scholarly journals Examining Teachers' Perceptions on Empowerment According to Various Variables

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-146
Author(s):  
Yeliz Özkan Hıdıroğlu ◽  
Abdurrahman Tanrıöğen
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Union Membership ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Teacher Empowerment ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Length Of Service ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Education Status ◽  
Teachers Professional Development

The purpose of the study was to determine the perceptions of teachers regarding their empowerment and whether these perceptions differ significantly depending on their gender, age, branch, professional seniority, length of service at their school, education status, union membership, and the size of the number of students present at the school. In this study, teacher empowerment was considered to ensure teachers' professional development, increase their status, ensure their trust in their organizations, and increase cooperation among organization members. Four hundred forty-one teachers working in the public secondary schools in Denizli Merkezefendi and Pamukkale district participated in this quantitative study carried out during the 2019-2020 academic year. The data of the research were collected with the "Teacher Empowerment Scale."  The survey results showed that teachers' perceptions of teacher empowerment, status, trust, and cooperation were high, and their perception of professional development was very high. Accordingly, teachers perceive their status as lower than other dimensions of teacher empowerment. There was no statistically significant difference in the teachers' perceptions regarding their empowerment according to their gender, branch, educational status, and union membership. The age of the teachers was between 31-40 and 6-15 years of teaching experience.

scholarly journals EFL Teachers’ Perceptions on the Implementation of Mobile-Assisted Language Learning in Saudi Arabia During COVID-19: Challenges and Affordances

2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-100
Author(s):  
Norah Alghamdi
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Elementary Schools ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Mobile Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Efl Teachers

This study aimed to explore EFL teachers’ perceptions regarding mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) in elementary schools in Saudi Arabia, including their attitudes, levels of proficiency, and challenges they experienced regarding the use of MALL. The study also sought to investigate whether EFL teachers’ backgrounds have any significant impact on their perceptions of MALL. To this end, survey data were collected from 123 EFL teachers who have worked in elementary schools in Saudi Arabia. The results revealed teachers’ positive perceptions of MALL, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, participants stated that mobile learning is beneficial and has the potential to support and enhance EFL teaching. Most EFL teachers reported that they did not have a sufficient level of skills/abilities required to develop MALL activities and cited some challenges they faced. The results also indicate a significant difference among participants’ perceptions of MALL based on their professional development and teaching experience, but no difference based on their gender was found. These results indicate that placing a greater emphasis on offering professional development in MALL for Saudi EFL teachers could cultivate both greater proficiency and the ability to overcome challenges. This study concludes by providing recommendations on how to improve MALL implementation as well as directions for future research.

scholarly journals Adoption of Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) in Saudi Arabian EFL Classrooms

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 312
Author(s):  
Sulaiman Alnujaidi
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Stages Of Concern ◽  
Mobile Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Stages Of Concerns ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
Manova Analysis

This study aimed to examine EFL teachers' concerns about the adoption of Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) in Saudi Arabia. The Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) was used to analyze the participants' stages of concern (SoC) about MALL. The study also investigated whether some specific demographic and technographic variables (gender, age, teaching experience, and professional development) had any statistically significant effect on EFL teachers’ stages of concern about MALL. The participants in this study were (130) Saudi EFL public school teachers. The results revealed that the participants had high concerns at the Informational, Personal, and Management stages and minimal concerns at the Awareness, Refocusing, Collaboration, and Consequence stages. The MANOVA analysis revealed no significant difference among EFL teachers in terms of their MALL stages of concerns in relation to their gender, age, and teaching experience. Such findings indicate that Saudi EFL teachers' gender, age, and teaching experience have no effect on their concerns about using and implementing MALL. However, The MANOVA analysis yielded a significant difference among EFL teachers in terms of their MALL stages of concerns in relation to their professional development. These results entail that Saudi EFL teachers' professional development has a significant effect on their concerns about MALL. The study concluded that technology-related professional development could help decrease teachers’ self-concerns and increase their impact-concerns. The study recommended providing EFL teachers with technology-related professional development to ensure successful MALL adoption.

scholarly journals Foreign Language Teachers’ Professional Development through Peer Observation Programme

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Miguel Dos Santos
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Peer Observation ◽  
Good Tool ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
Observation Programme

<p>The<strong> </strong>purpose of the research is to explore the development of peer-observation programme for the use of an extension language school in Hong Kong. The research objectives were to explore teachers’ perceptions on a peer observation programme as a means to improve teaching practice, examine how teachers make sense of the peer observation programme after they have taken part in it and to suggest alternative approaches and measures by which schools can improve peer observation programmes in schools.</p><p>Data was collected from six teachers who participated in peer observation programme in Hong Kong through an interview process. The research has found out that peer observation can be a good tool for continuous professional development for teachers in order to develop their teaching strategies. This is especially important within the field of language education. From the analysis, most teachers are wary of the practicalities of peer observation due to the sensitivity that is associated with it. The research also found out that teachers think that if the peer observation approach is well developed, it can be potentially interesting or generate excitement among teachers.</p>

scholarly journals WASHBACK TO LANGUAGE TEACHERS: A REVIEW OF MODELS AND EMPIRICAL RESEARCH IN AND BEYOND VIETNAM

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinh Minh Thu
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
The Past ◽  
Key Innovation ◽  
Teachers Professional Development

Washback, i.e., test effects on teaching and learning, has been emerging as an attractive research topic in language training and assessment for over the past 20 years for its significant implications of test validation and fairness for both policy-makers and practitioners. Presently, it deserves more Vietnamese researchers' interest in the context of the enactment of the National Foreign Language Project 2020 (extended to 2025), which puts language assessment as a key innovation requirement. Washback operates either positively or negatively; i.e. promoting or inhibiting learning. Teachers are considered the precursor in the washback mechanism. There is only one washback model on the washback effects on teachers, which is proposed by Shih (2009). This paper aims to critically browse other washback models besides Shin’s (2009) to generate a washback framework on teachers' perceptions and practices. Previous empirical washback research on teachers in and beyond Vietnam is, then, investigated in alignment with the aspects illustrated in the framework to point out achievements and gaps in the field. A qualitative approach of document analysis of over forty studies of differing types, i.e. books, dissertations and articles, has been adopted to reach the research aim. The discussion is divided into two major parts, including the washback models pertaining to teachers to scaffold a model for teachers' perceptions and practices, and the results in empirical research in terms of the aspects mentioned in the model. Findings show that washback on teachers' perceptions ranges from perceptions of the test itself, students' language ability, teaching contents and methodology to teachers' professional development. Plus, washback on teachers' practices concerns their selections of teaching contents and methodology in class as well as their involvement in professional development. The element of professional development can be considered a new light in the reviewed washback model. This has a significant meaning by raising teachers' awareness of developing themselves professionally. The current paper expects to contribute to elaborating the scenario of washback research for interested researchers, practitioners and policymakers not only in but beyond the context of Vietnam.

Impact of Group Mentoring on the Professional Development of Early Childhood Teachers in a Shanghai Kindergarten

2020 ◽  
pp. 115-144
Author(s):  
Lingyun Lu
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Teachers ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Group Mentoring ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Traditional Mentoring ◽  
Teachers Professional Development

This study sought to discover whether group mentoring could serve the purpose for which it is intended in an early childhood educational context. As an alternative to the traditional mentoring model, group mentoring attempts to provide as much, if not more, instructional and emotional support as traditional mentoring relationships, which we assume to be conducive to teachers' professional development in Chinese early childhood educational contexts. In addition, group mentoring facilitates communication, collaboration and mutual growth in ways that traditional mentoring lacks. It also examined whether both mentors and mentees could be involved in the mentoring process as learners and as reflective educators on their journey of professional development, including developing their reflective and research capabilities. This qualitative case study focused on the impact of group mentoring on the professional development of four teachers in a Shanghai kindergarten. Within the theoretical framework of COP (Community of Practice), it was an investigation of how the group mentoring process, an alternative to traditional models of professional development, had an impact on the teachers in a changing early childhood education context in China. This study featured in-depth individual interviews with the four teachers (two mentors and two mentees), who are in the same mentoring group, and observations of their group mentoring activities. Data was coded and analyzed qualitatively. Major themes emerged from the study: the teachers' perceptions of the model, the benefits and challenges it brings, and its influence on their relationships and identity. The study aimed to gain insight into how group mentoring, a potentially optimal model, has exerted an influence on the teachers' professional development. This study concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings and areas for future research.

An Investigation into the Effect of Individual Differences on Iranian EFL Teachers’ Perceptions Concerning Professional Development Obstacles

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 570
Author(s):  
Sara Rahimi
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
English Language ◽  
Small City ◽  
Teaching Career ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Academic Qualification ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Postgraduate Studies

The aim of this study is to examine Iranian EFL teachers’ perceptions of the professional development obstacles they face during their teaching career. A total of 50 Iranian EFL teachers at different language academy within a small city of Kangan, participated in this study. The following items were found to be most highly frequent among the participants of the current study: [“Observers’ visits are rare” for institutional professional development obstacles; (M= 3.91)], [“Some teachers cannot afford pursuing postgraduate studies” for self-directed professional development obstacles; (M= 4.76)], [“English language conferences in Iran are rare” for professional development obstacles related to the nature of the work; (M= 3.74)]. On the contrary, the following problems were found to be the least highly frequent ones the participants were facing during their professional development: [“Institute administration considers English less important than other languages”; (M= 3.04)], [“Some teachers always feel frustrated with most students”, (M= 2.97)], [“Teaching is a type of work that rapidly becomes routine” for professional development obstacles related to the nature of the work; (M= 2.85)]. Finally, no significant difference was found in teachers’ perceptions of professional development obstacles with regard to their academic qualification, ELT experience, gender, and age.

scholarly journals So many worlds, so much to do: Identifying barriers to engagement with continued professional development for teachers in the further education and training sector

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Hamilton Broad
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Many Worlds ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Multiple Worlds ◽  
Professional Development For Teachers ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
Specialist Teachers

Between 2008 and 2012, teachers in the further education (FE) sector were required by legislation to engage with 30 hours (pro rata) of continued professional development (CPD), and this is reflective of the ways in which, historically, policy interest in FE teachers' professional development has waxed and waned. Situated within this historical context, this paper, drawing on a study carried out between 2009 and 2010, presents teachers' perceptions of the ways in which they are restricted from engaging with CPD. Through the application of actor-network theory concepts of multiple worlds and realities, three competing and disjunctured 'reality networks' are identified: a) policy reality network; b) organization reality network; and c) teacher/CPD reality network. Structural arrangements and ongoing funding contractions for the sector, alongside teachers' working arrangements, are examined so as to identify whether these create barriers for teachers. It was found that the most significant barrier to engagement with beneficial and meaningful CPD is the result of teachers operating in impoverished and limited teacher/CPD networks. These impoverished networks do not offer teachers the opportunity to forge links with similar subject-specialist teachers, leaving them to develop subject and occupational expertise in isolation.

scholarly journals Online Teaching Readiness of Teachers in Salesian Schools

2021 ◽  
pp. 24-36
Author(s):  
Fr. Rooney John G. Undar ◽  
Dennis V. Madrigal
Keyword(s):  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Student Assessment ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Length Of Service ◽  
School Year ◽  
Digital Era ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Very High

Aims: The study assessed Salesian educators’ level of online teaching readiness and the challenges they have encountered during the conduct of online classes. Study Design: This descriptive-comparative and correlational study gathered data from Salesian Educators as respondents and Bosconians as assessors. Place and Duration of Study: Salesian Schools in the Philippines during the School Year 2020-2021 Methodology: The study gathered data from 368 Salesian Educators as respondents and 365 Bosconians as assessors using a researcher-made survey. The respondents were the whole population of High School Salesian Educators from the different Salesian Schools in the Philippines with 365 students picked through stratified random sampling. Teachers’ online teaching readiness data were gathered using a researcher-made instrument based on the principles of technological, pedagogical, and attitudinal competencies. Results: As a whole, Salesian Educators demonstrate very high online teaching readiness with an obtained mean of 3.35 regardless of the teachers’ age, sex, length of service, and online teaching experience. Both the teachers’ assessment (M=3.42, SD=0.34) and the student assessment (M=3.28, SD=0.35) indicated very high online teaching readiness. Moreover, the findings suggest a significant difference in teachers’ online teaching readiness when the assessors are grouped according to teacher and student designation [U=51722.5, p=0.000]. Meanwhile, no significant relationship between age and the teachers’ online teaching readiness [ρ (366) =-0.064, p=0.222], length of service and teachers’ online teaching readiness [ρ (366) =-0.062, p=0.236], online teaching experience and teachers' online teaching readiness [χ2(2) =1.253, p=0.534]. On the other hand, a significant relationship between teachers’ online teaching readiness and sex [χ2(2) =8.811, p=0.012] was established. Majority of teachers' challenges include dealing with passive students (87.5%), following up students (78.8%), dealing with technical difficulties (67.1%). Conclusion: Salesian Educators are ready to teach online however, teachers must continuously upgrade and update to remain relevant in this fast-paced digital era.

scholarly journals Educational Attainment, Teaching Experience, Professional Development and Self-Efficacy as Predictors of Chemistry Content Knowledge: Implication for the Development of a National Promotion Examination

KIMIKA ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 7-22
Author(s):  
Jina Denise R. Galiza ◽  
Rhodora F. Nicdao ◽  
Armando Jr. M. Guidote
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Content Knowledge ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Chemistry Teaching ◽  
Secondary Chemistry ◽  
Chemistry Teachers ◽  
Teachers Professional Development

This study examined teachers’ content knowledge (CK) in chemistry and its relationship to teachers’ chemistry background, teaching experience, involvement in professional development and self-efficacy It was further investigated which variables predicted  the level of content knowledge (CK) of one hundred public secondary chemistry teachers. The data shows that the majority of science teachers have low level of CK in Chemistry. Teaching experience, professional development, chemistry background, and self-efficacy  were significantly related to the CK of teachers. Teachers' professional development and self-efficacy predicted the CK of teachers.

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