ASSIGNMENT

HMEF5033
COMPARATIVE EDUCATION
MAY 2022 SEMESTER
___________________________________________________________________________

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION

1. Answer in English / Malay.

2. Number of words: 3500 – 5000 words excluding references.

3. Submit your assignment ONCE only in a SINGLE file.

4. Submit your assignment ONLINE.

5. Submission date : 19 JULY 2022.

6. This assignment accounts for 60% of the total marks for the course.

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 ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

Part I

QUESTION 1: ARTICLE REVIEW (20%)

Objective:
The assignment in Part 1 will allow you to read and critically review an article on men’s
participation in early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Scotland and China.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Read the assigned article and answer the question below:

Xu, Y., Schweisfurth, M., & Read, B. (2022): Men’s participation in early childhood education
and care (ECEC): comparative perspectives from Edinburgh, Scotland and Tianjin,
China. Comparative Education, 58 (1), 1-19.
https://doi.org/10.1080/03050068.2022.2062950

Using your own words, write a critical review of the article between 1,800 words and 2,500
words.
Your article review should comprise the following aspects:
 A summary of the article (4 marks)
 A critique of the main findings of the study and its implication (6 marks)
 A personal response on the issue concerning your home country and a
suitable conclusion (10 marks)
(Total: 20 Marks)

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QUESTION 2: WRITING A COMPARATIVE STUDY REPORT (30%)
Objective:
This part of the assignment provides you with the opportunity to compare and contrast
several significant educational issues and concerns at both the national and international
levels. You will be required to gather information from various sources and write an
extended-response report of about 15 - 20 pages.

INSTRUCTIONS:

The Task: Writing a Comparative Study Report

Read the following topics and select ONE topic of your choice and interest.
Then compare and contrast the topic based on the given context between 1,500 words and
1,800 words.
1. A comparative analysis of how blended learning has enhanced student learning in
any TWO (2) educational institutions in your home country.
2. A critical look at the integration of higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) in the
classroom teaching and learning process in any TWO (2) countries.
3. Compare and contrast Vocational and Technical Education in any TWO (2) countries
located in Asia.
4. A critical look at Educational Leadership and Management among school principals in
developed and developing countries. (Choose any ONE country from each category).
5. A critical look at Teacher Education: Issues and Concerns between nations in the East
and West. (Choose any ONE country from each category).

(30 Marks)

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GUIDELINES TO ASSIGNMENT (QUESTION 2)

STEP 1
 First, read all the topics given and select ONE topic of your choice and interest.
 Once you have decided on your research focus, select two countries from one
region.
Example:
o South-East Asia (e.g. Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore etc.).
o Asia (e.g. Maldives, India, Indonesia, Philippines etc.).
o East (China, Japan, Singapore, etc.).
o West (Poland, UK, France, USA, Australia, etc.).
o Developing countries (e.g. Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand etc.).
o Developed countries (e.g. USA, Australia, Finland, etc.).
 Keep in mind that the schools/institutions/countries you select must have certain
common characteristics so that they are worthy of comparison.
 Next, understand the demands of the task, highlighting what is expected. Example:
Educational Leadership and Management.
 List aspects related to the topic concerned.

STEP 2
 Research the topic concerned by reading journal articles and other scholarly
publications such as books, magazines, circulars, documents and Country Reports.
Do not use Wikipedia as a source of reference.
 Surf the internet to obtain information from national (e.g. Ministry of Education) and
international organisations (e.g. UNESCO, OECD, the World Bank and WEI - World
Education Indicators).

STEP 3
 Read and synthesise the information that you have read.
 List down the similarities and differences between the chosen countries.
 Next, organise your answer based on the educational issue in the question.
See the example below:

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 Begin with an introduction on the issue concerned

Give a brief introduction of Institution / Country A

Provide a brief Introduction to Institution / Country B

Conduct a Contrastive Analysis

List the similarities between Institution / Country A and B
List the differences between Institution / Country A and B

Conclude with a critical overview of the issue

STEP 4
 Write your first draft keeping in mind the task at hand and the writing conventions of
a research report.
 Remember your answer should demonstrate not only the depth of your
understanding and knowledge of the issue at hand but also the educational scenario
and setting of the country/countries selected in your discussion.
 Get someone to proofread the draft and make the necessary corrections.
 When proofreading, pay attention to the following aspects:
o Content – Your response to the question should cover all the aspects within
the scope of the study.
o Organisation – How you organised the main and supporting points.
o Language Accuracy (grammar), Spelling and Punctuation.

STEP 5
 Your final report should be between 15-20 pages (excluding references and
appendices).
 Your final report should be written using the APA style and format. Surf the Internet
for the latest information on the APA Style and format.

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 Give your report a suitable title. Remember a good title is specific and it tells what,
when and where the study was conducted. A title can have a sub-title – giving a clear
view of the issue being investigated. Examples:
o Comparative Perspectives on Citizenship Education in the USA and the UK.
o Wang, J. & Lin, E. (2005). Comparative Studies on the U.S. and Chinese
Mathematics Learning and the Implications for Standards-Based Mathematics
Teaching Reform. Educational Researcher. Vol.34, No.5, 3-13.
 Given below is an example of the format of your final report.
o PRELIMINARIES
 Cover Page
 Title Page
 Acknowledgments (if any)
 Table of Contents
 List of Tables (if any)
 List of Figures (if any)
 Abstract (one paragraph)
o INTRODUCTION (1-2 pages)
 Introduction to issue discussed (e.g. Online learning)
 Review of Related Literature
 Focus / Aim of Report
 Rationale for chosen schools / institutions / countries
 Scope of Report
 Definition of Terms
o SCHOOL / INSTITUTION / COUNTRY A (3-4 pages)
 Introduction to School / Institution / Country A
 Brief historical, geographical & cultural description
 Current information on the issue discussed (e.g. academic
restructuring in institutions of higher learning in Country A - provide
facts, figures, views, relevant literature and recent findings).
o SCHOOL / INSTITUTION / COUNTRY B (3-4 Pages)
 Introduction to School / Institution / Country B
 Brief historical, geographical, cultural description

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  Current information on the issue discussed (e.g. academic
restructuring in institutions of higher learning in Country B - provide
facts, figures, views, relevant literature and recent findings).
o CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS (5-7 pages)
 List the similarities between Schools / Institutions / Countries A & B.
 List the differences between Schools / Institutions / Countries A & B.
 Provide relevant facts & figures using tables and charts.
 Conclude with a summary of impact / major findings.
o CONCLUSION (2-3 pages)
 Restate the issue investigated
 Provide a summary of the main findings
 Recommendations for further investigation
 Conclusion
o REFERENCES
 Provide a list of all references cited in the report.
 Use American Psychological Association (APA) Format and Style to cite
references.
 Where possible use the latest references (the year 2008 and onwards).
o APPENDICES
 Include circulars, tables, charts, figures etc. that are relevant sources
for information to the report but not centrally important.
 Label Appendices for easy reference (e.g. Appendix 1, Appendix 2 etc.).

Assignment Format:
 Provide reference using the American Psychological Association (APA) format.
 References should be the latest (the year 2015 onwards).

Notes:
 Assignments should be submitted according to the due date.
 You are to submit a softcopy of your assignment online.
 Plagiarism is not acceptable. If you are unsure what plagiarism means, refer to the
various websites that discuss this matter, e.g. owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts.

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Part II

ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)

This part requires students to participate actively in the myINSPIRE e-forum. Discuss the
following topics in the forum and submit proof of your participation with your tutor and
peers in the e-forum online discussions:

Question 1:
How do the various countries compare in terms of languages and literacy, mathematics,
science and technology and humanities, religious and moral education and citizenship are
taught? Discuss.

Question 2:
Based on Question 1, how would you describe the teaching of these three learning areas as
practised in Malaysian Primary schools?

Question 3:
Discuss the relationship between human capital development and national development.

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SUBMIT PROOF OF ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)

Do the following:
1. Select the best FIVE (5) of your postings from the forum discussion set up by your tutor.
2. Do screenshots of the postings and include them as images in your assignment.
3. The screenshots should be in the image file (either in JPG or PNG format). Refer to the sample of
Screen Grab below.
4. The screenshots should contain: Name, Title of the discussion, Day, Date and Time.

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Guidelines for Submission:
a. Use double space and 12-point Times New Roman font.
b. Provide reference using the American Psychological Association (APA) format 7 th
edition.
c. References should be the latest (the year 2010 onwards)
Notes:
● Assignments should be submitted according to the due date.
● You are to submit a softcopy of your assignment online through myINSPIRE.
● Plagiarism is not acceptable. If you are unsure what plagiarism means, refer to the
various websites that discuss this matter, e.g. owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts.

[Total: 10 marks]

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 ATTACHMENT
ASSIGNMENT RUBRICS
HMEF5033 COMPARATIVE EDUCATION / MAY 2022
QUESTION 1 &2 (50%)
Criteria Excellent Good Fair Poor Unsatisfactory Max
*QN CLO Weight
4 3 2 1 0 Marks
1 1 Question 1 – Article Review: 1 Excellent summary of A good summary of Satisfactory summary of Weak summary of There is no 4
the article about all the the article about all the the article about all the the article about all summary
Summary three aspects required three aspects required three aspects required – the three aspects
a) aim / purpose one missing or required missing
b) research methodology inaccurate item and inaccurate
c) main findings items

1 2 Critique 1.5 Excellent critique of A good critique of the Satisfactory critique of Limited critique of There is no 6
A critique of the main findings of the findings and findings and the findings and the findings and critique
the study and its implication. implications with implications with implications with implications with presented.
evidence from the evidence from the insufficient/inaccurate poor / no evidence
article and other article and other evidence from the article from the article and
related sources. related sources. and other related other related
sources. sources.
1 3 Personal Response 2.5 Excellent personal Good personal Satisfactory personal Limited / Weak There is no 10
and a conclusion response to the article response to the article response to the article personal response personal
and issue at hand with and issue at hand with and some attempt to to the article and response or a
suitable conclusion a suitable conclusion address the issue at poor / no attempt conclusion
hand with a weak to address the
conclusion issue at hand with
no conclusion

2 1 Question 2 Writing a Comparative 0.75 The introduction The introduction The introduction does The introduction There is no 3
Study Report previews the structure previews the structure not adequately preview does not preview introduction
and objectives of the and objectives of the the structure of the the structure and
Introduction paper. It is interesting paper. paper but clearly states objectives of the
to read. its objectives. paper.

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 2 2 School / Institution/ 1.25 The analysis is in-depth The analysis is detailed There is a brief but fair There is no / a No analysis given 5
Country A and critical. It is and fairly critical. analysis of the issues. limited analysis of
supported by relevant the issues.
data.

2 2 School / Institution/ 1.25 The analysis is in-depth The analysis is detailed There is a brief but fair There is no / a No analysis was 5
Country B and critical. It is and fairly critical. analysis of the issues. limited analysis of given.
supported by relevant the issues.
data.
2 3 Comparative Analysis 2.5 There is an in-depth There is a detailed There is a fair effort to There is no / No comparison 10
effort to compare and effort to compare and compare and contrast limited effort to offered
contrast the contrast the the similarities and compare and
similarities and similarities and differences. contrast the
differences. differences. similarities and
Students give their Adequate opinion. differences.
viewpoints based on
experience. Weak opinion.

2 2 Conclusion 0.75 The conclusion is The conclusion is well The conclusion partially There is no / poor No conclusion 3
strong and very well summarised. ties up the issues conclusion. It does presented
summarised. between the two not tie up the
countries. issues in a clear
manner.
2 1 Organisation 1 The report is very well The report is well The report is fairly The report is not No organisation 4
organised and is organised and it is organised and logically organised and
presented clearly and presented logically. presented in an there are
systematically. Minimal grammar and adequate manner. substantial errors
References conform to spelling errors. Several errors in in grammar and
the APA style. The grammar and spelling. spelling.
paper is interesting.

Total 12.5 50
*QN = Question Number

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PART II: ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10 MARKS)

Online Class CLO Excellent Good Fair Poor No response Maximu

Criteria Weighting
Question 4 3 2 1 0 m marks

(a) What are the Quality of • All the five • All the five • All the five responses • All the five responses or No postings 10
curriculum issues Postings responses or responses or or comments are quite comments are not relevant were given as
and concerns? comments are very comments are relevant and quite and not related proof of
(b) Why do we need Affective relevant and very relevant and meaningful • The postings are not participation
3 2.5
to change the Domain meaningful meaningful • The postings are quite tactful in their approach in the
curriculum from (A3) • The postings are • The postings are tactful in their approach • The responses are too discussion
time to time? very tactful in their tactful in their brief (e.g. “I agree with
approach approach Tina”)

Total Marks 2.5 10

*QN = Question Number

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