Becoming the Force for Innovation

In this chapter, the authors, former school and district leaders, submit that COVID-19 is a force that has caused collective sight and accelerated momentum relative to shifts we have always known we needed to make in education but haven't yet made at scale. Those shifts, manifested in instructional practice, equitable systems, and the strategic integration of technology, represent an urgency COVID-19 has revealed as an absolute. The authors argue that too often we have hidden behind readiness as a barrier to translating urgency to the lived experience of learners. COVID-19 has shown us our readiness matters little in a global pandemic. Ready or not, educators will respond in the face of unprecedented circumstances. How then, might educators become the force COVID-19 has been to ensure continued momentum?

Have We Made Progress? Let’s Pause and Reflect

Thu author asks readers to pause and reflect on the progress made in instructional practice over the last decade and reminds teachers and educators that the power to make change is in their hands.

Questioning CRAAP

Librarians and instructors see college students struggle with evaluating information and wonder how to best teach source evaluation in a one-time course integrated library research session to ensure understanding and improve student performance. This research compared multiple sections of first-year students over two semesters taught two evaluation methods: the CRAAP method, and the six journalistic question words. Results indicate that students taught to evaluate information using the six question words produced better end-of-semester papers. Results of the pre-, post-, and end-of-semester quizzes were less conclusive, but do highlight some of the challenges first-year students face when determining credibility. Results have the potential to inform instructional practice.

INTEGRATED SCIENCE TEACHERS’ SELF-EFFICACY BELIEFS AND IT’S IMPACT ON THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICE

This study investigated the self-efficacy beliefs of Integrated Science Teachers in Senior High Schools and its impact on their instructional practice. The study employed the mixed method approach adopting the descriptive survey design. The study employed the use of questionnaire, interview and observation to collect data from 138 participants. Findings of the study observed that majority of the teachers had the requisite qualification to teach at the senior high school level, not all of them can confidently teach Integrated Science as an integrated whole. Some participants were of the view that since the subject encompass the various branches of science with the three main branches of the natural science dominating, it is imperative that more integrated science specialist are employed to handle the subject as an integrated whole and not in aspects as majority of the schools in the country are doing. Again, it was realised from this study that, teachers confidence level were low whenever they are teaching aspects that are not in their field of study. The study therefore recommends that regular, effective and efficient organisation of science workshops and seminars, continuous discussions about issues relating to the effective teaching of science in Senior High Schools should be held at least once every two years to enable teachers be updated with current practices in education. Again stakeholders of education should institute a scholarship package to enable more teachers to be trained to teach Integrated Science as an integrated whole to boost confidence in students. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0895/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

ATTITUDE OF TEACHERS AND ITS IMPACT ON THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICE

<p>This study investigated the attitude of Integrated Science Teachers in Senior High Schools and its impact on their instructional practice. The study employed the quantitative research approach adopting the descriptive survey design. The study employed the use of questionnaire and observation checklist to collect data from 138 participants. This attitude towards the subject stems from the perception these respondents have had about the subject for so many years since perception influences one's attitude towards an event. These attitudes also influence their expectations of how their teaching can effectively help students learn which adversely affects their attitude towards the instructional process. It was also realised that persons’ attitude towards instruction affects the demeanour and how the person carries out the instruction. The study therefore concludes that teacher’s competency and positive attitude towards instructional practice could contribute to effective teaching and students’ achievement. Knowledge on the subject matter of the curriculum that the teachers are required to teach influence the teachers’ own perception of the subject that influences their attitude. Integrated Science teaching skills is highly technical therefore; teachers’ personal development training enhances the content knowledge of teachers in Integrated Science as well as classroom management skills should be enhanced as this will go a long way to impact on the teachers’ attitude in the classroom. </p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0888/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Professional Learning Plan: A Tool to Facilitate Teacher Collaboration and Improve Instructional Practice

This case study is designed to support the preparation of school administrators and teacher leaders enrolled in courses pertaining to school improvement, instructional leadership, and educational change. The principal of an urban middle school has been charged by the district superintendent to study a downward trend in math state achievement test scores. The case involves a middle school principal and how he might choose to work with his faculty to analyze the issue and develop an appropriate professional learning plan to improve instructional practice. This case scaffolds leader preparation candidates in (a) collaboratively identifying a problem underlying declining state achievement test scores and (b) developing a professional learning plan to support school improvement efforts.

Expectations for and Quality Experiences in Undergraduate Research Over Time: Perspectives of Students and Faculty

Attention to undergraduate research (UGR) is not surprising given its widespread appeal and evidence of educational benefit. Tracking participation and identifying equity gaps in UGR are important markers of access to and equity in educationally beneficial experiences. Information about students’ exposure to elements of quality in UGR and how this corresponds to faculty perspectives and instructional practice can help inform efforts to advance and improve UGR. In this article, we use 7 years of data from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) to explore the national landscape of UGR by examining the responses of 972,088 1st-year students who reported that they planned to participate in UGR before they graduated and the responses of 1,248,854 senior students who reported that they had done or were currently involved in a UGR experience. To complement our student perspectives, we present perspectives on faculty importance of and instructional practice in UGR with data from NSSE’s companion survey, the Faculty Survey of Student Engagement, by examining the experiences of 106,000 faculty respondents. Our presentation of descriptive statistics provides a national overview of UGR participation by a variety of salient institutional and student characteristics, a broad summary of faculty involvement in UGR, and baseline data about students’ exposure to elements of high-impact UGR.