More Session 3 Reflection

Different instruments for assessing learning environment

Learning Environment Inventory (LEI)

LEI began in the 1960s in conjunction to the Harvard Project Physics. The final version contains a total of 105 statements with 7 scale per item descriptive of typical school classes.

Classroom Environment Scale (CES)

The CES was developed by Sir Rudolf Moos. The final published version contains 9 scales with 10 items of True-False response format in each scale. Typical items in the CES includes Teacher Support and Rule Clarity.

My Class Inventory (MCI)

The MCI was the simplified version of the LEI for use among children aged 8 to 12 years old. MCI only contains 5 scales with two point Yes-No response format. Item wording have been simplified to enhance readability. Students answer on the questionaire itself then in a separate answer sheet. The typical form includes Friction, Satisfaction and Task Orientation scales.

Questionaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI)

The QTI forcuses on the the nature and quality of interpersonal relationships between teachers and students. It was developed to assess students perceptions of 8 behaviour aspects. Each item has a 5 point response scale.

Science Laboratory Environment Inventory (SLEI)

SLEI was developed to assess the uniqueness of a science laboratoy settings in science education. The SLEI has 5 scales each with 7 items and a 5 response alternatives. The Open Endedness scale was included later because of the importance of open ended lab activities.

Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (CLES)

Constructivist view states that meaningful learning is a cognitive process and individuals make sense of the world from the knowledge they have already constructed. The CLES was developed to assist researchers and teachers to assess the degree to which a particular classroom is consistent to the constructivist view and assist teachers to reflect on their assumptions and reshape their teaching practices.

What Is Happening In This Class Questionaire (WIHIC)

WIHIC contains 7 eight item scales. It has a separate Class form which assesses s student's perceptions of a class as a whole and a personal form which assesses a student's personal perceptions of the role in a classroom.

My Reflections

Over the decades due to the remarkable growth in research in learning environment, alot of instruments were developed and validated with numerous studies and literature reviews. We have looked at some of the commonly used instruments in the study of learning environment above. The choice of the instrument to be used in crucial as it has to target the intended group, the research question and the methodology and modify the items if neccesary without changing the meaning of the items. The Moo's scheme was the guiding principle for the design of the scales and the four dimensions used are the relationship (extent pf people involvement and support for each other), personal developement (direction along which personal growth and self enhancement occur), system maintenance and system change (extent to which the environment is orderly).

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