Our nation’s first Chief Technology Officer, Aneesh Chopra, has said that “technology in education is less about hardware and software and more about what we teach, the method in which we teach it, and professional development and support for educators” (Fletcher, 2009). While technology reform continues to provide schools and colleges with hardware and software (Kern & Warschauer, 2000; Kessler, 2006), the amount of technology teachers use remains low (Barron et al., 2003; Cuban et al., 2001). If our efforts are to reform, as Chopra suggests, what we teach and how we teach it, our instructional technology research must incorporate the voices of teachers who determine what happens inside the classroom. One theory regarding limited technology use has been that teachers’ beliefs and their relationship to practice might provide us with insight that will allow us to aid teachers in their craft (Becker & Riel, 1999; Ertmer, 2005). This qualitative case study examines three Spanish teachers’ pedagogical beliefs and how those beliefs relate to their instructional technology use. Data include interviews, observations, field notes and documents analyzed using a constant comparative approach (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Findings show that beliefs about the classroom environment most influence their choices regarding instructional technology. / text

E-learning is a form of education that is increasingly being used in higher education in the developed world. However, the take-up and use of e-learning in developing countries is at a preliminary stage. This thesis deals with e-learning in the context of a developing country. The aim of the study was to describe and understand teachers’ beliefs about e-learning in higher education at UMSA. Qualitative semi-structured interviews and observations were used to identify 10 teachers’ beliefs about e-learning. The Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge framework was used for analysing the interviews and observations. Teachers’ showed varying levels of knowledge about technology, pedagogy and content, as well as varying knowledge levels about different combinations of these three knowledge domains. Despite the limited educational resources at Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), most teachers’ believed e-learning is beneficial for themselves and their students

This thesis describes an exploratory study designed to investigate the beliefs and perceptions of eight English language lecturers about, and their classroom practices in implementing the curriculum change that was enacted in 2010 at the undergraduate level in the public sector colleges in Pakistan. Research indicates that curriculum change is a highly complex and a multifaceted process (Carl, 2009), and its success depends on a number of features. In this respect, it is acknowledged that teachers and their multiple roles contribute significantly to the success or failure of any educational reform or change. Therefore, this exploration focussed on investigating teachers’ implementation of the curriculum change through an analysis of their beliefs about teaching and learning, their perceptions about the curriculum change, and the issues involved in implementation. My approach is interpretive, and thus qualitative research methodology was employed to obtain an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon under investigation. Semi structured interviews and classroom observations were used as data collection instruments. The analysis of the data revealed that, in spite of the lecturers’ generally positive attitude towards the concept of change and their belief in the importance of English for both individual and national progress, there was a limited uptake of the new communicative curriculum. The study indicated that teachers’ beliefs combined with a number of external factors including the student level, educational culture, examination washback, lack of resources and support, and absence of teacher training could be an explanation for contradictions between the intended and the implemented curriculum change. The study concluded that the needs of the teachers must be acknowledged, and measures should be taken to create compatibility between the teachers’ beliefs, contextual factors and the reform policies. Although the study does not provide any explicit solutions to the problem of change and reform implementation, the insights revealed significant implications, clarified some critical issues, and offered some recommendations which might prove beneficial not only for curriculum planning and implementation in the future, but could also be useful in guiding those involved in the present curriculum change. Important areas were also suggested for further research in the field.

This qualitative study deals with Chinese middle school teachers' and Swedish upper secondary school teachers' beliefs and practices regarding the use of L1 in the EFL classroom. Through semi-structured interview questions, data were collected from five Chinese teachers and five Swedish teachers. The interviews with the Chinese teachers were conducted by the researcher on a one-to-one basis, while five Swedish teachers were asked to answer the same questions via email. The results of this study showed that there were both differences and similarities between the two groups of teachers. The Swedish teachers had a fairly negative view regarding the usage of L1 in the EFL classroom and most of them claimed that the only time they codeswitched was when giving individual feedback, when making direct comparisons to the Swedish language or when the class got out of hand. Most of the five Chinese teachers deemed target language exclusivity not logically feasible and codeswitched mostly with the students' comprehension in mind. The findings mostly agreed with previous research. / Denna kvalitativa studie handlar om kinesiska högstadielärares och svenska gymnasielärares åsikter och bruk när det gäller användningen av moderspråket i engelskundervisningen. Genom semistrukturerade intervjuer samlades data in från fem kinesiska lärare. Intervjuerna med de kinesiska lärarna genomfördes, en i taget. Fem svenska engelsklärare ombads att svara på samma frågor via epost. Resultaten av denna studie visade både skillnader och likheter i åsikter och bruk hos de tio lärarna. De svenska engelsklärarna hade en ganska negativ syn på användningen av modersmålet i engelskunderviningen och kodväxlade mestadels när de gav individuell feedback, när de gjorde direkta jämförelser med det svenska språket och när de förlorade kontrollen över klassen. De flesta av de fem kinesiska lärarna ansåg att exklusiv användning av målspråket inte var logiskt rimligt med tanke på elevernas förståelse. Resultaten stämde mestadels överens med tidigare forskning.

本研究旨在探討多元化評量在國中英語科實施之情況。教育部於民國93年所提出之「國民小學及國民中學學生成績評量準則」提及，學生的成績評量可參酌建議之十二項評量評定之。本研究藉由問卷設計及訪談的方式進行，旨在了解目前國中英語科老師對多元評量功能的信念，常使用之評量方式，以及評量最常遭遇之困難。其中問卷調查是匯集143位台北市公立國中英語科教師之意見，以統計軟體SPSS 10.0進行敘述性統計、獨立樣本t考驗、單因子變異數分析與薛費法事後分析，並訪談其中5位自願受訪的老師，以質性資料補充說明，獲得結果簡述如下： 1. 國中英語科老師對多元評量功能上的信念，抱持正面的看法； 2. 國中英語課堂上最常採用的三種評量方式依序為：紙筆測驗、作業、口試；教學年資不同的老師，對測驗的選擇有顯著性的差異； 3. 國中英語科老師在實施多元評量時，最常遭遇的困難依序為：學生程度差異大、班級人數多、施測費時；性別、教學年資、以及是否參加過與多元入學相關的研習，對於實施多元評量時的困難，造成顯著性的不同差異。 最後依據所得的結論，對教育相關單位提出具體建議，希望能做為未來落實多元評量的參考。 / The study aims to investigate the implementation of multiple assessments (MA) in the English classes in junior high schools. The MOE proposed the Guidelines of Assessments for Elementary and Junior High School Students in 2004, suggesting 12 modes to evaluate students’ performances. The researcher endeavored to find out junior high school English teachers’ beliefs in MA, the assessments practiced most often in class, and the difficulties hindering teachers in employment. Both questionnaire and interview were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from 143 English teachers in public junior high schools in Taipei City. Statistic computerization, including descriptive statistics, the independent sample t-test, and ANOVA with Scheffe as the post hoc test if needed, were analyzed, and the findings were presented briefly as follows: 1. In general, junior high school English teachers hold a positive attitude toward the functions of MA; 2. The most common used assessments, in order, are: paper-and-pencil tests, homework, and oral tests; teachers with different seniority reflect significantly different choices of MA in use; 3. In applying MA in class, junior high school English teachers are most hampered by the divergent levels of students in the same class, the large class sizes, and a time consuming; the variables, such as gender, seniority, and workshop-attendance, make significant difference when teachers are encountered with different difficulties in applying MA in class. Finally, based on the findings in this study, some suggestions were made for educational authorities concerned to develop a more mature environment for practicing MA in the future.

In the intersection of technology, curriculum and intentions, a specific issue of interest is found in the gap between teachers’ intentions and implementations of curriculum. Instead of approaching curriculum and technology as something fait accompli, teachers are considered crucial in the re-discovery of what and how to teach. The thesis depicts the mind-set of teachers and their beliefs in relation to computing curriculum. Three perspectives are covered in the thesis. Based on original documents and interviews with curriculum developers, the enactment of the computing/programming curriculum during the 1970s and 1980s is explored (Paper 1). This historical perspective is supplemented with a perspective from the present day where current teaching practice is explored through teachers’ statements (seminars with associated questionnaires) regarding their beliefs about teaching and learning programming(Paper 2). Finally with a view from a theoretical perspective, teachers’perception of instruction is discussed in relation to a theoretical framework where their intentions in relation to theoretical and practical aspects of knowledge are revealed (Papers 3 &amp; 4). The initial incitement to offer computing education during the 1970s was discovered in the recruitment of a broader group of students within the Natural Science Programme and the perception that it would contribute to the development of students’ ability to think logically and learn problem solving skills. Data concerning teachers’ beliefs about teaching and learning programming unravels an instructional dependence among today’s teachers where students’ logical and analytical abilities (even before the courses start) are considered crucial to students’ learning, while teachers question the importance of their pedagogy. The thesis also discover two types of instruction; a large group putting emphasis on the syntax of programming languages, and a smaller group putting emphasis on the students’ experiences of learning concepts of computer science (not necessarily to do with syntax). In summary the thesis depicts an instructional tradition based on teachers’ beliefs where the historical development of the subject sets the framework for the teaching. Directly and indirectly the historical development and related traditions govern what programming teachers in upper secondary school will/are able to present to their students. From deploying two theoretical approaches, phenomenography and logic of events, upon teacher’s cases it is shown that the intended object of learning (iOoL) is shaped by the teacher’s intentions (e.g., balancing the importance oftheory and practice, using different learning strategies, encouraging learning by trial-and-error and fostering collaboration between students for a deeper understanding). The teachers also present a diverse picture regarding what theoretical knowledge students will reach for. / <p>QC 20150227</p>

The main purpose of this research is to investigate the beliefs of trainee teachers regarding generating English language learners' Willingness to Communicate (WTC), the relationship between their beliefs and practice and the influence of teaching practicum to their beliefs. This study took place in the Indonesian context in which EFL trainee teachers' belief-practice relationships regarding learners' WTC is still an understudied domain. Thus, this study was designed to fill this gap in current research. Three Indonesian EFL trainee teachers participated in this study during their teaching practicum. The study is within an Interpretive paradigm and utilizes a case study approach. Methods of data collection included classroom observation and semi-structured interviews. The findings showed that trainee teachers' learning experience significantly influenced their beliefs and governed their teaching. Some of the trainee teachers' beliefs were clearly manifested in their actual teaching (e.g. using explicit approaches particularly in teaching grammar). Other beliefs (e.g. creating interactive classroom activities) were not demonstrated. Several intrinsic factors such as trainee teachers' English proficiency level and confidence, and extrinsic factors such as large class size and students' responses were found to affect the relationship between trainee teachers' beliefs and practice. Most of their beliefs (e.g. learners' language knowledge as the key factor to communicate in English) remained unchanged after the practicum. Other beliefs, such as the need to use English and BI proportionally were not enacted in their teaching practice during the classroom observations. This study provides important implications for initial English language teacher education programmes, teacher professional development and for the field of teacher cognition and WTC.

The purpose of this study was to examine the following: (a) What is the nature of Kindergarten and First grade teachers’ beliefs and self-reported practices regarding early literacy learning and teaching?; (b) What is the relationship between Kindergarten and First grade teachers’ beliefs and self-reported early literacy teaching practices?; and (c) How do teachers’ educational backgrounds and professional development experiences explain the relationship between their beliefs and practices in early literacy learning and teaching? Three instruments were administered to the participants in this study. The Theoretical Orientation to Reading Profile (Deford, 1979), hereafter known as the TORP, was used to measure teachers’ pedagogical beliefs about the teaching and learning of reading. The Preschool Literacy Practices Checklist (Burgess, Lundgren, Lloyd, & Pianta, 2001), hereafter known as the PLPC, was used to measure teachers’ self-reported literacy instructional practices. A survey questionnaire I designed was used to obtain descriptive information about the participants in this study. Data were collected from forty-seven in-service Kindergarten and First grade teachers. The results of the TORP data from this study indicated that 6% of the participants represented the decoding perspective, 92% represented the skills perspective and 2% represented the wholistic perspective. Correlation scores from the PLPC regarding teachers’ beliefs and practices show there was no significant correlation between teachers’ beliefs and self-reported practices in the classroom. Additionally, the findings showed there is a relationship between teachers’ educational backgrounds and the reading literacy practices teachers view as important or essential in the early grades such as understanding the meaning of words, recognizing basic sight words, understanding concepts of print, and identifying the elements of a story.

ABSTRACT LINKS AND DISCONNECTS BETWEEN THIRD GRADE TEACHERS’ BELIEFS, KNOWLEDGE, AND PRACTICES REGARDING NONFICTION READING COMPREHENSION INSTRUCTION FOR STRUGGLING READERS by Nicole P. Maxwell In the current era of accountability, U. S. teachers face strict demands from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) to ensure that all students’ reading achievement meets the requirements of their respective grade levels (Coburn, Pearson, & Woulfin, 2011). These demands are especially stressful when teachers have students who struggle with reading. Regrettably, many students grapple with reading difficulties, particularly with comprehending fiction and nonfiction texts (Allington, 2011). The purpose of this study was to examine the beliefs and understandings three third grade teachers held concerning nonfiction reading comprehension instruction for struggling readers and how these beliefs and knowledge influenced their pedagogical practices. This qualitative, interpretive case study examined their beliefs using the theoretical lenses of epistemology (Crotty, 2007; Cunningham & Fitzgerald, 1996; Dillon, O’Brien, & Heilman, 2004; Magrini, 2009), social constructivism (Vygotsky, 1978), transactional theory of reading (Rosenblatt, 1994), and the sociocognitive interactive model of reading (Ruddell & Unrau, 2004). The following research questions guided this inquiry: (1) How do third grade teachers support struggling readers when navigating nonfiction texts? (2) What are these third grade teachers’ beliefs and understandings about struggling readers? (3) How do these beliefs influence the third grade teachers’ pedagogical practices with struggling readers? Data collection lasted for five months and involved interviews, classroom observations, teacher debriefs, and the collection of artifacts, including DeFord’s (1985) Theoretical Orientation to Reading Profile (TORP). Data analysis was conducted using the constant comparative approach (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). The findings in this study revealed links and disconnects between the accommodations teachers believed their struggling readers needed and what they actually provided their struggling readers. These teachers faced pressures of time constraints and a focus on testing, which affected their pedagogical practices. Furthermore, they demonstrated a reliance on content area textbooks and dissatisfaction with the accessibility of nonfiction materials. These findings highlight the need for pre-service and in-service teachers to have access to quality nonfiction materials to use in the classroom and instruction on how to provide nonfiction comprehension instruction to their struggling readers.

本研究旨在探討高中英文教師對於英文作文教學的信念與其實際教學情形。文獻回顧內容涵蓋英文作文教學理論以及教師信念與實踐。 本研究的對象為台北市的高中英文教師，研究方法採用量化的教師問卷輔以質化的教師訪談，問卷回收171份，採用兩種統計方法分析：描述性統計及單因子變異數分析；訪談人數為6人，訪談結果用來支持、解釋問卷結果。研究重點如下：(一)教師信念及教學情形：包含教學目標、教師角色、教學內容及教學方式、（二）教師信念與實踐的符合度與造成不相符合的原因以及（三）影響教師信念與實踐的因素。 本研究的主要發現如下： 1. 大考會左右老師的教學方向，但老師教學時目標不只侷限於此。 2. 老師的教學信念與實踐皆綜合成果導向與過程導向的教學法原則，而非單一教學法。 3. 教師教學上面臨課程、學生、教學準備及批閱作文等方面的困難，這些困難會阻礙老師遵循其信念教學。 4. 教師背景經驗確實會對其信念與實踐有所影響。 本研究有助於認識高中英文教師教寫作的信念與教學情形。研究者根據研究發現，分別對高中英文教師、教師培育機構、教育部及作文教學教材編寫者提出建議，以期讓高中英文作文教學更進一步。 / The purpose of this study was to explore what beliefs senior high school English teachers hold toward writing instruction and their practices of the beliefs. Literature review covered the approaches of ESL/EFL writing instruction and teachers’ beliefs and practices. The participants of this study were senior high school English teachers in Taipei city. Two data collection instruments were adopted, the quantitative questionnaire and the qualitative interview. In total, 171 questionnaires were gathered and analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA. In addition, six interviews were conducted, whose results were utilized to further support and explain the questionnaire results. There were three research focuses. The first one was on teachers’ beliefs and practices in the goals of writing instruction, the roles they played, and the content as well as the teaching procedures of writing instruction. The second one was on the consistency between teachers’ beliefs and practices and possible reasons for the inconsistency. The third one was on influential factors on teachers’ beliefs and practices. Based on the results of this study, major findings are summarized. First, for the teachers in this study, entrance exams were approaching, so the test-oriented trend seemed to be inevitable. However, teachers believed that to familiarize students with English writing structure and to enable them to express in written English could also be possible goals, and they did teach accordingly. Second, the goals, roles teachers played, content, and teaching procedures reflected a mixture of product-oriented and process-oriented approaches. Third, the difficulties originating from curriculum, students, teaching preparation, and composition evaluation might hinder teachers’ practices of their beliefs. Finally, teachers’ background experiences were found to play a part in influencing teachers’ beliefs and practices. It is hoped that this study can contribute to more understanding of senior high school English teachers’ beliefs and practices in writing instruction. With the results of this study in mind, the researcher further made suggestions toward senior high school English teachers, teacher education institutes, the Ministry of Education, and writing instruction material designers. This might help refine senior high school English writing instruction.