Professional development,teaching, and lifelong learning: the implications for higher education

This article will address three issues relating to professional development and lifelong learning. The context of the discussion is teaching, research and learning with respect to the researcher teacher within higher education in the UK. A definition of professional development is given, and used to explain how it may contribute to the process of teaching, research and learning. Considering teaching as part of scholarship helps the discussion. Underpinning the discussion is the premise that professional development is essential to the role of the researcher teacher, and has significant implications for lifelong learning for those involved in higher education.     

Investigating changes in pedagogical knowledge and skills from pre-service to the initial year of teaching

This study examined the levels of pedagogical knowledge and skills as perceived by student teachers who were enrolled in the Post Graduate Diploma in Education program at the National Institute of Education, Singapore, from the beginning of their initial teacher preparation program to the end of their first year of teaching. Their perceptions were assessed using the Pedagogical Knowledge and Skills in Teaching (PKST) survey which comprised six factors, namely, Student Learning, Lesson Planning, Instructional Support, Accomodating Diversity, Classroom Management, and Care and Concern. A sample of 812 student teachers participated in the study. The MANOVA conducted showed that there were significant increases in both their pedagogical knowledge and skills in teaching in all six factors from the start of their initial teacher preparation (ITP) program till the end of their first year of teaching. However, between the exit from the program to the end of the first year of teaching, they only perceived that their level of pedagogical knowledge in classroom management and care and concern continued to increase significantly. In the case of self-perceived skills, their level increased significantly between entry and exit of the program for all factors, except for care and concern, while the increase between the exit and first year of teaching was significant for all six factors. These results may have implications for preservice teacher education and this will be discussed in this article.     

多元化人才培养与基础课程教学ABC模式

根据教师的教学方法和理念,以及学生的专业方向、学习方法和能力等方面存在的差异,可把基础课程的教学模式分为ABC三个类型。在先进而灵活的教学管理手段和科学的人才培养质量评价体系的支撑下,师生间通过实行双向选择,自由选择不同类型的教学模式,从而实现真正意义上的因材施教和学生的个性化发展,全面提高基础课程的教学质量,以培养出更多的多元化人才和精英人才。     

Understanding the Use of Student-Centered Teaching Methods in Undergraduate Chemistry Courses

A growing body of research suggests that student-centered teaching methods are associated with positive learning outcomes for undergraduate students. Yet, the extent of their use and factors leading to their adoption in fields, such as chemistry, continue to be under-explored. Utilizing survey data collected during 2015, we begin to fill this gap, first by considering the degree to which faculty and instructors use and plan to use various student-centered teaching methods in their undergraduate chemistry courses. Then, we examine three potential factors that may help us understand variation in (1) use of and (2) intentions to implement student-centered methods: attitudes toward teaching methods; teaching approaches; and institutional characteristics. Importantly, our findings suggest attitudes and individual teaching approaches are significant predictors of the use and intention to implement student-centered methods in the classroom. Perhaps surprisingly, several institutional factors examined (such as class size, percentage of time spent teaching, and type of institution) play no significant role. Given the positive student outcomes associated with various student-centered methods reported in literature, these findings suggest potential avenues for faculty and instructors’ professional development toward further implementation of these methods.

     

有效开展思想政治理论课实践教学的几点思考

思想政治理论课实践教学是高校思想政治理论课教学的重要组成部分,深入研究思想政治理论课实践教学的保障机制,教学模式和有效形式,对于增强高校思想政治理论课教学的有效性,对于大学生在实践活动中的自我养成教育具有重要的意义。     

语言实验室的优化管理与应用

语言学习系统是外语电化教学的重要手段。得益于科学的进步,多媒体技术不断地引入语言实验室中。合理地利用好多媒体辅助教学技术,充分提高语言实验室的优化管理与应用水平,可以使教学更为形象直观、活泼生动,从而吸引学生的兴趣和注意力,并激发其求知欲望和智力思维。     

Initial teacher education and trauma and violence informed care in the classroom: Preliminary results from an online teacher education course

A trauma-and-violence-informed-care (TVIC) system within an educational setting provides a framework of practice that enables schools to become safe and inclusive places for some of the most vulnerable students. Initial teacher education may provide the opportunity to prepare teachers to create classrooms and learning experiences that are safe, equitable, and meet students' needs. A mandatory mental health literacy course for second year teacher candidates in a Bachelor of Education program (n = 287) at a large Canadian university introduced TVIC concepts. A case study approach was used to illustrate both the challenges that students exposed to trauma and/or violence can experience, as well as strategies and knowledge that teachers can use to support these students. This program evaluation used a repeated measures design to survey both attitudes toward trauma informed care for teachers and self-efficacy for teaching using inclusive practices before and after the course. A significant effect of time on both measures revealed an increase in both participants' attitudes toward TVIC and their self-efficacy in using inclusive teaching practices. These findings provide support for the inclusion of these important topics for all teacher candidates. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.     

Pre‐service Teachers' Conceptions about Teaching and Learning: A closer look at Singapore cultural context

A questionnaire was administered to 313 teacher education students of the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore to examine their conceptions about teaching and learning. Two dimensions were identified, viz. traditional and constructivist conceptions about teaching and learning. While both conceptions were prevailing, there was a greater tendency for students to hold a constructivist conception about teaching and learning. Multivariate data analysis showed that there were significant differences in the two conceptions about teaching and learning across program groups, among different race groups, with respect to qualifications, but no significant differences for age, gender and subject groups. Explanations were sought in the ambit of educational initiatives and cultural premises. Implications were also drawn for future development and planning in teacher education.     

大学语文双语教学初探

在我国高校的大学语文教学过程中实施英汉双语教学,具有重要的现实意义和价值。这主要体现在以下四个方面：可以开辟教学改革的新方向,可以激发学生的学习兴趣,可以契合学生的现实需求;可以提升教师的教学素质。     

Introduction of vertical integration and case-based learning in anatomy for undergraduate physical therapy and occupational therapy students

The purpose of the present pilot study was to evaluate the benefits of innovative teaching methodologies introduced to final year occupational and physical therapy students in Christian Medical College in India. Students' satisfactions along the long-term retention of knowledge and clinical application of the respiratory anatomy have been assessed. The final year undergraduate physical therapy and occupational therapy students had respiratory anatomy teaching over two sessions. The teaching involved case-based learning and integrated anatomy lectures (vertical integration) with the Anatomy department. Pretest and immediate and follow-up post-tests were conducted to assess the effectiveness of the innovative methods. A feedback questionnaire was marked to grade case-based learning. The method of integrated and case-based teaching was appreciated and found to be useful in imparting knowledge to the students. Students retained the gained knowledge adequately and the same was inferred by statistically significant improvement in both post-test scores. Vertical integration of anatomy in the final year reinforces their existing knowledge of anatomy. Case-based learning may facilitate the development of effective and clinically sound therapists.     

大学教师有效教学行为的学科差异与共性特征

基于2019年《中国本科教与学调查China College Teaching&Learning Survey(CCTL)》数据,根据学科知识特征分析不同学科教学发现:我国大学教师教学行为存在显著的学科差异,总体上人文学科与理学的学生评分高于工科、农医艺学科及社会科学;针对同类院校的学科差异分析发现,当前我国偏应用类学科的本科教学可能存在更多问题。因此,本科教学改革须重视:一是尊重应用型学科的知识特点,构建教师关注实践教学与研究的激励性制度;二是搭建产学研合作平台,提升应用型学科教师的教学能力。     

现代信息技术与英语课程整合的理论与实践研究

随着现代信息技术的全面普及,建构信息技术与英语课程整合环境下的新型英语教学模式已是当务之急。信息技术与课程整合是改变传统教育教学结构、实施创新人才培养的一条有效途径,也是国内外课程改革的发展趋势。结合信息技术与课程整合实验,研究在实践中应该注意的问题,并从理论和实践的角度提出解决问题的具体方法,以及创建一种新型的教学模式的阶段性构想,有助于信息技术与英语课程的合理整合。     

论全纳性教育课堂教学资源的有效利用

全纳性教育课堂教学对象存在的客观性、广泛性决定了在教学过程中只有合理、有效地利用教学资源,才能在最大程度上开发所有学生尤其是特殊需要学生的个性潜能,使它们获得全面和谐的发展。全纳性教育课堂教学资源的有效利用,能在一定程度上为全纳教育课堂教学顺利实施提供一定的借鉴意义。     

The Strengths and Problems of Schema Approach to Reading and ESL Learning and Teaching

The introduction and development of schema models plays a significant role in second language reading.It has a profound impact on the field.Of course,schema approach has its own aspects that it is good at dealing with. These aspects may have a number of advantages both for students and teachers such as raising awareness of the importance of cultural differences,background knowledge,giving guidelines to students' learning and teachers' teaching of vocabulary and grammatical knowledge.By considering the limitations of their application to TESOL,and by evaluating the good points,some directions about second language teaching will be suggested.     

Distance teaching: innovation,individual concerns and staff development

A great deal of attention has been paid to the development of instructional materials appropriate to distance teaching. In contrast, problems concerning the development of academic staff in this area have been largely neglected. There seems to be no obvious reason for this omission, as for many academics the production of materials for distance teaching is an entirely novel experience. In other words it is an innovation, which, as such, is likely to have significant effects on individuals. An example of the likely effects of innovation on individuals may be found in the ‘Concerns‐Based Adoption Model’ (CBAM), originally developed by Gene Hall and his associates in the University of Texas.

It follows that any attempt to significantly develop materials for distance teaching must be related to the individuals involved in the innovation. This article explores this relationship through consideration of a staff development model based on the levels of concern of participants and the requirements of sound instructional design.     

Teacher Testing and the Improvement of Practice

Previous approaches to teacher testing have been criticized for poorly representing the knowledge base for teaching, for oversimplifying teaching decisions, and for lacking criterion-related validity evidence supporting their use. A new generation of teacher assessments has been developed in the United States through the efforts of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and a corollary organization of more than 30 states. These performance-based assessments use videotapes of teachers' practice, examples of lessons and assessments, samples of student work, and analyses of classroom events and outcomes to provide evidence about teaching. Early research on the effects of these assessments suggests that they may be more valid measures of teacher knowledge and skill and that they may help teachers improve their practice. The stimulus to teacher learning appears to occur through task structures that require teachers to learn new content and teaching strategies as part of their demonstration of performance and through the processes of required reflection about the relationships between learning and teaching.     

构建实践类课程“3C”教学模式研究

实践类课程是专业教学计划的重要组成部分,是培养学生实践操作能力的重要环节,如何提高实践类课程的教学效果也是最近教学改革的热点话题。以课堂案例分析、模拟实训比赛、公司实岗操作三方面为一体的“3C”教学模式,能全面激发学生的积极性、创造性和潜能,从而实现实践类课程的应用性和适应性功能。     

The nootropic concept and dyslexia

A review is presented of controlled studies using intensive teaching intervention to improve dyslexics’ reading ability. The results of eight controlled studies reveal only one showing the superiority of teaching. Taking this as a background, the work on Nootropics is reviewed. Both animal and clinical work with Piracetam (the first of the Nootropics) seems to indicate that this medication lacks significant or serious side effects and appears to promote memory and learning. Many double-blind studies of Piracetam have now been conducted on dyslexic children. These studies suggest that Piracetam improves the reading ability of dyslexics. In addition electrophysiological studies support the notion that Piracetam may be “left hemisphere active.” Such encouraging trends will doubtless lead to further research in this interesting area.     

Comparative analysis of expectancies of efficacy in in-service and prospective teachers

This study examines the beliefs about effective teaching in student teachers and inservice teachers. We constructed a measurement composed of an adaptation in Spanish of the Gibson and Dembo's (1984. Teacher efficacy: A construct validation. Journal of Educational Psychology, 76, 569–582). Teacher Efficacy Scale and of the items included in Emmer and Hickman's (1991. Teacher efficacy in classroom management and discipline. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 51, 755–765) “classroom management/discipline efficacy” dimension. A total of 339 participants took part in the study. The factor analysis carried out of the results obtained showed three principal factors: classroom management/discipline efficacy, personal teaching efficacy and general teaching efficacy. Analyses which compared efficacy expectancies showed significant differences in the management and discipline dimension in favour of the group of working teachers, whereas an opposite pattern emerged in the general teaching dimension. In addition, there were differences in the management/discipline dimension in terms of the number of years’ experience in the group of inservice teachers. The interpretation of the results is expressed in terms of the Bandura's perceived self-efficacy theory. We also indicate some implications that the analysis of these expectancies may have for the training and professional development of teachers, and we suggest lines for future research.     

Teaching criteria that matter in university academic promotions

While many universities have taken steps to recognise teaching in academic promotions, debate continues on the teaching criteria to be used and their evaluation. This article analyses the 10 criteria that inform the evaluation of teaching and eventual promotion decisions at a South African university: rationale for teaching, teaching methods, postgraduate supervision, assessment, student evaluations, peer evaluations, ongoing study of higher education, developing courses, sharing teaching experiences and special recognition of teaching. The study investigated which criteria, if any, were significant in the overall evaluation of teaching and in academic promotion outcomes for different rank levels. The unexpected key finding was that each of the criteria demonstrated statistically significant correlations and differences with both teaching evaluations and promotion outcomes. While all 10 teaching criteria mattered in the evaluation of teaching and academic promotion outcomes, postgraduate supervision and sharing teaching experiences were especially important for those who were successful at the rank of full professor. A multidimensional approach that rigorously assesses multiple criteria in evaluating teaching at all rank levels, including the professoriate, contributes to its credence and currency in academic promotions. Analyses of actual assessments of teaching criteria and their relation to promotion outcomes can contribute to consensus on evaluating teaching.