A Qualitative Case Study of Prospective Chemistry Teachers’ Knowledge About Instructional Strategies: Introducing Particulate Theory

The purpose of this study was to investigate prospective chemistry teachers’ knowledge about instructional strategies, one component of pedagogical content knowledge about introducing particulate theory, as well as sources of this knowledge. Twenty-two prospective chemistry teachers participated in the study. Data were collected by the means of a vignette, semistructured interviews, and lesson plans. Analysis showed that concrete objects, computer animations, and expository teaching were the preferred teaching techniques by prospective teachers. Several issues, such as general pedagogical knowledge, subject matter knowledge, and knowledge about students’ difficulties, were found to be the main factors for choosing a teaching strategy to make an introduction to particles.     

The nature of the relationship between teaching concerns and sense of efficacy

This study examined the relationship between prospective teachers’ concerns about their teaching and their beliefs about their sense of efficacy. Three hundred and thirty‐nine prospective teachers participated in this study. Two instruments, the ‘Teaching Concerns Checklist’ and the ‘Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Beliefs Scale’, were used to elicit the participants’ teaching concerns and their sense of efficacy. Canonical correlation analysis, conducted to explore the relationships between these two constructs, revealed that concern variables were negatively correlated with efficacy variables. This means that if teachers believe their efficacy is weaker, they tend to have more concerns about teaching. The results of this study have implications for teacher education programmes.     

Academic growth trajectories of ELLs in NAEP data: The case of fourth- and eighth-grade ELLs and non-ELLs on mathematics and reading tests

Utilizing the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data, this study examined (1) how fourth and eighth-grade ELLs' mathematics and reading scores on national tests compared to their non-ELL peers' scores over the testing period between 2003 and 2011, and (2) if gender and ethnicity contributed to variation in the growth patterns among the student groups across grade levels and content areas. Since the NAEP data, which provides a national sample of 10,000–20,000 students, is collected using a probability sample design, sampling weights are adjusted so inferences can be appropriately made. Sample sizes within NAEP are large enough to generate adequate power for statistical significance. Thus, to display the data in a multivariate mode, Tableau 8.0.0 software was used. Results suggested that the achievement gap between non-ELLs and ELLs is either steady or slightly widening in both mathematics and reading, with multiple paths across the content areas, grade levels, and gender and ethnic groups.     

Culturally relevant/sustaining pedagogy in a diverse urban classroom: Challenges of pedagogy for Syrian refugee youths and teachers in Turkey

This study focused on whether and how teachers implemented the principles of culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogies and the challenges teachers faced while trying to implement these principles with Syrian students in Turkey. The study was built on the four components of pedagogies: academic achievement; cultural competencies; sociopolitical consciousness; and the sustainability of culture. Qualitative data were obtained through interviews and field notes with four teachers who had Syrian students in their classes and four Syrian students. Content analysis was used to examine the data. The findings revealed that both teachers and students had low expectations of academic achievement. Teachers conducted the teaching–learning process entirely according to the perspectives of students who were from the mainstream culture. Teachers tried to improve the cultural competencies and enhance their sociopolitical consciousness of the Syrian students; however, the attempts were limited and inadequate. Although teachers were aware of the importance of sustaining the Syrian culture, they did not know how to do so. The teachers did not have sufficient competencies or experiences to make revisions or to carry out an effective instructional process tailored to the needs of Syrian students because of an absence of skills and knowledge of multicultural education.     

Pre- and in-service teachers’ beliefs about ELLs in content area classes: a case for inclusion,responsibility, and instructional support

This study documents differences between pre- and in-service content area teachers’ beliefs about: whether English language learners (ELLs) should be included in content area classes, the kind of instructional support (IS) they should receive, and responsibility for ELLs’ language and academic achievement. Questionnaire data were collected from 94 in-service and 101 pre-service content area teachers. Although several significant differences were found in pre- and in-service and female and male teachers’ beliefs about responsibility for ELLs’ language and academic development, both service and gender groups appeared to hold similar beliefs about ELLs’ inclusion in mainstream classes. Results also revealed that some beliefs held by female teachers about IS for ELLs significantly differed from those of males’; however, the effects of service and gender on certain beliefs may be contingent upon a number of background factors. The article concludes with pedagogical implications for teacher education for classrooms with linguistically and culturally diverse learners.     

The Impact of Perception of Performance Appraisal and Distributive Justice Fairness on Employees' Ethical Decision Making in Paternalist Organizational Culture

Ethics in decision making has been an issue for academics, practitioners, and governmental regulators for decades. In the last decade, numerous scandals and consequently many corporate crises in the global business world have added credence to the criticisms of business ethics. Therefore, it is vital to understand the factors affecting employees' ethical decision making. Culture also has a strong impact on decision making. Paternalism is the combination of strong discipline, subordinate loyalty, and the superior's generous concern for that subordinate, culminating in a more intricate and dominating relationship in the organization. A paternalist culture, by its very nature, has a powerful impact on decision making. Investigating the various factors affecting the decision‐making process guides practitioners and managers toward taking the necessary steps to prevent unethical events in the future. In this study, the impacts of positive perception of distributive justice and performance appraisal fairness on employees' ethical decision making in paternalist organizational culture are investigated. The total sample (N = 107) contained white‐collar employees working in five small‐medium enterprises in Turkey. The data was analyzed using correlation and regression analysis. The results showed only perception of performance appraisal fairness has an impact on employees' ethical decision making. The study concludes by discussing the implications of the results for researchers interested in exploring ethical decision making and performance appraisal systems. Recommendations for future research are also presented.     

Preservice teachers' perceptions about using mobile phones and laptops in education as mobile learning tools

The purpose of this research was to investigate preservice teachers' perceptions about using m‐phones and laptops in education as mobile learning tools. A total of 1087 preservice teachers participated in the study. The results indicated that preservice teachers perceived laptops potentially stronger than m‐phones as m‐learning tools. In terms of limitations the situation was balanced for laptops and m‐phones. Generally, the attitudes towards using laptops in education were not exceedingly positive but significantly more positive than m‐phones. It was also found that such variables as program/department, grade, gender and possessing a laptop are neutral in causing a practically significant difference in preservice teachers' views. The results imply an urgent need to grow awareness among participating student teachers towards the concept of m‐learning, especially m‐learning through m‐phones.     

High school students’ acceptance and use of mobile technology in learning mathematics

The purpose of this research is to investigate factors affecting the acceptance and use of mobile technology in learning mathematics based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) model. The study group comprised of 1640 students attending different types of high schools and grade levels. The results of the study revealed both direct and indirect effects of exogenous variables on Behavioral Intention and Use Behavior in mobile technology acceptance of high school students in learning mathematics. It was also found that the theoretical model was confirmed adequately based on the regression coefficients, the significance of the regression coefficients, and the goodness of fit indices obtained from the SEM analysis. The strongest predictors of Behavioral Intention were Hedonic Motivation and Habit, respectively. Exogenous variables of the study together explained 76% of the variance in Behavioral Intention and 13% of the variance in Use Behavior.