Development of Pre-Service Mathematics Teachers' Professional Knowledge and Identity in Working with Information and Communication Technology

This paper describes the workundertaken in a course in communication andinformation technology in a pre-service programfor secondary school mathematics teachers. Thiscourse aimed to help pre-service teachersdevelop a positive attitude regarding ICT anduse it confidently. It focused on theexploration of educational software and of theInternet's potential as a means of research andproduction of web sites. We discuss how thepre-service mathematics teachers evaluate theirwork concerning their commitment, difficultiesthey found, learning they identified, andpersonal relationship. We also analyse theeffects of the course on the development oftheir professional knowledge and identity.     

Culture in the School: Assessment and the content of education

After obtaining more than 200 examinations used in 36 primary schools with 12-year-old children, a standard examination was made mixing questions of different subjects. This examination was taken by a group of university students and most of them failed outright. How is it possible to consider a 12-year-old a failure when university students are unable to succeed? What is wrong, the elaboration of examinations for 12-year-old children or the academic level of university students? What are the criteria for selecting the content of the curriculum? The paper concludes that schools follow traditions that are difficult to justify and reveals a lack of definition in the way we train teachers and, therefore, in the role that they develop in their work. Après avoir collecté plus de 200 examens utilisés dans 36 écoles primaires avec des enfants de douze ans, un examen type a été élaboré en utilisant des questions relatives à des matières différentes. L'examen a été testé avec un groupe d'étudiants universitaires qui ont tous échoué. Comment peut-on considérer comme un échec scolaire le cas d'un élè ve de douze ans qui ne réussit pas un examen que même des étudiants universitaires sont incapables de passer? Où est le problème, est-ce dans l'élaboration des examens pour enfants de douze ans, ou est-ce dans le niveau culturel des étudiants universitaires? Quels sont les critères de sélection des contenus du curriculum? Le présent article arrive à la conclusion que de nombreux procédés utilisés dans les écoles sont axés sur des traditions difficilement justifiables, et qu'ils révèlent un manque de définition de l'identité dans laquelle nous formons les enseignants, et donc dans le rôle que ceux-ci développent dans leur travail. Tras obtener más de 200 exámenes realizados en 36 colegios de primaria con niños de 12 años, se elaboró un examen-tipo, en el que se mezclaban preguntas correspondientes a las distintas materias de enseñanza. El examen se pasó a un grupo de estudiantes universitarios que fracasó claramente al contestarlo. ¿Cómo es posible considerar como fracasado escolar a un niño de 12 años por no ser capaz de contestar un examen que tampoco son capaces de contestar los alumnos universitarios? ¿Dónde está el error, en la forma en que se elaboran los exámenes de los alumnos de 12 años, o en el nivel cultural de los alumnos universitarios? ¿Con qué criterios se seleccionan los contenidos del curriculum? El artículo llega a la conclusión de que muchos de los procedimientos en curso en nuestras escuelas están basados en tradiciones que no tienen justificación, y que revelan una falta de definición de la identidad profesional que formamos en los profesores, y por tanto del papel que los profesores juegan en su trabajo. Nach Erhalt von 200 Prüfungen für zwölfjährige Schüler von 36 Schulen, erarbeitete man eine Prüfung mit Fragen aus den verschiedenen Schulfächern. Dieser Prüfung unterzogen sich 125 Studenten, von denen nur sieben den Test bestanden. Dieses Ergebnis wirft natürlich wichtige Fragen über die Legitimität unseres Lehrsystemes auf. Wie kann man einem Schulkind im Alter von zwölf Jahren Schulversagen attestieren, da es Fragen nicht beatworten kann, an denen Universitätsstudenten scheitern? Nach welchen Kriterien wird der Stoff ausgewählt, der in den Schulen gelehrt wird? Der Artikel schlägt vor, die Studie der häufigsten Verständnisprobleme zu vertiefen, um den Unterricht in den verschiedenen Fächern zu verbessern. Unter anderem zeigt der Artikel auch, dass Lehrer durch ihre Prüfungen mehr Wert auf das Auswendiglernen als auf andere intellektuelle Aktivitäten der Schüler legen.     

Measuring the impact of inquiry-based learning on outcomes and student satisfaction

The aim of this study is to determine the impact of inquiry-based learning (IBL) on students’ academic performance and to assess their satisfaction with the process. Linear and logistic regression analyses show that examination grades are positively related to attendance at classes and tutorials; moreover, there is a positive significant relationship between academic performance and IBL, which is considered useful for better understanding of the subject. While students’ satisfaction is directly associated with class attendance and motivation and with the perceived usefulness of IBL, it is unaffected by attendance at tutorials. We conclude, therefore, that students become more involved in learning and acquire increased knowledge of the subject when an IBL-based method is followed.     

Contribution of a professional development programme to the quality and retention of teachers in an urban environment

This study examined the effects of a professional development programme aimed at equipping teachers for the challenges of teaching in urban schools. The contribution of the programme to teacher quality and teacher retention was evaluated using a mixed research design in which both quantitative (N?=?133) and qualitative (N?=?42) approaches were used. The results showed a significant effect of the programme on teacher knowledge and self-efficacy. Furthermore, teachers greatly appreciated the programme and they perceived a positive impact on their competences, self-efficacy and professional orientation. The opportunity to share experiences within a network of teachers was considered the most valuable element of the programme.     

Quality assessment for placement centres: a case study of the University of Barcelona’s faculty of education

The aim of this research was to identify the factors that could be used for quality assessments of the placement centres used by the University of Barcelona’s Faculty of Education. To achieve this, a multiple case study method (bachelor’s degrees in Education, Social Education and Social Work) was used, which was based on a survey methodology. A questionnaire, which identified seven quality criteria, was applied to 291 placement centres. An analysis of the placement centres’ average quality scores revealed that most of them had high scores for consideration of the training activity, tutor–student ratio, type of placement, capacity of providing career opportunities, the centre’s tutoring, the tutors’ tasks and the coverage of the competences. We considered it necessary to improve the definition of quality placement plans, and the recognition of the tutor’s work at the centre; therefore, this paper proposes an instrument to measure and assess the quality indicators described, aiming at improving the placements system at the University by better connecting universities and centres.