scholarly journals "Into the Unknown": Supervising Teacher Candidates During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic

Author(s):  
Steffany Comfort Maher ◽  
Alan Zollman

In mid-March, our public schools ended classroom instruction due to COVID-19. The timing of the suspension of face-to-face instruction was in the middle of the student teaching clinical experience for our secondary education teacher candidates. Without preparation, teacher candidates were to guide their middle and high school students through online learning. University faculty were experiencing a similar challenge — how to support and direct their teacher candidates in mid-experience. This was a change in the logistics of teaching and in the focus of education. The first priority of the school was not high-stakes standardized testing, nor daily pacing guides, but rather the emotional and social health of students.             This change in the schools’ priorities fit well with the preparation of our teacher candidates at our Midwest regional teaching university. Our focus was to prepare teachers of students, not teachers of mathematics or English. While our secondary teacher candidates did not have all the tools and technology skills needed to switch to online teaching immediately, they did know it was the relationship with the learner that was most important. The second change of the schools’ priorities was a time-allocation switch from mostly teaching to mostly planning, communicating, and supporting one another as teachers. Our teacher candidates already knew that effective communication makes everyone a better instructor and benefits student learning. In order to help our teacher candidates make this transition, we developed the Clinical Practice Interview Protocol and met with our candidates regularly online.             A third aspect was teacher candidates’ prior experience as students of online classes themselves. Many had taken several online or hybrid university courses and knew what worked well and what they needed to avoid as an online teacher.             In this reflective essay, we discuss how the university supervisor supported and facilitated our teacher candidates in preparing and implementing quality instruction.

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-60
Author(s):  
Juliet Michelsen Wahleithner

Background Numerous reports have highlighted problems with writing instruction in American schools, yet few examine the interplay of teachers’ preparation to teach writing, the instructional policies they must navigate, and the writing development of the students in their classrooms. Purpose This study examines high school English teachers’ instruction of writing while taking into account their preparation for teaching writing—both preservice and inservice, the instructional policies in place, and the learners in their classrooms. Setting Data used come from public high school English teachers teaching in Northern California. These data were collected in 2011–2012, when teachers were sill complying with the mandates of the No Child Left Behind legislation. Research Design I use year-long qualitative case studies of five high school English teachers to highlight various ways teachers used their knowledge of writing instruction to negotiate the pressures of accountability policies and their students’ needs as writers to teach writing. Data collected include beginning- and end-of-year interviews with each teacher, four sets of 1- to 2-day observations of each teacher's instruction of writing, and instructional documents related to each teacher's writing instruction. These data were analyzed using the constant comparative method to look for themes within the data collected from each teacher and then make comparisons across teachers. Findings from the case studies are supported by findings from a survey of 171 high school teachers who taught a representative sample of California high school students at 21 schools in 20 districts. The survey included 41 multiple-choice items that asked about teachers’ instructional practices and their perceptions of high-stakes accountability pressures and their students as writers. Survey data were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics and principal components analysis. Findings Findings illustrate that significant differences existed in how the five teachers approached their writing instruction. These differences were due to both the teachers’ varied preparations to teach writing and the contextual factors in place where each taught. Those teachers with more developed knowledge of writing instruction were better able to navigate the policies in place at their sites and more equipped to plan appropriate instruction to develop their students as writers. Recommendations Findings indicate teachers would be better served by opportunities to develop their knowledge of writing instruction both prior to and once they begin their teaching careers. Additionally, the findings add to an existing body of research that demonstrates the limiting effect high-stakes assessments can have on teachers’ instruction of writing.


Author(s):  
Samar Fahed Al-Faleh

The study aimed to identify the level of social support (support by friends, support from the family, support by the teacher), and to analyze the relationship between social support and achievement among students of High school students in government schools. The study followed descriptive analytical approach based on a questionnaire applied to 137 students of Karak government schools. The study found that the students get moderate level of social support; the study showed that the level of friends support came first, followed by teacher support, followed by family support, and found a relationship between social support and achievement in Students of Karak government schools. In light of the results, the study recommended several recommendations, the most important of which is to sensitize parents and faculty members about the importance of social support.


2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-37
Author(s):  
Oluwakemi Adeola Obayelu ◽  
Ifeoluwa Olawale Fadele

Abstract The decline in youth population and the upsurge in ageing farmer population have resulted in low agricultural output and per capital productivity in rural Nigeria, which is a threat to the national food security. High school students’ perception of agriculture and factors influencing their willingness to study agriculture in tertiary institutions were therefore investigated in this study. Information from 285 science students in high schools was analysed using descriptive statistics, Likert scale and logistic regression. Age of the students was 15.30 ± 1.17 years with almost equal distribution of both sexes. About half (50.5 %) of them wanted to study medicine where as only 4.6 % of the respondents were willing to study agriculture in the university. A higher percentage of female students (57.6 %) were willing to study agriculture in tertiary institution than their male counterparts (42.4 %). A higher percentage of students from public schools (51.4 %) were willing to study agriculture whereas 48.6 % of those from private schools were willing to do so. The students were undecided about the contribution of agriculture to national development but strongly disagreed that agriculture gives less income than other professions. Major motivating factors that can stimulate the respondents’ willingness to study agriculture were career awareness program in agriculture, practical knowledge of agriculture and agricultural excursion. The likelihood of a high school student’s willingness to study agriculture increased significantly with having a father who primarily practised agriculture and supports agricultural education, attending a school where crude implements are not used, visit to a mechanized farm and the youth’s willingness to own a farm in the future irrespective of the course of study, while attending a private school will decrease it. In conclusion, high school students had average perception of agriculture and were not willing to study agriculture in tertiary institutions. Suggestions are presented on how to change this negative attitude towards this vital branch of science.


2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 218
Author(s):  
Edy Purwanto

The purpose of this study was to find out a comprehensive model of achievement motivation appropriate for Indonesian students. Specifically, this study examined the contribution of task-value, self-efficacy and goal orientation in influencing students’ achievement motivation. The subjects of this research were 393 high school students, 219 of them are female and 174 are male. 46% of them were senior high school and 54% junior, high school students. 45% were from public schools and 55% from religion-based private schools. The task-value, self-efficacy, goal orientation and achievement motivation as scaling instruments used in this study were developed from Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire Manual. The instruments had been tested and proved valid and reliable. Analysis of model testing data was done using technique of confirmatory factor analysis. The results showed that the trisula model of achievement motivation was reliable. The task-value, self-efficacy and goal orientation are significant loading factors for achievement motivation. The self-efficacy also is a significant loading factor for the task-value and goal orientation. Keywords: achievement motivation, goal orientation, self-efficacy, task-value


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-104
Author(s):  
Alexsandra Martins Da Silva ◽  
Camila Zanesco ◽  
Angélica Ribolli Cazarotto ◽  
Felipe Tecchio Borsoi ◽  
Camila Dervanoski ◽  
...  

Resumo: Este trabalho foi uma iniciativa do projeto “Ciências Biológicas – Uma Forma de Integrar e Construir a Prática Experimental”, cuja ação de destaque foi o incentivo ao ensino de Ciências Biológicas para alunos de ensino médio de dois municípios. Foram oferecidas aulas teóricas e práticas em laboratórios da Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul (UFFS), promovendo o contato de alunos e professores de escolas públicas com a universidade. Neste contexto, foi possível aproximá-los de atividades, materiais e equipamentos de prática científica e de ensino nas áreas de Ciências Biológicas, visando melhorias das condições de aprendizagem e estimulando os jovens dessas escolas para a participação no meio acadêmico-científico, aumentando a interação universidade/escola pública. Foram atendidas 15 turmas, totalizando cerca de 320 estudantes, que presenciaram as aulas de “Microscopia, células e tecidos”, “Tipagem sanguínea” e “Biodecomposição de alimentos orgânicos”. Esse trabalho possibilitou que os alunos tivessem contato prévio com o mundo das ciências e os incentivou para ingressar na universidade. Já os professores que acompanharam os alunos se sentiram instigados a manter a criatividade em sala de aula. Para os acadêmicos envolvidos, o projeto possibilitou o crescimento pessoal, instigando os mesmos a desenvolver aptidões, além do que lhes é ensinado em sala de aula. Palavras-chave: Práticas laboratoriais, ensino-aprendizagem, escola pública, extensão universitária.   The teaching of Biological Sciences - a theoretical and practical experience with students of high public schools Abstract: This article promotes the project ‘Ciências Biológicas – Uma Forma de Integrar e Construir a Prática Experimental’ (Biological Sciences – a way to integrate and to build experimental practices).  This initiative encouraged the teaching of biological sciences to high school students of two municipalities. Theoretical and practical classes were offered in the university labs of Universidade Federal Fronteira Sul –UFFS (Chapecó, Santa Catarina State, Brazil) in order to promote the contact of students and teachers of public schools with the university. In this context, it was possible to put the students in contact with procedures, equipments scientific and teaching practices in the areas of Biological Sciences. These activities aimed at improving learning and stimulating the students from the schools in which were part of the academic and scientific community, and as a result, to promote the interaction between university and public schools. Fifteen student groups took part in the project, which totaled around 320 students who had lessons on microscopy, cells and tissues, blood typing and biological decomposition of organic food. This project encouraged students that had a previous contact with the world of science to enter university. In addition, the teachers who accompanied the students were encouraged to continue being creative in their classes. For the undergraduate students involved, the project enabled personal growth and encouraged them to develop skills beyond what they were taught in the classroom. Key-words: Laboratory Practices, Teaching and Learning, Public School, University Extension.   La enseñanza de Ciencias Biológicas - una experiencia teórica y práctica con los estudiantes de la escuela secundaria en escuelas públicas Resumen: En este artículo, se hace un relato de un trabajo que tuvo una iniciativa del proyecto ‘Ciências Biológicas – Uma Forma de Integrar e Construir a Prática Experimental’ (Ciencias Biológicas – Una Forma de Integrar y Construir la Práctica Experimental), cuya acción principal fue el incentivo a la enseñanza de Ciencias Biológicas para alumnos de enseñanza media de dos municipios. Se les ofreció clases teóricas y prácticas en los laboratorios de la Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul – UFFS (Santa Catarina, sur de Brasil) promoviendo el contacto de alumnos y profesores de escuelas públicas con la universidad. En este espacio, fue posible aproximarlos a actividades, materiales y equipamientos de la práctica científica y de la enseñanza en las áreas de Ciencias Biológicas, buscando mejorías en las condiciones de aprendizaje y estimular los jóvenes de esas escuelas a la participación en el medio académico-científico, aumentando la interacción universidad/escuela pública. Han sido atendidos 15 grupos y cerca de 320 estudiantes, que fueron testigos de las lecciones de “Microscopía, células y tejidos”, “Tipo sanguíneo”, y “Biodescomposición de alimentos orgánicos”. Ese trabajo ha posibilitado que los alumnos tuvieran un contacto previo con el mundo de las ciencias y los ha incentivado a ingresar a la universidad. Por otro lado, los docentes que han acompañado a los alumnos se han sentido instigados a mantener la creatividad en las clases. Para los académicos involucrados, el proyecto ha posibilitado el crecimiento personal, instigándolos a crear aptitudes, más allá de lo que les es enseñado en el salón de clase. Palabras-clave: Extensión Universitaria, Popularización de la Ciencia, Escuela Secundaria, Enseñanza Científica.


2021 ◽  
pp. 0044118X2110466
Author(s):  
Faraneh Shamserad

Although school violence statistics indicate that schools are safe places, anxiety over school shootings continues to influence school safety reform to the extent that security measures in American public schools include the arming of schoolteachers. Furthermore, not only have youths’ perceptions of school security been relatively unexplored, existing research points to racial inequalities in the use of and the effects of school security practices. This study uses data from high school students across multiple school districts in a Midwestern county to examine how race and perceptions of fairness intersect to influence attitudes on arming teachers. The results suggest that, relative to White students, Black students are less supportive of arming teachers and anticipate greater decreases in safety if teachers are armed. In addition, perceptions of fairness mediate the effect of race on support and feelings of safety. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.


Author(s):  
Alyssa N. Palazzolo ◽  
Dana L. Pizzo

The L.E.A.D. Program implements two Legacy Projects, annually: Power of Potential Youth Conference and Challenge Cup. Both events are planned, organized, and facilitated by teacher candidates with the goal of engaging in-risk youth in various capacities. Taking place in the fall, the Power of Potential Youth Conference allows local high school students to explore some of their options for life after secondary school through a series of presentations and workshops focusing on Financial Literacy, Healthy Active Living, and Career Exploration. Taking place each spring, Challenge Cup is an outdoor event that fosters leadership, character development, and self-confidence in local secondary students. Students participate in a series of physical activities throughout the day which focus on building team-work, community, and leadership skills. This chapter explores how both L.E.A.D. Legacy Project events support secondary students outside of the classroom. The planning and organization of both events will be explained.


Author(s):  
Derek Tranchina ◽  
Charles Terenfenko ◽  
Tracy Mulvaney

The focus of this chapter is to highlight two different transformational change initiatives in public schools that rely on student leadership to be effective. Both programs will explore effective ways to empower students as leaders, to make better social decisions, and to improve their attachment to school and community. One program involves a student-led technology club in a middle school. The goal of the club is to assist with the school's technology usage while also making a positive impact on participating students' achievement and attachment to school. The other program involves educating high school students on the risks of heroin and opioid addiction. Both programs seek to leverage student empowerment to induce long-term, positive behavior change in the students directly involved as well as those around them.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document