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This research aimed to investigate the perceptions and experiences of in-service teachers participating in a professional development (PD) program focused on computer science (CS). The main research question explored the teachers' perceptions of their experience in the CSPD program, while sub-research questions examined the challenges encountered and the program's impact on their capacities to teach CS in elementary schools. The study adopted an interpretivist paradigm and employed a qualitative research approach to understand the subjective meanings and hidden factors underlying teachers' experiences. Data collection involved observations, reflection essays, and a semi-structured focus group interview. The data analysis was guided by the community of practice elements. The findings revealed prerequisite challenges faced by the teachers, such as the need to develop self-directed learning and research skills. Additionally, the PD program was found to enhance teachers' knowledge, skills, and confidence in teaching CS. It also fostered changes in their beliefs and self-efficacy. Challenges in the pre-implementation and implementation stages were also revealed, including conflicting perspectives, limited supervisor support, and passive learning and teaching. These findings provide valuable insights that can contribute to the design of effective PD initiatives in CS education and promote sustainable education practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to identify different groups of in-service teachers based on their general pedagogical knowledge (GPK) and self-efficacy beliefs and to explore potential differences among these groups regarding their instructional quality and commitments to teaching. A sample of 161 in-service subject teachers (science, mathematics, or Estonian language) who taught in lower secondary schools in Estonia were included in the study. Data was collected with a GPK test and self-reported questionnaires on instructional quality and commitments to teaching in the context of an OECD Teacher Knowledge Survey. Based on the cluster analysis, three groups of in-service teachers were identified: “the over-confident” teachers with average self-efficacy and very low GPK, “the competent” teachers with high self-efficacy and GPK, and “the insecure” teachers with low self-efficacy and average GPK. These three types of teachers were different in terms of instructional quality and commitments to teaching. It seemed that teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs are more important than GPK for instructional quality; however, GPK is more important for teachers’ professional persistence illuminating their general sense of professional identity. Implications of these findings for teacher education and teacher retention will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background or Context: During the first months of the COVID pandemic, teachers were forced to move to online instruction without the appropriate resources. They resorted to social media to gather expertise and ideas. This study is grounded in an analysis of the questions posed by K–12 teachers on popular Facebook groups. Purpose, Objective, Research Question, or Focus of Study: The authors argue that a close analysis of what K–12 educators are asking and wondering about in online teacher groups at a moment in which much of what they know and trust has been disrupted can be generative as a novel feedback loop to engage in conversations about some common practices in teacher education. Specifically, they ask: How can an analysis of questions posed by educators on public Facebook groups in the early pandemic enter into a productive conversation with teacher education programs beyond the specificities of that context? Research Design: The study performs a thematic analysis based on categories that were inductively coded from 752 questions posed between March and June 2020 by educators in the three most popular public Facebook groups dedicated exclusively to K–12 teaching during the pandemic. The goal is to consider the underlying assumptions and ideas embedded in the questions being asked in these groups, and to place them within the context of the authors' political understandings of the role of teacher education. Conclusions or Recommendations: Four themes emerged from the analysis: an expanding notion of community, tensions in the understandings of "context," new positionings of expertise, and a questioning of what counts as legitimate schooling. The themes led to a need for teacher education programs to always consider their students' professional identities as collectively constructed and to find ways to disrupt universal models of the mind. The authors also invite programs to rethink the location of expertise by taking into account the practices that young teachers are already engaged in when seeking professional knowledge. This opening could potentially lead to perhaps the hardest thing to do within teacher education programs: to provide the conditions to reimagine schooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent educational inequity for immigrant and refugee students and their families calls for instructional practices centering on access, quality, and social justice. Drawing on two qualitative case studies, this article examines how three U.S. urban school teachers attended to the systemic inequalities and unique challenges confronting immigrant and refugee students both inside their classrooms and outside the school. Our analyses show that the teachers strategically enacted various critical instructional practices, including linguistically responsive pedagogy, translanguaging, and sociopolitically responsive pedagogy. The teachers' agentic practices have important implications for teacher education and professional development for immigrant and refugee learners in urban settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on Wegner's concept of learning to examine how experienced physics teachers conceptualize and explain their professional identity. Participants were four female physics teachers with more than 15 years of teaching experience. These four teachers were selected as illustrative and contrastive cases for the purpose of the study. The data collection included semi-structured interviews and field notes from classroom observations in each participant's classroom. Interview and classroom observation data were analyzed through the constant-comparative method. The results showed that these teachers had positive and negative experiences in different types of schools; and higher-achieving students motivated these teachers to solve different types of problems. Although teachers believed that science should be taught through experiments or inquiry-based instruction, they did not have any opportunity to teach in a laboratory. Their role was confined to teaching in a classroom to solve problems. They defined their concept of learning to become a physics teacher with metaphors that focused on the cognitive demands of teaching and the learning process. Further research on teacher education should support teacher development through addressing social and epistemic demands of teaching and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intervention programmes have a direct influence on teachers' knowledge of teaching different topics. This paper focuses on how Grade 8 natural science teachers' knowledge developed during an intervention programme. Eight schools were selected to participate, and 25 Grade 8 Natural Sciences teachers from Gauteng province participated. Data were collected during the intervention sessions, and participants completed a written TSPCK test and content representation tool. Quantitative data were analysed using the Rasch analysis model, and qualitative data were analysed using content analysis of TSPCK episodes using the TSPCK rubric. The episode was a response segment, where TSPCK components were used to transform the topic content. The findings showed that teachers' pedagogical content knowledge improved significantly in different components of TSPCK. The teachers' PCK development was revealed through extensive use of knowledge of representation including demonstrations using diagrams aimed at transforming the concept in planning. Besides, during the intervention, teachers were able to collaborate, have explicit discussions on specific topics, and provide explanations on the use of the five TSPCK components. The study implies that the development of PCK in fundamental topics in a discipline can be implemented through a TSPCK-based intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Working with ethnoracially diverse student groups is a reality in most K-12 classrooms. However, studies of the impacts of professional development for cultural responsiveness have tended to use a range of approaches such as action research, video reflections, and coaching, making it difficult to tease apart the effects of each one. The purpose of this study was to focus on how action research, specifically, influences educators’ culturally responsive practices. Participants found that the action research process promoted their agency to effect positive change in their schools, a key component of culturally responsive education. Although participants found it challenging to balance learning the nuances of action research and culturally responsive education simultaneously, they appreciated this as a productive struggle and adopted the same growth mindset for themselves that they encouraged in their students. Based on our results, action research appears to be a promising form of professional development for enhancing culturally responsive practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional perspective on education, teaching, and learning is no longer sufficient in fluid societies exposed to dramatic and rapid changes. The need for continuous educational reform is evident. However, recent paradigmatic societal shifts, extreme events, and extraordinary scientific and technological advances underscore the urgency of these changes. These developments highlight the necessity for innovation and the reduction of intergenerational gaps in educating new generations. By embracing these changes, we can create a more inclusive, adaptable, and innovative educational environment for all. While the Romanian educational system, like many traditional systems, is extensive in its spatial coverage, material resources, human resources, and the number of beneficiaries served, it also presents an opportunity for positive change. Its highly centralized, over-normative, and strictly structured nature, with a top-down control approach, has fostered systemic inertia and resistance to change. However, this also means that with the right strategies, the system can be transformed into a more dynamic and adaptable one. Effective and sustainable reforms are not just the responsibility of policymakers and educational leaders. They require initial assessments of the status quo to identify genuine needs for change and to determine possible obstacles and available resources. Real change and innovation are promoted and supported by a clear definition and understanding of the factors that generate and maintain inertia and resistance to change. Identifying and understanding these complex mechanisms at both the organizational and individual levels should precede any change plan, emphasizing the crucial role of each individual in the process. To identify individual motivations that can generate opposition or resistance to potential change requests within the educational system, we conducted a study involving 293 in-service and pre-service teachers from the Department of Educational Sciences at the West University of Timisoara. The study utilized the Resistance to Change Scale developed by Oreg (2003), a widely recognized and validated tool, which evaluates the primary factors determining resistance to change: routine seeking, emotional reaction, short-term focus, and cognitive rigidity. This scale was administered through a structured questionnaire and the data was analyzed using statistical methods. This study revealed notable variations in attitudes toward change based on gender, residency, and professional status (in-service and pre-service teachers). These findings underscore the importance of addressing both systemic and individual factors to facilitate meaningful and lasting reforms in education. By understanding and mitigating the sources of resistance, educational leaders can implement strategies such as fostering a culture of innovation, providing professional development opportunities, and involving stakeholders in decision-making, that foster a more adaptable and innovative educational environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional development is a vital process enhancing inservice teachers' professional qualities. This case study investigated an in-service teacher's possible selves and factors influencing his professional development. The participant was a project-based teacher in a constructionism school in Bangkok, Thailand. He was selected as the subject for this study due to the rich data he shared with the researchers in a larger-scale research study. Semi-structured interviews and personal diaries were the main instruments employed to reveal his possible selves, goals, and investment in the professional developmental process. An interplay of possible selves and the factors involved were analyzed and presented using narrative inquiry techniques. The findings revealed that the teacher invested heavily in the professional development process to improve his project-based learning pedagogy and English proficiency. The congruence of his ideal and ought-to selves, his clear goal, and his positive attitudes toward professional development were clearly observed. This clearly influenced his investment in professional development. Implications and suggestions for the teacher's professional development and future research were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anadolu University Journal of Education Faculty (AUJEF) is the property of Anadolu Universitesi Egitim Fakultesi Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Numerous studies have demonstrated the significance of teacher self-efficacy and highlighted its strong association with benefits not only for teachers (performance, well-being) but also for students (achievement, motivation). The study is an attempt to explore self-efficacy sources of in-service teachers. To achieve this aim, 8 in-service teachers with different positions in a school in Min Bu, Myanmar were recruited to conduct an interview. Interview guide was developed based on the literature related to sources of self-efficacy. The collected interview data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings denote that good teaching experience, ideal teachers, life experiences, motivation to become a teacher, positive feelings about being a teacher, principal’s lead, professional development activities, received feedback on their teaching, and work experience act as sources of their self-efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports on the effectiveness and challenges of a formative assessment professional development program designed to address the challenges Kosovo teachers face in adequately using formative assessment in their classrooms. Selected teachers (n = 19) from Kosovo municipalities participated in the professional development training program. Data were collected from open-ended pre- and post-questionnaires, mentoring, and teacher portfolios. This mixed-methods approach utilized an inductive analysis approach. Positive results included teacher attitude changes toward and a better understanding of formative assessment and lesson planning. The study reveals the complexities of the cultural context in implementing peer and self assessment and the shifting of learning responsibility from teacher to student. Consequently, the study considers the impact of the cultural context on the many challenges teachers face in their practices. Thus, the study promotes further culturally contextual professional development to improve teacher practices, potentially impacting student outcomes and the educational system directly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The teaching of Euclidean geometry is characterized by ineffective instructional methods used by in-service teachers as well as the low proficiency levels by learners. The purpose of this study was to survey in-service mathematics teachers' GeoGebra integrative skills in the teaching of geometry. This study was quantitative and pre- and post-questionnaires were used to collect data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to perform statistical analysis of quantitative data. 12 schools were randomly selected, and purposive sampling was employed to select 29 in-service mathematics teachers. The study revealed that the intervention impacted positively on in-service teachers instructional strategies with a high statistical significance and a gain of medium to large effect size on both the pre- and post-intervention. After the training, participants felt that integrating GeoGebra in geometry teaching affords mathematics teachers the opportunity to use learner-centered approaches, teach geometry with confidence and maintain learners' attention and alertness in class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-service teachers' training programs are of serene significance for the capacity building of Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers. The aim of this study was to find out the effectiveness of an in-service teacher's training program in Punjab, a province of Pakistan, through Kirkpatrick's model. A survey was conducted based on a total of 935 in-service ECE teachers who had participated in the training program conducted by the Quaid-e-Azam Academy for Educational Development (QAED), Punjab. The Partial Least Square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was used to determine the hierarchical relationship between Kirkpatrick's model's four levels i.e. reaction, learning, behavior, and results as well as the moderating impact of the trainees' motivation to apply their training to their workplace. The researcher found trainees satisfied with the training program at four measured levels of Kirkpatrick's model. This study also found that trainees have the motivation to transfer training, which affects their learning and behavior to improve the work environment. The study would be useful for training designers to make training effective by selecting motivated trainees and designing training according to the utility and work environment needs of the trainees. Researchers can conduct future research about the effectiveness of in-service teachers' online training programs through Kirkpatrick's model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review consisted of 50 theoretical and empirical articles taking China as a specific case study for identifying efforts and challenges to teachers' digital competence, establishing an understanding of their use of concepts, disciplines, regions, methods, and analysis. The review follows the methodology based on the PRISMA statement and PICO strategy using the 2010–2023 search period. This research has four primary findings: (1) "teachers' ICT competency" and "teachers' information literacy" are the main terms used for describing teacher's use of technology for teaching and learning; (2) the current research mainly focused on investigating the status of teachers' digital competence, the influencing factors, and teacher training; (3) non-experimental study for the population of in-service teachers is the leading research directions related to teachers' digital competence in the context of China; (4) creating good ICT atmosphere by government and schools, conducting teacher training, and using good pedagogical strategies are three main proposals have been made to improve teachers' digital competence in China. The research findings provide the starting points for a subject of reflection and analysis of the Chinese teachers' digital competence status, and it can also support future empirical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teacher agency is an increasingly important area of research across different learning and professional development settings. In our study, we followed the ecological model of teacher agency and developed a questionnaire that allows us to differentiate eight dimensions of teacher agency. Confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable fit of the eight-factor model in two different domains where teachers often make decisions: planning of teaching and learning activities and using information and communication technologies in teaching. Comparisons of configural, metric, and scalar models revealed good metric invariance across pre-service and in-service teachers in both agency domains. However, scalar invariance was not supported. Therefore, the new questionnaire seems suitable and sensitive for assessing teacher agency in these groups separately, but comparisons of the groups should not be made.

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to examine the challenges experienced by in-service English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers in an open distance learning (ODL) institution of higher learning in Malaysia. Many in-service ESL teachers who do not have the necessary teaching qualifications are seeking to obtain their teaching qualifications via the ODL mode of studies as it allows them to work as teachers while obtaining their teaching qualifications at the same time. They face multiple challenges which lead to high attrition rates, a concern for ODL institutions of higher learning worldwide. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative research design using a case study approach was used in this study where in-depth interviews were conducted with four in-service ESL teachers who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) programme conducted via ODL. Findings – The research is exploratory in nature. Findings highlighted four major challenges by these in-service ESL teachers: (1) financial difficulties, (2) work commitments, (3) family sacrifices and (4) emotional stress. However, technological use was not considered a challenge as mentioned by literature. Practical implications – Findings from the study may be useful to ODL institutions to provide relevant support to ODL students to improve student retention rates in ODL institutions. Originality/value – This study may be considered as a baseline analysis on the challenges experienced by in-service ESL teachers in ODL institution of higher learning in Malaysia. Further in-depth studies are needed to understand how ODL institutions can better support their education programme students to complete their teacher education programmes.

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to provide a description as well as examples related to Essential 3 in the Second Edition of the NAPDS Nine Essentials.

This study compares the epistemological beliefs, teaching-learning conceptions, and sense of self-efficacy of pre-service and in-service English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers with an aim to find probable statistically significant differences. Using a mixed-methods research design, the study collected quantitative data through two questionnaires and one scale, and the qualitative data through open-response questions. The participants were 374 pre-service teachers and 192 in-service teachers. 42 of the pre-service teachers and 19 of the in-service teachers volunteered to answer the open-response questions. Descriptive statistical techniques, t test, and content analysis were used to analyze the data. The findings show that both groups of teachers had relatively more sophisticated beliefs in learning process/expert knowledge and learning effort. Both groups adopted the constructivist conception more than the traditional conception, and they felt efficacious in instructional strategies, student engagement and classroom management respectively. Both groups had moderate levels of self-efficacy in classroom management, student engagement, and instructional strategies. However, the comparative analysis showed some significant differences. In-service teachers exhibited slightly stronger beliefs in innate-fixed ability and certainty knowledge. Pre-service teachers had slightly higher scores in the constructivist conception while in-service teachers had higher scores in the traditional conception. Furthermore, in-service teachers displayed slightly higher self-efficacy in classroom management and instructional strategies.

Abstract The 2019 science results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that 8th-grade students, especially economically challenged and emergent bilingual students, made few gains in science and reading achievement. Researchers have found that scientific language may be a significant barrier to student comprehension. Researchers have advocated for integrating effective literacy strategies into the science curriculum to assist students in science and reading outcomes. We investigated the enactment of literacy-infused science strategies of a group of participating seventh-grade science teachers in a federally funded project following monthly virtual professional development sessions. Results indicated that teachers self-reported an overall increase in their use of literacy-infused science strategies after participating in monthly literacy-infused virtual professional development.

Purpose: Teacher content knowledge (CK) and its contribution to student achievement (SA) are understudied in physical education, especially concerning the examination of the effectiveness of professional development (PD) programs using direct measures of teachers' CK and SA. To make progress in this research area, this study investigated the contribution of a content-focused PD program to teachers' CK and SA in basketball, using direct measures thereof. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was utilized to examine the contribution of a PD program. The authors measured the CK of 52 elementary classroom teachers and their fifth or sixth grade students' (n = 913) achievement in basketball before and after the PD program. The data were analyzed using unilevel and multilevel regression analyses. Results: Teachers who participated in the PD program exhibited higher learning gains in their CK; their students also exhibited higher learning gains. Discussion and Conclusion: The study findings suggest that PD programs focused on enhancing teachers' CK might also support SA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex systems (CSs) have garnered increasing attention in science education due to their prevalence in the natural world and their importance in addressing pressing issues such as climate change, pandemics, and biodiversity loss. However, the instruments for assessing one’s CS knowledge are limited, and the knowledge of CSs among in-service teachers remains underreported. Guided by the complexity framework, we launched a study to develop and validate a survey instrument for measuring the knowledge of CSs among high school teachers and undergraduate students, as well as delineating the contours of their knowledge. In this article, we present the development and validation of a Complex Systems Knowledge Survey (CSKS), and we use the survey to compare the CS knowledge among 252 high school teachers and 418 undergraduate students in the United States. Our key findings include that (1) both high school teachers and undergraduates exhibit relatively low knowledge of decentralization and stochasticity, (2) undergraduates, especially those in non-STEM majors, demonstrate moderate to low knowledge of emergence, (3) few teachers and undergraduates differentiate between complicated and complex systems, and (4) teachers and undergraduates recognize CS examples across natural and social systems. The implications of our findings are discussed.

Purpose – This paper describes how a pre-service teacher’s knowledge and pedagogy changed as she documented her reflective practice while teaching arts-integrated lessons in a fifth-grade classroom during her pre-service teacher preparation program. The pre-service teacher spent three-months conducting an action research project in collaboration with a university mentor. Design/methodology/approach – This paper explores what she and her mentor learned as she prepared arts-integrated lesson plans based on the four studio structures for learning and analyzed them along with identifying and documenting evidence of deep learning through field notes and video recordings. Findings – Analysis of field notes, video recordings and lesson plans led the authors to take a deeper look at where the four studio structures for learning overlapped in the teaching event. In the data the intersections of the four studio structures shared a pattern of increased evidence of deep learning for the students. This paper describes the phenomenon in the classroom at various points of intersection. Research limitations/implications – This action research study is preliminary, and the findings are suggestive of further research that would require indexing what deep learning looks like and gathering and analyzing student data. Practical implications – It is recommended that teachers use the four studio structures to integrate the arts in their classrooms and to enhance and encourage creativity, communication, critical thinking, collaboration, character and culture and as teachers work toward deep learning for students. Originality/value – This case shows how a university partnership provides fertile ground for educators of all skills and experience to participate in the expansion of the field of education as well as personal and professional development.

Mathematics instruction in primary school has been influenced by many policy changes and empirical findings in the previous two decades. Geometry lessons, in particular, were re-evaluated due to a paradigm change and, consequently, were attributed a new meaning within the mathematics curriculum worldwide. The present paper focuses on this paradigm shift in the sense of the evaluation to what extent both the didactical potential and the practical value of geometry instruction in elementary education are currently recognised and utilised by primary grade teachers. In total, 120 primary grade teachers participated in the study. The results showed that there had been positive recognition of the didactical potential of school geometry by the teachers over the previous two decades; however, it lacked actual implementation in school practice for different reasons. The results are discussed not only with regard to the latter of these but also with regard to their theoretical and practical implications.

The aim of the paper is to identify different groups of in-service teachers based on their general pedagogical knowledge (GPK) and self-efficacy beliefs and to explore potential differences among these groups regarding their instructional quality and commitments to teaching. A sample of 161 in-service subject teachers (science, mathematics, or Estonian language) who taught in lower secondary schools in Estonia were included in the study. Data was collected with a GPK test and self-reported questionnaires on instructional quality and commitments to teaching in the context of an OECD Teacher Knowledge Survey. Based on the cluster analysis, three groups of in-service teachers were identified: “the over-confident” teachers with average self-efficacy and very low GPK, “the competent” teachers with high self-efficacy and GPK, and “the insecure” teachers with low self-efficacy and average GPK. These three types of teachers were different in terms of instructional quality and commitments to teaching. It seemed that teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs are more important than GPK for instructional quality; however, GPK is more important for teachers’ professional persistence illuminating their general sense of professional identity. Implications of these findings for teacher education and teacher retention will be discussed.

Technostress is an undesired consequence of information and communication technology (ICT) use and might negatively affect teachers. However, there is a lack of empirical research exploring the influences of technostress creators on teachers' ICT use. This study aims to bridge this gap by exploring the structural relationship among five technostress creators (ie, techno‐complexity, techno‐overload, techno‐invasion, techno‐insecurity, and techno‐uncertainty), teachers' attitudes toward ICT, and their ICT adoption intentions. The research model was developed based on existing literature and tested using structural equation modelling. Data were collected from 289 teachers from six public elementary and secondary schools in China. The results indicate that: (a) teachers' attitude toward ICT has a significant positive effect on their ICT adoption intentions; (b) techno‐insecurity and techno‐complexity have significant negative effects on teachers' attitude toward ICT and ICT adoption intentions, respectively; (c) techno‐invasion and techno‐overload have significant positive effects on teachers' attitude toward ICT and their ICT adoption intentions, respectively; (d) techno‐uncertainty has a significant positive effect on both teachers' attitude toward ICT and their ICT adoption intentions; (e) compared to younger teachers, the attitude of teachers aged 45 and above toward ICT are more negatively affected by techno‐insecurity. Implications for the management of technostress creators are discussed. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Technostress negatively influences teachers' acceptance and adoption intention of ICT.The influences of specific technostress creators may differ.There is a lack of empirical research exploring the exact influences of technostress creators on teachers' ICT use.What the paper adds Techno‐insecurity and techno‐complexity negatively affect teachers' attitudes toward ICT and ICT adoption intentions, respectively.Techno‐invasion and techno‐overload positively affect teachers' attitudes toward ICT and their ICT adoption intentions, respectively.Techno‐uncertainty significantly positively affects teachers' attitudes toward ICT and ICT adoption intentions.The attitude of teachers aged 45 and above toward ICT is more negatively affected by techno‐insecurity.Implications for practice and/or policy Schools should provide adequate end‐user training, a friendly technical help desk, and teacher‐oriented psychological counselling programs concerning technostress to mitigate teachers' techno‐complexity and techno‐insecurity.School administrators should take measures, such as providing timely upgrades and continuous maintenance services, to ensure the reliability and accessibility of technologies.It is necessary for school ICT support staff to guide teachers, especially teachers aged 45 and above, to take positive coping strategies, such as venting, seeking social support and engaging in technical training, to deal with techno‐insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines in-service mathematics teachers' problems on linear relationships that they posed in a semi-structured problem posing situation with a group and their ideas about the factors affecting the quality of the posed problems. Eight groups of 24 teachers participated in the study. Teachers' problems, written group work, and class discussion all served as sources of data for this study. The data was mainly analyzed through qualitative methods. The results demonstrate that seven groups' problems were invalid because the problems did not meet the given conditions in the problem posing task. Their problems mostly lacked key mathematical concepts related to linear graphs, such as linearity, slopes, and y-intercepts. In class discussion, teachers dealt with the following factors that affect the quality of posed problems: misunderstanding of the problem posing situation, making inappropriate mathematical decisions, and using improper mathematical language. This study revealed that more content-focused practices are necessary to support teachers' problem posing skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research from Sheehy (2016) found that in-service educators are increasingly disengaging from the scholarly field. This paper highlights and critiques paradigmatic approaches used to disseminate scholarly research in music education which ostensibly lead to teacher disengagement, including the use of academic language, issues of accessibility, and the "printable" formats of scholarly texts. It utilizes Reynolds' (2009) discussion of factors which led to the development of the musical genre "post-punk" as a framework to critique, compare, and discuss how discourses of social media may inform the development of innovative scholarly research dissemination methods. In doing so a new "genre" of scholarly publication which is informed by normative academic practices and those associated with social media is both proposed and exemplified. It is argued that these proposed innovative dissemination methods have the potential to reengage in-service educators within the scholarly field; and foster academic publications which are considered more engaging, accessible, and relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Scientiae (1517-4492) is the property of Acta Scientiae and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Scientiae (1517-4492) is the property of Acta Scientiae and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract The outbreak of COVID-19 has greatly influenced conventional language learning and teaching, leading to a rapid transformation toward online learning and teaching. In many places, language learners and teachers experienced a sudden shift to online instruction with limited resources and inadequate preparation. This study examines the challenges and strategies that Saudi Arabian English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers experienced in online language teaching and explores how they dealt with such challenges for the implementation of online language teaching. It also identifies ways to help language teachers be more effective in online teaching and better respond to emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. The verification of these challenges and strategies in online settings provides insights into how to teach languages better online. The results of the study indicate that online language teaching was accepted as a professional practice, which has benefits such as flexibility and accessibility, but also poses pedagogical and technical issues. Online language teaching requires context-specific strategies, including maintaining student motivation and continuing professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of teachers’ motivations for participating in training is central in any education system because it shapes the system’s capacity to adapt to the rapidly changing reality. The aim of this paper is to estimate the prevalence of this motivation among Romanian teachers and to identify certain predictors beyond such motivations for training enrolment. Our paper contributes to the understanding of Romanian in-service teachers’ participation in training in relation to the desire to comply with the management’s expectations. The method involves an online national survey conducted in 2021 with approximately 5,000 in-service teachers. Our study’s results indicate that 38.6% assessed compliance with management expectations as a high motivation to participate in training. The profile of the Romanian ‘conformist’ teachers has several distinctive characteristics: higher interest in career advancement, higher satisfaction with the existent financial mechanisms for attending training, lower level of qualification and lower self-evaluated difficulties in blended teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed at developing a reliable scale to determine in-service language teachers' perceptions about teaching pronunciation and contributing to the English Language Teaching (ELT) field. The participants of the study consisted of 132 English language instructors working in 42 secondary and high schools in the 2021 to 2022 academic year in North Cyprus. The conducted Exploratory Factor Analyses revealed that the scale consisted of five factors and 24 items. Besides that, the Confirmatory Factor Analysis results confirmed the 5-factor structure. Furthermore, it was proven that the whole scale and its sub-dimensions are highly reliable and suitable for the implementation in determining in-service language teachers' perceptions of pronunciation teaching (χ2/ df = 1.314). It is believed that the newly developed scale would help researchers more reliably investigate perceptions of teaching pronunciation in various contexts. Plain Language Summary: Pronunciation Teaching Perception Scale (PTPS) for In-service Teachers This research aimed at developing a valid and reliable scale to determine in-service language teachers' perceptions about teaching pronunciation and contributing to the English Language Teaching (ELT) field. The participants of the study consisted of 132 English language instructors working in 42 secondary and high schools in North Cyprus in the 2021-2022 academic year. The conducted Exploratory Factor Analyses revealed that the scale consisted of 5 factors and 24 items. Besides that, the Confirmatory Factor Analysis results confirmed the 5-factor structure. Furthermore, it was proven that the whole scale and its sub-dimensions are highly reliable and suitable for the implementation in determining in-service language teachers' perceptions of pronunciation teaching (χ2/df=1.314). It is believed that the newly developed scale would help researchers more reliably investigate perceptions of teaching pronunciation in various contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, distance teaching brought on unforeseen challenges around the world, including classroom-based assessment practice. However, little attention has been paid to teachers' assessment practice and their identity as assessor in the new teaching situation. This study examines Chinese K-12 in-service EFL teachers' assessment practice and their identity as assessor in the pandemic. Three rounds of semi-structured interviews were used to probe six in-service teachers. The findings revealed that three major online assessment practices were implemented in response to the challenges: (1) remaining unaltered in online assessment practice; (2) being proactive in formative assessment; (3) provision of online feedback. Results also showed that there were three types of assessment identity that could be identified, namely, positive negotiator, flexible facilitator and struggling follower. The findings indicated assessment practice and assessment identity reciprocally influenced each other in a new assessment context. Different identities might lead to different assessment practice with varied and mixed emotions attached to it. Moreover, varying identities interacted with each other on medicating their online assessment practice. Plain language summary: In this study, six in-service EFL teachers' assessment experiences during Covid-19 are reported, offering in-depth reflections on how the challenges can be met by other in-service teachers. The findings are valuable for all stakeholders to understand that teachers need a more emotional support in dealing with the new assessment environment. It revealed a wide range of online assessment practices, including remaining unaltered, being supportive of formative assessment and provision of online feedback. In addition, their assessment identity can be understood as positive negotiator, flexible facilitator and struggling follower. Among these participants, most of them were not hindered by the constraints of the pandemic; instead, they made use of their agency and devoted themselves to their work. In this process, they encountered uncertainties, conflicts and challenges, but also gained strength and confidence through them, building their assessment identity in positive ways. Moreover, different identities may lead to different assessment practice accompanied by mixed emotions. Tensions exist in the process of identity construction. In this sense, teacher assessment training programs should help in-service teachers become more aware of their identity as assessor. They also need longer hours to be more fully engaged in online assessment practice to learn to confront the complexities and challenges of assessment practice, and (re)construct their identity as assessors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This reflective action research documents the mutual learning experiences of three education stakeholders as they construct their language assessment literacy (LAL). A teacher educator, an inservice teacher, and a preservice teacher were the three stakeholders who took part in a project on language assessment development for ESOL students at a public school in the United States. In this project, with the help of inservice ESOL teachers, preservice ESOL teachers designed and implemented listening and writing assessments for local middle school ESOL students. During and after the project, one of the participating inservice teachers, one preservice teacher, and the teacher educator voluntarily participated in extended reflective practices via email communications, on-site visits, and pre- and post-project discussions. All stakeholders perceived the collaboration as a mutual learning experience to enhance their LAL while sharing their respective expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basic Psychological Needs (BPN) in blended learning has become a crucial precursor in promoting the harmony of competence, relatedness and autonomy for both traditional and online learning approaches. This mixed study aims to investigate in-service teachers' and learners' perspectives of BPN fulfillment and its issues under the context of blended professional training. A total of 60 in-service teachers and 120 secondary school students from 24 provinces in Indonesia participated in the study. Construct validity of the questionnaire was established using exploratory factor analysis. Findings using the non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test showed no significant differences between in-service teachers' and learners' perspectives of the in-service teachers' BPN. Learners believed that the in-service teachers' fulfillment of relatedness and competence was low in connecting to other people using IT, online care, online teachers' adornment, and learning new skills. The interview with both groups of participants depicted that in some points, the learners perceived that their in-service teachers BPN of relatedness made them unsatisfied with low online care, empathy, and massive online tasks. Suggestion to harmonize these issues and their pedagogical implications for the second language (L2) curriculum and teacher training program in Indonesia and similar contexts were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Belief in neuromyths (misconceptions in neuroscience) adversely effects the field of motor therapies. Methods based on disproved developmental theories or misinterpreted neural mechanisms claim to improve non-motor functions of children (e.g., cognitive functions, learning performance) without scientific basis. In this study, we aimed to introduce the prevalence of movement-related neuromyths. We used the Hungarian Neuroeducation Questionnaire (MANEK, 2022), which included 13 movement-related statements. Study sample consisted of pre-service (n = 822, age: 29.65 ± 9.93 years) and in-service teachers (n = 734, age: 48.05 ± 9.3 years). Of the 13 statements, pre-service teachers judged an average of 8 while in-service teachers an average of 10 incorrectly (Median = 8, CI = 7.6-7.97 and Median = 10, CI = 9.34-9.66, respectively). For 12 of the 13 statements, in-service teachers had a higher rate of incorrect answers. In both subsamples, the neuromyth "Exercises that rehearse co-ordination of motor-perception skills can improve literacy skills" was judged incorrectly by the highest proportion (89.7% of pre-service teachers and 95.8% of in-service teachers). The high prevalence of neuromyths highlights the need for communication of evidence-based information in this field. Movement-related neuromyths support the application of (movement) therapies of questionable effectiveness that require significant financial and energy inputs and consume time on the expense of evidence-based interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to measure the level of integration of ICT in teaching, learning, and assessment practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. We propose measuring teachers' attitude, self-efficacy, and skills in using technology because the quality of education during the pandemic was influenced by these factors. An online questionnaire was distributed amongst 189 teachers from all levels of education, from kindergarten to high school, and the sample was described using the means, distribution, and number of years of experience in education. The statistical analyses employed for the quantitative data included correlational study and mediation analysis. We found a correlation between gender, environment, barrier level and teachers' attitude, self-efficacy, and skills. Also, the teachers' attitude mediates the association between ICT skills and ICT integration in the educational process. The results reveal high positive scores in terms of ICT integration in teaching practices, teachers' attitude, self-efficacy, and ICT skills. The novelty of this research is that this is the first time a questionnaire based on attitude, self-efficacy, ICT skills, and ICT integration in the classroom has been applied in the northern Moldavian region of Romania, and the results underline the educational implications for in-service teacher training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differentiated instruction (DI) has been introduced as a viable approach for accommodating the diverse learning needs of students in the same classroom. Despite the significant advantages attributed to this approach, it can still be a challenge for teachers to incorporate DI into practice. This study examined the lived experiences and perceptions of teachers regarding the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on their differentiation practices. Purposive sampling was used, and 40 in-service primary and secondary school teachers in Hong Kong were recruited. Hybrid thematic analysis was implemented to examine data from the semi-structured interviews carried out in both face-to-face and online formats. Drawing on the five-dimensional model of differentiation as a conceptual framework, the findings were organized into five thematic areas: (1) teaching arrangements, (2) learning environment, (3) teaching methods, (4) support materials, and (5) assessment. The perceptions of teachers, both positive and negative, regarding the impact of the pandemic on DI were categorized into sub-themes. The results indicated that while the pandemic brought about considerable obstacles for educators in practicing DI, it also opened up opportunities for new approaches to meeting the diverse needs of students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2019 science results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that 8th-grade students, especially economically challenged and emergent bilingual students, made few gains in science and reading achievement. Researchers have found that scientific language may be a significant barrier to student comprehension. Researchers have advocated for integrating effective literacy strategies into the science curriculum to assist students in science and reading outcomes. We investigated the enactment of literacy-infused science strategies of a group of participating seventh-grade science teachers in a federally funded project following monthly virtual professional development sessions. Results indicated that teachers self-reported an overall increase in their use of literacy-infused science strategies after participating in monthly literacy-infused virtual professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Courses in teacher training programmes, especially science method courses, play a major role in the development of beliefs. Because children's science learning starts in preschool years, it is critical to investigate early childhood teachers' beliefs about scientists and science teaching. The purpose of this study was to describe, document, and then compare the pre-service and in-service early childhood teachers' beliefs about scientists and science teaching. A causal-comparative design with unequal sample sizes was used. The independent variables were the type of service, pre-service or in-service. The dependent variable was the score obtained on the 'Draw a Scientist Test' and the 'Draw a Science Teacher Test'. The sample consisted of 139 pre-service and in-service early childhood teachers. Pre-service teachers were studying in a teacher-training programme at a major research university and in-service teachers were working in public schools in the south part of Turkey. The results indicate that inservice teachers held more stereotypical images than pre-service teachers about scientists. In addition, pre-service teachers had positive belief of scientists while in the training programme, but in-service teachers lacked this positive belief. A key implication of the study is that more professional training for in-service teachers should be offered within professional development programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional identity development (PID) of school music teachers is critical to teacher community sustainability, the quality of school music practices, and the long-term well-being of the music education system. While in-service music teacher training strengthens the occupational aspects of teachers' identity, the iterative PID process is both content-dependent and context-dependent. Using a framework based on the Surveys of Enacted Curriculum (SEC), this study explored school music teachers' PID profiles in Mainland China after a 10-year implementation of the National Teacher Training Program (NTTP). Prominent characteristics of teachers' PID were analysed regarding self-efficacy, belief, professional commitment, and task orientation, relating to self-report and observed classroom instructional practices. Statistical analysis showed high coverage of curriculum content in teachers' daily instructional practices, while minor differences are evident among groups by region, grade band, and years of teaching. The impact of NTTP on PID and implications for in-service music teacher training are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]