Upper-secondary School Research Articles

Pupils’ beliefs about Norwegian Nynorsk: ‘I don’t believe we need to learn a second Norwegian language’

According to the national curriculum, Norwegian pupils are supposed to learn both official written Norwegian languages, Bokmål and Nynorsk, in school (1-13); one of the written languages as their so-called main written language and the other one as the alternative written language. At the end of lower secondary school (10th grade) and the end of upper secondary school (13th grade), most pupils get three individual grades in Norwegian as a school subject: written Bokmål, written Nynorsk and oral skills. The majority of pupils (more than 85%) have Bokmål as their main written language and Nynorsk as their alternative written language, and many pupils struggle with motivational issues when it comes to learning Nynorsk. In the present study, lower secondary pupils (10th graders) have been asked about their thoughts and beliefs before and after an intervention in the form of a language-history lecture by an external Nynorsk teacher and user (a researcher). The pupils wrote down their opinions and thoughts in class under the supervision of their teacher. These (anonymous) reflection notes were handed to the researcher who categorized and analysed them by trying to extract the overall ‘beliefs’ about Nynorsk from each text. Even though most pupils admit having learned a little from the intervention, the result is clear: a one-time intervention – even with a clear purpose and good arguments – is not enough to change the pupils’ opinion, attitudes or beliefs when it comes to Nynorsk as a second Norwegian language in school, and more fundamental changes in the educational system are needed. /Keywords: attitudes, beliefs, emotions, language learning, language policy, language teaching

The relationship between perceived school stress and satisfaction with life among Norwegian school-based adolescents and the moderating role of perceived teacher care: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundPerceived stress from schoolwork and perceived teacher care are shown to influence adolescents’ life satisfaction. However, there is a need to further explore how levels of perceived school stress affect life satisfaction of Norwegian adolescents across gender and school levels using nationwide data, and whether this association is moderated by perceived teacher care. Hence, this paper sought to: (1) describe perceived school stress, perceived teacher care and satisfaction with life in Norwegian adolescents stratified by gender and school level, (2) examine the association between perceived school stress and satisfaction with life by testing perceived teacher care as a possible moderator and (3) explore the association between perceived teacher care and adolescents’ satisfaction with life.MethodsWe utilized cross-sectional data from the Norwegian Ungdata Survey from 2021, encompassing adolescents from lower and upper secondary school. Two-thirds of all Norwegian adolescents participated in the Ungdata Survey from 2021. All data is anonymous. The study variables are presented according to lower and upper secondary school as well as gender. Linear regressions were conducted and adjusted for socioeconomic status (SES) by using SPSS.ResultsIn total, 139,841 adolescents were included. Girls exhibited higher perceived school stress, lower perceived teacher care, and lower life satisfaction than boys in both lower and secondary school (all p < 0.01). Strong inverse associations on satisfaction with life were found in both genders in lower and upper secondary school among those who reported very frequent perceived school stress, with perceived teacher care moderating the relationship (B= -0.67; 95% CI [-0.70 to -0.65], P < 0.01]). Moreover, robust associations were unveiled between high and low levels of perceived teacher care and life satisfaction across gender and school level.ConclusionsHigher perceived school stress was strongly inversely associated with life satisfaction in Norwegian adolescents, in both girls and boys, and in both lower and secondary school. Teacher care was identified as a moderator and seems to play a crucial part in the everyday life of Norwegian adolescents. These implications extend to teacher education, practice, and policy, which should be aware of the pivotal role of perceived teacher care on Norwegian school-based adolescents‘ life satisfaction.

Digital platform work reinforcing performativity: teacher responses to work intensification explored through trace ethnography

ABSTRACT This paper critically explores how teachers’ everyday work is reconfigured through work on and around different digital platforms. In particular, it demonstrates teacher experiences of workload and work intensification and the different workarounds and adaptions to platforms done by teachers, conditioned by demands of performativity, e.g. discourses of optimising work, making visible and caring for school performances as part of a market-competitive and increasingly digitalised school system. By ethnographically tracing the digital work of six teachers in public and private upper-secondary schools through logs, follow-up interviews, observations and digital ‘go-alongs’, we show how central tasks, administration, communication and teaching are reconfigured through the distribution of work onto local-domestic and global platforms and relatively local school and national regulations. Our contribution to the discussion on platforms in education is how platforms and aligning devices and procedures reinforce performativity demands in teacher work. This reconfiguration produces tensions, interruptions and intensity peaks, often seen as work-time conflicts, but which nonetheless relate to wider, critical issues of the changing nature of teacher digital work being established in relation to the marketised and highly digitalised school.

Artistic expression as a property of resonant musical experience: an interview study with upper secondary school music teachers

Background The curriculum for the courses given at the music specialization of the upper secondary school’s aesthetic program in Sweden includes the concept of artistic expression (AE). Being a criterion for assessment, no definition is provided by the National Agency of Education and there exists no consensus of how to interpret artistic expression among music teachers and music teacher students. Methods In order to explore how teachers understand, teach, and assess the concept and phenomenon of artistic expression, twelve qualitative interviews with music teachers were conducted and analyzed through an open coding process. Results The findings show that the concept of artistic expression is multifaceted and evasive. The results focus on two analytic threads: (i) situatedness and (ii) entanglement. (i) AE is situated due to context-specific parameters which underpins the meaning of the concept in this particular educational setting. (ii) Furthermore, the phenomenon of artistic expression is entangled (a) with the ongoing relationship between teacher and student, and (b) in a temporally unfolding and interactive musical event. The phenomenon of artistic expression as entangled is discussed, primarily through Hartmut Rosa’s concept of resonance, which brings into focus the intersubjective character of aesthetic experience. Doing so questions understandings of – and assessment procedures surrounding – artistic expression that relies on skill-based interpretations or reductions of entanglement. One example of such reduction is assessment of recordings of student performances which limits (a) the relational perspective (if assessed by a third person) or (b) the entanglement with the musical event. The perspective of resonance brings forth the teacher’s role during a student performance as characterized by self-efficacy and active listening, thus co-constitutive of artistic expression. Conclusions The article concludes with reflections on how the findings may contribute to the continuous discussion on how scientific grounding and proven experience may inform both the music education at upper secondary school and music teacher education. The concept of resonance provides a possibility to reframe conceptions of artistic competence in art education as being grounded in intersubjective and relational terms, rather than being reified as a set of measurable skills, an understanding which in turn risks replacing learning with criteria compliance.

Comparison of two Different Game Mechanics Applied to Learning of Electromagnetism

The paper presents two educational escape games, Tournament of J. C. Maxwell and Chest of Lord Maxwell, which were designed with the same topic and educational goal in mind: to consolidate and deepen knowledge about magnetism and electromagnetism, and to develop communication skills, teamwork skills, problem solving skills, experimental skills and analytical thinking. Both games were used in the teaching of electromagnetism in an upper secondary school. Data were collected through observation of the game process, administration of questionnaires to students and teachers, and interviews with students. The aim of this research is to compare two different game mechanics used to address the same subject matter and educational objective. The comparison will focus on the perception of the games by the students and the teachers who have incorporated the game into their teaching.

Game Lab Innovations in Education: Insights from a Board Game Design Project

From the perspective of educators, game development has great potential as a teaching method, as it promotes group collaboration, project-based learning and the development of content tailored to a given target group. This paper is based on a study that was carried out through an international project, implementing an educational game development concept called Game Lab into an educational context. The study explored professional development topics such as game-based learning, game development, and game testing, along with the Game Lab method focusing on group dynamics, progression, and creativity. It employed an abductive analysis of written responses from twelve teachers who participated in the Let’s Play project, which involved a Game Lab component. The teachers, ranging in age from their thirties to their sixties, represented all levels of education from preschool to upper secondary school. They responded to a survey with open-ended questions and reflection notes, providing insights into their experiences with game development methods as pedagogical tools. Their responses were analyzed to identify key themes and patterns. Findings suggest that this approach has broadened participants' perspectives on utilizing diverse games and game development techniques in education, aligning with prior research on production pedagogy. It underscores the importance of integrating in-game content with real-world contexts as a modern teaching method. Participants also highlighted that effective game-based learning supports a constructivist approach to teaching over behaviorism. The participants emphasized their increased insight and understanding of game development and game systems and how the combined effect of educational game design and the Game Lab method (working in teams) resulted in a more valuable learning outcome than they would have experienced alone. They also reported an improved understanding on how working with the development of a board game made them dig much deeper into the topic at hand. In addition, they found that this increased their motivation for learning, knowing that this was going to be a product that was to be tested and played by others (pupils and teachers). Furthermore, the participants highlighted the role of group dynamics in fostering teamwork and consensus during the collaborative game development process.

Conflicts and contradictions in Sweden's temporary residence law for unaccompanied youth

ABSTRACT In November 2015, the Swedish Government claimed that the Swedish reception of refugees needed to change. The government presented among other things a time-limited law, TLUSE. An ethnographic study was conducted with a group of unaccompanied youth and the staff they encountered within a language introductory programme in a Swedish upper secondary school. The following questions have guided the investigation: (i) What are the main expressed principles for interpreting the law among the studied school staff? (ii) How has the application of these principles affected everyday life according to field notes and interview data? (iii) What contradictions and conflicts are there, given that TLUSE came into existence with rapid preparatory work and opinions from referral bodies being left without action? Through the lens of (Bernstein, B. 2000. Pedagogy, Symbolic Control and Identity: Theory, Research, Critique. London: Rowman and Littlefield) concept of pedagogic rights, a critical analysis was done. The study shows that TLUSE did not result in stronger inclusionary possibilities to unaccompanied youth.

Subclinical attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and unhealthy lifestyle behaviours.

Literature emphasises the importance of identifying and intervening in the adoption of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours (ULBs) during adolescence at an early stage, to mitigate their long-term detrimental effects. Among the possible associated factors contributing to ULBs, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been shown to play an important role. However, little is known about ADHD subclinical manifestations. The present study aimed to bridge the gap in the literature and shed light on the relationship between subclinical ADHD and early adoption of ULBs during adolescence. Through a clinimetric approach, prevalence of ULBs, severity of ADHD symptoms and psychosocial factors (i.e. allostatic overload, abnormal illness behaviour, quality of life, psychological well-being) were investigated among adolescents. The associations between different degrees of ADHD, ULBs and psychosocial factors were also explored. This multicentre cross-sectional study involved 440 adolescents (54.5% females; mean age 14.21 years) from six upper secondary schools. Participants completed self-report questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics, ULBs, ADHD symptoms and psychosocial factors. The most common ULBs were energy drinks/alcohol consumption and problematic smartphone use. Of the sample, 22% showed subclinical ADHD and 20.2% showed clinical ADHD. The subclinical ADHD group showed several ULBs (i.e. altered mindful eating, impaired quality of sleep, problematic technology use) and psychosocial factors, akin to those of ADHD group and different from peers without ADHD symptoms. Since subclinical ADHD manifestation is associated with ULBs, similarly to clinical ADHD, identifying subthreshold symptoms during adolescence is crucial, as it could improve health-related outcomes in adulthood across different domains.

Exploring factors influencing upper secondary school students’ intention towards TVET: insights from Peninsular Malaysia

Exploring factors influencing upper secondary school students’ intention towards TVET: insights from Peninsular Malaysia

How Do Age and Attitudes Affect the Quality of Data Collected by Young Citizen Scientists in an Ecological Research Project?

Citizen science is increasingly used to collect ecological data. Specifically, participation of school students in authentic research has been suggested as having a multitude of benefits from serving as data collection to providing science education. Nevertheless, the overall quality and quantity of data is concerning for ecologists who are using data for research. In the Helsinki Urban Rat Project, lower- and upper secondary school students (13-19-year-old) collect data on urban rat occurrence using track plates that record rat footprints. I measured the success of school-aged citizen scientists in collecting and submitting data, and I determined the accuracy of the data they submitted by comparing their results to the results from professional researchers. Furthermore, I used additional questionnaire to relate success and accuracy to student attributes, including age, attitudes about biology as a school subject, interest in the environment and disgust sensitivity toward rats. I learned that, in contrast to results from previous studies, age was not a significant variable but rather available support from a teacher and voluntary participation with rewards were associated with higher data quality. Additionally, attitudes played a part in observer quality: higher liking of biology as a school subject was associated with lower accuracy, whereas a higher interest in the environment was associated with higher accuracy. The young citizen scientists provided broadly accurate data, although false-positive observations were comparatively common. The results suggest that the quality and quantity of citizen-generated data are not straightforwardly dependent on the selected target groups. Citizen science activities should be planned by careful consideration of the context as, for example, the organization of the participation strongly shapes the participatory activities.

The role of personal and contextual factors when investigating technology integration in general and vocational education general and vocational education

This study aims to investigate the extent to which perceived personal and school-related factors influence the quality of technology integration in teaching at the upper secondary level and how this differs between general and vocational education. The quality of technology integration was operationalised through the different activities supported by technology according to the ICAP model. We used data from a survey of 1660 teachers from 106 upper secondary schools in Switzerland to construct structural equation models of the interplay between school-related factors, teacher-related factors, and technology integration. Apart from confirming that technology integration is generally high across all school types, the study shows that among school-related factors, goal clarity is a significant predictor of constructive learning activities and of all the three personal factors considered in the study: teachers’ positive beliefs, technological knowledge, and technological pedagogical content knowledge. Moreover, these personal factors, in turn, constitute significant predictors of all the four types of learning activities. Both full-time and dual vocational schools integrate constructive and interactive activities more than general schools, and vocational teachers report significantly higher beliefs and lower technological pedagogical content knowledge than general school teachers. These findings confirm the importance of considering the interplay between personal and school-related factors when training teachers in technology integration, with interesting differences across school types that seem to depend more on the contextual culture than on the curriculum organisation.

Impact of English Teaching on Students’ Academic Performance at Higher Secondary School Level

The current study investigated the diverse dimensions of English teaching that influence students' academic performance at the higher secondary level, with a focus on refining teaching methodologies and tackling challenges in English learning experiences. Using a methodical research approach, the study focuses on the critical role that teachers play in English instruction for both students and teachers from government higher secondary schools in the Dir Lower area of KP. The use of a quantitative research strategy, in conjunction with a pilot study and a specially created questionnaire, guarantees the validity of data gathering and analysis. Through the use of SPSS software, data analysis can yield a wealth of information on students' perceptions and experiences with learning English. The results emphasize the value of good teaching strategies, the advantages of integrating technology, and the necessity of continual professional development for teachers. Regression analysis also shows a significant relationship between better academic achievement and improved English teaching methods. The recommendations of the study supported various efforts to enhance vigorous teacher training with improved and latest technology. The study has provided very useful information for the development and improvement of instructional strategies for English teachers at upper secondary schools.

Teachers’ Continuous Professional Skills Development and Students’ Academic Performance in Upper Public Secondary Schools in Rwanda

This research examined the link between teachers' continuous professional development (CPD) and students' academic performance in public upper secondary schools in Rusizi District, Rwanda. The study aimed to identify CPD practices influencing student outcomes, assess students' academic performance related to CPD, and analyze the relationship between the two. Utilizing a descriptive and correlational design, the study combined quantitative and qualitative methods, focusing on a population of 36 headteachers, 188 teachers, and 5,459 students totaling 5,683 respondents. A sample of 373 was determined using the Yamane formula, with respondents selected through random and purposive sampling. Data were collected via questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Findings indicated that 41.7% of respondents agreed that lesson preparation enhances teachers' professional skills, while 83.3% agreed that effective communication is crucial. Additionally, 66.7% noted the importance of using various teaching methods and managing classrooms effectively. For students, 92.8% acknowledged that test results significantly affect academic performance, and 97.3% agreed that graduation rates are vital. The analysis showed a positive correlation between teachers' CPD and students' academic performance, with a p-value less than 0.05. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education and the Rwanda Education Board implement policies to support CPD, appoint qualified facilitators, and encourage school principals to foster a culture of professional development to enhance student success.

Reading Groups as a Health-Promoting Intervention in Upper Secondary Schools: A Qualitative Study.

To explore public health nurses' (PHN) perceptions and experiences of supporting siblings of children with complex care needs (CCNs) by using reading groups as a health promotion intervention in upper secondary schools. An action research approach using a qualitative design. Interviews with 10 PHNs. Thematic analysis. The analysis resulted in the overarching theme "A much needed health promotion intervention in upper secondary schools," presented in terms of the following three themes: (1) supporting siblings is important, but resources and established procedures are lacking. (2) Reading groups using fiction have potential as a health-promoting intervention in upper secondary schools. (3) A realistic collaborative approach is necessary for reading groups to be implemented. PHNs have no established procedures to support siblings of children with CCNs in upper secondary schools. Reading groups can enable PHNs to reach out and support these siblings. Providing the intervention can be a way of reaching all pupils and thus creating an understanding of the plight of siblings who have a brother or sister with CCNs.

Etos, literatura in vključujoč pouk

The starting points for the renewal of curricula in elementary and upper secondary schools (Ahačič et al. 2022) are related to the quality of lessons by, among other things, paying regard to the students’ voice and, in this sense, they offer a consideration of teaching literature within the upper secondary school subject of the Slovenian language. Taking into account the ethical aspect of literature, which is highlighted in the so-called ethical turn in the literary science (Virk 2018, 2021; Meretoja 2014a, 2014b, 2018) and which is also followed by the didactics of literature (Krakar Vogel 2020), it is possible to stimulate the awareness of the adolescent’s ethos with argumentative discussion classes carrying out in-depth work on classic literary texts. The starting point for this is the postmodern understanding of dialogic ethics, the foundation of which is a respectful attitude towards the Other. This is a literary text or, through it, the cultural tradition and all the interpreters during lessons, i.e. both students and teacher. The foundation is the narrative identity (Ricoeur 2003b) and narrative knowledge (Kroflič 2017a) in the context of the development of ethical consciousness (Kroflič 2007). For the realization of this process an appropriate school system is necessary, and within this a safe learning environment, one which enables the development of ethical awareness and where equal attention can be paid to the contribution of every participant in the discussion with the support of respectful relationships. Such an approach also appears to be meaningful preparation for writing a school essay, an important part of which is proposing and supporting one’s personal views. It also raises the important question of evaluating a school essay.

Pravopisne vsebine in razvijanje pravopisne zmožnosti pri pouku slovenščine v gimnaziji

The aim of this contribution is to show how orthographic content and orthographic competence are discussed and presented in the basic documents that determine the teaching of Slovene and how they provide teachers with guidelines for planning lessons. It also shows which objectives associated with the development of orthographic competence can be identified in these documents. The contribution explains why the existing documents do not provide a suitable starting point for lesson planning. The relevance and usefulness of these documents for lesson planning can best be assessed by their users – general upper secondary school teachers. Therefore, an online survey was conducted among them to find out what guides orthographic lesson planning in practice, as this is the most systematic and targeted way to develop orthographic competence.

The dark side of text-matching software: worries and counterproductive behaviour among European upper secondary school and bachelor students

Text-matching software (TMS) is a standard part of efforts to prevent and detect plagiarism in upper secondary and higher education. While there are many studies on the potential benefits of using this technology, few studies look into potential unintended side effects. These side effects include students worrying about being accused of plagiarism due to TMS output, even though they did not intentionally plagiarise. Although such worries are frequently mentioned in the literature, little is known about how prevalent they are, why they occur and how students react to them. This paper aims to fill this knowledge gap.The data for the study comprise 36 interviews with upper secondary and Bachelor students from three European countries combined with survey data from 3,424 students from seven European countries representing a broad range of disciplines.The study found that a substantial proportion of the two groups of students – 47% of upper secondary and 55% of Bachelor students – had experienced TMS-related worries during their current studies. Furthermore, there were substantial differences across countries. Students worry partly because they have a poor understanding of how TMS is used in their institution, and partly because they know that plagiarism is taken very seriously. The study shows that TMS-related worries can lead students to become very focused on not being caught plagiarising, to such an extent that some adopt citation practices that they believe are suboptimal.The paper concludes that institutions using TMS should always combine it with training for students and teachers. Students should be clearly informed about how TMS is used and should develop an understanding of plagiarism and good citation practice that goes beyond the narrow focus on any overlap between texts elicited by the software.

‘Overwhelmed by the pandemic’: the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on students’ questions in religious education in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Türkiye

ABSTRACT This article seeks to examine the effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on religious education (RE) in the three Muslim-majority countries of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Türkiye. It specifically explores the effects of the Pandemic on students’ interests by asking questions in RE classes and the way in which RE teachers respond to them. Malaysia, Indonesia, and Türkiye were chosen, as they all have a Muslim-majority population, and their respective curriculum encourage the constructivist learning theory, which suggests that learning should be a student-active process. This is qualitative research that employs a case study design. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with RE teachers in the three countries to learn about the changing interests and questions of the students and how teachers respond to them. RE teachers from upper secondary schools without a religious character (i.e. common/public schools) were chosen for the interviews, as older students are more likely to ask challenging theological questions in the face of the Pandemic. The study documents the Pandemic’s effects on RE, specifically students’ interests and questions and the way in which RE teachers respond to them. Additionally, it provides insights into how RE could help students to better understand the new experience, such as the Pandemic.

The Impact of Child Protection Service Experience and Secondary School Completion on Employment Outcomes

This study utilizes registry data and logistic regression to investigate the relationship between Child Protection Service (CPS) experience, completion of upper secondary school, and subsequent gainful employment. The findings show that completion of upper secondary school is associated with later gainful employment. However, when control variables are included to adjust for substantial differences between the two groups, the results reveal that completion of upper secondary school has a more substantial impact on future gainful employment for former CPS clients compared to non-CPS clients.

Teachers’ Perceptions on Differentiated Learning in Teaching English Speaking Skill Among Upper Secondary School Students: A Conceptual Paper

Teachers’ Perceptions on Differentiated Learning in Teaching English Speaking Skill Among Upper Secondary School Students: A Conceptual Paper