Primary Teacher Education Research Articles

Perception of the teacher trainees on the implementation of e-assessment in the selected Teacher Training Colleges in Kenya

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is currently implementing the integration of technology in conducting assessments to replace the traditional mode of paper and pen. The purpose of this study is to examine the perception of the teacher trainees towards the implementation of e-assessment in the upgrade course of the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (UDPTE). The study adopted a descriptive research design and was carried out in two (2) public teacher training colleges with a target population of two hundred and forty (240) teacher trainees for the UDPTE programme. All the trainees in the sampled colleges were purposively selected to participate in the study since all of them had participated in the formative e-assessment. An online Teacher Trainees Questionnaire (TTQ) was used to collect information relating to trainees' perception of e-assessment. The reliability coefficient alpha (α) of TTQ was found to be 0.78 from the pilot study making the instrument valid for data collection. The data collected was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics by the use of SPSS software version 26.0. The study findings established that a significant number of teacher trainees were upgrading in Option B as compared to Option A learning areas. The teacher trainees believed that the best way to finance the Upgrade of Diploma in Primary Teacher Education program (UDPTE) in Kenya was by using bursaries or scholarships and not loans. A significant number of teacher trainees support the adoption of e-assessment but they are of the view that the colleges were not yet prepared due to lack of necessary technological infrastructure. It was further noted that the teacher trainees need more training on basic computer skills in order to improve their typing skills for responses to enhance the complete submission of assessments on the portal in their respective learning areas. The Ministry of Education needs to equip the teacher training colleges with the necessary technological infrastructure and continuously retool tutors on how to integrate technology tools in the assessment procedures.

Adaptation of first-graders to school

The presented paper is devoted to finding out and analyzing the opinions of primary education teachers on the causes of the unsuccessful adaptation of current schoolchildren to the beginning of systematic education. To find out the above issues, pedagogical research was carried out at selected primary schools in Slovakia. The implementation of the research and the subsequent analysis of the research results confirmed that the length of teachers’ pedagogical practice has a statistically significant effect on their views on the causes of adaptation difficulties in emotional, social, intellectual, and psychomotor areas of children’s school readiness.

The Influence of English Interdisciplinary Teaching to the Results of English Study in Primary School

Nowadays, the demand for comprehensive talents is more and more urgent in recent society, while traditional subject teaching narrows the way to cultivate multiple talents. Separate subject teaching ignores the integrity of knowledge, making students learn scattered knowledge and not think from different points. One subject teaching, which means teachers only master the knowledge and skills in his or her subject field, is not conducive to the complete development of students. This study takes 500 fourth-grade primary school students in Linyi Dongxing Experimental School as the research objects, conducts a case study through a questionnaire method to explore the relevance between English interdisciplinary teaching and the results of English study as well as how the implementation of English interdisciplinary subject teaching influences English learning outcomes in the process of second language acquisition for fourth-grade primary school students. Descriptive analysis and Chi-square test are involved in this study to collect the data. The research shows that interdisciplinary English teaching in primary schools has a positive influence on English learning outcomes. Students improve their different English abilities during the implementation of interdisciplinary English teaching, such as abilities in reading, speaking, listening and writing as well as other abilities, such as painting, music, etc. This study is conducive to the development and implementation of English interdisciplinary teaching in primary school education and the improvement of students' core literacy and can provide other authors with some help and suggestions to promote the future development of this field.

ATTITUDES OF GREEK FRENCH LANGUAGE TEACHERS ON THE DISTANCE TEACHING OF FRENCH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

The period of the pandemic and the imposed distance teaching in all educational institutions for almost two years changed the way of approaching the subjects on many levels. Teachers were called upon in difficult circumstances and under pressure to adapt their teaching materials, to prioritize their teaching techniques differently, to make use of the available modern and asynchronous communication platforms, restructuring their teaching accordingly. In this article we will present the results of a qualitative research conducted between March-May 2023 in the region of Thessaloniki, aiming to investigate the views of French teachers of public secondary and primary education on the distance teaching of French as a foreign language. The survey involved 20 permanent and contractual French language teachers who were teaching in secondary and primary education during the period of the health crisis. A semi-structured interview was used as a research instrument in order to have a question guide leading to specific answers. Specifically, the following axes, which are the research questions of the study, were posed: a) how did they organize the foreign language lesson during distance education and which teaching techniques were chosen; b) which tools of the WebEx educational platform were used; c) to what extent did they use the educational platforms e-class & E-me education; d) how did they evaluate the degree of development of students' linguistic communicative and pragmatic skills? e) what do they consider to be the main obstacles in distance teaching of foreign language? The teachers in the study have responded to the new challenging data, adapted their teaching practice and raised questions and concerns about distance teaching of French as a foreign language.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu/0118/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Examining the Role of School Leadership in the Digital Advancement of Educational Organizations

This study examines the viewpoints of primary education teachers in the Dodecanese Prefecture regarding the role of school leadership in the digital development of educational organizations during the 2022–2023 school year. More specifically, it examines the recent developments in schools in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular emphasis on two major themes: (a) the utilization of novel technologies to enhance communication channels among school leadership, educational staff, and parents, and (b) the significance of digital leadership and investment in educational organizations. The study is founded on a quantitative survey of 117 teachers, with data collected through an online questionnaire. After presenting the respondents’ demographic profile, a descriptive and inferential analysis was conducted using the SPSS 29.0 statistical program. The article concludes by presenting the results of the research questions, conclusions, and recommendations for future research. The study found a positive correlation between teachers’ level of education and their level of digital literacy. Nevertheless, it appears that the gender of the principal did not noticeably affect the views of teachers regarding their role in promoting the integration of digital technologies in the school.

Students’ Mathematical Disposition and Resilience: An Analysis of Student Perceptions in Numbers and Algebra Courses

Mathematics not only emphasizes the mastery of concepts and principles, but mathematics also has a mission to build student affection through mathematical disposition and resilience. Not only elementary students but also college students have the potential to have a negative attitude toward mathematics. If this happens, the dynamics of affection in mathematics learning must be questioned. To further the investigation, this study aims to analyze the perceptions of primary teacher education students from Sanata Dharma University in the Numbers and Algebra Course terms in the context of mathematical disposition and resilience. Through a qualitative approach involving 98 students from two different classes, the results of this study showed that: 1) factors that influence students' attitudes towards mathematics are their early motivation, 2) attitudes towards mathematics are related to activities and student learning outcomes, 3) aspects of mathematical disposition that need to be optimized are self-confidence and curiosity, 4) aspects of mathematical resilience to note are efficacy and resilience. This study has significant implications for implementing learning, especially in the context of mathematical disposition and resilience. The results of this study can be used as initial diagnostic recommendations in learning planning that leads to effective student outcomes.

A Silver Lining: Metaphors Suggesting Professional Development through Emergency Online Language Teaching in Primary Education

A Silver Lining: Metaphors Suggesting Professional Development through Emergency Online Language Teaching in Primary Education

Develop information and technology skills For primary education teachers in Libya

Develop information and technology skills For primary education teachers in Libya

Trabajando los sentidos en primer curso de Educación Primaria mediante el modelo de las 5E

This work studies whether the 5E inquiry model can be effective for science teaching in primary education. A series of activities related to the senses have been designed for each of the phases established by the model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate and Evaluate). The written productions and video recordings of the sessions carried out with 54 first-year Primary students are analyzed. The results have made it possible to verify a successful acquisition of content related to the senses by the students.

Physics as a Subject Matter in Primary Education Teacher Students’ Training: Possibilities for Elimination of Misconceptions

The research focused on the issue of physics subject matter in higher education of primary education teachers. It explained students’ misconceptions on an example of the subject matter about a pulley. The research aimed to study on a sample of 79 students the effectiveness of the designed IBI in eliminating misconceptions in favour of scientifically acceptable concepts. The main research methods were the pedagogical experiment and content analysis of students’ answers. Results showed that students’ misconceptions changed statistically significantly in the post-test against the pre-test in favour of scientifically acceptable concepts. Thus, the research results may incentivise branch didactics of science subjects.

Queering primary initial teacher education

ABSTRACT This research was designed to raise awareness, access and understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual/aromantic and others who sit outside of the heteronormative binary (LGBTIQA+), inclusion for pre-service educators studying in Bachelor of Education (Primary) and Master of Teaching (Primary) ITE courses in one Australian university. The project involved the production of three video resources intended for inclusion in existing teacher education units. Whilst originally conceptualized as ’bite-sized‘ resources intended for use by pre-service educators, initial survey data from academic staff indicated the need to first develop the collective understanding of primary education LGBTIQA+ inclusion for the academic staff themselves. This teaching and learning project built on existing work focused on the mapping of LGBTIQA+ content and resources in the Primary ITE courses and is linked to the wider University agenda on equity and diversity. The project was a preliminary investigation into the viability of micro-credentials for Primary pre-service teachers to develop their knowledge and understanding of LGBTIQA+ inclusion in Primary Education. Findings affirm that whilst culturally responsive pedagogical practices are needed in ITE, further resource development and upskilling of teacher educators is required to better support future teachers and the children they work with in relation to LGBTIQA+ issues, and resources.

大中小学思政课教师队伍一体化建设的意义、阻碍与路径研究

Teachers of ideological and political courses are the main implementers of ideological and political teaching and the key to running ideological and political courses well. Promoting the integrated construction of the teaching team of ideological and political courses in primary, secondary, and tertiary schools has important value and significance, which helps to achieve the unity of the overall and hierarchical goals of ideological and political education in primary, secondary, and tertiary schools, the unity of the similarities and differences in teaching content, and the unity of the stages and connections in educational effects. However, achieving the integration of ideological and political education teachers in primary, secondary, and tertiary schools requires a long-term and complex construction process. Currently, there are still many constraints such as varying levels of emphasis on the construction of ideological and political education teachers in different stages of primary, secondary, and tertiary education, insufficient effective communication and interaction among teachers, and uneven teacher abilities and qualities. It is necessary to find a practical path to optimize the ideological and political education teacher team and achieve the integration of ideological and political education teachers in primary, secondary, and tertiary education, Complete the fundamental task of cultivating virtue and talent.

Detecting the Training Needs of Primary Education Teachers On Learning Disabilities

For students to learn adequately depends, among other things, on keeping teachers’ knowledge up to date. Thus the continuous training of teachers is essential, both for new teachers and those with more experience. The aim of this study was to detect the training needs on Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) of active primary-education teachers. Through a descriptive design, this work analyses the responses of 75 teachers to the questionnaire designed for this study have revealed limited knowledge about SLDs, due to factors such as the lack of specific training during their degree or scant continuous training programmes. They therefore show the necessity for greater training in this area of special educational needs. We weigh up the educational implications of our results and propose procedures for action.

Factors Influencing the Provision of Professional Development among Primary School Teachers in Kahama Municipality, Shinyanga Region, Tanzania

Teachers are a way to enact any educational reforms since they have significant power over what is taught in the classroom. According to the research conducted by [1], it has been suggested that; to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of teachers, it is imperative to recognise the significance of professional development (PD) courses, specifically those focused on in-service education and training for primary school teachers (Inset-PST). The study examined the factors influencing the provision of professional development among primary school teachers in Kahama Municipality, Shinyanga Region, Tanzania. Under the mixed research approach, a convergent parallel research design was adopted. A questionnaire and an interview were employed, and a sample size of 112 was used. The results indicated that teachers’ competences, development of science and technology, challenges in teaching and learning, academic performance of the learner and employer needs are factors that influence the provision of professional development programmes. According to the study's results, there is a need for professional development programs for teachers in public primary schools because they are influenced by a variety of internal and external influences. To improve the delivery of high-quality education, the study recommended that educational leaders should ensure that public primary school teachers are given access to professional development programmes and actively participate in them.

Assessment patterns in teacher education programmes: content analysis of course syllabi

Given the crucial role that teacher education programmes play in developing teacher-students’ assessment literacy, this study investigates all the course syllabi (n = 278) in primary and secondary-school teacher education programmes offered by three universities in Norway. This study aimed at identifying: 1) the assessment patterns, 2) the relationship between coursework and examination assessment within the course syllabi, and 3) the similarities (or differences) of assessment in teacher education programmes. The results showed a large variation in assessment patterns, especially in the two categories of coursework and examinations. A large percentage of the course syllabi required a form of written, and to a lesser degree, oral assessment. The results did not show a statistically significant relationship between the two modes of assessment in the course syllabi, i.e. coursework and examination assessments. Further, the course syllabi in the three universities were not similar in many assessment-related categories. Our study reveals that formative assessment patterns are rare, and approaches to train teacher-students in developing assessment literacy for future school practices might be missing.

Design and validation of initial diagnostic tests for preservice teachers as a tool for teacher education effectiveness

ABSTRACT Teacher education quality and effectiveness have been at the centre of policy discussions in the last decades. As part of efforts to improve teacher preparation, law 20.903 requires Chilean universities to design and apply diagnostic tests assessing the construct of their choice to all first-year preservice teachers. Based on these results, universities must design strategies to support their students. However, universities are facing challenges in implementing these tests, primarily due to the complexity, time and cost associated with developing high-quality tests. In collaboration with three universities, we developed three diagnostic tests: Social Thinking Test, Attitudes Towards Diversity Questionnaire, and Mathematics test for Teaching in Primary Education. Unlike many of the tests currently used by universities, these instruments were specifically designed to measure core teaching skills and attitudes defined by the national standards for Chilean teachers. To collect validity and reliability evidence, the tests were piloted with over 850 Chilean preservice teachers. Reliability was analysed using Cronbach’s alpha, with results ranging between 0.67 and 0.92. Validity was examined based on content and internal structure evidence. The analysis of content evidence indicated good coverage of the target domains as defined by the assessment frameworks, and internal structure results point towards the presence of multidimensionality in two of the three tests. This paper discusses the results of these pilot studies and how diagnostic tests that are constructed and analysed from the perspective of the standards (American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association y National Council on Measurement in Education, 2014) can provide valuable information to improve the effectiveness of teaching education.

Fostering teacher–student relationship-building competence: a three-year learning trajectory for initial pre-primary and primary teacher education

It is widely acknowledged that high-quality teacher-student relationships contribute to both student and teacher well-being. However, research shows that building these relationships can be challenging for teachers and signals opportunities for teacher education to better prepare them for building high-quality teacher-student relationships. As teachers’ relationship-building competence allows them to establish high-quality relationships with students, even those typically at-risk for conflictual relationships, we propose a learning trajectory targeting teachers’ dyadic relationship-building competence to be implemented in initial teacher education. Such a learning trajectory allows for progressively deepening the level of understanding and self-reflection throughout the three-year initial education program. To address teachers’ relationship-building competence in teacher education, relevant competencies, selected in previous research by an independent expert panel, were translated into specific learning goals, learning activities, and materials in close collaboration with partner university colleges. An overview of planned quantitative and qualitative data collection is presented. The learning trajectory could strengthen initial pre-primary and primary teacher education programs in supporting pre-service teachers’ relationship-building competence.

Las fuentes orales en la formación inicial del profesorado para el estudio de la memoria histórica del franquismo y de la transición

In the initial training of teachers for the Degree of Teacher in Primary Education, it is important to know and analyze the main processes in the history of the present time of Spain, understood as the chronological arc that includes Francoism and the transition to democracy. A period that connects with current problems, but that is barely outlined in generic ideas about institutional, political, economic and social processes. The objectives of the paper focus on assessing the validity of oral sources in the teaching and learning of History. The method carried out is the collection of significant data related to the Francoism period and the transition from the testimonies of interviews with the students' relatives, which generates a large documentary corpus with great didactic potential, although loaded with subjectivity. The analysis of the information collected allows us to establish the relationship between historical processes and understand their complexity from the analysis of multicausality. The results show the need to use the parameters of democratic memory and how oral sources in the classroom can help in the knowledge and understanding of its concepts. It is notable how in critical reflection the students point out their awareness of the conflictive processes that occurred in Spain's recent past and experienced first-hand by family members from different geographical origins. The evaluation of the proposal will make it possible to advance the teaching of recent history in the initial training of teachers based on relevant issues, comparing possible permanences and changes, and supported by the reflective analysis of democratic values.

Subject matter knowledge in Primary Education teacher training

INTRODUCTION. The article questions a basic problem of didactics: the relevance of subject matter knowledge as a quality requirement in teacher training. Subject matter knowledge is assumed to be necessary to facilitate student learning and education. Specifically, it is understood as a requirement for teachers to be able to carry out didactic designs and developments that facilitate meaningful learning experiences and strengthen the conceptual structure of students. The objective of the research is to know if future Primary Education teachers and preservice Primary Education teachers have an adequate knowledge of subject matter knowledge. METHOD. To answer the objective, the type and organization of their knowledge is examined through concept maps, evaluating the productions with validated structural and semantic rubrics. RESULTS. The results show that, in general, teachers have a very poor organization of subject matter knowledge, with a weak didactic potential. DISCUSSION. Likewise, the data indicate that there are insignificant differences between the concept maps of teachers in training and those made by practicing teachers, which reflects a similar andcyclical knowledge structure. The conclusions point to the low and limited impact of teacher education programs on pre-service teachers’ acquisition of subject matter knowledge, even though it is understood as a general didactic requirement for teacher education and, for the development of quality teaching.

Professional competence of primary education teachers to educate pupils with disabilities

Developments in the practice of inclusive education have led to significant increase of the expectations of a teacher having professional competence. The hitherto ‘two-track’ professional preparation of teachers for their professional role in mainstream and special schools should be replaced by the preparation that enables each teacher to achieve high educational outcomes for all students, including students with disabilities. The aim of the study was to analyze early education teachers’ assessment of their own professional competence to educate students with and without disabilities. A total of 130 teachers participated in the study, in which a diagnostic survey method (Perceived Teacher Professional Competence Questionnaire and Sociodemographic Questionnaire) was applied. The results indicate that both having a background in special education and having experience working with students with disabilities were associated with higher levels of evaluation of a teachers’ perceived competence to work with students with disabilities.