Learning In Professional Education Research Articles

PLitPE: an intervention for physical literacy enriched pedagogy in Canadian elementary school physical education classes

ABSTRACT Background: Although physical literacy is explicitly defined and integrated into Canadian provincial physical education curricula, limited empirical evidence substantiates the development of physical literacy in elementary physical education. Despite physical education curricular expectations, developing and assessing physical literacy in students may be difficult for teachers with little to no background in physical literacy or physical education. Purpose: The primary purpose was to explore the effect of a curricularly linked physical literacy enriched intervention in elementary school physical education. A secondary purpose involved an examination of the intervention’s effects on sex differences. Design: A quasi-experimental controlled intervention trial with a matched comparison group was used to determine the impact of a curricular-based physical literacy enriched physical education intervention on students’ development of physical literacy. Teachers (n = 6) and students (n = 131) from four Saskatchewan elementary schools participated in either a PLitPE (experimental) condition or a usual practice (control) condition. The PLitPE intervention was created using learning principles consistent with physical literacy and Self-Determination Theory. PLitPE instructional elements were developed with input from thirteen teachers who were members of the local school division’s physical education professional learning community. An embedded professional development model was used where a mentor teacher was present to facilitate and support the implementation of the PLitPE intervention. The Physical Literacy Assessment for Youth tools were used to assess motor competence (PLAYfun), student self-description (PLAYself), and movement participation (PLAYinventory). Each domain of physical literacy (physical competence, psychological, and behavioural) was evaluated using these tools. Results: Significant differences, favouring PLitPE over control, were observed for average motor competence (M = 49.4, M = 40.0, p < 0.001, PLAYfun), movement vocabulary (M = 10.3, M = 7.5, p < 0.001, PLAYfun), environmental participation (M = 423.9, M = 390.1, p < 0.05, PLAYself), and a reduction of sex differences on average motor competence and movement vocabulary. Statistically significant relationships with low to fair correlations between PLAYfun and PLAYself variables existed. Conclusions: This study provides empirical evidence supporting physical literacy enriched physical education. PLitPE developed the psychological domain (affective and cognitive) and significantly improved physical competence, however, the intervention did not manifest in improved behaviour. Concerning sex differences, the intervention yielded an equal and substantive improvement in both males and females in the intervention group. Future studies should consider the addition of reflective approaches, as well as the construction of positive challenges for children.

The Effect of Self Regulated Learning on Learning Outcomes of Mathematics Education Students in Online Lectures

Self Regulated Learning during online lectures plays a very important role in the success of student learning. Activities to determine the effect of Self Regulated Learning on student educational professional learning outcomes is the purpose of this study. The research method used in this study is a survey method using simple linear regression analysis. The sample was obtained using a saturated sample, namely the entire population of 25 students of the mathematics education study program at Ninebelas November Kolaka University in the odd semester of the 2020/2021 academic year. Data collection was carried out by providing self regulated learning questionnaires and essay tests on learning outcomes of the educational profession. Data analysis was carried out using the SPSS program consisting of descriptive analysis analysis, classical assumption test and research hypothesis testing. Classical assumption test in the form of normality test and linearity test. The conclusion of the research that has been carried out is that there is a significant positive effect between self regulated learning on the learning outcomes of the educational profession in students of the mathematics education study program. The large contribution of self regulated learning to the learning outcomes of the educational profession is 23.5% and 76.5% is contributed by variables other than self regulated learning.

“Does Anyone Even Care That I’m Down Here?”: Creating Shared Values in a District-Wide Physical Education Professional Learning Community

Purpose: Physical education teachers often report feeling isolated due to being the only specialist in a building. Professional learning communities (PLCs) are spaces where individuals who hold shared goals come together to build connections, allowing educators to feel connected, valued, and empowered. The authors sought to explore the shared values created by a PLC and the process through which that value emerged. Method: The authors facilitated a PLC for eight physical education teachers within one midsized school district and collected interview and meeting audio data to explore the process and outcomes of the PLC. Results: Coding using a Value Creation Framework revealed themes of building common ground, support for big and small problems of practice, and an increased connection with other school faculty. Discussion: Teachers were able to build a supportive network where ideas could be traded, partner support was provided, and problems of practice were discussed.

Distance learning in professional education: topical issues

The importance and necessity of introducing distance learning is due to the global situation with coronavirus infection since the beginning of 2020, which resulted in the emergency transition of educational institutions to online mode. The active use of distance learning technologies has changed the concept of the entire education system, its organizational and substantive aspects [4, p. 293]. Therefore, today, studies devoted to the experience of using and interacting between the subjects of the educational process, namely, technologies of distance learning in vocational education, optimization of organizational, substantive and methodological issues in this area are demanded. The research problem is to reveal the actual aspects of distance learning in vocational education. The purpose of the research is to identify topical issues of distance learning in vocational education in modern conditions. The research methods used are analysis, synthesis, generalization. The experimental base is Maykop State Technological University. The research results: the concept of «distance learning» has been disclosed; the concept of distance learning in vocational education has been described; new technological educational trends have been described; the problems of implementation of distance education in modern conditions have been identified. Key findings. Distance learning refers to innovative educational technologies that ensure the availability and quality of the educational process at a distance online; the means of implementing distance learning are learning platforms, Internet resources; distance learning has contributed to the emergence of new technological educational trends: cloud services, massive open online courses, adaptive learning, behavioral analytics, etc. Topical issues of distance learning in vocational education are the quality of professional training of future specialists in a distance format, the lack of generally accepted standards for distance organization and the procedure for assessing students' knowledge, technical difficulties, etc.

The role of teacher educator professional learning in reconfiguring physical education

This paper explores a professional learning (PL) journey by author 1 as purposeful action to become a more knowledgeable physical education (PE) teacher educator. Although the context is PE, our paper is applicable to other teacher educators across multiple disciplines, who seek to be reflexive in their professional development. The learning journey examined is the completion of a part-time human movement science graduate certificate. The research questions being the following: (1) How can completing further context-specific PL facilitate engaging innovative practice? (2) What unintended consequences, if any, resulted from completing the PL reported? Our research uses autoethnography with author 1’s self-voice provided through diary extracts. These extracts are interpreted with figurational sociology and the extant literature as our academic voice, supported by anonymous formal student satisfaction data from an undergraduate unit, currently taught by both authors. This unit is central to our study, as gaining knowledge to teach it was the main reason for author 1 undertaking the graduate certificate. In answering the first research question, author 1 gained rich insights and connections to his own teaching context through ongoing reflexive opportunities during his study programme. Concerning our second research question, several unintended consequences occurred from author 1 undertaking the study beyond learning new subject matter knowledge. Specifically, a range of new pedagogical and assessment approaches were experienced by author 1 and appropriated into our unit. This self-study documents contextualised PL as an example of how author 1 faced up to ‘new times’ in his work context.

Continuity and change in educators’ professional learning networks

While prior research suggests that many educators turn to social media to grow and enhance professional learning networks (PLNs) that extend beyond their schools, little is known about how PLNs shift over time. In this exploratory study, we investigated the nature of continuity and change in the PLNs of 192 K-12 and university educators from 17 countries. Participants responded to our request to comment on PLN descriptions they provided in a previous 2014 survey, and then identify continuity and change during the intervening years. Respondents overwhelmingly expressed that their PLNs had changed over the four years between the two surveys. The causes of PLN changes appeared to be diverse, dynamic, and interrelated. Various proximal and distal factors contributed to changes in professional activities. We frame the study through social ecological systems theory, discuss the significance of these findings, and consider implications for K-12 and higher education professional learning. Educators and those who lead and support their professional learning should reflect upon and attend to PLN change to ensure more educative results for teachers and students.

About College Sports Education Professional Learning to Learn

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Teachers’ conceptions and uses of student collaboration in the classroom

ABSTRACT Background The ability to collaborate is a central competence that students need to be taught in school, in order to prepare them for the social and work realities that they will face in the 21st century. Research shows that students often study in educational settings that do not promote collaboration with peers. Based on a renewed focus on the ability to collaborate as an educational outcome in itself, this paper explores how teachers think about and use student collaboration in the classroom. Purpose This study, conducted in Norway, aimed to better understand teachers’ pedagogical reasons for using collaboration. Such insight can offer valuable knowledge about how collaboration is understood and might influence classroom practice. Methods A small scale, detailed qualitative study was undertaken. The participants comprised a teacher team of four lower secondary school teachers, and data were collected through individual, semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed in depth, using content analysis methods. Findings Five main themes were identified that illuminated the teachers’ conceptions of collaboration: (1) collaborative activities as a valued ingredient in teaching, (2) collaboration as organising, (3) collaboration as a tool, (4) collaboration as demanding and (5) collaboration skills ‘taken for granted’. The findings indicated that collaboration was regarded as a valued ingredient in teaching practice, despite sometimes being challenging to use. Further, it appeared that that the dual potential that lies in using collaborative activities – i.e. as a way to work with, and develop, the ability to collaborate – can be overshadowed by an academic focus. Interestingly, learning how to collaborate was rarely regarded as being an educational outcome in itself. Conclusion This paper highlights the need to accentuate the social pedagogy of collaborative activities, in order to prepare students for the social and work realities that lie before them. Opportunities for teachers to develop their understanding of student collaboration and learn about how best to structure teaching and learning to capture the dual potential that lies within should be embedded in teacher education and on-going professional learning.

Creativity through mindfulness: The Arts and Wellbeing in Education (AWE) professional learning programme

This article uses findings from a case study of an arts/education professional learning programme in Wales to construct a definition of creativity that reflects on and contributes to debates around the concept, and its value within education. The programme Arts and Wellbeing in Education (AWE) focused on supporting school teachers’ well-being through creative practice. The research comprised a participatory methodology that sought to explore the circulating discourse around the key concepts of creativity and well-being in order to identify how the team leading the programme conceptualized the value of creativity, and how this was enacted. The findings point to a notion of creativity that is an inclusive, carnival experience that may improve well-being through mindful approaches to creative practice.

Preparing educators for the time of COVID … and beyond

ABSTRACT With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, even greater efforts are needed to address students’ academic and social emotional needs, all the while making up for learning loss and preparing for the unpredictable combinations of distance learning, blended learning, and in-classroom learning. These expectations, along with the need for greater emphasis on equity-focused teaching and learning have raised the bar for educators and for educator preparation. This paper explores what policymakers and educators can do to support educators in meeting the social emotional and academic needs of students. These strategies include investing in high-quality educator preparation, transforming educator professional learning opportunities to match current needs, supporting mentoring and the development of new teacher roles, and creating time for educators to collaborate with each other and key partners. These actions are vital for navigating teaching and learning during the pandemic and beyond.

Leadership for professional learning towards educational equity: a systematic literature review

ABSTRACT This systematic review of recent research explored the uncharted intersection of literature on educational leadership, professional learning, and educational equity. It investigated leadership approaches to shaping the professional development and ongoing learning of educators which supports more equitable outcomes for students. The underlying motivation for the work is our concern for the educational experiences and achievements of marginalised students, and for professional learning to address these inequalities. Guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement, and iterative selection of literature based on relevance and quality judged by the weight of evidence assessments, we identified 41 empirical items for detailed analysis. The outcome was five themes: Critical framing of social justice issues; Dialogue and enquiry; Learning and identity development; Context, resources, and motivations; Normalising inclusion and shared leadership. A further six articles informed a conceptual framework linking professional learning and outcomes that developed existing models. Critique of linear conceptualisations of learning, and affinity with the values and philosophy of the process model of education championed by Lawrence Stenhouse, prompted proposing the themes as nascent principles. These require further research, yet they have immediate practical utility for educational leaders and teachers working in pursuit of educational equity.

‘Finding the image’: using photos to give voice to teacher educator professional learning

ABSTRACT Our purpose was to explore the role of photocue reflection in the professional learning of physical education teacher educators. Five physical education teacher educators participated in a six-month professional learning experience focused on communication. Individual diaries including both photos and writing prompts, photocue reflective diaries, were used as both a learning tool and data source within a self-study of teacher education practices methodological frame. Two themes represented the use of photocue reflection: the multidimensional nature of the professional development experience and the use of photocue reflection to enhance reflective processes by supporting reflection on reflection-in-action. Photocue reflection supported identification and analysis of meaningful events related to communication. The processes helped participants to appreciate the significance of communication, clarifying understandings, and making connections to their teacher education practices. Insight is shared on the merits of photocue reflection in scaffolding professional learning experiences and in combining both a learner and teacher role within professional development activities.

Exploring the landscape of educator professional activity on Twitter: an analysis of 16 education-related Twitter hashtags

ABSTRACT In the last decade, social media have become important tools for educator professional development, learning and community. While education has traditionally proven to be an isolating profession, technologies such as Twitter offer opportunities for educators to collaborate beyond their school, district, region and nation. Education-related Twitter hashtags play a key role in facilitating professional connections and interactions between geographically-dispersed educators with common interests and needs. To better understand this phenomenon, we examined more than 2.6 million tweets posted to 16 such education-related hashtags over a 13-month time period. We compared and contrasted synchronous and asynchronous uses of the hashtags, as well as the balance of tweets and retweets, among other characteristics of the hashtag usage. Across the combined hashtags, there was an increase in traffic and trends towards more retweeting and less original tweeting and link sharing. There were substantial differences in the traffic associated with the various hashtags. We discuss our findings in relation to the professional learning and development literature and consider implications for the research and practice of prospective and practicing teacher development in online spaces.

Using a Game Sense Approach to Teach Buroinjin as an Aboriginal Game to Address Social Justice in Physical Education

Purpose: To explore a teacher educator professional learning opportunity within the context of a taught unit of work at a government primary school in Canberra, Australia’s national capital. The unit of work focus was a traditional Australian Aboriginal game taught using a Game Sense Approach to deliver a socially just version of quality physical education. Method: A qualitative self-study methodology was adopted where the participants were Author 1 and 49 Year 5 students (aged 10–11 years). Results: Game Sense Approach was found to be an effective professional learning opportunity for Author 1, while Author 2’s knowledge about Indigenous perspectives in physical education was extended. In addition, student participants valued the taught lessons, which highlighted issues of social justice. Discussion/Conclusion: It is possible for the self-study approach described here and seemingly incompatible epistemological approaches to work together to realize a socially just version of quality physical education that can inform physical education teaching beyond this study.

Culturally Responsive, Antiracist, or Anti-Oppressive? How Language Matters for School Change Efforts

ABSTRACTThis qualitative study explored how 18 educators, participating on inquiry teams designed to counter persistent inequities among minoritized students, described culturally responsive pedagogy and practice compared to antiracist or anti-oppressive pedagogy. Results showed how the phrase “culturally responsive” led educators to emphasize individual practices to be inclusive; develop positive interactions and relationships in the classroom; and bring students’ cultures and voices into the curriculum. In contrast, educators felt the terms “antiracist” and “anti-oppressive” entailed enacting practices to call out and engage in critical dialogue around race, racism, and oppression in the classroom and to highlight the systemic barriers that maintain gaps for minoritized students. We discuss the ways in which not naming race can lead to color-evasive approaches to practice, and we provide recommendations for centering race in school change and educator professional learning efforts.

Evidencing leadership and management challenges in early childhood in Australia

The Australian early childhood system is complex and constantly changing and poses challenges to centre director/managers. A major challenge is the difficulty in meeting the responsibilities of leading and managing both organisational and pedagogical goals within the legal and educational frameworks of the system. Preparing educators for a complex and changing role may also present challenges for both initial teacher education and postgraduate professional learning. Concern continues in the sector that such challenges lead to turnover in the role, affecting the quality of programmes provided for children. A national online questionnaire collected quantitative data from director/managers working in centre-based early childhood services in order to gain an understanding of the breadth and scope of the current challenges they experience. The findings from the research reported here suggest challenges are experienced in the organisational leadership domain with managing staff a particular concern.

The power of creative learning through the arts: Economic imperative or social good?

This article uses data generated through qualitative methods and discourse analysis to explore how ‘creative learning’ is articulated in the current educational context in Wales. The research focused on the Arts and Wellbeing in Education (AWE) professional learning programme for primary and secondary schools, delivered by ‘Arts Champions’ through one of the Regional Arts and Education Networks. The Networks were created to support the Welsh Government / Arts Council Wales Creative Learning through the Arts Action Plan (Welsh Government, 2015). The analysis applies a poststructural framework, influenced by the work of Foucault, to examine the circulating discourses around the ‘benefits’ and ‘value’ of creative learning, and the arts. The discussion reveals the underlying structures and ideological project that in/form the policy context, and the resultant practice. The findings describe how the Welsh Government rhetoric describes a broadly democratic, economic value of the arts, while the case study Network D emphasises the benefit of the arts as a ‘social good’. Within this context, AWE functions as a local revolution extending, enhancing and personalising the ‘social good’ so that the benefits centre on wellbeing through mindful approaches to creativity, the value of which is decided by the individual.

Trends in Early Childhood Education Practice and Professional Learning with Digital Technologies

This literature-based article explores key trends in the integration of digital technologies in education and aims to highlight issues and challenges in the relationship between technology, pedagogy and early years’ education practices. The article explores how technology, teacher training initiatives and productive play-based pedagogy could be used to improve digital literacy outcomes for early childhood learners. While situated within the Australian context, more global literature is also reviewed to provide an international perspective. This review of trends in the integration of digital technologies in education is timely due to the national and international focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education, arguably for economic sustainability and the quality standards expected in early childhood education. The role of digital technologies in early childhood is increasingly discussed and negotiated in learning centres. Educators are wanting support in understanding how young children can be creators of technology rather than simply being consumers of digital products.

Educational Leadership Training, the Construction of Learning Communities. A Systematic Review

Instructional leadership notions and practices allow educators to engage in relevant roles within schools. Instead of implementing these concepts in professional programs, Mexican and Spanish education systems still preserve a “technically oriented” training model that separates educational and professional aims. Diverse studies have identified the benefits of implementing instructional leadership orientations within “Educational cooperation”, “Cooperative education”, “Team teaching” and “Teacher leadership” at schools. This systematic review conducted using Web of Science—contributes by organizing the produced knowledge and identifies the main findings reported by the academic literature on this topic. It seeks to answer the following questions: (1) What are the contributions of this research to the education systems examined? (2) What kind of knowledge about educational leadership and professional learning communities can be inferred from them? Results from the majority of studies found that instructional leadership offers a useful tool to promote shared responsibility between teachers and head teachers and supports professional learning communities. A main conclusions of the present study is that it highlights the importance of bypassing existing bureaucratic practices within schools in order to replace the traditional “technical orientation” of training programs. Instructional leadership may facilitate some of the required transformations in the context of global educational reform.

Educator perceptions of district-mandated Edcamp unconferences

Edcamp unconferences are a non-traditional participant-driven form of educator professional learning. Although Edcamp participation has typically been voluntary, this mixed-methods paper presents participants' (N = 252) perceptions regarding their experiences at Edcamps run by their school districts and where their attendance was required. The majority of participants rated their Edcamp experiences positively. Many participants compared the content and format of their Edcamps favorably to the professional development available to them. Participants also offered feedback regarding how their Edcamp experiences could have been improved. We discuss these results and their implications for the Edcamp model and educator professional learning.