Educating the Educators: Improving Knowledge and Attitude Towards Specific Learning Disabilities of Parents and Teachers in Lipa City, Batangas

Abstract

Psychoeducation on developmental disorders targeting parents and teachers in communities are proven as important tool in information dissemination. The main objective of the study is to determine if the proposed module on specific learning disabilities (SLD) is effective in improving the knowledge and attitude of parents of students and elementary school teachers in Mabini Elementary School, Calamias Elementary School, and Brgy. San Guillermo Elementary Schoolin Lipa City, Batangas. Moreover, the study aims to describe the parents’ and elementary school teachers’ preconceived notions and perceptions of SLD, assess and compare their level of knowledge and attitude towards SLD before and after undergoing the psychoeducation program, and correlate certain socio-demographic variables with their level of knowledge and attitude towards SLD. This study utilized a concurrent mixed-methods design, administering both quantitative and qualitative methods of research. The study took place in three (3) phases, with three kinds of general methods: (1) quantitative, wherein self-report pre-test and post-test survey questionnaires were administered to participants to generate a quantitative description of their knowledge (measured in terms of low, average and high levels) and attitude (measured in terms of negative, ambivalent and positive attitude) towards learning disabilities; (2) semi-experimental, wherein participants were subjected to a psychoeducation process to increase their knowledge and improve their attitude towards SLD; and (3) qualitative, wherein a focus group discussion was conducted among select groups of participants with the general purpose of further exploration of the major questions asked in the survey questionnaire to triangulate the results of the study. A total of 51 individuals participated in the study (including pre-testing and post-testing, and psychoeducation), with 22 teachers (11 from Mabini, 3 from Calamias and 8 from San Guillermo) and 29 parents (14 from Calamias and 25 from San Guillermo). Results revealed that teachers have average to high level of knowledge and have ambivalent to positive attitudes towards SLD, while parents have low to average level of knowledge and have negative to ambivalent attitudes. After exposure to psychoeducation or intervention using the proposed module as guide, there was a significant increase in the level of knowledge and improvement in attitude towards SLD among the participants (p-value=0.0005). Hence, the proposed module for psychoeducation and intervention is considered to be effective. Additionally, there is a moderate to strong positive correlation between the level of knowledge and attitude – consistent during pre-test (r=0.470, p-value=<0.00001) and post-test (r=0.539, pvalue=< 0.00001). This means that the higher the level of knowledge, the more positive the attitude is towards SLD. Thus, interventions should really first focus on increasing knowledge in order to improve attitude and encourage health behavior or proper action.