Article Title: An evaluation of teaching of Science in English in a rural school in

Sabah.
Authors: Shirley Tay Siew Hong
Publication: Curriculum Evaluation (Ph.D in Education, UMS)
Keywords: Evaluator, Educator, Educational Practice, Evaluations studies
Reviewer: Shafeeq Hussain
.

The main purpose of articles is to look into what was happening in the science
classroom in a rural school and how were the Science teachers in Sabah executing their
duties in line with the new policy change to using English to teach Science in their
context.
The most important conclusions in this article is to look into what is happening in the
Science classroom and investigate why things were going on the way they were and
whether the practices observed need improvement, in order to find the best classroom
practice. This study also brings awareness to educators that classroom research is an
important activity for teachers to improve their instructional approaches. In this
curriculum process evaluation and Instructional Evaluation, instructional evaluation
focuses on the activities in the teaching and learning process. Its also evaluate the
teachers performance, teachers teaching-learning strategies, students learning
opportunities, learning activities and learning experiences in class, and the teaching
materials used are the main variables in providing useful feedback for improvement. It is
important to monitor by getting the feedback about the program, whether it is running
effectively or not and what kind of intervention is needed before evaluating the outcomes
of the implemented program. This evaluation research is to investigate the teaching
Science in English in the lower secondary classes with the specific intention of weighing
up their strengths or weakness and providing feedback about how things might be
improved in order to find out how, what and why the teachers were teaching the way they
do in their Science classrooms.
This article teach me that, whatever the blueprint or specifications handbook

prepared by the Ministry of Education, Malaysia, it is truly depends on the teacher who
are implementing the curriculum process. According to my personal experience, there are
some teachers who are not expert in their English language could not deliver their
teaching in English and use Bahasa Malaysia while there are no one observing them.
They will use English when anyone is observing their teaching. Besides that, chalk and
talk are the common tools used in their teaching and learning activities. If the teachers
does not agree or understand what the aim of the curriculum is, they would not able to
interpret and perceive the teaching and learning of the subject. Teachers must be
professional in their subject, and review their instructional approaches in teaching
continuously to improve their skills and method of teaching.
I agree completely with the points in the article, because this research brings
awareness to educators that classroom research is an important activity for teachers to
improve their instructional approaches.
One part of the article helps me to understand is the conclusion in process evaluation
and Purpose of the Evaluation. It helped me to understand this research about what was
happening in the science classroom in a rural school and how were the Science teachers
in Sabah. Process evaluation aims to monitor, document and assess program me
activities, yet this study focused on the classroom process component. The study
investigates if the instructional methods used in the classroom conform to the learning
objectives, learning activities and learning outcomes as stipulated in the Curriculum
Specifications handbook produced by the Ministry of Education.
This article only help me to understand the seriousness of evaluation in classroom.
Although teaching Science and Mathematics (PPSMI) is changed back to Bahasa
Malaysia, we need to admit that the failure of the program is because lack of
understanding the important of the issue by teachers who refuse to adapt themselves to
the changes in curriculum. I felt Im not blessed to receive education in those days, where
all subjects were taught in English. That is the main reason why some old people are so
good in English and Im going through tough time to improve my English until today.
The information in this article that affect me is the method used to improve our
teaching methods by classroom observation and video recording will give us the
opportunity to critically view and comment on our instruction process during the subject

department meetings. This is a good way of sharing teaching techniques, methods and
approaches among our colleagues to make our teaching more meaningful, besides
generate an effective classroom atmosphere. Im the Head of Committee for Geography, I
plan to make it compulsory at least twice a year to do observation and video recording in
the geography class to improve our teaching approaches while sharing among colleagues,
our different method of teaching and learning based on 21st century learning.
In this article, Curriculum evaluation help to give awareness to educators that
classroom research is an important activity for teachers to improve their instructional
approaches and to make research accessible to practioners in order to find the best
classroom practice. If we were not aware of this information, we would not show any
improvement in our teaching or make any different in our classroom. This might make us
stay freeze in comfortable zone and refuse to change according to the curriculum needs.
We might left out and lifelong learning is very important to update ourselves according to
the fast changing education.
5. What are you best questions about this article?
a. What is the best classroom practice?
6. The top three questions you feel you were able to generate on this article?
a. What is the situation in town schools and how were Science teachers executing
their duties in line with the new policy change of using English to teach Science
in their context?
b. How we can develop exposure in teaching Science in English in rural schools?
c. How to generate an effective classroom and general level of achievement for the
majority students in a rural Sabah?