Pre-service Secondary School Teachers Research Articles

The relationship between opportunities to learn in teacher education and Chinese preservice teachers’ professional competence

ABSTRACT Although research on the relationship between opportunities to learn (OTL) in teacher preparation and preservice teachers’ learning outcomes, including aspects of their knowledge, has significantly increased in recent years, the relationship between OTL and preservice secondary school teachers’ cognitive competence and, particularly, the situated aspect of competence, in Mainland China remain poorly understood. This paper examines this association based on a study involving 583 preservice teachers chosen from four preservice teacher education institutions. The results revealed that the preservice teachers received adequate OTL in various domains, such as tertiary-level mathematics and mathematics education pedagogy. However, mainly due to the influence of academically oriented teacher preparation models in Mainland China, there were quite weak overall connections between OTL and the four examined aspects of teachers’ professional competence (mathematics content knowledge, mathematics pedagogical content knowledge, a mathematics instruction-related perspective on noticing, and a general pedagogy-related classroom perspective on noticing). Comparatively speaking, relatively strong associations existed between OTL in teaching methods, school-based teaching practicums, and the situated aspect of competence (e.g. noticing). These findings show that, to a great degree, initial teacher preparation in Mainland China does not relate closely to preservice teachers’ professional competence.

Virtual reality platform for teacher training on classroom climate management: evaluating user acceptance

Enhancing the educational experience through Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) is a promising avenue, elevating the authenticity and responsiveness of simulations. Particularly in educational settings, IVR holds the potential to augment accessibility and engagement in learning. However, one pivotal aspect lies in assessing the learners' acceptance of such environments to ensure optimal and effective utilization of these technologies. This paper delves into the Didascalia Virtual-ClassRoom usability testing —an immersive IVR environment tailored for pre-service secondary school teachers. The platform transports users into a simulated classroom, where they are invited to play the role of a teacher. During the simulation, three scenarios are recreated, reproducing disruptive behaviours commonly faced in real classrooms. 84 participants (28 teachers and 56 pre-service teachers) engaged in decision-making to manage the classroom climate influenced by the simulated situations. To collect data, we used a questionnaire based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to assess and gauge users' inclinations and attitudes towards embracing the technology in question. To gain deeper insights into the user experience, participants were further invited to participate in semi-structured interviews, offering reflections and suggestions for potential enhancements. The evaluation process encompassed the perceived usefulness of the Didascalia Virtual-ClassRoom, shedding light on factors that could either facilitate or impede the adoption of this platform to enhance classroom management competence. The participants' perspectives serve as a valuable foundation for refining the tool's functionality, and their feedback fuels recommendations for its seamless integration into initial teacher training programs.

Virtual reality in the classroom: a difficult but exciting adventure for teachers and students

Virtual reality (VR) enables the creation of immersive and interactive learning environments for students and teachers. This article reports on an exploratory teaching practice conducted with pre-service secondary school teachers using Neotrie, a dynamic geometry software in virtual reality. In small groups, future teachers must learn how to use the software and design a didactic sequence to bring to the classroom. Following a research-action methodology, through this experience it is reported both the advantages and difficulties encountered when starting to use VR to design didactic sequences, as well as when learning a VR sandbox software with interactive tools, like Neotrie. A proposal for assessing the sequences under the premises of the TPaCK model is also included.

Assisting in a computer science education centre as a field-based internship for pre-service teachers

ABSTRACT Background and Context To offer more experiences in the field, our study employed secondary school pre-service teachers as assistants in courses for secondary school students learning computer coding with the help of smart textiles. Objective Did pre-service teachers assisting in CS courses have more highly developed pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and more positive attitudes toward computer science teaching than a control group. Method We administered a teacher questionnaire (N = 47) with items related to pre-service teachers’ awareness of CS and attitudes toward CS learning environments. Data on emotional experiences were collected. Findings Two moderate effects helped to explain variances between the groups on measures of belief in effectiveness of CS learning and peer support over time. Their positive experiences were confirmed by their decline in negative emotions. Implications The results of our research might help to expand our not yet very broad knowledge of meaningful educational experiences for pre-service teachers’ CS education.

Applying Bandura's Theory of Self-Efficacy to assess the perceptions of Pre-service Economics teachers concerning teaching using graphs

This qualitative study examined the Self-efficacy perceptions of preservice economics teachers regarding teaching with graphs. Understanding graphs have a major role in future teaching practices however learners find it challenging understanding economics graphs. Using a structured interview of 55 pre-service secondary school teachers, economics self-efficacy items by Bandura self-efficacy framework was used to analyze the data. The study found that student teachers are not confident to teach using graphs but have positive attitude to learn how to plot and interpret graphs. The teaching practices of high school teachers were found to have influenced the low-self-efficacy of most of the participants though they look forward to teaching using graphs. Most participants agreed that plotting, understanding, and interpreting data from graphs as well as presenting information graphically are key skills that all economics teachers and students should master. The research concludes that both high school economics teachers and preservice teachers should be equipped with the necessary skills to understand graph presentation because they both grapple with interpreting and plotting graphs. The research contributes to improving the way graphs are taught because economics teachers must be comfortable with graph presentations. Higher education institutions should increase their effectiveness when teaching introductory economics courses by finding creative ways to help students understand graphical representations of economics content. It is recommended that Teacher Education programs should emphasize the importance of graphs in the teaching of economics and empower student teachers with the necessary skills.

Is it the school of fish or the size of the pond that matters? An experimental examination of reference group effects in secondary school

Do teachers consider not only an individual student's performance and abilities but also the number of motivated peers in a class as a frame of reference when deciding whether or not to recommend them for academic high school? Given the limited number of places available in such schools in the short run, we argue that a student's chances of being recommended depend on the number of competitors and especially whether they already secured a recommendation for themselves. Using choice experiments presenting groups of three to five students to pre-service secondary school teachers in Switzerland, we show how the individual probability for a recommendation for the most advantageous school track depends on the size of the reference group. Furthermore, individual chances are especially affected by the number of other students in the group that the teacher deems fit for academic high school: The higher the share of competitors in the reference group with a recommendation, the smaller the individual chances. These effects are robust across samples, methods, and with respect to alternative mechanisms.

탐구실험 교육봉사에 참여한 중등 예비교사들의 실천적 지식

Objectives This study analyzed the practical knowledge acquired by pre-service teachers on the secondary level
 through guiding experiments for the inquiry-based science education during their educational volunteer program
 and proposed an education program to improve the practical knowledge of pre-service teachers.
 Methods To this end, an inquiry experiment procedure was developed and the practical knowledge of seven
 pre-service teachers majoring in chemistry education was analyzed. They participated in the educational volunteer
 program at two high schools in S City. The guided the experiment procedures based on the guidelines consisted
 of six steps based on the ‘practice’ presented in the 2015 revised science national curriculum. The research
 was conducted for two semesters, and the total number of the sessions was about six per semester. The data
 analysis method was based on Elbaz's practical knowledge, and the analysis was based on a comprehensive analysis
 procedure.
 Results Four of the five domains of practical knowledge proposed by Elbaz were found in the pre-service teachers
 on the secondary level: curriculum knowledge, subject-matter knowledge, instruction knowledge, and selfknowledge.
 In particular, the study identified beliefs about inquiry experiments and reflective thinking about secondary
 school pre-service teachers' own competence.
 Conclusions In order to develop pre-service teachers' competence on the secondary level to engage in educational
 practices that encourage students' creativity and spontaneity, educational volunteer programs employed in
 this study should be more developed.

Integrating ICTs into the Zimbabwean secondary school pre-service teachers' curriculum

The need for nations to enhance their competitiveness by leveraging the imperatives of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has seen major shifts in teaching and learning strategies employed globally by educators. Research in Zimbabwean education has pointed to a gap in teachers' competence in the use of information communication technologies (ICTs) for teaching. Using the UNESCO ICT competency for teachers and Bernstein's (2000) theory of the pedagogic device we propose a conceptual framework for the pre-service ICT curriculum at four Zimbabwean secondary school teachers' colleges in relation, in particular, to the complexities present in the nexus of the curriculum's architecture, pedagogy, and delivery context. The framework suggests strategies on how this curriculum could address the gap in the teachers' competencies through effective integration of content, knowledge, skills, technology, and pedagogy into the salient contextual aspects of the country's education sector, given the constraining shortage of ICT resources.

중등 예비교사의 교직 적⋅인성 분석 연구

Objectives The purpose of this study was to analyze the teacher aptitude and character test in-depth for the secondary school pre-service teachers and to derive implications for the pre-service teacher training programs.
 Methods The study analyzed the results of responses conducted for 5,026 cumulative students from 2018 to 2021 who completed teaching courses at A University’s a general college, a college of education, and a graduate school of education. Fundamental statistical analysis, one-way ANOVA, chi-square test, and Scheffé test were applied using Microsoft Excel 2016 and SPSS 23 for data processing.
 Results First, the annual average of the teacher aptitude and character test for pre-service teachers showed a significant increase. Second, among the 14 sub-areas of the teacher aptitude and character test, pre-service teachers showed the highest level in the sense of calling and teaching profession but the lowest in the sub-area of creativity and application ability. Finally, comparing the ratio of eligible pre-service teachers for the teacher aptitude and character test before and after the outbreak of COVID 19, the proportion of eligible teachers increased significantly in 2020 compared to 2019.
 Conclusions This study is meaningful in providing fundamental data for the development of more professional and practical pre-service teacher training programs in the future.

Comparative Analysis of the Perceptions and Needs of Secondary School Pre-Service Teachers and Incumbent Music Teachers on Teacher Competency

시대적 변화에 따른 학교 교육과 교사 역량에 대한 다양한 논의 속에서, 본 연구는 음악교사에게 요구되는 역량에 대한 예비 및 현직 음악교사의 인식의 정도를 비교, 분석하여 미래 음악교사 양성 및 선발을 위한 정책적 시사점을 얻고자 한다. 이를 위해 선행연구의 고찰과 전문가 타당성 검증을 통해 음악교사의 역량에 대해 정리하였으며, 이후 예비 및 현직 음악교사 139명의 응답을 수집, 분석하였다. 연구 결과, 예비 및 현직교사 모두 음악교사에게 요구되는 역량의 중요도에 대한 높은 수준의 인식을 보여주었으며, 중요도와 성취도 간의 차이는 대부분의 역량군과 하위문항에서 통계적으로 유의미한 것으로 나타났다. IPA와 Borich 요구도의 분석 결과는 예비교사와 현직교사 간 우선순위에 있어 매우 상이하게 나타났다. 예비교사의 경우 음악교사 선발 및 임용과 직접적으로 관계된 문항들에 있어 우선순위가 높게 나타난 반면, 현직교사에게는 현장을 비롯한 교육 경험과 관련한 문항에 대한 요구가 높게 나타남으로써, 역량의 종류와 내용에 따라 예비 및 현직교사의 요구가 다름을 확인하였다. 이에 본 연구자는 현장과 연계한 음악교사 양성과정의 중요성과 현직교사의 요구에 적합한 재교육 및 연수의 필요성을 강조하였다.

중등 예비교사가 인식하는 학교현장실습에 대한 탐색

The purpose of this study is to explore the actual conditions of school field practicum recognized by secondary school preservice teachers and to suggest effective directions. Therefore, this study collected data from pre-service teachers enrolled in the Department of Education at University A located in the metropolitan area. In addition, this study explored the practice process, practice type, and practice support system in the practice school, and also explored the method of effective secondary school field practicum. Suggestions based on the results of this study are as follows. First, even in an emergency such as COVID-19, the period of secondary school field practicum should not be reduced, but should be maintained. Second, the practice school should establish a systematic practice plan that organically connects 'preparatory education-main practice-post evaluation'. Third, universities, which are secondary teacher education institutions, should reinforce their own pre-training. Considering that school field practicum in front-line practice schools is not systematic and takes place in a short period of time, it is necessary to prepare and operate a practice program on its own. In this study, implications for activating school field practicum in secondary teacher training institutions in a desirable direction were presented.

Predicting Factors Influencing Preservice Teachers’ Behavior Intention in the Implementation of STEM Education Using Partial Least Squares Approach

The integration of STEM education has been promoted to improve the quality of education in the 21st century, with its usage leading to emphasis on the factors influencing the intentions of preservice teachers. Therefore, this study aims to determine the factors influencing preservice teachers’ intentions, as well as the effects of gender and age on the implementation of STEM education. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was adopted to predict the relationship between knowledge, social influence, attitude, perceived usefulness, control, and behavioral intention (BI) of using STEM education among preservice secondary school teachers. A total of 30 item questionnaires on behavioral intentions were distributed to 201 respondents, with data being analyzed using the Structural Equation Model (SEM). The results showed that perceived usefulness had a positive significance, and a relationship with the attitudes of preservice teachers toward STEM education. Habit had a positive significance in influencing teachers’ behavioral intentions and implementation. Subjective norms did not have a significant correlation with BI and implementation. These results are recommended for providing solutions to analytical problems, and to successfully improve future learning through an educational approach.

Conversions Between Trigonometric Representation Systems by Pre-service Secondary School Teachers

Understanding trigonometry relational system is a school mathemat-ics demanding topic. The angle, the unit circle and the trigonometric functions are its foundational notions. Trigonometric contents mean-ing and their understanding involve these three concepts and their re-lationships. This research aims to deepen in the pre-service teachers’ understanding about the angle, the unit circle and the trigonometric function when converting notions between two trigonometric repre-sentation systems based on the unit circle and the trigonometric func-tions. The results indicate that pre-service mathematics teachers’ pre-sent a lack of connections between the goniometric and the analytical representation system.

Exploring language teachers’ lesson planning for corpus-based language teaching: a focus on developing TPACK for corpora and DDL

The use of corpora for the purposes of language teaching and learning, commonly known as “data-driven learning” (DDL), is gaining popularity across a range of CALL contexts. However, how trainee teachers attempt to develop the technological, pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) to integrate corpus tools and DDL pedagogy into classroom practice has received little attention from a language teacher education perspective. This qualitative study focuses on Indonesian pre-service secondary school teachers’ initial attempts to integrate corpus consultation activities into EFL lesson plans following an extensive DDL training regimen, including a short private online DDL training course, live online DDL lesson planning workshops, and a DDL expert’s detailed suggestions on integrating corpora into lesson planning practice. Trainees then produced a sample lesson plan including elements of student-led corpus consultation, which was rated by teacher educators for the level and ‘fit’ of TPACK displayed within the lessons’ objectives, target language focus, and teaching and learning activity instructions. We analyse elements of these lesson plans for the corpus-based activities adopted, while discussing elements of the plans that represent low, medium and high levels of TPACK for DDL. We conclude with the implications facing teacher educators in the Indonesian context and beyond regarding how DDL may successfully be integrated into classroom practice at the lesson planning level. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2021.1995001 .

Effect of Secondary School Pre-service Teachers' Clothing Lifestyle on Attitude toward Teacher's Clothing

본 연구는 2019년 5월 중에 J 지역 예비교사 270명을 대상으로 설문지법에 의해 의생활 라이프스타일이 교사의복에 대한태도에 미치는 영향을 파악함으로써 교직의복문화의 교육적 자료를 제공하고자 하였다. 본 연구의 자료분석을 위하여 SPSS 24.0 Program을 이용하여 요인분석, Cronbach s α 신뢰도 계수, t검증, 일원변량분석과 Duncan의 다중비교검증, 다중회귀분석을실시하였다. 연구결과, 첫째, 중등학교 예비교사의 의생활 라이프스타일은 패션유행지향, 의복중요성지향, 매력적 외모지향, 경제성지향 요인으로, 또한 교사의복에 대한 태도는 활동성, 유행성, 정숙성 요인으로 유형화되었다. 둘째, 중등학교 예비교사의의생활 라이프스타일, 교사의복에 대한 태도는 인구통계학적 변인인 성별, 학년에 따라 통계적으로 유의미한 차이가 있었다. 셋째, Z세대인 중등학교 예비교사의 의생활 라이프스타일은 교사의복에 대한 태도에 영향을 주는 것을 알 수 있었다. 결론적으로, 이제까지의 교사의복에 대한 고정관념에서 벗어나 교사의 변화하는 라이프스타일에 따라 의복을 착용하고 교직을 수행하는교직의복문화가 형성되어져야 하겠다.

Demystifying computational thinking for teacher candidates: A case study on Turkish secondary school pre-service teachers

The present study is based on a teaching-module designed to introduce computational thinking (CT) to pre-service teachers pursuing MA degrees at a large-scale university in Ankara, Turkey. It aims to explore Turkish pre-service teachers’ perceptions and integration of CT in different disciplines through CT-based tasks. Pre- and post-attitude questionnaires were administered before and after the presentation of a CT module to find out about their self-efficacy of computer use in class, perceptions of computing and CT, and integration of CT into their classrooms and in other disciplines. Student lesson plans were analysed in order to explore the challenges they faced while integrating CT into their teaching. According to the results, the pre-service teachers in this study 1) gained an awareness that computing, and CT are more than using computers and technology but relate to the process of problem-solving, 2) developed a better understanding of how to integrate CT into their teaching, and 3) agreed that CT could and should be integrated into the teaching of other disciplines, and 4) integrated different CT vocabulary in lesson plans based on their specific subject area.

Modeling in Pre-service Secondary School Teacher Education: developing an School Scientific Model of Energy

In this document, we will present the results of an investigation carried out in initial teacher education for pre-service secondary school Physics and Mathematics teachers in Chile. A Teaching and Learning Sequence (TLS) was iteratively designed following a Design-based research approach and implemented to promote the construction of an adequate School Scientific Model (SSM) of energy. This SSM is based on the well-known work on energy related concepts in physics education, including the ideas of energy degradation, conservation and transference. The methodology followed in the TLS is based on modeling and model-based inquiry. Subsequently, we have analyzed pre-service teachers’ qualitative productions to identify which model of energy they master at both the beginning and the end of the program. This allowed us to get hints of a learning progression in this field.

Analysis of Secondary School Pre-service Teachers' Perceptions on the Science Subject Competencies using Semantic Network Analysis

Analysis of Secondary School Pre-service Teachers' Perceptions on the Science Subject Competencies using Semantic Network Analysis

Project Kinang: A Gem In Advancing The Individual Innovativeness Of Pre-Service Secondary School Teachers

: Innovativeness is the idea that describes an individual’s tendency to adopt and adapt innovation earlier than other members of their niche and the society where they live in. This study aimed to determine the individual innovativeness of pre-service secondary school teachers as affected by Project KINANG. Employing the Mixed Method with the One Group Pretest Posttest Research design and Phenomenology as points of inquiry to a group of 89 Pre-service Secondary School Teachers, the following were found: the respondents were made early adopters, early and late majority from their initial states as early and late majority and laggards; the statistical treatment showed significant results on the respondents’ innovation index in their pretest and posttest; the effect size of Project KINANG was of medial effect; and the Project KINANG interacted better among males, Biology majors, and age group 21-22 although no significant results were posted through ANOVA. Moreover, the pre-service secondary school teachers vouched that the Project KINANG provided them learning experiences and encounters that were morale boosting and motivating; hastening task management, teaching effectiveness, curiosity, and innovation; inspiring the pre-service secondary school teachers to become researchers; improving the pre-service secondary school teachers’ communication skills; and heightening collaboration that provided them avenues to learn new ideas. Owing to the aforementioned results, it is concluded that the provisions of Project KINANG improved the innovativeness of the pre-service secondary school teachers.

Challenges for Mentors in Working with Secondary School Pre-service Teachers

A key global trend in initial teacher education is the ‘practice turn’ where jurisdictions are increasingly mandating that teacher education providers include more ‘practicum’ time in teacher education programmes. In New Zealand, the Teaching Council’s recent revision of accreditation requirements has extended the minimum number of days that pre-service teachers (PSTs) must spend in practice settings (in: Teaching Council, ITE programmeme approval, monitoring and review requirements, TCANZ, Wellington, 2019). The more time spent on practicum, the more important mentors in schools become. This study reports on the challenges mentors faced in working with PSTs in secondary school where less is known about mentor practice than is known about how primary school mentors work with their PSTs. Unless addressed, these challenges may prove impediments to meeting two of the new Requirements for providers of initial teacher education, that PSTs spend more time in schools on practicum, and that all mentors of PSTs be formally trained for their role.