Developing Pre-service Elementary Science Teachers’ Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs through Microteaching by Promoting Efficacy Sources

Science teaching efficacy belief (STEB) is of paramount importance as it motivates teachers to teach science or hinders them from teaching science. Pre-service teachers' efficacy beliefs may change during their method courses. Knowing how pre-service teachers' beliefs change over time can significantly contribute to teacher educators to improve teacher efficacy. This study examined the effect of microteaching on pre-service elementary science teachers' STEB. Pretest-posttest control group design was utilized. Data was collected using the Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs Instrument (STEBI-B) developed by Enochs and Riggs (1990) both at the beginning and end of the study. The treatment group planned and taught mini-lessons. The lessons were videotaped and evaluated in detail by watching the videotapes. The microteachers replanned and retaught the mini-lessons based on the feedback. The microteaching practices were conducted to support efficacy sources. The control group only planned and taught mini-lessons and received brief and undetailed feedback. Results showed significant differences in participants' personal science teaching efficacy beliefs and student outcome expectancy beliefs in terms of the treatment group. The STEB scores of the control group also decreased at the end of the study. It is suggested that pre-service teachers should have the opportunity to reflect on their performances, artifacts, or lesson plans and to design them several times.

"Excuse my Misunderstanding": Using Intercultural Approach to teach English as a Foreign Language in France

In France, the intercultural approach has been largely associated with teaching French as a Foreign language due to the multicultural and multilingual nature of the classes. There is very little research on the use of such an approach in teaching English as a Foreign language. This is due to the fact that the majority, if not all the students, share a similar culture and common linguistic codes. The intercultural experience, in that case, is encountered through the English program as presented by the teacher, who in most cases is also French. This paper examines the use of the intercultural approach in teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) to French learners (middle school /university students) by a foreign teacher and the consideration of social representations (stereotypes) as a strategy to develop classroom participation in verbal communication. It discusses theoretical understanding of the intercultural approach and how this approach could be used in practice by drawing examples from the teacher and the learners' experiences. Data was collected through participatory observations and questioning. The research findings will show that using social representations as a strategy in intercultural approach can be instrumental to the development of verbal communication.

A Research on the Relationship between Parental Attitudes, Students’ Academic Motivation and Personal Responsibility

This study examines the predictive effect of parental attitudes on high school students’ academic motivation and personal responsibility levels. In this research predictive correlation model, which is one of the quantitative research methods, was used. 368 students attending the 10th grade in 6 different high schools participated in the study. Parental Attitudes Scale, Academic Motivation Scale and Personal Responsibility Scale were used as data collection tools. Independent samples t-test and MANOVA were performed to determine gender effect on parental attitudes, academic motivation and personal responsibility and Pearson Correlation and Multiple Linear Regression were performed to determine the relationship between parental attitudes, academic motivation and personal responsibility. According to the results, parental attitudes are a significant predictor of personal responsibility and academic motivation of high school students. Democratic parental attitude predicts personal responsibility levels by 31.2% and academic motivation level by 25.7%. In this context, it can be said that the support of parents with democratic attitude provides a positive contribution to students’ academic success, social and personal competencies.

Striking a Balance between Centralized and Decentralized Decision Making: A School-Based Management Practice for Optimum Performance

School decision-making promotes school autonomy and success. Today’s contemporary approach supports the idea that operative school functioning and development are characteristically accomplished when there is decentralized decision-making. However, less attention has been paid to the collective benefits of centralized and decentralized decision-making. Hence, it is desirable to study balanced decision-making in a centralized and decentralized structure. An extensive search of major databases was undertaken which identified 35,822 studies on the subject wherein 9 met the inclusion criteria. Employing a systematic literature review, data were extracted and analyzed using thematic analysis. Two themes arose from the analysis of the studies such as decision-making as a school-based management practice, and decision-making towards school performance. Studies engrossed on the heart of decision-making in the sociological perspective of school management. It also shows that combining both centralized and decentralized approaches is indispensable for leading and enhancing education. As a result, the literature pointed to the following discussion points, which are areas that require further research: (1) decision-making practices among school principals, and (2) decision-making on school operating expenses and expenditures.

Developing a Social Critique of Hegemony of English

The language pyramid in the post-colonial territories as propounded by Melchers and Shaw in 2003 aptly reflects on the status of different languages in Pakistan. At the top is English, with its heritage as a colonial language. Then is the ‘national’ language Urdu which has nationalist value and is spoken by the majority as a lingua franca; while at the bottom of this hierarchy are the regional languages and their dialects. This hierarchy of languages has deeper repercussions enrooting stratification based on social class and commodification of languages. In this paper, this claim is substantiated by semiotic analysis of a social media text− an amateur video clip that went viral on Facebook in January 2021− in which owners of a high-end cafe in Islamabad mock their manager’s English. The video is only the tip of the iceberg of the symbolic and linguistic capitals of English in Pakistan. This analysis is further pleaded by the literature on the critical approach to language policy and planning (LPP). This critical approach can be traced back to the 1980s and Tollefson’s oft-cited book in 1991 that endeavors to situate LPP as a part of ongoing conflicts between the elites and the common masses. He regards that the evolution of the critical approach has widened its scope rendering it primarily sociocultural, dealing with the dynamics of status and prestige. Thus stated, this research attempts to converge the critical relational theory of Bourdieu with semiotics to address this issue of class discrimination based on the hegemony of English in Pakistan through a multimethodological approach.

Male Counselors’ Experiences of Their Child-Clients’ Trauma

Men are underrepresented in the counseling profession, are socialized to be independent, and discouraged from seeking help. Exposure to others’ trauma can cause secondary trauma, with cumulative deleterious effects. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of male counselors who work with children who have experienced trauma. Six male counselor participants were identified, semi-structured interviews were conducted; then a hermeneutic interpretation through the lens of constructivist self-development theory elucidated participants’ experiences. The 13 themes generated from this data included: (a) counselors’ use of an eclectic theoretical approach, (b) majority of the clients had experienced trauma, (c) experiences of vicarious trauma, (d) increased empathy and growth; (e) negative impact of vicarious trauma, (f) help-seeking behavior, (g) denial of help-seeking behavior, (h) additional training, (i) coping skills, (j) supportive supervisors, (k) peer consultation, (l) supervisor role, (m) world is unsafe/people are bad, and (o) increasing knowledge.

COVID-19 Misinformation on Social Media: A Study of the Understanding, Attitudes and Behaviors of Social Media Users

The dissemination of information via social media is important, particularly during a public health emergency. However, while it is undoubtedly useful in the targeting of genuine health communications, social media may also be used to spread health-related misinformation at times of disease outbreak or pandemic. The study presented here researches the spread of COVID-19 misinformation in Saudi Arabia, by exploring the relevant understanding, attitudes, and behaviors of Saudi Arabian citizens. The current study comprises a survey of 318 adults in Saudi Arabia, of all age groups and educational backgrounds, and from all Saudi Arabian provinces. This study highlights the significance of COVID-19 misinformation and concludes that, despite risks to public health and wellbeing, Saudi Arabian citizens do not consider COVID-19 misinformation to be a significant problem. Participants in this study were relatively aware of such misinformation and its dangers, but it did not greatly concern them, and generally they declined to tackle it proactively.

Science Mapping Research on Citizenship Education: A Bibliometric Review

The main objective of this study is to evaluate Citizenship Education (CE) literature through systematic bibliometric analysis. The science mapping method was conducted to analyze data. Because CE is also studied with the names of social studies and civic education in the literature, articles related to these topics were included in the study. 4029 articles and proceeding papers that were obtained from the WoS database were analyzed. As a result of the study, it was revealed that number of publications has been dramatically increased in recent years. Moreover, Theory and Research in Social Education Journal was found as the most relevant source in terms of number of publications about CE. Furthermore, the study conducted by Westheimer and Kahne in 2004 was determined as the most influential source that has the most citations per year in the field. Finally, it was found that USA and UK are the most productive, most cited, and most collaborative countries in terms of scientific publications.

Analysis of Music Teachers’ Job Satisfaction and COVID-19 Anxiety Levels

It is aimed in this study to examine the job satisfaction and virus contagion concerns of music teachers in terms of certain variables during the COVID-19 process. Based on the correlational and causal comparison method in the research, music teachers' job satisfaction and contagion concerns during the COVID-19 process were compared according to the variables of gender, age and type of school they work. Besides, the relationship between music teachers' job satisfaction and contagion anxiety was explained with relational screening method. The sample of the study consists of 236 music teachers working in Konya, Karaman and Aksaray and determined by random sampling method. Minnesota Job Satisfaction and COVID-19 Anxiety scales were used to collect the research data. According to the research findings, job satisfaction of music teachers during the COVID-19 process differs according to gender, age and school type. Also, a negative relationship was found between COVID-19 anxiety and job satisfaction. Based on the results of the research, suggestions were made to increase the job satisfaction of music teachers and reduce their anxiety during the COVID-19 process.

An Investigation of the Relationship between COVID-19 Anxiety and Burnout among Music Teachers

In this study, it was aimed to examine the music teachers’ COVID-19 anxiety and burnout levels in terms of some variables during the pandemic. The COVID-19 anxiety and burnout of music teachers during the pandemic were compared according to the variables of gender, age, marital status and professional seniority based on the correlational and causal comparison method. In addition, survey design was used to identify the relationship between music teachers' COVID-19 anxiety and professional burnout. The sample of the research consisted of 215 music teachers working in Konya, Aksaray, Karaman, Niğde and Nevşehir provinces and was determined by convenience sampling method. Maslach Burnout Inventory and COVID-19 anxiety scales were used to collect data. Research findings showed that music teachers' burnout and COVID-19 anxiety were at high levels during the pandemic. In addition, music teachers' burnout and COVID-19 anxiety differed by gender, professional seniority, marital status and the type of school they work at. It was found that female music teachers had a significantly higher perceived burnout than their male colleagues. Besides, single or widowed music teachers had higher burnout compared to their married colleagues. The burnout and mean scores of COVID-19 anxiety of music teachers working in private schools were significantly higher than those of teachers working in public schools. Finally, there was a significant and positive relationship between music teachers' anxiety about COVID-19 and perceived burnout during the pandemic.