Maternal Socialization and Kindergarten Children’s Behaviors from Jordanian Mothers’ and Teachers’ Perspectives

This study investigated whether Jordanian mothers’ self-reported parenting practices were associated with their kindergarten children’s prosocial or anti-social behavior based on three parental patterns: nurturance, respect, and power assertion. The participants were 95 mothers with children in the kindergarten level in Jordan. Additionally, 13 teachers of these 95 kindergarten children were also participants. This Parenting Styles Inventory Scale, and the Prosocial and Anti-Social Behavior Rating Scale, developed by Lin (Influences of parenting and teaching styles on young children’s prosocial and anti-social development in Taiwan. Unpublished dissertation, Arizona State University, USA, 1995), were used as instruments. Results indicated that nurturance was the most frequent and preferred parenting pattern of participants. Mothers who are warm and nurturing were more strongly associated with prosocial behavior in their children. An unexpected finding was that mothers with more children were more assertive and strict towards them.     

From the Past to the Present: Imam and Preacher Schools in Turkey—An Ongoing Quarrel

One of the most controversial issues in Turkey since the establishment of the Republic in 1923 has been the question of religious education in general, with a focus on the Imam and Preacher Schools (IPS) in particular. This continues to be a serious problem even today. This article touches on this important matter. The article begins with a history of the opening of IPSs and tries to indicate the development of this institution throughout the history of the Republic. It provides answers as to why, while some people oppose these schools, others support the very same institution. In this article it is claimed that these schools not only act as good models for the Turkish educational system, but also for education in other Muslim countries. In addition, the article examines how the people who have graduated from these schools have served Turkish people in various fields, from the conception of the schools to the present day.     

Using mid-semester course evaluation as a feedback tool for improving learning and teaching in higher education

The way in which mid-semester course evaluations are structured, administered and reported is important for generating rich and high-quality student feedback for the enhancement of learning and teaching. Mid-semester evaluations usually contain open-ended questions that trigger more elaborative feedback about what is going on in a class than that from end-of-semester evaluations with Likert scale-type questions. The anonymity of the process for students and the confidentiality of the process for instructors make the process more reflective for students and less stressful for instructors. This study describes how the mid-semester course evaluation process can be used as a feedback tool for improving the quality of teaching and learning at an institutional level. Through a longitudinal analysis of 341 mid-semester course evaluation reports, positive areas and areas of concern with respect to learning and teaching were identified, and changes in student evaluations over the years were examined meticulously to make an overall evaluation of the quality of learning and teaching at a non-profit Turkish university. This research showed that the value of mid-semester course evaluations can go beyond course-level if we use open-ended questions and are able to gather the reports together to make some comprehensive analysis at university level.     

Teacher autonomy and centralised control: The case of textbooks

This paper analyses teachers’ attitudes towards the use of textbooks as a means of understanding what happens in a heavily centralised education system. Whilst the research is based on a particular country, the lessons can be applied to many parts of the globalised education system. The research question here is to find out whether the teachers have freedom in varying their teaching methods or not. The main research method used was semi-structured interviews. The factors that decide this freedom are discussed in detail. Whilst the particular circumstances are peculiar to Jordan, they can be likened to the centralised national curriculum and an authoritative inspection regime in the UK.     

A matrix method for solving high-order linear difference equations with mixed argument using hybrid legendre and taylor polynomials

A numerical method for solving the higher order linear difference equations with variable coefficients and mixed argument under the mixed conditions is presented. The method is based on the hybrid Legendre and Taylor polynomials. The solution is obtained in terms of Legendre polynomials. IIIustrative examples are included to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the technique.     

Effects of technology-enhanced constructivist learning on science achievement of students with different cognitive styles

Education and Information Technologies - The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of technology-enhanced constructivist learning on science achievement of seventh-grade students with...     

First steps in educational research: the views of Turkish chemistry and biology student teachers

This qualitative study examined student teachers' views on the value of undertaking small‐scale research as part of the secondary teacher training course, and evaluated quality of the research reports prepared by the student teachers in terms of meeting the methodological requirements. Data was gathered by a questionnaire composed of open‐ended question and completed by 76 chemistry and biology student teachers, semi‐structured interviews were done with 11 of those who completed the questionnaire and 14 research reports was analysed. The results indicate that student teachers valued small‐scale research project as a learning activity, and gained significant knowledge of research methodology as well as the title/concepts they studied and problem solving skills. Most saw research as offering the potential to provide valuable insights into teaching and learning.

Cette étude qualitative vise à analyser les opinions des candidats‐maîtres en secondaire sur la valeur d'une recherche à une petite échelle et à évaluer du point de vue de la méthodologie la conformité aux critères du rapport de recherche préparé par les candidats‐maîtres. Les données ont été obtenues par un questionnaire composé des questions ouvertes‐fermées, rempli par 76 candidats‐maîtres dans le domaine de la chimie et de la biologie, par une analyse des interviews semi‐structurés réalisées avec 11 étudiants choisis parmi 76 et celle de 14 rapports de recherches préparés par les candidats. Les résultats révèlent que les candidats‐maîtres considèrent une recherche à une petite échelle comme profitable et qu'ils apprennent à maîtriser à la fois la méthodologie et le thème/le concept recherché et qu'ils améliorent ainsi leur capacité de résoudre un problème. La majorité des participants se mettent d'accord sur l'utilité des recherches à effectuer par les candidats pour leur apprentissage.

Las opiniones de este estudio cualitativo profesores examinados del estudiante sobre el valor de emprender la investigación en reducida escala como parte del curso de aprendizaje secundario de profesor, y calidad evaluada de los informes de la investigación se prepararon por los profesores del estudiante en términos de resolver los requisitos metodológicos. Los datos fueron recopilados por un cuestionario integrado por la pregunta ampliable y terminado por 76 química y profesores del estudiante de la biología, las entrevistas semi‐estructuradas fueron hechas con 11 de los que terminaron el cuestionario y 14 informes de la investigación eran analizados. Los resultados indican que los profesores del estudiante valoraron proyecto de investigación en reducida escala como actividad que aprendía, y conocimiento significativo ganado de la metodología de la investigación así como el title/concepts ellos estudiaron y las habilidades el solucionar de problema. La mayoría vieron la investigación como ofrecimiento del potencial de proporcionar penetraciones valiosas en la enseñanza y aprender.

In dieser qualitativen Arbeit werden die Ansichten der Kursteilnehmerlehrer über den Wert des Unternehmens der kleinräumigen Forschung als Teil der Sekundärausbildung der Lehrer‐kursieren überprüft und die vorbereitete Qualität der Forschung‐Reports wird von den Kursteilnehmerlehrern in dem Entsprechen der methodologischen Anforderungen ausgewertet. Die Daten wurden durch einen Fragebogen erfasst durchgeführt, der aus offener Frage bestand und von 76 Chemie‐ und den Biologiekursteilnehmerlehrern verwendet wurde, 11 davon waren in halb‐strukturierten Interviews erfolgt, die den Fragebogen durchführten und 14 Forschung Reports wurden analysiert. Die Resultate zeigen an, dass die Kursteilnehmerlehrer das Projekt für kleinröumige Forschung für vorteilig halten und dadurch sie sowohl Methodenlehre für Forschung als wie Thema/Begriff Verhältnis erlernen. Sie drücken aus, daß sie fähig gewesen sind, dadurch die Probleme zu lösen. Die meisten verstanden, dass wissenschaftliche Forschung zum Erlernen und Lehren großen Beitrag leisten.     

Preservice teachers’ teacher efficacy beliefs and constructivist-based teaching practice

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between preservice teachers’ (PTs) teacher efficacy beliefs and their constructivist-based teaching practices. Data were gathered through the questionnaire (Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale) and the observation protocol (Reformed Teaching Observation Protocol) administered to the participants. A total number of 101 PTs (53.5 % from science education and 46.5 % from mathematics education) from a university in eastern part of Turkey participated in the study. Also, qualitative data were also used in order to clarify quantitative data. The semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 PTs who voluntarily participated in these interviews. Results showed that PTs’ constructivist-based teaching practice was positively correlated with their teacher efficacy beliefs. Also, qualitative findings confirmed that finding. To conclude, PTs with high teacher efficacy tend to employ constructivist approach in their teaching while PTs with low teacher efficacy tend to use traditional approach, lecturing in their teaching.