Comparing IT and Non-IT Faculty and Students' Perceptions on Blended Learning

Author(s):  
Eugenia M.W. Ng

The successful implementation of blended learning depends on many factors, but the interactions between academics and students far outweigh technology and all other factors put together. However, so far, no satisfactory research has been conducted relating to teacher education or to providing a comprehensive analysis on academic and student teachers’ perceptions. For the purpose of this study, thirteen academics were interviewed or attended focus group meetings to share their views on blended learning. Some of them were classified as information technology (IT) academics whilst others were not. The academics had a very positive attitude towards the concept of blended learning and there were no notable differences between IT and non-IT academics. Their findings are also cross referenced with findings from students who participated in a questionnaire survey. There were a total of seventy student teachers, who participated in the survey. Forty-four of them were regarded as IT students whilst the rest was regarded as non-IT students. These two groups of students gave high ratings on most of the questionnaire items. There were some minor differences between the two groups of students but the differences were not very statistically significant. These thought-provoking findings not only serve as practical and beneficial information for The Hong Kong Institute of Education, but they also serve as an invaluable source of knowledge and information for all individuals in the field of teacher education.

Author(s):  
Yullys Helsa ◽  
Ary Kiswanto Kenedi

This research is motivated by the crucial development of the information technology era in changing learning paradigm from conventional to technology-based learning. The purpose of this study is to develop Edmodo-based blended learning media in learning mathematics for Elementary Teacher Education students. This research is a research and development (R&D) that uses the ADDIE procedures. This study results a valid, effective and practical Edmodo-based blended learning media in learning mathematics for Elementary Teacher Education students. It is implied that Edmodo-based blended learning media can be applied by the lecturers to support learning for Elementary Teacher Education students.


Pythagoras ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wajeeh Daher

This article studies student teachers’ perceptions of the pedagogic and didactic aspects of teaching and learning mathematics in a democratic classroom. It is concerned primarily with issues of democracy in the mathematics classroom, specifically freedom, equality and dialogue. The research was conducted in two mathematics teacher education classes, where students were in their third year of study to major in mathematics. To find these students’ perceptions of democracy in the mathematics classroom the first two stages of the constant comparison method were followed to arrive at categories of democratic and undemocratic acts. The participants in the research emphasised that instructors should refrain from giving some students more time or opportunities to express themselves or act in the mathematics classroom than other students, because this would make them feel unequal and possibly make them unwilling to participate further in the mathematics classroom. The participants also emphasised that instructors should not exert their power to stop the flow of students’ actions in the mathematics classroom, because this would trouble them and make them lose control of their actions. Further, the participants mentioned that instructors would do better to connect to students’ ways of doing mathematics, especially of defining mathematical terms, so that students appreciate the correct ways of doing mathematics and defining its terms.


Languages ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Raili Hilden ◽  
Anne Dragemark Oscarson ◽  
Ali Yildirim ◽  
Birgitta Fröjdendahl

Summative assessments are an exercise of authority and something that pupils cannot easily appeal. The importance of teachers being able to assess their pupils correctly is consequently both a question of national equivalence and individual fairness. Therefore, summative assessment is a paramount theme in teacher education, and we aimed to investigate the perceptions and competence of student teachers regarding common summative assessment practices. The study was conducted at three universities, two in Sweden and one in Finland involving prospective language teachers responding to an online survey (N = 131). In addition, interviews were carried out with 20 Swedish and 6 Finnish student teachers. The analysis of the data indicates that student teachers value practices that enhance communication and collaboration as well as the curricular alignment of summative assessments. With respect to perceived competence, the respondents in general felt most confident with deploying traditional forms of summative assessment, while they were more uncertain about process evaluation and oral skills. Regarding significant differences in the participants’ perceptions of competence among the three universities, Finnish university students reported higher levels in all variables. However, room for improvement was found at all universities involved.


Author(s):  
Alcuin Ivor Mwalongo

The chapter examined student teachers' perceptions of the use of Moodle for promoting critical thinking in their future teaching career. The study used a mixed methods approach with a sample of 70 student teachers from three public universities in Tanzania. Data were collected through a survey, focus group discussions, and a review of documents. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed through SPSS 25 and MaxQDA 18, respectively. The findings indicate the potential of Moodle for promoting critical thinking, collaboration, and professional development. Similarly, there were statistically significant differences between pre-service and in-service teachers in perceptions of satisfaction with Moodle and taking LMS-related jobs in the future. Pedagogical implications of the findings and the area for further research have been discussed.


Author(s):  
Maripaz C. Abas

<span>Field-based observation has long been a central part of pre-service teacher education in many countries and is crucial for implementing effective practicum of student teachers. T</span><span>his paper focused on the perspectives of graduating pre-service teachers regarding their difficulties </span><span>related to </span><span>administrative support, cooperating teachers, student supervisors, students, peers, assigned tasks and learning environment during their </span><span>17-hour</span><span> field observation </span><span>in selected private and public secondary schools.</span><span> An explanatory sequential mixed-methods research design was adopted utilizing survey questionnaire, Focus Group Interviews, and Key Informant Interview. Quantitative data were obtained from 136 sample respondents through stratified random sampling using proportionate allocation while qualitative data were gathered from 10 pre-service teachers, 10 cooperating teachers, six student supervisors and three school principals who were chosen purposively. Results of descriptive statistical analysis served as  basis  for  the  design  of  qualitative interview and focus group schedules which helped the researcher to  explain, or elaborate on the quantitative results” [1]. Findings of the study showed that pre-service teachers had over-all moderate difficulties during the field observation particularly on students, assigned tasks and learning environment. Findings of the study were substantiated through in-depth discussions of qualitative data. Implications were determined for continued enhancements of the practicum component that can help bridge the theory–practice nexus in pre-service teacher education, and contribute to the development of teachers’ professional competencies</span>


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Raja Nor Safinas Raja Harun ◽  
Mohd Hafiz Hanif ◽  
Goh Swee Choo

The advances in technology have paved the way for student centred learning environment which allows for higher students’ engagement, active participation, deep meaningful learning, and critical thinking. One of the technology applications which have gained popularity at the beginning of the 1990s is the use of e-portfolio. Studies in many professional fields have shown exceptional findings on the adoption of e-portfolio. Nonetheless, the development of e-portfolio affordances over a period of time has yet to be explored to ascertain its usefulness particularly in the area of teacher education. This article presents the process of systematic literature on the e-portfolio pedagogical affordances in teacher education programs and issues to be addressed for successful implementation. Using the content analysis method, 28 articles which focused on e-portfolio, teacher education, English as a second language, scientific research, and secondary school were reviewed. The findings of the review have mainly shed positive lights on its use in documenting student teachers’ learning experiences particularly on assisting and assessing student teachers learning how to teach. This article implicates the relevance of having a holistic view and understanding of the e-portfolio pedagogical affordances and the need to recognize issues to be addressed prior to its implementation in a teacher education program. With this understanding, the university and teacher education institutions can have a well-defined policy on the adoption of e-portfolio into their teacher education programs. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-84
Author(s):  
Tuija Kasa ◽  
Matti Rautiainen ◽  
Mia Malama ◽  
Arto Kallioniemi

This article discusses democracy and human rights education (DHRE) in Finnish teacher education, drawing on existing literature, curricula and a survey of student teachers’ perceptions. Earlier studies suggested that DHRE in Finnish teacher education is unsystematic, implicit, and dependent on the teacher’s individual interests. These studies highlight a sense of national exceptionalism, where DHRE is assumed to be self-evident. In 2019, we conducted a survey of student teachers (n=300) in one university. Data content analysis reveals that student teachers now see DHRE as relevant and timely, and by no means self-evident. Student teachers believe that DHRE needs to be explicit and part of their professional education. Although the Finnish national curriculum addresses DHRE explicitly, there is a lack of implementation and explicit DHRE teacher education. We contend that the data reflects societal change, and that the notion that democracy and human rights are self-evident needs to be challenged in Finland.


Author(s):  
Malar Muthiah ◽  
Raamani Thannimalai

In a teacher education institute in Malaysia, blended learning is considered as a strategic and effective learning instruction with unique features to help improve student-teacher's discussion skills, improve their communities of practice, and achieve their course purposes. One of the tools of blended learning is flipped classroom. Flipped classroom should be implemented especially among student teachers. The definition of flipped classroom was explained in detail, and furthermore, flipped classroom activities are based on social and cognitive constructivist theory that is suitable to be implemented in teacher education institutions in Malaysia because it is student-centered and involved students actively during the learning process. A research done in one of the teacher education institutions was discussed to find out the effect of flipped classroom in achievement history test and motivation among the 20 student teachers who enrolled for Early European History until 21st Century as one of their major papers.


Author(s):  
Alcuin Ivor Mwalongo

The chapter examined student teachers' perceptions of the use of Moodle for promoting critical thinking in their future teaching career. The study used a mixed methods approach with a sample of 70 student teachers from three public universities in Tanzania. Data were collected through a survey, focus group discussions, and a review of documents. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed through SPSS 25 and MaxQDA 18, respectively. The findings indicate the potential of Moodle for promoting critical thinking, collaboration, and professional development. Similarly, there were statistically significant differences between pre-service and in-service teachers in perceptions of satisfaction with Moodle and taking LMS-related jobs in the future. Pedagogical implications of the findings and the area for further research have been discussed.


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