Experiences Of School Teachers Research Articles

Traditional Classroom Teaching versus Online Teaching in COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspective and Experiences of School Teachers in Northern India

Introduction: Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected everyone across the globe. The complete lockdown was imposed worldwide to cut down the chain of transmission. During lockdown, the decision was taken to shift from classroom teaching to online application (app)-based teaching. Numerous studies have documented that compared to classroom teaching, online teaching possesses various challenges both for teachers and learners. Aim: Assessment of perception of the school teachers regarding online teaching compared to traditional classroom teaching. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 school teachers of various government and private schools in Northern India from November 2020 to December 2020. An online questionnaire (English language) of 15 questions was used for assessing school teachers’ perspectives and experiences of online teaching compared to traditional classroom teaching and was designed on basis of 5-point likert scale. Informed consent was obtained before the data collection. Data analysis was done using Microsoft excel 2019 software. Results: Among the 100 school teachers who participated in the study, 74% were females and the majority of study participants i.e. 69% were in the age group 31-50 years. Overall, 86% agreed that the online method is a supplement and not a replacement for traditional classroom teaching. Only nine teachers were fully satisfied with online teaching methods. The difference in school teachers’ perceptions was found to be statistically significant (Paired t-test) while comparing classroom teaching to online teaching on various variables viz-teachers satisfaction, students’ feedback, students’ punctuality, and learning experience. Conclusion: Classroom teaching provides more opportunities to monitor students’ progress, learning, assessment, feedback and discussion, and online teaching can also be used to supplement classroom teaching as and when required.

Mathematics Teacher Education Curriculum in Zambia: Lecturers’, Students’ and In-service Teachers’ Perspective

Quality teaching of classroom mathematics in schools begin with exposing student teachers to a quality teacher education curriculum during their teacher education programme. The rationale for this study was to analyse the mathematics teacher education curriculum by reflecting on lecturers’, students and in-service teachers’ perceptions. Mixed methods design particularly the convergent parallel design was used. Questionnaires were distributed to former university students who were teaching mathematics in Lusaka and Kitwe district of Zambia as well as final year student teachers who were on the programme and had done their school teaching experience. In addition, some teachers, lecturers of mathematics content and mathematics teaching methods were interviewed. The researcher used description and thematic analysis in analysing qualitative data and quantitative data was analysed through the use of the statistical package for social sciences version 20 where means and independent samples t-tests were used. The study key findings reviewed that the way teachers of mathematics were prepared for their professional classroom job was inappropriate as the curriculum they were exposed to during their teacher education programme was loosely linked to what the student teachers were expected to teach upon graduation in Zambian schools. This affected the way mathematics was taught in secondary schools. Besides, the mismatch in the two curricula led to teachers of mathematics with diplomas to divert to other teaching subjects when upgrading their studies to a degree level. Hence, it was recommended that the higher institutions of learning needed to consider the ministerial directive by reviewing the mathematics teacher education curriculum after thoroughly conducting a job analysis. It was also recommended that the Ministry of Education needed to reinforce the already existing continuous professional development to bridge the gap between the two curricula.

Faculty perspectives of small group teaching experience in medical school in Tamil Nadu.

BACKGROUND:The small group teaching (SGT) is gaining popularity in medical education since it improves the student's thinking capacity and aids knowledge retention. Several studies have been conducted to analyze students' attitudes regarding SGT. Faculty, on the other hand, have mixed perception about SGT methodology. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to explore medical faculties' perceptions of SGT effectiveness in the medical curriculum.MATERIALS AND METHODS:A cross-sectional, descriptive survey was conducted among 50 medical college teachers. We have developed set of 12 questionnaires to assess the perception of teachers on SGT methods. Content validation of the survey questionnaire was done by Lawshe method, and Cronbach's alpha was calculated for estimating the internal consistency. Teacher's perception responses were presented as proportion and percentage. We performed principal component analysis, structural equation modelling, Chi-squared test (χ2/df), goodness-of-fit index (GFI), adjusted GFI, comparative fit index, and root mean square error of approximation.RESULTS:The validation resulted in the 12 items model indicated superior goodness of fit for sample data. All the extracted factors had good internal consistency of >0.9. Majority of the teachers strongly agreed that the SGT method enhances the student intrinsic motivation (n = 42, 84%), self-confidence (n = 40, 80%) self-directed learning (n = 35, 70%), and student teacher interaction (n = 38, 76%).CONCLUSION:Teaching faculties' perception reflected that SGT is an effective method to impart knowledge to the students and also helps in improving their understanding of their subject. It helps in developing intrinsic motivation to do self-learning in the students. It also helps in developing good peer interaction and improves the communication skills.

Literary Scholar, Teacher Educator? English Staff Profiles and Attitudes to Teacher Education

Over the past decade, what it means to be an academic teacher of English-language literature in Swedish institutions of higher education has changed. As a result of recent political reforms, many literature staff have come to assume the role as teacher educators. To better understand the implications of this development, the article maps the academic qualifications and research interests of English staff who teach on teacher education (TEd) literature courses nationally and their attitudes to TEd teaching. The article is based on data gathered via a semi-closed questionnaire and analysed using content and discourse analysis. It shows that a majority of the study participants are PhD holders in English with a specialisation in literature. Although few staff are qualified teachers and/or are engaged in literature teaching and learning scholarship, several have school teaching experience. Respondent attitudes to the teacher educator role vary, as do the conditions for TEd teaching at different institutions. The findings suggest that respondent expertise and self-identification and their previous TEd teaching experiences are consequential for their attitudes, as is the matter of whether the role requires that they address areas, such as school-oriented teaching and learning theories and practices, in which they lack competence. These findings, the article suggests, have bearing on future strategic discussions in English studies.

Teachers’ experiences of managing children with epilepsy in school: A qualitative study

BackgroundSchool is the second most important environment for children second to the family. An increasing number of children with epilepsy (CWE) are able to go back to school to continue to study after treatment. In school, CWE can be involved in studies and activities, which is conducive to their growth. However, CWE have to face more barriers than other children in school, such as cognitive impairment, poor attendance, school absenteeism, and learning disability. What is more, even if CWE have been taking antiepileptic medicines, they still have a risk of seizure. Therefore, it is important to ensure the safety of CWE in the school. Teachers play a significant part in managing CWE in school, so we aimed to deeply explore the experiences of school teachers in managing CWE during school. MethodPurposive sampling was used to recruit teachers (n = 17) who cared for children with epilepsy in their class. Semi-structured interviews were used to access qualitative data. Framework analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. ResultFive major themes emerged after analyzing: the recognition of epilepsy, the attitude to children with epilepsy, the barriers to communicate with parents about epilepsy, the reaction to a seizure, and the need for training. ConclusionThe findings of this qualitative study reported teachers’ knowledge of and attitude toward epilepsy, the barriers for them to communicate with parents, the reaction to seizure, and the need for training. Although teachers know little about epilepsy, they have a positive attitude toward CWE. There are many obstacles in terms of the communication between teachers and parents. Parents’ cover-ups and teachers’ lack of professional training will put teachers and CWE at risk. In view of the fact that teachers and parents are not professionals, it is necessary for hospitals to play a coordinating role between the two.

Can indigenous music learning processes inform contemporary schooling?

This autoethnographic study investigated possibility of incorporating indigenous pedagogies into Ugandan school music and, possibly, general education. School music education in Uganda currently occurs within a colonial-influenced system that does not connect with learners’ indigenous cultures. The colonial system fosters belief that “western” is modernity and “indigenous” is backwardness that should be erased. School music learning is currently experienced in a teacher-dominated, “banking” (Freire, 1970) school system that disempowers learners and produces graduates who cannot address the musical needs of their worlds. Ugandan government measures to improve music and general education have not improved the situation. Literature on the role that indigenous pedagogies could play in a contemporary music education is limited. Through this study, I sought to understand what might happen when indigenous education pedagogies are incorporated in a contemporary, formal school setting. Informed by relevant literature, I interrogated and analyzed my own learning and teaching experiences in Ugandan communities and schools and found that embedding indigenous learning and teaching processes in music classrooms fostered growth in learner leadership, ownership, agency, and identity in the context of mutually shared participatory experiences that learners found relevant and meaningful—experiences that engendered joyful, passionate, collaborative learning, and reification of reflective practice among learners.

Influence of minimum wage and prompt salary payment on teachers’ effectiveness in public secondary schools

Obviously that less motivated teachers are less productive and less disposed to perform their best, despite their acquired teaching experiences in secondary schools. Drawing on equity theory, valence expectancy theory, and the two-factor theory, this paper examines the influence of minimum wage and prompt salary payment on teacher effectiveness in public secondary schools. The study’s sample was drawn from 20 selected public secondary schools in Ibadan North local government area of Oyo State, Nigeria. This study adopts a quantitative research approach. The questionnaires were randomly distributed. Out of 200 questionnaires, 149 questionnaires were effective for analysis after analyzing the data with SPSS version 25. This study revealed that minimum wage, prompt salary payment, and demographic variables have significant independent and joint influence on teachers’ effectiveness in public secondary schools. It was proved that several teachers are dissatisfied with minimum wage payments and that prompt salary payment influences teachers’ effectiveness. Therefore, the study recommended that the state government should review the current minimum wage, making it more attractive to motivate teachers, thereby directly enhancing teachers’ effectiveness. The focus should also be on achieving prompt salary payment through consistent and effective salary scheme management, promoting teachers’ effectiveness. AcknowledgmentThe current author acknowledges the Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, under Professor Wilfred Ukpere, in funding the current study and its publication.

The new concept of laboratory support for educational institutions and scientific establishments

Purpose: To develop a new concept of laboratory support for learners at different levels of education to maintain a high education quality in conditions of limited opportunities, such as lockdown, lack of funding, etc. Design/methodology/approach: To create a new concept, the practical experience of school teachers, educators of technical colleges and universities, research workers, as well as experience of scientists in the educational field published in open information' sources was taken into account. The development of a new concept was carried out from 2014 to 2016, and its implementation, introduction into the educational process, and possible ways to solve technical and organizational difficulties from 2016 to the present. In the last year, special attention was paid to distance learning. Findings: The development and the first practical steps to implement the new concept of updating the laboratory support of educational institutions clearly demonstrate of its practical implementation' feasibility. Positive consequences from the implementation were identified as constant improvement of laboratory equipment, increase in the educators’ level, transformation of virtual distance learning based on lectures and videos into real learning with "live" visual demonstration of physical, chemical, biological and other processes and experimental research. As a recommendation, should wish that at the state level to recommend the implementation of this approach and to propose some legal mechanisms to overcome identified problems. Research limitations/implications: The present study was conducted for Ukrainian educational institutions with the involvement of foreign students from different countries studying in Ukraine. Practical implications: The introduction of a new concept into the educational process in countries with a weak economy will improve the educational quality and reduce the cost of creating laboratory support. Originality/value: Equipment should not only be a teaching tool, but also a teaching subject.

Schoolteacher's knowledge, attitudes, and practice toward student with epilepsy in Taif, Saudi Arabia: Cross-sectional study.

Background:Globally, teachers have misconceptions about epilepsy and its management. Little is known about Saudi Teachers’ knowledge about epilepsy in Taif City.Method:Descriptive questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey of a sample of schoolteachers in Taif Governate.Results:The study included (n = 420) schoolteachers. All heard about epilepsy and (n = 116, 27.6%) knew about epilepsy from an afflicted individual, and (n = 102, 24.3%) from social media outlets. Most teachers believed that an epileptic fit constitutes seizures (n = 370, 88.1%). Some (n = 330, 78.6%) were not satisfied with their knowledge level. Attitudes were positively associated with years of experience, but, generally, were only modest with 50.2% fearful of having an epileptic child in class. The mean practice score was 6.9 (out of 15). Practice was improved by having a pupil with epilepsy in class.Discussion and Conclusion:Schoolteachers in Taif showed excellent crude knowledge about epilepsy. However, knowledge of crucial details of the disorder were poor. This could be due to reliance on social media for information. There was high level of insight among schoolteachers regarding their sub-optimum knowledge levels. Knowledge was much better among experienced schoolteachers. Witnessing an epileptic fit improved knowledge. Teachers’ attitudes toward epilepsy were negative, likely because of significant epilepsy-related stigma. Years of experience were significantly associated with increased attitude score. Schoolteachers’ actual practice in handling epilepsy cases was below-expectation. There is pressing need for high-quality workshops to address knowledge and practice deficits.

Student Teachers’ Experiences on Task-Based Language Teaching: A Narrative Inquiry

Student Teacher Exchange in Southeast Asia (SEA Teacher) is a project providing opportunity for pre-service teachers from universities in Southeast Asia to have teaching experiences (practicum) in schools in other countries in Southeast Asia. This study presents the experiences of four pre-service English teachers who enrolled in SEA Teacher internship program. The participants were interviewed and the data were analyzed via thematic narrative analysis. Research credibility was enhanced through multiple data sources including interview transcript, lesson plans, and student teachers’ report. The Findings revealed that soft or weak form of task-based language teaching (TBLT) was implemented, varying from those similar to traditional presentation-practice-production (PPP) paradigm, to stronger forms, such as task-supported language teaching. Strong forms of TBLT remained unproven due to students’ linguistic challenge.

Distant Learning: The Experiences of Brazilian Schoolteachers during the COVID-19 School Closures

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed several challenges to education, especially with the shift from traditional face-to-face to distance learning, affecting teaching and learning worldwide. While distance learning seemed to favor children of affluent families, students of low socioeconomic families faced additional challenges, like the lack of adequate resources to attend online classes and continue their education. Thus, in this study, schoolteachers’ experiences adapting their instructional strategies to distance learning were investigated. A qualitative case study examined and compared the experiences of a public-school and a private-school teacher with distance learning in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic school closures. The cases give insight into the strategies used and challenges experienced by the participants while attending to different student populations’ needs: marginalized and more affluent. Thematic analysis of the aggregated data indicated the participants’ similar distant teaching and learning experiences (disconnected interactions with their students) and distinct perspectives and commitments to teaching and their use of technology in education. Recommendations and implications for educators, administrators, and policymakers are included.

Effectual thinking and music education: One view of creative adaptation in an underserved urban middle school

This descriptive case study superimposed Effectuation Theory onto the experiences of an American music educator and the challenges and opportunities facing him in an economically disadvantaged teaching context. Luke Guerra, the primary participant, possessed 11 years of teaching experience in an underserved urban middle school. His military experience, lack of canonical content knowledge, social activism, and exclusive use of popular music set him apart from conventional music educators. Data collection comprised semi-structured interviews with the participant and his colleagues, direct observation and documentation of the participant’s teaching, logging of researcher memos, and analysis of artifacts and participant reflections. Four themes emerged from inductive analysis that suggested the salience of Effectuation Theory: (a) teaching ethos informed by unique personal circumstances; (b) embracing uncertainty; (c) socially conscious, student-centered teaching and learning; and (d) collaboration. Rather than allowing the limitations of his teaching context and knowledge gaps to exert control over his program, Luke created an alternative future by leveraging his means and limitations into a vision around which others could rally and invest. Luke’s story and its connections to the principles of Effectuation may provide transferable benefits to music educators working in teaching contexts hindered by uncertainty.

Analysis of the Effect of School Organizational Culture and Professional Learning Communities on Teacher Efficacy

Introduction. The aim of the study is to find ways to expand teacher efficacy by examining how the teacher’s efficacy varies according to the school organisation culture and the level of the professional learning community. Materials and Methods. Survey methods were used to collect the data from 400 in-service teachers at elementary, middle, and high schools in South Korea, with five schools selected from each region, respectively. This study utilizes the data from 359 teachers. This study used a random sampling method, taking the location of the school into consideration. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the overall trends in school organisation culture. T-test was used to examine differences among research variables depending on the personal background of gender and teacher level, and the F-test and Scheffe tests were used for school level and teaching experience. Results. First, school’s organization culture is transforming and evolving into a more ideal and model culture. As schools increasingly transform into innovative schools, innovative cultures and group cultures gradually form. Second, a school is a type of organization system that elicits responses elicits a variety of responses from the teachers depending on their personal background and characteristics. Third, professional learning communities have a positive effect on teacher efficacy. Therefore, school organisation culture can be seen as a better predictor of teacher ef ficacy than a professional learning community. Discussion and Conclusion. The article is of interest to the managers of the school educat ion system.

초등학교 고학년과 중학생을 대상으로 한 영어과 핵심역량 자가평가 도구 개발 및 타당화 연구

The study was designed to develop and validate a self-assessment tool measuring upper elementary and middle school students’ key competencies in English education. With the study purpose, the documents and previous articles were first examined. And, four professional educators and five experienced school teachers were requested to advise on defining the four key competencies specified in 2015 Revised English Education Curriculum, identifying the sub-components of each competency, and developing a self-assessment tool consisting of 59 items. On the pilot-study, 260 students’ responses to the scale were analyzed to explore its reliability and validity. Based on the results of the pilot study, 33 items were chosen for the revised scale and its scale was administered to a total of 324 students. To analyze their responses to the scale, the exploratory factor analysis and the confirmatory factor analysis through a structural equation modeling were conducted. The study found out the 33 items were fully valid and reliable in evaluating students’ four key competencies in English education.

Teaching the Dance Subject in Australian High Schools

ABSTRACT This article discusses qualitative research investigating experiences of school teachers delivering the dance curriculum in high schools in the state of Victoria, Australia. We questioned teachers on their day-to-day professional experience and its rewards and challenges. Interpretation of the data suggests that the participants in our study can gain substantial satisfaction from their work as they observe their students’ development through dance, sometimes building long-term mentoring relationships and relations of trust with their students in the dance studio environment. Nevertheless, the wider school environment, discourses, resources, and facilities can present difficulties or can even be lacking; rigorous forums for debating the aims, meaning, and practicalities of dance in high school education are few; and teachers often feel on their own in confronting challenges.

Pendampingan Lesson Study: Meningkatkan Pelaksanaan Pembelajaran dengan Pendekatan Scientific Guru SD Muhammadiyah 3 Gresik

This devotion was accomplished because it was found that the implementation of learning with the 2013 curriculum had difficulties, many teachers did not yet understand how to learn the scientific approach. In addition, Muhammadiyah 3 Gresik Elementary School Teacher experience weaknesses in the development of assessment sheets and student worksheets (LKS) using only LKS from related agencies or certain publishers who collaborate with schools. The solution provided is assistance and implementation of a Lesson study with a Scientific approach. The results of the implementation of learning showed an increase from cycle I with an average of 56 to 88 in cycle II. Learning is much more interesting and vibrant. When learning the teacher freely controls the class so that students can study seriously but with a pleasant atmosphere. Thus it can be concluded that lesson study assistance carried out in grade 3 of Muhammadiyah 3 Gresik Elementary School was successful as expected. Keywords: Assistance, lesson study, scientific, elementary school.

Trabajo colaborativo y codocencia: una aproximación a la inclusión educativa

The Educational Reform implies a series of systemic changes that have aimed at building an inclusive educational system that promotes comprehensive quality education. Such changes constitute challenges for institutional and pedagogical management, and must guarantee that all students can access a quality education with equivalent opportunities to learn and participate, considering their individual, economic, social and cultural characteristics. This documentary research, framed in the qualitative paradigm, seeks to show how the concept of educational inclusion has evolved and how collaborative work is the cornerstone for the deployment of inclusive pedagogical practices. In this way, teachers have had to face the challenge of enriching educational practices, in order to respond to and attend to diversity, emphasizing the collaboration and participation of different actors, understanding, for example, that the definition and implementation of a plan of curricular adaptations must be elaborated and executed in a participative and collaborative way, which demands the development of collaborative work strategies. In particular, the co-teaching practice is proposed (MINEDUC, 2009 and 2012), which implies a change in the structure and organization of teaching and learning experiences in schools, where teachers in the regular classroom and Education Special work collaboratively at all times. Keywords: Inclusion. Diversity. Collaborative work. Co-teaching. Co-teaching.

Analyse de l’expérience d’ateliers de relaxation pour les professeurs des écoles en formation initiale : agir sur les compétences émotionnelles pour contribuer à une meilleure gestion de sa santé

Cette etude se donne pour objet l’analyse de l’experience de professeurs des ecoles en formation initiale, lors d’ateliers de relaxation. Au moyen de differents outils de recueil des perceptions et ressentis de ces etudiants, nous relevons les types de competences emotionnelles engagees et les processus par lesquels les transformations s’operent. Nous exposons ainsi les elements qui nous semblent revelateurs du processus d’autonomisation en cours chez les etudiants dans la gestion de leur sante.

Novice nontraditional teacher educators’ identity (re)construction in higher education: A Hong Kong perspective

This study explores two novice nontraditional teacher educators’ identity (re)construction in different universities in Hong Kong. Drawing on data from in-depth interviews, field observation, and informal communication, the findings demonstrate how the two novice teacher educators, without formal school teaching experience, underwent different identity change trajectories (i.e., from identity conflicts to identity deficits and vice versa), influenced by their personal beliefs and aspirations as well as contextual demands in higher education. The findings provide insights into the under-researched area of nontraditional teacher educators’ professional development and offer useful implications on how to prepare and develop effective and committed teacher educators in Hong Kong and similar educational contexts where teacher education is mainly housed in higher education institutions.

Perceptions and Experiences of School Teachers During the Implementation of a School-Based Deworming Activity in Kenya

Background: Primary school teachers are key stakeholders in the success of school-based deworming activity as they are responsible for drug administration and provision of health education to the School-Age Children (SAC). In Kenya, the National School-Based Deworming Programme (NSBDP) for control of soil-transmitted helminths and schistosomiasis was initiated in the year 2012 in prioritised areas. By the year 2013, over 6 million SAC had been treated. The present study sought to assess the teachers’ perceptions and experiences of the school-based deworming activity in an effort to improve programme effectiveness. Methods: Qualitative data were collected, using in-depth interviews, in 4 subcounties of the coastal region of Kenya. Using purposive selection, 1 primary school teacher from each of the 38 schools also purposively selected participated in the study. The data were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded and analysed manually by study themes which included: reason for being selected for training to administer drugs; perceptions of training content and duration; experiences during drug acquisition, administration and record-keeping and motivation to continue participating in the deworming of school-age children. Results: Half of the teachers indicated that they were selected to administer drugs to children as they were responsible for school health matters. The duration and content of the training were considered sufficient, and no challenges were faced during drug acquisition. Challenges faced during drug administration included non-compliance and experience of side effects of the drugs. No major problems were experienced in record-keeping, although the teachers felt that the forms needed to be simplified. Improvement of the children’s health and class performance was reported as a source of motivation to the teachers to continue administering the drugs. Fellow teachers were reported to have given moral support while over half of the respondents indicated that parents did not provide much support. Conclusion: Generally, teachers have positive experiences and perceptions of the deworming activity. There is, however, a need to involve all stakeholders especially the parents through the school board of management to help counter non-compliance and possibly support in providing meals to the children to help minimise side effects after drug consumption. Inadequate moral support and incentives are negative factors on the teachers’ motivation.