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Principals in schools that are failing to meet the expected standard in terms of Grade 12 performance have a role to play in order to change the situation in their schools around. Although there are various factors contributing to the decline in Grade 12 performance in their schools, principals are still seen to be the key figures in determining quality education in their respective schools. They should, therefore, become active change agents in the transformation process in education. Their cooperation with the EAZ teams introduced by Kader Asmal in 1999 is therefore necessary for their schools to improve. By the way, a leader does not tell subordinates “what to do” but rather shows them “how to do things”. However, a qualitative research design was employed to establish the role of the principals in the Gauteng Province in implementing the EAZ as an intervention strategy. Barriers to the success were identified. Strategies to assist principals in overcoming barriers are also recommended. Ultimately, all schools have an obligation to produce good results. / Prof. K.C. Moloi

Orientador: Maria Alice de Campos Rodrigues / Banca: Antonio Carlos Domene / Banca: Maria Amélia Almeida / Resumo: A educação no Brasil apresenta problemas, e o fato de muitos alunos saírem das primeiras séries do Primeiro Ciclo do Ensino Fundamental Básico sem saber ler e escrever merece destaque. As práticas de ensino, apresentadas por professores alfabetizadores, são com certeza um fator importante daqueles que possuem relação com o sucesso ou fracasso da aprendizagem da leitura e da escrita, sendo que alguns professores têm sucesso reconhecido no ensino dessas habilidades. Afirma-se, então, que estudo de suas práticas é importante, entre outras coisas, para buscar subsídios para formação de docentes. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivos: descrever as práticas de uma professora alfabetizadora, considerada bem sucedida pela comunidade escolar, a partir dos princípios da Análise do Comportamento para um ensino eficiente e também verificar se essa mesma professora descreve os seus objetivos de ensino em termos comportamentais. A hipótese era que, mesmo sem saber nomeá-los, a professora apresentaria em suas práticas os procedimentos apontados pela Análise do Comportamento como sendo importante para um ensino eficaz. Os dados foram coletados em duas etapas: observações diretas e entrevista semi-estruturada. A etapa de observação teve dois momentos: 1º. Um só observador fazendo registro cursivo das práticas de ensino da professora, em 18 dias/ aulas e 2º. Dois observadores fazendo registro cursivo das práticas de ensino da professora e do comportamento dos alunos diante dessas práticas, em intervalos de 30 segundos. Na entrevista a professora respondeu sobre seus objetivos de ensino, a maneira como avaliava se estes haviam sido atingidos e como explicava o sucesso ou fracasso no alcance desses objetivos. Foi possível descrever na prática da professora alguns procedimentos que de acordo com a Análise do Comportamento são importantes para um ensino eficaz, a saber: Instrução... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The education in Brazil shows problems, and the fact that several students complete the first series of the First Cycle of the Basic Elementary School without knowing how to read and write deserves mention. The teaching practices of the primary school teachers are, certainly, an important factor among those related to the success or failure of learning to read and write, and some teachers have achieved remarkable success in teaching these skills. It is then stated that study of their practices is important, among other things, to provide elements for training teachers Based on the principles of the Behavior Analysis for effective education, this study aims to describe a female primary school teacher's practices, considered successful by the school community, and also to verify whether this teacher describes the education objectives in behavioral terms.The hypothesis was that, although the teacher could not name the procedures indicated by the Behavior Analysis as important for an efficient teaching, she would use them in her practice The data were collected in two stages: direct observations and semi-structured interviews. The stage of observation was divided into two moments: 1st) a single observer making cursive registers of the teacher's education practices in 18 days / classes; and 2nd) two observers making cursive records of the teacher's education practices and of the students' behavior towards these practices, at intervals of 30 seconds. During the interview, the teacher answered about her goals for education, the way to assess whether these had been met and the causes for the success or failure in achieving these goals. It was possible to describe some procedures in the practice of the teacher that, according to the Behavior Analysis, are important for an effective teaching, namely: Instruction, Modeling, Feedback to students' behavior; Social Reinforcement... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The purpose of this non-experimental study was to determine whether teacher cognitive and behavioral agility relates to student achievement as measured by their value-added model (VAM) score and their performance evaluation measured through the Marzano instructional practice (IP) framework, and whether that relationship is moderated by contextual variables. Cognitive agility, measured through the Strategic Thinking Questionnaire for Teachers (STQ T TM), refers to the leader’s ability to use their repertoire of thinking skills. Behavioral agility, measured with the Strategic Leadership Questionnaire for Teachers (SLQ T TM), relates to the leader’s ability to use a wide array of leader influencing actions. Teacher VAM score is the percent of the teacher’s students that met or exceeded a statistically predicted score on the end of year assessment. Teacher IP scores were also collected and were based on classroom walkthroughs, and other factors, conducted by their respective school-based administrator(s). The study included 75 teacher participants at the middle and high school levels and used correlational, linear regression, moderator, and mediation statistical analyses. The research findings indicate that cognitive agility continues to be a significant predictor of behavioral agility and that both cognitive and behavioral agility were significantly related to VAM or IP in teachers over the age of 50. Additionally, VAM scores significantly increased through the use of reframing and IP scores increased when utilizing bridging leader actions. However, it was also found that VAM scores were negatively correlated to the managing leader actions in the total population. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The purpose of this study was to determine if teachers who use thinking and leading actions have higher student achievement as measured by the teacher’s Value Added Measure (VAM) score. A quantitative non-experimental design investigated the relationships between teacher cognitive and behavioral agility and student achievement. Cognitive agility, measured through the Strategic Thinking Questionnaire for Teachers (STQT ), refers to the leader’s ability to use their repertoire of thinking skills. Behavioral agility, measured with the Strategic Leadership Questionnaire for Teachers (SLQT ), denotes the leader’s ability to use a wide array of leader influencing actions. Teachers were surveyed and the data were analyzed through correlation and multiple regressions to determine the relationship among the variables. Although the cognitive and behavioral agility was not correlated with a teacher’s VAM score, the results indicate that teachers do perceive themselves as leaders in their classrooms. Educational leadership certification, higher degrees, and years experience of a teacher did moderate the relationship between local VAM and both cognitive and behavioral agility. The sub-scales of systems thinking and transforming of the survey instruments also were significant to the results. Theoretically, this study contributes to the teacher leadership literature, focusing on the classroom teacher and their effect on student achievement. Practically, with educational accountability changing the landscape, school districts should train teachers to engage in leadership skills, reward teachers for earning a Master’s degree in leadership, and work to retain high quality teachers who are leaders within their classroom. Greater student achievement could be the result. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Teaching at an online school is so different from classroom teaching that traditional training includes few of the skills necessary to be a successful online teacher. New teachers to an online environment face a steep learning curve in how they'll use the instructional technology, prioritize their time, and establish relationships with their students. The literature has advice for these teachers about effective online practices, but there has been little research to establish which strategies are most effective in motivating students. This pre-experimental study, conducted at an online 6th-12th grade hybrid school, investigated the practices used more often by the most effective teachers. Teacher effectiveness was measured by the number of assignments their students had not completed on time. Recognizing that the effectiveness of different practices will vary from student to student, the research analysis included two covariates, measured by surveys: the academic identity and motivational resilience of the students, and the students' self-reported preferences for motivational strategies. More effective teachers were found to make videos more frequently, both of the teacher for motivational purposes and recorded by the teacher to help students move through the curriculum. Quick grading turnaround and updating a blog were also more common with all effective teachers. Distinct differences between middle and high school students came out during data analysis, which then became a major point of study: according to the data, more effective middle school teachers emphasized individual contact with students, but the less effective high school teachers spent more time on individualized contact. The surveys used in this study could be modified and implemented at any online school to help teachers discover and then prioritize the most effective strategies for keeping students engaged.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

Using a combined quantitative, qualitative approach, this study explores the teaching practices of outstanding faculty at a private, liberal arts institutions by posing questions that revolve around learner-centered teaching practices, characteristics of outstanding teachers, effective teaching, and pressures on the professoriate related to the phenomena of academic capitalism. Outstanding professors from the College of Arts and Sciences, and Schools of Business, Education, and Nursing were invited to participate in this research. Weimer's (2002) five learner-centered changes to teaching practice framed this investigative study. This conceptual framework consists of altering the role of the teacher, balancing power in the classroom between teacher and students, changing the function of course content, instilling student responsibilities for learning, and using different processes and purposes for evaluation that serve to guide teacher and students interactions throughout the course.The findings of the study suggest that faculty from the School of Education agree with and implement all five of Weimer's (2002) learner-centered changes to teaching practice. However, there is incongruence between the learner-centered teaching beliefs and learner-centered teaching practices of outstanding teachers from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Business and Nursing. This study seems to indicate that several pressures on the professoriate including the phenomena associated with academic capitalism affect teaching practices in the classroom. Existing learner-centered practice models can be informed by the salient findings of this study.

Cannot copy abstract. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012

Compared to other subjects, Learning Area Technology teaching is a relatively new knowledge area world-wide, especially in the South African school curriculum, and it consequently presents new challenges. One of these challenges is the fact that no previous tertiary training programmes exist for the Learning Area Technology; thus new ones have to be developed. Since limited research has been done regarding Learning Area Technology teaching, teachers of Technology are forced to base their professional teaching and learning practices on approaches from other fields of knowledge and adapt these. This is not necessarily ideal for Learning Area Technology teaching in the South African context. The following question can thus be posed: To which extent do existing pre-service training programmes develop the essential competences and skills required for the effective teaching of the Learning Area Technology? Against the background of this overarching aim of the study, this research attempted to find answers to the following research questions: • What are the competences a qualified Learning Area Technology teacher should possess? • What is the nature of Learning Area Technology teacher training in South Africa? • What is lacking in training programmes for pre-service Learning Area Technology teachers in South Africa? To provide answers to these questions, a literature study as well as an empirical study was conducted. To achieve the aim of the empirical study a phenomenological approach was applied in executing an exploratory qualitative study. A random sample was drawn from available tertiary institutions training pre-service Technology teachers in the Learning Area Technology. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with lecturers to enable the researcher to comprehend and interpret experiences and realities in terms of the research question. Findings from the literature study on the competences a qualified technology Teacher should possess indicate that a Technology teacher, upon completion of studies, should posses the following competences to present the Learning Area Technology as a subject specialist: indepth subject knowledge of the various knowledge areas for the Learning Area Technology; suitable pedagogical content knowledge to be able to transform technological knowledge to teachable matter; technological skills in technological processes and techniques; and positive values and attitudes which can be integrated successfully during various learning opportunities. It is also imperative that pre-service Learning Area Technology teachers possess knowledge of appropriate teaching strategies to accomplish critical, creative and problem-solving skills among learners. The empirical research was aimed at establishing the nature of pre-service training programmes in South Africa, as well as identifying shortcomings in the training of pre-service Technology teachers. Data analyses regarding the nature of pre-service training of Learning Area Technology teachers-.enabled the researcher to identify particular shortcomings in preservice training programmes in South Africa. The following shortcomings were identified: insufficient subject knowledge and technological subject skills; limited subject specific pedagogical knowledge; lack of real life situations in learning opportunities; and a lack of modelling of teaching strategies during facilitation of the Learning Area Technology. Based on the findings of the research which was also related to the literature, specific recommendations were made in order to improve the quality of pre-service training for the Learning Area Technology. Recommendations on the identified shortcomings include the following: the training of Learning Area Technology teachers as subject specialists by establishing standards appropriate for tertiary training in order to enhance the development of subject knowledge; the development of subject specific pedagogical content knowledge by implementing micro lessons; revision of time planning and facilities for the practising of technological skills; and sufficient opportunities to practise, analyse and reflect on teaching processes to develop proper and appropriate teaching strategies. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010