Teacher Education Professional Development Research Articles

Professional Development Progress of Rural Aesthetic Education Teachers in China —Visual Analysis Based on CiteSpace

Rural teachers are a crucial driving force behind the development of China's rural education, and their professional development has a direct impact on its progress. However, there exist significant challenges that hinder the development of rural aesthetic education, including a shortage of qualified teachers and low-quality instruction. This paper analyzes the current state of rural aesthetic education teacher professional development in China based on papers published in CNKI database core journals from 2012 to 2022. The results indicate that while research on rural teachers' professional development has shown steady growth in terms of volume, it has yet to develop into a comprehensive research system. Moving forward, future studies should focus on addressing the deep-seated issues facing rural teachers' professional development using innovative technological tools, as well as exploring new methods for conducting research on this topic.

Science Teaching in Culturally Diverse Classrooms: Application of Sociocultural Knowledge at a School System in Nepal

ABSTRACT This study focuses on teaching and learning science in three secondary public school classrooms with mostly culturally marginalized students from Gurung and Magar communities in a semirural district in Nepal. The study aims to understand how three science teachers in different schools engage students in culturally relevant transformative science learning. I use a constructivist case study design. Data were collected through 18 classroom observations, three interviews with science teachers, and a student focus group interview. Analysis of the data showed that culturally marginalized students are experts in the cultural knowledge they bring into the classroom, science teachers felt ambivalence between culturally relevant science and success in tests, and science teachers showed a need for greater pedagogical skills in cultural relevancy. The study suggests a need for focused and intentional culturally relevant courses in science teacher education programs and professional development. Educating teachers for more transformative and relational science teaching will support embedding cultural knowledge and values in classroom teaching and curriculum.

Changing teacher educator cognition within a collaborative teacher education programme for CLIL: A case study in China

This study reports on a six-month collaborative teacher education programme designed to support the implementation of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in the Chinese primary education context. ‘Activity theory’ was used as an analytical framework to investigate the changes in cognition regarding CLIL experienced by two teacher educators – one at district level and the other at school level – and the factors that contributed to shifts in their cognition. Thematic analysis was conducted on data consisting of semi-structured interviews, field notes, a reflective report, and project meeting minutes. Results indicate that for both teacher educators, the programme functioned as an activity system that facilitated the emergence of advanced cognition of CLIL over the six months of the project, and did so along two distinct trajectories, one focusing on pedagogical applications of CLIL tenets and the other centring on implementing CLIL as an educational policy. The results also show how the collaborative nature of the teacher education programme fostered the expression of diverse views as well as shared motives through frequent interaction and co-construction of knowledge. As such, it offers a viable alternative to more traditional top-down approaches that are used to foster the professional development of teacher educators.

The pedagogy of teacher education in Ethiopia: Reconstructing understandings and practices on teaching about teaching and learning to teach

There is an argument that Marshal McLuhan’s ‘the medium is the message’ adage is more likely to be underpinned in the context of teacher education since pedagogy is not only a means of delivering content in teacher education but also the content (what) in teachers’ professional preparation (Grossman, 2009). The quality of teacher education depends heavily on the practice of teacher educators and the learning experiences of student teachers: Pedagogy of teacher education. The pedagogy of teacher education is conceptualized as teaching about teaching and learning to teach. Using primary data from teacher educators and student teachers and secondary data sources (documents and research studies), the paper examined and reflected on Ethiopian teacher education pedagogy. Questionnaire, interview and observation were used to collect primary data. The findings revealed ingrained assumptions that student teachers learn to teach by learning theories and facts of different courses through lectures, discussions, and group work. Teacher educators in the study characterized their typical classroom as a combination of ‘reviewing of the previous lesson, explanation, discussion, and lesson summary’ which inherently reflects features of a typical classroom in Ethiopian schools. When asked which pedagogies help student teachers to learn to teach, teacher educators mentioned group work, discussion, lecturing, oral questioning and classwork, quiz, and practicum (ordered in terms of frequencies). It is argued that teaching about teaching and learning to teach are customarily reduced to the delivery and learning of course contents rather than the ‘how’ of teaching through teacher educators’ modeling and reflection, student teachers’ school experiences, or other pedagogies that develop learning to teach among student teachers. Teacher educators’ practices, however, in some cases demonstrated elements of active learning techniques aimed at improving mastery of content and practicing teaching skills. However, their interview responses on preparing teachers largely lack pedagogies relevant to learning to teach. Efforts to improve the quality of education in general and teacher education, in particular, should prioritize the critical examination and reform of teacher educators’ preparation, professional development of teacher educators, and pedagogical practices at teacher education colleges and universities.

How early career teachers overcome everyday work-related challenges: an analysis from the perspective of teacher buoyancy

ABSTRACT Drawing on the concept of teacher buoyancy which is teachers’ capacity to deal with the everyday challenges that most teachers face in their teaching, this qualitative study investigates the capacity of ten early career teachers to derive sustenance from overcoming minor and frequent challenges in their everyday work. A semi-structured interview was used to investigate early career teachers’ adaptive and proactive experiences dealing with frequent challenges at work. Findings indicated that early career teachers utilised problem-focused strategies, cognitive-related strategies, and well-being and emotion-related strategies, and mobilised different personal and contextual resources to sustain themselves in the realities of their professional work and life. This study advocates the enhancement of teacher buoyancy as a capacity among early career teachers to empower them to stay on top of recurrent problems, and suggests potential implications for teacher education programmes and professional development for early career teachers.

Creating a Free Space for Professional Development through Collaborative Self-Study

ABSTRACT This article explores how collaborative self-study, initiated by experienced challenges and insecurity in new roles, contributes to the professional development of teacher educators. We document how four vocational teacher educators created a free space for self-development in a self-study process of dialogue and collective reflective inquiry. This study was initiated during the 2019/2020 academic year as we facilitated a school-based mentor course for vocational high school teachers. We analyze personal reflective journals written during and after mentoring sessions, group meetings, and throughout the process. Drawing on the self-study tradition within educational research, we examine the dilemmas, challenges, and opportunities this experience presented for our roles as teacher educators. The results indicate that investing time in group meetings established an atmosphere of mutual trust and developed the self-study group as a free space. Furthermore, we show the value of collaborative self-study as a tool for individual and collective self-understanding and professional development for teacher educators. Our experiences indicate that a self-study group must be self-selected to achieve an open and trusting process. Furthermore, the study shows that creating free space in academia is possible but highlights a need for academia to recognize free space and self-study as integral parts of the work culture.

Competences for promoting mental health in primary school

Background: The mental health od school-age children is of growing concern in many countries. School professionals require the competences and methods to intervene effectively to promote mental health in schools. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe school professionals’ perceptions of the competences needed and effective methods to promote mental health in primary schools. Design and setting: Qualitative study conducted in five European countries. Method: Multidisciplinary focus group interviews were conducted with teachers, school nurses, psychologists and social workers in Greece ( n = 2), Lithuania ( n = 3), Slovenia ( n = 2), Bulgaria ( n = 2) and Finland ( n = 2). Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Competences perceived as required for mental health promotion in primary schools were related to (1) knowledge of child development and mental health among primary school age children, (2) skills such as communication and empathy and (3) teachers’ self perception as health promoters. Insufficient attention is currently given to the development of these competences in basic teacher education and ongoing professional development. Providing a safe and inclusive school environment for children and families, early intervention and the use of structured models of support were viewed as effective approaches to use. Digital tools, online materials, and online support were seen as having a valuable role to play in children’s mental health promotion. Conclusion: School professionals require multiple competences to undertake mental health promotion in primary schools. The development of these competences is best supported by basic and ongoing education. Teachers, school nurses, psychologists and social workers see mixed methods as likely to be most effective in promoting mental health in primary schools.

An Investigation into the Attitude Toward Special Education Curriculum and Teaching of Special Education Teachers: The Data from China’s Guangdong Province

To further understand the curriculum and teaching attitude of teachers in special education schools in Guangdong Province, this study adopted a stratified whole-group unequal probability sampling method and selected 768 teachers from special education schools in Guangdong Province’s 21 cities for a questionnaire survey. The data on special education teachers’ attitudes towards special education curriculum and teaching were selected. Descriptive statistics, one-sample t-test, independent sample t-test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the data and compared with the data of special education teachers’ attitudes towards special education curriculum and teaching in the National Survey of Special Education Teacher Professional Development (NSETPDS). The results indicated that the cognitive response of special education teachers in Guangdong Province to the special education curriculum and teaching attitude is positive (M=1.81, SD=0.51), significantly higher than that of the national special education teachers. The emotional response and general attitude were positive but significantly lower than that of the national special education teachers. The attitude of male special education teachers toward the special education curriculum and teaching was significantly higher than that of female special education teachers. Special education teachers with more than 20 years of teaching experience had a more positive attitude towards special education curriculum and teaching than those with 1-5 years of teaching experience. Based on the analysis of the research results, some suggestions are put forward to provide a basis for the professional development of teachers in Guangdong Province.

Introducing Assistive Technology (AT) to Pre-Service Teachers: Observations and Experiences

Assistive technology (AT) can help students with special needs with their learning, and the importance of AT is on the rise with the development of new technologies and the diversification of student body. However, it is observed that pre-service teachers need to be better prepared for the use of AT in their teaching, including awareness, creative and innovative ways of problem solving, and pedagogical use of “low-tech” “mid-tech” and “high-tech” AT. Based on the observation and experience of the author in his teaching of an ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) course in a teacher education program at a middle-sized university in Ontario, Canada, this paper intends to broaden educators’ understanding of AT including hardware and software, emphasize the necessity of the introduction of AT in teacher education programs, and discuss the pedagogical uses of various types of AT tools. By sharing our observations and experiences, it is hoped that educators can be inspired to use various methods to expand the understanding of AT in pre-service teacher education and in-service teacher professional development programs.

An examination of teachers’ beliefs about critical thinking in New Zealand high schools

With new directives from the New Zealand government (2022) to increase the use of critical thinking (CT) within curriculum, this study set out to find out New Zealand high school teachers current beliefs about the teaching and learning of critical thinking (CT), in what ways these beliefs aligned or misaligned with international high school teachers beliefs about CT and if there are any beliefs that are surprising or concerning. The study used a mixed methods designs with an anonymous online Qualtrics questionnaire posted on teachers curriculum webpages that contained both quantitative and qualitative questions. The quantitative results were analysed in Qualtrics. 353 teachers completed the entire survey, with 141 males and 212 females. The results of the quantitative and qualitative Qualtrics questionnaire demonstrated that most teachers agreed critical thinking (CT) should be taught within curriculum; that the biggest barriers to the teaching and learning of critical thinking (CT) were the lack of training in CT and time. The teachers recognised that to achieve the highest grades in the national current assessments in New Zealand students required CT. The teachers held low expectations of students’ abilities to use dialogue online to incorporate CT and believed students were most likely to use CT in whole class discussions, suggesting a teacher-led approach was preferable. The teachers held diverse views of the relevance of the teachers and students cultural background to CT. The implication of this study is that there needs to be much greater emphasis on CT within teacher education programmes and professional development with teachers, with a focus on culturally diverse definitions of CT, addressing teacher beliefs about the importance of cultural backgrounds of both teachers and students, and instruction in student-led discussions to foster CT.

What About Early Childhood Mathematics Education in Early Childhood Teacher Education?

From existing research, it is known that early childhood teacher education provides few opportunities to learn mathematical content or mathematics pedagogical content knowledge. Furthermore, little is known about the extent to which teacher educators are qualified to teach early childhood mathematics within teacher education programs. This study investigates the frequency of opportunities to learn mathematical content knowledge and mathematics pedagogical content knowledge. Additionally, we investigate some characteristics of teacher educators, namely the sources they use for professional development with respect to early mathematics education. We report descriptive results as well as correlations. The results indicate that opportunities to learn mathematical content knowledge and mathematics pedagogical content knowledge have increased over time. Moreover, the results indicate that teacher educator professional development formats that encourage professional exchange among teacher educators, experts in early mathematics education and in-service teachers may increase teacher educators’ competence in early childhood mathematics and thereby the frequency with which this topic is addressed in teacher education.

What About Early Childhood Mathematics Education in Early Childhood Teacher Education?

From existing research, it is known that early childhood teacher education pro-vides few opportunities to learn mathematical content or mathematics pedagogical con-tent knowledge. Furthermore, little is known about the extent to which teacher educators are qualified to teach early childhood mathematics within teacher education programs. This study investigates the frequency of opportunities to learn mathematical content knowledge and mathematics pedagogical content knowledge. Additionally, we investigate some characteristics of teacher educators, namely the sources they use for professional development with respect to early mathematics education. We report descriptive results as well as correlations. The results indicate that opportunities to learn mathematical con-tent knowledge and mathematics pedagogical content knowledge have increased over time. Moreover, the results indicate that teacher educator professional development for-mats that encourage professional exchange among teacher educators, experts in early mathematics education and in-service teachers may increase teacher educators’ compe-tence in early childhood mathematics and thereby the frequency with which this topic is addressed in teacher education.

Exploration of In-Service Teachers’ Preparedness and Perceived Challenges about Inclusive Education in the United Arab Emirates

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic led to the deterioration of exclusive pedagogical practices in different learning institutions. This is because the pandemic forced teachers to make an abrupt instructional switch from face-to-face to online learning without having sufficient time to prepare. Various studies have reported that students with special needs in learning have to tolerate the burden of this tumultuous instructional transition. The educational policymakers have requested that in-service teachers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) attend an inclusive education professional development program to equip them with knowledge and skills for teaching and supporting special needs children. The purpose of this study is to explore the extent to which in-service teachers were prepared to teach inclusively and the challenges they perceive after completing a six-month inclusive education teacher professional development (TPD) program. The study was done using a qualitative case study within an interpretive paradigm. Fourteen teachers from different schools across the country were purposively selected to complete an open-ended questionnaire and participate in semi-structured interviews. It was found that teachers gained comprehensive knowledge from the program and they felt confident and ready to implement inclusive pedagogical approaches in their classrooms.
 
 Received: 1 November 2022 / Accepted: 29 December 2022 / Published: 5 January 2023

Institutionalizing Crisis-Sensitive Education Planning, Preparedness and Capacity Building through Media and Technology Practical Skills for Undergraduate Pre-Service Teachers

Abstract: There is consensus that teacher educators should be held responsible for the trainees that they graduate. COVID-19 led to rapid response to the crisis by promoting adoption of remote learning. Ministries of education all over the world aligned rapid response to their long-term learning priorities. Efforts should be geared towards enhancing the skills of teacher educators and the trainee teachers in crisis risk reduction and management through micro-teaching course. Educational media practical skill training is critical to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all. Teachers need Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge to use technology for economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental conservation. Digitalization of the curriculum is about looking ahead of crises that may disrupt learning. However, studies on integration of ICT into pedagogy have revealed gross incompetence of teachers and lack of infrastructure and instructional leadership to support its implementation. Additionally, Ministries of Education in Africa have not institutionalized crisis-risk reduction and management into education policies and programs. Moreover, effective continuous professional development for teacher educators and learners has not been institutionalized in higher education in Kenya. Therefore, adoption and integration of ICT into higher education curriculum and pedagogy is still at a nascent stage. A study was done among fourth year pre-service teacher trainees at Maasai Mara University to establish how effective the media practical skills training prepared them for teaching practice and Technological Pedagogical Knowledge Content. The findings revealed that there was a relationship between media practical skills training and teaching practice. They also revealed that most of the students had pedagogical and content knowledge but no Technological Knowledge. This study has recommended revision of the teacher education curriculum, capacity building of teacher educators in 21st Century skills on Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge and provision of well-equipped resource centers in teacher training institutions.

Enhancing teacher collaboration in higher education: the potential of activity-oriented design for professional development.

Professional development programs for teachers in higher education are often characterized by top-down approaches, which fail to make appreciable differences in teaching practices. This study uses a qualitative approach to explore activity-oriented design (AOD) as an instrument for collaborative learning in higher education teacher professional development. We examine Teknosofikum, an ongoing project developed in Denmark along three iterations, involving a total of 64 course participants (42 in the hybrid format; 22 online). The study applies the methodology of design-based research: data was collected via 15 semi-structured group interviews, online forums, and field notes/recordings from online meetings and onsite workshops. Data analysis follows the methodology of grounded theory and evidence is given significance inductively, based on contextual data. Four activities were selected to assess the potential of AOD methods in enhancing teacher collaboration, with different aims reflection, discussion, theory-practice alignment, and participation. Our analysis revolved around three main categories: trust, deep interaction, and shared beliefs/values. The results show how collaborative group work activities have improved trust and knowledge-sharing among participants and have contributed to creating a safe learning environment. The paper concludes that AOD methods could better assist educational designers in promoting professional development courses that aim at enhancing teacher collaboration in higher education.

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts” – Exploring teachers’ technology readiness profiles and its relation to their emotional state during COVID-19 emergency remote teaching

With the rapid spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), schools around the world came to a shutdown. This resulted in an abrupt transition from face-to-face instruction to emergency remote teaching (ERT), resulting in numerous challenges that have greatly affected teachers. Even though research has identified key factors for teachers to effectively implement ERT in the context of the COVID-19 school shutdown, there is still little research on the factors (and their interrelations) that account for the differences between teachers’ experiences. Following a theoretical model of technology readiness, this study aimed to investigate teacher profiles based on domains of technology acceptance, technology competence and technology control. In addition, this study seeks to explore whether teachers’ emotional state during ERT varies between the teacher technology readiness profiles. A total of 124 teachers participated voluntarily in an online survey stemming from the research project “Students-Parents-Teachers in Homeschooling” in Germany. Results from a two-step cluster analysis revealed three distinct teacher technology readiness profiles. Moreover, the findings also revealed gender differences between the three technology readiness profiles. Lastly, an analysis of variance indicated that teachers’ positive emotional state during ERT varied significantly across the clusters. Implications of the results for teacher education and teacher professional development, as well as further lines of research are discussed.

Professional Development Policies and Practices for Developing Content Knowledge of Physical Education Teachers

ABSTRACT The study aimed to examine state requirements for K-12 physical education teacher licensures and professional development (PD) and PD funding opportunities and supportive practices for promoting physical education teachers’ in-depth content knowledge (CK) at the SHAPE America national conventions. Four national reports published in the past decade were used to examine the state policies for physical education teacher licensures, PD requirements, and PD funding opportunities. In addition, all published abstracts at the SHAPE America national conventions during the past six years were used to examine PD practices focused on promoting physical education teachers’ in-depth CK. Descriptive statistics were employed for answering the research questions using the SPSS (version 24.0). There were four findings: (a) increased state requirements for elementary physical education licensure, (b) increased state requirements for physical education teachers’ PD with a lack of financial support, (c) fewer CK-focused presentations, and (d) fewer specialized CK-focused presentations after revising the national standards for beginning physical education teachers. These findings provide a future direction for enhancing physical education teachers’ depth of CK in the United States.

Planning and Integration of ICT on Teacher Education Professional Development for Enhancing Teaching and Learning of Yoruba Migrated Indigenes of Lagos State in Diaspora

This study examine planning and integration of ICT on teacher’s professional development among yoruba migrated indigene of Lagos State in Diaspora. This study adopted a descriptive correlational research design. A simple and purposive random sampling techniques was adopted to select the sample for this study. Data was collected through a self-designed questionnaire titled” Planning and Integration of ICT on Teachers Education for Professional Development for Migrated Yoruba Indigenes of Lagos State in Diaspora” (PLICTTEPDMYILSD). The instrument was validated through face and content validity and was found reliable at 0.71 coefficients using a test retest reliability method. Data collected for testing the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance was analyzed using Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient. The results showed a significant relationship between ICT and teaching and learning outcome of Yoruba Migrated Indigene in Diaspora: a significant relationship between Information communication Technology and teaching effectiveness of Yoruba Migrated Indigenes of Lagos State in Diaspora: a significant relationship between teacher and student accessibility to Information Communication Technology and the productivity the Yoruba Migrated Indigene of Lagos State in Diaspora. It was recommended that proper planning and integration of ICT in education among Yoruba Migrated Indigene of Lagos State in Diaspora.

Conversational Bots as Electronic Performance Support System for the Professional Development of Teacher Educators


 
 
 With the increased demand and interest in designing technology-enhanced lessons for 21st Century learners, ways to empower and enable teacher educators to use educational technologies effectively underpinning sound instructional strategies had to be reinvented. Teacher educators may require on-demand support in order to have the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the needs of the rapidly changing learning landscape. A learning intervention or a job aid had to be developed to provide just-in-time bite-sized knowledge in time of need. This conceptual paper elaborates the design and development of a next generation electronic performance support system for teacher educators and outlines a possible approach of using a rules-based chatbot as a means of empowering teacher educators to become active designers of meaningful technology-enhanced lessons.
 
 

Higher Education Reformation through Teacher Education: A Case Study in Bangladesh Perspective

<i>Teacher education is one of the key strategies to enhance higher education quality and transform from traditional education to 21<sup>st</sup>-century-oriented higher education in Bangladesh. This paper evaluates the experiences of the Post Graduate Diploma in Higher Education Teaching (PGDHET) program gained through the journey toward developing a higher education teacher professional development program and implementing it. This six-month-long program, titled Post Graduate Diploma in Higher Education Teaching (PGDHET), was launched by the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP). The key themes and elements of this teacher education program were academic program and curriculum, teaching-learning in higher education, professional practices in higher education, the well-being of students, ICT in higher education, assessment, research, and supervision in higher education. It offered a focused pathway for quality assurance activities, which is crucial in reinforcing and strengthening a culture of quality teaching-learning in Bangladeshi universities. A comprehensive, rational approach was adopted for developing this paper. Both authors were involved in the development of this program, so their voices were considered a valuable source of data. Their journal entries and conversations with various stakeholders were the primary data collection methods, whereas an intensive review of 86 higher education teaching-learning program programs offered by 80 universities on six continents around the world was supportive of understanding the global trends in tertiary teacher education programs. The analysis revealed that developing such a comprehensive program for tertiary teacher development was not an easy task, as many issues and complexities were involved, like the duration, vision and mission, design, and assessment guidelines during the development phases. The challenges were multifaceted and multidimensional, such as fitting the program content to be applicable across the teaching disciplines and ensuring its suitability for those teaching in face-to-face, flexible, and online learning environments.</i>