What is learning?

What is learning, you ask?

We learn throughout our entire lives; from the minute of your birth to the second of your death. Constant learning is what makes us human. In fact, some people learn by trial and error, others by immediate knowledge. However, learning can mean anything.

Some of us, like myself, obtained their first alphabetical and moral teaching from Sesame Street:

Others, with Barney and Friends:

From this stage on, it is normally us that decides what we want to do with our learning capacity. In school, some decide to do well and others don't. Despite the decisions that we make, I believe that there are also other factors that can influence this. This is what my personal project is about. My focus is on how Portugal's population characteristics may influence academic achievements.

I would like your opinion on whether you believe population characteristics may influence academic achievements.

Post your opinions today!

Thursday, 20th November 2008 - School Day

Today my aim was to work dilligently on the product of my personal project. However not getting a tremendous advance on the work, I managed to organize all of the received questionnaires, and complete some of the points of the product. Today I was able to produce the title page and other ordinary procedures of my final product document, in which I plan to include:

1. 1. Title Page
   2. Contents Page
   3. Who am I?
   4. Introductory Acknowledgements
   5. Introduction
   6. Aim of Study
   7. The Importance of Education
   8. The Ministry of Education
   9. Education Systems/ Curriculums in Portugal
   10. Education Systems around the world, and their results
   11. Academic Achievements in Portugal
   12. Portugal and the World
   13. What measures have been implemented in the past to reduce the problem?
   14. Questionnaires (Results and Analysis)
   15. Conclusion of Study
   16. What can be employed to reduce this problem?
   17. Personal Perspective
   18. Final Acknowledgments
   19. Recommendations
   20. Index Page

Today I worked on points 3 and 7, that do not require any analysis, however a full description of my interests and aims for this report.

Wednesday, 12th November 2008 - School Day (W17)

Today was supposedly the due date of the questionnaires I sent to the individuals mentioned in the entries below. Nonetheless, due to several technical difficulties involving the compatibility of the document, this was not possible. Naturally, this fact is detrimental to the time limit of my project, nevertheless, further investigation will be done concerning this issue. Hitherto, the time management of this questionnaire is undetermined.

Despite the fact that the results of the questionnaire were not received, I have completed a document incorporating the results formulation to be completed, in a Microsoft Excel file.

I will keep you posted on further development of the product and project.

Sunday, 9th November 2008 - Weekend

As I stated in the previous entry, I have completed a questionnaire (in Portuguese) for the teachers and representatives of the Portuguese Ministery of Education (or individuals with teaching experience). Yesterday, however, I was not able to send this questionnaire to all of the individuals that I so wished. Thus, today, with the aid of my mother's agenda, I gathered the contacts of all of the individuals that I wished to contact, and sent them the questionnaire. The date I set for the returning of the completed questionnaire was on Wednesday, 12th of November.

Nevertheless having completed this phase of my personal project, I am sorry to say that I am extremely behind in this process, and am encountering tremendous difficulties in establishing a compromise between subject work and the personal project. In the following two weeks (in which I must complete the entire project), I believe that I must dedicate more time and effort towards the personal project, and unfortunately must somewhat disregard some of the other assignments that have been designated to me. My involvement in the IMUN (Iberian Model United Nations) this year, although very profitable in terms of experience and public speaking (as well as in the awarness of world issues), is also retrieving a lot of my work time, which I once again must compromise with the personal project.

My aim is that I complete the product of the personal project in the following two weeks, and complete the actual project in the last week previous to the due date.

Tomorrow I am planning to meet with my supervisor, in order to plan these issues and come to a consensus of what is to be achieved in this limited time period.

Saturday, 8th November 2008 - Weekend (W16)

Today I retrieved the various factors to be looked at previously designated with my supervisor:

Approaches to Learning:

• Organization
• Committement
• Individual preparation

Cultural Influences:

• Parental influences
• Response to success/ failure
• High expectations
• Socioeconomic factors

I utilized these points in order to produce a questionnaire that would be handed out to various individuals involved in education in Portugal (as assigned in the previous entry), by looking at the previous factors. With this information, and considering the information collected in the OECD academic results profile, I produced a series of questions (both multiple choice and full responses) to be answered by these people in a 30 minute time period. The following exert is a section of the produced questionnaire:

1. Que nível de desempenho académico é que atribui à maioria dos alunos da faixa etária com que está/ esteve envolvido?

1) Ajustado às expectativas para o respectivo ano
2) Avançado
3) Abaixo das expectativas

Na sua opinião, quais as principais razões que explicam a sua resposta esta pergunta? ____________________________________


2. Como avalia o grau de dispersão do desempenho académico desses alunos?

1) Grande variação no desempenho
2) Desempenho muito homogéneo
3) Distribuição normal do desempenho (muito alunos com desempenho médio, e um número equivalente de alunos muito bons e muito maus)
4) Outra dispersão

Na sua opinião, quais as principais razões que explicam a sua resposta esta pergunta? ____________________________________

3. Qual a sua opinião sobre o sistema de avaliação do desempenho académico dos alunos?

1) Adequado
2) Pouco exigente
3) Muito exigente
4) Outra

Quais os principais factores positivos/ negativos que salienta sobre o sistema de avaliação de desempenho académico? __________________

4. Tem experiência em ensino internacional/ de outros países? Se sim quais? Se não, por favor passe para a questão seguinte.

Resposta: ________________________________________

Wednesday, 5th November 2008 - School Day (W16)

My fourth, and brief, meeting with my supervisor was carried out today, whereas I discussed my new ideas towards the product, as well as how I had opted to produce a blog as a process journal. Although not coming to any conclusion, this meeting was relevant, for I explained my new ideas to Ms. T, and she provided feedback to how I can format and utilize those results (explained in the preceding entry).

Nonetheless having modified my goal slightly, the areas of interaction on which I am concentrating has not changed, being that I am still looking at the cultural influences and different approaches ot learning of the different countries.

Saturday, 18th October 2008 - Weekend

Today I worked, again with father, on the research section of the product. Looking at a website that displayed the mathematics, science and languages results of an equivalent test for various countries, members of the OECD, I encoutered various ideas for my product. One of the statistical informations within this study was the comparison between the grades achieved in the country and the expected results, considering the socioeconomic factors of the country. Portugal, for instance displayed results exceedingly below the expectations, such as Spain and Italy did (2008). Nevertheless, and to my surprise (due to the stereotypes created around this idea), the country with the highest results was not an Asian one, such as Japan, which is known to be extremely rigid with education, but Finland, which overcame the grade expectations greatly. Knowledge of such data provided that my ideas concerning the research paper to be completed as the product to be altered. Because Portugal has a problem in academic achievements not only as raw data, but also in comparison to the socioeconomic expectations, I believe that it would be interesting to, by comparing Portugal's results with other countries, modify the project goal, in order for it to focus on:

"what measures can be employed in order to improve the academic results in Portugal?"

Thus, the product would require questioning the following individuals:

• Teachers in portuguese schools,
• Teachers that have taught in both Portuguese and international schools, and
• Representatives of the Portuguese Ministery of Education.

I will remain informing this journal on every aspect of my work sessions and decisions, regarding the Personal Project.

Sunday, 28th September 2008 - Weekend (W10)

Considering the advice provided by the head of the biology section of the science department and my supervisor, today my father and I researched possible prospects to be included in the investigation. Nevertheless having planned the goal to a lot of detail, I do not believe that is very liable to carry out. Therefore, my father and looked at different possibilities of results, incorporated into various sites of his acquaintance. These academic results concerned data equal for all students (therefore reliable), showing mathematics, science, literature, languages and logic comprehension results. However, not having decided which results to utilize for the product, I am planning on using results from this site. I do not believe that time will be enough in order to complete the previously planned process, and thus I see a necessity to alter the plan.

Tuesday, 23rd September 2008 - School Day (W10)

Meeting with Head of Biology teacher:

Today I had a meeting with Mr. "BL", due to the previously mentioned plan to choose the final format fo the product. Whilst discussing this, we also came to the conclusion that looking at more than two countries (possibly Japan, Portugal, Singapore and the United Kingdom), over a -year period of time, would increase the level of interest, as well as the qualiyty of the content of the project. Within the meeting, Mr. BL also suggested employing the "students t-test" as a means of statistical evidence for analytical purposes.

On the other hand, the format of the product was also concluded to be more efficient as the format of a regular lab report, thus incorporating:

• Study Aim
• Introduction (featuring ATL characteristics of each country)
• Hypothesis (what are the results that you think will be obtained?)
• Variables
• Method of obtaining results
• Results (tables, graphs, etc.)
• Analysis
• Conclusion
• Evaluation

Meeting with Supervisor:

Following to the meeting with Mr. BL, I spoke to my supervisor, concerning the advice provided in the previous meeting. Amid looking at the suggestions, we recognized that possibly the choice of countries could incorporate:

• Japan
• Portugal
• Brazil
• Undefined African country

This range of countries would provide more effective conclusions, since they display more distinct characteristics than the previous range.

Friday, 12th September 2008 - School Day (W8)

Today, a second meeting with my supervisor was executed, thus developing the idea to be introduced into the project. Apart from the already mentioned factors to be looked at, we also discussed the physical format of my investigation, due to the fact that various formats can be applied to this situation, and hence the most suitable one is the one to implement. Therefore, my supervisor suggested questioning the heads of the science department on which format they would consider optimal for this particular situation. I am planning to do this as soon as possible, however naturally also depending on the availability of the heads of science.

Meanwhile, I am not of the opinion that my work is being carried out as dilligently as I had wished, due to the fact that I am significantly behind schedule. I, therefore, must commence a better organization of my subject work, so as to have more time for working on the personal project.

I will provide more information on my project development on the following work session.

Friday, 5th September 2008 - School Day (W7)

A previously designated meeting was today performed, being that involving myself and my supervisor. Following to showing the work that I had completed throughout the summer interval, my supervisor provided advice on how to proceed with this project. The main points that we discussed are organized below:

What are the cultural differences which -

• Affect the Approaches to Learning of an IB Diploma student in Japan, vs an IB Diploma student in Portugal.
• What are the approaches to learning adopted by a Japanese vs a Portuguese student during the IB Diploma?

Analytical study:

How do the ATL, which can be influenced by cultural aspects, effect the results in the IB Diploma of a Japanese student vs a Portuguese student?

Focus -

ATL

• Organization
• Committment
• Note taking
• Parental pressure

Cultural Aspects

• Parental Influence
• Society expectations
• Effects of success/ failure

How are these factors reflected in the IB results from both countries?

From my perception, this meeting was extremely usefull, due to the fact that it provided a clear orientation and basis for my study, which was a cause of preoccupation. Although not being entirely sure on the theme choice for the product yet, I believe that these points will be of relevance for any particular study involving academic performance and education. Also, in this meeting I came to the conclusion of which area of interaction I am going to focus on, which will be a future reference for developing ideas from the subject.

Wednesday, 27th August 2008 - Holidays, Summer (W8)

The following information was retrieved from the brainstorm file recently completed, demonstrating the reasons for the choice of experiment, and what changes will be made to it:

Choice of experiment:

Following to a conclusion both looking at the relevance percentage and the personal interest arising in myself, I have finally decided to focus on the already briefly planned experiment:

Sociological aspects: (difference between results, due to lifestyle, obtained in Japan and Portugal).

What changes do you believe are relevant to extend the reliability and validity of the method?

- I am also of the opinion that, in order to obtain relevant results for reliable conclusions, some slight alterations must be made to the defined method. Essentially, I believe that a questionnaire should be sent to the two schools tested, asking about the daily life of each student. This questionnaire would ask what the students normally do after school, such as sports, study sessions, tutoring, etc. This would, thus, provide solid evidence towards the fact that the lifestyles of the Japanese and the Portuguese are obviously different.
- I believe that, although decreasing the sample range of the experiment, and therefore diminishing its reliability, the experiment should focus on only two schools (one being St. Dominic’s International School, and the other and a hitherto unidentified Japanese international school). In this fashion, I would establish a more professional and close relationship with the Japanese school.

What was your choice of experiment based on?

I opted to conduct this experiment, due to the fact that the main results in which it is based on are an equal factor for the students of both schools. Nonetheless also incorporating the utilization of a questionnaire, the most important data has already been defined. The questionnaire will also help me to comprehend whether the Japanese students, in fact, study and work on school related activities more than the Portuguese students, and whether this is reflected on their IB results.

Tuesday, 26th August 2008 - Holidays, Summer (W8)

My work throughout the summer interval was not, in fact, compatible ot my work plan. Nevertheless, today, being in the Algarve with my family for the vacation, I managed to complete some pendant Personal Project planning work. As a matter of fact, I was able to complete the organized brainstorms (answering the previously designated points) for each of the main ideas:

• Sociological aspects
• Importance of location
• Curriculum differences
• Teaching systems' impact

Tuesday, 30th July 2008 - Holidays, Summer (W5)

However not aiming to the stage of completing the brainstorm for each factor, today I defined the aspects that should be taken into consideration for the final choice. These aspects included:

• Time management importance
• Potential usefulness of results
• Relevance of school samples

By looking at each of these aspects for final study choice, I will make sure whether the study is realistic in terms of results and time.

Sunday, 27th July 2008 - Holidays, Summer (W4)

Due to the fact that several personal issues had to be attended to this week, I was not able to complete the work set. Thus, week 5 of the production plan must incorporate the previously incompleted work.

Today, verifying the assigned dates and tasks within the plan, I realized that I had not incorporated one holiday week, concluding that this was a mere accident. For this reason, the work sessions may now contain a more spaced schedule, as I have an extra, undesignated week.

Whilst looking at my production plan, I also came to the conclusion that I should integrate an AOI brainstorm within my investigation. I am of this opinion, since this would provide relevance to the chosen product as well as helping to choose it.

Thrusday, 17th July 2008 - Holidays, Summer (W3)

Still looking at the possibility of different variables, today I recorded (on a Microsoft Word document), the various factors that can be tested. I did this in order to clarify all my possibilities, later to opt for which one is the most realistic.

The information that I introduced into this document, nonetheless, was not based on any source, but on my initial ideas.

My aim is that, tomorrow, I am able to add to these factors. As well as, to complete two brainstorms for each factor, being one for the possible method, and the other the eventual source of analysis.

Sunday, 13th July 2008 - Holidays, Summer (W2)

However being working on it for some days, today I finally concluded the weekly plan for the completion of the Personal Project. Conversely, I was not able to determine the time assigned for the work following to delivering the idealized tests to the schools, since the time for obtaining such data is undetermined.

The aim that I have established within my plan was to conclude some points of the product throughout the summer interval. I chose to do so, since, according to what has been warned, year 11 provides a lot of individual work, thereby meaning that other work would be hard to produce amid subject work.

Nonetheless, the designation of work for this week has not been completed, being that this must be done in the following week.

Tuesday, 8th July 2008 - Holidays, Summer (W2)

Today I purposedly went to my aunt's house, in order to look at some relevant books that she owns, due to the fact that she concluded a master´s degree on education. This was extremely helpful, since my aunt's range of books provided information concerning the different ideas that I have in mind, possibly allowing my development of knowledge on each one. These books gave information regarding both education factors and how these can be tested for. I have not, nonetheless, recorded the sources of these since I am yet to identify whether they are of relevance.

As a matter of fact, from my aunt's collection I removed one book that seems to me especially interesting, for it refers to how certain tests involving COMPARATIVE EDUCATION can be conducted.

Sunday, 6th July 2008 - Holidays, Summer (W1)

Today I spoke to a person named "R.M", that I got in touch to via a teacher at school. As a matter of fact, this individual has, very recently, concluded her master's dissertation literature review, encompassing whether:

"International schools promote tolerance and open-mindness or are they merely elitistic"

In fact, this subject incorporates features relating to mine (although my goal is not yet fully defined). Whilst speaking to Ms. M, she provided an explanation of her project, giving advice on what I should concentrate on for my goal. Ms. M told me that it would be easir to look at a variable regarding curriculum, as opposed to one regarding the sociological aspects of a country. I will, perceptibly, take this into account when brainstorming and defining my goal.

I will also remain contacting Ms. Menezes, as she could be, and already has been, of great aid to this process.

Monday, 30th June 2008 - Y10 Personal Project Day (W1)

Whilst the younger years of the MYP are currently approaching the end of the 2007/ 2008 year, and finishing the year’s work, year 10 has now just commenced it. Today we were introduced to the Personal Project, an extended piece of work that concludes one’s MYP curriculum and is implemented as a preparation for the IB’s extended essay. Today we were provided with a guidance booklet and oral outline by Ms. Castro (Personal Project co-ordinator) and Mrs. Thompson (my supervisor and international PP moderator). Today’s goal was that each individual defined their project goal, the AOI that it relates to, and a production plan for the process.
Since the day that I assisted to the Y11 PP exhibition, I have been considering the topics that would interest me the most, being, nonetheless, viable, in order that a final idea could fit into a project goal. I found, throughout this initial process, that a subject that sturdily captivates my attention is school education. Being in a school that integrates an international programme, and acknowledging different environments and school educations, I consider this fact on a daily basis, questioning myself of whether different factors may, in fact, influence one’s knowledge, as well as their relationships and interaction with other individuals (peers, family, colleagues, teachers, etc.). After defining my goal, which was to produce a written investigation on this matter, and relating it to 2 AOIs, I began to produce the basis for my plan.
Following to identifying the AOIs to integrate in my goal, I conferred with Ms. Castro, concerning the choice of my supervisor. Because my relationships with the leaders of my AOIs were not yet existent (for I have not met them academically), I requested the supervision of Ms. Sharon Thompson, as I believe her understanding of the Personal Project process is very thorough (since Ms. Thompson has worked with such projects for a long period of time, being also an MYP moderator), and would thus be a very helpful guidance throughout this process.
My aim for the next work session is to produce a very informative and clear brainstorm of ideas, so as to conclude a clarified and fixed goal. My objective is also to complete a coherent plan with my possible work periods, commencing on the summer interval. In my opinion, the most relevant point in my current position is to reduce my variables and test aims within the project goal.

Features of the process journal:

Within each entry incorporated into this journal, the following aspects are considered and referred to:

1. What was done?
2. What choices were made?
3. Why were the choices necessary?
4. Did you receive feedback from teachers/ colleagues/ supervisors whilst making these decisions?
5. Reflection of work session:
6. - Did you work dilligently?
7. - Did you look at the various aspects that a choice implied, whilst making it?
8. Is work up-to-date in relation to the original work plan?
9. What is planned for the following work session?

Features of this journal: (each entry)