Practices Of School Teachers Research Articles

Ready Teacher One: Virtual and Augmented Reality Online Professional Development for K-12 School Teachers

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are two technologies with the potential to enhance learning quality by activating episodic student memory. In this manuscript we outline the pedagogical benefits of AR and VR as well as the rationale, design, development, and pilot evaluation results from an in-service teacher online professional development program (OPD) on AR and VR linked with research activities. More specifically, we examined the “Augmented and Virtual Reality in Teaching and Learning” OPD course aimed at K-12 educators in a European country combining pedagogically informed methods such as inquiry-based learning and digital storytelling. Findings from a mixed-method research using questionnaires and focus groups indicate that AR- and VR-based pedagogical scenarios can be integrated effectively into everyday school teaching practice. The study also outlines implications and limitations that policy makers, education leaders, and educators need to consider for efficient institution-wide deployment of AR and VR technologies.

How does physical education teacher education matter? A methodological approach to understanding transitions from PETE to school physical education

ABSTRACT Background In this paper, we will address the question of how physical education teacher education (PETE) matters and suggest one way to explore the potential impact of PETE. A distinguishing feature of the studies of PETE's impact on physical education is that they either include perspectives from preservice teachers involved in PETE courses or perspectives from physical education teachers in schools looking back at their education. Longitudinal attempts to follow preservice teachers’ journey from education to workplace, in order to grasp how they perceive the relation between teacher education and teaching practice in schools, and the transition between these contexts, are few and far between. This gap of knowledge is a missing piece of the puzzle to further develop PETE, and to inform life-long professional development for teachers. Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we develop and present a methodological approach for investigating the transition of content areas from courses in PETE into teaching practice in school physical education. Second, we will illustrate the potential utility of this methodological approach in longitudinal studies by showing how one particular content area, Assessment for Learning (AfL), was investigated through the use of methods and theories described in the first part of this paper. Methodology The suggested longitudinal approach involves Stimulated Recall (SR) interviews with pre- and postservice teachers, observations and communication with groups of students and teachers through social media. The construction, recontextualisation and realisation of pedagogic discourses regarding content areas are suggested to be analysed through a combination of Bernstein's concept of the pedagogic device and Ball's concept of fabrication. Results and Conclusions The longitudinal design and the suggested methodology can provide answers to how content areas are transformed in and between PETE and school physical education. A combination of the theoretical perspectives of Bernstein and Ball enables us to say something not only about how pedagogic discourses regarding content areas are constructed, recontextualised and realised in PETE and school physical education, but also about what content areas become in terms of fabrications in the transition between these contexts. To conclude, we argue that the methodological research design can be used to explore different content areas in PETE and that this methodology can contribute to knowledge about how PETE matters for school physical education.

Pre-Service English Teacher’s Experiences in Using Pedagogical Code-Switching in EFL Classroom: A Narrative Inquiry Study

This research focuses on the experience of pre-service teachers who are carrying out teaching and learning practices in 8th grade Senior High Schools. By using code-switching to explain English subject matter at the school, as well as solving a problem during teaching and learning. For example, 1. How is Indonesian pre-service teachers' code switching functioned in EFL classes? 2. How did the use of code-switching as a teaching strategy influence the respect the Grade 8 Natural Sciences students had for their teacher?

Student teachers’ situational engagement during teaching practice in Finland and South Africa

This article reports the outcomes of research on student teachers' situational engagement during their third-year teaching practice in university-affiliated teaching schools (teacher training schools) at the universities of Helsinki, Finland and Johannesburg, South Africa. We have explored situations that possibly engage the student teachers during the teaching practice related to learning, social interaction, working with different domains of teacher knowledge and sourcing from different origins. We have approached the experience of engagement the in the context of flow theory. For the experience sampling measurement, we operationalised engagement as a state of involvement in a learning task identified by higher-than-average individual states of interest, skill and challenge in a situation. In Johannesburg, 42% of all situations were engaging for students compared to 29% in Helsinki. The results emphasise the significance of personal interaction with mentors and university lecturers in supporting engagement. The student teachers found teaching, planning and reflecting on their lessons more engaging than other activities or informal discussions. Students at both universities experienced similar amounts of SMK, PCK and GPK and found working with these categories of knowledge engaging. It is important to include teaching practice in teacher education programmes and organise it in university-affiliated teacher training schools, where mentors can scaffold the students' reflection process, support the students in combining theoretical and practical perspectives of the teaching profession and guide students to seek information from various knowledge sources.

Students’ perceptions of assessment practices in upper secondary school during COVID-19

ABSTRACT During COVID-19, distance learning has given students around the world unforeseen challenges, including the way their learning is being assessed. Assessment for learning (AfL) can contribute to the development of students’ strategies to meet unknown challenges as lifelong learners. The purpose of AfL is to inform learning, and it can play a significant role in achieving lifelong learning strategies, such as self-regulation, effectiveness and independent learning. This article presents qualitative findings from a study examining students’ perceptions (24 students) of teaching and assessment practices in upper secondary school in Norway in the spring of 2020. The findings show that students valued individual teacher feedback to support learning. The students experienced flexibility in teaching practices, and moreover, they were trusted to do the work they were told. However, regarding assessments, they felt it was unfair and that student involvement in assessment was lacking. There was little variation in the assignments, which were mostly individual, written assignments. An important message is that they missed collaborating with other students and that many of them were left alone with their schoolwork.

The Use of Digital Portfolio to Assess the Student Teachers’ Professional Skills

Nowadays, digital technologies are widely used at all levels of education and are effectively integrated into diverse teaching and learning activities (transmission of information, educational projects, presentations, games, training, modeling, evaluation and competence assessment, etc.). Information and communication technologies are considered in this study as a key element of assessment of teacher student professional skills and competencies during school teaching practice. A digital portfolio is regarded as a form of authentic assessment of teaching practice and a way to improve teaching performance and to contribute to pre-service teachers’ professional growth. The purpose of the research is to analyze the opportunities and potential benefits as well as the disadvantages of using digital portfolio in teacher preparation course and to propose recommendations for the full realization of this method’s potential. The author analyzes the experience of Swiss teachers in using a digital portfolio to assess the results of student teaching practice. The research focuses on the role of the digital portfolio in developing the pre-service teachers’ ability to selfassessment and self-reflection.

Nie od razu Paryż zbudowano… Trójwymiarowe puzzle i klocki architektoniczne jako uniwersalne narzędzie wspierające proces wychowania estetycznego

This article proposes the use of knowledge of space studies in the school educational practice. It allows for implementation of obligatory content and skills indicated in the core curriculum for general education. Shaping the spatial imagination and aesthetic sensitivity is accompanied by the development of both social and manual skills, while the construction of miniature buildings by students is a convenient starting point for a discussion on social and cultural changes.

Voice of EFL mentor teachers: Mentorship for mutual professional development.

This study aimed to report the voice of mentor teachers towards pre-service English teachers’ professional development viewed from relational, developmental, and contextual components during school teaching practice programs. The study employed a descriptive case study. Utilizing the purposive sampling technique, four mentor teachers from public and private junior secondary schools participated in this study. The instrument used was an interview protocol, and the data were collected through a one-on-one interview using a voice recorder for gathering a comprehensive perspective towards the pre-service English teachers’ professional learning. The data were analyzed by using a coding system and employing coding cycles. The findings showed that all components—relational, developmental, and contextual—were found. The mentor teachers voiced their perspective and stressed the developmental component because they found that the pre-service English teachers experienced hindrances both externally and internally regarding teaching performance, classroom management, and motivation. These hindrances contribute to their professional development. This present study result implies a policy implementation related to the synchronization between collaborating schools and universities. The synchronization can be in terms of preparing the mentor teachers and providing the pre-service English teachers a supportive mentorship. Furthermore, the collaboration between schools and universities is also required in the exchange of valuable sources concerning educational instruction trends such as evidence-based practices in peripheral contexts, English teaching for students with diverse cultural backgrounds and academic competencies, and dissemination of best practices that have been implemented in schools for the formulation of teaching theories being taught through course subjects at teacher education departments in the universities.

Challenges Affecting the Implementation of Teaching Practice: The Case of the University of Zambia

For many years, the process of training a teacher has been extensively studied and discussed in the scientific and academic community worldwide. However, very few studies have been conducted on teaching practice in the developing world, which include Zambia. Teaching practice affords student teachers an opportunity to translate theory into practice in a real classroom situation. This study investigated challenges that the University of Zambia faces in implementing teaching practice in schools. In addition, the study probed teacher educators, supervising teachers and student teachers’ views on measures that can be taken to improve the implementation of teaching practice in schools. The theoretical framework for this qualitative study was the third generation activity theory. The sample was purposely selected and comprised eight teacher educators, 10 supervising teachers and 24 student teachers. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data. The data were analysed thematically. The study established that the whole process of teaching practice faced many challenges such as lack of collaboration between teacher educators and supervising teachers and limited learning space resulting in inadequate learning and peer teaching time. Most of the study’s findings are consistent with findings of earlier studies. This study is significant as it attempts to reduce the knowledge gap that appears to stem from a paucity of research on teaching practice in Zambia. One major recommendation is that School of Education should be separated from other schools. Keywords : Activity theory, Challenges, Teacher education, Teaching practice, Theory-practice divide. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-27-14 Publication date: September 30 th 2021

CORRUPTION IN THE NIGERIAN EDUCATION SECTOR: CAUSES AND REMEDIES

This study focuses attention on the causes and effects of corruption on the education sector in Nigeria. It also proffers solutions to the menace. Indeed, the standard of education in the country has been negatively affected by corrupt practices manifested by school administrators, educators, students, students’ parents and government agencies. Some of the identified causes of corruption were poverty, poor remuneration for educators and moral decadence among students and educators. The foregoing negative inclinations have a number of unfavourable effects; the most pronounced among them is lowering of the standard and quality of education in the country. The methodology utilized in the study is descriptive analysis. This study recommended, among other things, that quality assurance unit should be established to monitor teaching, admission and examination practices in all Nigerian schools.

Mini Texts: A Fusion of Grammar, Communication and Vocabulary Development in CLT (Communicative Language Teaching)

Rich and adequate input is the first and foremost condition for perfect language learning, other important things come later in order to achieve the goal of developing communicative competence in a language learning process in an EFL or ESL setting. In this context, Communicative Language Learning (CLT) is still the most prevalent approach of English language learning/teaching field both in ESL and EFL settings. In EFL settings CLT is adopted nowadays with some reservations. One solution to the drawbacks of CLT is "mini texts" in order to provide rich and adequate language input as they subsume grammar, communication, and most importantly, adequate vocabulary development. Objectives: The main objective is to critically assess the role of mini texts in order to provide rich and adequate language input for language learning. Method: Collaborative action research design was adopted to assess the outcome of teaching "mini texts" under improved communicative approach. Brief written and oral performance tests of class ten students were used as the tools of evaluation. Purposive sampling was used for the selection of thirty schools in three districts of the Kathmandu Valley whereas random sampling was used to select the respondent students of mixed ability for the written and oral performance test. The test items for the test were easy enough to be answered by average students of even lower classes. The test items were based on fixed criteria: different elements of grammatical competence to write and speak correctly, and also on some essential aspects of informal colloquial English used in fast spoken English. Pre-test and Post test were administered in order to compare the result of the traditional teaching with the outcome of the new method teaching with "mini texts" as the primary teaching material to provide optimal and quality language input to the students. Result: The over-all result of the test shows that the learning outcome, in general, is rather frustrating. Let alone government schools where most of the students belong to lower-class unprivileged families, even in private schools, or rather in so called A grade private schools, the condition of the English proficiency from the viewpoint of grammatical competence is rather frustrating. Surprisingly, not a single school could obtain even pass marks whereas same students secure good marks in their national level SEE exam.Conclusion: The current English teaching practice in Nepalese schools is deficient in (i) optimal quality language input, and (ii) suitable teaching methods to produce desirable outcome of English teaching for better learning outcome or better communicative proficiency. Mini texts have come out as an appropriate teaching material to be experimented on a large scale as they subsume essential, grammar points, essential vocabulary stock and also communication-oriented practice exercises.

From regular education teachers to special educators: the role transformation of resource room teachers in Chinese inclusive education schools

ABSTRACT This study aims to explore the perspectives of resource room teachers (RRTs) on their role transformation from regular education teachers to special educators and its influencing factors. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 RRTs from inclusive education schools in Beijing, China. This study found that the RRTs have experienced three stages of role transformation moving from confusion by the new job to conflict among multiple expectations and then to being professionalised as special educators with self-determination. They struggled with multiple roles, felt marginalised and deprofessionalised, and were dominated by a categorical perspective serving students with special educational needs. Moreover, clearly authorised full-time positions, professionalisation, administrative support, and attitudes towards inclusive education were found to be key determinants in RRTs’ successful role transformation. The present study concludes that RRTs should be empowered with clear expectations of their roles and responsibilities to lead inclusive education practices in schools and guarantee a stable professional status via sustainable training.

A Sociological Framework to Reduce Aberrant Behaviour of School Students Through Increasing School Connectedness

A framework for understanding relationships between school connectedness and student aberrant behaviors is outlined that is synthesized from Merton’s insights into anomie and Bernstein’s theory of cultural transmission (which focuses on schools’ instructional methods and students’ internalization of schools’ values). A seven-category classification system identifies students’ risk of nonconformist behavior based upon students acceptance/rejection of dominant overarching cultural aspirations (commonly material prosperity); perception of schools’ role in aspiration realization; responses to schools’ instructional methods; and internalization of schools’ values regarding conduct/character. We propose frustration weakens connectedness and is grounded in students’ perceptions regarding their school’s educational outcomes, degree of acceptance at school, and their school’s values. We then consider student dispersal across schools, and how age may affect students’ categorization and the influence of frustration risk factors. Finally, we discuss how initiatives within school organization, curriculum, and pedagogic practice may promote connectedness among different student categories and their potential adverse consequences.

Pre-service Science Teachers’ Integration of Constructivist Ideas in the Lecture Method

The teaching and learning of science subjects at secondary schools in Sub-Saharan Africa is currently dominated by application of the lecture method in delivering learning material. In the Lecture Method, the teacher discusses and shows the learning material. Studies showed that the lecture method can be made interactive, and, hence, more effective if teachers appropriately integrate constructivist ideas in the method. Therefore, this study aims to examine the BEd (Science) students’ integration of constructivist’s learner-oriented instructional practices in the lecture method during teaching practice (TP). Data were collected from 107 BEd(Science) students, their Head of Subjects in the TP schools and the university supervisors at the onset and towards the end of a 14-week TP. The instruments used to collect data were questionnaires and interview schedules. The data were analysed descriptively and inferentially. Descriptive statistics focused on frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation which summarised the variables in terms of demonstration of instructional practices, supervision and assessment practices. Findings revealed that the BEd(Science) students faced difficulties in their attempt to integrate constructivist ideas in the lecture method. T-test showed a positive effect of teaching practice on the integration of constructivists’ ideas in the lecture method. The study provides several recommendations based on the findings.

An Investigation into Peace Teaching Practices in Secondary Schools of the Punjab, Pakistan

An Investigation into Peace Teaching Practices in Secondary Schools of the Punjab, Pakistan

PROBLEMS OF RUSSIAN SCHOOL EDUCATION IN PISA CONTEXT

The article based on the research which aim is to clear, how common teaching practices in Russian schools affecting the decline in the results of students when performing tasks of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The authors of the article try to understand why teachers so often prefer quite old training technologies. In the course of study these problems, members of research team conducted interviews and discussions with school teachers from the Moscow region who were trained in advanced training courses at the Academy of Public Administration. Intensive interaction with teachers helped the authors to draw a conclusion that the avoiding more effective contemporary training technologies is due to certain conditions in which the teacher works. Another conclusion made in the article: teachers fail in teaching students not because they do not have enough knowledge of modern technologies and techniques or because they underestimate the importance of developing critical thinking, anthropological imagination, knowledge of meta-subject connections, the skills to understand texts and work with heterogeneous information, but because they are not ready to accept the changing social role of the school.

Technology-mediated Physical Education teaching practices in Tunisian public schools: a national teacher survey

ABSTRACT Despite the worldwide increase in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Physical Education (PE) over the past two decades, little is yet known about how these technological aids are being considered and used by PE teachers in developing countries. This study investigated Tunisian PE teachers’ technological competencies, the rate at which they use ICTs and their perspectives towards the integration of digital technologies (DigiTech) in their teaching practices. A total of 424 PE teachers serving in public schools across Tunisia were surveyed using the online platform Google Forms. Participants responded to an edited version of the ‘Quick Teacher Technology Survey’ questionnaire. The statistical analysis relied on measures of central tendency (median ‘x̄’ and mean ‘x̃’) and spread (standard deviation ‘SD’ and inter-quartile range ‘IQR’). Overall, Tunisian PE teachers appreciated the importance of technological competencies (x̃ = 2–3), yet, reported having weak capacities in this area (x̃ = 1–2). Their usage rate of ICTs for teaching turned out to be very low (x̃ = 1–4). Nevertheless, positive perspectives were expressed for the integration of ICTs in PE teaching. Tunisian PE teachers supported the fact that ICTs can enhance students’ learning experiences (x̃ = 3–4) and teachers’ didactic and pedagogical skills (x̃ = 3–4). However, there was apprehension regarding the disciplinary and ethical outcomes of integrating ICTs into PE classrooms (x̃ = 3). This study was also an opportunity for Tunisian PE teachers to raise concerns about the lack of support and training to keep up with the technological changes underway in the sector (x̃ = 4). In conclusion, the positive opinions and attitudes shown by Tunisian PE teachers towards ICTs as educational tools could pave the way for improvements in their digital literacy and, in turn, an increase in their usage rate of those tools if provided with the appropriate technological resources and training.

Adapting educational practices in emergency remote education: Continuity and change from a student perspective

AbstractIn this study, we adopt an ecological perspective to reflect on how a specific Italian school cluster adapted to the challenges of the COVID‐19 pandemic by focusing on how students experienced the interplay between continuity and change in school teaching and learning practices caused by the pandemic. Specifically, the study investigates how the school's physical/virtual learning system was (re)configured to provide new opportunities for learning to a thousand‐plus population of primary and secondary students, and how they reacted to the transition to distance learning in terms of participation, autonomy, motivation and engagement. The research adopts a mixed method approach, based on school management system data and a survey tool, and analyses the students’ response to the emergency from the perspectives of the students themselves, their teachers and their parents. While these converged in positive evaluation of the experience, a number of lessons were learnt, such as the importance of building on favourable pre‐existing conditions and leveraging a solid shared school culture to promote a prompt reaction to the emergency. Significantly, students with an immigrant background displayed varying degrees of participation in online activities. Overall, for each of the three stakeholder groups surveyed, solid pre‐existing digital competence levels and close collaboration within the school community were the most important factors for non‐traumatic transition to distance learning.Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic?Research on the relationship between the COVID‐19 pandemic and the effects on teaching and learning processes is constantly increasing.Most recently published studies focus on higher education, while very few investigate the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on K‐12 education.Very few papers have studied the interplay between change and continuity within an educational ecosystem in times of crisis.What this paper adds?This is one of the first studies to analyse the process of systematic transition from onsite learning to online learning within the Italian school system in response to the pandemic.This study employs a multiple perspective research approach to analyse Emergency Remote Education in a sizeable school cluster, with a specific focus on student response.Teachers, students and their families all saw solid pre‐existing digital competence and close school community collaboration as key factors facilitating rapid adjustment to the emergency.Implications for practice and policyHaving a solid common school culture to rely on facilitates prompt emergency reaction.Encouraging the creation of professional communities of practice that comprise both expert and novice teachers can help prepare educators to deal with an educational emergency through adoption and appropriate use of technological solutions.Collaboration between school and families proves to be a key factor for dealing with emergencies.

From theory to practice: Constructivist learning practices among Jordanian kindergarten teachers

The fundamental principle of “constructivist education” is that learning takes place when the learner enthusiastically participates in a process of “knowledge construction”. This study is aimed at exploring kindergarten teachers’ constructivist learning practices in Jordan. The participants of the study consisted of 60 kindergarten teachers; 30 kindergarten teachers taught kindergarten children in public schools and 30 kindergarten teachers taught kindergarten children in private schools in Irbid city of Jordan during the 2018–2019 school year. The study utilised a descriptive quantitative design, with an observation of Jordanian kindergarten teachers to gather data on the constructivist learning practices among Jordanian kindergarten teachers. The researcher designed an observation instrument that consisted of 35 items to collect data about constructivist learning practices. The findings revealed that the constructivist learning practices of kindergarten teachers were not developed to a high level of practice, but they achieved a moderate and low degree. Moreover, the researcher found that there are no “statistically significant” differences at (α≤ 0.05) among the sampled Jordanian kindergarten teachers’ implementation of constructivist learning practices based on experience, and their academic qualifications. However, kindergarten teachers utilised constructivist teaching practices in public schools more than in private schools. Professional workshops regarding constructivist learning practices among Jordanian kindergarten teachers are recommended.
 
 Keywords: Instructional practices, kindergarten teachers, constructivist learning, Jordan.

Aspects Affecting the Use of Digital Technologies in Greek Schools

This paper is analyzing feedback collected from Greek high school teachers, in order to answer questions regarding the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as part of their teaching practices in Greek schools. Various hypothesis tests are presented, in order to focus on perceptions, look into possible problems and see how teachers of different profile and specializations apply ICT in their teaching. A special focus is placed on philogists, as the most populous but also less technology-related subject, content-wise. In particular, an online survey was prepared, aiming at collecting information regarding the use of ICT in Greek schools. This information is analyzed across various demographic and profession-related variables concerning teacher’s age, gender, specialization, type of technology used, familiarization with ICT, motivations. A total of 309 respondents reacted to the questionnaire, over a period of about two months in 2019. The questionnaire consisted of 31 questions in total. The analysis that follows is both descriptive and statistical, while it intends to provide answers and correlations regarding the most striking questions and hypotheses.