A Thematic Review of the Studies on the Music Teacher Competencies in Turkey

The first official works about the teacher competencies in Turkey were began in 1998 and many revisions made since then. In this framework, subject-specific competencies were prepared for some areas for primary education in 2008 and secondary education in 2011. This research aimed to review and analyze studies about music teacher competencies between 2008 and 2017 when music teacher competencies were in effect. For this purpose, the studies conducted during this period in Turkey were scanned, and the thematic content analysis was carried out within the framework of the method/design, sample group, data collection tools, aims, results, and recommendations. One of the research findings showed that the studies concerned were particularly related to the competency areas of planning and regulation, the theoretical-applied knowledge and skill, and professional development. Another finding pointed out that the vast majority of the studies employed a descriptive survey model. Last but not least, it was found that the samples of the studies were mostly constructed from pre-service teachers rather than in-service teachers. This current research suggests that further studies should give priority to choose in-service teachers as samples rather than pre-service teachers and also suggests more functional courses for both undergraduate program and in service training.

The Effectiveness of Portage Early Intervention Program in Improving Adaptive Behavior Skills with Intellectual Disorders

The aim of this study was to find the effectiveness of the Portage Program for Early Intervention in improving cognitive competencies of mothers with children having intellectual disabilities in applying portage program, and in developing those children’s adaptive behavior. The experimental sample included 10 children from Irbid Governorate with simple intellectual disabilities, using single-group experimentation. To achieve the goal of the study, the Portage Program (second edition) was adopted as well as the cognitive competence scale for pre and post-test, and the adaptive behavior scale for children with intellectual disabilities. Data from the implemented scales were treated statistically using proper statistical methods. The study reached the following results: There were statistically significant differences at the level of significance (α=0.05) between the means of the pre- and post-test for performance of mothers of children with simple intellectual disabilities in the cognitive competence scale. There were statistically significant differences at the level of significance (α=0.05) between the pre- and post-test means for performance of children with simple intellectual disabilities in the adaptive behavior scale. There were statistically significant differences at the level of significance (α=0.05) between the post and follow up test means for performance of children with simple intellectual disabilities in the adaptive behavior scale. The study sets various recommendations in the fields of education and research. The results of the qualitative analysis indicated a noticeable improvement in the performance of the adaptive behavior skills of the individuals participated in study.

The Impact of Instructors’ Perceptions of E-Learning on the Quality of Online Teaching: A Case Study of the French Language Instructors at the University of Bahrain During COVID-19 Pandemic

French language instructors at the University of Bahrain faced many challenges in adapting their teaching practices during the sudden transition to online teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this case study, we explore the French language instructors’ perceptions of e-learning and their attitudes toward technology during the pandemic as well as their students’ perceptions of the quality of their online teaching. The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between instructors’ perceptions and teaching performance. We conducted the study during the beginning of the sudden change to online teaching and administered online survey-based data collection instruments to gather information about French language instructors’ perceptions and undergraduate students’ satisfaction with the quality of French language online teaching. One year later, we completed data collection with semi-structured interviews of the instructors’ perceptions and online teaching experience. The findings indicated that despite the abrupt switch to online teaching, instructors showed a prominent level of technology acceptance. However, the results indicated effective online teaching was highly correlated to instructors’ pedagogical preparedness and self-efficacy level. Consequently, this study outlines key factors influencing the efficacy of e-learning, including pedagogical preparedness, instructors’ self-efficacy, and information and communications technology literacy. In addition, in this study we propose implications for instructors’ preparation and development.

Reviewer Acknowledgements for International Education Studies, Vol. 14, No. 12

Reviewer acknowledgements for International Education Studies, Vol. 14, No. 12, 2021.

Literature and Project-Based Learning and Learning Outcomes of Young Children

In the early years, children learn by taking an action and touching opportunities which experiences the world as much as possible. It is an internal process that allows children to meaningfully reflect their experiences from abstract to further learning. Literature and project-based learning management is a learning approach that strengthens the attitude of the pursuit of knowledge, helping children to have a habit of reading, creating opportunities to leading in the discovery of something meaningful to life. The research objectives were to study learning outcomes of young children through literature and project-based learning. Twenty-five young children were studied and reported their learning outcomes. Data were collected through variety of methods: observation, debriefing focus group, and interviews after the scenario. Data were collected by qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings indicated that young children had the highest level of understanding and ability to manage literary learning and projects. They also had ability to provide the most literary and project management environment were ranges low and highest based on the different perception and potential of learning. It can be recommended literature and project-based learning is suitable for early childhood education.

Secondary Students’ Perceptions of Their Engagement in a Correcting Process

This study draws on mediated learning experience (MLE) theory to contextualize the correcting process within the sociocultural dimension of the teacher’s intervention and collaborative learning to facilitate student engagement with discovering, correcting, and rewriting practices. This correcting process was administered to eight mixed-ability groups of Vietnamese secondary students (n = 31) to investigate students’ perceptions of their engagement in the process from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives that have been under-researched so far. The statistical analysis of a closed-ended questionnaire shows that students strongly agreed with the practices and effectiveness of the process, accuracy improvement, approach preferences, and learning motivation. Eight students’ responses to semi-structured interviews elaborated on the benefits and disadvantages of group-correction and the significance of targeting errors, and on each correcting phase. While students’ responses satisfied MLE’s criteria, their perceptions of the limitations of group-correction somewhat qualified the way reciprocity occurred. The findings suggest offering students opportunities to act on language issues in their writing and confirm the usefulness of engagement with correction-feedback practices from which implications for L2 writing and further research are discussed.

Investigating the Teaching Practice Framework in the Departments of Primary Education in Greece: A Sociological Approach

The aim of this research is to analyze and compare the Teaching Practice (TP) in the Departments of Primary Education (DPE) in Greece, in terms of objectives, structure and evaluation. The data for this research was drawn from the Study Guides of nine Departments that we examined in Greece, and they were analyzed using the technique of document analysis. The analysis utilized B. Bernstein’s theoretical framework. The analysis of the data revealed that the TP framework is differentiated across the Departments in terms of time demarcation and student evaluation. These differentiations illustrate the differences in the Departments’ philosophy and organization. Nevertheless, the chief aim of all the Departments is to familiarize future teachers with their duties and responsibilities, an aim which is achieved through the gradual introduction of the trainees into the school field.

Geography Literacy Profile of Pre-Service Teachers: The Case of Turkey

The study aims to determine the “Geography Literacy” levels of senior year pre-service teachers. To do so, the correlations between geo-literacy on the one hand, and the program the student is enrolled in, the type of settlement the student lived in during secondary education, the type of high school the student graduated from, the student’s travel experience so far, and attitudes towards geography on the other, were assessed. The study was carried out with 4th year pre-service teachers (n=427) enrolled in six programs in the faculty of education, during the fall semester of academic year 2018-2019. The “Geography Literacy Test” developed by Gençtürk (2009) was used as the data collection tool. The data gathered were analyzed through descriptive, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, chi-square, and Pearson correlation techniques. The study revealed that the geo-literacy levels of pre-service teachers were inadequate. Moreover, the geography literacy levels were found to exhibit significant variance with reference to gender, attitudes, the type of high school, the program the student is enrolled in, and the type of settlement the student lived in during secondary education. The findings were then used as the basis of specific proposals for increasing geo-literacy levels and paving the way for future studies.

Occupational Stress, Coping Strategies, Health, and Well-Being Among University Academic Staff—An Integrative Review

Occupational stress has been constantly rising among academics in universities globally, which affects their health and well-being. Although some studies reviewed occupational stress in academics, there has been less systematic evidence reviewed occupational stress of academic staff through the lens of the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TTSC). This integrative review aims to search, extract, appraise and synthesise recent evidence relating to occupational stress, coping strategies, health, and well-being of university academic staff. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) methodology provides a structure for searching and reporting the search outcomes. Primary studies relating to occupational stress, coping strategies, health, and well-being of academics in university published from 2010 onwards were selected from five databases, CINAHL, ERIC, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, and Web of Science in June 2020. Keywords included “stress”, “coping strategy”, “health”, “well-being”, “academics” and “university” in various combinations. The boolean operators “AND” and “OR” were also used. 17 out of 682 articles were included in this review. Most studies reported academics experienced moderate to high level of stress, and the heavy workload was one of the main stressors. Both positive and negative coping methods were used by academics to cope with stress. Occupational stress can contribute to poor mental health and decreased well-being of academics. This review can help to understand the work phenomenon of university academics and improve their health and well-being, which in turn can contribute to satisfaction and productivity within the educational institutes.

Development of Excellent Leadership Indicators of Administrators in Private Schools in Northeastern Thailand

The purposes of this research were 1) to study existing excellent leadership indicators of private school administrators and 2) to test the consistency between the developed excellent leadership model and the empirical data. The sample group was consisted of 532 administrators and teachers in private schools in northeastern Thailand certified by the Office of Nation Education Standards and Quality Assessment (Public Organization), Thailand. They were obtained through purposive sampling. The research instruments for data collection included 1) a semi-structured interview form and 2) a 5-point rating scale questionnaire with a content validity between 0.60 - 1.00 and a reliability of 0.992. The data was analyzed with a statistical package and content analysis. The results of the research were as follows: 1. The developed model of excellent leadership indicators of the private school administrators contained 5 core elements and 82 indicators including 1) transformational leadership with 4 sub-elements and 12 indicators, 2) strategic management leadership with 4 sub-elements and 15 indicators, 3) academic leadership with 4 sub-elements and 14 indicators, 4) corporate communication with 5 sub-elements and 21 indicators, and 5) technological skills with 6 sub-elements and 20 indicators. 2. The developed model of the excellent leadership indicators of the private school administrators was in consistence with the empirical data (Chi-square = 357.51, df = 149, p = 0.00000, x2/df = 2.39, GFI = 0.94, AGFI = 0.90, RMSEA = .0.051, RMR = 0.013).