Research Textbooks Research Articles

An analysis of the presentation of Sikhism in social studies textbooks

PurposeThe increase of Islamophobia-inspired hate crimes toward Sikh Americans led the Sikh Coalition of America and the National Council for the Social Studies to request social studies educators to conduct a content analysis on the presentation of Sikhism in social studies textbooks. The Sikh Coalition hopes to use the findings of such research to encourage more appropriate inclusion about the religion in textbooks by the leading publishing companies and as a legitimate social studies subject of instruction in the state standards for all 50 states. The paper aims to discuss this issue.Design/methodology/approachThe incorporation of critical pedagogy, as a tool of critical multiculturalism, serves as the theoretical design of this study. Content analysis serves as the method of research for this study. The authors also employed an online survey to determine the scope of religious literacy of the pre-service teachers with regard to Sikhism before the conducting of content analysis of social studies textbooks for the presentation of Sikhism.FindingsThe current presentation of Sikhism in social studies textbooks has the potential to help fuel the Islamophobia that Sikh Americans now face. The authors found that the pre-service teachers possess little religious literacy regarding Sikhism. Furthermore, from the content analyses, the authors found that a total of 21 out of the sample of 32 textbooks (5 elementary, 11 middle grades and 16 high school) mention Sikhism. Eight textbooks include a mention of the origins of Sikhism. Nine textbooks misidentify the religion as a blending of Hinduism and Islam. Nine textbooks mention the religion in relation to the assassination of Indira Gandhi.Research limitations/implicationsThe originality of this research led the authors to find that the very limited and inaccurate information we found present in the most-used textbooks for elementary, middle grades and high school social studies made the employing of inferential statistics like correlation difficult. Also, the authors found from the literature that research addressing Islamophobia in the classroom has centered on the role of licensed teachers only. The research gives a model to how pre-service teachers may address Islamophobia in the classroom and also gain religious literacy regarding Sikhism.Practical implicationsThe rise of Islamophobia-inspired violence toward students of South Asian descent has led to the call to address this matter. The research introduces a method to how social studies education professors may help engage their pre-service teachers in proactively addressing Islamophobia. Social studies professors have a responsibility to help promote social justice through critical pedagogy that explores the religious literacy of their pre-service teachers beyond Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.Social implicationsThe Sikh Coalition, by telephone, has formally acknowledged to the authors that the textbook research has been the most extensive they have received since making their joint request with the National Council for the Social Studies. They have used the research to successfully convince the state education boards of Texas and recently Tennessee to adopt the inclusion of Sikhism in social studies content. More Americans, at a young age, need to learn about Sikh culture, so they are less likely to develop prejudicial ideas about Sikh Americans and commit violent acts of religious-based discrimination.Originality/valueThe research is extremely rare. To date, no one else in the country has conducted research on the presentation of Sikhism in textbooks to the extent that the authors have. The authors hope that the research will encourage more dialogue and further research. The authors hope that the research will help prevent further acts of religious-based violence toward followers of the world’s sixth largest religion.

Recent advances in mathematics textbook research and development: an overview

The paper departs from research published in an earlier thematic issue published by ZDM Mathematics Education in 2013 on mathematics textbook research and development by presenting a review of the literature in other languages and including books. Overall, the paper provides a brief overview of the more recent development of research in this area since then. The paper argues that mathematics textbooks as a theme of research have continued to receive rapidly growing attention internationally by opening to new developments such as electronic resources, historical reflections and international comparisons.

A new generation of mathematics textbook research and development

This paper adopts a multimodal approach to the latest generation of digital mathematics textbooks (print and online) to investigate how the design, content, and features facilitate the construction of mathematical knowledge for teaching and learning purposes. The sequential organization of the print version is compared to the interactive format of the online version which foregrounds explanations and important mathematical content while simultaneously ensuring a high level of connectivity and coherence across hierarchical layers of mathematical knowledge. For example, mathematical content in the online version is linked to definitions, theorems, examples and exercises that can be viewed in the original context in which the material was presented, and the content can also be linked to mathematics software. Significantly, the development process for the new generation of mathematics textbooks involves using a ‘design neutral’ markup language so that the books are simultaneously published as both print books and online books. In this development process, the structure of the chapters, sections, and subsections with their various elements are explicitly marked-up in the master document and preserved in the output format, giving rise to new methodologies for large-scale analysis of mathematics textbooks and student use of these books. For example, tracking methodologies and interactive visualizations of student viewings of online mathematical textbooks are identified as new research directions for investigating how students engage with mathematics textbooks within and across different educational contexts.

A Metalinguistic Study on the Photon Interpretation Present in Physics Textbooks Approved in PNLDEM 2015: Elements for a Symmetric Sociology of Science Education

We present a work on Symmetric Sociology on Science Education from a theoretical framework that articulates Bruno Latour’s and Mikhail Bakhtin’s Philosophies. We perform a metalinguistic analysis of the texts about Quantum Physics present in the Physics textbook approved by the PNLDEM 2015 in dialogue with the philosophical interpretations about the photon in scientific papers. We present the dialogic relation among the different scientific and didactic speeches, explicating the re-elaboration of meaning that exists in every text. We show that the textbook authors hybridize different visions into a particular vision, which is not in dialogue with contemporary research in most textbooks, so these narratives could not even be considered Quantum Physics (since they attribute to photons a performance with many classical aspects). Furthermore, we show that all textbooks omit the theoretical construction that encompasses the photon, following the same didactic and ideological proposal found in undergraduate textbooks, as described by Kuhn, that is, omitting controversies and pushing the establishment of a paradigm. Such didactic parallel suggests the subordination of Science Education to the Scientific Community in a sort of didactic colonialism. Even if we agreed that the goal of Science Education is to educate “little scientists” (which is not the case), there is the problem that the paradigm presented by the texts has not been hegemonic for, at least, eight decades. Finally, the developed theoretical articulation proved to be fruitful to analyze Science Education and its symmetrical relations with nature and society.

Textbook research: Past achievements, current developments, future challenges: A Georg Eckert Insti

En decades recents hem vist desenvolupaments dinamics en el camp de la produccio de llibres de text i mitjans audiovisuals que ofereixen diferents possibilitats als investigadors. Una font d’inspiracio per a aquestes noves possibilitats pot ser una sintesi sistematica de l’estat actual de les investigacions en aquest camp en l’ambit internacional. El recentment publicat Palgrave Handbook of Textbook Studies , editat per Eckhardt Fuchs i Annekatrin Bock, representa un intent per aconseguir aquest objectiu. Inspirat per l’aproximacio d’aquest Manual, aquest article perfila nous temes explorats i enfocaments presos per investigadors de llibres de text en decades recents. Juntament amb la discussio sobre l’augment de significacio de les col·leccions de llibres de text com fonts per als investigadors i professors, aquest article avanca en l’argument de que les nostres societats farien be en atorgar un major reconeixement i valor a la investigacio de llibres de text. En conclusio, el document advoca per la cooperacio transnacional entre els investigadors de llibres de text i els educadors i crida a una major consciencia dels problemes que envolten la produccio de llibres de text escolars en l’ambit de la politica practica.

Didaktička transpozicija aritmetičkih sadržaja u udžbenicima početne nastave matematike

Didactic transposition of the arithmetic content in the starting teaching mathematics is only possible if you keep in mind the student of a particular age, to whom the content of the natural numbers is intended, his level of logical thinking, previous knowledge and experience. Undoubtedly, these demands need to be met in home math textbook as well ,i.e., to allow the adoption of relevant knowledge of arithmetic and to participate in the development of thinking and other cognitive abilities of students. Therefore, this paper first describes significant psychological basis, and then the specific details in the transposition of the initial mathematical content. In the end, for the purpose of completing and more impartial studies of selected problems of research, the arithmetic facilities have been analyzed in the textbooks of mathematics from first to third grades of elementary school education system of Montenegro, which was carried out in 2014. Didactic actions of the adoption of natural numbers in the textbooks are viewed through a global research access to research textbook, which aim is to establish the contents of textbooks and methodical psychological characteristics. The results that we got shows that the arithmetic support facilities are exposed by logical order but there are irregularities in textbooks at present : scientific, methodological ,art-graphic and language - stylish approach. The dominant form of activation of the students is memorizing The teaching facilities of the natural numbers are not connected with other subjects and examples of real environments. The findings indicate that the listed disadvantages can be overcome: by improving the quality of the content of the existing textbooks - structuring teaching units; by implementing new content into an existing curriculum home math; new approaches of teachers in the use of textbooks.

Evaluation of school tasks in the light of sustainability education: textbook research in science education in Luxembourgish primary schools

This article describes a research project that aimed to classify different types of sustainability-related school tasks in terms of two central approaches in primary school education: action-based and task-based learning. Using a textbook analysis approach, the article clarifies implicit and explicit forms of sustainability education in school tasks in Luxembourgish science textbooks for Grades 1–6. The study uses a two-step analysis: first, scanning textbooks on content relating to sustainability; and, second, evaluating the teaching practices associated with this content apparent in the textbooks. Step one identifies the school tasks in which sustainability content is implicitly or explicitly addressed while step two analyzes which forms of action-based and task-based learning occur in these sustainability-related school tasks. Based on the results two claims can be made: first, that there is very little sustainability-related content in Luxembourgish primary science textbooks, and those topics raised mostly relate to sustainability only indirectly; secondly, action-based and task-based learning are undervalued in the context of sustainability-related school tasks; neither of the two was commonly found in school tasks in sustainability education.

예비수학교사 창의･인성 역량 강화를 위한 교과교육학 강의 분석

Educating for character was emphasized in 2015 & 2009 reformed Korea national mathematics curriculum. Thus, in this study we basically conducted to realize the creativity and character education. The purpose of this study is to successfully lectures in the 'Mathematics Curriculum and Textbook Research' subject that is mathematics education department’s major subject in teacher college, and to analyze the results. For the purpose of this study, the following study was carried out. First, we develop a lesson plan, teaching and learning plan, learning materials based on creativity and personality. Second, we taught a class based on the creativity and personality. Third, we analyze the effectiveness of the teaching efficacy about pre-service math teacher. Fourth, we conducted a qualitative analysis of the 'Mathematics Curriculum and Textbook Research' subject lessons through the Classes observer.

Twenty Years of Social Studies Textbook Content Analysis: Still “Decidedly Disappointing”?

ABSTRACTIn an article published in 1993, Rahima Wade reviewed the quality of social studies textbook content analyses published in three major social studies journals between 1982 and 1992. She concluded that the quality of this research was disappointing. Borrowing and refining Wade's methods, this article presents the findings of a review of all 29 textbook content analyses published in the same journals between 1994 and 2016 to see whether textbook content analysis research has improved during the past two decades. The results indicate that the quality of this research has improved little: many studies were unclear in their sampling strategies, validity and reliability of coding variables, and data collection and analysis procedures. The methodological limitations rendered their substantive findings questionable. This article concludes with recommendations for textbook researchers to explicate their data collection and analysis processes and make their results more useful to social studies teaching and learning. It also has implications for social studies teachers on how to use textbooks critically to provide students a more meaningful and powerful learning experience.

What Images Reveal: a Comparative Study of Science Images between Australian and Taiwanese Junior High School Textbooks

From a social semiotic perspective, image designs in science textbooks are inevitably influenced by the sociocultural context in which the books are produced. The learning environments of Australia and Taiwan vary greatly. Drawing on social semiotics and cognitive science, this study compares classificational images in Australian and Taiwanese junior high school science textbooks. Classificational images are important kinds of images, which can represent taxonomic relations among objects as reported by Kress and van Leeuwen (Reading images: the grammar of visual design, 2006). An analysis of the images from sample chapters in Australian and Taiwanese high school science textbooks showed that the majority of the Taiwanese images are covert taxonomies, which represent hierarchical relations implicitly. In contrast, Australian classificational images included diversified designs, but particularly types with a tree structure which depicted overt taxonomies, explicitly representing hierarchical super-ordinate and subordinate relations. Many of the Taiwanese images are reminiscent of the specimen images in eighteenth century science texts representing “what truly is”, while more Australian images emphasize structural objectivity. Moreover, Australian images support cognitive functions which facilitate reading comprehension. The relationships between image designs and learning environments are discussed and implications for textbook research and design are addressed.

Why national narratives are perpetuated: A literature review on new insights from history textbook research

National narratives have often served to mobilize the masses for war by providing myths and distorted interpretations of the past, while conversely wars were major sources for producing national narratives. Because national history is very likely to remain a central topic in history education, albeit in ways that differ from how the topic was used fifty years ago, it is important to gain a greater understanding of the underlying structures and mechanisms of these narratives in history textbooks. After outlining the historical interconnectedness of the emerging nation states and history teaching, this review article explains the complexity of the history textbook as an educational resource. Next, we identify some current problems and challenges in history textbook research. We continue by discussing promising research trends related mainly to national narratives, such as the analysis of images, the use of digital tools, and studies of the autonomy of textbook narratives and of history textbooks in relation to other media. Another recent reorientation is textbook research that uses a holistic approach. By this we mean studies that examine the history textbook as a whole: composition, periodization, visual intertextuality and chapters that do not at first glance appear to focus on national history. These studies offer new insights and explanations for the perpetuation of national narratives in history textbooks.

Teaching ancient Greek history in Greek compulsory education: textual and ideological continuities and discontinuities

The reality of Greek education presents a dissension in relation to the global trends regarding the existence and use of a single textbook per school subject. This reality also influences the orientation of education research. Thus, the international trend to study how textbooks affect the uptake of knowledge by the student, which is followed by Greek researchers as well, starts from a different basis, given the free choice between numerous school textbooks. However, what even Greek teachers ignore nowadays is that the one-textbook policy has not been unique in the Greek education reality; since 1969/70 the politics of multiple textbooks was dominant, at least in primary school. This paper attempts to present the particular Greek education policy related to the publication of school history textbooks, and secondly embarks on diachronic, historical research of school history textbooks that have been used in primary and secondary education from 1952 to 2010 and their inherent ideological discourse, both its continuities and discontinuities which form the cornerstones of the modern Greek identity.

LA IDENTIDAD NACIONAL EN LOS MANUALES ESCOLARES DURANTE LA SEGUNDA REPÚBLICA ESPAÑOLA

INTRODUCCIÓN. El presente artículo se propone analizar las concepciones de la identidad nacional desarrollada en España en relación al resurgimiento de las identidades propias de diferentes regiones en la etapa de educación primaria durante la Segunda República Española (1931-1936). MÉTODO. Se han empleado la metodología histórico-educativa y hermenéutica para la revisión bibliográfica y el análisis de contenido para la exploración de los manuales escolares de acuerdo a un sistema de unidades categoriales, comprendiendo la identidad nacional, los nacionalismos, las ilustraciones y mapas, los personajes y etapas y la presencia de la mujer. Los manuales escolares han sido consultados en diversos fondos: desde el Museo Manuel Bartolomé Cossío de la UCM hasta la Biblioteca Nacional Española, pasando por el Proyecto MANES de la UNED y el archivo histórico de la Facultad de Educación de la UCM. RESULTADOS. En las categorías establecidas se identifican claramente dos modelos que conviven en los manuales escolares de este periodo y que reflejan una dualidad en la concepción de la identidad nacional durante la Segunda República: el conservador y el progresista. No obstante, en lo que respecta a la presencia de la mujer en los manuales, las diferencias entre dichos modelos resultan menos evidentes, conviviendo ambos. DISCUSIÓN. Se destaca la heterogeneidad de la ideología que hay detrás los manuales y de sus autores, lo que pone de relieve la libertad del profesorado en la elección del manual escolar. Además, se abren vías de investigación en historia de la educaciónsobre la depuración y censura en los manuales escolares de la Segunda República.

초등 예비교사의 협력 과학수업이 과학교수효능감 및 과학지식에 미치는 효과

본 연구의 목적은 '과학과 교재연구' 강좌를 수강하는 초등예비교사들이 실험처치 후 과학교수효능감 및 과학 지식에 미치는 효과를 알아보는 것이다. 이를 위하여 '과학과 교재연구' 강좌를 수강하는 심화과정 4개 반(118명)을 대상으로 9월 초에서 12월까지 실험처치를 하였다. 실험처치는 한 학기의 교재연구 및 교수법에 대해 교육을 하는 것이며, 초등예비교사들이 모둠별 과학협력 수업을 시연하는 것으로 마무리 하였다. 연구의 결과 및 분석은 집단의 전-후 검사에서 대응 표본 t 검정으로 분석하였다. 연구의 결론은 다음과 같다. 첫째, 본 강좌 수강 후 초등 예비교사들은 과학교수효능감에서 효과가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 둘째, 본 강좌 수강 후 초등 예비교사들은 과학지식 습득에 효과가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 셋째, 수업시연에서 예비교사의 수업에 대한 인식은 긍정적인 영향을 미친 것으로 나타났다. 초등예비교사들은 교수설계의 원리에 의한 과제분석으로 과학과 과정안(세안)을 작성하였으며, 수업에 대한 올바른 마인드 함양과 수업에 대한 자신감을 갖는 것으로 나타났다. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of pre-service teachers of elementary school who take courses in 'Science and Textbook Research' on science teaching efficacy and science knowledge after experimental treatment. For this purpose, this study was aimed at intensive course four classes (118 students) enrolled in the 'Science and Textbook Research' course and experimented from the beginning of September to the end of November. The experiment was about teaching textbooks and teaching methods for one semester, and the pre- service teachers of elementary school made the demonstration of science cooperation classes by group. The results and analysis of the study were analyzed by the corresponding sample test in before and after the group test. The conclusion of the study is as follows. First, after taking this class the pre - service teachers of elementary school were effective in science teaching efficacy. Second, after taking this course, pre-service teachers of elementary school were effective in acquiring science knowledge. Third, it was seemed to positive effect on Perception of pre-service teachers of elementary school in Demonstration classes. Pre-service teachers of elementary school have created science course plan by analyzing the tasks according to the principles of instructional design, and they found that they had the right mind and confidence in the lesson.

Teaching Reform and Practice of the Curriculum of Mechanism Design Based on Innovation Ability Training

We proceed to teaching reform practice in the course of mechanism design. The course is prepared for the undergraduates. The aim of the reform is to lead students to apply the studied knowledge, and to cultivate the innovation ability and innovation spirit for the students. This work includes textbook research, integration of curriculum content, supplementary materials of updated content, guiding students to read scientific papers, and designing of comprehensive experiment, all of which are based on the innovation ability training for the reform work of the mechanism design. In the aspect of intensifying knowledge application ability and cultivating innovation ability, the reform has developed the situations of the positive interaction between teachers and students. By this way, teaching and studying can be developed adequately.

Georg Eckert als Geschichtsdidaktiker

As a university lecturer, educational policy developer and cultural-political diplomat, Georg Eckert (1912–1974) made significant contributions to the justification of the field of social history, to the development of textbook revision and later textbook research, as well as to International Understanding after the Second World War. For a long time the fact was forgotten that directly after 1945 he was also a history educationalist who, for a while, could win influence over the reformation of German secondary history education. This article aims to track Eckert’s contributions as a protagonist of a social and democratic history education, using his programmatic publications and educational policy development activities. Based on personal constellations, institutional conditions, as well as competing educational policy demands, historiographical and pedagogical traditions, the article will reconstruct the temporary success of Eckert’s position, together with its failure due to the circumstances surrounding the establishment of the German Federal Republic. Finally, the article will uncover how history education could orientate itself today to the potential of Eckert’s didactic design in terms of addressing current problems.

한중 남녀 관련 비유 대조 연구 - 동물을 중심으로 -

We did some research and survey about the meaning of analogy, especially about animals, to different gender. And then, in order to prevent the cultural conflicts for second language learner, we gave some education programme on the basis of our research results. Besides, we also carried out some specific investigations about difference of the analogy meaning as well as connotation for man or woman. Initially, we gave some explanation for the theoretical background and meaning about metaphor in China and korea. Next, we summarize the commonly used metaphors in our life through the questionnaire survey asnd research of Korean textbooks. We also compared the questionnaire survey asnd research of the animals analogy meaning. In addition, different gender could also affect the language culture, so we analyzed commendatory and derogatory of different sentence.

Mathematics Teachers’ Levels of Reading Textbooks: An Investigation within the Context of the Curriculum Objectives

How teachers read or interpret textbooks, which represent curricula, is important for successful implementation of curricula (the level of reading of knowledge, skills and values in the textbooks that curriculum sets forth for students’ learning). This paper aims to investigate how middle school mathematics teachers read mathematics textbooks in the light of goals of middle school mathematics curriculum. To this end, a 5th grade mathematics textbook’s segment which covers one learning objective about simplifying and expanding fractions is given to 30 middle school mathematics teachers and they are asked this following question: “What do think that the textbooks writers pay attention for teaching of this learning objective?” The findings reveal that the teachers did not read such mathematical process skills as reasoning, making connection, and communication which were reflected into the learning objective in the textbook. The findings also show that the teachers mainly read the textbooks by “describing what is done”, “providing suggestion”, and “pointing out short comings” and these suggest that this type of reading is rather superficial as far as the teaching that the curriculum aims to achieve is concerned. The paper draws attention to the issues regarding how the textbook reading skills of mathematics teachers can be developed and presents some implications about textbook research.

Continuing professional development in Chile: A case study

ABSTRACTContinuing professional development (CPD) helps achieve quality practice founded on sound clinical reasoning and evidence. While CPD is a core component of registration in Anglophone countries, access to high-quality CPD may be limited in developing countries. Chile, a developing country graduating an increasing number of occupational therapists, provides a useful case for exploring CPD. Ten paediatric occupational therapists were interviewed regarding their access to CPD. Findings: CPD in Chile is accessed mainly through available short-term activities that cover a limited range of topics. Informal professional networks are heavily used. As Chilean occupational therapists face barriers accessing research databases and text books, social media is a common source of information. Conclusions: For developing countries, language barriers can restrict access to professional knowledge and opportunities to participate in global networks and discussions regarding contemporary occupational therapy practice. CPD can be instrumental in promoting research culture and facilitating culturally relevant evidence-informed practice.

What Can We Learn from Mainstream Education Textbook Research?

Although there is an ever-growing volume of research focused on TESOL textbooks (or coursebooks, as they are sometimes known), I argue that the TESOL research community should pay more attention to textbook research in mainstream education, that is, to the work of those scholars who focus on L1 rather than L2 education, given that there is a rich, methodologically sound tradition of L1 textbook research from which we can usefully learn lessons. I support this argument by describing in detail three exemplary empirical studies of textbooks from mainstream education, identifying how they can inspire and strengthen TESOL research.