Epistemological Beliefs and Philosophical Perspective of the Science and Mathematics Teachers about the Nature of Science
The focus of the research was to find science teachers' philosophy about the nature of science NOS in philosophical perspectives serving in the public sector universities of Pakistan. The descriptive research method was used to investigate the difference in perceptions of the science teachers about NOS on the basis of gender and subject. An online questionnaire was utilized in order to gather data from respondents. Different constructs of NOS were identified to explore. The female teachers had more understandings about NOS than male teachers. The teachers of mathematics were positivists and decontextualized view of NOS. Male teachers were having an inductivist view of NOS. Physics teachers believed in inductivism. The teachers of chemistry were having process and realism view of NOS. Mathematics teachers were found to have contextualized NOS. It is recommended to provide orientation to science teachers in order to build NOS towards concept clarification during the process of the teaching-learning process.
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Epistemological Beliefs, Inquiry, Nature of Science, Philosophical Perspectives, Scientific literacy, Science Teaching
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(1) Farkhunda Rasheed Choudhary
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(2) Hina Noor
Lecturer, Faculty of Education, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(3) Tariq Javed
SST, Federal Government Public School No. 2 (Boys), Tariqabad, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.
Varying Written Perspectives on Politics of Pakistan
Every discipline has its own specific perspective. The very difference of varying perspectives draws a line primarily between scientific and nonscientific knowledge. Then, amongst sciences it differentiates the rational from the empirical sciences. Apart from the natural sciences social sciences also utilize both rational and empirical approaches to science. Even, with in both of these perspectives there are also some other perspectives of social sciences. The present paper attempts to explore these perspectives as per the varying approaches of the respective writers contributing to the domain of the politics of Pakistan. A number of scholars have explored the politics of Pakistan. A brief review of them shows that they have studied the phenomenon of politics in Pakistan as per their respective approaches. The varying perspectives of these researchers can broadly be categorised into four main approaches i.e. 'Elitist Approach', 'Marxian Approach', 'Ideological Approach', and 'Praetorian Approach'. Every researcher of social science should necessarily understand the difference of these perspectives before initiating his investigation in to the politics of Pakistan. This paper aims to engulf the writings of all the potential writers in this field.
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Politics, Elitist, Marxist, Ideological, Praetorian, Approaches, Perspectives, Pakistan.
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(1) Sajid Mahmood Awan
Senior Research Fellow at the National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research (NIHCR), Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
(2) Sana Hussan
Senior Research Fellow, Humanity Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan
Learning Management System (LMS): The Perspectives of Teachers
The emerging trend of the use of LMS (Learning Management System) in higher educational institutes is improving the teaching-learning process. The purpose of this research was to find out the perspectives of teachers towards the use of LMS. The phenomenological case study approach was the focus of this study. All the teachers who were involved in course, section, and teachers allocations in LMS were taken as the participants of the study. The sample was selected by purposeful and convenient sampling techniques. Six teachers gave interviews, while 12 teachers filled the open-ended questionnaire from three campuses of the University of Education, Lahore. Thematic analysis of data indicated that there were four main categories of faculty perceptions towards using the Learning Management System. These were advantages, disadvantages, features, and problems faced by teachers in LMS. The researchers recommended intensive training of university faculty and students in the employment of the LMS.
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Learning Management System (LMS), Perspectives, Qualitative Research Design, Phenomenological Case Study Approach, Thematic Analysis
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(1) Farzana Yousaf
Lecturer, University of Education, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Kiran Shehzadi
Lecturer, University of Education, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
(3) Areeba Haider Aali
M.Phil Scholar, University of Education, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.