Prospective Teachers Research Articles

ETwinning in Science Learning: The Perspectives of Pre-service Primary School Teachers

<p style="text-align:justify">eTwinning is a community of European schools that promotes networking and transnational collaboration projects. Therefore, as part of the Initial Teacher Education (ITE) initiative, we decided to explore how the research projects on scientific topics familiarize pre-service primary school teachers with eTwinning. 251 pre-service primary school teachers from Spain, Iceland, and Slovenia designed and carried out joint research projects on scientific topics. The aim was to gain insight into their self-assessment of their knowledge of the platform, the limitations of working with it, and their responses. An electronic questionnaire was used as the main instrument for data collection. It turned out that the pre-service teachers enjoyed this international collaboration, but also found it challenging. By the end of the projects, they were familiar with the eTwinning platform, although the least engaged prospective teachers recognized that they needed strong support and considered the platform a non-intuitive environment. Overall, they were willing to use the platform with pupils in the future, which is in line with the aim of the ITE initiative.</p>

Agricultural science preservice teachers implementation of practical activities through video-based observations

Practical activities are essential for promoting experiential learning and preparing future teachers to effectively convey complex concepts, particularly in agricultural science education. Teacher training institutions strive to equip prospective teachers with the requisite knowledge and skills necessary to successfully implement the curriculum in their future teaching endeavors. This study aimed to evaluate preservice agricultural science teachers in their ability to integrate practical activities into their classrooms using easily accessible and locally available resources to teach agricultural science content that requires hands-on engagement from learners. This qualitative study involved six preservice agricultural science teachers in their third year of the Bachelor of Education in secondary education honors program at the International University of Management in Namibia. Preservice teachers were asked to record a 10-15-minute videos of them enacting agricultural science during their four weeks school-based studies (also known as teaching practicum). Video observations revealed that teachers effectively utilized readily available materials to explain concepts in agricultural science in the topic of soil in which they were primarily asked to concentrate on in any grade of their choice. Additionally, the teachers engaged with syllabus-based content appropriately, demonstrated enthusiasm in presenting the material, and exhibited a strong command of the language used as the medium of instruction.

Zum Stand des Fachs Cultură și civilizație an rumänischen Universitäten

Abstract Culture and civilization is probably one of the most discussed areas in foreign language didactics. It is taught both implicitly in the teaching of German as a foreign language and as an independent subject in university teaching. It is also offered at many Romanian universities as part of German-language degree courses. Especially in subjects in which prospective teachers and translators are trained, culture and civilization occupies a special position because it plays the undisputedly important role of imparting cultural knowledge about the target language country, which is seen as the second component in foreign language acquisition alongside linguistic knowledge. While foreign language lessons usually deal with everyday cultural topics, university courses on culture and civilization tend to focus on geography, history, politics, media, art and/or economics, usually according to the respective focus of the department where the culture and civilization course is offered. This article deals with academic research on the subject of culture and civilization at Romanian universities after 1995, specifically with the objectives and methods for teaching culture and civilization, the organization of encounters in culture and civilization lessons and possible subject catalogs.

INTEGRATING SERVICE LEARNING INTO MATHEMATICS PEDAGOGY FOR DEVELOPING PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS' METACOGNITION, PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILL AND PROFESSIONALISM

Service learning is an educational approach that integrates community service with academic instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Integrating service learning into mathematics pedagogy for developing prospective teachers can have significant benefits in various areas, including metacognition, problem-solving skills, and professionalism. This research study objectifies to explore the strategies incorporated for integrating service learning into math pedagogy for developing prospective teachers’ metacognition and problem-solving skills which is an essential skill for a math teacher to develop. The study aims to explore various strategies of social learning to develop prospective teachers’ professionalism and last but not least, the study also aims to find out the influence of metacognition and problem-solving skills, gained through social learning, on the prospective teachers’ professionalism development. For this study systematic literature review is followed to collect data and thematic analysis is done. The findings of this piece of research study ensure a great educational implication by integrating service learning into mathematics pedagogy. These strategies aim to create authentic learning experiences that integrate mathematical problem-solving, community engagement, and reflective practices. By implementing these strategies, prospective teachers can develop metacognitive awareness, enhance their problem-solving skills, and cultivate essential professional dispositions and competencies necessary for effective teaching and community service. The result of the study also shows that by integrating service learning into mathematics pedagogy, prospective teachers have the opportunity to develop metacognitive skills, problem-solving abilities, and professional dispositions in authentic contexts. These experiences can contribute to their overall professional growth, preparing them to become effective, reflective, and socially responsible educators who are equipped to navigate the complexities of the teaching profession. KEYWORDS: Service learning, Mathematics pedagogy, Prospective teachers, Metacognition, Problem solving skill, Professionalism.

Nurturing prospective teachers noticing skills through argumentation: The case of fractions

This study aimed to investigate the extent to which prospective teachers’ noticing skills develop while they engage in argumentation on students' mathematical thinking regarding fractions. The study consisted of 10 third-year prospective teachers participating in online methods of teaching mathematics course. Classroom teaching experiment design was used where 8 sessions of teaching experiments were conducted. Data involved pre and post-tests, interviews, video recordings, daily reports, and post-discussion reflection papers. Findings revealed that prospective teachers' noticing skills of attending to students' strategies and making sense of their understanding were enhanced after their involvement in the classroom teaching experiment. Findings were discussed within the scope of the noticing literature.

Meningkatkan Hasil Belajar Melalui Metode Problem Based Learning Materi Aku Pribadi yang Unik FASE B Kelas IV SD N 030426 Lae Tarondi Kabupaten Pakpak Bharat

Classroom Action Research entitled Improving Learning Outcomes of Catholic Religious Education Through Problem-Based Learning Methods for Unique Me Material Phase B of Class IV of SD N 030426 Lae Tarondi, Pakpak Bharat Regency. This was conducted to improve the learning outcomes of students in class IV phase B of SD Negeri 030426 Lae Tarondi, Salak District, Pakpak Bharat Regency. The research was conducted by implementing the Problem Based Learning (PBL) learning method. Problem-based learning (PBL) is a student-centered learning model that has been widely known. Although it has been widely known, teachers and prospective teachers need to know the theoretical basis of PBL, the characteristics of PBL, and things that need to be done before and during the implementation of the PBL model. This article aims to explain the theoretical basis of Problem-Based Learning, the characteristics of the Problem-Based Learning model, and the implementation of the Problem Based Learning model. The method used in writing is a literature review. The focus of the study is on the theoretical basis of Problem-Based Learning, the characteristics of the Problem-Based Learning model, and the implementation of the Problem Based Learning model. The results of the study show that in addition to the theory of constructivism, the theoretical basis for PBL is Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory, Dewey's Theory, Bruner's Theory of Discovery Learning. Before implementing PBL, teachers need to train students to learn cooperatively. (Ardianti et al., 2021a)

Divided by policy, united by resilience: Using transformative pedagogy to impact prospective teachers in all contexts

As American teacher educators and teachers are being roiled by restrictive legislation around critical race theory and divisive concepts in some states, our investigation explored the impact of critical communities of practice (CoP) on redesigning and teaching introduction to education courses with a transformative lens. This manuscript details the collaboration of four equity-minded teacher educators, each representing unique institutional and political contexts. While two authors taught in states which promote culturally sustaining pedagogies, the other two authors taught in states that had passed laws restricting the professional autonomy of educators and honest discussions of race and racism. Participation in this critical CoP as a support group enabled us to better understand and navigate our dichotomous policy contexts and renewed our commitment to teaching prospective teachers to be politically conscious and empowered to teach in anti-racist ways. Our CoP was instrumental in helping us recognize that transformative pedagogies and collaboration are effective tools that can provide much needed support to teacher educators across policy contexts, while we simultaneously strive to prepare teacher candidates who will teach in culturally sustaining ways.

Understanding teacher ethico‐political identity formation from a Foucauldian perspective

AbstractIn recent years, we have seen an increased politicisation and objectification of what teachers should know, what teachers should do and who teachers should be while they are doing it. While evident across the continua of teacher education, such politicised constructions are particularly acute at initial teacher education. Given such attention to constructing what has been described as a ‘preferred’ teacher identity, this paper explores how prospective teachers construct themselves in ethico‐political terms (i.e., how prospective teachers construct the relationship that they have with themselves and how they account for themselves in that regard). Informed by a Foucauldian perspective and using a composite case that draws on interview data (photovoice and semi‐structured interviews) from a small sample (n = 4) of prospective Irish primary school teachers at various stages during their final semester of initial teacher education, this paper addresses ethico‐political identity in terms of substance, authority sources, self‐practices and telos. Findings illuminate prospective teacher ethico‐political identity as: (i) substance as the basis for nascent teacher practical knowing‐in‐action and pedagogical sensitivities; (ii) temporally organised authority sources; (iii) dynamic and interrelated self‐practices; and (iv) telos as a form of identity prolepsis that emphasises three major valuational endpoints. The paper concludes by contemplating the generativity of an ethico‐political conceptualisation of teacher identity (re)formation for teacher education purposes in terms of its conceptual, contextual, critical and reflective utility.

Analyses of Pre-Service Teachers’ Errors in Solving Algebraic Tasks in Ghana.

This study analyzed prospective basic education teachers’ errors in solving algebraic tasks using Newman’s Error Analysis (NEA). The study employed an interpretivist philosophical paradigm with a qualitative case study design. Data were collected from 250 prospective mathematics teachers randomly selected from four colleges of education in the eastern region of Ghana using super item tests and unstructured interview protocols. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the qualitative data. The study findings revealed that transformation and encoding errors among prospective mathematics teachers are the most prevalent errors. Other error types encountered included comprehension errors and process skills errors. In order to reduce aspiring mathematics teachers’ errors, the study emphasizes the necessity of focused interventions and professional development programs to address transformation and comprehension errors in algebraic concepts.

Privilege and prejudice in private online English teaching: Discourses in school-owned recruitment websites

Abstract Numerous studies have analyzed various aspects of English language teaching to uncover discriminatory employment practices within the field. However, there is a gap in the research regarding the discourses present in school-managed teacher recruitment websites (TRWs), particularly in the field of private online language education (POLE). This study aims to address this gap by investigating how the preferred online English teacher is characterized and what benefits they are promised when visiting these webpages. Using critical discourse analysis, the author analyzed the textual elements of 32 TRWs of online English schools operating in six major markets in Asia. The findings reveal that although a few schools show signs of relatively fair policies and emphasize professional qualifications, most of them appear to exploit native-speakerism through their application requirements and compensation policies that often favor only some groups. The implications emphasize the benefits of creating equitable employment opportunities and professionalizing POLE by leveraging the qualifications and experience of teachers from diverse backgrounds, while ensuring fair compensation. Finally, this study provides practical strategies for present and prospective online teachers on how to take advantage of the opportunities of digital language work while contributing to the attainment of equity in the industry.

Improving mathematical proof based on computational thinking components for prospective teachers in abstract algebra courses

Understanding and constructing mathematical proofs is fundamental for students in abstract algebra courses. The computational thinking approach can aid the process of compiling mathematical proofs. This study examined the impact of integrating computational thinking components in constructing mathematical proofs. The researcher employed a sequential explanatory approach to ascertain the enhancement of algebraic proof capability based on computational thinking through the Wilcoxon test. A total of 32 prospective teachers in mathematics education programs were provided with worksheets for seven meetings, which were combined with computational thinking stages. Quantitative data were collected from initial and subsequent test instruments. Moreover, three prospective teachers were examined through case studies to investigate their mathematical proof capability using computational thinking components, including decomposition, abstraction, pattern recognition, and algorithmic thinking. The study's findings indicated that CT intervention enhanced students' logical reasoning, proof-writing abilities, and overall engagement with abstract algebra concepts. The findings illustrate that integrating computational thinking into learning strategies can provide a framework for developing higher-order thinking skills, especially in proving, which are essential for studies in mathematics education programs.

Decision making in managing semiotic conflicts in curriculum materials: a training program with prospective teachers in Costa Rica

Decision making in managing semiotic conflicts in curriculum materials: a training program with prospective teachers in Costa Rica

Developing health-saving competence of pre-service teachers in Kazakhstan

This study's significance lies in the need for a perspective teacher who can solve educational objectives to preserve children's and teenagers’ health. In this context, it is crucial to cultivate the health-saving competence of pre-service teachers during the educational process at the university. The study has aimed to develop, implement and experimentally test educational conditions for developing health-saving competence of a pre-service teacher within the framework of the educational program of the pedagogical direction. The participants were 37 university teachers of physical education and 145 students from two universities in Kazakhstan. The proposed approaches and methods represent a process of future teacher training which includes the stages: initial, main and final. Instructional intervention was employed at the final stage: the authors developed and introduced a special course for prospective teachers titled "Development of Schoolchildren's Health and Modern Health-promoting Technologies”. Tests, surveys, and questionnaires have been used during the intervention to test the course efficiency. The majority of respondents (79%) consider it necessary to utilize health-promoting methods and techniques at different stages of the lesson in the process of teaching the discipline. The essential aspect in the study of the elective course was building upon students' existing knowledge in the fields of physical education, pedagogy, psychology, and subject-specific teaching methods, as well as enhancing their health-saving competencies. Keywords: health-saving, competence, physical education, teacher, activity.

The impact of a comprehensive neuroscience program on prospective teachers' neuroeducational literacy: An exploration of practice

The aim of this study is to investigate how comprehensive neurobiology training influences the neuroeducational literacy of prospective Kazakhstani teachers. This study used mixed methods. The study had 216 participants. The findings indicated that the study participants found it difficult to identify the factors influencing the development of their neuroeducational literacy which indicated a lack of understanding by prospective teachers of the meaning of neuroeducation as well as the essence and features of neuroeducation. The neuroeducational literacy of the participants developed linearly and was integrated into the educational practice of the pedagogical university during the experiment. The use of the author's comprehensive instructions on neurobiology significantly increased neuroeducational literacy and also contributed to the professional development and successful educational practices of prospective teachers. These results make a practical contribution to research on the development of neuroeducational literacy among prospective teachers and can be implemented in pedagogical universities representing a new direction in preparing future specialists for neuroeducational activities.

Teaching practice: Contributions to Spanish prospective mathematics teachers

Prospective primary education (PE) teachers of mathematics are trained on university programs which include core subjects in the field of the didactics of mathematics. However, these subjects have no general practical component. Therefore, this research aims to analyze the contribution of practical courses to the development of good practice in mathematics education. For this purpose, an ethnographic study was carried out with the participation of 23 prospective teachers who completed a questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions. The closed responses were analyzed by frequency and percentage, and the open-ended responses were analyzed using the ATLAS.ti software (v. 22) (ATLAS.ti, 2022). The results show that most of the prospective teachers identified principles of good practice in mathematics classes, and most of them found a relationship between their initial training and what they experienced in these classrooms. In the light of the results, contributions are made to improve the initial training of mathematics teachers in PE.

Self-perception of Teaching Difficulties in Prospective Teachers: Adaptation of the Teaching Problems Inventory

The aim of this article is to analyze the psychometric properties of an abbreviated version of the Teaching Problems Inventory. For this purpose, the scale is subjected to a previous exploratory factor analysis to statistically examine the underlying constructs. Previously, a confirmatory factor analysis was performed and a new grouping into dimensions was generated. To analyze the properties of the items, descriptive statistics were performed: mean, standard deviation and inter-item correlations. To study the psychometric properties of the scale, Cronbach's alpha, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) -to identify the latent structure of the variables-, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were used as a procedure to check the results of the EFA. As recommended, participants were randomly divided into two groups to perform the AFE with one group and the AFC with the other to avoid distortions Participant: the proportion of items, sample size, normality, linearity, and correlation between variables were checked as assumptions for the factor analysis. The sample consisted of 992 undergraduate teacher training and master's degree students from different Spanish regions: Valencia, Andalusia, Catalonia, Madrid, Castilla la Mancha, and Castilla y León. The results of the different reliability and validity analyses showed that the reduced scale has higher reliability values and is still sensitive to capture gender and age scoring difference. As a conclusion, the consistency of the instrument to evaluate the teaching difficulties of students of different degrees and postgraduate degrees in education is highlighted. As for the limitations, the elimination of 2 items relevant at a theoretical level stands out: Motivating students in school tasks and Discipline problems with students/groups of students.

Beliefs of German Prospective Physical Education Teachers: A Qualitative Examination Through the Lens of Teaching Quality

Purpose: Prospective physical education teachers (PPETs) acquire beliefs during acculturation, which is the time before teacher education begins. Beliefs are based on shared experiences and influential in PPETs’ professional development. We examined German PPETs’ shared beliefs through the lens of teaching quality, comprising classroom management, student support, and cognitive activation. Method: Three focus group discussions were conducted, in which 13 German PPETs were instructed to work on shared lesson planning. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: The PPETs believed that physical education should enable students’ participation in sports. Therefore, classroom management was reflected as “managing a physical education class as a prerequisite for the complexity of teaching.” Student support was reflected as “providing easy access to sports for all students.” Cognitive activation was reflected as “disregarding cognitive activation in favor of transmissive teaching.” The PPETs drew on their own physical education experiences as former students. Conclusion: Longitudinal studies focusing on cognitive activation are recommended.

Rapid foresight: Information technologies in Physics lessons

Abstract This research, conducted as part of the curriculum in the discipline of Modern Learning Technologies, explores strategies for improving the training of future teachers in response to the dynamic educational landscape. The discipline is an integral component of the educational program designed for students aspiring to become educators. A total of 12 students participated in the study, engaging in a collaborative and iterative process to identify key areas for enhancement in teacher training. The rapid evolution of learning technologies necessitates a proactive approach in preparing future teachers for the challenges and opportunities in the educational landscape. In this study, students enrolled in the educational program for prospective teachers played an active role in the research process. The objective was to leverage the insights and perspectives of these students to identify areas for improvement in teacher training. Twelve students participating in the study were enrolled in the Modern Learning Technologies course. This cohort engaged in a rapid foresight approach, involving activities such as focus group discussions, brainstorming sessions, and collaborative workshops. The methodology aimed to gather diverse opinions on emerging trends in education and technology and to envision potential future scenarios. The findings of the study highlighted key trends in modern learning technologies, including advancements in educational technology, shifts in learning preferences, and evolving classroom dynamics. Students actively contributed to scenario-building exercises, providing valuable input into the skills and competencies they deemed essential for future teachers. The assessment of current teacher training programs revealed areas where adjustments and enhancements were deemed necessary. The active involvement of students in the research process proved to be instrumental in gaining firsthand insights into the needs and expectations of future educators. Collaborative workshops facilitated a co-creation of strategies for improving teacher training programs, ensuring that the enhancements were aligned with the dynamic nature of the educational environment. This research, conducted within the framework of the Modern Learning Technologies course, emphasizes the significance of involving students in the foresight process for enhancing teacher training. The collaborative and iterative nature of the approach ensures that the strategies developed are responsive to the evolving trends and needs in education. As the educational landscape continues to evolve, incorporating student perspectives into teacher training becomes imperative for fostering effective and adaptive educators.

Prospective teachers’ perception of critical and reflective thinking skills on modern physics: Rasch Analysis

Related research on critical and reflective thinking skills has been interesting and conducted by many researchers, but they are still carried out separately. This study aims to determine the perception of prospective teachers towards critical and reflective thinking skills in modern physics lectures. This research includes quantitative research using the cross-sectional survey method. Ninety-seven prospective teachers participated in the study, with details of 15 men and 82 women with an age range of 19-21 years. Questionnaire critical and reflective thinking skills are used as instruments for collecting data. Each of them is a 20-item critical thinking skills questionnaire and 24 items of reflective thinking skills questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using winsteps software version 4.6.1. which includes descriptive, individual conformity, gender, and bubble chart. The results of detailed data analysis show that for critical thinking skills, 17% of prospective teachers perceive low, 68% of prospective teachers perceive moderate, and 15% of prospective teachers perceive high. As for reflective thinking ability, 11% of prospective teachers perceive low, 78% of prospective teachers perceive moderate, and 11% of prospective teachers perceive high. However, there are many misfit persons, 66% for critical thinking skills and 67% for reflective thinking skills. This means prospective teachers do not have strong perception beliefs in both thinking skills. Therefore, it needs to be strengthened through treatment, training, or workshops to further train both skills.

유아 예비교사의 셀프리더십과 자기효능감 간의 관계 연구

This study examines the relationship between self-leadership and self-efficacy in prospective early childhood teachers preparing for a teaching career. The research questions examine the relationship between self-leadership and self-efficacy in prospective early childhood teachers, as well as how self-leadership influences self-efficacy. The study involved 234 prospective early childhood teachers, and the self-leadership scale developed by Houghton & Neck(2002) was used. For measuring self-efficacy, a questionnaire translated by Hong Hye-young(1995), based on the instrument by Shere, Maddux, Mercandante, Prentice-Dunn, Jacobs, and Rogers(1982), was utilized. Data collection methods included calculating Cronbach's α for reliability, and using frequency analysis to examine general characteristics. In addition, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were performed. The results of this study are as follows: First, there was a correlation between all sub-factors of self-leadership and self-efficacy in prospective early childhood teachers. Second, among the sub-factors of self-leadership, behavior-focused strategy had a significant impact on self-efficacy. The significance of this study lies in its potential to serve as foundational data for developing training and programs related to behavior-focused strategy, a sub-factor of self-leadership, to enhance self-efficacy, thereby helping prospective early childhood teachers work as proactive educators in the field.