Collaborative Action Research on Technology Integration for Science Learning

This paper briefly reports the outcomes of an action research inquiry on the use of blogs, MS PowerPoint [PPT], and the Internet as learning tools with a science class of sixth graders for project-based learning. Multiple sources of data were essential to triangulate the key findings articulated in this paper. Corresponding to previous studies, the incorporation of technology and project-based learning could motivate students in self-directed exploration. The students were excited about the autonomy over what to learn and the use of PPT to express what they learned. Differing from previous studies, the findings pointed to the lack information literacy among students. The students lacked information evaluation skills, note-taking and information synthesis. All these findings imply the importance of teaching students about information literacy and visual literacy when introducing information technology into the classroom. The authors suggest that further research should focus on how to break the culture of “copy-and-paste” by teaching the skills of note-taking and synthesis through inquiry projects for science learning. Also, further research on teacher professional development should focus on using collaboration action research as a framework for re-designing graduate courses for science teachers in order to enhance classroom technology integration.     

Communication Intervention for Students with Severe Disability: results of a partner training program

This paper reports on the evaluation of a professional development program designed for communication partners of students with severe disability. The program aimed to facilitate the translation of reported best practice in the area of communication to classroom practice. A model of case application was used to enhance partner acquisition of targeted skills and knowledge, thereby addressing perceived concerns in this area. Participants including teachers, teacher aides, and speech pathologists completed pre‐ and post‐intervention questionnaires measuring skills, knowledge, and concerns. Data were analysed on the basis of participant role to determine the significance of change between groups. Results suggest that the professional development program was effective. Teachers and teacher aides reported increased skills and knowledge, accompanied by reduced concerns. Speech pathologists indicated minimal change in either area. These findings are explored in the context of the current research literature on partner training in communication intervention.     

Decision Making and Sources of Knowledge: How Students Tackle Integrated Tasks in Science,Technology and Mathematics

This article reports on students' decision making processes and sources of knowledge in an integrated teaching and learning setting. The study was conducted in a Year 9 classroom as students undertook a 10-week solar-powered boat project and were exposed to related concepts from science, technology and mathematics. Data collection involved detailed case studies of three pairs of students, interviews, classroom observation and analysis of the artefacts and portfolios produced by the students. Students were found to access knowledge from a variety of sources, including teacher's notes from formal instruction, informal interactions with the teacher, observation of and interaction with other students, as well as sources outside the classroom. However, the utility of the knowledge sources was influenced by the nature of the task. When students were performing open-ended tasks, they drew on a wider variety of knowledge sources than when they were performing less open tasks. Moreover, subject discipline-based sources often were not as helpful in solving open tasks. The study leads to several important implications for designing teaching and learning in integrated curriculum settings.     

Teachers' personal practical knowledge on the professional knowledge landscape

Though research on teaching has a long history, teacher knowledge research is relatively recent, mostly occurring in the 1980s and 1990s. Teacher knowledge research is part of a revolution in how educators think about classroom practice. In contrast to the concern for teacher characteristics and teaching/learning methods, the assumption in teacher knowledge research is that the most important area is what teachers know and how their knowing is expressed in teaching. There are several lines of such research. In this paper we describe one line of research focused on teachers' personal practical knowledge as it is developed and expressed on the professional knowledge landscape. In the paper we outline the methodology for undertaking this type of research. The methodology is illustrated by a case study of a teacher in China.     

An Investigation of Science Teaching Practices in Indonesian Rural Secondary Schools

This study reports on teaching practices in science classrooms of Indonesian lower secondary schools in rural areas. Using six schools from three districts in the province of Kalimantan Selatan as the sample, this study found that most teaching practices in science classrooms in rural schools were teacher-centred with students copying notes. However, the study also found unique teaching practices of an exemplary science teacher whose teaching style can be described as both student-centred and teacher-centred, with students encouraged to be active learners. Four features of exemplary teaching practices were identified: The teacher managed the classroom effectively; used a variety of questioning techniques; employed various teaching approaches instead of traditional methods; and created a favourable learning environment. Data from classroom observations, interviews with teachers, and students responses to a questionnaire were used to compare the exemplary teacher and his colleagues. This study identified internal factors that may affect teaching practices such as a teachers content knowledge and beliefs about teaching. Compared to the other teachers, the exemplary teacher possessed more content knowledge and had a relatively stronger belief in his ability to teach.     

Teacher interpersonal competence for Dutch secondary multicultural classrooms

In the Netherlands, as in many European countries, classrooms display a growing cultural diversity. There are only very limited empirically supported data on the interpersonal competence teachers need in Dutch classrooms and studies from other countries cannot be generalized because of differences in the composition of the student population. This paper reports on an exploratory study in two schools on teachers' experiences in multicultural classes followed by an in‐depth case study of one expert teacher. We use this study to answer the question to what degree this teacher displays interpersonal competence (teaching behaviours, knowledge and attitudes) specific for teaching in multicultural classrooms by comparing this teacher's competence with generic interpersonal teaching competence. The teacher studied seems to be aware of special needs of students from different cultures and to use this knowledge to apply specific teaching strategies and interpersonal cues to create a positive classroom atmosphere and to cater for needs of diverse students. Further, the results indicate that many elements of this teacher's interpersonal competence in teaching a multicultural class can be considered aspects of generic teaching competence. It seems that the multicultural classroom puts heavier demands on this competence than a less diverse classroom.     

试论知识分类学说与“信息科技”学科教学

文章通过对认知心理学的知识分类学说理论阐述,并结合对中学"信息科技"学科教学的现状进行分析,提出了教师在"信息科技"学科教学实践中,要善于运用知识分类学说来解决学科教学中出现的问题的观点。特别是指出了"信息科技"学科的课堂教学中,教师要激发学生的学习兴趣,有效引导学生的课堂注意和学习预期。教师要努力调动学生各方面因素,促进对新知识的巩固及对知识和技能获得过程的理解。教师要在教学中不断加强变式练习,更好地使学生实现知识的转化。教师要重视学生学习方法指导,帮助学生学会学习。     

浅谈高职学生英语写作策略

由于高职学生的英语基础薄弱,缺乏写作知识和技巧,学习动机不强,导致了英语写作教学客观上存在一些难度。然而,如果老师在课堂上合理地运用一些教学的策略,就能够激发学生的写作兴趣,帮助学生树立信心,并提高英语写作水平。     

调动学生学习热情,提高语文课堂教学效率

语文课堂教学的目标是使学生获取知识、形成技能、训练思维和养成良好的学习习惯,而调动学生学习热情是达到这一目标的主要途径之一。要想切实提高语文课堂教学效率,就要把情绪融入课堂,运用富有情感的语言和节奏,创设民主、和谐的课堂环境,并把＂讨论＂带入课堂,把＂深度＂带入课堂,把多样的教学方式用于课堂,以期全面调动学生的学习热情。     

Enhancing Teachers' Technological Knowledge and Assessment Practices to Enhance Student Learning in Technology: A Two-year Classroom Study

This paper reports on a two-year classroom investigation of primary school (Years 1–8) technology education. The first year of the project explored emerging classroom practices in technology. In the second year intervention strategies were developed to enhance teaching, learning and assessment practices. Findings from the first year revealed that assessment was often seen in terms of social and managerial aspects, such as teamwork, turn taking and co-operative skills, rather than procedural and conceptual technological aspects. Existing formative interactions with students distorted the learning away from the procedural and conceptual aspects of the subject. The second year explored the development of teachers' technological knowledge in order to enhance formative assessment practices in technology, to inform classroom practice in technology, and to enhance student learning. Intervention strategies were designed to enhance the development of procedural, conceptual, societal and technical aspects of technology for teachers and students. The results from this intervention were very positive. This paper highlights the importance of developing teacher expertise pertaining to broad concepts of technology, detailed concepts in different technological areas and general pedagogical knowledge. The findings from this research therefore have implications for thinking about teaching, learning and assessment in technology.     

Student formation in higher education: teachers’ approaches matter

Teaching in higher education encompasses more than merely helping students develop knowledge and skills. It entails engaging students in their own formation as persons, professionals and citizens. From this perspective, this article investigates how approaches to teaching academic writing contribute to formation. By analysing a case from initial teacher education in Norway, we identify and examine one teacher educator’s beliefs about writing and his approaches to teaching writing. Theoretical framework rests on six discourses of writing developed by Roz Ivani? and on the formative possibilities and constraints embedded in these different literacy discourses. Thus, we provide students’ experien-ces with this teacher’s approaches and discuss what formation his approaches seem to have initiated. The findings point to the need for more critical reflection on the formative impact of teaching approaches in higher education more generally.     

走向核心知识教学:高效课堂教学的时代意蕴

当代课堂教学正悄然步入花样时代,繁琐的教学环节、中转式的教学过程就是这一教学时代的两大特征。从核心知识教学入手,开展"课堂瘦身"行动,全力构筑一种"节能减排"式的绿色课堂与高效课堂是时代的要求。核心知识是每个教学活动单元中必须让学生掌握、理解、探明的主要知识技能,它是教师实施课堂瘦身手术的底线与尺度。走向简明课堂是核心知识教学的实践框架,是课堂教学摆脱"分裂症"困扰的良方。     

Measuring practical knowledge among prospective and current teachers of deaf and hard of hearing students

Research on teaching and teacher research has a long history. However, in the field of the education of deaf and hard of hearing students, this research is limited. The study addresses one particular area of research on teaching and teacher research: practical knowledge of teachers of deaf and hard of hearing students. Practical knowledge is defined as how educators think about their classroom practice. By means of a survey designed and tested by the researcher, four hierarchical groups (beginning education students, graduating education students, novice teachers, and experienced teachers) in the education of deaf and hard of hearing students were surveyed on their practical knowledge. Practical knowledge codified as images, rules of practice, and practical principles. Results were measured to demonstrate for categories and characteristics of practical knowledge storage among prospective and current teachers of deaf and hard of hearing students. The instrument was designed as an assessment tool to measure aspects of this knowledge, apply it to levels of pedagogical expertise, and expand research in this area.     

课堂学习共同体的有效建构——以高级语言程序设计(VB)课程为例

在分析研究学习共同体的内涵和教学实际的基础上,从学习环境、教师学习共同体、教学内容、教学过程、对话协作方式和学习评价等六个方面提出了构建课堂学习共同体的具体策略,经高级语言程序设计(VB)课程两年的教学实践,既保证了在有限课时内开展协作交流促进学生知识内化的可能,又有效地解决了学习程序设计入门难、大班教学中有效教学监管和遏止作业抄袭等问题,使学习者能力得到全面发展。     

外语教师在课堂教学中的角色转换

当前我国外语教学改革的重要课题之一,是深入研究教师在课堂教学中所应扮演的角色,并迅速完成其角色转换。外语教师应该花大力气去研究如何引起学生学和帮助学生学,以培养能力为目标,进行精心细致的备课,用实践活动作课堂教学的主线,使外语课堂教学从知识灌输型转化为能力培养型。如此,则必然给外语课堂教学带来革命性变化,实现大幅度提高外语教学质量的目标。     

生活化体育教学:让学生在快乐中成长

初中体育教学在“教师讲解与学生训练”的单调模式下,逐渐走向给学生一种“枯燥、乏味”的课堂体验之中。为了有效解决这一教学困境,让学生更好地体验体育课堂和更高效地掌握体育知识技能,体育教师需及时引入生活化教学理念,从教学目标、体育器材、教学内容、教学方法、教学评价等方面做出改变,逐渐去实现初中体育教学的生活化。     

Uncovering Multivariate Structure in Classroom Observations in the Presence of Rater Errors

We examine the factor structure of scores from the CLASS‐S protocol obtained from observations of middle school classroom teaching. Factor analysis has been used to support both interpretations of scores from classroom observation protocols, like CLASS‐S, and the theories about teaching that underlie them. However, classroom observations contain multiple sources of error, most predominantly rater errors. We demonstrate that errors in scores made by two raters on the same lesson have a factor structure that is distinct from the factor structure at the teacher level. Consequently, the “standard” approach of analyzing on teacher‐level average dimension scores can yield incorrect inferences about the factor structure at the teacher level and possibly misleading evidence about the validity of scores and theories of teaching. We consider alternative hierarchical estimation approaches designed to prevent the contamination of estimated teacher‐level factors. These alternative approaches find a teacher‐level factor structure for CLASS‐S that consists of strongly correlated support and classroom management factors. Our results have implications for future studies using factor analysis on classroom observation data to develop validity evidence and test theories of teaching and for practitioners who rely on the results of such studies to support their use and interpretation of the classroom observation scores.