Teaching Kids to Care about Jewish Problems: A Noddings’ Approach

Drawing on Noddings’ work on religion and education (1993), moral education (2002), and citizenship education (2005\, 2015), this article contemplates how educators both in public schools and parochial Jewish schools might teach students to care about critical issues confronting the Jewish community historically and contemporarily. Its premise is that the teaching of the Jewish experience is presently deficient in both school settings. The article suggests ways that Noddings’ conceptions of caring (1992), pedagogical neutrality (1993), and critical lessons (2006) can be adapted and applied to the teaching of Jewish civilization in more appropriate, holistic, and nuanced ways. Its implications are applicable to many other American subgroups whose treatment in the social studies curriculum is typically inadequate.     

A Field Guide to Heidegger: Understanding ‘The Question Concerning Technology’

This essay serves as a guide for scholars, especially those in education, who want to gain a better understanding of Heidegger's essay, ‘The Question Concerning Technology’. The paper has three sections: an interpretive summary, a critical commentary, and some remarks on Heidegger scholarship in education. Since Heidegger's writing style is rather opaque, the interpretive summary serves as a map with which to navigate the essay. The critical commentary offers a careful analysis of some of the central concepts in the essay. These concepts, which include bringing‐forth, challenging‐forth, and gestell, are intriguing but problematic. The problems and possibilities of these ideas are analyzed, and an overall assessment of Heidegger's ideas on technology is offered. In the final section, the work of several scholars in education is examined. Some of this work is excellent, but there is also a significant amount of confused and confusing scholarship.     

Lexical Approach to English Teaching

0. Introduction 　　Advances in computer analysis of the English language have shown that lexical patterns are widespread in language use. Some researchers call them “lexical phrases“ (Nattinger and DeCarrico,1992) or “lexical chunks“ (Lewis, 1993); others use the term “multi-word chunks“ or just “chunks“of language. Whatever the terms are, they are characteristic of language use and language acquisition and present advantages for language teaching and learning. The lexical approach to English teaching has received interest in recent years as an alternative to grammar-based approaches. The lexical approach concentrates on developing learners‘ skills in understanding and using words and word combinations.……     

Teaching Nature of Science to Preservice Science Teachers: A Phenomenographic Study of Chinese Teacher Educators’ Conceptions

Drawing from the phenomenographic perspective, this study investigated Chinese science teacher educators’ conceptions of teaching nature of science (NOS) to preservice science teachers through two semi-structured interviews. The subjects were twenty-four science teacher educators in the developed regions in China. Five key dimensions emerged from the data on the conceptions of teaching NOS, including value of teaching NOS, NOS content to be taught, incorporation of NOS instruction in courses, learning of NOS, and role of the teacher. While some of these dimensions share much similarity with those reported in the studies of conceptions of teaching in general, some are distinctively different, which is embedded in some unique features of teaching NOS to preservice science teachers. These key dimensions can constitute the valuable components of the module or course to train science teachers or teacher educators to teach NOS, provide a framework to interpret the practice of teaching NOS, as well as lay a foundation for probing the conceptions of teaching NOS of other groups of subjects (e.g., school teachers’ conceptions of teaching NOS) or in other contexts (e.g., teaching NOS to in-service teacher).     

Bolzano‘s Approach to the Paradoxes of Infinity: Implications for Teaching

In this paper we analyze excerpts of Paradoxes of the Infinite, the posthumous work of Bernard Bolzano (1781–1848), in order to show that Georg Cantor‘s (1845–1918) approach to the problem of defining actual mathematical infinity is not the most natural. In fact, Bolzano‘s approach to the paradoxes of infinity is more intuitive, while remaining internally coherent. Bolzano‘s approach, however, had limitations. We discuss implications for teaching, which include a better understanding of the responses of students to situations involving actual mathematical infinity, for it is possible to draw a kind of parallel between these responses and Bolzano‘s reasoning.     

From Implementation to Efficacy: Factors Affecting Kenyan Secondary Teachers’ Technology Integration

Teaching is a complex practice that requires teachers to draw upon their content knowledge, pedagogical approaches and strategies, and knowledge about learners in order to support learning. Integrating technology into the teaching and learning practice of a classroom is a strategy that many teachers are drawing upon. This article reports on the initial findings on information communication technology (ICT) implementation in Kenyan secondary schools and discusses factors affecting effective technology integration. The study used questionnaire and classroom observation data to examine what types of ICTs for education are available in secondary schools in Kenya and what training teachers have had in using ICTs for education; teachers’ perspectives regarding the role of ICT in teaching and learning; and what factors might influence ICT integration in teaching and learning in public secondary schools in Kenya. The study found that while few teachers are integrating ICT into their teaching and learning, many teachers are implementing ICT in their teaching.     

An IcLL Approach to English Language Teaching to Improve Learners’ICC

Language is learned to communicate, but how to use it appropriately is far more important. Since language and culture have an inextricable link in between, to improve the students’Intercultural communi...     

Does Thoughtfully Adaptive Teaching Actually Exist? A Challenge to Teacher Educators

In this article, we explore the roots of thoughtfully adaptive teaching in reflection. Drawing on the conceptual work of Dewey and Schon, we examine reflective practice in teaching as a tool for resistance against institutional pressures to standardize teaching practices. We describe 2 programs of research related to this topic. One program of research is focused on teacher adaptations to practice in the classroom. The second program of research is focused on coaching teachers to develop strategies for thoughtfully adaptive teaching. We draw on the work of Janks around deconstruction and reconstruction for critical teaching practices.     

An Approach to Teaching Oral English

Introduction English has become an international language in the world. In the 21st century, information and communication and the globalization of the economy enable people all over the world to communicate with     

A New Two-Step Approach for Hands-On Teaching of Gene Technology: Effects on Students’ Activities During Experimentation in an Outreach Gene Technology Lab

Emphasis on improving higher level biology education continues. A new two-step approach to the experimental phases within an outreach gene technology lab, derived from cognitive load theory, is presented. We compared our approach using a quasi-experimental design with the conventional one-step mode. The difference consisted of additional focused discussions combined with students writing down their ideas (step one) prior to starting any experimental procedure (step two). We monitored students’ activities during the experimental phases by continuously videotaping 20 work groups within each approach (N = 131). Subsequent classification of students’ activities yielded 10 categories (with well-fitting intra- and inter-observer scores with respect to reliability). Based on the students’ individual time budgets, we evaluated students’ roles during experimentation from their prevalent activities (by independently using two cluster analysis methods). Independently of the approach, two common clusters emerged, which we labeled as ‘all-rounders’ and as ‘passive students’, and two clusters specific to each approach: ‘observers’ as well as ‘high-experimenters’ were identified only within the one-step approach whereas under the two-step conditions ‘managers’ and ‘scribes’ were identified. Potential changes in group-leadership style during experimentation are discussed, and conclusions for optimizing science teaching are drawn.     

Communicative Approach to English Language Teaching

As China develops and is more frequently in contact with foreign countries, people have come to realize that traditional English teaching method can no longer meet the needs of development Since 1970s, the communicative approach has been paid much attention and widely employed in foreign language teaching. This article gives an account of the definition of communicative approach and the application of it in ELT. The writer also put forward some suggestions or criteria for teachers to take in the end of this article.     

An Ic LL Approach to English Language Teaching to Improve Learners’ ICC

Language is learned to communicate, but how to use it appropriately is far more important. Since language and culture have an inextricable link in between, to improve the students’ Intercultural communicative competence(ICC), issues on integrating an intercultural approach into ELT classroom has been long debated and studied in foreign language teaching field. This paper will start with the definition of ICC, analyze the correlation between language and culture then offer valuable suggestions on how to integrate Ic LL approach into ELT in China.     

Grammar Experimental Practice:Inductive Approach in Teaching ’Passive Voice’

Teachers are always in search of better ways to suit a variety of language needs and learning skills.The inductive approach allows the learners to examine samples of language first and discover the rules by themselves.That is to say,the learners generalize the rules from the particular.As a new approach in teaching grammar,the process of the inductive activities challenges and motivates many learners.The purpose of this essay is to examine the inductive approach applied in a microteaching grammar class and to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the procedure,and then to identify the ways in which it may be successfully adopted in future teaching proactive.     

Teaching: A Job or a Profession? The Perceptions of Educators

Researchers designed a study to investigate educators’ perceptions about whether teaching is a job or a profession. A survey was developed to investigate factors such as individual definitions of a job and a profession, years of experience teaching, grade level or category of education, and individual perceptions of a profession. The respondents were 401 upper-level undergraduate preservice teachers and graduate students who were professional educators. Data collected showed many aspects of individuals’ perceptions of teaching including control of teaching and working situations, ethics, and personal perceptions of being a professional. Based on the findings from the study, researchers concluded that educators believe teaching is a profession.     

Educators’ Perceived Importance of Web 2.0 Technology Applications

This research study was designed to examine the degree of perceived importance of interactive technology applications among various groups of certified educators; the degree to which education professionals utilized interactive online technology applications and to determine if there was a significant difference between the different groups based on demographic data. Overall, certified education professionals felt virtual learning networks, video sharing and online event scheduling were the most important educational Web 2.0 applications; while, social bookmarks, social networks and music were the least important. The overall sum score for the perceived level of importance for the Web 2.0 applications by business educators as compared to all educators was significant at the .05 level, F (1, 811)?=?4.4622, p?=?.035 and by physical/health educators as compared to all educators was significant at the .05 level, F (1, 812)?=?11.186, p?=?.001 . Current position, gender, age, type of school, highest degree and certification level were all significant for the perceived level of educational importance of the Web 2.0 applications.     

Technology Integration in a Science Classroom: Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions

The challenge of preparing students for the information age has prompted administrators to increase technology in the public schools. Yet despite the increased availability of technology in schools, few teachers are integrating technology for instructional purposes. Preservice teachers must be equipped with adequate content knowledge of technology to create an advantageous learning experience in science classrooms. To understand preservice teachers’ conceptions of technology integration, this research study explored 15 elementary science methods students’ definitions of technology and their attitudes toward incorporating technology into their teaching. The phenomenological study took place in a science methods course that was based on a constructivist approach to teaching and learning science through science activities and class discussions, with an emphasis on a teacher beliefs framework. Data were collected throughout the semester, including an open-ended pre/post-technology integration survey, lesson plans, and reflections on activities conducted throughout the course. Through a qualitative analysis, we identified improvements in students’ technology definitions, increased technology incorporation into science lesson plans, and favorable attitudes toward technology integration in science teaching after instruction. This research project demonstrates that positive changes in beliefs and behaviors relating to technology integration in science instruction among preservice teachers are possible through explicit instruction.     

Teachers’ Beliefs About Grading Practices and a Constructivist Approach to Teaching

We examined novice teachers’ beliefs about grading and constructivist teaching approaches. Adapting an existing instrument designed to assess preservice teachers’ grading beliefs that deviate from recommended practices, we administered the Survey of Grading Beliefs to 203 inservice teachers. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 3-factor model with a structure similar to that found in prior research; differences between the 2 samples were noted. Teachers who endorsed grading beliefs characterized as “academic enabling” tended to endorse constructivist teaching approaches. To better understand the underlying reasoning of the academic enabling factor, we conducted qualitative research with 6 additional teachers. Results revealed that teachers’ reasons for grading judgments were strategic, analytical, and thoughtful, not haphazard. This study provides empirical evidence about the nature of novice teachers’ beliefs about grading, how they relate to constructivist teaching beliefs, and how they may compare to the beliefs of preservice teachers.