Prospective teachers' initial conceptions about pupils' understanding of science and mathematics

Earlier reports have shown that prospective teachers' conceptions about teaching science to a high degree are resistant and do not change substantially during the teacher‐training programme. In our investigation we elucidate the prospective teachers' initial conceptions about pupils' understanding of science and mathematics. We applied ‘The Lesson Preparation Method' and used a phenomenographic approach in order to reveal the range of conceptions that the prospective teachers hold. A third of the prospective teachers did not consider pupils' conceptions when planning lessons. The rest of the 32 participants expressed awareness; some of the prospective teachers even referred to subject‐specific teaching experience. Also regarding the prospective teachers' conceptions about pupils' knowledge and beliefs, as well as about pupils' difficulties, there was a significant diversity. By raising these issues about pedagogical content knowledge the prospective teachers' conceptions can be extended and developed during the education.     

大学教师教学观与大学生学习风格的相关研究

教师的教学观和大学生学习风格是教学研究中非常重要的课题。本文主要运用笔者自编的“大学生学习方式量袈’以及在对国外几个有关教学观调查量表基础上设计的“教师教学观量表”,调查了西安交通大学2003级504名本科生的学习风格以及他们感知的教师的教学观的基本情况,在此基础上,从学生的视角探讨了教师教学观与学生学习风格之间的关系。研究表明：教师的教学观可以分为两类,即信息传递的教学观和促进学习的教学观;教师的教学观对学生的学习风格具有显著影响。当教师持信息传递的教学观,认为教学仅仅是以传递知识为目的时,学生更可能采用再现导向的学习方式,这将不利于学生学习成绩的提高;当教师持促进学习的教学观,认为教学的目的在于帮助学生发展并改变自己的观念时,学生就会倾向于采用意义导向和情景导向的学习方式,这将有利于学生学习成绩的提高。     

Patterns of development in second-career teachers' conceptions of teaching and learning

This study was aimed at deepening our understanding of second-career teachers' conceptions of teaching and learning. Initial conceptions held by 207 candidates entering an alternative teacher education programme were explored using a semi-structured questionnaire covering background characteristics and four themes concerning teaching and learning. A limited number of distinct conceptions could be identified and related to respondents' background characteristics. After the first semester of the programme, three patterns of development were found in a subset of 69 participants: growth, consolidation and regression. Pedagogical implications for fostering growth in second-career teachers are discussed.     

Prospective teachers' conceptions of teaching and learning revealed through metaphor analysis

This study investigated the metaphors that prospective teachers in Turkey (N = 1,142) formulated to describe the concept of “teacher”. Participants completed the prompt “A teacher is like… because…” by focusing on only one metaphor to indicate their conceptualization of teaching and learning. Altogether 64 valid personal metaphors were analyzed and 10 main conceptual themes were identified. Significant associations were detected between participants' gender and study program type and six of the conceptual themes. Metaphors seem to provide a powerful cognitive tool in gaining insight into prospective teachers' professional thinking.     

The growing gap between colombian education policy, official claims and classroom realities: insights from mathematics teachers' conceptions of beginning algebra and its teaching purpose

Since 1994 when the General Law of Education was issued, educational authorities have been claiming that Colombia has embarked on an educational revolution [‘La revolución educativa’ (n.d.). From the Colombian Ministry of Education website: . Retrieved 23 Nov 2004] where schools have curricular autonomy, and are to improve the quality of education by attending to the needs of the communities they serve. Teachers are urged to engage in a continuous process of constructing the curriculum which is to be anchored in the fundamental aim of educating critical citizens. The findings of this study carried out with the participation of 13 mathematics teachers with a range of teaching experiences and from different schools in Bogotá, show a totally different picture. Instead, for the teaching of school algebra, teachers emphasised the purpose of training pupils in the manipulation of symbolic expressions, as the prerequisite knowledge for the next school mathematics level and ultimately for the External Examination. I offer explanations for the identified gap and argue for the crucial need to create conditions for change at the education systemic level and for the actual empowerment of teachers.     

新课程理念下的初中数学思想方法教学的思考

初中数学思想方法教学活动在遵循目标性、层次性、计划性、系统性、参与性原则下,应结合数学课程标准,努力提高数学教师自身的数学思想方法素养;结合数学知识,将数学思想方法有机地渗透到教学计划和教案内容之中;结合数学问题,在问题解决的探究过程中激活数学思想方法;结合“过程教学”模式,把发现和创造的思维与方法教给学生。     

Trainee teachers' conceptions of teaching and learning,classroom layout and exam design

The objective of this study centres on identifying and classifying the conceptions of teaching and learning held by future secondary school teachers, and on analysing the relationship between these conceptions and the way classroom space is organized and exams are designed. The test instruments used were applied to a sample of 138 graduates, who were all following the Pedagogical Aptitude Course (CAP) during the academic year 2002/03. Results show that the more traditional teaching/learning models are related to a more vertical classroom layout. Significant correlations between beliefs and exam demands were also found.     

The change of teachers' conceptions: A strategy for inservice science teachers' education

This paper presents an evaluation of the design and implementation of a course for inservice science teachers, which was undertaken in Seville (1988, Spain) by requirement of the Ministry of Education and based on a didactic model named “Research at School”. The research was designed to evaluate and test the validity of this activity as a strategy to inform teacher educators, and also to encourage their professional development.     

Assessment policy and practice effects on New Zealand and Queensland teachers' conceptions of teaching

Teachers' thinking about four conceptions of teaching (i.e., apprenticeship‐developmental, nurturing, social reform, and transmission) were captured using the Teaching Perspectives Inventory (TPI). New Zealand and Queensland have very similar teaching‐related policies and practices but differences around assessment policies and practices are expected to influence teachers' conceptions of teaching. Results from two surveys (New Zealand primary (n = 241) and Queensland primary (n = 784) and secondary (n = 614) teachers) found acceptably fitting models. TPI models were not invariant between primary and secondary teachers in Queensland while the models for primary teachers in Queensland and New Zealand were partially invariant. There were only small differences in mean perspectives scores, except for transmission, which elicited large differences.     

Undergraduates’ conceptions of mathematics teaching and learning: an empirical study

Educational Studies in Mathematics - Previous research in mathematics education has explored teachers’ conceptions of mathematics and its teaching and learning, and how their instructional...     

高校英语教师信念与教学行为的个案研究

教师信念不仅会影响教师的教学行为,还对教师自身的提高和发展都起着很大的作用。当前英语教师的专业发展研究是高等教育研究中的热门话题,而对高校英语教师信念的调查可以帮助教师明确自己内隐的教学信念,对自己的教学信念进行反思和调整,从而正确指导自己的教学行为。因此,本研究采取个案研究法,对目前高校英语教师信念对教学行为的影响进行深入探讨。     

The emerging of teachers' conceptions of new subjects inserted in mathematics programs: the case of informatics

The changes in mathematical curricula induced by the introduction of informatics in school represent the general framework of this research. In particular we focus on the teacher's role by analysing the different choices taken by mathematics teachers when faced with a curriculum reform induced by the introduction of informatics in secondary school courses (age 14–16). Our hypothesis is that these choices are the consequence of conceptions teachers have about informatics and its teaching in relation to the teaching of mathematics. Thus, through a case study research method, we focus on mathematics teachers' conceptions of informatics and its teaching. An attempt is made at outlining a typology of these conceptions, based on the different orientations identified.     

Teachers' conceptions of excellent teaching and its relationships to self-reported teaching practices

This study surveyed Chinese middle school (n = 951) teachers' conceptions of excellent teaching and examined the relationship of those conceptions to their self-reported teaching practices. Responses were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. These teachers identified one examination-oriented dimension and four interactive, pedagogical dimensions of excellent teaching and four dimensions of teaching practice. The structural model indicated a high consistency rate (83%) between teachers' conceptions of excellent teaching and the corresponding self-reported practices. Implications for teaching standards, teacher professional development, and examination system are discussed.     

信息化环境下的大学英语教师教学现状及建议

本文分析信息化环境下的大学英语教师教学现状,分析原因,并提出了建议。     

Similarities and differences in teachers' beliefs about effective teaching of mathematics: Japan and Hawai'i

This paper examines the similarities and differences in beliefs about the effective teaching of mathematics held by teachers from two different socio-cultural backgrounds: Tokyo, Japan and Hawai'i, U.S.A. Data were collected using a part of the Teacher General Classroom Process Questionnaire (Grade 8) of the Second IEA Mathematics Study. Validation and interpretation of the data collected were based on classroom observations and interviews. The results indicate that while there are some similarities in beliefs of what constitutes effective teaching, the differences are greater. These differences appear to reflect the difference in the teachers' socio-cultural environment. In particular, the differences appear in classroom management, face-saving strategies, and providing for individual needs and differences.     

提高高校英语师范生自我探究式教学能力研究

本文旨在研究如何培养高校英语师范生的自我探究式教学能力。文章首先介绍了英语师范生自我探究式教学能力现状,其次提出解决现存问题的方法,最后就高校如何培养英语师范生的自我探究式教学能力进行讨论。     

The scholarship of teaching: A comparison of conceptions held by experts and regular academic staff

Over the past decade the scholarship ofteaching has received considerable attention inthe higher education literature as a reactionto the widely cited Carnegie Foundation'sreport ``Scholarship Reconsidered'; however, theconcept has remained devoid of a unifieddefinition. A recent Delphi study conductedwith a selective group of scholars whoseexpertise lies in the area of universityteaching and learning indicated the extent towhich these ``experts' agreed with each other onimportant features and unresolved issues theyassociate with the scholarship of teaching. Building on the results of the Delphi study,the present article discusses the results of asecond survey comparing these ``experts' 'conceptions with those of a larger group ofscholars whose expertise lies in a differentacademic field (``regular academic staff'), inorder to identify the similarities anddifferences in the conceptions of thescholarship of teaching held by each of the twogroups. While regular academic staff werefound to associate the scholarship of teachingmore with good or effectiveteaching ``experts' pointed to notions such aspeer review and scholarly standards. Thediscussion of the results focuses on the notionof consensus reached within and betweenthe two groups. It is argued that in order topromote changes in policy with respect to whatis to count as scholarship, identifying andreporting ``experts' ' conceptions, thoughclearly necessary for promoting moreenlightened discussions on the issue, willremain insufficient. Policy change in academeis more likely to ensue as a result of thewider academic community reaching consensus onthe meaning, and nature, of the scholarship ofteaching. The wider academic community includes``experts', as well as colleagues in departmentsand disciplinary associations. The articleconcludes by exploring the notion of consensusthrough the lens of critical social theory.     

高校英语教师教学学术影响因素探析

随着我国教育事业的蓬勃发展,为社会各个行业输送了大量优秀人才,新课标教育事业改革提倡学生综合素质全面发展,注重教学质量,促使我国教育事业健康持续发展。教学质量是衡量一个教师,乃至一个学校教育水平高低的重要指标。但是随着科学技术的快速发展,对于社会经济持续增长作出了更大的贡献,我国高等院校开始逐渐朝着重科研方向发展,降低对教学质量的重视。这一问题的出现,引起了国外相关学者的关注和重视,并针对性的提出了教学学术理论,通过对教学学术的一系列论证研究,企图有机整合教学和科研两者之间的关系,并在美国以及加拿大的高校教育中进行实际应用,在实践中取得了较为可观的成效。由此,本文主要就高校英语教师教学学术影响因素进行分析,结合实际情况,阐明两者之间内在的联系,以求为后续研究提供参考价值。     

匈牙利小学英语教育实践及启示

通过问卷调查、听课、采访获得的资料,简要描绘匈牙利小学英语教育实践,陈述其长处和不足,提出匈牙利小学英语教育实践对我国正在推行的小学英语教育的启示。