ABSTRACT This study aims to explore differences across Greece, the UK, the USA, Malaysia, Romania, and Turkey in terms of their attitudes towards inclusive education and validate the three-model structure for attitudes towards inclusion across the above six countries. All special education teachers were administered the ATTAS-mm scale. They were employed in mainstream schools or parallel support and/or resource classes in six countries. The identified differences were interpreted regarding the effect of years of teaching experience, educational work level of teachers, and the highest degree completed across the different participating countries. Two-step cluster analysis suggested a two-cluster solution for Greece, the USA and the UK, and a three-cluster solution for Malaysia and Turkey. Finally, years of teaching experience, educational work level, and the highest degree completed had a significant effect on teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion in all countries. Results are discussed for their implications in teachers training.

ABSTRACT Not all students have equal opportunities to learn from effective teachers, and students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds are disproportionately more likely to be taught by ineffective teachers year after year. However, the cumulative experience of being taught by (in)effective teachers has received less attention. Utilizing data from Tennessee’s Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio and value-added modeling, we found that cumulative exposure to highly (in)effective teachers significantly impacts students’ achievement. Students consistently taught by highly effective teachers for three years demonstrated approximately seven months more learning growth compared to those taught by ineffective teachers for the same period. The findings emphasize that the cumulative effects of prolonged exposure to highly effective and ineffective teachers can widen existing disparities in academic achievement. We conclude that teacher effectiveness, as well as access to and distribution of effective teachers, should be viewed from a cumulative perspective to better understand, effectively address, and reduce educational inequality.

ABSTRACT This study examines the relationships between self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies, self-efficacy (SE), and performance in STEM disciplines, including mathematics, biology, and physics. Participants included 243 high-school students from 10th-12th grades. Data were collected through self-efficacy and SRL strategies questionnaires. We used structural equation modelling (SEM) to understand the correlations between students' SE, use of SRL strategies (i.e., organization [ORG], metacognition [MC], and critical-thinking [CT]), and STEM-achievements. The findings revealed that students' SE was directly and indirectly related to students' STEM-achievements. Students' MC and CT strategies were found to mediate the link between students' SE and STEM-achievements. SE, ORG, and CT factors accounted for 47% of the variance in STEM-achievements. In addition, SE and MC factors accounted for 44% of the variance in CT. There were no-significant direct relations between ORG and MC strategies to STEM-achievements. The study's findings have practical implications for teachers, curriculum developers, and educators.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to examine the effects of school principals' distributed leadership behaviors and teachers’ self-awareness on school effectiveness through the mediating role of democratic practices and attitudes towards sustainable development in schools. Accordingly, an integrative model was created. The study data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and bootstrapping tests. The analysis results confirmed that organizational democracy played a prominent mediating role between school principals’ distributed leadership practices and teachers’ perceptions of school effectiveness. We also found evidence for the effects of school principals’ distributed leadership behaviors and teachers’ self-awareness on school effectiveness through the mediating role of teachers’ attitudes towards sustainable development. We concluded that school principals’ distributed leadership practices could enhance school effectiveness through teachers’ perceptions of organizational democracy and attitudes towards sustainable development in schools. Besides, a high-quality educational environment and school effectiveness could be promoted by increasing teachers’ self-awareness and attitudes towards sustainable development.

ABSTRACT Peer feedback can be an effective learning aid. However, providing peer feedback so that it is used by the receiver, is very difficult. Adding feedback requests to the peer feedback process may improve the quality of peer feedback. However, little is known about how feedback requests affect peer feedback responses. In this study, fifty-four students in two master programs asked each other feedback on their thesis and in return, provided peer feedback. Their feedback requests were related predominantly to global-level (versus local-level) text issues. Peers’ responses to the requests contained significantly more global-level positive evaluation, explanation and feedback aimed at content and style than additionally provided peer feedback. However, their responses did not contain significantly more global-level suggestions. Global-level, explained feedback is a sign for high-quality feedback. Therefore, adding feedback requests improves the quality of peer feedback. Still, students should also be trained to respond with global-level suggestions for improvement.

ABSTRACT This case study combines Stephen Brookfield’s Critical Incident Questionnaire (CIQ) and Tuckman’s phases of small group development to study students’ perception of teamwork within a humanities course. As the semester progressed and students’ experiences within the team cycle evolved, their reliance towards direct teaching decreased and their degree of satisfaction with group dynamics and productivity increased. An exit survey, more specifically focused on skills learned through teamwork, revealed that adjourning and transforming are two distinct phases in succession. These findings diverge from existing literature, which often refers to adjourning and transforming either as the same phase, or as alternative directions. Tuckman’s model was slightly modified to take these discoveries into account.

ABSTRACT This case study examined the current assessment practices in the math school of a large research university in the United States. After reviewing a sample of course syllabi offered in the spring 2021 semester, we descriptively summarized the use of 19 assessment methods in the school and examined the assessment patterns by subjects, class standings, and class size. Our study found that traditional homework and written tests were the most frequently used assessments in the school, while the use of learner-centered assessments was rare. Among the 19 assessment methods, we found significantly different usage of quizzes, participation scores, and projects by various course characteristics. Our case study demonstrates the gap between the recommended and actual assessment practice in U.S. higher education. We call for more future research that explores strategies to effect changes and increase the use of learner-centered assessment in higher education institutions.

ABSTRACT Transition to kindergarten is an important developmental milestone for children and families. This study explored factors associated with kindergarten readiness focusing on the impact of a summer kindergarten transition program. A mixed-method design was employed, and the qualitative data from interviews with 16 randomly selected kindergarten teachers and the quantitative data of assessment scores of 320 kindergarteners were analyzed. Compared with children who were eligible but did not participate in the transition program, those who participated in the program had significantly more family engagement and stronger home-school relations. Smaller class sizes were associated with children’s higher readiness scores in both academic achievement and social-emotional development. Larger school enrollment was associated with children’s higher readiness scores in academic achievement, more family engagement, and stronger home-school relations. Higher school poverty was associated with children’s lower readiness scores in social-emotional development. The findings can be used to inform program development and policymaking.

ABSTRACT Research has accumulated on the effects of teachers on student achievement, especially in mathematics. However, empirical evidence regarding the impact of formal teacher competence indicators presents a mixed picture. This study explores the influence of educational level, subject – and grade-specific specialization, teaching experience, and professional development as indicators of formal teacher competence on student mathematics achievement in grade 4 in Sweden. Utilizing data from TIMSS 2019, the study employs confirmatory factor analysis and multilevel structural equation modeling to also test a latent model of formal teacher competence. Results reveal a positive relationship between formal teacher competence and students’ mathematics achievement, even after controlling for students’ socio-economic status and immigration background. Additionally, selection effects were found, suggesting that students in classrooms with a more advantaged composition had more competent teachers. The study underscores the need for an equitable distribution of qualified teachers across schools, highlighting implications for teacher specialization and allocation.

ABSTRACT To facilitate a more definitive understanding of the usefulness of formative assessment, this meta-analysis examined the impact of formative assessment on student academic achievement in the K-12 classroom. The study analyzed 258 effect sizes from 118 primary studies published around the world. By applying a broad lens for defining and understanding formative assessment, the study confirmed the usefulness of formative assessment. The overall effect size was 0.25 (Hedges’ g) for all studies included, and 0.22 for studies conducted within the US. The effect size was similar across different types of formative assessments (e.g., self-assessment vs peer assessment) and content domains (e.g., English language, mathematics, science, etc.). The mean effect size was significantly larger for studies conducted outside North America and Western Europe, for formative assessments for high school students, and for studies using the quasi-experimental design. No publication bias was detected for studies conducted in North America and Western Europe.