Actions and Conceptions: Exploring Initial Literacy Teaching Practice for Adults

Given that it is a delicate task to meet the educational needs of adult emergent readers in a second language setting, this study serves to explore the teaching practice of teachers working with learners of initial literacy and second language. Based on a situated learning perspective, data from 16 lesson observations of nine teachers is analysed. The findings show that teachers initiate and negotiate learning activities, strive to get the students to understand words and other symbols, facilitate participation within and outside the classroom and negotiate the acceptable student behaviour. These findings suggest that Literacy Education and Second Language Learning for Adults (LESLLA) teaching and learning is a particular practice, where the teachers’ actions are intertwined with those of the learners and with the teachers’ conceptions of the learners. In that way, the teachers’ actions do not only speak of the learners, but also of their own professional identity.     

个性化教学与大学英语教师的自我发展

基于差异教学理论的大学英语个性化教学模式就是首先要了解学习者,其次教师的作用不仅仅是指挥课堂,更是为学习者创造学习场景,帮助学习者学习。大学英语个性化教学并不拘于某种具体教学方式或方法,而是一种兼顾差异的教育理念。它向大学英语教师提出了很高的要求,更需要教师重视自我能力发展与职业发展计划。因此,从这个角度考察大学英语教师的自我发展具有实践与理论的双重意义。     

Becoming a Teacher of Mathematics

For many years I have engaged future mathematics teachers in activities that focus on emotional dimensions of their learning. Even those teachers who were able to reconstruct themselves as learners of mathematics had difficulties with changing their practice. Through a series of autobiographical stories, I examine my own experiences as a teacher and a learner. These stories—one from a computer class, one from a workshop for elementary teachers, one from college, and one from eighth grade—serve as data from which I draw themes that capture the tensions that I experience as I teach. Sharing these tensions with mathematics teachers has had an impact on the way the teachers talk about their teaching and promises to change how they teach. The paper is written to encourage teacher educators to adopt the practice of sharing teaching and learning stories with their students.     

基于成人自我效能感提升的教学策略研究

成人教学的实践表明,自我效能感是影响成人学习的重要心理因素,个体自我效能感水平在很大程度上影响着成人学习者的学业成就。本文在分析影响个体自我效能感的因素和利用教学提升成人自我效能感的必要性的基础上,从教师和学生的角度,探讨如何在成人教学中提升成人学习者的自我效能感。     

Delving deeper into the black box: formative assessment,inclusion and learners on the autism spectrum

This paper explores the implementation of formative assessment through the ‘autism lens’ in order to analyse why the process can be exclusionary for some learners on the autism spectrum. The central thesis of the paper is that, where teachers have no understanding of the autism learning style, they are likely to revert to a normative, ‘majoritarian’ construction of learning. Two problems may flow from this. First, majoritarian assumptions about learning could dominate the inferential process that is the foundation stone of formative assessment. This could lead teachers to mis-read what is going on inside the heads of learners on the autism spectrum, and cause them to make partial and inaccurate inferences about their learning. Second, majoritarian assumptions may also inform the interactive process that underpins formative assessment. Social interaction can be challenging for learners on the autism spectrum and can limit or exclude their participation unless sensitive modifications are made to the social and communication environment. The case is, therefore, made for teacher awareness of a ‘minoritarian’ perspective that foregrounds knowledge and understanding of the autism learning style. Arguably, this knowledge and understanding could enable teachers to adapt the formative assessment process so that it is more effective and inclusive for this group of learners.     

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.     

论合作学习任务型英语教学法中教师角色

合作学习任务型教学是指教师通过引导语言学习者合作完成任务来进行的教学。合作学习任务型教学的关键在于教师如何发挥中介作用,如何驾驭学习者,指导学生自主学习,完成任务。让学生充分实践,这样,学生才会真正成为学习的主人。     

Learning to teach science for all in the elementary grades: What do preservice teachers bring?

Implicit in the goal of recent reforms is the question: What does it mean to prepare teachers to teach “science for all”? Through a teacher research study, I have encountered characteristics that may assist prospective elementary teachers in developing effective, inclusive science instruction. I describe these strengths, link them to requirements for teaching, and suggest how science teacher educators might draw on the strengths of their own students to support teaching practices aimed at universal scientific literacy. My conceptual framework is constructed from scholarship concerning best practice in elementary science education, as well as that which describes the dispositions of successful teachers of diverse learners. This study is based on a model of teacher research framed by the concept of “research as praxis” and phenomenological research methodology. The findings describe the research participants' strengths thematically as propensity for inquiry, attention to children, and awareness of school/society relationships. I view these as potentially productive aspects of knowledge and dispositions about science and about children that I could draw on to further students' development as elementary science teachers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 39: 845–869, 2002     

Student teachers’ team teaching: how do learners in the classroom experience team-taught lessons by student teachers?

This study focuses on student teachers’ team teaching. Two team teaching models (sequential and parallel teaching) were applied by 14 student teachers in a quasi-experimental design. When implementing new teaching models, it is important to take into account the perspectives of all actors involved. Although learners are key actors in the teaching process, their perspective is often ignored. Therefore, the central research question is: How do learners experience sequential and parallel teaching? A questionnaire was administered to the 229 learners participating in the experiment. Exploratory factor analysis and multilevel analysis revealed that both models were evaluated positively. However, parallel teaching scored significantly higher on advantages whereas sequential teaching scored higher on disadvantages. Quantitative content analysis revealed additional information. Benefits of parallel teaching were high levels of concentration and involvement and a positive atmosphere. In sequential teaching, learners appreciated the additional support and variation. Disadvantages of sequential teaching referred to the fact that it was confusing and to differences between both teachers. Learners in parallel teaching disliked the splitting of the class group. They were concerned that both learner groups would not be treated equally. These findings reveal that from the learners’ perspective, parallel teaching should be preferred above sequential teaching.     

案例教学在教育学教学中的应用

案例教学是教育者本着理论与实际有机整合的宗旨，遵循教学目的的要求，以案例为基本素材，将学习者引入一个特定事件的真实情境中，通过学生主体性的学习，培养学生反思、创新能力，使理论与实际紧密结合的一种有效教学形式。案例教学是通过分析、讨论和总结案例三个阶段进行，是弥补当前教育学教学不足的有效形式。     

论成人英语语音教学策略

进入WTO后，国内对英语培训的需求将空前增加，而成人英语培训更是一个不可忽视的巨大市场。成人英语培训中，语音部分的教学是最为基础也是比较难实施的。只有充分考虑成人英语教学的特点，并科学利用成人在英语学习方面的优势，同时又帮助他们有效克服成人英语学习的障碍，才能使成人语音教学取得良好的效果。     

论韦尔福特的“感觉—运动”操作模式在声乐教学中的运用及启发

韦尔福特的"感觉—运动"模式揭示了动作技能形成过程中感觉系统和运动系统的运行模式。根据韦尔福特"感觉—运动"模式操作中应注意的心理学问题,在声乐教学实践中应注意四个方面:要加强感觉刺激的强度和独特性;保持学生高度集中的注意力,在歌唱技能形成的不同阶段有不同的侧重点,技能练习中应遵循重复和反馈的原则。从而使声乐教师更加科学地从心理学角度掌握声乐技能的形成规律,以更好地提高声乐教学效果。     

Understanding the role of learning and teaching support materials in enabling learning for all

There are many assumptions about the ways in which textbooks and other learning and teaching support materials (LTSM) can contribute to improved learning outcomes in many international contexts. These can focus on ways that they can implement the school curriculum, often in lieu of good pedagogical practice. Drawing on case studies from Rwanda and South Africa, the complexity of the role of LTSM as part of classroom enactment is shown. The discussion suggests that there are enabling factors to this including support for teachers’ use of LTSM and the availability of materials to all learners. A framework is presented in which LTSM, teachers and learners can become equal partners in teaching and learning, but only when adequate language and other pedagogical support structures are provided. Conclusions consider the potential impact for LTSM use when it is elevated to a medium that is accessible and useful to both teachers and learners.     

Considering teaching in higher education as a practice

At a time when learning and teaching in higher education have become the focus of increasing attention and high priority is being accorded to the attainment of excellence in teaching there is a growing concern that teaching is being reduced to the acquisition of a set of competencies. This paper will draw on the work of Alasdair MacIntyre to explore the nature of a practice and of teaching as a practice, and then draw on a case study of teachers in a higher education institute in Ireland to gain some insights into the realities of practice. While acknowledging that this knowledge is unequivocally contextual, this case study has the potential to contribute to our understanding of teaching by affording insights into how teachers respond to the challenges of practice. The paper will argue that to conceive of teaching as a practice, in the manner in which practice is explained and elaborated by MacIntyre, moves us beyond a narrow and mechanistic view of teaching built around the adoption of effective strategies to one that is broader in scope and takes into account notions of internal standards of excellence, complexity and integrity.     

Insights into inclusive education through a small Finnish case study of an inclusive school context

This study seeks to present data and discussion arising from a case study of a school in Finland renowned for its practice in the inclusion of learners with additional support requirements due to cognitive and physical disabilities. It aims to establish how the school staff understand their practice with inclusion through day-to-day professional experiences. The process of reflexive dialogue has enabled authors to reconceptualise our understanding of inclusive education through gaining deep contextual insight. The case study emerges as an inspiring effort to reduce exclusion and isolation through skilful manipulation of physical, institutional and communicative contexts, from which we may draw valuable lessons. The case study demonstrated high levels of personal motivation in teachers and assistants, used as a force for participation in inclusive education – bottom-up, via dialogue, consultation, voluntary involvement and transformation by exposure. This democratic approach was evident in and supported through leadership and management, teaching and learning, and the involvement of the wider community.     

Inclusive/exclusive? Contradictory perspectives on autism and inclusion: the case for an integrative position

This paper explores some of the tensions that frequently arise in debates about inclusion and the education of children and young people on the autism spectrum. This debate is often characterised by bipolar thinking and moral posturing, and is obscured by misunderstandings and omissions. This can create confusion for practitioners trying their best to support learners on the spectrum in inclusive classrooms, and does much harm to the inclusion project. This paper identifies some of the recurring entanglements that obfuscate the debate. The main thesis of the paper is that the effective inclusion of children and young people on the autism spectrum requires practitioners to question two dominant and contradictory perspectives within the inclusion literature – the rights‐based perspective and the needs‐based perspective – which, arguably, polarise thinking at the theoretical level and inclusive practice at classroom level. The specific aim of the paper is to identify oppositional views on labelling and special pedagogies within these two perspectives and critically explore their implications for teachers supporting learners on the autism spectrum. The possibility of an integrative inclusionist position is tentatively explored.     

有效口语输出对英语口语教学的作用

在英语口语教学中,我们不仅要关注语言的输入内容,更应关注口语的有效输出。从教师的角度来说,以学生的有效口语输出为教学目的,教师的教学内容会更充实,教学效果会更好;此外,学习者的有效口语输出会成为教师评价其教学效果的有效材料,从而对教师的口语教学具有指导性的意义。从学习者自身的角度来说,有效的口语输出能够强化学习者对语言输入材料的掌握;对于课堂上的其他学习者来说,有效的语言输出起到了良好的示范作用,因此成为新的语言输入材料,从而为他们有效的口语输出活动起到了推动作用。因此,在英语口语教学中,教师应特别关注学习者的有效口语输出。     

The Influence of Implicit and Explicit Learning in English Education

It is very important to understand the differences and relationships between implicit learning and explicit learning no matter from the theoretical perspective or practical perspective. It would make the English teaching in China more feasible and effective if these two kinds of learning patterns could be combined appropriately. Seen from the theoretical perspective, the logical explanation to different achievements made by implicit learners and explicit learners gives a significant inspiration for English teaching. Seen from the practical perspective, even a little child can master the mother tongue quickly while an adult seems to find it more difficult to be proficient of another language. In this paper, the author makes a tentative study on the influence of implicit and explicit learning in English teaching. This is a meaningful topic whether for the teaching material editors, English teachers or to the learners themselves.     

Transforming online teaching practice: critical analysis of the literature on the roles and competencies of online teachers

Understanding what is lacking in the online teaching literature is critical to helping researchers and practitioners develop programs and support mechanisms for online teachers in higher education. This review formulates a critique of the standards- and competency-driven vision of online teaching from the perspective of transformative learning theory, in order to offer an alternative exploration of the professional development of online teachers as adult learners. The results indicate that while research about online teacher roles and competencies guides the development of teacher preparation and training programs, it lacks in terms of addressing the issues of empowerment of online teachers, promoting critical reflection, and integrating technology into pedagogical inquiry. An alternative perspective is suggested that considers teachers as adult learners who continuously transform their meaning of structures related to online teaching through a continuous process of critical reflection and action.     

Validity: Whose Construction Is it in the Teaching and Learning Context?

If a test is intended to impact teaching and leaning, how can we make a case for its validity? Currently, it is argued, the case for the validity of a test considers only the test maker's view of what the scores mean and whether they are useful for teachers and learners. Although the test maker's perspective is a necessary one, it is insufficient to validate a test, so an expanded framework for validating tests is needed. The expansion proposes using teachers'/professionals' and students' perspectives as necessary information in the validation of what test scores mean and whether they are useful to teachers and learners.