Possible Questions in Defense Flashcards
Answer the ff. without pausing or being familiarized with our thesis.
What motivated you to conduct or choose the study?
- We want to contribute to the SPED community about career growth and development here in the Philippines.
- We want to find out the experiences of SPED professionals in choosing their career path and specialization.
What is the background of your study?
The Philippines faces a challenge in educating its 1.6 million children with disabilities. While the approach has shifted between integrated and segregated education, there’s a current push for inclusion within general classrooms. However, successful inclusion requires well-trained teachers, which is a current gap. Studies show qualified special education teachers lead to better student outcomes. To address this need, policymakers should prioritize training and support for special education teachers, especially in Metro Manila where the demand for inclusion is high. Research in this area is lacking, highlighting the need for this study which focuses on the experiences and specializations of special education teachers in Metro Manila.
How is your theory or concept relevant to your study?
We thought of Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Career Theory. The theory suggests that creating an impactful and sustainable career pathway in special education. For special education teachers, three things matter: feeling confident (self-efficacy), why they got into the field (outcome expectations), and what kind of support they get (learning experiences). Past experiences, motivations, and access to resources all influence how these teachers approach their work.
How did you formulate your Statement of the Problem?
It aims to understand the lived experiences of special needs educators in Metro Manila by exploring aspects that contribute to their career paths and chosen specialization and navigating the complexities of teaching students with diverse needs.
What is the Importance of your study?
We believe is crucial to pursue this study as it aims to learn from the experiences of special education teachers. By following their career paths, including the challenges and successes they face in their chosen areas of expertise, we hope to improve the field and empower educators themselves as well as aspiring teachers like us through our research.
What is the limitation of your study?
This study explores the experiences of special education teachers in Metro Manila. It looks at their career paths, motivations, and what led them to choose their specific area of expertise. By interviewing 15 educators from different specializations, the study aims to understand their unique perspectives and challenges. It’s important to note that this research focuses on Metro Manila, so it might not capture the experiences of educators in other parts of the Philippines. Future studies could involve more teachers from different regions to get a broader picture.
Is there an existing research gap?
Yes, Ma’am/Sir/Dr. This study focuses on Metro Manila, where there’s a growing need for special education teachers due to the push for inclusive classrooms. Surprisingly, there haven’t been many studies on their career paths and specializations.
What method and technique did you use?
For the following methods and techniques, we used Interviews, Observation Checklists, and Document Analysis.
Who are your respondents?
Our respondents will be Special Education Professionals such as Early Childhood Education Teachers, Pre-vocational Teachers, and Inclusive Classroom Teachers
Discuss the population and sample of your study.
The sample of study participants will be drawn from the area of Metro Manila, targeting early childhood, pre-vocational, and classroom teachers. They are deemed eligible to share their career pathways by using criterion sampling whereas our criteria would be: (1) must be currently working as a SPED Teacher, (2) should have at least 2-3 years working with SNED students in Metro Manila, (3) age ranges from 24 to 40, and lastly, (4) their willingness to participate.
How did you choose the sample for your study?
We chose criterion sampling as it is most efficient for our study as it can be broad to choose from varying qualifications, certifications, and experiences. This approach will enable researchers to gain insights into how educators choose their career paths and their specializations.
What instrument did you use?
In this study, three instruments will be utilized as the primary data gathering instrument. These are semi-structured interviews, observation checklists, and document analysis.
How do you plan to gather your data?
The study will use three methods to understand how teachers choose their career paths and specializations:
Interviews: Teachers will answer questions about their decisions and experiences.
Classroom Observations: Researchers will watch teachers work and see how they use different teaching methods.
Document Review: Teachers can share documents like resumes or certificates if they agree.
The researchers will prioritize getting informed consent and keeping everything confidential.
