Education Faculty Members Research Articles

Exploring perceived mattering in physical education teacher education faculty

ABSTRACT Physical education teacher education (PETE) faculty members are leaders of the PETE profession. Their duties involve generating new knowledge, training emerging physical education (PE) teachers, serving the community and mentoring future PETE scholars. Despite playing a pivotal role in higher education, little research exists documenting their perceptions of mattering within higher education. This study explored the construct of perceived mattering within PETE faculty members and how these feelings interact within the sociopolitical structures of higher education. Data collection occurred through semi-structured interviews with 30 PETE faculty members within the United States. Data were analyzed deductively and inductively. Qualitative data revealed three major themes: (a) the role of external networks and service opportunities as strategies to navigate departmental underappreciation, (b) the need for acceptance within hierarchical social structures and (c) how teaching and research value orientations can create challenges and opportunities. Creating community partnerships with local schools, providing proper guidance throughout faculty socialization and embracing mentorship during early career years can help increase feelings of mattering within PETE faculty members and realign the overarching purpose of PE within the educational system.

The Relationship between Mental Workload and Job Satisfaction of Faculty Members with their Educational Performance

Introduction: Workload and job satisfaction are among the most influential factors affecting job performance. Therefore, this study aims to assess the cognitive workload and job satisfaction and their impact on the quality of education faculty members provide. Method: This study was conducted among 34 faculty members through a census. The NASA-TLX tool was used to assess cognitive workload, and a job satisfaction scale was employed to evaluate job satisfaction. Moreover, the training quality score was considered a criterion for assessing the educational performance of the participants. To determine the role of explanatory variables on the level of mental workload, multiple linear regression was used at a 95% confidence level. Result: The mean cognitive workload of faculty members was 52.94 ± 24.48. Efficiency and time demand scored the highest and lowest among the subscales of workload, respectively. Job satisfaction was 56.85 ± 27.61, with satisfaction with the department head and colleagues ranking highest and satisfaction with salary being the lowest in job satisfaction. The cognitive workload had a non-significant relationship with job satisfaction (P = 0.08, r = 0.56). However, the relationship between teaching quality and both cognitive workload and job satisfaction was not statistically significant. Conclusion: No significant relationship was observed between cognitive workload, job satisfaction, and teaching quality scores. However, it is recommended that measures be taken to improve the quality of work life for faculty members to enhance the quality of education they provide.

Transitioning from PE teacher to PE teacher educator through a critical friendship – from ‘I’ to ‘WE’: a collaborative autoethnography

ABSTRACT The transition from teacher to teacher-educator is significant. However, teacher educators are typically dropped into teaching at the tertiary level, with little professional preparation, induction or professional learning to be able to teach in this new context. As a result, this transition can be challenging. Despite a growing body of research on the transition from teacher to teacher-educator, little is known about how Physical Education (PE) teachers transition to becoming Physical Education teacher educators and faculty members. This collaborative autoethnography explores the journey of an early career PE teacher educator transitioning while navigating the tension between his teaching and academic habitus, supported by a critical friend going through the same career stage. Reflections were collected through reflective field notes and audio summaries and were explored through ongoing discussions with a critical friend. Ultimately, this project provided a unique insight into how PE teachers transition from teacher to teacher educator and how they can re-think and re-contextualize many of the practices they embodied as teachers, particularly with the support of a critical friend. This process was transformative for both teacher educators and concludes with a call for other Early Career Academics (ECA) to engage in a similar process to strengthen their transition into teacher education.

Pathways to Allyship in Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

In pursuit of racial justice, there is a need to understand how to engage in anti-racist allyship to reduce potential harm as experienced by the most vulnerable members within academia. In this study, we utilized grounded theory methodology to create a model of allyship based on the definitions and experiences of BIPOC counselor education and counseling psychology faculty members. Participants included 12 faculty members who identified as BIPOC and who could identify traits of White allies through existing relationships and experiences. Participants represented diversity in racial identity and academic rank and were selected through theoretical, purposive, and convenience sampling methods. Through constant comparison of the data, we developed a model identifying contextual processes and components of White allyship. The model demonstrates generative and restrictive pathways for ongoing allyship across the domains of Humility, Engagement, Impact, and Positionality. Implications for counselor educators, counseling psychologists, and researchers are presented.

How to Develop Human Capital Through Organizational Justice, Organizational Citizenship Behavior, and Organizational Commitment

Abstract Research background Higher education faculty members who perceive fairness and equity can demonstrate citizenship behavior and they can develop feelings of belongingness and cohesiveness which will assist them to build intellectual assets and appreciate human capital. This study enhances the professional well-being of faculty members by enhancing their human capital, with a specific focus on the importance of their skills, knowledge, and abilities. Purpose The study aimed to assess the degree to which organizational commitment (OC) serves as a mediator in the relationship between organizational justice (OJ) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Research methodology The data analysis was conducted using path analysis, and the data processing was carried out using Smart PLS 3.0. This study employed quantitative methods and involved a sample of 470 faculty members from higher educational institutions (HEIs) in India, selected using a purposive sampling technique. Results The research results suggest that there exists a favorable correlation between OJ, OCB, and OC. Novelty The novelty of this research lies in its ambitious pursuit of creating an extensive knowledge repository, fostering a culture of research-oriented learning, and providing invaluable insights that will empower the future generation to propel the academic sector forward.

Brain Drain or Brain Circulation? The Impact of Gaza’s 7th October War on the Displaced Academicians and Personnel of Higher Education Institutions

The unprecedented Gaza war in October 2023 had a catastrophic impact on the Palestinian higher education sector in the Gaza Strip: deaths, injuries, psychological trauma to educators, and destruction to educational premises and their facilities. Major concerns include displacement, diminished access to education, and the subsequent exodus of qualified professionals from the country. These factors are exacerbated by increasing reduction or complete cessation of education, and infrastructure degradation in the war zone areas. This study aims to explore and examine the impact of the Gaza war crisis on higher education academicians and personnel which has intrinsically hampered education, research, and science. This study adopts a qualitative method by interviewing university academicians from Gaza addressing the impact of the war crisis on their careers. These interviews scope the barriers and sketch the scale and nature of challenges for the higher educational sector during the war aiming to record the most important decisions and interventions to maintain the continuity of the education process forward.

Publishing Preparation, Experiences, and Expectations of Music Education Faculty in Higher Education

The purpose of this study was to explore research and publishing preparation, experiences, and expectations of music education faculty members employed at higher education institutions. We developed the Publishing Preparation and Expectations Survey (PPES) to examine music education faculty members’ current areas of research, peer-reviewed journals they read and published in, and their experiences with peer reviewers. Utilizing the Directory of Music Faculties from the College Music Society, we distributed the PPES to 1,081 music education faculty members across 487 higher education institutions in the United States, resulting in 179 responses. The participants self-reported as predominantly White ( n = 157, 87.7%), female ( n = 101, 56.4%), and possessing a PhD ( n = 145, 81.0%). Additionally, 83 participants (46.4%) initially submitted a research article for publication in a peer-reviewed music education journal during their doctoral programs. Participants anticipated publishing an average of 11.44 articles ( SD = 8.89) for promotion to associate professor and had an average of 9.81 ( SD = 11.02) peer-reviewed research articles previously published. Finally, participants shared their experiences with peer reviewers using descriptors such as “discouraging,” “harsh,” and “cruel.”

Perspectives on Inclusion in Physical Education From Faculty and Students at Three Physical Education Teacher Education Programs in Chile

Discourse about, and the preparation of teachers regarding, the inclusion of all students has been lacking in Latin America broadly, including Chile. The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives of physical education teacher education (PETE) faculty members and undergraduate students on inclusion and social justice in Chile. Grounded in social constructionism, the research design of this qualitative inquiry was descriptive multiple case study. The 16 participants were PETE faculty—that is, two assistant professors and one adjunct faculty member (n = 3) and three heads of programs (n = 3)—as well as undergraduate students (n = 10) across three PETE programs in Chile. The primary data sources were 12 individual semistructured interviews with heads of the program and faculty and three focus group interviews with undergraduate students across programs. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis to draw on different themes capturing the perspectives on inclusion and social justice within the Chilean physical education curriculum. Findings were presented through themes and subthemes across PETE programs. Three major discussion themes are presented: (a) disability framed within a deficit model, (b) inclusion as an adapted pedagogical practice, and (c) inclusion as a rights-based model for equality of opportunities. We conclude, analytically, that a lack of critical critique of the deficit model of disability, adapted pedagogical practices alone, and sameness manifests forms of marginalization to students with disabilities in physical education.

El trinomio compromiso, satisfacción y justicia organizacional en el binomio felicidad e intención de rotar

the aim of this study was to empirically analyze the relationships between the dimensions of organizational justice, job satisfaction, andorganizational commitment with work happiness and turnover intention among academic workers in Mexico. To this end, a sample of 393 higher education faculty members in Mexico was surveyed. The statistical technique of structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) was used to analyze the data. The study’s results show that, on the one hand, the variables of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and organizational justice areinterrelated among these workers, and on the other hand, that these variables positively explain work happiness and negatively explain turnover intention. This information is relevant for university leaders to undertake a strategic direction oriented towards Happiness Management. This way, their human capital can perform their professional activities in an environment of positive emotions, creativity, joy, and subjective well-being.

Optimization of Lecturer Resource Management at the Faculty of Islamic Studies

This study examines Human Resource Management (HRM) practices within the Faculty of Islamic Studies at two universities: Pancabudi Development University and Dharmawangsa University. The research aims to analyze key HRM aspects, including recruitment, selection, competency enhancement, performance management, coaching, and the development of educational staff and faculty members at these institutions. The study adopts a multi-site approach, encompassing both faculties, and utilizes qualitative research methods, specifically a naturalistic interactive approach that involves organic interactions between researchers and participants. The findings reveal that both universities follow general standards for recruitment and selection, such as assessing prior needs and consulting with WR1, although the selection methods varied between institutions. Performance improvement strategies at both universities include participation in various training activities and seminars. Coaching and development efforts at Pancabudi Development University emphasize on-the-job and in-service training, whereas Dharmawangsa University incorporates third-party providers for training initiatives. Moreover, at Pancabudi Development University, the development of educator professionalism is integrated into the broader campus development strategy, while Dharmawangsa University prioritizes ongoing professional development. In conclusion, although the HRM approaches at both universities differ, they are aligned in their overall objectives to enhance HRM and campus development. These findings suggest that institutions implementing well-planned organizational strategies are likely to achieve superior accreditation outcomes.

Collaborative Learning Platform for Academicians in Libya

Higher education academicians face a variety of difficulties, such as the need for improved collaboration, streamlined communication, and effective resource management. In order to tackle these concerns, this study investigates the unique challenges that academicians in higher education face. The study emphasizes the need for integrated features and user interfaces that are simple to understand and customized for a particular requirement of higher education. Moreover, by exploring the recognition and understanding of these barriers, the study not only clarifies the complex terrain of difficulties but also establishes the foundation for the creation of a platform for collaborative learning. With a focus on the problems faced by academicians, this platform will include features like a forum that is easy to use, the ability to share resources, a powerful search engine, a section devoted to frequently asked questions, and a chatbot that can engage users. Together, these elements seek to offer a thorough resolution to the problems noted, promoting enhanced dialogue, information sharing, and instructional effectiveness among academicians.

Faculty application and perceived effectiveness of cognitive psychology principles in medical education. A mixed method study

ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to explore the extent to which faculty members in undergraduate medical education apply cognitive psychology principles in their teaching practices, and to evaluate the perceived effectiveness of these principles in enhancing student learning.MethodsThis mixed method study was conducted on faculty members of public and private sector universities. Focused group discussions were conducted, and the responses of the participants were measured on a 5-point- Likert Scale. The instrument was tested for validity and reliability by measuring Cronbach’s alpha and performing exploratory factor analysis. Mann–Whitney U test was applied on the attributes scores to compare 13 attributes by institutions, designations and domains.ResultsOne theme, 7 sub-themes and 19 categories were identified from the focused group discussion. as Kaiser- Meyer-Olkin index was 0.88 and Bartlett’s test of sphericity was significant. Reliability was established at 0.95. The faculty self-perceived practicing psychology principles mostly scored in the middle level, where they think they apply less strategies. While highly significant results were noted for using Meyer’s multimedia principles.ConclusionFaculty members followed the principles of cognitive psychology to some extent. However, they all felt that using these principles can transform the teaching and learning of medical education.

“We want to give people skills that will get them jobs”: Community College Career and Technical Education Faculty Members’ Teaching Strategies

Increased attention toward filling skills gaps have prompted community colleges to prepare a new wave of employees. Community colleges have long turned to former industry professionals, now serving as career and technical education (CTE) faculty, to train students for fruitful careers. This narrative inquiry study featured interviews with 20 community college CTE faculty and aimed to address this research question: what teaching approaches do community college CTE faculty, as practitioners-turned-educators, implement with their students? Findings showcased five strategies that CTE faculty implement: 1) drawing on professional experiences to shape curriculum; 2) looking to industry for current needed skills; 3) leveraging how students learn to promote practical industry skills; 4) prioritizing students’ humanity; and 5) assisting with internship acquisition. We offer implications to researchers on how to further unravel these participants’ distinct perspectives, as well as provide recommendations to practitioners on how to support CTE faculty in their vital campus capacities.

LGBTQ+ Faculty Members' Perceptions of Diversity Policies and Practices in Higher Education

Problem The career development and professional growth of LGBTQ+ faculty members in higher education is an under researched topic in the field of human resource development (HRD); particularly as it relates to ways that exclusionary diversity policies and practices can hinder well-being and perpetuate marginalization of this group. While current diversity policies and practices in higher education acknowledge and address race and ethnicity, gender identity and sexuality have tended to receive far less attention. This issue is particularly problematic within the HRD career development paradigm. The reinforcement of cisheteronormativity leads to feelings of marginalization and exclusion among LGBTQ+ faculty members, highlighting systemic barriers that hinder their professional growth. Solution The purpose of this study was to explore six LGBTQ+ faculty members’ perceptions of diversity policies and practices at their respective institutions, investigating how the language and implementation of them contribute to a sense of marginalization and exclusion. The role of critical human resource development (CHRD) in challenging the social injustices emanating from exclusionary diversity policies and practices is discussed. Implications for positive career development outcomes from implementing and enforcing inclusive diversity policies and practices are highlighted. Stakeholders The stakeholders are higher education institutions (HEIs), human resource development (HRD) practitioners who may work with them, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) executives.

Investigating the motivating factors that influence the adoption of blended learning for teachers’ professional development

Blended learning (BL), a teaching method merging online and face-to-face learning, is lauded for its potential to enrich educational outcomes and tackle challenges entrenched in conventional teaching practices. In countries like Pakistan, where equitable access to quality professional development remains an obstacle, BL is a promising avenue to surmount training barriers. While BL adoption has evolved swiftly, research into its integration within teacher training remains limited. Notably, no comprehensive model exists describing the motivational factors influencing teachers' perceptions and intentions regarding the blended mode of teacher training. This study aims to identify the motivational elements that motivate schoolteachers in teacher training institutions in Pakistan to incorporate blended learning into their programs. The motivational factors identified in BL literature have been employed to craft a motivation model grounded in their causal relationship. This quantitative study examines the interplay between multiple motivational factors and their impact on BL adoption within teacher training and the BL environment. Surveying 350 schoolteachers (participants) from teacher training institutions, we employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) techniques with Smart PLS 4.0 for data analysis. Results reveal that extrinsic and intrinsic motivational factors significantly influence teachers' motivation to adopt BL for training. Notably, "overall training quality" and "educational environment" were non-influential. Overall, the findings underscore that considering a blend of extrinsic and intrinsic factors can wield a 65 % influence on BL adoption. The study's results provide practical guidance for educational leaders, curriculum designers, and faculty members aiming to cultivate a unified blended learning environment for teacher professional development. These insights also underscore the importance of incorporating essential motivational factors into forthcoming blended learning training programs.

Communicating about diversity: challenges and strategies related to integrating race into the rural higher education classroom

ABSTRACT In a country where conversations about race, racism, power, and identity are becoming more commonplace and viewed as a necessity for creating an inclusive society, it is striking that many higher education faculty members struggle to incorporate these kinds of conversations into the classroom. While studies have pointed to a variety of reasons, including faculty members’ racial literacy and their White fragility, few studies to date have examined what faculty members from American rural contexts view as obstacles and opportunities in discussing race in the classroom. This study fills this gap by examining what barriers and strategies faculty members from a rural Predominantly White Sea and Land Grant institution engage with when discussing race-related topics in the classroom. Utilising a mixed-methods approach, this study’s findings revealed barriers consisting of instructor ambivalence and discomfort, student discomfort, lack of experience with and insight into discrimination, and institutional issues such as lack of support. This study also identified strategies that instructors indicated using to successfully incorporate race into the classroom, including strategies aimed at creating a productive classroom environment, exposing students to diversity, and creating an environment that allowed for critical reflexivity. The study concludes with recommendations on how higher education administrators and instructors in rural areas can work to render discussions about race more constructive and meaningful.

Encouraging a Unified Framework for Understanding Socialization Into Higher Education

Over the past few decades, scholars have directed increasing attention toward the socialization of physical education faculty members’ recruitment, preparation, and ongoing socialization. Parallel research trajectories have, however, resulted in varied approaches to conceptualizing and labeling the phases or types of socialization experienced by this occupational group. With the view of academic journals as spaces for discourse surrounding divergent approaches to conceptualizing and conducting research, the purpose of this research note was to overview two contrasting conceptualizations of physical education teacher education faculty socialization and propose a unified approach for moving forward in future research. Differing perspectives are reviewed, and an updated conceptual framework for understanding socialization into and through academic roles is proposed. We argue that this model better captures the diversity in and provides flexibility for the backgrounds that draw individuals into careers in higher education and their experiences once serving among the faculty in academia.

Forming Optimal Classroom Environments Through Bandura’s Mastery Experiences

Higher education faculty members are increasingly being asked to defend their teaching methods with research-based support. This article offers such evidence through a randomized control-group pretest-posttest study that examined whether a newly created andragogy method, Forming Optimal Classroom Environments (FOCE), increased master’s students’ research self-efficacy in comparison to the standard teaching method (STM). The article details the model, based on Bandura’s social cognitive theory, particularly his concept of self-efficacy. The model relies upon both Bandura’s publications and results over the last forty years from researchers who have investigated higher education teaching techniques based on the concept of self-efficacy. Fifteen such research-based techniques form the model. Results found no significant interaction effect when comparing FOCE with the STM. Additionally, both teaching methods demonstrated that knowledge increases were positively correlated with research self-efficacy increases. This indicates that increasing research knowledge is one factor in increasing students’ research self-efficacy. Implications of findings are discussed.

Faculty-Student Mentorship Effects on Faith-Learning Integration: A Comparative Study of Residential and Open and Distance Learning Programs in Selected Christian Universities in Kenya

Being the organizing paradigm and the unique hallmark for the life and mission of Christian higher educational institutions, faith-learning integration (FLI) has dominated educational research for several decades, whilst, a limited body of empirical studies that focus on faculty and students’ perspectives on its implementation currently exists. What is more, most researches on FLI are skewed toward students in traditional residential studies programs (RSP). This situation exists against the backdrop of the phenomenal growth of Christian higher educational institutions offering their academic programs via open and distance learning programs (ODLP). Based on these issues, the present study was poised to investigate the extent to which faculty-student mentorship affects FLI in RSP compared to the effects of ODLP in selected Christian universities in Kenya. This comparison was analyzed based on Randall Lehmann Sorenson’s attachment theory with the view to addressing the problem of whether or not the extent of faculty-student mentorship effects on FLI in the two programs were similar. This study employed a cross-sectional survey research design. Three Christian universities in Kenya were purposely selected to participate in the study, namely: Africa Nazarene University, (ANU), Daystar University (DU), and Kenya Methodist University (KeMU). The target population was students enrolled in the Bachelor of Education Secondary Option (BEd SO) program and faculty members teaching in the program. A total of 613 residential and 113 ODL students were randomly sampled, whereas, 12 full-time faculty members were purposely selected to participate in the study. Mailed and self-administered questionnaires were used for data collection. Validation of the instruments was carried out before they were tested using the split-half technique for reliability. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics aided by contingency tables, percentages, and a Chi-square test of independence with the view to responding to two research questions. One null hypothesis was tested using a Chi-square test of independence at 0.05 level of significance with 2 degrees of freedom. The result of this analysis revealed that faculty mentorship effects on students’ learning integration in RSP are significantly different from students’ learning integration in ODLP. Major recommendations included the need for faculty in the selected Christian universities to develop close and dynamic mentoring relationships with students both in RSP and ODLP equally. There was also a need for faculty to creatively adopt effective FLI strategies to have a positive and transformative impact on students’ learning integration in the ODLP.

Comparisons of special education teachers and faculty's perceptions of employing augmented reality for pupils with intellectual disabilities

The purpose of the current study is to investigate the comparisons between faculty and special education teachers' views of the use of augmented reality with learners with intellectual disabilities. In recent years, the Saudi education minister has made many reforms to advance the use of assistive technology in the teaching of learners with intellectual disabilities. The design of descriptive research was methodologically used to gather data from a hundred and sixty-five faculty members from Taif University and ninety special education teachers from Taif schools through an electronic survey. The questionnaire is divided into two parts: the first part includes demographic variables, namely gender and academic experiences. The second part included statements that focused on the views of special education teachers and faculty members regarding the use of AR technology for students with ID. The findings showed that faculty have more agreeable perceptions compared to special education instructors in Saudi Arabia. Also, there was a significant impact on special education teachers' perceptions of using augmented reality for students with intellectual disabilities based on gender. However, years of teaching experiences did not impact the special education teachers and faculty perceptions of using augmented reality with students with intellectual disabilities. Thus, the implication of the study recommends that special education teachers and faculty members should be more exhibited in training courses emphasizing raising awareness on the utilization of augmented reality for students with intellectual disabilities within general and university education.