Sequence Of Lessons Research Articles

Can creative writing in Latin support students' confidence in and enjoyment of A Level prose composition?

Abstract This research aims to explore the ways in which creative writing may be used as a pedagogical tool in the Latin language classroom, in particular how creative writing may benefit students in Latin prose composition. The lesson sequence delivered as part of this research was undertaken in an academically-selective, independent coeducational school in an affluent, inner-metropolitan area. The sequence of four 60-minute lessons formed part of the language (as opposed to literature) portion of timetabled Latin lessons for a group of nine Year 12 students (aged 16–17). As part of their language lessons, the students had been following a course of study in prose composition based upon Andrew Leigh's (2019) Latin Prose Composition: A Guide from GCSE to A Level and Beyond1. The lesson sequence was intended to build on this work by making use of, and thus consolidating, grammatical constructions and vocabulary which the students had already encountered in the context of prose composition. The sequence was designed in such a way that students were required to apply their linguistic knowledge in new and creative ways. Students' responses to the various activities were positive and they expressed enjoyment in the methodologies.

To what extent can oracy education and student dialogue support historical thinking skills in Year 7?

Abstract During the course of my teacher training, I have encountered two distinct classroom contexts for oracy: a term that refers to the ability to express oneself in speech. At my first placement school, very few students were willing to answer questions or present arguments in front of their peers. Conversely, the majority of students at my second placement school are keen to demonstrate their knowledge, yet often speak over one another during discussion tasks. In both schools, dialogue is mainly directed towards the teacher; students rarely offer extended answers during lessons, and oral reasoning and argumentation generally take place as a precursor to written work. I therefore wanted to implement a sequence of lessons where the learning was intentionally carried out and measured through student talk and cooperation. In particular, I wanted to examine how far teaching specific oracy skills and providing informal scaffolded opportunities for presentational and exploratory talk can support the development of historical thinking skills in Year 7 (age 11): in other words, students' ability to consider multiple historical perspectives; to appreciate the difference between modern and ancient values; to critically engage with historical terminology, and to present and justify an argument. Students' responses were generally positive and engagement raised. I conclude with further thoughts about future practice.

Diagnosing middle school students’ proficiency in constructing scientific explanations with the integration of chemical reactions and patterns: a cognitive diagnostic modeling approach

ABSTRACT Scientific explanation has been widely recognised as one of the primary proficiencies in global science education. From research and practical perspectives, investigating the cognitive process of constructing scientific explanations by integrating core ideas is essential to make sense of phenomena or solve problems. This study applied the cognitive diagnosis modeling (CDM) approach to diagnose students’ cognitive patterns of constructing scientific explanations by integrating chemical reactions and patterns. We localised three well-designed assessment tasks and correspondingly developed five cognitive attributes. Responses from 244 Grade 9 students in two middle schools were collected, scored, and analyzed. Results show that the five developed cognitive attributes are reliable and effective in identifying students’ cognitive challenges in constructing scientific explanations in a content-specific domain. In addition, we articulated students’ potential cognitive process of constructing scientific explanations. We identified a primary cognitive pathway that students may follow: making correct claims, finding sufficient evidence based on data patterns, and providing scientific principles for the reasoning process. The cognitive diagnosis results could be used to guide teachers in selecting teaching materials and strategies and arranging lesson sequences to support the development of students’ scientific explanations by integrating chemical reactions and patterns.

A Survey of New York State Physical Educators’ Use of Game-Based Approaches in K–12 Physical Education

Background/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate physical educators’ self-reported use, understanding, and confidence with game-based approaches (GBAs) in their K–12 physical education programs. Method: A survey of New York State physical education professionals was conducted that yielded quantitative data on how they used game-based approaches. Data were analyzed using Observation Oriented Modeling (version 5.4.2022), a tool well suited for survey data, especially teachers’ reports of game-based lesson sequences. Results: Physical educators reported both awareness and confidence with various GBAs spending most physical education game-based lessons teaching invasion games with emphasis on the psychomotor domain. Respondents’ typical game lesson sequences did not match model GBA lesson sequences. Conclusions: Findings from this study indicate respondents do not use GBAs for their game-based lessons. Beyond teacher preparation, intentional professional development should address conceptual, pedagogical, cultural, and political obstacles, and may help practitioners become more pedagogically fluent with GBAs.

The impact of design thinking on the learning of basketball and badminton

This study investigated the impact of the design thinking strategy on students' acquisition, learning, and maintenance of basketball and badminton skills. Using an experimental method, researchers compared two groups: an experimental group (Group A) that utilized the design thinking strategy and a control group (Group C) that used traditional teaching. The sample consisted of 58 third-year students from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at Al-Mustaqbal University, representing both groups. The acquisition test, prepared by the researchers, covered comprehension, interpretation, and application of concepts. It followed the same lesson sequence as the control group. Pre-existing basketball and badminton skills tests from the Hilla College curriculum were used. Statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups, with the experimental group outperforming the control group in both the acquisition (p < 0.05) and maintenance tests (p < 0.05). The design thinking strategy effectively enhances the acquisition and maintenance of basketball and badminton skills compared to traditional methods. It also increases student engagement by fostering active participation, discussions, and creative problem-solving.

Using design-based research to adjust lesson study with pre-service teacher candidates

PurposeThis study reports on changes made within the study, plan, teach and reflect steps of lesson study with pre-service teachers who were learning to teach within a disciplinary literacy course.Design/methodology/approachUsing methods associated with formative experiments and design-based research, this study gathered data over four iterations of the disciplinary literacy course. Data included the course materials, pre-service teachers’ written work, observational notes from research lessons, transcripts of post-lesson discussions and teacher-educators’ analysis sessions and pre-service teachers’ post-program interviews. Data were analyzed within and across iterations.FindingsInitial adjustments to the lesson study process focused on the reflect step, as we learned to better scaffold pre-service teachers sharing of observational data from research lessons. Later adjustments occurred in the study and plan steps, as we refined the design of four-day lesson sequences that better supported pre-service teachers’ attention to disciplinary literacy while providing room for their instructional mentors to provide specific team-based feedback. Adjustments to the teach step included reteaching and more explicit attention to literacy objectives.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the literature by explicitly applying formative experiment and design-based research methods to the implementation of lesson study with pre-service teachers. Furthermore, it contributes examples of lesson study within a disciplinary literacy context, expanding the examples of lesson study’s applicability across content areas.

Teaching Matrix Multiplication with Impactful and Productive Meaning

What is the meaning of matrix multiplication? In this article, I outline a sequence of lessons for an introductory linear algebra course to teach matrix multiplication with impactful and productive meaning. These lessons are part of a broader linear algebra curriculum I have developed centered around students developing core mathematical mental actions such as meaning-making, symbolizing, interpreting, and justifying. For each lesson, I provide goals, a lesson plan, and an explanation of my instructional choices.

Physical education and the teaching process: presenting principles and procedures

The aim of this study was to build procedures that meet the educational principles that provide innovation in the teaching of Physical Education and to apply them in a classroom situation. In order to do this, we carried out a study with ethnographic characteristics, taking advantage of the experience that took place in the classroom during the compulsory curricular internship, and which was carried out at two different times: in elementary school, in the final grades, and in secondary school. Since the 1980s, we have seen an increase in the number of scientific studies in which the authors propose improvements in initial training for teaching Physical Education and with indications of how this curricular component should be taught in school. Nine educational principles were constructed for this research; these were perceived during lessons, when the teacher reflected on her actions, focusing her attention on the procedures for teaching the content. At the same time, she was also concerned with situations concerning human formation. We understand that the adequacy of the structure of a sequence of lessons to meet educational principles lies in the teacher's procedures and mediations with the students.

An Indian perspective on interdisciplinary storylines and science practices in a socio-cultural context

ABSTRACT Context-based STEM learning has been proven to be useful as interdisciplinary storylines to regulate the flow and sequencing of lessons to obtain expected outcomes. This case study pilot project aims to contextualise scientific learning to local culture. Student groups sampled from two schools in distinct social backgrounds, reflected varied Indian population. Pre-service middle school science and social studies teachers conducted eight lessons as an interdisciplinary storyline with a few natural and social science concepts utilising an artefact representing the cultural history of India for seventh-graders. Data were collected through manually recording of students’ responses and products made during class activities; researchers’ observations and pre-service teachers’ feedback about finding solutions to the difficulties faced. In order to address three research questions about socio-cultural context in science-curriculum design, student adoption of 3D learning, and overcoming teachers’ challenges, a thematic analysis of data through the lens of five science practices and one crosscutting concept was performed. This study supported context-based STEM learning for the twenty-first century and strengthened cultural anchoring from an early stage implying the need for teacher professional development, curricular reform, and school infrastructure improvements to support policy implementation. Such researches may be extended to varied sociocultural contexts and discipline combinations to offer broader perspectives.

Working with Reading to Learn in a bilingual primary school: Genres, literacy, inclusion

This article presents the implementation of Reading to Learn pedagogy (Rose, 2018a) in a 5th grade class of pupils learning subjects in English, a foreign language for the children, at a school with a very varied intake. It describes the design of lessons in two subjects (science and history), focusing on key genres for success in these areas: descriptive report and biographical recount. Data were collected at three times: T1 pre-intervention, T2 and T3 after lesson sequences on reading and writing the chosen genres. Ten pupils were selected among those who had completed all the final independent writing tasks, representing four types of learners in the class: three fast, three average, three slow with learning difficulties, and one with special educational needs. Their texts were assessed for the 14 features of the genres as in Rose's protocol, producing a total of 82 observations. The assessment showed considerable progression from T1 to T3 in both genres. The Wilcoxon test for related samples in this quasi-experimental design indicated significant improvement in many features of the genres from T1 to T3. To conclude, all the pupils benefited greatly from the R2L scaffolding cycles for writing in this school from a disadvantaged district.

THE INFUSION OF CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS INDICATORS AND MICROLEARNING PRINCIPLES IN THE ENGLISH READING Materials for Vocational School Students: A Content Analysis

This study aims to reveal the critical thinking skills indicators and microlearning features integrated in the English reading materials for vocational school students in Indonesia. A content analysis was employed to examine reading materials available in the English Coursebook Work in Progress for SMA/SMK/MA Grade X published by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia 2022. The critical thinking skills analysis was meant to capture to what extend do the reading materials coverage signify to the lifelong learning, while the microlearning features investigation was meant to portray how the reading materials are presented to support self-directed learning. 8 critical thinking skills indicators proposed by Anderson and Krathwohl. (2001) were hired as the parameters in determining the integration of the critical thinking skills. Microlearning framework proposed by Allela (2021) were used to determine the reading lesson sequences, with which instructional methods associating each sequence. The results revealed that the reading materials for grade X are presented in 8 printed texts covered descriptive, recount, procedures, expository and narrative. These texts have potentially carried critical thinking skills indicators. The contexts are all pictures and instructions that have potentially presented 3 critical thinking skill indicators. The activities cover 15 comprehension activities and 4 beyond the comprehension activities; 7 Critical thinking indicators are potentially embedded in this part. The reading materials presentation, one set are clearly sequenced in the framework of microlearning covers pre-text, text, and post-text. While the other 7 sets sequenced text and post-text. The analysis indicated most of the critical thinking indicators integrated in the reading materials are under analysis and evaluation.

Learning to argue while arguing to learn: Students’ emotional experiences during argumentation for graphing real-life functions

Argumentation in school mathematics is an important but demanding practice that supports important learning goals. Much of the research to date has focused on students’ cognition but researchers are paying attention to students’ affective experiences that influence their learning, and particularly in socio-cultural settings. In this qualitative case study, we drew on an emotion coding scheme to investigate students’ emotions during a cyclic sequence of small-group argumentation tasks on graphing and critiquing graphs of real-life situations. Insights into the emotional experiences of argument construction, critique, and reaching agreement were gained by analyzing observations, written reflections, video data, and interviews of six 9th-grade students (aged 14-15 years). A wide range of emotions were observed and expressed throughout the sequence. We found examples of emotions, including tension and frustration, playing a productive role in the students’ mathematics learning because of their experience of argumentation. The emotion of tension experienced by some students when receiving and giving critique of their mathematical ideas seemed to trigger productive attention to misconceptions. The emotion of frustration experienced by some students seemed to trigger productive co-construction of arguments and ‘aha’ moments of mathematical understanding. We also found examples of non-deliberative argumentation (disrespectful interactions, lack of final consensus) influencing emotions in the moment (distress) and in the longer term after the lesson sequence (disappointment). Implications and considerations for future research on argumentation for learning are discussed.

An Adaptive Learning Environment for Programming Based on Fuzzy Logic and Machine Learning

In this paper, we present an Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS), for use in teaching the logic of computer programming and the programming language ‘C’. The aim of the ITS is to adapt the delivered learning material and the lesson sequence to the knowledge level and learning needs of each individual student. The adaptation of the presented ITS is based on fuzzy logic and a machine learning technique. Particularly, the system uses the distance weighted k-nearest neighbor algorithm to detect the learner’s knowledge level and abilities concerning computer programming during her/ his first interaction with the system. Next and during subsequent interactions of the learner with the system, fuzzy logic is used to identify the learner’s current knowledge level and potential misconceptions. The system takes into consideration the knowledge dependencies that exist among the domain concepts of the learning material and, applying fuzzy rules, decides about the learning material that has to be delivered to the learner as well as the lesson sequence. The system has been fully implemented and evaluated through t-tests. The evaluation results show that the combination of machine learning (for initially identifying the student’s learning abilities and needs) with fuzzy logic (for the continuous identification of the learner’s current knowledge level and misconceptions) provides more personalized learning experience, promotes the active participation of students in the learning process and results in decrease in the number of dropouts.

Learning music theorising through inspiration and curiosity. Insights from emergent lesson design in an upper secondary school in Finland

AbstractThis study examines the learning processes that take place when upper secondary students apply and generate theories while drawing on their preferred music and writing songs of their own. One music theory teacher and two researchers collaborated to design an emergent sequence of lessons focusing on students’ interests, questions and creative work. Interpretive and musical analysis of students’ progress suggests that learning to theorise through modes and sounds from popular music was experienced as motivating, involved similar difficulties as traditional major/minor-based approaches, and resulted in original songs that the students enjoyed and were proud to perform for their peers.

Effects of the Nurturing Parenting Program Nurturing Skills for Families on child safety and permanency

BackgroundMany child welfare agencies use the Nurturing Parenting Program Nurturing Skills for Families (NPP) program to strengthen parenting skills. NPP includes a flexible sequence of lessons that are tailored to meet each family's needs. ObjectiveThis study estimated the effects of NPP on child safety and permanency outcomes using a quasi-experimental design. Participants and SettingThis study included 1102 children in Arizona whose families were referred to NPP between 2018 and 2020 (treatment group) and 6845 children in Arizona whose families were referred to other in-home family preservation services during the same period (comparison group). MethodsOutcomes were based on child welfare administrative data. The study estimated (1) the effects of being referred to NPP (regardless of a family's level of participation) and (2) the effects of completing NPP. Baseline equivalence was established for each analysis. Impacts were calculated by comparing regression-adjusted differences between the study groups. ResultsThe study found no evidence of impacts of being referred to NPP. However, children whose families completed NPP were less likely to experience an investigation (ES = −0.28; p = 0.03) or substantiated investigation (ES = −0.66; p = 0.03) 4 months after the service referral, and less likely to experience a removal 16 months later (ES = −0.70; p = 0.00). ConclusionsNPP had favorable effects on child welfare outcomes when families completed the program. Additional research is necessary to understand the supports that enable families to complete NPP and the specific components that are particularly effective.

Representing Identity: The Importance of Literature and the Translanguaging Space for EAL/D Early Years Literacy Learning

Quality literature is a natural fit when choosing resources to support learning in early years settings. This qualitative research reports how literary texts can be used to foster EAL/D students’ poetry writing and represent their identity. During professional learning, teachers were supported to select a range of engaging literary texts and design quality literacy experiences focused on thirdspace drama and other creative strategies. Students were afforded agency to respond to the texts and then employed Janks’ redesign cycle to craft identity text poems using their home language(s) and English. The lesson sequence generated a creative translanguaging space, and the poems highlight the richness of the students’ stories and give voice to their distinctive views of self and the world.

Dynamic Changes in Pre‐Service Language Teacher Well‐Being in the Classroom Ecology: A Micro Approach

AbstractAlthough language teacher well‐being has been the focus of growing attention in recent years, there is little known of its dynamic and contextually dependent nature. Integrating the complex dynamic view of well‐being with an ecological orientation, this classroom‐based study examined the micro‐scale changes in pre‐service language teacher well‐being and the reasons for such changes using data from three pre‐service English‐as‐a‐foreign‐language (EFL) teachers in Türkiye. The individual trajectories of well‐being were tracked in a particular class over 4 weeks through self‐ratings of well‐being at 10‐minute intervals during the lectures, journal entries, interviews, and stimulated recall sessions on individual microteachings. The findings suggest that the experience of pre‐service language teacher well‐being in the classroom ecology remains subject to inter and intraindividual variability over time, displaying nonlinear trajectories not only within sequences of single lessons but also from one lesson to another in response to a host of personal and contextual factors. These findings imply that pre‐service language teacher well‐being is not static, but instead is enhanced and reduced at particular moments in the classroom as a result of the interplay of a myriad of variables. We end with a call for more research into micro‐scale changes in teacher well‐being within applied linguistics and beyond.

Home language literacy practices: learning opportunities for primary EAL students

It is well-established in both scholarship and policy documents that students’ home language practices can be leveraged as a key resource for their learning. However, it can be challenging for teachers to embed students’ language resources in class activities in ways that link to wider learning objectives. We report how the inclusion of home language literacy practices can both enhance English language learning and promote multiliteracies. Data are drawn from a design-based study on the incorporation of home languages in the teaching of English. In the article, we focus on the teaching and learning that occurred in the classroom of two English as an Additional Language (EAL) teachers. Data collected comprised lesson sequences, teacher reflection, student work samples and student reflection. It was found that teacher-initiated support for home language literacy practices led to positive student engagement. The support included giving an active role to bi/multilingual teaching assistants and Google Translate.

Co-designing Integrated Mathematics and Science Lesson Learning Sequences for Primary Education

Integrating mathematics and science can enrich student learning by providing relevant, meaningful, and engaging learning experiences that promote positive attitudes towards both subjects. However, despite reported benefits in relation to student learning, various barriers to integration have also been identified, including limited teacher content and pedagogical content knowledge, and the need for professional learning support with planning and implementing integrated lessons. In this article, we report on one phase of a project in which mathematics and science education researchers and primary teachers collaborated to design two sequences of integrated mathematics and science lessons. We focus on the processes considered critical for success, including how knowledge was co-constructed by the design team to develop the integrated lesson sequences. Findings are communicated as a set of guidelines to support teachers and educators interested in replicating the process to integrate mathematics and science content.

Changes in students’ self-efficacy when learning a new topic in mathematics: a micro-longitudinal study

Self-efficacy in mathematics is related to engagement, persistence, and academic performance. Prior research focused mostly on examining changes to students’ self-efficacy across large time intervals (months or years), and paid less attention to changes at the level of lesson sequences. Knowledge of how self-efficacy changes during a sequence of lessons is important as it can help teachers better support students’ self-efficacy in their everyday work. In this paper, we expanded previous studies by investigating changes in students’ self-efficacy across a sequence of 3–4 lessons when students were learning a new topic in mathematics (nStudents = 170, nTime-points = 596). Nine classes of Norwegian grade 6 (n = 77) and grade 10 students (n = 93) reported their self-efficacy for easy, medium difficulty, and hard tasks. Using multilevel models for change, we found (a) change of students’ self-efficacy across lesson sequences, (b) differences in the starting point and change of students’ self-efficacy according to perceived task difficulty and grade, (c) more individual variation of self-efficacy starting point and change in association with harder tasks, and (d) students in classes who were taught a new topic in geometry had stronger self-efficacy at the beginning of the first lesson as compared to those who were taught a new topic in algebra (grade 10), and students in classes who were taught a new topic in fractions had steeper growth across the lesson sequence as compared to those who were taught a new topic in measurement (grade 6). Implications for both research and practice on how new mathematics topics are introduced to students are discussed.