Understanding the Gaps Between Turkish Teachers’ Beliefs and Practices for Dealing With Preschoolers’ Peer Relationship Problems

Research Findings: This study explores the beliefs, self-reported practices, and observed practices of Turkish preschool teachers toward children’s peer relationship problems as well as the gap between their beliefs and practices. Five female teachers of 5-year-old children were selected as participants for this multiple case study. Approximately 79 hr of observation was conducted on the children’s daily routines and activities in a natural classroom environment, which specifically included the teachers’ problem-solving strategies while confronting peer relationship problems. The participants were also interviewed regarding their beliefs and strategies for solving peer relationship problems. The findings of this qualitative investigation indicated that the teachers’ beliefs and self-reported practices included both teacher- and child-related factors. However, the observed practices included several teacher-initiated strategies; child-initiated strategies appeared, albeit less than teacher-initiated ones. This affirms the teachers’ stress on children’s role in managing peer problems. Although some of the teacher practices and beliefs were consistent, certain inconsistencies may indicate the presence of external constraints. Practice or Policy: The results of this study highlight the importance of teacher education programs providing preservice and in-service teachers with the knowledge and skills required to understand children’s peer relationships, guide their interactions, and apply appropriate intervention strategies for various peer relationship problems.     

What's in It for Me? Incentives,Learning, and Completion in Massive Open Online Courses

This study investigated the distribution of incentives (e.g., certificates, badges) for massive open online course (MOOC) completion, and relationships between incentives and MOOC outcomes. Participants were 779 MOOC students internationally who participated in at least 303 different MOOCs offered by at least 12 providers. MOOC participants most commonly intended to receive, and in actuality received, free and paid course certificates of completion; other incentives (e.g., digital badges, postsecondary credits) were far less common. In addition, MOOC participants' intentions to receive both free and paid certificates were consistently and positively related to perceived learning and course completion, net other factors. (Keywords: massive open online courses, MOOCs, motivation, incentives, microcredentials, certificates of completion)     

Pre‐service primary education teachers’ changing attitudes towards teaching: a longitudinal study

This study investigated the longitudinal changes in the attitudes of pre‐service primary education teachers towards the teaching profession as they progressed through training. The results indicate that there is a significant difference in pre‐service teachers’ attitudes towards the profession between their freshman and senior years. Moreover, the findings obtained through interview data have shown that both positive and negative changes occur in pre‐service teachers’ attitudes towards teaching throughout their education, and these changes are observed to be related to teaching practice, cooperating teachers, teacher education institutions and teacher educators.     

对第18、19届世界杯足球赛进球特征对比研究

运用录像、数理统计、文献资料、比较分析方法,对第18、19届世界杯足球赛64场比赛的进球时段、进球区域、配合方式、球员位置等进行统计、比较、分析。认为现代足球进攻战术有明显的发展趋势,这对中国足球训练以及竞赛实践有很强的指导意义。     

A meta-analysis of the impact of mobile learning on mathematics achievement

Education and Information Technologies - The technological developments of the twenty-first century have enabled the emergence of alternative teaching-learning models and instructional tools. One...     

基于Virtools的实验教学应用与研究

本文提出了一种全新创建虚拟现实系统的方式,构建基于Virtools技术的虚拟实验教学,其中包含设备虚拟展示和虚拟装配系统。依托于Virtools平台的BB模块和Virtools脚本语言在计算机平台上来实现对教学设备的模拟展示以及虚拟装配的人机交互,并且利用多媒体技术如音频、视频以及虚拟环境来增强真实感。这个方法不仅适用于各高校实验教学,也适用于各种实训,以此来获取设备基本知识和相关装配技巧,也可以避免真实情景中的潜在危险或资源损耗。     

Comparison of two test methods for VIS: paper-pencil test and CAT*

This paper examines listening comprehension skills of visually impaired students (VIS) using computerised adaptive testing (CAT) and reader-assisted paper-pencil testing (raPPT) and student views about them. Explanatory mixed method design was used in this study. Sample is comprised of 51 VIS, in 7th and 8th grades. 9 of these students were interviewed for determining student views about tests. Results indicated that scores obtained from CAT are significantly lower than scores obtained from raPPT. Additionally, a positive and high correlation was found between scores of CAT and raPPT. This result suggests that similar ability estimations were made by CAT and raPPT. Another finding is CAT made more reliable predictions, and was completed in shorter duration using fewer items. In qualitative part, student views were gathered through interviews and content analysis revealed three themes as technical features, test features, and psychological effects. In general, students reported positive views about CAT. VIS prefer CAT due to its listening/control options, shorter test durations, clarity of reading, and fairness of test, elimination of dependency to reader. Study provides implications for test developers and test-users to consider CAT as a multi-accommodation for VIS through its advantages.     

School Counselors’ Job Satisfaction: a Comparative Study of Preschool and Primary-School Counselors in Turkey

This mixed-methods research compared job satisfaction among counselors working in pre-schools and primary-schools. Its quantitative phase included 223 counselors, 70 of whom also participated in the qualitative phase. A demographic information form, job-satisfaction scale and a semi-structured interview protocol were used to collect data. Quantitative analysis indicated that the primary-school counselors’ job satisfaction was higher than that of the pre-school counselors. There were no statistically significant differences in satisfaction between the two groups based on gender, age, or marital status, or the interaction of any of those three demographic factors with the type of school where they worked. In the qualitative phase, approximately half of the primary-school counselors but just one-third of the pre-school counselors reported their job satisfaction as being high; and around half of the pre-school group and one-third of the primary-school group reported that school type where they worked had a negative impact on their job satisfaction.     

Assessing and Developing the Concept of Assumptions in Science Teachers

The practical work of the Hong Kong A-level biology course has been dominated by recipe-type activities. This can be related to the inadequate knowledge and skills of the teachers in teaching investigative work. Based on the responses to a written test, the present study indicates that most of the biology teachers attending a post-graduate teacher education course demonstrated a poor understanding of the notion of assumptions and could not evaluate experimental evidence with reference to the assumptions made. By using small-group and whole-class discussions with guiding questions, the teachers were able to construct successfully the concept of assumptions and develop a better appreciation of the nature and limitations of the process of scientific inquiry.