scholarly journals Primary Education Teacher Training: an exploratory study from the lockdown towards the post Covid period

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 150-164
Author(s):  
Eugenia Di Barbora ◽  
Lucia Bragatto ◽  
Lucia Locuoco ◽  
Daniela Paci ◽  
Maura Tavano

This exploratory study, conducted during the first Covid-19 lockdown, formed part of the practical module of the Teacher Training in Primary Education course at the University of Udine, and was carried out on a sample of trainees enrolled on the course. The research had the following objectives: to understand the effects of the Covid-19 lockdown on trainees and to reflect on the impact on planning of teaching in a traditional classroom environment or in VLE, Virtual Learning Environment. In order to improve the practical components of the course, observations focused on organizational, methodological and pedagogical aspects. The data, gathered in an online questionnaire, provided a comparison of teacher training delivered in person in the pre-Covid period and in later training online. The data also provided information on the strengths and weaknesses of classroom and distance learning, on the use of technology and on the professional development of teachers in the future. The study found a multitude of issues that will need to be further explored in the post Covid period, including rethinking models and approaches in initial teacher training.    Tirocinio di Scienze della Formazione Primaria: uno studio esplorativo nel primo lockdown per Covid.   Il presente studio esplorativo è stato promosso, durante il primo lockdown per Covid-19, all’interno del Tirocinio del Corso di Studi in Scienze della Formazione Primaria dell’Università di Udine su un campione di studenti iscritti al tirocinio. La ricerca esplorativa ha avuto come obiettivi: comprendere le ricadute nei tirocinanti conseguenti allo stato di emergenza e riflettere sulla didattica in presenza e a distanza sui piani organizzativo, metodologico e pedagogico per potenziare l’offerta formativa del tirocinio. I dati, desunti da un questionario online, hanno permesso un confronto sul tirocinio in presenza nel periodo pre-Covid e successivamente svolto in DaD. I dati hanno fornito anche risultati su punti di forza e criticità della didattica in presenza e a distanza, sull’uso delle tecnologie e sulla professionalità docente futura. Lo studio ha inoltre rilevato una molteplicità di aspetti che andranno ulteriormente approfonditi per il periodo post Covid-19, tra cui il ripensamento di modelli ed approcci nella formazione iniziale degli insegnanti.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 2365
Author(s):  
Sorinel Căpușneanu ◽  
Dorel Mateș ◽  
Mirela Cătălina Tűrkeș ◽  
Cristian-Marian Barbu ◽  
Adela-Ioana Staraș ◽  
...  

The digital transformation has produced changes in all existing areas of activity worldwide. There are many factors that can influence the intention to use Industry 4.0 processes and solutions and change the behavior of organizations and their business models. The aim of this study is to validate the econometric model on assessing the significant impact of distinct factors on the intention to use Industry 4.0 processes and solutions, the benefits of digital transformation perceived by organizational management and the differences between distinct groups analyzed. The research method used within the quantitative study was the sample survey, using the online questionnaire as a data collection tool. Three hundred forty-seven valid questionnaires were collected and the response rate of the respondents was 64.25%. A new structural model was generated based on the elements of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The results of the study indicated that Perceived competitiveness and Perceived risk have a significant impact on Intention to Use Industry 4.0 processes while Perceived vertical networking solutions and Perceived integrated engineering solutions have a significant influence on the Intention to Use Industry 4.0 solutions. In conclusion, there is a positive and significant association between Intention to Use Industry 4.0 solutions and Benefits of Digital Transformation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 11222
Author(s):  
Daniel Salcedo-López ◽  
Mercedes Cuevas-López

The Erasmus+ program (2014–2020) is one of the main initiatives developed by the European Commission in the field of education and is the final joint evolution of other minor and prior actions that provide schools and teachers with funding to carry out international mobility projects with a variety of formative activities. The benefits of carrying out international mobility activities to strengthen student learning and teacher training are well known and have been researched or reported even from the early stages of a program that was born back in the 1980s but has always been focused on the university level. When considering teachers at early levels (schools and high schools), the 2014–2020 Erasmus+ program was the main source of funding to grant Spanish teachers permanent training activities abroad with a direct positive impact on their careers. The year 2020 is the last year of the first evolution of the Erasmus+ program, which has been renewed, extended, and strengthened for a new six-year term (2021–2027). However, 2020 has also been a significant year. The COVID-19 global pandemic continues to affect the mobility of citizens within the different territories of the union and, thus, have a direct negative impact on international teacher and student mobility. Being 2020 the end of a cycle and a critical moment, it is the perfect time to conduct an analysis of the data associated with the participation of teachers and schools in Spain, their perceptions of the program, the different activities carried out, and the impact of the pandemic. This research study is based on an analysis of an opinion survey through a nationwide sample of teachers participating in KA101 Erasmus+ projects. This paper gathers and presents data and conclusions using information previously not available that most of the time is published in official reports globally without considering the particularities of the different states of the European Union.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cosme-Jesús Gómez-Carrasco ◽  
José Monteagudo-Fernández ◽  
Juan-Ramón Moreno-Vera ◽  
Marta Sainz-Gómez

We present the results of a training program with future Primary Education teachers on the impact on motivation and perception of learning achieved through strategies and techniques associated with gamma and flipped-classroom. The program was run in four classroom groups (n = 210) at the University of Murcia (Spain) and the aim was to analyze the effect that the gamification-based and flipped-classroom program has on motivation and learning. Information was collected through a perceptions questionnaire. Descriptive statistics are shown; mean tests (t of Student and ANOVA of a factor) and Pearson correlations between subscales. The data show a very positive impact on motivation, the learning achieved, and the strategies applied in the program. Some differences between group-class and gender are discussed, and some future improvements of the program are put forward.


Author(s):  
Jesús Salinas ◽  
Victoria I. Marín ◽  
Catalina Escandell

This paper presents an exploratory study on the potential for offering students elements to construct their own personal learning environments, by integrating an institutional virtual learning environment and an e-portfolio system. The study was conducted in the University of the Balearic Islands (Spain) and 73 students enrolled on a graduate course on Pedagogy took part in the study. The course was project-based, and the study was carried out in phases. The collection of data was undertaken through observation and monitoring the evolution of the e-portfolio activity, a student questionnaire and the observation of student output. This data showed that this kind of environment is used almost exclusively for academic purposes. The conclusions include that the e-portfolio is a good tool for the organization of academic information; it is useful for collaborating and working in groups.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Roberta Mota ◽  
Maria Manuel Borges

In a scenario of major changes caused mainly by the use of technology in academic environments, the article approaches information mediation concepts in the Brazilian, Portuguese and French scientific literature with the objective of identifying the main theoretical aspects from the areas of information science and of the communication, employees to the university library together with the vision of the Brazilian reference librarians on the term mediation of the information to find convergent and / or divergent points and to understand how occurs the mediation of the information realized in university libraries. In the methodology applied, of a qualitative character, the bibliographical research was used to identify the approaches given by the authors about the mediation of the information. Next, an online questionnaire was used to gather information about the understanding of reference librarians on the subject, focusing on the services offered in libraries. The results lead us to state that reference librarians understand the mediation of information and are aware of their role as mediators. However, the reference process was poorly detailed by the librarians and some confusion of what it is, how it is done, and in what medium it is made were identified in the answers. However, it can be reiterated that the reference process occurs in face-to-face or digital media, mainly in the orientation of the librarian to the user to meet an expressed informational need.


This research paper is an exploratory study on the uses of hologram technology in educational theaters in Egyptian schools. Considering theater as one of the instructional methods adopted by the Egyptian Ministry of Education in the school curricula, and as an accredited school activity within a group of other educational activities. The introduction provides an overview of holographic technology and predicts its future in student learning. It further outlines educational activities that have become heavily dependent on technology in training and application, with the simplistic definition of 3D technology and 3D imaging explained. The literature review presents publications in hologram technology and related publications, explaining the different concepts of holographic, virtual, and augmented reality. The applicability of these concepts is elucidated, especially in theater activity as an educational tool in schools and educational institutions. Besides, the research focuses on the educational theater in Egypt, and the use of technology as a supportive means of achieving the goals of educational activities that may apply to exceptional capabilities and requirements. Modern technology using hologram may provide solutions to basic requirements for the stage, lighting arts, decoration, and theatrical illusions to achieve the goals of theatrical performances for educational purposes. The study used a sample size of 400 individuals represented as those responsible for performing theater activity in several schools in four different governorates in Egypt. The study results showed the impact of holographic technology in Egyptian school theaters and future challenges that may hinder the implementation of holographic technology in educational theatres, making references to previous studies on the topic. In its conclusions, the study addressed the funding gap and other challenges facing the implementation of hologram technology in educational theaters in Egypt


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Otilia Martí ◽  
Laura Portolés

In line with van Kampen et al.’s (2018) research about specialist and practitioner perceptions on the goals for CLIL in the Netherlands, the present study addresses Hüttner, Dalton-Puffer and Smit’s (2013) call for investigating teachers’ beliefs about CLIL in European countries like Spain where this teaching approach is highly institutionalized. Unlike the aforementioned studies, though, ours focuses on novice subject teachers in Primary education. More specifically, it links teacher cognition and pre-service or initial teacher training with the aim of exploring the extent to which student teachers’ beliefs mediate their education. The analysis of how these student teachers understand the aims and language principles of CLIL unveils the role that a set of monolingual ideologies (e.g. “the English only policy”) play in the conceptualization and consequent acceptance or disapproval of this teaching approach. As we also pay heed to the impact of tertiary instruction on participants’ beliefs, implications for CLIL teacher preparation programmes are discussed.


Author(s):  
Muzammal Ahmad Khan

The COVID-19 pandemic has witnessed an unprecedented disruption in global education. The sudden imposition of a lockdown led to rapid changes being made to learning, teaching, and assessment (LTA) approaches used by universities and other educational institutions, and added stress and anxiety to many students and academics. This chapter uses the findings from an online questionnaire to assess the impact of these changes on students at UK universities. It considers both their quantitative and qualitative responses to identify the key issues they faced and, in examining their experiences, allowing recommendations to be made to universities on how they can improve the support for their students. These recommendations are developed from those which the student participants themselves suggest.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 6653
Author(s):  
Francisco-Domingo Fernández-Martín ◽  
José-Luis Arco-Tirado ◽  
Francisco-Javier Carrillo-Rosúa ◽  
Mirian Hervás-Torres ◽  
Juan-Francisco Ruiz-Hidalgo ◽  
...  

The objective of this research was two-fold. First, to determine the impact of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education program on school performance amongst primary education students. Second, to identify the potential benefits of this program on the key competences of university students in Primary Education Teacher Training. The primary education students’ sub-sample, after being matched on key covariates, was randomly assigned either to the experimental (N = 25) or control group (N = 25). The university students’ sub-sample consisted of 26 students self-selected from the Primary Education Teacher Training degree. The intervention consisted of 20 two-hour weekly sessions of highly structured after-school tutoring delivered by previously trained university students. Although statistical significance was not reached for the hypotheses tested, notably, the results showed between small and moderate effect sizes (i.e., magnitude and direction of the program impact) for primary education students on core STEM subjects (e.g., mathematics d = 0.29, natural science d = 0.26), and for university students on some key employability competencies (e.g., action orientation d = 0.27 or team orientation d = 0.54).


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