A close look at change: the role of an instructional-team community on an Instructor’s evolution during instructional reform

In transforming undergraduate STEM education, it is important to understand the personal and contextual factors that impact instructors’ reform efforts. In this study we explored an instructor’s drivers and motivators for change in perspectives and practice, with an emphasis on the impact of an internal community (her ‘instructional team’) comprised of a co-instructor, graduate teaching assistants, and several undergraduate learning assistants (LAs). Data were collected over two semesters through classroom observations, interviews, faculty learning community discussion recordings, and team email communications. We identified pedagogical discontentment as a primary initial trigger for the instructor’s engagement in instructional reform, guided by personal values and beliefs about student learning and the nature of her discipline. The instructional-team community, which was established during a period of instructional distress, provided 1) consistent support in instructional planning, implementation, assessment, and reflection processes, 2) unique access to different perspectives on the nuances of the teaching environment and student challenges, 3) increased space, time, and motivation for the instructor to more critically reflect on her teaching and engage in creative instructional design. This case illustrates the potential effects of instructional team-based communities on instructors as they work to improve their practice and reform their courses.

Cases of Pedagogical Discontentment of Secondary English Teachers

This research aimed to analyze secondary English teachers' pedagogical discontent and identify factors relating to this construct. Further, this study established the teachers’ affective response to his evaluation of the effectiveness of his existing teaching practices and goals. This study utilized descriptive research with a qualitative approach using the multiple-case study design. The researcher distributed a pedagogical discontentment checklist to identify the English teachers with ‘high’ or ‘very high’ pedagogical discontentment, wherein eight (8) participants were identified. They belong to the eight (8) secondary schools in one of the districts in the Schools Division of Zambales. The eight (8) participants were subjected to individual interviews and focus group discussions. It was found out that most of the participants were female, middle adult, holding Teacher I position; Seven (7) participants have high pedagogical discontentment whereas only one (1) participant has very high discontentment; Teachers are recommended to undergo training workshops on pedagogy. Conducting regular focus group discussions on improving the weak areas are noted; An investigation on the frustrations, attitudes and beliefs, interventions, classroom practices, and aspirations of the English teachers should be conducted considering their contexts. Professional learning communities are deemed necessary.