Pedagogical Practices among Teachers in a Private School: A Survey

Abstract

Private schools have the autonomy to provide the best education to students. This study was conducted to review pedagogical practices among teachers in a private school in the Shah Alam District. The focus of the study was on nine (9) aspects of pedagogical practices, namely critical thinking skills, collaborative skills, communication skills, creativity & innovation skills, teacher pedagogical practices, learning environment, peer learning, digital utilization, and emotional management. The study sample consisted of 32 teachers working in the respective school. A combined approach was used, employing a questionnaire as the main data collection instrument, while quantitative data was obtained through interviews. The study findings showed that overall, the level of PAK21 practice skills among teachers in private schools was moderately high (mean 3.47; sd=.47). The study also revealed three (3) aspects of pedagogical skills that need improvement among teachers: applying the use of digital technology when interacting with students (mean=2.91; sd=.78); managing the teaching process through virtual environments and digital tools (mean=3.13; sd=.66); and creating collaborative products using contributions from each student (mean=3.16; sd=.45). The researcher suggests that school administrators regularly organize in-service training, particularly related to teaching and facilitation. Workshops based on committees and areas of need should be implemented to enhance teachers’ competency in teaching and facilitation, and mentors should be appointed to provide guidance to new teachers who require support. Teachers are also encouraged to adopt lifelong learning processes to explore various teaching methods suitable for PAK21.