Lower Secondary School Teachers Research Articles

Fit to teach evolution? Pre- and in-service teachers’ knowledge and acceptance of evolution

ABSTRACT Students need a clear grasp of evolution to understand biology and the world’s current environmental crises. Science teachers are essential in fostering evolution knowledge in their students. Numerous European studies have shown that science teachers possess a broad spectrum of alternative conceptions of evolution, and their acceptance of evolution varies. School curricula increasingly include key concepts of evolution from early grades on. However, studies are limited that examine differences in understandings and acceptance of evolution in different country contexts. This study investigated the knowledge and acceptance of evolution in Swiss science teachers: 1352 pre- and in-service year K-9 teachers were surveyed using two established questionnaires (KAEVO 2.0 and ATEVO). The results showed that as a group, pre-service kindergarten and primary school teachers had a poor grasp of evolution, while pre-and in-service lower secondary school teachers had moderate knowledge. However, we found that knowledge of evolution varied a great deal across the groups and that teachers in all groups had a range of alternative conceptions of evolution. Acceptance of evolution was high for all groups. Given that currently, prospective teachers on some educational tracks do not study evolution at all, our findings have important implications for teacher education in the sciences.

Faglig forankra, fagovergripende – og med fotfeste i profesjonen

In this overview study, we analyse student teachers’ master’s theses in Norwegian L1 from the first cohort of the five-year integrated master’s program for primary and lower secondary school teachers. We investigate what characterises the theses in terms of subject topics, interdisciplinary perspectives, and data sources. The data, consisting of summaries of 199 master’s theses, was collected from all teacher education institutions in Norway. The data is analysed by means of both quantitative and qualitative categories. Our qualitive content analysis reveals that literature, reading, writing, and multilingualism are the main academic foci. Additionally, many students incorporate interdisciplinary themes such as public health and life skills or linguistic and cultural diversity. Very few theses address topics requiring knowledge of language as a system, or historical topics. Furthermore, most students collect data from schools, often through interviews. The analytical findings are discussed in light of academic and educational policy issues, such as the content and framework of the L1 subject and the tension between professional and academic orientations in teacher education. Thus, the study contributes to discussions about master’s theses in teacher education in general, and, more specifically, about the operationalisation of the Norwegian L1 subject in schools and teacher education.

Teachers’ computational thinking content knowledge: Development of a measurement instrument

Computational thinking has become an integral component of curricula worldwide, necessitating teachers to develop this competence in their students. To effectively meet these curricular requirements, teachers themselves need a solid foundation of computational thinking content knowledge, which refers to the understanding and skills they possess in this area. However, despite widespread recognition of this need, few studies have rigorously examined teachers’ content knowledge in this domain. Addressing this gap requires the development of high-quality measurement tools. This study details the development of an instrument, created as part of the International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS) 2023 in Flanders, to measure lower secondary school teachers’ computational thinking content knowledge in a valid and reliable way. The article first outlines the construction process of the instrument, which involved close collaboration with experts in the field and drew upon the framework of Fraillon and colleagues (2023). Following this, the instrument’s psychometric properties are presented, which include both item-level and overall instrument characteristics. These properties were evaluated using data from a sample of 352 participants, applying both Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory. The final tool consists of 16 multiple-choice and short constructed response questions. The results indicate favorable item and overall instrument characteristics, thereby affirming its potential to measure the intended construct in a valid and accurate way.

Mathematics teachers’ multiple perspectives on adaptive tasks: task evaluation and selection as core practices for teaching quality

The selection of tasks based on the evaluation of task features can be considered a core practice of teaching and a relevant component of teaching quality. This is typically part of teachers’ preparation for their classroom teaching, which prompts the following question: What are the characteristics of the tasks that teachers use when selecting tasks for differentiated teaching? To answer this question, we analyzed systematic differences in the focus of 78 in-service high school and lower secondary school teachers during the evaluation of task features. The teachers had to select eight tasks about the practice of fractions with respect to their differentiation potential—operationalizing their adaptive teaching competence from a mathematics educational perspective. To analyze the differences, we performed a cluster analysis of the task features that the teachers drew upon. Three groups of teachers could be identified with variations in their focus on directly or indirectly relevant, domain-specific or domain-general task features. Taking into account such variations may explain differences in teaching quality and student outcomes and may be relevant when designing teacher professional development programs.

How teachers perceive the impact of teacher feedback: A latent class analysis

How do teachers perceive and experience the impact of evaluation feedback across various domains of their work? This study investigates whether there are qualitatively distinct groups of teachers in the United States based on teacher perceived impact of evaluation feedback using the 2013 Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS 2013). Applying latent class analysis to the U.S. sample of lower-secondary school teachers (n=1,824), we find that there are four distinctive groups of teachers: Receptive (25%), Compliant (15%), Motivated (27%), and Indifferent (33%). Our analysis shows feedback sources and teacher beliefs about the evaluation’s purpose are significant predictors of teacher class assignment. Finally, controlling for various individual and school-level characteristics, these teacher groups vary significantly in their intention to change school.

Exploring Perspectives: The Role of Educational Technologies in Improving the Teachers’ Pedagogical Aspect

The aim of this research is to examine the role of using new educational technologies in improving teachers’ pedagogical aspect. Even though various studies have been conducted on the role of technology in teaching, the pedagogical aspect and its im-provement through the use of educational technologies was not explored to date. Therefore, the lack of research on these variables was a motivation to conduct such a study. Through literature review, the advantages and disadvantages of using educational technologies in the pedagogical aspect during the teaching process are described. This research included 83 lower secondary school teachers from the municipality of Prishtina. The research used mixed methodology, including both qualitative and quan-titative designs. The research questions are: P1: What role does the use of new educational technologies play in improving the pedagogical aspect for teachers? Which was answered through inferential analysis. This shows that the use of new educational technologies plays a positive role in the pedagogical aspect for teachers. P2: What new educational technologies are used by teachers during the teaching process? This question was answered through descriptive analysis. These responses highlighted a positive role of integrating new educational technologies in improving the pedagogical aspect for teachers, making teaching more attractive and enabling greater clarification of new information for students during the lesson.

Resources and Praxeologies Involved in Teachers’ Design of an Interdisciplinary STEAM Activity

This study aimed to examine the collaborative design of an interdisciplinary STEAM activity conducted by lower-secondary school teachers of different disciplines. We adopted an approach based on a case study involving four teachers (art, music, technology, and mathematics/science teachers) designing an activity focused on the concept of symmetry. We gathered data through oral, semi-structured interviews with the teachers and through schematic representations of resource systems provided by the teachers themselves. Data analysis aimed to identify the different kinds of resources the teachers relied on, their utilization schemes, and the overarching meta-didactical praxeology adopted by the teachers for their collaborative design work. The theoretical model adopted for data analysis was a combination of the Documentational Approach to Didactics and the Meta-Didactical Transposition frameworks, originally introduced to study the work of researchers in the context of teacher professional development. An application of this model to the collaborative design work of teachers can provide a fresh insight into the relationship between teachers’ documentation work for the design of a STEAM activity, the practices that they adopt to address this shared task (praxis), and the shared justifying discourses (logos) for their praxis.

Preliminary Study on Occupational Well-Being among Albanian Teachers in Lower Secondary School

This study aims to assess the level of occupational well-being and its three constructions, Organizational, Workload, and Pupil interaction well-being, among Albanian teachers working in lower secondary schools and the effect of demographic features and socioeconomic factors on occupational well-being. The analysis of information obtained from the interview of 198 teachers showed that teachers working in lower secondary schools reported a moderate level of occupational well-being. The levels of both organizational well-being and pupil interaction well-being were positive. Teachers have reported that workload well-being was slightly negative overall. The level of organizational WB, workload WB, and pupil interaction WB varies depending on the teachers' demographic features and social and economic factors. Female teachers, teachers with children, and teachers from families with low and medium incomes declare a higher level of well-being. Teaching experience affects the level of well-being. Teachers in public schools and teachers working in schools located in urban areas declare a higher level of occupational well-being. Based on these results, it is recommended that future reforms and programs in the pre-university education system aimed at increasing occupational well-being should be designed and implemented. This is because of the complexity of the factors responsible for occupational well-being and the characteristics of educational institutions related to their ownership status and location.

Distinguishing Subtypes of Self-Efficacy Among Secondary School Teachers: A Latent Profile Analysis

Teacher self-efficacy is a crucial factor in teaching and learning, yet there is limited understanding of its heterogeneity among the Asian population. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to (a) identify different self-efficacy patterns among 3,095 Singaporean lower secondary school teachers, (b) investigate potential variations in job satisfaction, constructivist beliefs, and teacher co-operation across different self-efficacy profiles, and (c) examine the predictions of teacher background characteristics in relation to profile membership. By employing latent profile analysis, four distinct self-efficacy profiles were identified: (a) Low Self-Efficacy, (b) Moderate Self-Efficacy, (c) High Self-Efficacy, and (d) Divergent Moderate Self-Efficacy. The results also revealed significant differences in job satisfaction, constructivist beliefs, and teacher co-operation among the self-efficacy profiles. Moreover, teaching experience emerged as a significant predictor of profile membership. These highlight the need for tailored professional development programs and interventions that consider teachers’ self-efficacy profiles, teacher outcomes, and teaching experience.

The Role of Teacher Autonomy, School Climate, and “Perceptions of Value & Policy Influence” in Predicting Lower Secondary School Teachers’ Job Satisfaction in South Africa

ABSTRACT Globally, education holds significant value, placing substantial expectations on its key players – teachers. However, the effectiveness of teachers depends largely on their job satisfaction, a factor intricately linked to commitment and the decision to persist in the teaching profession. This study, utilizing self-determination theory, explores the predictive role of teacher autonomy, disciplinary climate, teacher-student relations, participation among stakeholders, and “perceptions of value & policy influence” (independent variables) in relation to job satisfaction (dependent variable) among lower secondary school teachers in South Africa. Data from the OECD 2018 Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and hierarchical multiple regression. Except for disciplinary climate, the results revealed significant positive associations between the independent variables and job satisfaction. Notably, teacher autonomy predicted variations in job satisfaction ranging from 3% to 5%, whereas the combined school climate factors predicted variations between 5% and 28%. Teachers’ perceptions of value and policy influence also predicted variations, ranging from 0.4% to 3.0%. These findings underscore the importance of fostering teacher autonomy, cultivating a positive school climate, and actively involving teachers in policy discussions to enhance job satisfaction. These insights provide valuable guidance for principals, policymakers, and stakeholders in creating supportive environments for educators.

What are we missing? An alternative way to explore distributed leadership effectiveness

Existing research has revealed various beneficial teacher-level outcomes of distributed leadership (DL). Yet these studies lack important operational nuances. The DL effectiveness literature mainly stresses one dimension of DL study operations of how leadership is distributed (e.g., interaction), being grounded in the agency view. However, it is also important to consider other dimensions of what leadership work is distributed to whom. Therefore, our study adopted the study operation of one DL research stream derived from the structural view. Specifically, our research investigated which leadership function distribution patterns for teachers were connected to teacher-level outcomes, especially teachers’ current work environment satisfaction (SENV) and professional learning communities (PLCs). We employed Latent Class Analysis and U.S. lower secondary school teacher samples from the Teaching and Learning International Survey data. Two patterns emerged: the Dualistic Distribution and Fully Stretched-Over Distribution patterns. Importantly, the relationships between the two patterns and the teacher-level outcomes were varied. We discovered no mean difference in teacher SENV between the two patterns in contrast to the previous DL effectiveness research, but a significant mean difference in teachers’ PLCs. These findings suggest considering more operational nuances of what leadership work is distributed to teachers for what outcome to better explore DL effects on teachers.

Lower secondary school teachers’ arguments on the use of a 26-point grading scale and gender differences in use and perceptions

ABSTRACT This study explores lower secondary school teachers’ arguments and perceptions for using a 26-point grading scale (26-PGS), and gender differences in assessment practice. An explanatory sequential design was conducted. First, teachers (n = 6) assessment of students’ text (n = 182)was analysed.In the subsequent phase, an open-ended questionnaire with teachers (n = 54) was conducted and analysed. The study revealed that the teachers perceive that the 26-PGS provides precision. Teachers highlight the significance of using the 26-PGS as an alternative assessment method, aiming to foster students’ growth, and as a message to motivate for learning. In addition, gender disparities in teachers’ provision of grades and arguments of using a 26-PGS as part of their assessment practice were found. The study contributes to the existing literature by shedding light on teachers’ assessment practice and gender differences regarding the use of grading scales and discuss its potential challenges in educational contexts.

PISA and teachers’ reflexivities. A mixed methods case study

ABSTRACT Neoliberal educational reforms include extensive use of standardized tests. We examine the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) initiated and developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Examining previous research on teachers’ reactions to neoliberal reforms altering their work context, we have identified three theoretical frameworks in use: labour process theory, derived from structural Marxism; post-structuralism, relying primarily on Foucault’s conceptualizations; and ‘new professionalism’, which has emerged from the theory of professions. A major weakness in these frameworks is their inability to account for different reactions to the same structural and cultural conditions. Therefore, we suggest utilizing Archer’s theories of reflexivity and reflexive modes to understand these reactions. Presenting one Norwegian lower secondary school teacher’s reflexive engagement with PISA in the Norwegian school context as an example, our mixed methods case study indicates autonomous reflexivity as the prevailing mode. Meta-reflexivity rates second in prevalence.

Adolescents’ critical, multimodal analysis of social media self-representation

In a digital society, adolescents’ lives are heavily influenced by various multimodal texts published on social media platforms. Digital texts challenge conventional forms of literacy teaching while requiring new forms of critical media literacy. Previous research has shown that teachers require professional development and support to include critical media literacy in the classroom. In this article, we report the findings from a study of two lower secondary school teachers and their students (n = 43; ages 13–14) in Norway. The study explored a framework for increasing students’ understanding of multimodal texts and meaning making on social media. Drawing on theories of social semiotics, multimodality, and critical literacy, the study explored how students developed meta-semiotic competence to scaffold their ability to critically deconstruct, challenge, and produce multimodal, digital texts. The study indicates that multimodal analysis and production of self-representations can be an effective framework for developing critical media literacy in the classroom. The study demonstrates that students can compose intricate texts that are distinct from social media images when supported to understand the meanings behind the symbols they employ. It highlights specific kinds of semiotic understandings that must be introduced to students to enable them to approach social media texts analytically and critically.

Beyond the Fancy Cakes. Teachers’ Relationship to Home-School Cooperation in a Study From Norway

The topic of this paper is the relationship between teachers and parents. Seen from teachers’ point of view, relating with parents can sometimes be difficult, demanding and stressful. Relating with parents may therefore affect teachers’ understanding and experiences of their own profession and may consequently affect teacher supply. The paper starts by exploring what has characterized the parent-teacher or parent-school relationship over time. As schools have opened up towards the surroundings and increasingly consumer oriented and demanding parents are setting the standards for the parent-teacher relation, this increases the pressure on the teaching professions. This leads us to ask how teachers experience the encounters with parents in school, and in this article, the relationship between teachers and parents is pursued, as viewed from the perspective of the teachers. How do teachers relate to home-school cooperation and how do they experience the interaction with parents? The analyses are based on data collected through qualitative interviews of contact teachers in lower secondary schools in Norway. Forty contact teachers (27 women and 13 men) from seven lower secondary schools in Norway were interviewed. A main result is that even though teachers acknowledge the importance of parental involvement and home-school cooperation, this part of their job is often deprioritized due to lack of time and resources.

The condition of teachers in a comparative perspective

The article presents the situation of lower secondary education teachers in Europe on the basis of international comparative analyzes. The main symptoms of the crisis in the teaching profession was outlined. The professional burnout among Polish teachers was pointed out and the growing social requirements towards this professional group were emphasized. The diagnosis of the condition of teachers was made on the basis of data contained in the report of the European Commission Teachers in Europe (2021). Several significant aspects of the working life of lower secondary school teachers were highlighted, such as the shortage of teachers in schools, the aging of this professional group, the outflow of teachers from the profession, and working conditions. The conclusions of the analyzes indicate the need to increase the attractiveness of the teaching profession to young people.

Teachers’ assessment of self-regulated learning: Linking professional competences, assessment practices, and judgment accuracy

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is crucial for successful lifelong learning and an important educational goal. For students to develop SRL skills, they need appropriate SRL support from teachers in the classroom. Teachers, who are aware of their students’ strengths and weaknesses in SRL, can promote SRL more adaptively. This requires teachers to assess students’ SRL skills accurately. However, there is little research on teachers’ diagnostic competences in SRL. To address this research gap, the present exploratory study investigates teachers’ content knowledge about SRL, assessment activities, and accuracy in judging their students’ SRL. Furthermore, the study examines whether teachers’ characteristics and competences in SRL are associated with the accuracy of their judgments. The study included 41 lower secondary school teachers and their 173 students. The students completed metacognitive knowledge tests on several SRL skills while the teachers made predictions about the students’ metacognitive knowledge of those SRL skills. The results indicate that not all teachers were familiar with the assessment of SRL. Moreover, teachers exhibited greater familiarity with offline assessments of SRL than online assessments and a noteworthy proportion of teachers employed assessment activities that were not diagnostic of SRL. Low correlations between students’ actual test scores and teachers’ judgments generally revealed low accuracy for teachers in assessing their students’ metacognitive knowledge of various SRL skills. Teachers’ characteristics and competences in SRL were mainly uncorrelated with their judgment accuracy. Overall, these results highlight the need for further attention and support for teachers in developing their diagnostic competences in SRL.

Lower-secondary school teachers’ perceptions of professional development in university-school collaboration

This quantitative study used a survey to investigate lower-secondary school teachers' (n = 177) perceptions of their professional development (PD) in university-school collaboration. The descriptive statistics show that teachers' perceptions of university-school collaboration are slightly negative although there are individual differences. The results of regression analysis indicate that university-school collaboration has a positive relationship with the impacts of PD and feedback for PD, and a negative relationship with barriers to PD. These results contribute to understanding teachers’ diverse perceptions of PD and the impact of university-school collaboration on various aspects of PD in the implementation of the decentralized policy.

Teacher Appraisal and Feedback Provision in Italian Lower Secondary Schools

Teacher appraisal is a major focus of educational reform, for it is believed that effective appraisal practices contribute to improving stu-dents' learning outcomes and principals' ability to manage their schools. This study arises from a secondary analysis of data collected in the 2018 edition of the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) promoted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). More specifically, and firstly, it focuses on school administrators' views concerning the agents who provide for-mal appraisal to teachers in lower secondary schools, the frequency with which such appraisals occur, the modes of teacher evaluation, the users of such information, and the evaluations' operational repercussions. Secondly, it focuses on teachers' perceptions regarding the agents who provide them with feedback, the modes via which assess-ments are conducted, and the positive impact that such evaluations generate on teaching behaviour. Since at least some of the information collected among principals and teachers focuses on the same topics, it is also possible to explore the attunement among them, that is, whether educators working in the same school report convergent or conflicting accounts of appraisal practices. Over one-third of schools do not im-plement any formal assessment. Teacher appraisal and feedback prac-tices tend to be centred on both school administrators, assisted by their management staffs, and other teachers in the same school, whereas ex-ternal agents tend to play a marginal role. Findings point to a substan-tial discrepancy, between school leaders and teachers, in how apprais-al/feedback practices are carried out, especially but not exclusively as regards the role of school management. This gap in the perception of largely factual circumstances is an issue of concern. This study also develops some critical reflections concerning the way in which TALIS explores these issues.

Teacher Appraisal and Feedback Provision in Italian Lower Secondary Schools

Teacher appraisal is a major focus of educational reform, for it is believed that effective appraisal practices contribute to improving stu-dents' learning outcomes and principals' ability to manage their schools. This study arises from a secondary analysis of data collected in the 2018 edition of the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) promoted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). More specifically, and firstly, it focuses on school administrators' views concerning the agents who provide for-mal appraisal to teachers in lower secondary schools, the frequency with which such appraisals occur, the modes of teacher evaluation, the users of such information, and the evaluations' operational repercussions. Secondly, it focuses on teachers' perceptions regarding the agents who provide them with feedback, the modes via which assess-ments are conducted, and the positive impact that such evaluations generate on teaching behaviour. Since at least some of the information collected among principals and teachers focuses on the same topics, it is also possible to explore the attunement among them, that is, whether educators working in the same school report convergent or conflicting accounts of appraisal practices. Over one-third of schools do not im-plement any formal assessment. Teacher appraisal and feedback prac-tices tend to be centred on both school administrators, assisted by their management staffs, and other teachers in the same school, whereas ex-ternal agents tend to play a marginal role. Findings point to a substan-tial discrepancy, between school leaders and teachers, in how apprais-al/feedback practices are carried out, especially but not exclusively as regards the role of school management. This gap in the perception of largely factual circumstances is an issue of concern. This study also develops some critical reflections concerning the way in which TALIS explores these issues.