Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies ISSN: 2321-8819 (Online)

Volume 2, Issue 8, August 2014 2348-7186 (Print)

Impact Factor: 0.923

Application of Action research in geography in school

Prolay Mondal
A.T of Makhaltore Madhyamik Vidyalaya
Ex. A.T of Paikar High School
Net In Geography & Education
Research Scholar of Vinaya Bhavana; V.B.
Abstract: Teaching of geography is not confined within the „Four Walls‟ of the so called
„Classroom‟. It has „GLOBAL EFFECT‟ in every sphere of its journey. Geography teaching is
truly concerned with the study of the globalization on education. It can be said that the teaching of
geography has value not merely in school but as to preparation for the realities of life. A
geography teacher must have a belief that his work is „worth doing‟. Whatever the methodologies
or the study materials are followed in teaching geography, teaches‟ sincerity and life-participation
in motivating the students towards the teaching learning process are more important.
During 2011 no of student failed in geography in my school. It creates professional hazards. Then
I apply action research in geography in my school with the help of my colleague to obtain
workable solutions to the arisen this problem. This action research has the merit of adoptability
according to change the situation. It actually changes geography result which is very much
associated academic development of the student of my school. These studies are very useful for
planning of increase the result in geography as well as other subject in my school at Madhyamik
examination.
Keywords: Action research, geography teaching; Madhyamik examination; Low score.

Introduction: Action research is important tool of results in geography in the days to come. So an
a preceptor. It has great role in education system. inquiry may be instituted in order to take a
We always face some problem in our institution. remedial measure.
Like that, during 2011 no of student failed in
Objectives: In this context the present study
Madhyamik examination as well as geography
attempts
subject in my school. So many complain arise in
my institution. We face the problem and decide to  To identify and sorting out the problems
apply action research for come out from this of low score in Madhyamik examination
problem. Then an action research on majority of 2011 in geography
the Madhyamik-2011 students have achieved low  To grow teacher interest in action research
scores in geography in comparison to other years is which is their essential professional ethics
done by me with the help of my colleague. Here I  To betterment of geography teaching in
discuss about this study which can help other school
researcher to use this great tool of education  To solve local situational problem i.e. low
system. scores in geography.
"Learning is a process as well as an outcome" The Study: Action research is known by many
(Zuber-Skerritt 1992a). Learners should go through other names, including participatory research,
the cycle several times, so it may best be thought of collaborative inquiry, emancipator research, action
as a spiral of cycles. In brief Kolb conceptualizes learning, and contextual action research, but all are
the process of action research as "a spiral of action variations on a theme. Put simply, action research
and research consisting of four major moments: is "learning by doing" - a group of people identifies
plan, act, observe and reflect " (Zuber-Skerritt a problem, do something to resolve it, see how
1992b). He refers to the stages as: wanting, doing, successful their efforts were, and, if not satisfied,
feedback and digesting and has been used by me to try again. While this is the essence of the approach,
explore the nature of the learning process with there are other key attributes of action research that
several groups of geography students and staff differentiate it from common problem-solving
(Healey 1998). activities that we all engage in every day (Rory
O'Brien, 1998). To find out the above question I
Statement of the problem: Geographical concepts
took some hypothesis for knowing why the poor
are concrete and students show much interest in
results of the students of geography. It might be
geography. But here problem is that their mean
attributed to the following causes:
scores in geography is less during Madhyamik
2011 in comparison to other years of Madhyamik
examination. This trend may be detrimental to the

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Application of Action research in geography in school

 Students could not properly take their Action Research. These are Interview,
preparation of Madhyamik examination Questionnaire, Case study, School records, Survey
2011. of locality, Students profile, Student‟s family data
 Teaching learning materials were not etc. The methodology adopted for carrying out this
sufficiently used. analysis could be categorized into 5 steps as
 Question set might be difficult. follows:
 Students paid least attention to the subject
 Identify the problem
in home.
 Students less attendance and they could  Devise plan
not follow the teaching.
 Students are not properly read, write and  Act to implement my plan
make sentence.  Observe collect and analyze my data
Methodology: The study is based on primary  Reflect and share
source of data. I have used the following tools of

Identify the
problem

Reflect Devise

and share plan

observe Act
collect and to implement my
analyze my data plan

Figure - 1: Methodology of the study

Result and Discussion: I have worked at a rural  The failure candidates are not regular in
village school. There usually 90 candidates seat in class room.
Madhyamik examination in WBBSE. More or less  They do not follow class teaching.
80% candidates pass in this examination. Where in  Their motivation to earn money to help his
geography 85-90% candidates pass in this family (for boys‟ candidates).
examination. During 2011, out of total regular  Learning disorder has seen those
pupil (96), only 95 sit in examination and passed candidates who fail in examination.
only 47. And out of total compartmental candidate  They do not able to thoroughly read, write
(14), only 4 candidates passed (see table-2). and understand their study.
Among 95 candidates only 56 passed in geography.  Parent awareness is less.
So remarkably fall down student performance  Continuous comprehensive evaluation is
during this year. So many deficiencies arise in my not properly flow.
institution. We sit on school premises to discuss  Teaching learning process hampered
about the result and find out the problem. We get through different professional hazards.
the answer – “why 50% students fail in this year?”  Institutional academic less effort etc.
And I have find why 41% candidates fail in
Then I have taken the great tool of an educator i.e.
geography (see table-1). There is none of the
action research. I take some remedy with the help
student who has failed only in geography excepting
of my colleague. These are follows-
others. The cause of failure are-

Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 2(8) August, 2014 103

Application of Action research in geography in school

 Identify the poor student.  Suggestive way follows for poor student.
 Special drive/care has taken for those.  Motivated and grow their interest in the
 Develop their skill according their ability. subject.
 Short question wise written examination  Parent awareness increase through
practice in class room. guardian meeting.
 More examination and evaluation taken  Case study the learning disorder student
place. and take their remedy acc. to their need.

Table-1
Regular candidate
No No No Absent Geography
Taught Sent Pass No Pass No Fail Highest Score Above 60%
2010 84 83 66 0 73 10 90 16
2011 96 96 47 1 56 39 62 5
2012 90 90 55 0 74 16 90 9
After taking this above remedies, result of teachers. The teachers must try their level best to
geography has abruptly changed next year (2012) be skillful, crafty and acceptable to the pupils.
in Madhyamik Examination. 82 % passed in Education through practical arrangements, question
geography in this examination while total candidate answer mode, typical method, attractive class
passed this year are 61%. Usually out of total 26 teaching, taste of varieties are the carrying of the
compartmental candidates, 24 candidates passed in time as well as for time to come.
geography in this examination. Now I get the
Our efforts should have so to make our taught to be
reflecting result in geography in my school. All
technical in the examination hall so that their
colleague and authority appreciate the
Progress Reports show brilliant. Pertinently to say,
performance.
periodical tests with marks prove fruitful. At the
Table-2 same time teacher must prepare students wisely
prudently resulting in manifesting the tender
Compartmental candidate
disciples‟ inner power everywhere for a bright
No No Geography future. It can be possible when a teacher use
Sent Pass No No Highes excellent tool of education i.e. Action Research.
Pass Fail t Score
2010 14 10 14 0 42 Acknowledgment: I feel great pleasure and honour
2011 14 4 6 8 36 to express my sincere and heart full thanks to
2012 26 16 24 2 37 Professor N.C. Ghosh (S.N. Bose Institute of
Mathematics & Mathematical Sciences, Kolkata)
for his constant supervision, invaluable guidance,
keen interest and encouragement for the
Concluding Remarks: Needless to say, the prime
completion of this work. Graceful acknowledgment
duty of a preceptor is to impart education in which
is made for concerted technical guidance and wise
is not a unilateral affair at all. The teacher should
counseling received from Dr. Prohlad Roy
have to appreciate the standard of his/her pupils
(Department of Education, Vinaya Bhavana, Visva
who come to educational institutions for upgrading
Bharati, santiniketan).
their intellectual faculties in contact with their

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