Classroom Enactment Research Articles

Towards teaching as design: Exploring the interplay between full-lifecycle learning design tooling and Teacher Professional Development

Recent research suggests that training teachers as learning designers helps promote technology-enhanced educational innovations. However, little attention has been paid so far to the interplay between the effectiveness of Teacher Professional Development (TPD) instructional models promoting the role of teachers as designers and the capabilities (and pitfalls) of the heterogeneous landscape of available Learning Design (LD) tooling employed to support such TPD. This paper describes a mixed method study that explores the use of a novel Integrated Learning Design Environment (ILDE) for supporting a TPD program on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Collaborative Learning (CL). 36 Adult Education (AE) and Higher Education (HE) in-service teachers, with little experience on both CL and ICT integration, participated in a study encompassing training workshops and follow-up full-lifecycle learning design processes (from initial conceptualization to implementation with a total of 176 students). The findings from our interpretive study showcase the benefits (and required effort) derived from the use of an integrated platform that guides teachers along the main phases of the learning design process, and that automates certain technological setup tasks needed for the classroom enactment. The study also highlights the need for adaptation of the TPD instructional model to the learning curve associated to the LD tooling, and explores its impact on the attitude of teachers towards future adoption of LD practices.

Tapping into Basic 7–9 Science and Technology Teachers’ Conceptions of Indigenous Knowledge in Imo State, Nigeria

The discussion on how to integrate African indigenous knowledge (IK) into mainstream Science and Technology schooling prevails. Nigeria’s colonised school curriculum is antithetical to its rich IK heritage. Guided by postcolonial theory, and the need for a culturally relevant and decolonised curriculum, this paper sought to explore seven basic 7–9 Science and Technology teachers’ conceptions of IK in Imo State, Nigeria, and ways they reportedly integrate IK in their classes. A qualitative approach was used to generate data from the teachers via narratives and focus group discussions. The teachers held five significant conceptions of IK: Informal Knowledge, Relational Knowledge, Traditional Knowledge, Technological Knowledge that is scientifically based and Lost Knowledge. However, only the conceptions of IK as Relational Knowledge and as scientifically based Technological Knowledge were enacted in their classroom. We advance the rationale that teachers with these conceptions and consequent classroom enactment are ideally situated to serve as cultural brokers of IK.

The Effects of Teachers’ Social and Human Capital on Urban Science Reform Initiatives: Considerations for Professional Development

Background Recent research investigating the conditions under which science teachers can successfully implement science education reforms suggests that focusing only on professional development to improve content knowledge and teaching skills—often referred to as human capital—may not be enough. Increasingly, possessing social capital, defined as capacities acquired through direct and indirect relationships in social networks, has become an important teaching characteristic to develop, however, more empirical research needs to be conducted. Purpose This article details our efforts to examine the relative influence of teachers’ social and human capital on instruction in the science classroom. The following research question guided our analysis: “What is the impact of teachers’ social and human capital on their classroom enactments, and what implications does this have for implementing science reform projects?” Setting This research was conducted in a large urban public school district in the northeast region of the United States. Teachers participated in professional development activities focused on learning about, constructing, and implementing nanoscale content through problem-based and inquiry-based units, integrated with technology applications such as computer simulations. Population The teacher group was comprised of 10 males and 11 females, eight of whom identified as African American and 13 as White. Teaching experience ranged from 1 to 33 years, with a mean of 11.18 years. Data were collected from 545 students in their classes, of whom 52.19% were African American and 65.03% received free or reduced-priced lunch. Students ranged in level between eighth and 12th grade in the subject areas of biology, chemistry, and physical science. Research Design The research design entailed a within group comparison assessing variables that quantified teacher's social and human capital as discreet measures. They were then compared to survey outcomes collected from their students that indicated change in instructional enactments as they were related to the nanoscale units. Data Collection and Analysis A regression analysis was used in the study. Student surveys of perceptions of instructional enactments in two factors—cognitively-rich pedagogies and computer-related technology use–were used as the predicted variables. The social and human capital measures were established from application surveys and year-end interviews of teachers and used as predictor variables. Results With both predictors in the model, only social capital was found to be predictive of teachers’ successful implementation, indicating that social capital was a stronger predictor than human capital. Conclusions The study shows that focusing on the development of a teacher's social capital may be an important feature of professional development activities alongside the development of human capital particularly in urban populations where access to resources is limited.

Supporting integrated STEM in the elementary classroom: a professional development approach centered on an engineering design challenge

BackgroundScience, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is becoming more prevalent at the elementary level, and there has been a push to focus on the integration between the STEM disciplines. Researchers within this study sought to understand the extent to which triads composed of a classroom teacher, student teacher, and an engineering fellow were able to use the context of an engineering design challenge to integrate and incorporate STEM concepts into the elementary classroom. Using a content analysis approach, researchers analyzed STEM integration across four phases of learning: professional development workshop, lesson plan, classroom enactment, and post-lesson reflection.ResultsResults highlight the ability for triads to conceptualize the integration of STEM concepts but also the challenge to sustain the integration of STEM concepts across phases of enactment.ConclusionsThe need to support teacher learning of STEM content and pedagogical practices for integration are discussed.

A Teacher’s Beliefs in Grammar and Her Teaching Practices: A Case Study of One Experienced EFL Teacher in A High School in Surakarta

<p>Borg (2009) states that there is a relationship between people’s action and their belief and knowledge. It makes educational researchers take more concern with a similar phenomenon which occurs in teaching learning process. Borg claims that ‘teachers’ mental lives play a role in their instructional practices’. This qualitative research reports a case study of teacher’s beliefs in grammar and her grammar teaching practice in SMA Negeri 5 Surakarta. The data were collected by in-depth interview with the teacher, in-depth interview with students, and passive classroom observation. The data were analyzed by qualitative data analysis proposed by Miles and Huberman (1994). The result of the research indicates that the teacher’s beliefs of grammar and teaching grammar influence her grammar teaching practices.</p>

Autonomy and competence frustration in young adolescent classrooms: Different associations with active and passive disengagement

Few studies have attempted to identify distinct psychological correlates of different forms of classroom disengagement. Drawing from basic psychological needs theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000), this study investigated two divergent mechanisms predicting active and passive classroom disengagement. Pupils (N = 647; age = 11–14 years) and their respective teachers completed a questionnaire measuring the study variables. Using structural equation modelling, pupils' perceptions of teacher psychological control positively predicted pupils' autonomy and competence frustration in class. Pupils' competence frustration indirectly and positively associated with teacher-rated passive disengagement (e.g. daydreaming in class), via reduced feelings of vitality. Pupils' autonomy frustration demonstrated positive associations with both active disengagement (e.g. talking and making noise) and passive disengagement but neither relationship was explained by feelings of vitality. These distinct mechanisms may have implications for educators, identifying potential causes of different forms of pupil disengagement and the importance of avoiding psychological control in classrooms.

An Activity‐Based Instructional Framework for Transforming Authentic Modeling Practices into Meaningful Contexts for Learning in Science Education

ABSTRACTOne of the challenges of science education is to integrate activities, content, and tools in a meaningful manner. One way to address this challenging goal is the transformation of authentic scientific practices into contexts for learning, in line with sociocultural activity theory. In this respect, authentic scientific practices are interpreted as the totality of human work situated in society. Within such authentic scientific practices, the activities, content, and tools are connected logically and the relevance is clear among its participants. This study presents an activity‐based instructional framework that assists educational designers in transforming authentic scientific practices for the population of students in science education. The activity‐based instructional framework has been dialectically constructed with the design and classroom enactment of a curriculum unit based on an authentic chemical modeling practice. The curriculum unit was developed through a participatory design process that took teachers’ expertise into account. The pedagogical decisions were abstracted in design guidelines. The curriculum unit was implemented multiple times in classroom to evaluate the design guidelines. Research data were collected by means of audio‐taped discussions, completed worksheets, and written questionnaires. The findings supported the potential of transforming authentic scientific practices to achieve meaningful science education.

Where is the bigger picture in the teaching and learning of mathematics?

This article presents an interpretive analysis of three different mathematics teaching cases to establish where the bigger picture should lie in the teaching and learning of mathematics. We use pre-existing data collected through pre-observation and post-observation interviews and passive classroom observation undertaken by the third author in two different Grade 11 classes taught by two different teachers at one high school. Another set of data was collected through participant observation of the second author’s Year 2 University class. We analyse the presence or absence of the bigger picture, especially, in the teachers’ questioning strategies and their approach to content, guided by Tall’s framework of three worlds of mathematics, namely the ‘conceptual-embodied’ world, the ‘proceptual-symbolic’ world and the ‘axiomatic-formal’ world. Within this broad framework we acknowledge Pirie and Kieren’s notion of folding back towards the attainment of an axiomatic-formal world. We argue that the teaching and learning of mathematics should remain anchored in the bigger picture and, in that way, mathematics is meaningful, accessible, expandable and transferable.

Collaborative Design of Technology-Enhanced Learning: What can We Learn from Teacher Talk?

The collaborative design of technology-enhanced learning is seen as a practical and effective professional development strategy, especially because teachers learn from each other as they share and apply knowledge. But how teacher design team participants draw on and develop their knowledge has not yet been investigated. This qualitative investigation explored the nature and content of teacher conversations while designing technology-enhanced learning for early literacy. To do so, four sub-studies were undertaken, each focusing on different aspects of design talk within six teams of teachers. Findings indicate that non-supported design team engagement is unlikely to yield professional development; basic process support can enable in-depth conversations; subject matter support is used and affects design-decisions; visualization of classroom enactment triggers the use of teachers’ existing integrated technological pedagogical content knowledge; and individual teacher contributions vary in type. Implications for teacher design team members and facilitators are discussed.

Teachers’ formative assessment abilities and their relationship to student learning: findings from a four-year intervention study

The teaching practices of recognizing and responding to students’ ideas during instruction are often called formative assessment, and can be conceptualized by four abilities: designing formative assessment tasks, asking questions to elicit student thinking, interpreting student ideas, and providing feedback that moves student thinking forward. While these practices have been linked to positive learning outcomes for students, designing and enacting formative assessment tasks in science classrooms presents instructional challenges for teachers. This paper reports on the results of a long-term study of high school biology teachers who participated in a 3 year professional development program, called the Formative Assessment Design Cycle (FADC), which guided them to iteratively design, enact, and reflect upon formative assessments for natural selection in school-based teacher learning communities. Nine teachers participated for three academic years; sources of data included teachers’ interpreting of student ideas in line with a learning progression, the formative assessment tasks they designed each year of the study, videotaped classroom enactment of those tasks, and pre-post test student achievement from the Baseline and final year of the study. Results indicate that, on average, teachers increased on all abilities during the study and changes were statistically significant for interpreting students ideas, eliciting questions, and feedback. HLM models showed that while only the quality of feedback was a significant predictor at Baseline, it was teachers’ task design and interpretation of ideas in Year 3. These results suggest the efficacy of the FADC in supporting teachers’ formative assessment abilities. Findings are interpreted in light of professional development and formative assessment literatures.

Making authentic science accessible-the benefits and challenges of integrating bioinformatics into a high-school science curriculum.

Despite the central place held by bioinformatics in modern life sciences and related areas, it has only recently been integrated to a limited extent into high-school teaching and learning programs. Here we describe the assessment of a learning environment entitled ‘Bioinformatics in the Service of Biotechnology’. Students’ learning outcomes and attitudes toward the bioinformatics learning environment were measured by analyzing their answers to questions embedded within the activities, questionnaires, interviews and observations. Students’ difficulties and knowledge acquisition were characterized based on four categories: the required domain-specific knowledge (declarative, procedural, strategic or situational), the scientific field that each question stems from (biology, bioinformatics or their combination), the associated cognitive-process dimension (remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, create) and the type of question (open-ended or multiple choice). Analysis of students’ cognitive outcomes revealed learning gains in bioinformatics and related scientific fields, as well as appropriation of the bioinformatics approach as part of the students’ scientific ‘toolbox’. For students, questions stemming from the ‘old world’ biology field and requiring declarative or strategic knowledge were harder to deal with. This stands in contrast to their teachers’ prediction. Analysis of students’ affective outcomes revealed positive attitudes toward bioinformatics and the learning environment, as well as their perception of the teacher’s role. Insights from this analysis yielded implications and recommendations for curriculum design, classroom enactment, teacher education and research. For example, we recommend teaching bioinformatics in an integrative and comprehensive manner, through an inquiry process, and linking it to the wider science curriculum.

In-service Teachers’ Implementation and Understanding of STEM Project Based Learning

In this study, we discussed the participating teachers‟ implementation and understanding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) project based learning (PBL). A research team at a STEM center systematically offered professional development activities to 92 teachers in an urban school district in the southern U.S. To investigate the teachers‟ implementation and understanding of the STEM PBL pedagogy, we conducted a collective case study with five teachers. Study data included interviews, in-class observations, and lesson plans designed and implemented by the teachers. The results of this study indicated that the PD sessions were effective in communicating several important concepts about STEM PBL. Nevertheless, our observations revealed that five teachers‟ classroom enactments did not necessarily convey their understanding of STEM PBL.

EFEKTIVITAS MODEL PEMBELAJARAN LEARNING CYCLE BERBANTUAN LEMBAR KEGIATAN PESERTA DIDIK (LKPD) PADA POKOK BAHASAN LOGIKA MATEMATIKA TERHADAP HASIL BELAJAR KELAS X SMA NEGERI 1 TERISI – INDRAMAYU

Learning output of students is essential part of for success of learning proccess. In math, mainly, teachers today apply expository method taking students into passive classroom learning. Thus, by applying assisted learning cycle LKPD (student’s text book) it is hoped that student’s clasroom learning output is improved. The aim of the research is to investigate learning model of assisted learning cycle LKPD on main logic in improving learning output, to investigate learning output on 10th grade SMAN 1 Terisi by using learning cycle with LKPD on main discussion of mathematical logic, to investigate the different output in experimented class and in controlled class. Population of the research are 10th grade SMAN 1 Terisi Indramayu numbering 185 students. Research sample is selected using cluster random sampling technique, and class X-2 is chosen as experimented class using learning cycle with LKPD and class X-1 is as controlled class using expository learning model as the sample. The research is quantitative and the techniques of collecting data are questionnaire and test. Technique of analyzing data used normality test, homogeneity test, hyphotesis test (t-tes). Data of finished questionnaire shows that average score of respond indicator and student motivation towards learning cycle with LKPD is 77,68 %, and it is categorized active. The result of linear regression test shows score of regression coeficient R=0,215, and score F=1,362 with sig=0,253. It is concluded from the data that there is influence on applying learning cycle with LKPD. On learning test, experimented class show they are better than controlled class. The average of learning output achieved by experimented class is 82,83 and that of controlled class is 75,7. It shows learning output divergence as much as 7,13. Based on hypothesis test, it is achieved score of statistical test sig.(2-tailed) which is 0,005<0,05 that Ho is denied. It means learning output in experimented class applying learning cycle with LKPD and controlled class implementing expository on main discussion over mathematical logic in 10th grade SMAN 1 Terisi Indramayu differs. Ke yw o r ds : Learning Cycle, Student’s text book (LKPD), and Learning Output

“Riding the rip”: an experiential and integrated human–physical geography curriculum in Costa Rica

Integrating research into short-term study abroad programs is challenging because of language, fieldwork logistics, and traditional learning models based on passive classroom experiences. Experiential learning often makes use of research as experience, but relatively few examples integrate human and physical geography. Here, we describe an experiential and integrated human–physical undergraduate geography curriculum in Costa Rica. We combine rip current morphodynamics, beach-user surveys, and cultural landscape in a 3-week program in Costa Rica. Emotions associated with the direct and indirect experience of “riding the rip” positively influenced the cognitive domain of student learning.

‘The exchange of ideas was mutual, I have to say’: negotiating researcher and teacher ‘roles’ in an early years educators’ professional development programme on inquiry-based mathematics and science learning

This paper explores the experiences of 14 early years educators who participated in a continuing professional development (CPD) programme coordinated by two of the paper’s authors. The programme was part of a three-year research project, which aimed at introducing early childhood educators to an inquiry-based approach to mathematics and science education and involved participants as teacher-researchers and curriculum-makers in cycles of action research. From this CPD experience, teachers appeared to reconceptualize traditional teacher and researcher ‘roles’ in more fluid and equitable ways, leading us to explore characteristics of the programme conducive to this shift. The main data source comprised teacher interviews, supplemented by video-recordings of group meetings, classroom enactment of activities and the facilitators’ field notes. Findings suggest that the shift was encouraged by the gradual formation of a community of practice; a reconceptualization of the ‘practical’; and the epistemology-oriented approach adopted in mathematics and science education. The discussion highlights the implications of these findings for early years educators’ professional development, and the problems of the ‘theory–practice’ divide in such development. Furthermore, the discussion stresses the importance of the socio-cultural context in which such projects take place, particularly as these often draw heavily upon international literature.

The same geometry textbook does not mean the same classroom enactment

Textbooks are often used in classroom instruction in quite different ways, leading to potential differences in students’ opportunities to learn. This paper explores the enactment of the topic of congruence by 12 teachers using the same geometry textbook. We highlight variations in the number and nature of lessons taught or skipped, in expectations for homework, and in instructional style. For instance, teachers taught between 60 and 100 % of the lessons on congruence but often skipped content focused on unique applications. The number of minutes of homework assigned varied from 16–30 min per night to 46–60 min per night. Ten of the 12 teachers spent at least 50 % of class time each week in whole-class instruction. Only one-third used dynamic geometry software and one used no calculator or computer technology in the congruence chapters. The results provide detailed insights into differences in upper secondary teachers’ use of textbooks, an area where less research exists than at elementary or lower secondary levels.

Multi-player epistemic games: Guiding the enactment of classroom knowledge-building communities

Teachers and students face many challenges in shifting from traditional classroom cultures to enacting the Knowledge-Building Communities model (KBC model) supported by the CSCL environment, Knowledge Forum (Bereiter, 2002; Bereiter & Scardamalia, 1993; Scardamalia, 2002; Scardamalia & Bereiter, 2006). Enacting the model involves socializing students into knowledge work, similar to disciplinary communities. A useful construct in the field of the Learning Sciences for understanding knowledge work is “epistemic games” (Collins & Ferguson, 1993; Morrison & Collins 1995; Perkins, 1997). We propose that a powerful means for supporting classroom enactments of the KBC model entails conceptualizing Knowledge Forum as a collective space for playing multi-player epistemic games. Participation in knowledge-building communities is then scaffolded through learning the moves of such games. We have designed scaffolding tools that highlight particular knowledge-building moves for practice and reflection as a means of supporting students and teachers in coming to understand how to collectively work together toward the progressive improvement of ideas. In order to examine our design theories in practice, we present research on Ideas First, a design-based research program involving enactments of the KBC model in Singaporean primary science classrooms (Bielaczyc & Ow, 2007, 2010; Ow & Bielaczyc, 2007; 2008).

Teacher Enactment Patterns: How Can We Help Move All Teachers to Reform-Based Inquiry Practice Through Professional Development?

The purpose of this study was to investigate high school teachers’ beliefs about inquiry instruction and determine how their beliefs influenced their use of inquiry after a professional development program. Thirty-six high school science teachers participated in this study. The professional development program consisted of a 2-week summer institute as well as academic year support. The summer program included discipline-specific content lessons that utilized inquiry-based instruction, pedagogical practice involving the use of a summer high school enrichment program, and reflection on this practice-teaching in content area groups. Both in-depth qualitative interview and written reflection data were collected as well as data from the teachers’ classroom implementation of inquiry. Based on the analysis of the teachers’ interviews and classroom enactments, the teachers were placed into four enactment categories: Integrated, Emerging, Laboratory-based, and Activity-focused. We used Windschitl’s (Rev Educ Res 72(2):131–175, 2002) four constructivist dilemmas as a framework to understand the teachers’ enactments. We describe the teachers’ beliefs and practices in each enactment category as well as the components of the professional development model that were important to making changes in the teachers’ practices. In the conclusion, we connect the enactment levels to the professional development experience and suggest future directions for professional developers to move teachers toward more integrated inquiry practices.

Teachers and Students’ Conceptions of Computer-Based Models in the Context of High School Chemistry: Elicitations at the Pre-intervention Stage

This study examined teachers’ and students’ initial conceptions of computer-based models—Flash and NetLogo models—and documented how teachers and students reconciled notions of multiple representations featuring macroscopic, submicroscopic and symbolic representations prior to actual intervention in eight high school chemistry classrooms. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 32 students and 6 teachers. Findings revealed an interplay of complex factors that functioned as opportunities and obstacles in the implementation of technologies in science classrooms. Students revealed preferences for the Flash models as opposed to the open-ended NetLogo models. Altogether, due to lack of content and modeling background knowledge, students experienced difficulties articulating coherent and blended understandings of multiple representations. Concurrently, while the aesthetic and interactive features of the models were of great value, they did not sustain students’ initial curiosity and opportunities to improve understandings about chemistry phenomena. Most teachers recognized direct alignment of the Flash model with their existing curriculum; however, the benefits were relegated to existing procedural and passive classroom practices. The findings have implications for pedagogical approaches that address the implementation of computer-based models, function of models, models as multiple representations and the role of background knowledge and cognitive load, and the role of teacher vision and classroom practices.

Admissions Interview Day HIPAA TBL

OPEN ACCESSAugust 25, 2013Admissions Interview Day HIPAA TBL Richard Sabina, PhD, David Rodenbaugh, David Thomas, Robert Augustyniak, Ernest Krug Richard Sabina, PhD Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine Google Scholar More articles by this author , David Rodenbaugh Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine Google Scholar More articles by this author , David Thomas Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine Google Scholar More articles by this author , Robert Augustyniak Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Carolinas Campus Google Scholar More articles by this author , Ernest Krug Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine Google Scholar More articles by this author https://doi.org/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.9523 SectionsAbout ToolsDownload Citations ShareFacebookTwitterEmail AbstractThis resource serves as an experiential introduction to team-based learning (TBL) on admissions interview day for applicants to health care profession schools that use this active-learning modality in their curriculum. One of the recognized barriers associated with the use of TBL is learner buy-in. This is largely due to the fact that passive classroom learning (such as lectures) still predominates most undergraduate curricula. Nevertheless, current wisdom indicates that if learners are exposed early to TBL and have repeated experiences with the method, their attitudes improve. In other words, as learners gain more experience with TBL they become more comfortable with the process. Since our preclinical medical curriculum has been designed to include TBL as one of the major active-learning modalities, we developed this resource to provide an early experience to begin the process of circumventing this barrier, and also to provide our potential learners with an experiential glimpse of what it would be like to attend our new medical school. This TBL module has been successfully deployed more than 80 times over three admissions cycles. Slight revisions of content and delivery have been made since its inception. Educational Objectives By the end of this module, learners will be able to: Understand the essential foundational concepts and structural components of team-based learning.Apply this knowledge in an experiential exercise related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Sign up for the latest publications from MedEdPORTAL Add your email below FILES INCLUDEDReferencesRelatedDetails FILES INCLUDED Included in this publication: Admissions Interview Day HIPAA TBL Module.docx Instructor's Guide.docx Preparatory Reading.pdf TBL Session Presentation Template.pptx To view all publication components, extract (i.e., unzip) them from the downloaded .zip file. Download editor’s noteThis publication may contain technology or a display format that is no longer in use. CitationSabina R, Rodenbaugh D, Thomas D, Augustyniak R, Krug E. Admissions Interview Day HIPAA TBL. MedEdPORTAL. 2013;9:9523. https://doi.org/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.9523 Copyright & Permissions© 2013 Sabina et al. This is an open-access publication distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike license.KeywordsHIPAAEditor's ChoiceAdmissionsTeam-Based LearningHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability ActTBL Disclosures None to report. Funding/Support None to report. Loading ...