Teacher Agency Research Articles

2022 개정 교육과정에 나타난 ‘주체성’의 재개념화

Purpose: This study aims to reinterpret the concept of agency that appeared in the 2022 revised curriculum, and to clarify that teacher agency and student agency are compatible by identifying the relationship between teacher agency and student agency. Methods: In this study, subject analysis is conducted focusing on literature review in order to re-conceptualize the agency revealed in the 2022 revised curriculum and the OECD Education 2030 project. Accordingly, in the light of Palmer's educational philosophy, the concept and establishment requirements of agency are defined to explore the relationship between teacher agency and student agency. Results: As a result of this study, it was confirmed that agency was established from a holistic self-understanding. However, according to Palmer's educational philosophy, teachers' holistic self- understanding for the realization of teacher agency can have a positive effect on students' holistic self-understanding for the realization of student agency because teachers' self-understanding is closely related to students' self-understanding through educational situations. Conclusion: Accordingly, it is suggested as the conclusion of this study that teacher agency and student agency are not a relationship that avoids each other, but rather can increase student agency through teacher agency.

학생 주도성 기반 교육과정 개발에 관한 실행연구

The purpose of this study is to explore how elementary schools operate a student agency based curriculum through the implementation of the Learning Compass program. Student agency is attracting attention as a value that allows students to actively respond to the uncertainty, complexity, and rapid change that humanity may experience in future society. Recently, research on student agency has been actively conducted in Korea, but there is a lack of action research that includes efforts to foster student agency within the elementary school curriculum. This study observed how education to improve student agency, which is attracting attention during the entry into the future society and curriculum transition, is developed and applied to the elementary school curriculum. Within this, the activities and changes shown by teachers and students were analyzed through teacher action research. As a result, 'teacher agency' that led to the development of the Learning Compass program, 'teaching innovation' represented by one classroom with two teachers and student-led curriculum evaluation, ‘Innovation in teaching and learning methods’ represented by waiting for immersion and creating chunks of thought, The form of ‘class reflection’, represented by the discovery of the power of deliberation, was found in the student agency based curriculum.

Comparison of online, blended and face-to-face modes for in-service discipline-specific professional development in primary science

ABSTRACT A primary science programme for in-service teachers in England from the Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (TAPS) project has run face-to-face, online and ‘blended’ (mix of both) since 2019, allowing for a comparison of modes of delivery. This preliminary study aims to consider how these different modes impacted the discipline-specific professional development, especially in terms of practical work and primary science assessment. This article considers attendance, teacher viewpoints and described impact on practice from qualitative surveys completed by course attendees. Whilst the majority of teachers in the sample said that they preferred face-to-face professional learning, many acknowledged that the online mode supported their attendance, particularly for more rural schools. When describing formative use of assessment information to support learning in science, participants quoted a similar range of practice, irrespective of training mode. This study supports the global discussion regarding continuing online professional learning, with questions raised regarding teacher agency.

‘Finally, it's all in vain’: A Chinese as an additional language teacher's agency in navigating the teaching-research nexus in a neoliberal Chinese university

The neoliberal emphasis on performance metrics, such as research outputs and citations, has weakened the symbiotic relationship between teaching and research in language education. However, language teachers' experiences of navigating the challenge that neoliberalism creates for the teaching-research nexus have been largely absent, with the existing literature predominantly focusing on documenting the impact of neoliberalism on research and teaching. This narrative case study aims to address this gap by tracing a Chinese as an additional language (CAL) teacher's agency in navigating the teaching-research nexus in a neoliberal Chinese university. Based on data from three rounds of interviews, informal conversations, notes, and policy documents, this study identified a noticeable shift in the participant's narrated experiences, progressing from active engagement with research to enhance teaching practices, to pragmatic engagement in research for scholarly publication, and eventually to disenchanted retreat from the academic battlefield. This trajectory highlights the escalating challenges faced by the participant in navigating the teaching-research nexus. Practical implications are discussed to strengthen the link between teaching and research in language education in the neoliberal context.

LANGUAGE TEACHER AGENCY IN FACING FREEDOM-TO-LEARN CURRICULUM IN TWO TOWNS IN JAVA

Teacher agency in facing new national curriculum shifts has been a topic discussed widely around the world, as many nations implement curriculum shifts and transitions. Indonesia has also in its early years implemented the new national curriculum called Freedom-to-Learn Curriculum. This study is aimed at exploring the agency of language teachers of public junior high schools in two different towns in Java Island, Indonesia. Employing the ecological approach by Priestley, Biesta, and Robinson (2015) which supported the interplay and dynamics of iterative, practical-evaluative, and projective dimensions, this qualitative study brings into play the semi-structured and focus group discussion data-gathering techniques. Six teachers participated in this study. The finding showed that the level of agency was diverse ranging from high (demonstrated by three research participants), emerging (demonstrated by one participant), and low (participated by two participants). Future researchers might examine the teacher agency by involving more participants as well as capture the robust study of language teacher agencies from other parts of Indonesia.

Between a rock and a hard place: Introduction program teachers’ narrated experiences of residency and citizenship language requirements in Scandinavia

This study investigates how language requirements for residency and citizenship influence the professional identities and sense of agency of introduction program language teachers throughout Scandinavia. While Denmark introduced formal language requirements two decades ago, language requirements were effectuated in Norway starting in 2017. In Sweden, requirements have been proposed, but not introduced. The data comprises narrative interviews with 24 experienced language and literacy teachers. Drawing on street-level bureaucracy theory and narrative positioning analysis, the study shows that the introduction of formal requirements represents a turning point in teachers’ professional narratives that are recognized as a gradual reduction of agency and a narrowing of the space where professional identities can be negotiated. Whereas the Swedish teachers largely identify as students’ agents, Norwegian and Danish language teachers to a larger extent, yet partly unwillingly, negotiate their professional roles at the intersection between policy and professional standards and in dialog with the policy demands.

Professional Support in Teaching Mathematics through Guided Discovery: The Role of Agency on Multiple Levels

The paper describes a case study of mentoring support provided to a novice mathematics teacher in using Guided Discovery in her classroom. The study used qualitative methods: thematic analysis of interviews and discussions. A central theme that emerged in the results was agency, and we observed that the high level of student and teacher agency in Guided Discovery results in the importance of teacher agency within and over the mentoring framework. We conclude that when supporting teachers in using Guided Discovery in their mathematics classrooms, teacher educators need to put an increased focus on teacher agency within and over the mentoring process.

Leading Participatory Action Research for Teacher Agency

Leading Participatory Action Research for Teacher Agency

TRANSFORMING MALAYSIAN TEACHER AGENCY THROUGH CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Enhancing teachers’ agency is critical because it may help to ensure students’ success in second language learning. Thus, English teachers are provided with continuous professional development (CPD) programmes and activities to enhance their professional knowledge, experiences, skills, attitudes, teachers’ beliefs, and classroom practices so that they can improve the learners’ learning process. However, the English standard of Malaysian students is still low. This study aims to explore the best way to create CPD programme that can transform the teacher agency in Malaysia. Using a comprehensive review of recent published research articles, this paper discusses the different models of CPD, their challenges, and strategies to improve the programmes. The review illustrates that CPD can be best carried out on online platforms and that it has to be tailored to the different needs and characteristics of the teachers. Empowering teacher agency through CPD is significant in assisting the government in improving language proficiency among Malaysians as well as contributing to effective strategies for improving the educational quality in Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013–2025.

Influence of Teachers' Professional Development in Integrated STEAM Pedagogy on Teachers' Practices

The study explored the influence of teachers' professional development (PD) on teachers' practices. The professional development training focused on integrated STEAM pedagogy,design thinking, and inquiry-based learning spanning three cycles of four weeks. Seven teachers from two schools for the underprivileged were a part of this qualitative action research study. A semi-structured interview protocol was used for data collection in three rounds of focus group interviews. Results from the thematic analysis report that the professional development helped enhance creativity, critical thinking, and innovation among the teachers. They gained a deeper understanding of the integration of STEAM pedagogy in their lessons. It also helped them empathize with the context of what is being taught themselves and foster it in their students too. They also reported higher levels of interest in active learning, confidence, and teacher agency, reflecting that the professional development training had a positive impact on teachers' practices.

Exploring teachers’ behavioural intentions to design artificial intelligence-assisted learning in Chinese K–12 education

ABSTRACT As artificial intelligence (AI) advances rapidly, it has been incorporated into formal education to facilitate subject-based learning. Integration of AI technologies to support learning requires teachers to intentionally design AI-assisted learning. However, there have been a limited number of empirical studies investigating teachers’ behavioural intentions to design AI-assisted learning. To explore the predictors of teachers’ behavioural intentions to design AI-assisted learning and examine the structural relationships among these factors, the authors constructed a structural model of AI literacy, Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK), technostress, school support, teacher agency, teacher autonomy and behavioural intentions. Data from 312 K–12 in-service teachers in China were analysed. The results suggest that TPACK, school support, teacher agency and teacher autonomy positively predict teachers’ behavioural intentions to design AI-assisted learning. However, AI literacy and technostress were not statistically associated with teachers’ behavioural intentions. On the other hand, TPACK significantly mediated AI literacy and teachers’ behavioural intentions.

Special educational needs – self-reported beliefs about knowledge, skills and attitudes of future foreign language teachers before and after a summer school

The study involved students of the Faculty of Modern Languages at the University of Warsaw (FML UW), who attended a course within a summer school (SL) on special educational needs in language education. The study aimed to observe the changes in participants’ knowledge and skills in the area of special educational needs (SEN), as well as their attitudes towards teaching students with dyslexia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and on the autism spectrum. The second aim of the study was to check the participants’ satisfaction with the SL organization with the view of continuing this initiative at FML UW. Data were collected using a pre- and post-questionnaire with closed- and open-ended questions and post-SL interviews. Data were presented using descriptive and interferential statistics. Interviews were transcribed and coded thematically in the scope of the research questions. Findings showed that SL was a successful initiative. The participants gained knowledge and skills at a significant level (p < 0.05). The participants believed that teaching students with SEN was challenging but they remained uncertain whether working with students with SEN was stressful. The participants reported a significantly more satisfactory attitude after the SL. Pedagogical implications of the findings are discussed considering the agency and well-being of language teachers.

Teacher Agency of Novice Teachers: A Scoping Review

Global policies, accountability standards, and various challenges in education around the world have a negative impact on the professional lives of novice teachers. Teacher agency has gained attention as a popular topic that offers different, new perspectives for teachers' professional development and efforts to improve the quality of education. The present study aims to examines the agency of novice teachers. For this purpose, the distribution of the compiled studies by years, countries, research method, sample size, experience level, and subject was examined. It also examined the barriers to novice teachers' agency and the findings of studies focusing on novice teacher agency. In order to identify the relevant peer-reviewed studies in the literature for scoping, research was conducted in the Web of Science, ERIC, Scopus, PsychINFO, and MEDLINE databases. The studies obtained from the databases were accessed in 53 studies using PRISMA research methodology. The study was prepared according to the stages of the scoping review methodology created by Hilary Arksey and Lisa O'Malley. As a result, the conditions affecting the agency of novice teachers were evaluated from teacher education, school context, and policy perspectives, and recommendations were made to researchers, teacher educators, and policymakers.

Professional identity and professional development agency of special education teachers in China: a moderated mediation model

Professional identity and professional development agency of special education teachers in China: a moderated mediation model

Supporting transformative agency in initial teacher education: A Change Laboratory in China

Studies of teacher agency need analytical frameworks with processual and collective perspectives in support of the transformation of educational institutions and practitioners. The framework of transformative agency by double stimulation (TADS) from cultural-historical activity theory is used as a lens to inquire how a Change Laboratory in initial teacher education in China supported teacher agency. Our analysis traces the occurrence of the TADS phases during six online Change Laboratory sessions and the distribution of these phases among 13 participants and two researchers, moving toward a major transformation of the institutional strategies for mentoring school placement. Our findings verify the usability of the TADS model for capturing transformative teacher agency as a stepwise process. The analysis shows the nonlinear character of the TADS process, requiring adaptation to context-specific contingencies. The distribution of TADS phases among the participants and researchers reveals the collective and relational nature of teacher agency in transformation efforts.

Developing Scenarios for Exploring Teacher Agency in Universities: A Multimethod Study

Lecturers who are actively engaged in shaping their teaching and teaching practices demonstrate agency. Teacher agency has increasingly been described as a key factor in educational development at universities. Lecturers are expected to innovatively develop courses and continuously improve their teaching practices to respond to, for example, student needs and labor market demands. In this multimethod study, we examined the process of developing and validating scenarios for measuring teacher agency in universities. We conducted four studies to create 23 scenarios that capture the complex nature of teacher agency. First, we interviewed university lecturers to identify bumpy moments in their teaching practice, and so found scenarios based on real-life experiences. Then, we employed two expert panels, to evaluate and refine the scenarios, which enhanced their validity. Finally, we used a pilot study to standardize the data collection procedures. Our multimethod study has established reliability by triangulating methods and researchers, involving multiple stakeholders, and providing detailed descriptions of the research process. This project holds implications for research and practice. The scenarios can be used in professional academic development programs for the collection of research data and to promote self-reflection, peer consultation activities, and professional growth and agency among university lecturers.

A vocational education and training subject teacher for fostering students' entrepreneurial skills—The development of a conceptual model

AbstractIn the future, a significant portion of the workforce is expected to engage in self‐employment or pursue part‐time entrepreneurial endeavours, especially in vocational education and training (VET) fields where entrepreneurship serves as a predominant avenue of employment. The primary goal of this article is to investigate the interconnectedness of a teacher's autonomy, agency, and guiding behaviour and to understand their relevance to the teacher's pedagogical decisions and ability to effectively guide students toward entrepreneurship. To achieve this objective, semistructured interviews were conducted with eight VET subject teachers, employing predetermined concept definitions derived from prior research. Analysis of the interviews revealed a connection between these concepts, highlighting their influence on the pedagogical decisions made by VET teachers. However, minor variations were observed across diverse fields of VET. The study underscores the significance of autonomy, decision‐making capabilities and teacher agency in fostering students' entrepreneurial skills. It emphasises that autonomy alone is insufficient, and various factors either facilitate or hinder the promotion of entrepreneurship. This article contributes to entrepreneurship education research in two ways. First, it provides new information about the VET subject teacher as a promoter of students' entrepreneurial skills. Second, by presenting a theoretical model that helps to understand the factors influencing teachers' actions. The model, being novel, can be utilised to understand how VET teachers utilise autonomy and express agency in their work. Additionally, the research results are considered from an international perspective. The discourse revolves around the conceptual model, by exploring the reasons behind it, and considering subject teachers' professional identity as entrepreneurship teachers.

Unveiling the impact of language assessment teacher education on EFL teachers’ assessment agency and professional development trajectory: perceptions, opportunities, and challenges

In global trends and current curricular policy reforms in second language (L2) education, there is a great emphasis on repositioning of teachers as assessors and teachers’ role as responsible agents in assessment. However, various factors affect the agency of teachers as assessors in the classroom. This study explored the ways English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers perceived the impact of the language assessment teacher education course on their agency as assessors. Likewise, it scrutinized the challenges and opportunities teachers confronted in leveraging the acquired knowledge and skills to enhance their assessment agency and contribute to their overall professional development. As for dataset, this phenomenological study targeted 50 EFL teachers, with 25 participants completing an open-ended questionnaire and the other 25 composing narratives. The research findings, using MAXQDA software (v. 20) for content and thematic analysis, revealed that EFL teachers perceived a significant positive influence of language assessment teacher education courses on their agency as assessors in the classroom. This led to their increased confidence and competence in assessment practices. They found limited institutional support and resources as their main challenges. However, they claimed opportunities would arise from collaborative professional networks and tailored mentoring to effectively apply knowledge and skills gained from language assessment teacher education courses for their professional development. The findings offer valuable implications for language assessment teacher education and professional development initiatives, illuminating the potential predicaments and expediters in enhancing teachers’ assessment agency and fostering their continuous professional growth.

An exploration of preservice teachers’ perceptions of Generative AI: Applying the technological Acceptance Model

Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model, the researchers designed a Google Form survey to explore elementary preservice teachers’(PSTs’) perceptions of using Generative AI (GenAI) as part of an authentic literacy methods course activity. Following the activity, responses to a qualitative survey were analyzed to learn about PSTs’ experience of using GenAI in developing questions for a read-aloud. Findings indicated that many PSTs perceived GenAI as a useful teaching tool. In addition, they shared their concerns that GenAI may limit creativity and teacher agency. We also found a positive correlation between the use of GenAI in the activity and PSTs’ intentions to use GenAI in the future. The study adds to the current literature about TAM with GenAI and underscores the value of GenAI in promoting critical reasoning among PSTs. Pedagogical implications for teacher educators are also discussed.

Cultivating teacher innovativeness through transformational leadership and teacher agency in schools: the moderating role of teacher trust

PurposeThis paper explores the relationship between transformational principal leadership and individual teacher innovativeness, considering the mediating role of teacher agency (TA) and the moderating role of teacher trust (TT).Design/methodology/approachWe employed structural equation modeling (SEM) using survey data collected from 676 teachers at 25 schools in Turkey.FindingsThe results indicated no direct correlation between transformational leadership (TL) and teacher innovativeness but revealed a significant and positive association between TL and teachers' agency, as well as between teachers' agency and innovativeness, suggesting that TA fully mediates the association between TL and teacher innovativeness. Additionally, teachers' trust positively influenced the link between principal leadership and teachers' innovativeness, with the impact of TL on teachers' innovativeness being stronger when trust levels were higher.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to the literature, providing an understanding of the mechanisms through which leadership can exert an influence on teacher innovativeness.Practical implicationsThis study also suggests that the strength of the influence is likely to vary under different circumstances. Trust among teachers appears to play a key role in the effect of school leadership on teachers, particularly when aiming to support and sustain innovativeness.Social implicationsTrust-based relationships within a school are essential for school principals to influence innovative practices. We conclude that, in the absence of trust as a key component of school climate, achieving a comprehensive understanding of the role of school leadership in fostering teacher innovativeness seems unattainable.Originality/valueThis paper expands existing knowledge regarding the effect of TL in leading teacher innovativeness by indicating the indispensable role of TA and trust.