scholarly journals Conversations with Australian Teachers and School Leaders About Using Differentiated Instruction in A Mainstream Secondary School

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 97-113
Author(s):  
Kathryn Gibbs ◽  
◽  
Wendy Beamish ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Differentiated Instruction ◽  
Administrative Support ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Experienced Teachers ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Australian Study ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Assessment Tasks

Circumstances in today’s schools are requiring a rethinking of pedagogical approaches so that equitable learning opportunities are provided to all students. This small-scale, qualitative Australian study reports how some teachers and school leaders viewed differentiated instruction (DI) being applied in their secondary campus to address diverse abilities and needs. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted using Zoom. The analysis of data identified three themes related to DI: understandings, practices, and concerns. Findings showed that all participants understood many of the important elements of DI. Teachers reported using several well-known DI strategies, with experienced teachers applying a more considered approach. Teachers raised concerns about limited time for planning and instruction while school leaders expressed concerns about the adjustment of assessment tasks and feedback on progress to individual students. These findings provide starting points for more in-depth investigations at secondary schools. Implications linked to teacher preparation and administrative support in schools are presented.

scholarly journals The Application of Differentiated Instruction to a High School Student With Dyslexia in the German Language A Case Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Makrina Zafiri ◽  
Vassiliki Vakalopoulou ◽  
Vassiliki Pliogou
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Differentiated Instruction ◽  
Junior High School ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Before And After

In recent years, dyslexia has become an important issue in the field of foreign language teaching and learning. In this research we will explore dyslexia in connection to teaching and learning a foreign language. More particularly, in this research, we will be probing into the teaching of German as a foreign language. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of the application of Differential Instruction, the application of the Grammar –Translation Method, the Audio-Visual Method, the Communicative Approach to language teaching as well as the Multisensory Method to a Greek student with dyslexia. The girl is in the first year of junior high school and is being taught German as a foreign language at school. The research method, which was applied, focused on qualitative research through the use of semi - structured interviews. This research is also a case study. Action research was conducted, for the needs of this small-scale research, through ten differentiated instruction lessons which were taught to a student with dyslexia. The student and her mother were the major sources of data collection. More particularly, the semi - structured interviews were conducted before and after the implementation of differentiated instruction with the student and her mother. We initially attempted to collect information through semi-structured interviews, on the student's family profile, and after conducting the ten lessons, we tried to verify the effectiveness of the approaches and methods which were applied. The results of this research showed that the effectiveness of differentiated instruction was immense as the student’s performance improved in the foreign language.

scholarly journals The Implementation of Differentiated Instruction in English Language Learning to Students with Dyslexia in A’ Senior Class (A1) in an English Language Center: Action Research

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Xanthoula Evangelia Nikolaou ◽  
Dr.Makrina Zafiri ◽  
Dr.Vassiliki Pliogou
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Differentiated Instruction ◽  
English Language ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Senior Class ◽  
The City

The purpose of this study is to investigate the implementation of differentiated instruction as a means of teaching English tο children with dyslexia (A’ senior level) at a private English Language Center, located in the suburbs of the city of Thessaloniki, in Greece. For the present action research, three ten-year-old male students participated in ten lessons designed according to the principles of differentiated instruction. The lessons took place once a week for one hour and they lasted for two and half months.  The methodology used for this small scale search, was qualitative, as semi-structured interviews were applied to both the students and their mothers. According to the findings of this small scale action research study, the method of differentiated teaching is an effective method of teaching a foreign language to students with dyslexia. 

Understanding Tenure Reform: An Examination of Sense-Making Among School Administrators and Teachers

2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (11) ◽  
pp. 1-42
Author(s):  
Luis A. Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
Administrative Support ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
Peer Interactions ◽  
School Administrators ◽  
Teaching Profession ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Urban District ◽  
Teacher Tenure ◽  
Tenure Reform ◽  
Tenure Process

Background Since 2015, 23 states have issued a variety of reforms to the teacher tenure process. Many of these reforms have made it more difficult for teachers to receive tenure, either by extending the pre-tenure probation period or requiring some form of evidence of teacher performance. How educators and school leaders make sense of changes to tenure-granting policies likely transforms their perceptions of the teaching profession and has ramifications for staffing practices in schools. However, little research has sought to understand how states and districts have implemented tenure reform, how educators make sense of these reforms, and how teacher and school leaders’ understanding of changes to tenure statutes influence school practice and staff relations. Focus of Study The purpose of this study is to explore the sensemaking process of school stakeholders most directly affected by changes to teacher tenure policies—teachers and school leaders. To this end, this study examines the referential cues on which school staff tend to rely to understand tenure reform as well as their collective accounts of how reform translates into changes within the context of their work. Setting and Participants: Participants in this study included 30 pre-tenured teachers and 10 school leaders across 10 school sites within a single large, urban district in Tennessee. Research Design In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants during the 2016–17 and 2017–18 academic years. Transcripts of interviews were coded for recurring themes to address the research questions of the study. Conclusions/Recommendations Findings illustrate how school leaders relied on outdated state and district supports, while teachers referenced peer interactions to make sense of tenure reform. In addition, school leaders considered the enacted reforms an improvement to the previous tenure process, however, few school leaders indicated that tenure reform influenced teacher staffing and professional development within their schools. Teachers suggested tenure reform provided a sensible form of professional accountability in theory but was nevertheless undermined by a lack of communication, administrative support, and conflicting policy aims in practice. Findings highlight the robustness of peer networks in teacher sensemaking. More generally, this research has implications for the implementation of concurrent policy initiatives within schools and future directions for research on distributed and fragmented sensemaking.

scholarly journals NICU and postpartum nurse perspectives on involving fathers in newborn care: a qualitative study

BMC Nursing ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine W. Buek ◽  
Dagoberto Cortez ◽  
Dorothy J. Mandell
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Father Involvement ◽  
Perinatal Care ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Newborn Care ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Provider Attitudes ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Sense Of Efficacy

Abstract Background Perinatal care nurses are well positioned to provide the education and support new fathers need to navigate the transition to fatherhood and to encourage positive father involvement from the earliest hours of a child’s life. To effectively serve fathers in perinatal settings, it is important to understand the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of healthcare providers that may encourage and engage them, or alternatively alienate and discourage them. Methods This qualitative study involved structured interviews with ten NICU and postpartum nurses from hospitals in two large Texas cities. The interview protocol was designed to elicit descriptive information about nurses’ attitudes and beliefs, sense of efficacy and intention for working with fathers, as well as their father-directed behaviors. Nurses were recruited for the study using a purposive sampling approach. Interviews were conducted by telephone and lasted approximately 25 to 35 min. Data were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach. Results Overall, study participants held very positive subjective attitudes toward fathers and father involvement. Nevertheless, many of the nurses signaled normative beliefs based on race/ethnicity, gender, and culture that may moderate their intention to engage with fathers. Participants also indicated that their education as well as the culture of perinatal healthcare are focused almost entirely on the mother-baby dyad. In line with this focus on mothers, participants comments reflected a normative belief that fathers are secondary caregivers to their newborns, there to help when the mother is unavailable. Conclusions Nurse attitudes and practices that place mothers in the role of primary caregiver may be interpreted by fathers as excluding or disregarding them. Further research is needed to validate the results of this small-scale study, and to assess whether and how provider attitudes impact their practices in educating and engaging fathers in newborn care.

Young learners’ voices: Towards a learner-centered approach to understanding language assessment literacy

2021 ◽  
pp. 026553222199227
Author(s):  
Yuko Goto Butler ◽  
Xiaolin Peng ◽  
Jiyoon Lee
Keyword(s):  
Language Assessment ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Assessment Literacy ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Assessment Practice ◽  
Young Learners ◽  
Assessment Tasks ◽  
Sixth Grade Students ◽  
Assessment Skills

Language assessment literacy (LAL) has recently gained substantial attention among language educators and other stakeholders. However, existing models focus almost exclusively on teachers, test developers, and administrators, and lack students’ perspectives in their conceptualizations. To address this gap, with this exploratory study we aimed to understand young learners’ LAL. The participants were fourth- and sixth-grade students (ages 9–10 and 11–12, respectively, with 10 participants in each age group) in China. After taking English mock tests, the children participated in individual, semi-structured interviews that covered their understanding of the following: (a) assessment purposes and theories (their knowledge about how assessment works); (b) assessment skills (their views of assessment designs, procedures, and content); and (c) assessment principles (their notion of fairness, cheating, and feedback). The data were analyzed qualitatively in line with current LAL models. The results suggest that the children already had substantial assessment literacy in knowledge, skills, and principles. Although their teachers’ assessment practice remains form-focused, children generally want more communicative-based and diagnostic assessment. They also want more cognitively challenging and enjoyable assessment tasks. Our findings provide solid supporting evidence for the importance of considering students’ perspectives, along with the views of other stakeholders, in order to have a more balanced understanding of LAL.

scholarly journals Conceptualizing content-related PD facilitator expertise

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Prediger ◽  
Bettina Roesken-Winter ◽  
Rebekka Stahnke ◽  
Birte Pöhler
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Pedagogical Content Knowledge ◽  
Content Knowledge ◽  
Situated Learning ◽  
Mathematics Teaching ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Pedagogical Content ◽  
Situational Demands ◽  
Classroom Level

AbstractStudies of facilitators of professional development (PD) for mathematics teachers have been increasing in order to improve their preparation for conducting PD. However, specifications of what facilitators should learn often lack a conceptualization that captures facilitators’ expertise for different PD content. In this article, we provide a framework for facilitator expertise that is in line with current conceptualizations but makes explicit the content-related aspects of such expertise. The framework for content-related facilitator expertise combines cognitive and situated perspectives and allows unpacking different components at the PD level and the classroom level. Using two illustrative cases of different PD content (probability education in primary school and language-responsive mathematics teaching in secondary school), we exemplify how the framework can help to analyze facilitators’ practices in content-related ways in a descriptive mode. This analysis reveals valuable insights that support designers of facilitator preparation programs to specify what facilitators should learn in a prescriptive mode. We particularly emphasize the importance of working on content-related aspects, unpacking the PD content goals into the content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge elements on the classroom level and developing facilitators’ pedagogical content knowledge on the PD level (PCK-PD), which includes curricular knowledge, as well as knowledge about teachers’ typical thinking about a specific PD content. Situated learning opportunities in facilitator preparation programs can support facilitators to activate these knowledge elements for managing typical situational demands in PD.

What Helps or Hinders the Learning of Academically Talented Junior Secondary School Boys: The Stories of 123 Boys

2021 ◽  
pp. 49-64
Author(s):  
Graeme Miller
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Home Environment ◽  
Common Factor ◽  
Educational Practice ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Academically Talented ◽  
Junior Secondary School ◽  
Junior Secondary ◽  
Academic Year

This paper reports on a 2016-2019 study of 123 students in the most academic Year 9 class in a large, high-achieving New Zealand state boys’ secondary school. The study asked the question: “What aspects of society, schools and teachers, home environment and your own intrapersonal qualities helped or hindered your achievement in at least one academic subject?” Data were gathered through the completion of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, either in focus groups, or individually. Arguably, the most important findings related to participant perceptions of the greatest influence supporting achievement and the single most common factor identified as hindering achievement. The greatest help was identified to be students’ own intrapersonal characteristics, and the greatest hindrance was identified to be schools and teachers. This paper reports on the main findings of the research with particular emphasis on those with relevance to educators. It also considers what the major implications are for educational practice in New Zealand schools.

Experiences of newly qualified midwives working in clinical practice during their transition period

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 524-530
Author(s):  
Heather Watson ◽  
Donna Brown
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Clinical Environment ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Clinical Area ◽  
Care Environment ◽  
The Impact

Background With greater numbers of midwives being trained to counteract the predicted shortages, it seems that it is now more vital than ever to explore how newly qualified midwives (NQMs) describe their experiences in the clinical environment, the support they have received, and identify barriers to their development during the transition period. Aim The aim of this study was to explore NQMs experiences of working clinically during the transition from student to qualified midwife. Method Using a qualitative approach, eight NQMs participated in semi-structured interviews. Findings The findings revealed four key themes that sum up the NQMs experiences: expectations and realities of the role; creating conditions for professional growth; the impact of the care environment; and limitations to creating a healthful culture. Conclusions The clearly articulated journey that has been described by the NQMs demonstrated that there is both a need and desire to change, improve and develop the transition period for all new midwives working in clinical practice. Consideration needs to be given to more robust guidance, with some ideas for development, such as support forums for NQMs to meet up on a regular basis; advanced planned rotation with flexibility; a named preceptor/‘buddy’ in each clinical area; and a shared online forum to allow the NQMs to discuss and share experiences, and to signpost to any useful information or learning opportunities available.

scholarly journals Embedding continuous quality improvement processes in multidisciplinary teams in cancer care: exploring the boundaries between quality and implementation science

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy E. Robinson ◽  
Anna Janssen ◽  
Paul Harnett ◽  
Kylie E. Museth ◽  
Pamela J. Provan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Translational Research ◽  
Implementation Science ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Administrative Support ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Enabling Factors

Objective The aim of the present study was to identify key enabling factors for engaging multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) in cancer care across the spectrum of translational research and quality improvement (QI) projects. Methods The study was conducted in two large Sydney metropolitan hospitals. Qualitative methods, including structured observations of MDT meetings and semi-structured interviews with MDT leaders and champions, were used to identify how teams interact with and generate research and implementation initiatives. Enabling factors for and barriers to the engagement of MDTs in translational research and QI were identified. Results Four key enabling factors emerged from the analysis of data generated from observing 43 MDT meetings and 18 semi-structured interviews: (1) access to high-quality data around individual and team performance; (2) research-active team leaders; (3) having experts, such as implementation scientists, embedded into teams; and (4) having dedicated research or QI-focused meetings. Barriers included a lack of time, administrative support, research expertise and access to real-time data. Conclusions The identification of enabling factors for and barriers to translational research and QI provides evidence for how multidisciplinary cancer care teams may best be engaged in research and QI that aims to improve service and care outcomes. What is known about the topic? MDTs are key to the delivery of cancer care in Australia, but there is scant research into how teams can best be engaged in translating research from basic science through to implementation science and QI. What does this paper add? This paper provides new evidence from an immersive study of cancer care MDTs in two large metropolitan hospitals in Sydney (NSW, Australia), regarding the key enabling factors for and barriers to successful engagement in translational research and QI in cancer care. What are the implications for practitioners? Cancer care professionals in MDTs are presented with an opportunity to embed translational research and QI into cancer care. MDTs can operate as an ideal vehicle to look beyond individual patient outcomes to broader trends and population health outcomes.

scholarly journals HIV and AIDS knowledge and sexual behaviours amongst secondary school learners in Harare, Zimbabwe

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Mlingo ◽  
Valerie J. Ehlers ◽  
Janetta Roos
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Immune Deficiency Syndrome ◽  
Deficiency Syndrome ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Prevention Education ◽  
Community Activities ◽  
Sexual Activities ◽  
Aids Knowledge ◽  
Grade 8

Efforts to stem the tide of the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic in Africa emphasise the necessity that learners should be able to make informed decisions. Although learners in Zimbabwe’s schools are taught about HIV and AIDS, the extent of their knowledge needed to be determined. The major objective was to assess the knowledge of secondary school learners in Harare, Zimbabwe, about HIV and AIDS. Structured interviews were conducted with 75 Grade 8 (Form 1) secondary school learners from four schools in Harare.Most learners had obtained their HIV and AIDS knowledge from schools, but some did so from their parents, community activities, the radio or television. No learner had commenced with sexual activities and all had heard about HIV, but not all knew what HIV was, and even fewer could define AIDS. Less than one-third of the learners could mention the three most important HIV preventive measures. Most learners were willing to undergo voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), but few had done so. As no learner had commenced sexual activities, opportunities existed to empower Grade 8 (Form 1) learners with adequate HIV and AIDS knowledge. Generally the learners’ HIV and AIDS knowledge levels were high but some misconceptions existed. Schools should engage with radio and television programmes to address misconceptions about HIV and AIDS. Learners should be enabled to access VCT services. More effective HIV prevention education in Zimbabwe’s schools, could enable more youth to remain HIV negative.OpsommingPogings om die Menslike Immuniteitsgebrekvirus (MIV) en Verworwe immuniteits-gebreksindroom (VIGS) pandemiese golf in Afrika te stuit, beklemtoon die noodsaaklikheid dat leerders ingeligte besluite moet kan neem. Alhoewel leerders in Zimbabwe se skole onderrig word oor MIV en VIGS, behoort die omvang van die kennis vasgestel te word. Die hoofdoelwit was om sekondêre skool leerders van Harare, Zimbabwe, se MIV en VIGS kennis te bepaal. Gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer met 75 Graad 8 (Vorm 1) sekondêre skool leerders van vier skole in Harare.Die meeste leerders het hulle MIV and VIGS kennis by skole opgedoen terwyl ‘n paar dit van hulle ouers, gemeenskapsaktiwiteite, die radio en televisie gekry het. Geen leerders het met seksuele aktiwiteite begin nie, almal het van MIV gehoor, maar nie almal het geweet wat MIV is nie, en nog minder kon VIGS definieer. Minder as een-derde kon die drie belangrikste MIV voorkomende maatreëls noem. Die meeste leerders was gewillig om vrywillige berading en toetsing (VBT) te ondergaan, maar min het dit reeds gedoen.Aangesien geen leerder seksueel aktief was nie, bestaan geleenthede om Graad 8 (Vorm 1)leerders te bemagtig om ingeligte besluite te neem. Oor die algemeen was die leerders se MIV en VIGS kennisvlakke hoog, maar wanopvattings het bestaan Skole behoort saam te werk met radio en televisie programme ten einde wanopvattings aan te spreek. Leerders moet in staat gestel word om VBT dienste te benut. Doeltreffender MIV en VIGS voorligting in Zimbabwe se skole, kan meer jong mense in staat stel of HIV negatief te bly.

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