ASSIGNMENT / TUGASAN

______________________________________________________________________________
HBEC4503
ACTION RESEARCH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
ASSIGNMENT 1
SEPTEMBER 2017 SEMESTER
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INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS / ARAHAN KEPADA PELAJAR

1. This assignment contains only ONE (1) question that is set in both Malay and English.

2. Answer in English.

3. Learners are to submit assignment only in MS-WORD format unless specified otherwise. Please refrain from
converting text/phrases into picture format such as .gif / .jpeg / print screen / etc.

4. Download the language version of the assignment template concerned from the myINSPIRE for preparation
and submission of your assignment. Your assignment should be typed using 12 point Times New Roman font
and 1.5 line spacing.

5. Your assignment should be between 2500 to 3000 words excluding references. Do not copy the assignment
question and instructions to your answer. Only assignment answer developed within the approximate word
limit will be assessed. The number of words should be shown at the end of your assignment.

6. You must submit your assignment ONLINE via the myINSPIRE. Refer to the portal for instructions on the
procedures to submit your assignment online. You are advised to keep a copy of your submitted assignment
and proof of the submission for personal reference.

7. You can submit your assignment ONCE only in MULTIPLE file (preferable in zip file).

8. Your assignment must be submitted between 30th October – 12nd November 2017. Submission after 12nd
November 2017 will NOT be accepted.

9. Your assignment should be prepared individually. You should not copy another person’s assignment. You
should also not plagiarise another person’s work as your own.

10. Please take note that PENALTY will be imposed on late submission of assignment as specified in the
Registrar’s Office circular 6/2012 (Refer to Registrar’s Announcement in myVLE).

11. Please ensure that you keep the RECEIPT issued upon submisson of your assignment as proof of submission.
Your assignment is considered as NOT submitted if you fail to produce the submission receipt in any dispute
arises concerning assignment submission.

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EVALUATION / PENILAIAN

This assignment accounts for 65% of the total marks for the course and shall be assessed based
on the Rubrics or Answer Scheme attached. You would be given feedback on the assignment
before the Final Semester Examination commences. /

PLAGIARISM: MARKS DEDUCTION / PLAGIARISME: POTONGAN MARKAH

Warning: The submitted assignment will automatically undergo a similarity check. If plagiarism
is detected, marks would be deducted as follows:

No. Similarity Percentage (%) / Marks Deduction (%) /

1. 0 – 30 0
2. 30.01 – 50 5
3. 50.01 – 70 10
4. 70.01 - 100 100

Assignments found to have similarities under any of the categories above; will not be entitled to
apply for appeal. For learners who fall into the 70.01-100 similarities group, the access for online
appeal for assignment remarking of the subject will be disabled from the appeal options. /

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 ASSIGNMENT QUESTION 1

This assignment represents the demonstration of work at a Degree level. As a result, the work is
research based and must demonstrate some level of competence in reflection writing, using and
interpreting data. The initial work for this project will begin in Assignment 1 and completed in
Assignment 2. These assignments are write-ups towards producing a whole action research
report. All students are required to;
(1) prepare the outline to propose an action research project;
(2) carry out the action research and;
(3) write a report.

During enrolment in HBEC4503, students will need to apply the ‘Genchi Genbutsu’, an
engineering term which means ‘Go and See’ in order to complete their action research project.
Use the Module closely as a guideline to carry out this research work.

TASK 1

Requirements:

1. Refer to Topic 1 and 2 for guidance to understand action research and planning for action
research.
2. Refer to Topic 6 and 7 for some examples (Example 1-4) related to Early Childhood
context on:
(a) Identifying and limiting the study;
(b) Gathering information;
(c) Reviewing the related literature;
(d) Developing a research plan;
3. Develop your writing drafts following the guidelines given. This is supported by the
related points in 2 [(a) to (d)].
4. Do not submit your writings of 2-3 PAGES yet.
5. Discuss your write up with your E-Tutor and request for his/her comment.
(Total marks: 100)

ATTACHED ARE THE GUIDELINES FOR TASK 1

Format

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Please type (in the Report Template) of your Action Research project idea.

Statement of Purpose
State what is the purpose of this study? Do you mean to provide new solution? Do you mean to
improve the current practice? Explain.

Description of what you plan to study

What is your topic? What are the research questions that will guide your study? Limit to a
maximum of 2 research questions.
Sample: I plan to study the impact of more frequent contact with at-risk students and
their parents. My sub questions will include:
Research question one:
Does increased contact lead to improved academic performance?
Sub-questions:
Does it improve student motivation?
Does it promote parent involvement in the students’ school life?
Is it perceived to be beneficial by both students and parents?

Description of your “treatment” or plan of action

What is the plan, when will it take place, and how will it be designed?
Sample: I will identify ten at-risk students in my 3rd and 4th period classes. The students
will be selected based upon observed poor academic performance and/or
attitude during the first quarter, as well as responses to a researcher-designed
survey administered at the end of the first quarter. At the beginning of the 2nd
semester, I will explain to the students and their parents that I will be working
closely with them in an effort to improve the student’s grade and interest in
class. I will meet with the students during the first week of the semester to help
them set their goals and create a plan of action. The treatment will include
weekly conferences with the students regarding their grade and behaviour,
tutoring sessions, attending their extra-curricular activities, talking to their
other teachers and counselor (if this is deemed necessary, and weekly contact
with parents via email, notes home, or phone calls to five them and update and
get their input. This will last during the 3 rd quarter (although I may continue it

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 through the 4th quarter even after the research project is completed).

Data collection planning

What kind of data will you collect? When and how will you collect it?
Sample:
- I will keep track of their grades during the 2 nd and 3rd quarter (homework, labs,
quizzes, tests, participation points).
- I will keep track of homework completion rates during the 2nd and 3rd quarter. I will
track attendance at the tutoring and review sessions that I implement in the 3 rd
quarter. I will design a student survey which delves into their motivation levels, and
administer that survey to all of the students at the end of the 1 st quarter as well as to
the sample students at the end of the 3rd quarter. During the second and third quarter,
I will also collect anecdotal data regarding their motivation levels.
- The researcher-designed pre and post student survey will also delve into students
perceptions of parent involvement. During my contact with parents during the 3 rd
quarter, I will also collect anecdotal data regarding parent involvement.
- The researcher-designed student post-survey will delve into sample students’
perceptions regarding the benefit of the treatment. I will also design and administer
a parent post-survey to gauge the sample parents’ perceptions of treatment benefit.

TASK 2

Requirements:

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1. Refer to Topic 3 and 4 for guidance to understand data collection and analysis related to
action research.
2. Refer to Topic 8 for some examples related to Early Childhood context on:
(a) Implementing the plan and collecting data;
(b) Analysing the data;
3. Develop your writing drafts of 4-5 pages following the guidelines given, focusing only on
requirement 2 above.
4. Discuss your write up with your e-Tutor for comment.
5. Combine task 1 & 2. Then submit.
6. Refer to the rubric provided as a guideline.

(Total marks: 100)

ATTACHED ARE THE GUIDELINES FOR TASK 2

Format
Please type (in the Report Template) of your Action Research project idea.

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1. Description of the Problem
Identify and describe the problem that you have observed in practice. Be specific and
thorough in your description. Add data to support your assertions (i.e.: number who are
failing, tardy, etc.)

2. Literature Review
Summarise a minimum of TWO research paper or journals that pertain to the problem
that you will study. For each resource, you must describe how the research is relevant to
your study (including specific ideas you might be taking from that research and
incorporating into your own research design). Your textbook or other class handouts may
be used as additional resources (not included in the 2).

3. Description of your Project

Based upon what you have learned from you literature review, create a plan of action that
you will implement in your classroom. Include subheadings and fully describe the
following:
 Research Questions and sub-questions
 Setting (urban/suburban, classroom, general demographics, size of school, grade
levels)
 Participants (exact number, gender, age/grade in school, how selected)
 Timeframe

4. Data Collection
Organise this section by research question (and re-type the research question in its
entirety). For each research question, you must describe the following: What qualitative
and/or quantitative data will you collect to determine your project’s impact? How will
you collect it? Describe any instruments you will use to collect the data such as surveys,

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 interview questions, etc. Draft copies of the researcher-designed instruments must be
attached to these writing drafts as appendices. In the body of the paper, refer to where
these items can be found in the appendix.

5. Data Analysis
Organise this section by research question (and re-type the research question in its
entirety). How will you analyse the data? For example: Comparisons must include
whole group as well as sub-group comparisons (i.e.: Males v. Females, “High” students v.
“Moderate” students v. “Low” achieving students) and perhaps individual comparisons
depending upon the research sample.

6. References
Cite all literature in the body of the paper and on the reference page using APA
(American Psychological Association) format. Get references from different sources such
as journals and books.

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 Assignment Rubrics

HBEC4503 ACTION RESEARCH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION/SEPT2017

Missing
Excellent Above average Fair Low
Item
Max
Criteria Weight
4 3 2 1 0
Marks
Statement of 2.5 The statement of The statement of The statement of The statement of There is no 10
Purpose purpose is very purpose is clear. purpose is clear. purpose is not clear. statement of
clear, concise and This is followed However, there are no It does not mention purpose.
precise. by good further clarifications any purpose of doing
This is followed clarifications of of why the research the action research.
by detailed why the research interest has been
clarifications of interest has been chosen.
why the research chosen.
interest has been
chosen.
Description of the 8.75 Student has been Student has been Student has been able Student has been Student has not 35
problem able to excellently able to decently to sufficiently able to describe been able to
describe what describe what describe what he/she fairly what he/she describe what
he/she plans to he/she plans to plans to study. plans to study. he/she plans to
study. study. The language is The language is fair. study.
The language is The language is simple and clear. Research questions No description
simple and clear. simple and clear. Research questions are expressed. of the problem.
Research Research are expressed. The description is
questions are questions are The description is fair.
clearly expressed. clearly expressed. good.
The description is The description is
excellent. very good.

Description of 7.5 Student has been Student has been Student has been able Student has been Student has not 30
your treatment or able to excellently able to decently to sufficiently able to describe their been able to
plan of action describe their plan describe their describe their plan of plan of action fairly. describe their
of action. plan of action. action. The language is fair. plan of action
The language is The language is The language is The explanation is clearly.
simple and clear. simple and clear. simple and clear. acceptable.

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 Missing
Excellent Above average Fair Low
Item
Max
Criteria Weight The explanation is The explanation The explanation is
Marks
deemed above is very good. good.
expectation.
Data collection 7.5 Student has been Student has been Student has been able Student has been Student has not 30
planning able to excellently able to decently to sufficiently able to describe their been able to
describe their data describe their data describe their plan of plan of action fairly. describe their
collection collection action. The language is fair. data collection
planning. planning. The language is The description is planning clearly.
The language is The language is simple and clear. acceptable.
simple and clear. simple and clear. The description is
The description is The description is good.
deemed above very good.
expectation.
Literature Review 7.5 Literature review Literature review Literature review is Literature review is No literature 30
is excellent. Very is good. Clear and acceptable. very minimal. review exists.
clear and related related to the
to the study. study.
Description of 6.25 Student has been Student has been Student has been able Student has been Student has not 25
your project able to excellently able to decently to sufficiently able to describe been able to
describe what describe what describe what he/she fairly about the describe the
he/she plans to he/she plans to plans to study. project. project.
study. study. The language is The language is fair.
The language is The language is simple and clear. Research questions
simple and clear. simple and clear. Research questions are expressed.
Research Research are expressed.
questions are questions are
clearly expressed. clearly expressed.

Data Collection 3.75 Data collection Data collection Data collection done Data collection done There is no data 15
done is excellent. done is good. is acceptable. is not clear. collection been
Student has been Student has been Student has been able Student has been done.
able to excellently able to decently to sufficiently able to describe their Student has not
describe their data describe their data describe their plan of plan of action fairly. been able to

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 Missing
Excellent Above average Fair Low
Item
Max
Criteria Weight collection collection action. The language is fair. describe their
Marks
planning. planning. The language is The description is data collection
The language is The language is simple and clear. acceptable. planning clearly.
simple and clear. simple and clear. The description is
The description is The description is good.
deemed above very good.
expectation.
Data Analysis 3.75 Data analysis is Data analysis is Data analysis is Data analysis is not There is no data 15
excellent. good. acceptable. clear. analysis been
done.

References 2.5 There are more There are about There are about 6-8 There are about 4-6 Less than 3 10
than 10 references. 8-10 references. references. references. references.

TOTAL MARKS 200

* Jumlah markah akan ditukar kepada 65 peratus.
* Wajaran adalah berat sesuatu bahagian bergantung pada kepentingan maklumat yang diperlukan.

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 Report Template

HBEC 4503 ACTION RESEARCH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

BACHELOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

SEPTEMBER 2017 SEMESTER

ASSIGNMENT 1

TITLE OF STUDY:

Name:

Student ID:

Date of submission:

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 Format
Please type in the following format of your Action Research project idea.

Statement of Purpose
Please type here

Description of the Problem

Please type here

Description of your “treatment” or plan of action

Please type here

Data collection planning

Please type here

Literature Review
Please type here

Description of your Project

Include subheadings and fully describe the following:
 Research Question and sub-questions
 Setting (urban/suburban, classroom, general demographics, size of school, grade
levels)
 Participants (exact number, gender, age/grade in school, how selected)
 Timeframe

Data Collection
Please type here

Data Analysis
Please type here

References
Please type here

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