Good Teaching Practices Research Articles

Flipped classroom and creative learning resources for teaching history

The study aims to analyse the perceptions and pedagogical skills of university students in the implementation of the flipped classroom in the degree of primary education. The sample consists of 209 students following the bilingual English programme at the University of Córdoba, Spain. The study is described as a non-experimental quantitative research, which means that it focuses on the collection and analysis of data without intervention or manipulation of variables. A fifteen-item Likert-type questionnaire was used to collect the data. The questionnaire appears to be on a scale of 1 to 5, where participants rate their answers according to the options given. The findings suggest that new electronic learning strategies need to be incorporated into teaching methodology. There is an emphasis on the importance of providing practical approaches to digital teaching and didactic resources. Students have shown a positive attitude towards their training needs, particularly in consolidating historical thinking and integrating active learning methods with good teaching practice.

Good Teaching Practices in Education and Support to Learning in Middle School

Contemporary education faces the challenge of innovating to improve the quality of learning, requiring teachers to adopt effective methodological strategies. This study examines teaching strategies and good practices in middle school education in Cuenca, Ecuador, with the objective of identifying effective approaches and areas for improvement. The methodology employed was mixed, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. A prospective and non-experimental design was used, which allowed observing educational phenomena without intervening in their development. The research included semi-structured interviews, focus groups and life stories to capture in-depth educational experiences. In addition, surveys were applied to a representative sample of teachers and students to obtain quantitative data on the perception and effectiveness of teaching practices. The main result of the study highlights that solid teacher training and the use of innovative technologies are crucial to improve educational quality and promote an inclusive and equitable environment.

English-Language Education at the Faculty of Theology of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University

Abstract: In the age of globalization, English-language education at theological faculties in Poland is playing an increasingly important role, especially in the context of international academic cooperation and the integration of foreign stu¬dents. This paper presents an analysis of English-language education at the Faculty of Theology of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University (UKSW), taking into account the importance of English-language programs for the development of theology in an intercultural and interreligious context. The impact of these programs on the spiritual and academic training of students and on the promotion of intercultural dialogue is discussed. Special attention is paid to good teaching and organizational practices that facilitate the adaptation of international students and support their academic and spiritual development. The methodology encompasses descriptive methods, along with participant observation and external observation techniques. The article is both practical and methodological in nature, highlighting best practices within academic communities in Poland, particularly in the context of university education in English-language theology, and addressing the nuances of intercultural communication. Keywords: English-language education, theology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University, UKSW, education in Poland, foreign students, interculturalism, inter¬religious dialogue, English-language programs.

Fostering Self-efficacy: Understanding South African Grade 9 Students’ Confidence in their Mathematics Abilities

In poor-performing, resource-constrained education systems, such as South Africa, solutions to improve academic achievement have tended to focus on resources and cognitive factors. An area that requires more attention is the importance of non-cognitive, psychosocial factors and their relationship with academic performance. These factors are strongly associated with behaviour, playing a role in either facilitating or impeding the learning process. Understanding attitudes is therefore critical in interpreting achievement results with a view to improving them. This article used data from the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study administered to 20,829 South African students in Grade 9 to investigate the confidence these students have in their mathematics ability (their self-efficacy) and the relationship with achievement. Linear regression analysis was employed to determine: (1) the relationship between Grade 9 students’ self-efficacy and mathematics achievement in South Africa; and (2) the contextual factors that were associated with the mathematics self-efficacy of the students. The results indicate a positive correlation between students’ self-efficacy and their performance in mathematics. In addition, good teaching practices and parental involvement in school activities were associated with higher levels of students’ mathematics self-efficacy. Being female was associated with lower levels of self-efficacy. These findings have important implications for shaping educational policy and practice in the resource constrained context of South Africa, to enhance students’ self-efficacy and performance in mathematics.

Teaching practice: Contributions to Spanish prospective mathematics teachers

Prospective primary education (PE) teachers of mathematics are trained on university programs which include core subjects in the field of the didactics of mathematics. However, these subjects have no general practical component. Therefore, this research aims to analyze the contribution of practical courses to the development of good practice in mathematics education. For this purpose, an ethnographic study was carried out with the participation of 23 prospective teachers who completed a questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions. The closed responses were analyzed by frequency and percentage, and the open-ended responses were analyzed using the ATLAS.ti software (v. 22) (ATLAS.ti, 2022). The results show that most of the prospective teachers identified principles of good practice in mathematics classes, and most of them found a relationship between their initial training and what they experienced in these classrooms. In the light of the results, contributions are made to improve the initial training of mathematics teachers in PE.

Analysis of Good Teaching Practices with the Integration of Virtual Environments at the Upper Secondary Level

This article analyzes the practices of integration with virtual learning environments, and focuses on knowing the teaching practices used with virtual environments in the Upper Middle Level (NMS) of the University of Guanajuato (UG). The purpose of this article is first to review the literature and obtain some teaching models on good teaching practices in virtual education that allow identifying characteristics of effective practices, and as a second purpose the results of a specific case study on the incorporation of practices with the use of virtual learning environments are analyzed. A bibliographic review of 3 proposals with 9 evaluation characteristics is analyzed, in which it was found that some of the teaching practices with the integration of virtual environments are: constant student-teacher communication, timely information feedback, flexibility in education and interactivity. Based on these proposals, a descriptive study was defined that was supported by the collection of data from an instrument applied to 20 teachers of the Upper Middle Level of the University of Guanajuato and the results allowed the identification of some effective teaching practices in the management of virtual environments.

Systematic review of inquiry-based learning: assessing impact and best practices in education

Systematic review of inquiry-based learning: assessing impact and best practices in education

Transforming research and pedagogy in higher education through scientific inquiry steps

This research aims to investigate how to transform study and pedagogy in higher education through scientific inquiry steps. Scientific research serves as the foundation for human development. It drives humanity forward into discovery and innovation. The purpose of this study is to explore how teachers and researchers apply scientific inquiry steps to improve research and pedagogy in higher education in South Africa. Constructivist theory serves as the foundation for the study. Therefore, we employed a qualitative method and phenomenology design to explore the lived experiences of participants. The participants included ten experienced researchers doubling as teachers in the field of science education. We selected these participants from ten public universities in South Africa using a purposive sampling technique. The main instrument for data collection was a semi-structured interview schedule, which covered scientific inquiry steps. Recordings were made of the data with the permission of the participants, later transcribed into a notebook, and analyzed thematically. The findings indicated that teachers and researchers were aware of the scientific inquiry steps. Most of them benefited from scientific inquiry, which included constantly refining methods, embracing diverse perspectives, and revisiting hypotheses and experiments. Also, scientific inquiry steps enhanced the effectiveness of their teaching practices and provided them with a reliable scope for making informed decisions in the ever-evolving educational environment. This study has practical implications, including creating opportunities in higher education for both prospective teachers and emerging researchers to acquire a rigorous education in the scientific inquiry steps. This approach forms the bedrock for acquiring knowledge and promoting best practices in education.

Sexual and gender minority health: a roadmap for developing evidence-based medical school curricula.

Educating future physicians about sexual and gender minority (SGM) patients and their health care needs is an important way to mitigate discrimination and health disparities faced by this community. Canada, across its 17 medical schools, lacks a national standard for teaching this essential topic. This paper aims to review the best practices for teaching an SGM curriculum in undergraduate medical education and synthesize this information into actionable propositions for curriculum development. A scoping literature review was conducted to identify best practices for SGM teaching. The review elicited peer-reviewed and grey literature on best practices for SGM teaching, policy documents, and opinion pieces from medical education authorities and SGM advocacy groups. Through an iterative process with all authors, the Canadian Queer Medical Students Association (CQMSA), and the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), a set of propositions was developed. The search yielded 1347 papers, of which 89 were kept for data extraction. The main outcomes of these papers were sorted along five repeating themes, which formed the basis for six propositions; two more propositions were then added after discussion with all authors. We present eight propositions for the development of a national standard for SGM education at the undergraduate medical level. These include standardizing learning objectives across all schools, using established curricular models to guide curriculum development, interweaving concepts across all levels of training, diversifying teaching modalities, providing faculty training, ensuring a safe space for SGM students and faculty, using OSCEs as a teaching tool, and involving the local SGM community in curriculum development and delivery.

Education with purpose: Student empowerment, an international perspective

This scientific essay addresses the evolution of education, emphasizing the need to view the human being as a dynamic and multifaceted entity from birth to death. It focuses on the student as a critical pillar of the educational process, highlighting the importance of their philosophical inclusion to enhance the effectiveness of the educational system. The essay underscores the relevance of mobile devices in education, promoting teaching strategies that integrate technology to foster collaboration and interaction. The objective of the essay is to analyze the importance of purpose-driven education that empowers students and meets contemporary needs using technology. Good educational practices include encouraging student-faculty contact, developing reciprocity among students, using active learning techniques, giving prompt feedback, emphasizing time on task, communicating high expectations, and respecting diverse talents. These principles, along with contemporary educational technologies, create dynamic and interactive learning environments. Education has undergone significant transformations, adopting various methodologies to meet evolving needs. Empowering students within the educational process is crucial, enhancing their self-esteem, socialization, and sense of belonging. This empowerment fosters deeper interest and engagement in learning. Integrating empowerment into education cultivates leaders capable of leveraging various leadership styles, generating positive outcomes in academic, social, personal, and professional realms. Such leaders contribute to the well-rounded development of individuals and the overall betterment of society. By ensuring that students are empowered and well-prepared to lead and innovate, education can address complex contemporary problems and promote a harmonious and productive society. The essay concludes by emphasizing the necessity of empowering students in the educational process, improving their self-esteem, socialization, and sense of belonging. This empowerment fosters a deeper interest in learning and promotes a more engaging educational experience. Integrating empowerment into education prepares students for leadership roles, enabling them to generate positive outcomes in various aspects of life, thereby contributing to a more cohesive and progressive society.

Undergraduate Students’ Opinion on Digital Learning in a Post-pandemic Era: A Case Study

"The current article aims to investigate learners’ post-pandemic attitude towards digital learning in Higher Education with a specific focus on a group of undergraduate Law students at Babes-Bolyai University from Cluj-Napoca, Romania. To achieve its purpose, the article focuses on answering two research questions: Do post pandemic undergraduate students recognize the benefits of digital learning? Is e-learning currently a reasonable choice for them? The research is designed as an exploratory case study that uses three data collection tools: a questionnaire, an interview, and a classroom observation protocol. The article links information from literature related to the use of digital learning during the pandemic with results revealed by the data collected in the case study. The results suggest a steady trend towards a growing acceptance rate of digital learning by the targeted student population and a lower approval rate of e-learning. Keywords: higher education, digital learning, online learning, pandemic, good teaching practices."

Editorial: Bridging Boundaries: Advancing Learning Through Scholarship in An Evolving Academic Landscape

The scholarship of teaching and learning focuses on improving student outcomes by lever- aging research on education, instructional design, and pedagogy (Boyer, 1990). Scholars use analytical frameworks to inform innovative classroom policies and practices that enhance the learning experience and promote student success. The Boyer Model of Scholarship not only pro- motes a student-centered learning approach but also inspires faculty members to engage in research activities that inform best practices in teaching and learning. This model recognizes teaching as a significant form of scholarship that influences student development. However, challenges arise when the scholarship of teaching and learning is not explicitly integrated into institutional research plans and frameworks (Simmons et al., 2021). Teaching- focused faculty often face barriers such as limited funding and a lack of collegial support for their scholarly endeavors, hindering the recognition of SoTL as legitimate research (Simmons et al., 2021).

Media and Digital Technologies in Physical Education Teaching: A Literature Review

The present work addresses a literature review carried out in the CAPES journal portal database, with the aim of analyzing what has been produced and published in the last five years on media and digital technologies in teaching Physical Education. The data from the 21 articles selected for analysis were ordered by particularities and characteristics (Bardin, 1977). The text was organized based on three categories of analysis, grouped by common themes, namely: teacher training (initial and continuing); pedagogical proposals and teaching practice; digital technologies, school physical education and emergency remote teaching. It is noteworthy that working with digital media and technologies demands specific methodologies, which take into account new ways of teaching and learning. A trend identified in the teaching of Physical Education was the predominance of digital electronic games. Most of the pedagogical proposals analyzed were dedicated to the perception and use of what are also called exergames. The need for investment in teacher training is also highlighted so that teachers can make good use of technologies and enable good teaching practices in Physical Education in schools.

Early parent-child intervention with Dialogic Book-Sharing: effects on child communicative and socio-emotional development and on parenting. Study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial in Italy

BackgroundResearch in the neurosciences has highlighted the importance of intersubjective relationships in promoting neuromental development of the child. Children’s learning in early childhood occurs mainly in a dyadic context of an interaction with their parents: from this perspective, good dialogic parent–child communication is required to be promoted also through good educational practices. Dialogic Book-Sharing (DBS), a dialogic form of parent–child communication through the use of wordless picture books, provides a privileged ‘intersubjective’ space and is highly effective in promoting communication, language, attention, behavioural development and the parent–child relationship. DBS programme, successfully previously trialled in South Africa and the UK, will be applied for the first time in Italy for research purposes in Italian health, educational and maternal-child centres.MethodsA multicentre randomised controlled trial is being conducted to evaluate DBS parenting intervention for children aged between 14 and 20 months. Parent–child dyads are randomly allocated to a book-sharing intervention group or to a wait-list control group. In the intervention, parents are trained in supportive book-sharing with their children by local staff of the centres. DBS intervention is carried out in small groups over a period of 4 weeks. Data are collected at baseline, post-intervention and at 6 months post-intervention with a questionnaire and video recording of parent–child interaction.DiscussionDBS programme in early childhood could enhance the educational resources offered by Italian health, educational and maternal-child centres, in support of child’s development and parenting. DBS represents a strategic opportunity for bringing about positive effects, also in terms of prevention of socio-emotional and cognitive difficulties. As such it represents a promising response to the new social, health and educational needs of the post-COVID-19 pandemic era caused by the social isolation measures. Furthermore, the application of the DBS methodology is a way to promote the use of books, and thereby counteract the excessive use of technological devices already present in early childhood.Trial registrationThe trial is registered on the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number database, registration number ISRCTN11755019 Registered on 2 November 2023. This is version 1 of the protocol for the trial.

Teaching child-computer interaction: Critical reflections on a project-based interaction design course

As a response to a recent call for developing teaching materials and sharing examples of good teaching practice in Child-Computer Interaction (CCI), this paper describes previous experiences from incorporating an existing CCI curriculum into an Interaction Design course, that is mandatory for third year Bachelor students enrolled in Communication Design program. This article is an attempt to reflect on the four-year experience constructively and critically in teaching and progressively developing an existing CCI course. The paper describes key elements to teaching how to carry out a theory-oriented and project-based design course formulated around the challenge of interaction design with and for children. As the paper reflects on previous experiences, the contribution of this paper is including formal procedural research ethics into student project proposals as part of core principles and giving students the possibility to manage a group work on several iterations for the same project throughout the semester. I discuss some of the reflections on the teaching experience for interaction design and children have posed to me as a CCI researcher and university teacher and outline a set of lessons learned that I think would shed a light for taking ethical approval for student project works in future CCI teaching practices.

Art Teaching: Inclusive Factor and Attention to Diversity

<p style="text-align: justify;">The current research aims to analyze art teaching as an inclusive factor and pays attention to diversity in excluded populations to meet the needs of students in the pandemic context. In regard to methodology, we used the naturalistic paradigm, a qualitative approach, and an inductive method with a phenomenological and hermeneutical design. The data collection techniques we used were semi-structured interviews with teachers of the Regular Basic Education in Peru. The findings show that through the mediation of diverse artistic languages and the implementation of different didactic strategies, it is possible to achieve an interaction free from exclusion barriers, driven by good teaching practices that enable the inclusion and attention to the diversity of students, providing them with opportunities to develop capacities and skills to establish better coexistence. We concluded that art education comprises a lasting learning process that guarantees a healthy environment for peaceful coexistence, which today, inclusive teachers, parents, and students should keep in mind.</p>

Characterization of Distinctive Teaching Practices in Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships: Perspectives From Students and Faculty

Phenomenon : Longitudinal integrated clerkships (LICs) are novel curricula that place medical students in long-term learning and coaching relationships with faculty and require adaptation of teaching practices on the behalf of faculty to maximize learning outcomes. An understanding of how teaching in an LIC model differs from teaching trainees in more traditional models is critical to ensuring curricular innovation success through faculty development. Approach : A qualitative approach was used to describe the teaching practices of faculty and learning experiences of student participants in longitudinal integrated clerkships in different clinical and community settings. Forty-five faculty and 20 students participated in focus groups. Thematic analysis of focus group data was used to identify differences and similarities between groups, sites, and specialties. Findings : Two groupings of themes emerged in thematic analysis: (1) precepting strategies distinctive to the longitudinal integrated clerkship model and (2) precepting strategies enhanced when employed in the LIC model. Distinct to the LIC model, preceptors and students described the importance of understanding the curricular structure and supporting students in longitudinal care of patients. Enhanced in the LIC model are the strategies of relationship-based teaching, support of autonomy, feedback, and support of longitudinal growth in skills. Insights : Students and faculty across LIC sites were broadly aligned in their opinions of best practices for teaching in an LIC model. The longitudinal relationship between student and faculty in an LIC distinguishes this model from traditional block rotations and a distinctive approach to successful teaching is demonstrated. Preceptors use time afforded to build trusting relationships with students, which created opportunity for novel teaching approaches and enhanced otherwise effective teaching strategies. A focus on orientation to the curricular model and support of longitudinal relationships with patients may serve as an anchor for faculty development efforts in the development of an LIC.

Understanding teachers’ usage of YouTube as a pedagogical tool: A qualitative case study of basic school teachers in Ghana

YouTube has been widely considered as a pedagogical tool over the last few decades. Recent findings from research portray YouTube videos as an instructional part of learning that contributes to best practices in teaching. Much of the studies have focused on usage by teachers and students at the tertiary level without much attention given to basic school teachers. Using an exploratory qualitative case study design and the ICT Pedagogical Beliefs Classification framework, we explored teachers’ usage of YouTube as a pedagogical tool. We drew on the experiences of 18 teachers in 3 private schools in Ghana to find out how Youtube was used in instruction. Four dominant ways of usage were identified. YouTube was used as a teaching tool, a means of enhancing specific topics, a means of learning new and varied ways of teaching, and as a means of developing teachers’ professional competence. Findings showed that whilst some of the ways of usage align with constructivist methods of teaching others still fall within traditional and teacher centred approaches to teaching. We argue that for teachers to enact meaningful pedagogies with technology through a more student-centred model, their knowledge and skills need to be developed alongside the reshaping of their motives and reasons and subsequently the ways in which they use technology for teaching. We recommend the planning and reinforcement of innovative instructional design of technological integration for teachers through informed policy and the use of training interventions to build new skills geared towards constructive and creative teaching suited to developing a net generation of students.

Building middle leading practice through pedagogy-focused professional development

School middle leaders (MLs) play a pivotal role in improving student outcomes through leading teaching and learning. However, MLs face considerable challenges in driving school improvement, including comparatively few opportunities for targeted professional development (PD). In this paper, we explore the impact of a pedagogy-focused, collaborative approach to PD, known as Quality Teaching Rounds (QTR), for middle leading practice. Twenty-two post-QTR interviews with MLs, principals and classroom teachers at nine primary schools in NSW, Australia, were thematically analysed using Kemmis's theory of practice architectures. We found that QTR positively impacted middle leading by: (1) building agreement about good pedagogical practice; (2) enhancing pedagogy through a process of reciprocal lesson observation; and (3) building collegial culture by flattening power hierarchies. We argue that it is critical to offer MLs powerful forms of collaborative PD if they are to enact the transformative potential of their role in driving pedagogical improvement.

Biology teaching that develops the metacognitive aspect of learning: How to learn competence

Higher-order thinking and metacognition are closely related and are part of learning to develop competence. The goal of this research was to determine the practice of teaching biology that develops metacognition and evaluate whether teachers require specific professional training for this purpose or if broader cognitive-focused training can also enhance metacognitive development in students. The original Teaching Observation Form (TOF) has been adapted for research objectives. A survey was designed to capture the subjective perspectives of 292 students and their teachers regarding metacognition development. Additionally, the research involved six biology teachers who were professionally trained in a program focused on higher-order thinking. The survey results indicate a self-assessed good teaching practice for the development of metacognition. However, analysis of the first lesson's video recordings showed that some components had been eliminated from biology classes which hindered students' ability to develop metacognition. Although higher-order thinking and metacognition are interconnected phenomena, professional development training focuses solely on higher-order thinking whose impact we established through analysis of other lessons does not induce the necessary positive changes for the comprehensive development of metacognition in students. In a nutshell, explicit professional development programs aimed at fostering metacognitive awareness among teachers need to be designed. These programs should instruct teachers on how to model the development of metacognition in students through their teaching.