malaysian started learning English

since they enter the school and before this they never be exposed by the English Language

in their daily life but this statement are not conclude for all of citizens in Malaysia.However

the critical problem of mastering English Language more significant if involve the rural

area.Besides the contributors of the problems in implementation of ELIMS OR PPSMI was

compound by the other factor such as teachers who are not proficient in English and lack of

good Sciences Textbooks (Ong 2004). Futhermore the researchers also mentioned that in

their article which the problem of implementation also comes from the Malaysian students

and teachers who are multicultural and have multilingual background. The issues of

comparison among rural and urban area I supporting the new policy were explained by the

researchers and they stressed that the rural student were not supportive than the urban

students.

In addition ,this article also mentioned about the teachers development in

educational reform. Many of ways were planned by the government under the portfolio of

Ministry of Education to achieve for the new policy successful. For teachers to move

successfully toward the vision and mission of this policy major changes and in their
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knowledge and belief, as well as their instructional practices are required (Putnam

&Borko,1997). To support the statement the author also based on the empirical

investigation of educational change in Canada ,England, and the US ,Fullan and Hargreaves

(1992) concluded that teacher development is central to successful change. Therefore to

make the transformation become success and achieve the goal ,the MSTs should change and

improve their performance and ability in teaching of Math and Sciences in English. The first

step was taken by government to ensure the MSTs have the right and best criteria to

implement the new policy in the school,was the Ministry of Education was organized

professional development course for MSTs as known as English for the teaching of

Mathematics and Science(ETeMS). The MSTs also have to attend a training course which

to guide them in using of the teaching courseware supplied by the ministry. The other

conveniences to the MSTs teachers in support their teaching such as Laptop, LCD, and

when they attend the curriculum induction training , they will supply with curriculum

materials and other auxiliary materials to help them.

In this study by Ong Saw Lan and May Tan also have the result of interview and

observation in classroom while the teaching and learning process were occurring. The

participants were two teachers from rural area and two teachers from urban area which the

MSTs. Based on the result of the interview by the author it shown that most of the

respondent agreed that with the implementation of new policy but still have one of the

respondent who in contrast with the others. Depend on the result mentioned that the

respondent who did not agreed with the new policy prefer the former policy.In his opinion

he said that the policy has a differential effect,depending on the student’s linguistics

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ability,’’If they are good in English it,so there won’t be any problem about the question in

English(MrNasir).Different opinion with the teacher who are expert and have the

experience that English still the language of instruction in Malaysia school,he welcomes this

policy with the open arms :’’I think it’s good for the country and it’s good for the children

long term,long term because we’re going towards globalization and English is one of the

international language(Mr.Ang chemistry teacher in rural area). The researchers used the

videotape to take observation of the certain classroom with permission and the interview

process were conducted after the observation in the MSTs’s classroom. From the interview

process the author concluded that three of the respondents still struggle with the realities of

the implementing the new policy among the students and themselves to survive with the

new adaption in the classroom.

2)Summary Of Teachers’ Misconceptions Of Biological Science Concepts As Revealed

In Science Examination Papers.
The writer grateful to Allah because that get the best article to be reviewed that
related in educational background besides it gives input to me as the future science teacher.
The article that reviewed by the writer is on title of Teachers’ Misconceptions of Biological
Science Concepts as Revealed in Science Examination Papers. The most interesting of this

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article the researcher, Boo Hong Kwen come from National Institute of Education, Nanyang
Technological University Singapore.
The researcher on this journal would like to emphasize on the misconception that
contribute by teachers when they create examination paper. The special of this article they
succeed to investigate the misconception that cause by teachers since in primary school
again. According to Boo Hong Kwen ,he concentrate on the misconception that happen in
Science Subject specifically in Biological Science Concept as it expose in examination
paper. As we known the educational system of Malaysian and Singapore relatively quite
different. However the significant issues that we would like to discuss based on
misconception or the other name is alternative concept in Science subject.

Referring to the article other causes that contribute to misconception, Boo Hong
Kwen details that because of four different reasons. One of the reasons is come from
everyday experience and observation (Strauss, 1981; Viennot, 1979). Secondly is because
of use of perceptual thinking, which is related to the previous source, and is seen in a
number of studies where students' explanations of scientific phenomena are dominated by
what is immediately perceptible (Driver, 1985; BouJaoude, 1991). The other reasons that
result to the misconception are because of diagrams or statements in textbooks (Blosser,
1987; Cho, Kahle & Nordland, 1985). Lastly it appear from the teachers and students
(Osborne & Cosgrove, 1983; Bar & Travis,1991) but we just concise on teachers only in
this related article.

There are several example of misconception that clearly explained by the writer of
the article to show that although it is simple question, but it will make students more
confuse and misconception in their learning process especially the children in the beginning
who are do not know anything yet. One of the common misconceptions is that the flower
first produces a fruit and that seeds are formed after the fruit whereas the correct concept is
that upon fertilization, the union of the female gamete in the ovule with the male gamete in
the pollen after pollination, the seed is formed. The fruit develops only after the seed is
formed. The fruit develops to protect the seeds, and in some cases to become attractive to
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animals that will be the agents of seed dispersal. This misconception detail is explained by
showing the best example of questions that create the misconception to the students. For the
teachers who had already be expose how to make question have to identify the best question
to be evaluated for example that stressed by the writer in this article. The writer underlines
the weakness of teachers nowadays create Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) that do not
put suitable stems or items of the questions. The disadvantages will affected to the students
who are not really understand with the concepts will increase their wrong understanding
while otherwise for students who are understand with concept will become ,more confuse
with their previous understanding.
Consequently the actual objective of examination paper that would to evaluate their
students will not achieve but on the other hand the teachers create a new complicated
problem that related with misconception. The issues of misconception has to take serious by
all teachers in all subjects especially in science subject because the misconception will be
continued until them in higher education. The alternative concept should be changed before
their understanding will result to other students understanding particularly for those who
want to be science teachers or lecturers.

3)The Effect of Defective Options on Multiple-choice Items and Test Characteristics

Most of the content of this good article by Fattaneh Sajadi were described about the
effect of defective options on Multiple-Choice Items and Test Characteristics. The major
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point that tried to be shown by the author was the result of their research in evaluating the
effect of violating items construction rules. The author wanted to investigate either the
distorted test of multiple question would influence to the result of test or otherwise.
To accomplish the goal of the research two test involved of the student from the
teacher training University of Tehran were held in a week interval. There were 50 males and
females participant that involved in the test which majoring in Teaching English As Foreign
Language(TEFL). The data of this study was collected through two paper and through
pencil test: A 40-Item Michigan Test of English Grammar (MT) and a distorted form of the
same Michigan Test of Michigan Test of English Grammar (DMT). Based on the
researcher in this article mentioned that the reason the MT was chosen because free of flaws
be found in local test therefore it being standard and preferable to choose. This study was
conducted in two phases which in the first phase 29 students took the original MT of
English Grammar and 21 students received the same test but in distorted form. In the second
phase test was done in a week interval, which each group received the types of different test
which they never take yet in the first phase. The students were divided in two group which
group A and group B. The reason it divided by two group(group A: MT first, DMT second;
group B: MT second, DMT first) was to neutralize the potential test order effect. There was
no major difference between both group in term of administration time and each group will
have two scores which one on MT and one on DMT.
Based on the article report the participants had be given 20 minutes to finish 40 questions
and after completing the first test they were not informed by the administration that they had
to sit the second test a week later. For the distorted form of multiple choice questions the
researcher put 8 items of flaws in the test. There were included Implausible
alternatives,Grammatical clues,Ungrammatical alternatives, Blank at the beginning of the
stem, Unequal length of alternatives,"all of the above" and "none of the above", Redundant
wordings of the alternatives and Grammatical inconsistency of the alternatives with stem.
The finding of the result based on the groups of items in which a particular rule of
item construction was desecrated or the question that in distorted form. The results were
shown by representing in terms of mean item facility and mean items discrimination. To
determine the significant of result the author used the KR-21 formula regarding the
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reliability coefficient. Then the difference between the reliability coefficients was checked
using the formula by Glass and Hopkins, 1984. From the result that the researcher obtained
by the two test, it shown that the violation of item-writing principles did not significantly
influence item characteristics.
Furthermore, in this article also the author explained the brief knowledge about the
types of multiple-choice question. Based on (Wiersma and Jurs, 1990; Gronlund,
2003,Popham, W.J. 2000; Thorndike and Hagen, 1969) the author stated the general
positive characteristics of the multiple choice question such as Versatility, Efficiency,
Reliability, Diagnosis, and Control of difficulty. Moreover the author also stressed in her
article about the limitation and disadvantages that have in implementation of multiple-
choice question. There were six limitation and disadvantages that were explained in this
article, the most highlighted was it strict concern with the answer and not with the quality of
thought behind it or skill with which it is expressed.(Hoffman 1962). Lastly the author also
enlighten and suggest the best way to construct the multiple choice question which consist
of 15 best ways in produce the best MCQ to the students.

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References :

http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Budget2011highlights/Article/

http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?
file=/2010/10/10/education/7167713&sec=education

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