scholarly journals Teacher perceptions of influence, autonomy, and satisfaction in the early Race to the Top era

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Kim B. Wright ◽  
Samantha M. Shields ◽  
Katie Black ◽  
Manjari Banerjee ◽  
Hersh C. Waxman
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Teacher Evaluation ◽  
Teacher Perceptions ◽  
Standardized Test ◽  
Race To The Top ◽  
Early Years ◽  
School Level ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
K 12 ◽  
The Impact

In the present study, hierarchical linear modeling with random intercept models was used to estimate the impact school and teacher-level factors had on K-12 teachers’ perceptions of school influence, curricular and pedagogical autonomy, and job satisfaction in the early years of the Race to the Top Era. The main predictors investigated were whether students’ standardized test scores were used as a component of either a teacher’s formal teacher evaluation or compensation, as well as whether teachers worked in a Race to the Top state. Additional school- and teacher-level predictors included percentage minority teachers and students, urbanicity of the school, teacher grade band, years teaching experience, and annual base salary. The study’s findings include statistically significantly yet small, negative correlations between teaching in a RTTT Phase I or II state at the time of the survey and teachers’ perceptions of their school-level influence, curricular autonomy, and pedagogical autonomy. In addition, the use of SGM measures in teacher evaluation, compensation, or both, statistically significantly negatively predicted both teachers’ pedagogical and curricular autonomy, as well as job satisfaction. These findings are consistent with previous studies that found teachers’ classroom autonomy and job satisfaction to be lessened post-NCLB (Crocco & Costigan, 2007; Faulker & Cook, 2006; Huss & Eastep, 2011). 

scholarly journals Principal-Led State Evaluation Policy: Teacher Perceptions at Four High Schools

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Frasier
Keyword(s):  
High Schools ◽  
Teacher Evaluation ◽  
Teacher Perceptions ◽  
Classroom Practice ◽  
School Administrators ◽  
State Level ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
School Level ◽  
Evaluation Policy ◽  
Teacher Evaluation Policy

While policy makers have attempted to standardize teacher evaluation, policy is implemented and enacted by school administrators. This study addresses the following question: Considering the legislative efforts to remove control of evaluation from local figures, do teachers perceive school principals as influencing the implementation of state-level evaluation policy and, if so, in what ways? I examined interviews from 14 teachers across four high schools within a district in North Carolina derived from a larger mixed method case study of teacher perceptions of evaluation policy and classroom practice. The results suggest a state-centralized teacher evaluation policy, such as the one utilized at the time of this study, can look vastly different to teachers at the school-level due to principal enactment of the policy. Furthermore, the data suggest the following themes influenced policy implementation: the capacity of principals to evaluate in a timely manner, what a principal chooses to value in a policy, and the perceived effectiveness of a principal as an evaluator of teaching. By taking a closer look at what is happening “on the ground” between teachers and principals in four schools utilizing the same state-level evaluation policy, the lessons learned in this study can help inform future policies.

How Do Technology Application and Equity Impact Student Achievement?

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Tak Cheung Chan
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Student Achievement ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Standardized Test ◽  
School Level ◽  
Technology Application ◽  
Student Socioeconomic Status ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Impact Of Technology ◽  
The Impact

This study examines the impact of technology application on student achievement in the state of Georgia. Technology application includes elements such as technology access, technology integration, and teacher technology proficiency. Student achievement refers to students’ standardized test scores in language, social studies, sciences, and mathematics in elementary, middle, and high schools. Results of Multiple Regression analysis yielded significant percentages of variance in student achievement that was attributable to Internet connected computer access. Another purpose of the study was to investigate the equity issues of school technology. School levels and student socioeconomic status were used as independent variables to determine if significant differences in technology application existed among the school levels and the socioeconomic status categories. Results of Analysis of Variance indicated that students of low socioeconomic status had far less opportunities to access Internet connected computers than students of high socioeconomic status. The level of technology application increased as students moved up the school level.

Keeping Great Teachers: A Case Study on the Impact and Implementation of a Pilot Teacher Evaluation System

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Robertson-Kraft ◽  
Rosaline S. Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Evaluation ◽  
Teacher Retention ◽  
Evaluation System ◽  
School Level ◽  
Evaluation Systems ◽  
Teacher Survey ◽  
Teacher Evaluation Systems ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

A growing body of research examines the impact of recent teacher evaluation systems; however, we have limited knowledge on how these systems influence teacher retention. This study uses a mixed-methods design to examine teacher retention patterns during the pilot year of an evaluation system in an urban school district in Texas. We used difference-in-differences analysis to examine the impact of the new system on school-level teacher turnover and administered a teacher survey ( N = 1,301) to investigate individual and school-level factors influencing retention. This quantitative analysis was supplemented with interview data from two case study schools. Results suggest that, overall, the new evaluation system did not have a significant effect on teacher retention, but there was significant variation at the individual and school level. This study has important implications for policymakers developing new evaluation systems and researchers interested in evaluating their impact on retention.

scholarly journals 'I think it's been difficult for the ones that haven't got as many resources in their homes': Teacher concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on pupil learning and wellbeing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa E. Kim ◽  
Suzanna Dundas ◽  
Kathryn Asbury
Keyword(s):  
School Level ◽  
School Closures ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Whole School ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Pandemic Planning ◽  
Role Of Parents ◽  
Pupil Learning ◽  
The Impact

School closures due to COVID-19 have been predicted to have a large impact on pupils’ learning and wellbeing. Systematic evidence about teachers’ perceptions of what challenges their pupils have faced, and how they have been addressing these challenges, will be important for post-pandemic planning. We interviewed 24 teachers from English state mainstream primary and secondary schools in June 2020 and asked them to describe the impact of partial school closures on their pupils’ learning and wellbeing, and how they had been addressing challenges as individual teachers and at the whole school level. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Six themes were identified: (a) pedagogy and process, (b) communication with pupils and families, (c) life at home, (d) the role of parents, (e) a COVID-19 curriculum, and (f) moving forwards and making plans. Teachers reported difficulties in navigating the new form of education and finding the most effective way to teach and engage with the pupils. Pupils’ lack of routine and their home environment were seen as influencing their learning and wellbeing. Parents’ differing levels of involvement raised concerns about inequality. We discuss the practical implications of how to support pupils’ learning and wellbeing both during and after COVID-19.

scholarly journals Filipino Science Teachers’ Evaluation on Webinars’ Alignments to Universal Design for Learning and Their Relation to Self-Efficacy amidst the Challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 421-451
Author(s):  
Mary Dane F. Leonardo ◽  
Jeongho Cha
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Teacher Perceptions ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
K 12 ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has led teachers in the Philippines to rely on technology to provide and support continued education for K-12 students. However, it is not only technology, but also the interactive online learning environments crafted by teachers that impact student science learning. To support teachers to cope with pandemic teaching, the government provided professional development in the form of teacher-training webinars. This study evaluated the webinars using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to understand the impact these professional development sessions had on science teachers’ self-efficacy for delivering science instruction during the pandemic. The study found that webinars including UDL design elements improved science teachers’ self-efficacy for teaching science and there were no significant differences in teacher perceptions relative to gender or teaching experience. Implications for the use of UDL to design long-term professional development offerings beyond the pandemic are discussed.

scholarly journals Digital immigrant teacher perceptions of an extended Cyberhunt strategy

2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
André Du Plessis ◽  
Paul Webb
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Perceptions ◽  
South African ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
School Level ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Cognitive Levels ◽  
First Time ◽  
Searching Skills

<span>This quantitative and qualitative interpretive exploratory case study investigates whether exposure to an Internet based </span><em>Extended Cyberhunt</em><span> strategy enables teachers to attain a set of outcomes similar to Prensky's 'Essential 21st Century Skills' and the 'Critical Outcomes of the South African National Curriculum Statement (NCS)'. The outcomes referred to include effective planning, designing, decision making and goal setting; improved computer and data searching skills; enhanced confidence, interest, reflective ability, collaboration, judgment and creative and critical thinking; as well as effective problem solving and the ability to communicate and interact with individuals and groups. The Extended Cyberhunt strategy, which focuses on enabling participants to become the designers of questions on curriculum related topics at different cognitive levels of Bloom's </span><em>Taxonomy</em><span>, was introduced to teachers who were first time users of the Internet, Microsoft </span><em>Word</em><span> and </span><em>PowerPoint</em><span>. The intention was to ascertain these teachers' perceptions of the utility of the strategy in terms of assisting them to implement the critical outcomes described above with school level learners. Data on their perceptions and experiences related to these outcomes were generated and triangulated by means of a pre and post-Likert scale questionnaire, an open ended questionnaire, qualitative semi-structured interviews, reflective journal writing, and implementer reflections. Positive gains were revealed in terms of all of the above outcomes after exposure to the Extended Cyberhunt strategy. These findings are considered in terms of differences between the approach used and traditional teacher-centred teaching, and the strategy is examined using activity theory as a lens. While we are aware that many alternative approaches exist that may be just as successful in terms of attaining the desired outcomes, we believe that the Extended Cyberhunt strategy is both a fruitful extension of </span><em>WebQuests</em><span> and other existing Internet-based approaches, and a relatively easily implementable and viable way of attaining the desired outcomes.</span>

Developing the “Will”: The Relationship between Teachers’ Perceived Policy Legitimacy and Instructional Improvement

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-44
Author(s):  
Jihyun Kim ◽  
Min Sun ◽  
Peter Youngs
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Evaluation ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
Performance Standards ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Teacher Survey ◽  
Evaluation Policies ◽  
School Supports ◽  
The Impact

Background/Context As part of a nationwide initiative that re-conceptualized teacher evaluation, Virginia issued the Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Teachers on July 1, 2012; these guidelines marked a significant overhaul of the state's approach to teacher evaluation. Previous studies examined the impact of teacher evaluation policies on student achievement, but there has been little empirical research on factors that lead teachers to change their instructional practices in response to teacher evaluation. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study We focused on an important element of policy implementation: teachers’ perceptions of the legitimacy of teacher evaluation policies. Specifically, we asked: 1) How do teachers’ perceptions of the legitimacy of teacher evaluation policies influence their efforts to improve their instruction? and 2) What school supports are associated with an increase in teachers’ perceived policy legitimacy? Our examination of teachers’ perceived legitimacy of teacher evaluation policies is critically important because individuals’ beliefs affect their willingness to respond to externally initiated reform in productive ways and to generate sustainable changes in instruction. Research Design To examine the potential impact of teachers’ perceived legitimacy of teacher evaluation policies on their instruction and the effects of various supports on teachers’ perceptions, we drew on teacher survey data and teacher evaluation ratings from two school districts in Virginia. We collected two years of teacher survey data, and three years of teacher evaluation ratings. Combining two different data sets, we provided evidence of an association between teachers’ perceived legitimacy of teacher evaluation policies and their instructional practice. Conclusions/Recommendations Our findings indicate that teachers’ perceived legitimacy of evaluation policies is positively correlated with their likelihood of taking actions to improve their instruction. That is, developing teachers’ perceptions of policy legitimacy seems to be a fruitful strategy for promoting changes in instruction. Moreover, teachers’ perceived legitimacy of teacher evaluation policies seems to have a positive relationship with various school supports, such as principal leadership, professional development, and time and resources. “The consequences of even the best planned, best supported, and most promising policy initiatives depend finally on what happens as individuals throughout the policy system interpret and act on them … Policy success depends critically on two broad factors: local capacity and will.” (McLaughlin, 1987, p. 172)

Distributed leadership and teacher job satisfaction in Singapore

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darlene García Torres
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Teacher Perceptions ◽  
Distributed Leadership ◽  
Hierarchical Linear Modeling ◽  
Teacher Job Satisfaction ◽  
School Level ◽  
Principal Perceptions ◽  
Linear Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Teacher

Purpose Singapore is a country with low teacher attrition rates and high performance on international assessments (TIMSS 2011/2015 and PISA 2012/2015). Consequently, its education system is often considered as a model for other nations. The purpose of this paper is to extend research on teacher job satisfaction in Singapore and provide comparative information for other education systems. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a secondary analysis of data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s 2013 Teaching and Learning International Survey with a focus on relationships among teacher and principal perceptions of distributed leadership and teachers’ job satisfaction in Singapore. Hierarchical linear modeling is applied to investigate teacher job satisfaction with principal perceptions and aggregate teacher perceptions of distributed leadership as school-level (level 2) variables and individual teacher perceptions of distributed leadership as a level 1 variable. Findings Results indicated that distributed leadership significantly predicted teachers’ work and professional satisfaction; higher distributed leadership scores were associated with higher satisfaction scores. Originality/value The significant positive relationship between distributed leadership and both dimensions of job satisfaction after accounting for individual teacher characteristics is a new finding in the Singapore schooling context.

Search Chair and Physical Education Teacher Perceptions About Filling PETE Positions

2011 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne Woods ◽  
Grace Goc Karp ◽  
Michael R. Judd
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Perceptions ◽  
Doctoral Programs ◽  
Physical Education Teacher ◽  
Doctoral Studies ◽  
Advanced Degrees ◽  
Education Teacher ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Teaching In Higher Education ◽  
Academic Year

Given recent evidence that a shortage of qualified candidates for PETE positions exists (Boyce & Rikard, 2008; Woods, Goc Karp, & Feltz, 2003), this dual purposed study was designed to examine the nature of and possible factors that may contribute to that shortage. The first purpose was to examine the results of searches from the perspectives of search chairs for PETE positions posted during the 2007–08 academic year. The second purpose was to determine K-12 teachers’ perceptions about pursuing advanced degrees and careers in PETE. Search chairs highlighted low numbers of qualified applicants and the need for strategies that improve the recruitment of individuals to choose PETE doctoral studies. The majority of teachers (52%) reported aspirations to continue their careers teaching at the K-12 level instead of pursuing teaching in higher education. Suggestions for policy reexamination in PETE doctoral programs related to hiring and recruitment are provided.

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