Having had a clarification meeting with Pauline and James, the original plan has indeed been revised and scaled down. Rather than paraphrase the latest plan of action, Ive simply cut and pasted it below:
Project Aims
The principal aim of the research proposal is to assess the potential for a Peer Assisted Learning environment focused on the adolescents currently excluded from education in the developing world; more specifically, the semi-rural town of Kasoa in Ghana.
The chosen theme reflects an uncompromising environment where cost, an absence of resources and a lack of material relevance often result in a low quality product and significant numbers of children being excluded from the formal learning domain; 21% of all Ghanaian children between the ages of 7-16 have never been to school (EFA, 2009).
The limitations of a traditional (EFA) approach to education delivery for the poor, based on a curriculum that ignores cultural context and relevant learning experiences have been acknowledged (Leadbetter and Wong, 2009; Tedla, 1995; Salia-Bao, 1989). However in view of the complexity of the research environment, it is considered neither feasible nor advisable (high risk) to introduce a radical step change into the Ghanaian classroom; such a strategy would in all probability, produce an unstable environment that is difficult to characterise, assess and sustain.
It is therefore proposed (subject to review) that the research be based on the limited classroom configuration that leaves the current teaching/learning format and objectives largely intact with the significant exception of the teaching role, which will be undertaken by a student-tutor as opposed to a formally qualified, adult teacher.
The aim of the research therefore will be to assess the validity of a monitorial style approach to learning in the given context. The output will then form the basis for further investigations assessing the potential for expansion of the procedure to include additional aspects of the curriculum and changes to the style of teaching and learning.
Research Requirements
The dominant features of the proposed monitorial classroom are listed as follows:
1. The curriculum will be focused on the contextually significant subjects of English (basic literacy skills) and Maths (basic arithmetic skills).
2. These core subjects will be supplemented by a basic Computer Literacy element as a means of adding interest, diversity and contemporary relevance to the learning environment.
3. In view of its cultural relevance (observation and imitation), procedural simplicity and suitability in relation to low-level thinking sactivities, the dominant teaching style will be traditional rote
4. The target population will be limited to a random selection of adolescents (between 11-16 years) who are currently excluded from school.
5.The population will be limited to a single, broadly similar cognitive level in order to avoid multiple curriculum definitions
6. Class sizes will be dependent on population size (subject to research) and the number of student-tutors (TBD)
7. The appropriate school building will be provided consisting of a number of small classrooms to match the student need
8. The school will be open in line with traditional hours (07.30 to 15.30)NB. classes will be of a short duration and repeated throughout the day in order that students can accommodate learning into their personal lives. This schedule has the added benefit of supporting student-tutor confidence and development.
9. Developing a teaching environment that doesn’t necessitate the threat or use of corporal punishment i.e. a visible adult presence is required
10. Assessment will be undertaken in relation to the cognitive and behavioural development of the students
11. The learning environment will be defined in relation to a select group of commercially available learning packages focused on English literacy (phonics) and basic arithmetic
12. Student-tutor training will be complete by the end of September 2010. School availability must be coincident with this timeframe i.e. the beginning of October 2010.
13. The course will have a duration of six months minimum.
14. The school is a private entity and must be operational sustainable. To this end, the students will be required to pay a small fee in order to cover the cost of the student-tutors (paid to cover their opportunity cost)
15. The school will be closely associated with the Omega Foundation brand in order to promote its acceptability amongst parents and children.
Action Plan
The actions required to meet the requirement as listed as follows:
1. Review the set of research requirements listed above
2. Development of a business plan including: a) costs associated with (but not limited to) acquiring an operating licence, the building (materials and construction), learning materials (learning packages, computers, stationery, furniture), student-tutor payments, meals etc. b) revenue generated by student fees.
3. Marketing plan that includes the following: a) cost of advertising the school. b) An estimate of student numbers based on proposed curriculum options and their supposed relevance to the target population.
4. Search within Ghanaian education policy and curriculum documents for definitive statements regarding culturally relevant themes and learning experiences. Whilst procedural simplicity is of paramount importance, these statements (assuming they exist) will form the basis for selection criteria associated with the learning packages.
5. Deriving a definitive research methodology and assessment tool set. In view of the originality of the project, it may be difficult to derive a control group model against which cognitive and behavioural progress can be measured. On the understand that all students can are tested but only a select group are exposed to the intervention, the use of a regression-divergence technique may be appropriate.
So thats the latest plan. Whilst we await progress on that, I will continue to make address the literature review and attempt to resolve the continued enigma that is the research methodology.