Primary School Teachers Research Articles

Fun and Functional: Using Non-Digital Games to Promote Maths Engagement in Pre-service Teachers

Humans naturally engage in playful activities throughout their lives and play serves as a fundamental mechanism for cognitive development as well as the development of essential soft skills such as teamwork, decision-making, leadership, and communication. Recognizing this innate predisposition for play, educators are increasingly embracing gamification strategies into their classrooms. More attention has been driven to digital tools such as platforms Kahoot! and Duolingo which gained popularity and demonstrated the potential of game-based learning to increase engagement and knowledge retention. However, concerns about digital screen time fuelled a renewed interest in non-digital activities, including educational games. Non-digital games are often more accessible and affordable, making them suitable for schools with limited resources. Research suggests that non-digital games can effectively promote collaboration, communication, and critical thinking skills. In addition, they offer flexibility to teachers to adapt rules and scenarios to specific learning objectives and student needs. Recognizing the benefits of employing games as a pedagogical strategy, the first author of this study opted to incorporate game-based learning strategies into her classes, on a regular basis. Throughout the semester, various non-digital games were implemented, inspired on well-known classics such as memory card games, Monopoly and Pictionary. These games were carefully designed to address specific mathematics topics identified as either the most relevant or those where students revealed more difficulties. The participants in this study were pre-service pre- and primary school teachers enrolled in a maths undergraduate course. Since these students are future educators, the games served a dual purpose: improving current learning experiences and providing teaching resources for their future classrooms. At the end of the semester, a survey was conducted to evaluate students’ perceptions towards the use of games in the mathematics teaching-learning process. In this paper we describe some of the games used in this study and analyse the results of the survey. Previous studies reveal that students generally welcome the incorporation of games, perceiving them as effective tools for enhancing motivation and promoting positive learning outcomes. Our findings corroborate these studies.

Exploring the ripple effect: learner psycho-social challenges, teacher emotional fatigue, and the role of school social work in South Africa—an interview-based qualitative study using Bronfenbrenner's framework

Guided by Bronfenbrenner's (1994) ecological systems theory Bronfenbrenner (Int Encycl Educ,3(2):37–43) , this study highlights the interplay between learner psycho-social challenges and teacher emotional fatigue, which affect classroom dynamics, and the critical role of systemic support—the role of school social workers (SSWs)—in South Africa. Using an exploratory-descriptive qualitative design, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 primary school teachers and 13 SSWs from various provinces. Our participants' diverse backgrounds and experiences provided comprehensive insights. Findings highlight the need for a holistic approach to addressing learner psycho-social challenges, emphasising comprehensive support systems for teachers, including training and early intervention. Additionally, the integration of full-time SSWs and the active involvement of psychologists, families, and communities is crucial. Insights can inform educational policies and practices, enhancing teachers' and learners' well-being and effectiveness.

Exploring the Relationship Between Challenge and Reward for Game Based Learning

The aim of this research is to investigate how problem-solving challenges affect young people’s motivation for learning computer programming. It explores the relationship between difficulty and reward as part of a game-based learning application and evaluates the effectiveness of the ARCS learning model when teaching primary school children. Research in game-based learning is based, in part, on the study of the impact of games on students' learning motivation, engagement and outcomes. The ARCS model, developed by John Keller in 1987, is a widely recognized model for designing effective instruction that motivates and engages learners. The model is a cognitive psychology-based learning model that consists of four main elements: Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction. A pilot study comprising primary school teachers was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the ARCS model. Two experiments were conducted: the first an experimental group based on the design of the game focussing on the player’s experience and evaluation of the difficulty and reward mechanisms. For this group, the game dynamically changes in terms of difficulty and rewards. This is achieved by adjusting the difficulty and rewards through a dynamic player score to maintain player attention, confidence, and satisfaction. The second experiment involved a control group, where the game adopts a traditional linear learning model where difficulty and reward are fixed. For both experiments, data was collected from a feedback questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to be closely aligned and mapped to the ARCS learning model’s four elements. The scores of the results were based on the Likert scale and t-test to determine the significance of the difference in scores between the experimental and control groups. Results based on data analysis of the user study show that the overall mean score of the experimental group is higher (= 4/5) compared to the control group (= 2.2/5) on all four ARCS elements. Further analysis shows that the most prominent teaching impact is on players’ satisfaction.

How is the Development of science Education in Primary Schools’conflict Resolution?

Science education in elementary schools is not only concerned with numbers, formulas and laboratory experiments, but includes various phenomena that often occur in the surrounding environment so that it has an impact on increasing the development of science education in resolving conflicts in elementary schools. This study aims to analyze the publication of science education in primary schools' conflict resolution using VOSviewer with a publish or perish application with a range of publications for ten years (2013 to 2023). Based on these criteria, there were 992 articles found into three areas that is Conflict Resolution, Science Education, and Primary School terms. The research results show that research has decreased significantly in the last 5 years, namely from 2013 to 2019 with a total of 205 articles down to 54 articles. From 2019 to 2022 there will be static for the publication of articles on this topic. A drastic decline has occurred in the last 2 years, namely from 2021 to 2022, with a total of 9. The latest data in 2023 saw an increase of 1 article to 10 published articles. So that it can be said that it was decreasing. Through VOSviewer, this study analyzes a lot of articles published related to the topic itself. The impact of this review becomes a reference for a starting point in conducting research on related topics in the future.

Primary School Teachers’ Approach to Problem Behaviour in Inclusive Classrooms in Turkey

ABSTRACT Managing challenging behaviour is a prominent issue in inclusive educational settings, particularly for teachers working with diverse student populations. Without early identification and intervention, these behaviours can increase in both severity and frequency, potentially impeding educational outcomes. It is therefore paramount to gain a deeper understanding of teachers’ perspectives and strategies concerning these behaviours to guide effective prevention and intervention efforts. In this context, our qualitative study explored primary school teachers’ perceptions and management of challenging behaviours within inclusive classrooms in Turkey. We employed thematic analysis to investigate teachers’ approaches and responses to such behaviours. The findings reveal that the teachers have limited knowledge and expertise in managing problem behaviour. Future implications for practice and policy are discussed.

A Comparative Study to Assess the Knowledge Regarding Identifying Learning Difficulties of Primary School Children among Primary School Teachers in Selected Rural and Urban Primary Schools of Greater Nodia, U.P.

A Comparative Study to Assess the Knowledge Regarding Identifying Learning Difficulties of Primary School Children among Primary School Teachers in Selected Rural and Urban Primary Schools of Greater Nodia, U.P.

Investigating fraction computation problem-solving among pre-service primary school teachers

The ability to solve problems involving fractions is a fundamental aspect of mathematics education. This study explores how Pre-Service Primary School Teachers approach problem-solving in fractional computations. A workbook is designed to support pre-service primary school teachers ' computational thinking in fraction-context challenges. The study employs a qualitative descriptive method encompassing interviews, study documentation, and observation to assess fraction computation problem-solving abilities. Twenty-seven participants were involved in this study. They were first-year students enrolled in the Primary School Teacher Education Department at one of the private universities in Jakarta, Indonesia. The findings reveal a notable outcome in pre-service primary school teachers ' understanding of fraction computation problem-solving, marked by recognizable strategies in their problem-solving approach. This research suggests that designing a series of workbooks containing various strategies in computational fractions and building a strong fractional number sense can help pre-service teachers reduce misconceptions and better understand fraction operations. These findings offer guidance for mathematics teacher education on how to effectively teach and embed the concept of fraction calculations to their future students so that they can only teach procedurally if they understand the meaning of fraction operations.

Challenges and solutions of implementing cooperative learning in classroom environments: lived experiences of primary school teachers in Iran

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to identify the challenges and solutions associated with implementing cooperative learning (CL), based on the lived experiences of teachers in Iran. Thirty-two primary school teachers participated in a 16-session CL workshop. However, only thirty participants were able to implement this approach in their classrooms, and 19 of them voluntarily took part in the interviews. The data collected through interviews were analysed using Atlas.ti software. Three challenges and two solutions emerged as our main findings. The lack of stakeholders’ readiness, lack of facilities, and traditional structure hinder the effective implementation of CL. The results also revealed that improving curriculum elements and fostering a positive attitude among principals, educational policymakers, and other stakeholders towards the CL approach can create suitable conditions for effective implementation in Iran. Identifying perceived challenges and solutions can encourage teachers, parents, policymakers, and principals to provide suitable platforms for implementing CL in Iran. The results of this study highlight the necessity for teachers’ in-service training and participation of stakeholders to improve the delivery of CL.

Unveiling trends in late diagnosis among 22,504 people living with HIV in Hunan, China.

This study examined the prevalence of HIV late diagnosis (LD) and identified associated factors with LD among people living with HIV (PLWH). We extracted sociodemographic, epidemiological, and immunological information between 2018 and 2021 in Hunan, China from the HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Response Information Management System of China. The chi-squared test and multivariable logistic regression model were used to identify the factors associated with LD. Among 22,504 PLWH, 14,988 (66.6%) were diagnosed late. PLWH aged 50 and older had a higher proportion of LD (71.2%) than the younger group (60.0%). Older age, being male, Han ethnicity, being registered in Western Hunan, being transferred from health facilities, and being infected through heterosexual intercourse were associated with LD. Among PLWH younger than 50 years, apart from the factors mentioned above, individuals who had primary school or lower education, were non-student, and were divorced or widowed were more likely to be diagnosed late. Unlike younger PLWH, these factors were not associated with LD in the older group. But regional disparities in LD were more significant among them. LD in PLWH remains a severe issue, especially among older people. The study findings provided valuable insights into designing programs targeting groups at higher risk of LD to reduce its prevalence.

Inclusive education in action: Singapore teachers’ efficacy in early childhood and primary school education

ABSTRACT Despite the increasing number of students with special educational and developmental needs in Singapore, in-service teachers’ efficacy in inclusive practices remained underexplored within this teacher population. This study examined the efficacy of 584 in-service preschools and primary school teachers in inclusive practices. Results showed that while teachers demonstrated moderately high efficacy, preschool teachers’ overall efficacy was significantly higher than that of primary school teachers. Conversely, no significant difference found in efficacy in managing behaviour, indicating that both groups find it equally challenging. The study explored possible reasons for these differences in teacher efficacy across educational levels in Singapore.

Playful Citizens: How Children Develop and Integrate News-Related Practices in Their Daily Lives

ABSTRACT This paper studies children’s (aged 8–12) news-related practices and subsequent acts of lived citizenship in formal and informal social contexts. While children in this age group are increasingly exposed to various types of news that shape their understanding of the world, little is understood about their interactions with news. We employ the concept of “news-related practices’ to analyze how news is integrated into or excluded from their daily routines. Based on longitudinal participant observations of children (N = 256) at four afterschool care locations and five primary schools in the Netherlands in combination with semi-structured interviews with teachers (N = 9), we find that children employ a wide range of playful news-related practices that allow for light-hearted explorations of news and create opportunities for acts of lived citizenship. Play allows children to explore societal issues with peers and form moral opinions. However, conceptualizations of news as serious’ hindered primary school teachers” recognition of playful news-related practices. Following these findings, we argue that the acknowledgement of such practices as an effective tool for civic education, may support children in their development of news practices and foster their first steps into becoming informed citizens.

Investigating the Implicit and Explicit Attitudes of Primary School Educators in Scotland Towards Autistic Children

ABSTRACT Autistic children are frequently taught in mainstream schools, and in Scotland, policy aims for inclusion. This study investigated Scottish educators’ implicit and explicit attitudes towards autistic children and aimed to understand the relationships between attitudes, knowledge and experience. Seventy primary school educators working in Scotland took part. Participants completed a Single-Category Implicit Association Test (SC-IAT) to assess implicit attitudes. They also completed two explicit attitude measures (openness to autism and cognitive attitudes), and measures of knowledge and level of contact. Overall, participants held positive attitudes in explicit attitude measures. Around half had positive implicit attitudes, but a quarter had either neutral or negative implicit attitudes. There were correlations between explicit attitudes, age and years of experience, with older, more experienced staff having more negative attitudes. Young educators with less experience may have more positive attitudes, perhaps reflecting societal changes in perceptions of autism. In regression analyses, greater autism knowledge predicted more positive cognitive attitudes towards autistic children, suggesting that targeting knowledge may improve attitudes. Scotland’s policies may have the potential to support the effective inclusion of autistic pupils in schools.

Multidisciplinary learning assessment in Finland – a phenomenographic approach on teachers’ perceptions

ABSTRACT Multidisciplinary learning (ML) contexts have become an integral part of teaching. Since the 2014 curriculum reform in Finland, certain aspects of learning assessment have changed in Finnish basic education. These educational policy reforms and their practical implementation have increased national and international interest in the Finnish curriculum and its approach to learning assessment. This paper explores Finnish primary school (students aged 7–12) teachers’ (PST) perceptions of the significance of learning assessment in basic education, particularly regarding multidisciplinary learning modules. This study implements a phenomenographic research design based on semi-structured interviews (n = 15). The qualitative analysis resulted in five hierarchical outcome categories reflecting the primary school teachers’ perception of significance of learning assessment in a multidisciplinary learning context. The results indicate that primary school teachers’ perceptions of the significance of learning assessment can influence both the variety of assessment, and the teacher/student roles in the design and implementation of assessment. The qualitative findings of this study deepen our understanding of the role of learning assessment in multidisciplinary learning and teaching and support the further development of teacher education in the field of learning assessment. Interactive, comprehensive assessment strengthens quality learning by making learning visible and steering learning towards its goals.

A New Digital Competence Framework for Primary School Design and Technology Teachers

The digital competence framework for DT teachers in primary schools was validated using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). With this framework, relevant parties identifythe training needs of existing DT teachers or trainee teachers who takethe DT subject for continuous self-reflection and improvement. This study was conducted to examine the reliability of the DIGIGLO Digital Competency Assessment instrument using Rasch Model as a measurement of its reliability. Testing and validation wereconducted to ensure that the elements of the digital teacher competency framework meet the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) criteria. The purpose wasto ensure and confirm that the measured research elements are independent. The study involved 283 primary school Design and Technology teachers in the state of Johor. Respondents answered the online questionnaire using Google Forms to obtain the necessarydata for this study. For verifying the digital competency framework, the researcher used the Rasch measurement model approach by conducting Principal Component Analysis (PCA) using Winsteps software. The findings indicate that the validated framework can effectively identify areas for teacher development. Recommendations for policy and practice include targeted training programs and continuous professional development.The results indicate that the framework is reliable and effective for assessing digital competencies, and its implementation can significantly enhance the quality of DT education in primary schools in Johor.Findings of this study provides a model for precise skill assessment and tailored professional development that can be applied across various educational settings to improve vocational training. This approach ensures that TVET educators are equipped with the necessary digital skills to meet the evolving demands of the educational and labor markets, fostering a more digitally adept and competitive workforce.

Exploring the Primary School Teachers’ Reasoning and Individuals with Limited Education When Solving False Proportionality Problems

In this study employing a qualitative approach, we explore and compare the mathematical reasoning of active primary school teachers and individuals with limited education when tackling problems involving false proportionality and lack of authenticity. The research is justified by the importance of understanding how these issues are addressed in various educational groups and how teaching strategies in this area can be enhanced. An individual questionnaire containing five problems was administered to five participants in each group. The results indicate that teachers tend to more frequently succumb to the illusion of linearity, incorrectly applying linear relationships to non-proportional problems compared to individuals with lower educational attainment. This suggests a greater influence of algorithmic approaches and clauses of the didactic contract on their mathematical reasoning. This tendency could be attributed to a greater exposure to algorithmic approaches during the formative stages, as well as certain clauses in the experimental contract. Conversely, individuals with limited education approached problems with greater flexibility, linking their responses to everyday experiences. The study concludes that it is imperative to implement educational strategies aimed at overcoming limitations such as the illusion of linearity and fostering meaningful problem-solving skills from the early stages. It is recommended to developteacher training programs that promote a more contextualized and flexible approach to mathematics teaching, as well as the include contextualized and meaningful problems in the school curriculum.

Pengaruh Metode Quantum Teaching terhadap Pemahaman Materi Keberagaman di Kelas 4 SDN No 67/1 Sengkati Baru

This study aims to evaluate the impact of the Quantum Teaching method on the understanding of KEBERAGAMAN material in grade 4 at SDN No 67/1Sengkati Baru. Quantum Teaching is an instructional approach that focuses on actively engaging students through various learning styles, including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. This research employs a quantitative experimental design to compare learning outcomes between students taught using the Quantum Teaching method and those taught using conventional methods. The sample consists of 25 students divided into two groups: one group using Quantum Teaching and the other using conventional methods. Data was collected through end-of-term tests to measure understanding of the material and analyzed using R Table validity test, ANOVA hypothesis testing, and frequency distribution of learning outcomes. The results indicate that all test items were valid, and there was a significant difference in learning outcomes between the two groups, with the Quantum Teaching group performing significantly better than the conventional method group. Additionally, the frequency distribution of learning outcomes shows that most students scored above average after implementing Quantum Teaching. The study also found that 80% of students preferred the Quantum Teaching method over the conventional method, indicating that this approach is more effective in enhancing student motivation and engagement in the learning process. These findings provide a strong basis for considering the implementation of Quantum Teaching as a superior alternative in primary school education.

The Alternative for Germany and its school policy positions

This article analyses the school policy positions of the party Alternative for Germany (AfD). Using the federal state of Thuringia as an example, three election manifestos (2014, 2019, 2024) and one position paper are analysed through qualitative content analysis. The AfD Thuringia advocates in favour of maintaining and expanding a differentiated and structured school system, including the retention of special schools for pupils with special educational needs. Gender-appropriate language, Islamic education, and sexual education in nurseries and primary schools are rejected. The AfD Thuringia also promotes a strong focus on performance and elites within the school system. Considering various documents from the last 10 years, the AfD Thuringia has experienced a radicalisation of its school policy positions.

Exploring teacher characteristics and participation in TPACK-related online Teacher Professional Development in Assam, India

Recent years have seen a significant increase in professional development opportunities to support teachers in enhancing their digital skills in India. However, to date, there is little evidence that teachers are confidently harnessing digital technologies within their classrooms. We suggest that this may be explained by insufficient attention on how teachers’ participation in TPACK-focused teacher professional development (TPD) programmes is mediated by their values, prior experiences and positioning within society. To explore this, we examined government upper primary and secondary school teachers’ experiences of participating in a course entitled ‘Constructivist teaching and learning with technology within the TPACK framework’ (CTLT), which was offered to over 500 teachers in 23 districts in the Indian state of Assam. Based on the survey responses of 209 (pre-course) and 109(post-course) teachers, the findings of the study indicated that, contrary to expectations and much current scholarship, the female teachers significantly outperformed the male teachers in terms of course completion. However, the teachers who undertook the survey in English performed better than those who did so in Assamese. This paper explores possible reasons for these outcomes while recommending the need to take teacher characteristics into account when designing and implementing inclusive large-scale TPD programmes for TPACK.

METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO DEVELOPING THE COLLABORATIVE ACTIVITY OF PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO DEVELOPING THE COLLABORATIVE ACTIVITY OF PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

Delving into division

When teaching the multiplicative domain in New Zealand primary schools, teachers tend to spend a greater proportion of time on the meaning and processes of multiplication, to the detriment of a specific focus on understanding the concept of division. When division is taught, it tends to be by reversing the context and turning the division scenarios into multiplication problems. While this article stems from wider research based on teaching division in Years 5 and 6, it is relevant to all primary school teachers as they teach the mathematical process of division to the students in their classroom.