Experimental training of pre-service teachers to assess content in integrated listening-into-writing

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the situations related to possibility and equality of opportunity in higher education in terms of chaos theory. During the research process, the aim was to determine the extent to which socio-economic chaos arising from student characteristics affected the possibility and equality of opportunity in higher education. In democratic countries, where it is considered that almost all professions with a high social status cannot be acquired without having a higher education qualification, higher education as a fundamental human right should be disseminated to different classes of the society. In this research, functions of a democratic educational administration upon the possibility and equality of opportunity in higher education in Turkey were discussed within the scope of sociologic variables. The population of “The Research for Equality of Opportunity and Possibility in Higher Education within the Concept of Democratic and Sociologic Features” included 29,477 students studying at Erzincan and Mersin Universities in 2012–2013 academic year; and the study sample included 776 students chosen with random cluster sampling model according to the faculties of both universities. Students with illiterate mothers were found to have benefited from the secondary education at a lower level than the other student groups. The student groups with high school and university graduate mothers were found to have benefited from the secondary education opportunities at a higher level.

To date, there is little or no research that specifically examines assessment literacy in social studies education, or the relationship between preservice teachers assessment literacy and their thinking about their own agency. This article focuses on three preservice social studies teachers who demonstrated a high degree of assessment literacy in their lesson plans, by developing assessments that supported their purpose for teaching social studies and their instructional decisions. The preservice teachers’ thinking about their assessment decisions in their field experience classrooms was examined through artifacts, interviews, and reflections. The preservice teachers’ thinking demonstrated that their assessment literacy was distinct based upon their views of the teaching profession. The findings from this case study highlight the ways that the authoritative discourses of assessment can influence the agency of preservice teachers. The discussion of findings highlights several implications for social studies teacher education.

Teacher assessment skills include knowledge of assessment methods and techniques, the ability to interpret assessment results, and the ability to use assessment to tailor teaching strategies to student needs. The present study examines non-native Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) pre-service teachers' awareness of students’ assessment. The study also investigates whether studying a course in assessment significantly impacts pre-service teachers' assessment literacy. To answer the research questions, an online test was administered to 52 pre-service teachers who are seniors at Majmaah University. The collected data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially with the aid of IBM SPSS version 22. The results revealed that non-native pre-service TEFL teachers have a low level of assessment literacy. Despite the overall weak performance in the test, the participants showed strength in some of the standards for teachers’ competence. They revealed a high capability of choosing and developing appropriate assessment methods. On the other hand, pre-service teachers possessed little awareness about their ability to implement students’ test results to adjust the curriculum or make better instructional decisions. Based on the study results, institutions may consider adding more assessment courses to the TEFL study plan or adopting some of the existing curricula and extending it to include all the assessment skills needed for creating qualified teachers. Designing a careful professional development training program for EFL faculty members is another important recommendation of the present study. Finally, future research in the field is needed for planning and implementing training programs to improve teachers’ assessment skills.

What learning opportunities in higher education promote the development of content knowledge (CK), pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), and pedagogical knowledge (PK)? In order to investigate this question, a cross-sectional study with a total of 274 German preservice biology teachers (21.5 % male, average age 22.8 years) was conducted in German universities. Preservice teachers were recruited via announcements in teacher education courses. The participation rate amounted to 45 %. Results indicate that CK, PCK, and PK are three unique and separable, but correlated domains of knowledge. Regression analyses show how particular learning opportunities are related to preservice biology teachers’ CK, PCK, and PK. Both (a) the type of teacher education program and (b) the period of university studies are related to CK and PCK. Moreover, (c) additional subjects studied and (d) teaching experience seem relevant for PCK development. Conclusions for teacher education are drawn.

This quasi-experiment using two classes, each of these 40 participants, examined the effectiveness of a backward-designed training course for improving Chinese pre-service primary teachers’ assessment literacy. Framed by the Understanding by Design approach, the12-week course was taken by those in the treatment group. The average level of assessment literacy among the Chinese pre-service teachers was initially low, with only 42% of the items on the modified Assessment Literacy Inventory correctly answered. ANCOVA results suggest the assessment literacy training course improved pre-service teachers’ assessment literacy, F(1,77)=135.911, p<.001, with an adjusted posttest mean difference of 7 points (on a 35-item test; partial eta squared= .64). Implications for teacher training and policy are discussed.

Using a framework of assessment literacy that included principles, tools, and purposes, this study explored the assessment literacy of 11 secondary preservice teachers. Participants’ journals, teaching philosophies, and inquiry-based science units served as data sources. We examined how the preservice teachers understood assessment tools as well as their reasons for using assessment. Additionally, we investigated how the preservice teachers incorporated assessments into inquiry-based science units. Analysis of these documents indicated that preservice teachers recognize the need to align assessments with learning goals and instructional strategies and are using a variety of assessments. They understood several ways to use assessment for learning. However, the inclusion of assessments contained within the science units did not fully align with the views of assessment the preservice teachers presented in their teaching philosophies or journals. Instead of using a variety of assessments that reflect science reforms, the preservice teachers reverted to traditional forms of assessment in their science units. Teacher education programs need to place more emphasis on developing preservice teachers’ assessment literacy so that they are better able to select and implement a variety of appropriate assessments to foster student learning.

Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected all spheres of social life, particularly in education (schools and higher education). It is particularly important to study the specific context of physical education preservice teachers’ professional training, as they serve as a critical vehicle for the renewal of teaching practices in schools. Objective: this study examined the school placement teaching experiences of physical education Preservice teachers during the pandemic and assessed the potential shortcomings/strengths of their course unit learning experiences (first-course year) and their effect on the subsequent school placement teaching practices (second-course year). Methodology: twenty-eight Preservice teachers enrolled in their school placement, 10 cooperating teachers, and one university supervisor participated in this qualitative and longitudinal study. Data was collected via multiple sources and thematically analyzed. Results: the main constraints to Preservice teachers’ practices included shortcomings in the teacher education program, pandemic and school restrictions, and technological barriers. The enablers were: teaching strengths fostered by the teacher education program, training alignment and pedagogical opportunities and school restrictions. Discussion: (preservice) teachers' digital empowerment, creativity and teaching adaptability and regulatory flexibility in schools were novel findings. Conclusions: universities must adjust their teacher training programs to the swift nature of real-life problems and local conditions physical education Preservice teachers find in their placement practice.

Survey-based research was conducted with Australian pre-service teachers to identify the classroom management strategies that they would employ, their confidence in employing them, and the effectiveness of the strategies. Furthermore, the study aimed to identify significant differences in these variables between pre-service teachers in the final year of a four-year teacher training course and pre-service teachers undertaking a one-year, stand-alone teaching program. The results of this study indicate that the most frequently reported strategies by all the Australian pre-service primary teachers surveyed were rewards and initial corrections. The pre-service teachers were selective in the type of corrective strategies they would employ, with a preference for relatively less intrusive reactive strategies. All of the pre-service teachers here found rewards and preventative strategies to be the most effective. The only significant differences found between the four-year trained and one-year trained pre-service teachers were around preventative strategies. Specifically, four-year trained pre-service teachers employ preventative strategies significantly more often than pre-service teachers in the one-year teaching course. Similarly, four-year trained pre-service teachers are significantly more confident in using preventative strategies than those in the one-year course. The implications of the results for teacher education programs are considered.

Currently, geometric intuition literacy has attracted extensive attention from all walks of life. Many relevant problems about it have been studied except the cognitive degree of geometric intuition literacy of pre-service junior high school mathematics teachers. In this study, 40 pre-service junior high school mathematics teachers in China are surveyed using an open-ended interview method. The analysis of the data reveals that: (1) The accuracy of the cognition about geometric intuition literacy is not high. (2) The cognitive scope of pre-service high school mathematics teachers about geometric intuition literacy is not extensive and pre-service teachers' knowledge of geometric intuition literacy is focused on the more generalized elements. (3) The cognition of many pre-service teachers is not deep or comprehensive and concentrates at a lower level. (4) The cognition of many pre-service teachers for many aspects of geometric intuition literacy is not very clear. Therefore, it is suggested that: Teacher training schools should reform their curricula and pay attention to teacher trainees' learning and education on geometric intuition literacy. Special training and education on core literacy should be strengthened in pre-service teacher training so that geometric intuition literacy can be valued. Pre-service junior high school mathematics teachers should actively learn and study core literacy to improve their understanding of geometric intuition literacy.

The study determined pre-service teachers' understanding and perceptions toward assessment literacy. The study utilized a systematic review and synthesis of peer-reviewed empirical research publications from journals. Twenty-one peer-reviewed journal articles were acquired using a search utilizing the keywords: assessment literacy and pre-service teachers with teaching experience, sourced from EBSCO and Advanced Google Search. Seventeen of the twenty-one identified journal articles were then evaluated. The findings from these articles indicated that preservice teachers are deficient in understanding assessments and have perceptions toward assessments. Knowledge in assessment is very crucial for teachers in general to enhance their teaching practices in the classroom, which in turn improves upon students’ learning outcomes. In view of this, stakeholders of teacher training institutions should factor more in assessment literacy, both theory and practice into the curriculum to equip their pre-service teachers with more skills in assessment.

Teacher assessment literacy plays a pivotal role in teacher education programs; however, there seems to be a lack of either assessment literacy or its implementation. Using an online assessment course, including both theoretical and practical issues, this mixed method study examined 16 teachers’ (8 in-service and 8 pre-service) assessment literacy and the extent to which they implement this knowledge. The quantitative part explored participants’ assessment literacy, while the qualitative phase examined the validation of the quantitative results as well as the implementation of assessment literacy in the practical realm. Data were collected via valid and reliable questionnaires, one of which was adapted from Mertler (2003) and the two others were developed by the researchers, along with a practical assessment project. The results indicated that though in-service teachers at their entry behavior were more assessment literate due to their experience, they were at lower degree of assessment literacy at their eventual behavior in comparison with pre-service teachers. The qualitative analysis explored the lack of teachers’ preference for the use of assessment literacy in their classroom practice. The study suggests the inclusion of both theoretical and practical dimensions of assessment literacy in teacher education programs and it proposes doing an in-depth investigation into the difficulties that hinder teachers from putting their theoretical assessment knowledge into practice.

This study aims to synthesize teachers' assessment literacy (AL) reviews of past studies to find how AL is conceptualized, measured, and developed and formulate recommendations for further empirical studies. As AL is important for teachers to contribute to teaching and learning improvement, a growing body of teacher AL research has been established in the literature. The present study identifies, assesses, synthesizes, and describes the characteristics of reviews on AL from 2014 to 2023. The results show that studies used different terms and definitions for AL. Researchers apply different forms of instruments to measure AL in various aspects of assessment. AL is influenced by mediating factors, including assessment conceptions and efficacy. It can be effectively developed through training workshops, assessment courses, and teachers' self-reflection on assessment practices. The review suggests that further AL studies are needed among in- and pre-service teachers at different levels and contexts and directional relationships between assessment-related constructs that encompass AL.

EFL teacher training for pre-service teachers plays a vital role in second language teacher education (SLTE). In Thailand, pre-service EFL teacher training benefits in helping student-teachers gain confidence before going to their practicum. This study investigates the effects of the pre-service EFL teacher training in a university in Thailand. The pre-service teachers’ perceptions towards the EFL training were also examined. Participants were 30 pre-service teachers currently studying in English Learning Management Program in the university at the research site. Research method applied training program evaluation (Owen & Rogers, 1999), and a 24-hour EFL training program was implemented. An experienced trainer in EFL was invited to provide the EFL training during the whole training course. Data collection gained was from: 1) an evaluation form, 2) a questionnaire, and 3) a student reflection sheet. Data analysis employed percentage, means, and S.D. for quantitative whereas grounded theory (Strauss & Corbin, 1999) was applied for qualitative data. Three major findings revealed that: 1) the effects of the pre-service EFL teacher training was very high; 2) the participants showed changes in all areas of EFL knowledge and experience provided after the training; and 3) the participants viewed five factors which included training contents, knowledge and experience, training activities, training process, and the trainer that affected the training. However, the findings indicated that the critical problem of the study was time limitation of the training course. This study has shed light on the significant role of EFL training for pre-service EFL teachers before their practicum as the findings showed positive change in their motivation and attitude for their teaching practice.

In this study, it has been tried to investigate what kind of teacher role pre-service science teachers undertake and how their education on this role effected in their pre-service teacher time. For this reason, two-hour teachings of 13 pre-service science teachers from Marmara University Ataturk Education Faculty have been pursued by being recorded to video tape. These 13 pre-service science teachers who go to different primary schools made their teachings without effect of researcher during their first teachings. One month later, pre-service science teachers have been asked to prepare their teaching by considering constructivist approaching. Thus, it has been aimed to understand the preferences and priorities of pre-service science teachers. The purpose of this study is to try evaluating what kind of teaching role pre-service science teachers undertook. It has also been tried to understand whether the education taken during undergraduate has been reflected by pre-service science teachers or not. As a result, it has been seen that pre-service teachers uses new methods and techniques in every situation but when they are not urged to use constructivist approach, they use these methods like traditional methods. Key words: Science and technology education, pre- service teachers, social learning

In recent times, more attention has been directed towards identifying international trends and ‘best’ practice for assessing pre-service teachers’ classroom performance. Previous attempts to assess Oman’s preservice teachers were based on adopting a psychometric/measurement assessment practice, whereby performance was measured by grades. Such an approach, in recent times, has been viewed as being fundamentally flawed in its attempts to measure pre-service teachers’ classroom practices. This is primarily due to its inability to authentically assess teacher’s learning in the classroom setting. Further underpinning this problem, is that Omani pre-service teachers are expected to undertake an International English Language Testing System (commonly referred to as IELTS), as a measurement of their English proficiency. This approach is problematic, in principle, as it is positioned after graduation and therefore forms no connection to the pre-service teachers’ school experience nor does it add to quality teaching and assessment. This recent shift in thinking, as to the idea that educational assessment should be based on psychometric measurements and grades, has evolved into assessment practices which encourage the integration of assessment into the learning and teaching environment. This thesis is concerned with how the pre-service English Language teacher’s classroom performance is assessed in Oman. Drawing on the work of Gipps (1999, 2002), this thesis adopted a sociocultural perspective to investigate the phenomenon of assessment practices associated with evaluating pre-service teacher’s classroom performance during school-based professional experience (also known as teaching practicum). Understanding assessment practices from a sociocultural perspective and its current practices such as authentic assessment and Assessment for Learning (AfL) assists pre-service teachers to learn so as to become professional, qualified teachers. To achieve the aims of this study, the thesis adopted a qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology approach to investigate the assessment phenomenon and to gain a deep understanding from the key stakeholders involved in the phenomenon. To enable this, the data collected from three higher education institutions, namely Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Rustaq-College of Applied Sciences (CAS) and Nizwa University and their participating schools. A range of different data sources obtained: assessment texts which position pre-service English Language teachers; three-series of interviews with the different stakeholders: three pre-service teachers, three cooperating teachers and four university supervisors to reveal their experiences; and observing the phenomenon in situ to triangulate with the aforementioned data. Implementing hermeneutic phenomenology, the obtained data analysed using two approaches: Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) so that the existing practices for assessing pre-service English language teachers’ classroom performance in Oman were captured. The analyses revealed that each institution has its assessment practices influenced by its socio-political structure, yet SQU, unlike Rustaq-CAS and Nizwa University, is distinguished in relation to its pre-determined set of professional standards for graduating teachers; explicit assessment criteria that are shared and discussed with pre-service teachers; collaboration between all stakeholders in the assessment process; a clearly defined role for the cooperating teacher as mentor; effective feedback provided to the pre-service teacher; using portfolios to record and document the pre-service teachers achievements; and effective self- and peer-assessment strategies. These practices are mostly experienced by stakeholders at SQU due to its international accreditation under the influence of the standards based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). The findings suggest that SQU assessment practices are more aligned with the indicators of international best practice, compared to that of Rustaq-CAS and Nizwa University. Similarly, SQU had a better understanding of assessment practices from a sociocultural perspective. This means that within the context of assessing pre-service teachers’ classroom performance in Oman, the findings are not about each higher education institution but about producing quality teacher graduates by reforming the Omani assessment practices. Having SQU as a model in Oman, the key recommendations for policy and practice from this study are to: 1) set a national professional standards for teachers; 2) have explicit assessment criteria that align with the professional standards; 3) share the assessment criteria for success between all stakeholders in the phenomenon; 4) strengthen the collaboration between schools and universities as well as university supervisors and cooperating teachers,5) make the role of the portfolio more explicit in terms of monitoring and enhancing pre-service teacher development and learning; 6) empower the cooperating teacher to provide a more meaningful mentoring role to pre-service teachers; 7) provide explicit training in effective peer and self-assessment strategies for pre-service teachers in the classroom context and 8) provide explicit training in understanding and delivering quality feedback on classroom performance for all stakeholders.