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Evaluation as protection : using curriculam evaluation to promote a just distribution of educational resources in a private post-secondary English-language liberal arts institution in Canada for Japanese students which uses a leveled, modular, skills-based mastery-learning entry programme

University of British Columbia

This thesis examines how one might evaluate the justice of educational resource distribution. It focusses on the criteria of institutional justice formulated by John Rawls: according to these criteria inequality in the distribution of resources is only allowed if it can be shown to benefit all groups, including 'the least favoured'. The thesis also demonstrates how qualitative and quantitative research methods can be combined in order to reach a more accurate and 'just' evaluation. The research, which was conducted at a private post-secondary English - language liberal arts institution in British Columbia for Japanese students, compares annual student growth in English, both before and after the implementation of a three-to-ten-month leveled, modular, mastery-learning program for entry-level students. The research also includes interviews to determine teacher attitudes about the previous and present programs and their effect on students. In both the qualitative and quantitative studies, program effects on high-, medium-, and low-entry ability students are looked at separately (in order to use Rawls' criteria). The context of the research is clarified with short summaries of issues around mastery learning, leveling versus tracking, and Japanese versus western education. The quantitative research finds that, contrary to teacher impressions, the mean improvement for students in the present program is not significantly different from that in the previous program. The qualitative research however, points out important justice implications not revealed by the other study. The thesis concludes that (1) there are some problems with using Rawls' criteria in an educational setting; (2) looking at program effects on three separate ability groupings can reveal trends having justice implications; and (3) assessments of the justice of educational resource distribution should attempt to triangulate with both qualitative and quantitative studies which attempt to answer the same question.

Thesis/Dissertation

application/pdf

2009-03-12

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/5977

Curriculum Studies

University of British Columbia

UBCV

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