Traditional Instructional Strategies Research Articles

Examining the impact of a strength-based program to enhance teacher-trainees’ critical thinking abilities: a pilot study

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine how well a strength-based program grounded in positive psychology principles can advance the practical critical thinking skills of those pursuing the teacher training course. Design/methodology/approach This study used a single-group pre-test post-test design with 35 teacher-trainees from the Bachelor of Education course. The two-and-a-half-week strength-based program used the values in action survey to identify strengths. Pre- and post-test scores, measured with the Cornell Critical Thinking Test – Level Z, underwent Statistical Package for Social Sciences analysis including paired samples t-test for subcomponent and overall composite analysis. Findings Analysis of the pre- and post-test scores demonstrated a statistical significance in the critical thinking scores obtained by the teacher-trainees. Post-test scores were consistently significant. Out of the elements of critical thinking, induction, meaning, observation and credibility were more prominent. Deduction and assumption identification were also having a significant effect. Originality/value Most critical thinking programs focus on evaluating specific teaching methods for improving critical thinking skills. In education, positive psychology studies often center on students’ well-being, attention spans and academic success, aligning with wellness programs. Despite the importance of strengths in positive psychology, there is a lack of research on using a strength-based approach to boost critical thinking skills. This study aims to enhance teacher-trainees’ critical thinking by leveraging their individual strengths, moving away from traditional instructional strategies.

The Effectiveness of Computer-Based Simulations and Traditional Hands-on Activities on Secondary School Students’ Performance and Science Process Skills in Practical Chemistry

Practical activities are used as a catalyst in understanding chemistry concepts because it helps students to develop science process skills. However, research investigating the use of computer-based simulation practical activities to improve students’ science process skills is scarce. Hence, the study compared the mean gain of students’ performance and science process skills (SPS) using computer-based simulation and traditional hands-on instructional strategies. The study utilized a quasi-experimental design, using a pre-test, post-test, and control variable. The sample for the study was 92 senior secondary students, 48 for the computer-based simulation (experimental) and 44 for the traditional hands-on (control group) purposively selected. Two research instruments were used, a tagged science process skills rating scale (SPSRS) and a 20-item multiple choice question (MCQ). The findings showed that traditional hands-on activities had a higher mean gain on students’ performance while computer-based simulation improved students' science process skills more than traditional hands on. The study recommended that there is a need to blend traditional hands-on activities with updated and computer- based simulations to improve students’ science process skills and performance in science classrooms.

Viability Problem-Solving Approach in Teaching Mathematics at This Era: Retrospection of the Six Decades of Mathematics Education in Ghana

This paper attempts to preview the viability of the problem-solving approach in teaching mathematics in Ghana in this digital age. The historical development of mathematics Education in Ghana since the nation's independence from British rule in 1957; and how these have influenced current practice in teaching mathematics and beyond, detailing the reliance on traditional instructional strategies such as lectures and quizzes and how reformed instructional practices were students have the opportunity to link mathematical concepts to real-life situations (problem-solving and inquiry-based learning) have been provided. Some recommendations such as enrolling back in the TIMSS Assessment as it embraces the modern pedagogies in mathematics problem-solving in order to train the young ones to be innovative, creative, critical thinkers and problem solvers, opting for other mechanisms of assessment with international repute that can help transform the country’s school mathematics than the continuous reliance on WAEC as the monopolist examination body and the intensification of continuous professional teacher development to ensure that the serving teachers are abreast with modern best practices have been made to improve students’ performance in the subject as a means of adopting modern pedagogical skills in delivering mathematics education in Ghana.

A Practical Curriculum Design and Learning Effectiveness Evaluation of Competence-Oriented Instruction Strategy Integration: A Case Study of Taiwan Skills-Based Senior High School.

The 12-Year Basic Education Curricula not only follow the objectives of previous curriculum syllabus development, but they place more focus on competence-oriented instruction, which aims to emphasize the importance of combining the curriculum with life situations that are not solely based on learning knowledge and skills. This study aims to investigate the results of the students' learning effectiveness and learning engagement after adding competence-oriented instructional strategies into electrical engineering practical subjects offered by the Department of Electrical Engineering in skills-based senior high schools, and, at the same time, to figure out the difference in learning effectiveness using different instructional strategies. Two classes of students from the Department of Electrical Engineering major in electrical engineering practical subjects in one skills-based senior high school in Central Taiwan were chosen as the participants for this study. By way of pre-test-post-test research design and heterogeneous grouping, a 10-week instruction experiment consisting of two groups and occurring over the course of 30 classes was conducted, wherein competence-oriented instructional strategies were used in an experimental group, while traditional didactic instructional strategies were used in a control group. By analyzing the collection of quantitative and qualitative data through competence-oriented instructional strategies, the instruction effectiveness and feasibility of the basic electricity practical curriculum were developed as the study topic for understanding how competence-oriented instruction can be implemented into the practical curriculum of the electrical engineering and electronic engineering group. According to the research objective, the results were concluded as follows: (1) Students of the Department of Electrical Engineering have a slightly better learning effectiveness in electrical engineering practice under competence-oriented instructional strategies compared with those who learned under the traditional didactic instructional strategies; (2) there is a significant difference in the students' learning engagement in electrical engineering practice from the Department of Electrical Engineering under competence-oriented instructional strategies compared with those who learned under the traditional didactic instructional strategies. The conclusion of this study emphasizes designing questions based on life situations, thereby applying what students have learned to solve problems they encounter in their daily lives. Compared with traditional didactic instructional strategies, competence-oriented instructional strategies not only have a better learning effectiveness and provide flexibility for the students to solve problems and provide analysis for situations, they also have broader applicability and an increased number of positive benefits when it comes to students' group interactions and sharing.

Video Self-Modeling (VSM) as a Strategy to Instruct CFL Students’ Sentence-Level Stress

Sentence-level stress is one of the major means of expressing information focus in oral speaking, and it is of importance for Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) learners to accurately receive and send the right information in conversation. However, research related to teaching stress, especially sentence-level stress, is indeed scarce. In this study, we investigate whether video self-modeling (VSM) is applicable to improve CFL students’ sentence-level stress. VSM, as an innovative strategy, only shows the positive targeted behavior by using videos or audios of oneself, and aims to decrease students’ frustration and the negative influence caused by failed accomplishments. Twelve beginning-level CFL students, taken as the experimental group, received the edited perfect pronunciation audios with their own voice and used these own-voice audios to train their sentence-level stress. At the same time, another twelve advanced-level CFL students were taken as the control group, and received traditional instructional strategies from their class teacher. The whole training continued for ten sessions during a period of two and half months. Quantitative results show that with the help of VSM, CFL students’ sentence-level stress improved significantly as compared to the control group, with increased scores on the pronunciation of sentence-level stress words and increased scores in all three parameters: pitch, intensity, and duration. A post-training survey revealed that the participants’ preference for using their own voice as instructional material resulted in a feeling of success and satisfaction. The findings corroborate the importance of computer-assisted language learning in the second language (L2) field, and add solid evidence of using VSM in foreign-language training.

Differences in learner academic achievement in biology among students taught using computer assisted teaching strategy and those taught using traditional instructional strategies in secondary schools in Baringo county, Kenya

Differences in learner academic achievement in biology among students taught using computer assisted teaching strategy and those taught using traditional instructional strategies in secondary schools in Baringo county, Kenya

The Utilization of Instructional Technologies to Augment Traditional Instructional Strategies Within Online Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Programs

Researchers have categorized the methods used to teach entrepreneurship in a face-to-face delivery mode. However, little research has examined methods used for teaching entrepreneurship online. Accordingly, this paper surveys faculty and program chairs at universities that offer online entrepreneurship courses in order to establish a baseline of instructional strategies used within online entrepreneurial education. Since extant literature on effective entrepreneurial teaching methods emphasize the inclusion of entrepreneurship exercises to be experiential and creative, the authors build upon their survey baseline by suggesting five typical activities from the online canon and re-purpose them to increase the experiential nature of such exercises.

Validity and reliability of the Italian version of the Teachers' Sense of Efficacy Scale

PurposeThis study investigates the construct validity and reliability of the Italian version of the Teachers' Self-Efficacy Scale (TSES) developed by Tschannen-Moran and Hoy (2001) and contributes to existing research aimed at exploring the elements and variables that influence teachers' self-efficacy levels.Design/methodology/approachThe instrument, translated and adapted in Italian by Cardarello et al. (2017), was tested on a sample of 349 in-service second grade teachers with similar demographic profiles (gender, age, seniority). The study analyzes the data following the exploratory factor analysis.FindingsThe results of this research confirm the relevance of the three-factor model, but opens the possibility of a different organizational structure of the items within the scale. In fact, the results confirmed both the original TSES three-factor structure (student engagement, classroom management, instructional strategies) and a new four-factor structure. The new four-factor structure recognizes two new factors of an instructional nature, “Inclusive instructional strategies, learner-centered” and “Traditional instructional strategies, teacher-centered.” The first one recalls beliefs about capabilities to use strategies and assessments focused on students' needs (inclusive perspective); the second one refers to the dimension of the disciplinary master.Originality/valueAccording to the idea that teachers' self-efficacy is a multidimensional construct, the findings of this study invite to reflect upon the meanings of scale application in different cultural contexts and open a discussion about instructional strategies and the experience of teaching in Italy.

Inclusion Matters! Strategies For Improving Reading And Test Skills Of Special Education Students

The purpose of this quantitative retrospective quasi-experimental study was to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade classrooms filled with both general education and special education students (mild to moderate disability) receiving multiple instructional strategies and sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade classrooms filled with general education students receiving only traditional instructional strategies. Students scoring 800 or above met reading standards for the year. Results of the analysis indicated students receiving traditional instructional strategies achieved a mean score of 830. The inclusion students receiving multiple instruction interventions also showed grade-level reading proficiency on the standardized test with a mean score of 818. The researcher focused on the issue to show there are positive outcomes from implementing inclusion. Recommendations involving a reading intervention such as guided reading groups, backwards design planning, and collaborative instruction were noted. A one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) analysis tested significance and two-way ANOVA tested interaction. Both analyses were set at the.05 significance level to interpret the data. Keywords: Special education, General education, Disabilities, Inclusion, CRCT, Standardized Reading Tests.

Using adaptive leadership principles to support Public Health 3.0 in multidisciplinary undergraduate education

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has uncovered public health vulnerabilities worldwide, particularly in the hard-hit USA. US public health professionals, regardless of role, may need to exercise leadership in both planned and unexpected situations. This model of practice outside of traditional roles, known as Public Health 3.0, requires adaptive leadership – a systems approach to making progress on complex challenges. Educational programs should improve students’ adaptive leadership competency to prepare them for the public health workforce. This paper aims to provide an educational framework for implementing adaptive leadership instruction for undergraduate students.Design/methodology/approachThis paper used experiential and traditional instructional strategies and adaptive leadership competencies to develop a semester-length leadership course for undergraduate students in health, nursing, social science, business and education. Adaptive leadership principles were learned and practiced, preparing students for systemic challenges through the lens of Public Health 3.0. Competencies were assessed pre- and post-semester.FindingsOf 248 students, 72% were health professions majors. Students reported pre-post scores on 29 measures of competency, interest, learning and behavioral change. Quantitative evaluations identified statistically significant improvement in all domains. Additional quantitative feedback indicated improvement on the three Kirkpatrick levels of evaluation assessed (reaction, learning and behavior).Originality/valueTiered evaluation methods indicated that this leadership course enhanced participants’ self-reported adaptive leadership learning and competency, as well as intention and ability to translate learning into practice. A broad spectrum of competency development is needed for students entering practice in the Public Health 3.0 era, particularly related to pandemic response.

Marginalized Students’ Perspectives on Instructional Strategies in Middle-School Mathematics Classrooms

Marginalized students face a range of gaps in experience, highlighting the importance of understanding these students’ perspectives on their opportunities to learn. The current study contributes to this effort by reporting on marginalized students’ experiences and liking of mathematics instructional strategies in middle-school mathematics classrooms in a large metropolitan school district in the Southern U.S. Middle-school students (N = 466), many of whom attended racially segregated schools, sorted instructional strategies and discussed their experiences with the strategies in small groups or interviews. Most students reported that traditional and student-focused instructional strategies happened in their mathematics class, but fewer student-focused strategies were experienced in racially segregated schools than in racially balanced schools. Most students reported liking all but one of the student-focused strategies and not liking the traditional strategies. Common reasons that emerged during discussions of why students liked particular instructional strategies were that it provided opportunities to learn, built their confidence or increased their interest. Overall, marginalized students’ experiences and views should inform efforts to increase the instructional opportunities for all students.

Experience from the implementation of multimedia approach to teaching for developing professional competence

Multimedia approach has been increasingly used in the education of university students in recent years. It is not only modern but also particularly necessary in the process of teaching and acquiring knowledge and skills – this is a methodology that is not sufficiently developed. Unfortunately, there are few sources presenting experience from its practical implementation. Often, preference is given to traditional instructional methods, strategies and approaches as in time they have proven effective in acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary in practice. In this aspect, multimedia approach offers great flexibility and high potential as a teaching tool in education. On the whole, the content of this report presents the author’s extensive experience and her ambiguous conclusion that the modern psychopedagogical profile of the digital generation of students, compulsory requires introduction of innovative instructional technologies. The implementation of this relatively new approach to teaching students results in more profound gain of theoretical knowledge and more effective development of practical skills and experience, which in turn forms a higher level of professional competence. The findings of this research supplement the existing evidence of the importance of applying innovative instructional practices and support the implementation of multimedia mixed approach to educational process. Students highly appreciate the implementation of various audio-visual training methods, find them useful in their preparation for practical exams and in building skills before, during and following the academic lectures. The article targets lecturers and supervisors of future specialists in various professional fields, students at higher schools, teachers interested in these issues.

Assessment of Instructional Strategies Employed by Physics Teachers and Students Academic Achievement in Secondary Schools in Rivers State

The study assessed instructional strategies employed by Physics teachers and students academic achievement in Secondary schools in Rivers State. The study in specific terms, assessed the instructional strategies employed by physics teachers, determine the level of use of instructional strategies in the teaching of Physics and determine the difference in the academic achievement of those taught with frequently used instructional strategies in Rivers State. The population of the study consisted of all practicing Physics teachers and students in Rivers State. The sample size of the study was 28 Physics teaachers selected from 18 science teaching schools in Rivers State and 140 science students from 4 schools whose teachers indicated usage of any of the frequently used instructional strategies. A structured questionnaire and Physic Achievement Test (PAT) was used to collect data from Physics teachers and students respectively. Frequency, Mean and standard deviation was used to analyze the gathered data, while z-test was used to test hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. In the study, among the traditional instructional strategies, it was found that lecture method, demonstration method, laboratory method and problem solving method of teaching are the most frequently used strategies employed by Physics teachers in Rivers State. However, when the students who were taught Physic by these most frequently used strategies were tested, it was found that students who were frequently taught Physics with demonstration method achieved more that those taught with lecture method. Similarly, students taught with problem solving methods achieved more than those who were frequently taught with laboratory strategy. It was recommended that Physics teachers should employ instructional strategies that will actively engage students in the lesson.

A Comparative Study on the Impact of Traditional and Inclusive Teaching Strategies on Students’ Learning

A Comparative Study on the Impact of Traditional and Inclusive Teaching Strategies on Students’ Learning

Effectiveness of Enriched Demonstration and Lecture Instructional Strategies on Senior Secondary School Students’ Achievement in Chemistry

The study determined the relative effectiveness of enriched demonstration and lecture instructional strategies on senior secondary school students’ achievement in Chemistry. To achieve this, two research questions and three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Quasi-experimental design: specifically the pre-test, post-test, non-equivalent and non-randomized control group was adopted for the study. A total sample of one hundred and sixty-six (166) SS 1 students, drawn using multi-stage sampling technique were used for the study. The instrument used for data collection was Chemistry Achievement Test (CAT, r=0.82). Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the hypotheses. Findings from the study revealed that: there is significant difference between the achievement of students exposed to two enriched instructional strategies and those exposed to enriched traditional lecture strategy; there is no significant difference between male and female students exposed to the three modes of instructional strategies; and there is no significant interaction effect between the instructional strategies and gender. It was recommended that chemistry educators should focus attention on reforming or enriching the traditional instructional strategies and that chemistry teachers should particularly make use of the enriched demonstration strategy in their classroom interactions, among others.Â

Applying interactive devices to an elementary nature science course

AbstractThe goal of this paper is to design and develop an interactive learning system (ILS) by integrating interactive devices into a real‐world classroom. ILS is primarily designed for elementary school students where they can have some hands‐on experiences to learn nature science such as airflow and wind. The purpose of adopting interactive devices is to increase students’ motivations and pleasures during the learning process. In order to demonstrate the learning effects of using ILS, an empirical study was conducted by comparing traditional and interactive instructional strategies. During the study, three types of measurements were used to assess the different aspects of ILS: learning achievement tests, a questionnaire about students’ experiences, and teacher interview. The results showed that ILS does have positive effects on students’ learning and we can conclude that ILS can effectively and efficiently assist in learning nature science in a real‐world classroom environment.

A Web-Based Module to Enhance BSN Students' Knowledge and Confidence in Teaching Parents About Newborn Behavior.

As an adjunct to traditional instructional strategies, students enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing maternity course completed a Web-based module called "HUG Your Baby" (HYB) about newborn behavior, interpreting and responding to an infant's cues and body language, and teaching new parents. Students who completed the HYB program were compared with students enrolled in another semester of the same maternity course in which only traditional teaching strategies were used. Both groups were compared on knowledge and confidence about newborn behaviors and teaching new parents. Knowledge and confidence scores increased significantly in both groups from beginning to end of the semester. Students who completed the HYB program demonstrated a significantly greater increase in knowledge and confidence compared with students who did not complete the HYB program. Students highly rated the HYB program and recommended it for incorporation into the maternity course.

Instructional Strategy: Didactic Media Presentation to Optimize Student Learning

Context: Subject matter is presented to athletic training students in the classroom using various modes of media. The specific type of mode and when to use it should be considered to maximize learning effectiveness. Other factors to consider in this process include a student's knowledge base and the complexity of material. Objective: To introduce instructional strategies within the didactic component of an undergraduate or graduate athletic training program that effectively address split-attention, redundancy, and modality effects, which in turn will minimize extraneous cognitive load and optimize working memory storage capacity. Background: With technological advances in education, a vast assortment of content in athletic training programs, and inconsistency in student learning styles, a variety of modes through which to present course material should be implemented for optimal learning. Traditional instructional strategies do not always respect the limited capacity of working memory and present information using media in a way that negatively affects learning. Description: An explanation is given in the use of various media sources to present information within the classroom and to examine the impact they have on extraneous cognitive load and, ultimately, learning. Specific instructional strategies will be introduced that target the classroom presentation of information with the goal of minimizing split-attention and redundancy effects and optimizing the modality effect. Clinical Advantage(s): To optimize athletic training student learning effectiveness through considerations in the various modes of media presentation with course subject matter within the classroom. Conclusion(s): The presentation of material in athletic training education using a multimodal approach is essential to student interest and learning. Space occupied in working memory can be minimized when classroom presentation of material takes into consideration the split-attention and redundancy effects. Strategies consistent with the modality effect help expand the capacity to withhold information in working memory.

An Overview and Study on the Use of Games, Simulations, and Gamification in Higher Education

This article examines the use of both game-based learning (GBL) and gamification in tertiary education. This study focuses specifically on the use of games and/or simulations as well as familiarity with gamification strategies by communication faculty. Research questions concentrate on the rate, frequency, and usage of digital and non-digital games and/or simulations in communication courses, as well as instructor familiarity with gamification. A survey was constructed with questions emerging from the game-based learning and gamification literature. It was distributed to communication faculty at public institutions of higher education in a southern state. In this context, the author argues that while the term gamification is novel, the approach is not. Based on the results, current gamification strategies appear to be a repackaging of traditional instructional strategies.

The parallel globe: a powerful instrument to perform investigations of Earth’s illumination

Many researchers have documented the difficulties for learners of different ages and preparations in understanding basic astronomical concepts. Traditional instructional strategies and communication media do not seem to be effective in producing meaningful understanding, or even induce misconceptions and misinterpretations. In line with recent proposals for pedagogical sequences and learning progressions about core concepts and basic procedures in physics and astronomy education, in this paper we suggest an intermediate, essential step in the teaching path from the local geocentric view of the Earth–Sun system to a heliocentric one. With this aim we present data collected over a day and a year from an instrument we call the ‘parallel globe’, a globe positioned locally homothetic to the Earth. Some analyses are suggested, in particular of the phenomenon of illumination of the Earth and its variations, that are consistent with the proposed instructional objectives.