Transforming Teaching for Virtual Environments

Author(s):  
Irina Lyublinskaya ◽  
Xiaoxue Du

This chapter describes pedagogical practices and teaching strategies with instructional technology used in an online summer course with preservice K-12 teachers. The course provided preservice teachers (PSTs) with experiences in using technology in K-12 classrooms from both students' and teachers' perspectives, engaged PSTs in active explorations of various K-12 curriculum topics using technology that could enhance high-impact teaching strategies, and supported PSTs in development of virtual lessons using instructional technology. The study identified effective practices with instructional technology to support preservice teachers' development of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) for their own online teaching. Study findings suggest that online immersive experience created a virtual student-centered space to nurture collaborative inquiry and that contributed to the growth of PST's TPACK. However, this experience also brought challenges and concerns for sustaining and transforming teaching and learning with instructional technology to an online environment.

Technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) is a dynamic theoretical description of teachers' knowledge for designing, implementing, and evaluating curriculum and instruction with digital technologies. TPACK portrays the complex interaction among content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and technological knowledge for guiding all teachers (K-12 and higher education faculty) in the strategic thinking of when, where, and how to direct students' learning with technologies. Teacher educators' and educational researchers' acceptance of the TPACK construct mirrors the acceptance of its parent construct of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). The importance of teachers' continued practice in integrating technologies is essential for extending and enhancing their TPACK. Connections with the knowledge-of-practice construct suggest calling TPACK TPACK-of-practice to more accurately describe the process of the knowledge development efforts for guiding inservice and preservice teachers in gaining, developing, and transforming their knowledge for teaching as new and more powerful technologies emerge for integration in education. Ultimately, the very nature of the TPACK construct describes a transformation of teachers' knowledge for teaching in the 21st century – a century reframed by robust and advanced technologies that have been integrated into the fabric of a more complex social, cultural, and educational environment.


Author(s):  
Patricia Baia

Through the lens of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK), this chapter’s goal is to understand how commitments affect readiness to innovate and how readiness to innovate affects commitments. Even further, it initiates the conversation on what engages faculty to change and improve their own teaching. Can faculty’s commitment to pedagogical quality (CPQ) predict instructional technology adoption? Current Instructional Technology Adoption Models (ITAMs) ignore issues of pedagogy and are mostly developed for an alternative audience and environment, outside the realities and characteristics of higher education. A literature review explores exiting models for factors motivating full-time faculty to incorporate technology. Three audience categories naturally emerge (non-educational, K-12, and higher education), which highlight how each community treats teaching and learning differently. In addition, a study was conducted to analyze relationships between CPQ and adoption. Results indicated CPQ is related to instructional technology adoption through beliefs, academic title, years taught, tenure status, intrinsic and extrinsic motives, and curriculum.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (6A) ◽  
pp. 1055-1067
Author(s):  
Thasmai Dhurumraj ◽  
Sam Ramaila ◽  
Ferhana Raban ◽  
Ahmed Ashruf

COVID-19 posed formidable challenges to the teaching and learning of subjects with abstract concepts such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The study explored how STEM teachers transformed their pedagogical practices as an integral part of the transition to online teaching and learning in response to COVID-19 and further examined the effectiveness of online teaching and learning. The study adopted an exploratory descriptive survey design and involved purposively selected STEM teachers from schools operating under the auspices of the Association of Muslim Schools. The Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework underpinned the study. Quantitative data was collected through the administration of a Likert scale instrument. Data was analysed using inferential and descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that COVID-19 essentially compelled teachers to make a transition to online teaching and learning resulting in a concomitant profound impact on their pedagogical practices. Teachers provided various perspectives on the key modalities adopted to navigate online teaching and learning on virtual platforms in an attempt to ensure sustainable, equitable and inclusive teaching and learning. Implications for broadening educational pathways to STEM education through online teaching and learning on virtual platforms and sustainable teacher professional development on technology integration in teaching and learning are discussed. Keywords: COVID-19, online teaching, pandemic, pedagogy, STEM, teaching practices


10.28945/3626 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 001-014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tian Luo ◽  
Laura Hibbard ◽  
Teresa Franklin ◽  
David Moore

Aim/Purpose The goal of this project was to determine what effects exposure to online K-12 teaching and learning activities had on teacher candidates’ perceptions of K-12 online learning, how the exposure allowed teacher candidates to reach greater understanding of online pedagogy, and what effect such exposure had on teacher candidates’ aspirations to complete virtual field experiences. Background With an increasing number of K-12 students learning online within full-time online schools and in blended learning environments, universities must prepare future educators to teach in virtual environments including clinical practice. Before engaging in online field placement, preservice teachers must be oriented to online K-12 teaching and learning. Methodology Using a design-based, mixed-method research methodology, this study drew samples from four sections of a hybrid technology integration course. Preservice teachers’ papers detailing their perceptions, focus groups, and surveys were used to gauge changes in perceptions of online learning after participating in online teaching and learning activities. Contribution The study demonstrated that an exposure to online K-12 classrooms stimulated preservice teachers’ interest in online teaching as they began to feel that online education could be equivalent to traditional education. Findings Students’ perceptions positively improved the equivalency of online learning to traditional schooling, the possibility of positive relationships between teachers and students, and the ability to create interactive learning. Students also reported being more knowledgeable and showed increased interest in participating in virtual field experiences. Future Research Future research may continue to examine if the exposure course, combined with a short-term clinical experiences and long-term online apprenticeships may serve to prepare graduates with the skills necessary to teach in classrooms of the future.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Sabri Bin Sahrir ◽  
Abdul Razif Zaini ◽  
Yaakob Hassan ◽  
Zulkefli Hamat ◽  
Taufik Ismail

The Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework is crucial for every educators and teachers when dealing with teaching and learning by using technology. There are three essential components of TPACK which have to be fully mastered in order to conduct any teaching and learning session via whatever technological means and platforms, especially in the current situation of COVID-19 pandemic which requires the teacher to adapt with suitable teaching and learning remote strategies including online assessment. This study is conducted to investigate the level of technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) skill among Arabic school teachers in preparing online assessment for remote teaching and learning prior to a training workshop organized by the Malaysian branch of Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, ICESCO-KUIS and Islamic Education Unit, Ministry of Education, Malaysia. The main author has been conducting the TPACK training module among 56 Arabic school teachers in Johor, Malaysia on 5-6 October, 2020 from selected all districts, while only 40 of them responded to the survey after the workshop via Google Form. Moreover, all participants were responding concurrently to the open-ended survey during the workshop via Mentimeter.com. This research instruments were investigating the teachers’ knowledge about three essential components of TPACK, which include technology, content, and pedagogy as well their suggestions and feedbacks towards employing online assessment and effectiveness of conducted workshop. The findings are expected in contributing towards the understanding of the teacher’s level of knowledge in technology, pedagogy, and content among Arabic school teachers in Malaysia especially for online teaching and assessment. The study may also beneficial to other similar settings where the technology has not been effectively utilized by teachers in schools.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Haibin Sun ◽  
Tingting Liu

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on education at all levels and types, and the education system, including colleges and universities, has been forced to respond by a sudden shift to online teaching. Successful online teaching requires careful thinking, planning, and technical and human support from teachers. Based on the reflection on the offline classroom teaching of theoretical mechanics for many years and the online teaching practice of first half of 2020, the author summarizes effective strategies for implementing online teaching of theoretical mechanics. We prepared the theoretical mechanical lessons through a “student-centered” approach, such as preparing teaching materials, students and teaching methods. These teaching strategies include (i) Adopting live-stream teaching as the main teaching method, (ii) Applying electronic blackboard to online deductions, (iii) Linking theory to practice for better understanding of knowledge, (iv) Integrating curriculum content in ideological and moral education, (v) Conducting formative assessment to supervise and motivate online learning. The implementation of these online teaching strategies has effectively promoted the development of students' independent learning ability.


Author(s):  
Cynthia J. Benton ◽  
Kathleen A. Lawrence

Effective presentation skills and communication competence are important developmental qualities for teachers’ professional success and K-12 students’ learning. Yet identifying the definitive qualities and methods to practice and evaluate those skills has had minimal emphasis in current education programs. In addition to traditional abilities such as making clear presentations, speaking well, and articulating an argument, K-20 learners are faced with an explosion of options for accessing, organizing, and presenting information using technology. This study documents methods for college-level instruction and assessment of presentation skills, which serve as evidence of preservice teachers' readiness to demonstrate effective communication skills for K-12 student learning. The report summarized in this chapter tracks two years of creating and evaluating methods for promoting professional presentation and communication skills, and includes rubrics focused on the development and evaluation of those skills.


Author(s):  
Carolyne Nekesa Obonyo

The use of mobile technologies to enhance 21st century learning is increasing in K-12 schools and teacher education institutions. Thus, there is a need to effectively prepare preservice teachers to use mobile technologies in their future classrooms. This chapter explores the effective use of mobile technologies in teacher preparation in ways that are transferred to K-12 teaching and learning. It goes on to look at two major organizations: the university and partner school involved in the preparation of preservice teachers. Additionally, the purposes of incorporating information and communication technologies in teacher preparation as identified by Davis are explored to understand how mobile technologies align with these purposes. Common challenges of using mobile technologies in teacher preparation are also presented.


A multiple case, descriptive study provides research insights for illuminating the tools and processes in the online TPACK learning trajectory situated in a social metacognitive constructivist instructional framework for graduate coursework. In this course, inservice K-12 teachers' relearn, rethink, and redefine teaching and learning for developing a 21st century literacy significantly influenced by the proliferation and societal acceptance of multiple digital technologies. The research examination identifies insights about the incorporation of the key tools (community of learners and reflection) and processes (shared/individual knowledge development and inquiry) in the online learning trajectory for reframing teachers' Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). Three themes reveal how the online learning trajectory relies on these tools and processes for enhancing the participants' learning: the tools and processes are needed for constructing knowledge, for transitioning the participant's thinking as a student to that of a teacher, and for recognizing the value of pedagogical strategies for teaching and learning with technologies.


Author(s):  
Rashmi Khazanchi ◽  
Pankaj Khazanchi

Current educational developments in theories and practices advocate a more personalized, student-centered approach to teach 21st-century skills. However, the existing pedagogical practices cannot provide optimal student engagement as they follow a ‘one size fits all' approach. How can we provide high-quality adaptive instructions at a personalized level? Intelligent tutoring systems with embedded artificial intelligence can assist both students and teachers in providing personalized support. This chapter highlights the role of artificial intelligence in the development of intelligent tutoring systems and how these are providing personalized instructions to students with and without disabilities. This chapter gives insight into the challenges and barriers posed by the integration of intelligent tutoring systems in K-12 classrooms.


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