FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND LANGUAGES

________________________________________________________________________
HMEF5023_V2
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
SEPTEMBER SEMESTER 2015
ASSIGNMENT
________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS
1. This assignment contains questions set in English.
2. Your assignment should be typed using 12 point Times New Roman font and
double spacing.
3. You must submit your hardcopy assignment to your Facilitator and ONLINE via the MyVLE. For the online student, you are to submit a softcopy of
your assignment via MyVLE and another softcopy to the facilitator via e-mail.
Refer to the portal for instructions on the procedures to submit your
assignment on-line. You are advised to keep a copy of your submitted
assignment and proof of the submission for personal reference. Your
assignment must be submitted on
6-8 November 2015 (4th
Seminar).
4. Your assignment should be prepared individually. You should not copy another
persons assignment. You should also not plagiarise another persons work as
your own.
EVALUATION
This assignment accounts for

60% of the total marks for the course.

HMEF5023_V2: Assignment/Sept2015

OBJECTIVE
The assignment is focused on the role and impact of school principals on school
improvement efforts. There are two parts to this assignment. The first part involves an
analytical review of a case study on successful principal leadership and, the second is
undertaking an actual study on principal leadership of a school.
INSTRUCTIONS
The assignment consists of two questions. Question One requires a review of an article.
Question Two requires students to conduct a qualitative study at a school site.
Answer both the questions.
QUESTION ONE
Read the following article:Hans W. Klar & Curtis A. Brewer (2014). Successful leadership in a rural, highpoverty school: the case of Country Line Middle School. Journal of
Educational Administration, Vol. 52 No. 4, 2014.

Using your own words, review the article using the following format:(a) A summary of the article

(6 marks)

(b) The strengths and limitations of the article

(12 marks)

(c) Is this article useful to school leaders in Malaysia?

(12 marks)
[30 MARKS]

QUESTION TWO
Identify a school, preferably one that has been successfully transformed and shed its underachieving or average-achieving image these last few years. The assignment is focused on
the role played by the school principal in transforming the school. You are required to
interview at least TWO senior staff members and refer to documents and records for the
relevant data.

HMEF5023_V2: Assignment/Sept2015

The interview protocol needs to include questions covering areas related to the role of the
principal, his or her leadership qualities, personality characteristics and other pertinent
factors contributing to the transformational success. You should make full use of ideas
derived from the article reviewed in Question One above and fall back to your readings,
internet search and experience to help you develop other related questions for the
interviews.

Answer all the questions below.

(a)

Discuss the background of the two senior staff.

(5 marks)

(b)

Explain how you construct the interview questions.

(5 marks)

(c)

Explain in detail how you conduct the actual interview.

(10 marks)

(d)

Discuss in detail the views of the two senior staff.

(40 marks)

(e)

What is your personal opinion about the contribution of the principal?

(10 marks)

[70 MARKS]
[TOTAL: 100 MARKS]

Assignment Format:
1. Answers should be type-written on one side.
2. Use double space and 12-point Times New Roman font.
3. The assignment should consist of 3000-5000 words (15-20 pages, excluding
references).
4.

Please insert a word count at the top right corner of the front page.

5. References must be included and taken from reliable sources, such as journals and
books. References should be the latest (year 2005 onwards).
6. The use of the American Psychological Association (APA) reference style is
compulsory.

HMEF5023_V2: Assignment/Sept2015

7. No marks will be awarded for plagiarism, copying, and cheating. Disciplinary action
shall be taken against those found guilty.
8. Please bind the assignment well when you submit the hardcopy.
9. The cover of the assignment should include the following:
Name of university, faculty and course.
Name of student, matriculation number, programme and learning centre
Name of facilitator
Address, email, and telephone number.
10. You are to submit a hardcopy to your facilitator.
11. Online students must submit the assignment to the email address of your facilitator.
12. The last day of submission is during the 4th seminar.
13. Marks will be deducted for submission after the 4th seminar.

HMEF5023_V2: Assignment/Sept2015

SEPTEMBER SEMESTER 2015

HMEF5023 - EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
MARKING SCHEME FOR ASSIGNMENT (60%)

QUESTION 1
Article Review (30 Marks)

Summary
a) Aim/Purpose
b) Research
methodology
c) Main findings
Critique
Highlight main
points
4-5 Strengths
4-5 Limitations

Weak

Partially meet
standards

Meets
standards

Exceed
standards

1 mark

2-3 marks

4-5 marks

5-6 marks

Weak summary of
the three aspectsitems are inaccurate
and missing.

Satisfactory summary
of article in the three
aspects.

Good summary
of article.

1-3 marks

4-6 marks

7-9marks

Excellent
summary of the
article in
relation to the
three aspects.
10-12 marks

Limited critique of
the article. Highlight
1-2 strengths and
limitations. No
evidence from the
paper.

Satisfactory critique
of the article.
Highlight 3-4
strengths and
limitations.
Insufficient/inaccurate
evidence from the
paper.
4-6 marks

Good critique
of the article.
Highlight 5
strengths and
limitations.
Supported with
evidence from
the paper.
7-9marks

Excellent
critique of the
article. Highlight
5 strengths and
limitations.
Strong
evidence from
the paper.
10-12 marks

Satisfactory personal
response to the
article. Some attempt
to address the issue
at hand. Weak
conclusion.

Good personal
response to the
article. Good
attempt to
address the
issue at hand.
Suitable
conclusion.

Excellent
personal
response to the
article.
Excellent
attempt to
address the
issue at hand.
Suitable
conclusion.

TOTAL

30 marks

1-3 marks
Personal response
on the usefulness
of the article

Weak personal
response to the
article. Poor/no
attempt to address
the issue at hand.
No conclusion.

HMEF5023_V2: Assignment/Sept2015

QUESTION 2 (70 marks)

Holistic Method Using the Holistic Rubric
A weighted holistic rubric is used.
Dimension

Weak

Partially
meets
standard

Meets
standards

Exceed
standards

1
The
discussion of
the staffs
background
is weak

2
The
discussion
of the staff
background
is adequate

3
The
discussion of
the staff
background is
good

4
The discussion
of the staff
background is
excellent

Construction
of the
interview
protocol/
questions

Explanation
of the
construction
of the
interview
question is
weak

Explanation
of the
construction
of the
interview
question is
adequate

Explanation
of the
construction
of the
interview
question is
good

Conduct of
interviews

Limited
discussion.

Adequate
discussion.

Views of the
two senior
staff in detail

The analysis
is weak with
no evidence
to support.
Limited effort
to elaborate.
The findings
are merely
presented
with limited
analysis.

The analysis
is weak with
no evidence
to support.
Limited effort
to elaborate.
The findings
are merely
presented
with limited

Background
of the two
staff

(a)
Discussion
of senior
staff number
one

(b)
Discussion
of senior
staff number
two

Weightage

Performance
standards

4 x 1.25

Minimum=0
Maximum=5

Explanation of
the
construction of
the interview
question is
excellent

4 x 1.25

Minimum=0
Maximum=5

Good
discussion.

Excellent
discussion.

4 x 2.5

Minimum=0
Maximum=
10

The analysis
is average
with some
supporting
evidence.
Some effort
made to
elaborate.
The findings
are
presented
with
adequate
analysis.

The analysis
is good with
evidence to
support.
Good effort to
elaborate.
The findings
are presented
with good
analysis.

The analysis is
excellent
strong
evidence to
support. Good
effort to
elaborate. The
findings are
presented with
excellent
analysis.

4x5

Minimum=0
Maximum=
20

The analysis
is average
with some
supporting
evidence.
Some effort
made to
elaborate.
The findings
are

The analysis
is good with
evidence to
support.
Good effort to
elaborate.
The findings
are presented
with good
analysis.

The analysis is
excellent
strong
evidence to
support. Good
effort to
elaborate. The
findings are
presented with
excellent

4x5

Minimum=0
Maximum=
20

HMEF5023_V2: Assignment/Sept2015

Dimension

Personal
Opinion on
the role of
the principal

Weak

Partially
meets
standard

Meets
standards

1
analysis.

2
presented
with
adequate
analysis

No attempt to
provide
personal
opinion.
Personal
opinion is
weak. Not
supported by
evidence.

Average
attempt to
provide
personal
opinion.
Supported
by some
evidence.

God attempt
to provide
personal
opinion.
Supported by
good
evidence.

Exceed
standards

Weightage

4
analysis.

Excellent
attempt to
provide
personal
opinion.
Supported by
clear and
excellent
evidence

4 x 2.5

Total

Performance
standards

Minimum=0
Maximum=
10

70 marks