| Popis: |
First systematic national-wide external school program evaluations were conducted most recently in Croatia. Health Education (HE) was introduced within maximum of 12 school lessons per year, depending on grade, within the homeroom classes in all grades. This process was accompanied by significant public interest and a clash of polarized views regarding the fourth module, i.e. sex education. Therefore, research processes had to be done with particular care for subjects, majority of them being children age 10 to 18 years. Mixed methods approach used for the program evaluation included testing of student knowledge, questionnaires for students, parents and teachers, group interviews with students and school staff, individual interviews with school principals and classroom observations. In three consecutive visits to 16 case study schools 94 classroom observations were conducted by trained researchers. School lessons of HE in target grades in elementary schools (N=52) and secondary schools (N=42) were observed. Researchers evaluated lessons guided by “The protocol for classroom observation in elementary and secondary schools” which consists of three major parts: observations prior, during and after HE lesson. Classroom observations have proven to be powerful tool for determining immediate effects of teaching methods which are specific for HE program – student expositions, verbal dialogue methods, brainstorming, practical assignments, group discussions and schoolwork. Important social interactions within the school and classroom were noted only because researchers were physically present. One obvious disadvantage in lesser portion of situations was disrupting usual classroom atmosphere due to teachers’ feelings of obligation to do their best while being monitored. |
