The dissertation focuses on the possibilities of drama in English language teaching in the second stage of basic education. The objective was to contribute to the development of ELT methodology in the Czech environment and to try to critically define the possibilities of drama education as an approach to instruction in this field. The starting points of this dissertation are based on social constructivism, accent the principle of holistic learning, and stem from the demands for changes in education in connection with the curricular reform of the education system that is currently underway. Apart from a terminological analysis, the theoretical part of the dissertation also contains a detailed introduction to the teaching strategies of drama education and their application in English language teaching. The goal of the empirical part was to find the beliefs of a cohort of teachers from primary schools and of English Studies students at the Faculty of Education regarding the possibility of using drama in English language teaching. The research design was mixed and the research investigation was conducted at two levels, through a questionnaire-based survey and through experimental instruction. The methods of data collection and analysis included a questionnaire-based survey, a pre-test and a post-test,...

L'objectif de cette étude est de contribuer à explorer le changement dans les représentations des enseignants quant à la rétroaction corrective (RC), et ce, afin de mieux informer les programmes de formation des enseignants. Pour atteindre cet objectif, nous avons tenté d’apporter des éléments de réponse aux questions de recherche suivantes (1) quelles représentations relatives à la RC les futurs enseignants Algériens de français langue étrangère (FLE) détenaient-ils avant la formation, (2) comment ces représentations ont-elles changé après une formation sur la RC, (3) quels éléments de la formation sont-ils les plus susceptibles de changer les représentations de ces futurs enseignants quant à la RC? Deux groupes (un groupe expérimental et un groupe témoin) de 14 futurs enseignants Algériens, inscrits au Mastère en FLE, ont participé à l'étude. Le groupe expérimental a participé à un cours de formation sur la RC, alors que le groupe témoin n'a pas participé. Les instruments de recherche comprennent un questionnaire à échelle de Likert et des groupes de discussion (entrevues) qui abordent quatre facteurs en rapport avec la RC (reformulation, incitation, mise en œuvre des techniques de RC et importance de la RC). Chacun des deux instruments a été administré avant et après la formation, et seul le groupe expérimental a effectué les entrevues avant et après la formation. La formation inclut une base théorique et des résultats empiriques sur les différentes dimensions de la RC, ainsi qu'une composante pratique (activités d'enseignement). Les données provenant des deux outils de recherche ont été analysées de façon descriptive. Les exemples de changement de représentations - dans les transcriptions d'entrevues - ont été identifiés en utilisant cinq catégories correspondant aux différents types de changement (inversion, élaboration, consolidation, pseudo-changement et aucun changement). Les principaux résultats de cette étude : (1) avant la formation, les futurs enseignants avaient des représentations neutres et non claires sur les techniques de RC (reformulation et incitation) qui doivent tenir compte du type d'erreur et du niveau de compétence de l'apprenant. De plus, les participants du groupe expérimental étaient contre la RC immédiate et n'avaient pas une idée précise sur les erreurs à corriger ; (2) la formation sur la RC a été jugée efficace. En d'autres termes, après la formation, il y avait un changement évident vers des représentations plus positives au sujet de la RC immédiate et des représentations plus négatives quant à la reformulation. En outre, les participants ont subi une reconstitution totale de leurs représentations en lien avec les quatre facteurs avec beaucoup d'élaborations. Les participants ont attribué le changement de leurs représentations à la deuxième partie de la formation (études empiriques, techniques de RC et mise en œuvre de la RC). Les participants préconisent qu'ils ont été exposés pour la première fois à ce contenu sur la RC. Cette étude offre des implications pour d'autres études autour de questions de recherche similaires. / The objective of this study is to contribute to the range of research exploring change in teachers' corrective feedback (CF) beliefs to better inform future teacher training programs. The research questions used to accomplish the purpose of this study focused on1) what beliefs Algerian pre-service teachers of French as a foreign language (FFL) at University of Hadj Lakhdar Batna hold regarding CF before a CF training course, 2) how those beliefs change after a CF training course, and 3) what dimensions of the training course influence these pre-service teachers’ beliefs about CF? Two groups of 14 Algerian MA pre-service teachers of FFL-one experimental and one control- participated in this study. The experimental group participated in a teacher training course about CF while the control group did not. The research instruments included a Likert-scale questionnaire and focus group interviews that addressed four CF factors (recasts, prompts, CF implementation and CF importance). Each of the two instruments was administered twice before the training started and immediately after it ended, with only the experimental group taking the pre and post focus group interviews. The training course included theoretical information and empirical results about CF and its dimensionsas well as a practical component (teaching activities).Data obtained from the two research tools were analysed descriptively. Patterns of belief change-in the interviews transcripts- were identified using five categories about types of change (reversal, elaboration, consolidation, pseudo change and no change). Findings indicated that prior to the CF training, preservice teachers' beliefs were barely defined (i.e. they were largely neutral) especially in relation to CF techniques (recasts and prompts) for error type and learner's proficiency level. Furthermore, they were against immediate CF and did not have a clear idea about which errors should be corrected. Concerning the results in belief change, the CF training course was found to be effective. That is, after CF training, there was an obvious shift toward more positive beliefs about immediate CF and more negative beliefs about recasts. Furthermore, participants underwent a total re-construction of their beliefs in relation to the four factors with lots of elaborations. Participants attributed change in their beliefs to the second part of the training course (CF empirical studies, CF techniques and CF implementation). The participants explained that they were exposed for the first time to this content about CF and its dimensions.

<p>Content about learners with gifts and talents is not necessarily a part of most teacher education programs. Without high quality training and professional development opportunities, preservice and inservice teachers are left with no tools to identify and serve the students with gifts and talents. However, adding more content is not enough. The successful translation of training and professional development into effective practice depends on understanding teacher motivation, debunking misconceptions, building adequate knowledge base, and building teacher identity. I adopted several theoretical perspectives in this study: teacher identity formation (Gardner & Kaplan, 2018), Teacher Efficacy (Tschannen-Moran et al., 1998), Teacher Goal Orientations (Butler, 2007), beliefs about gifted learners and gifted education (Gagne & Nadeau, 1991; McCoach & Siegle, 2007), desire to teach (Watt & Richardson, 2007). My participants were 236 preservice teachers who desire to teach learners with gifts and talents and inservice teachers in gifted education.</p><p>The objectives of this mixed-methods investigation were: (1) identifying the differences between preservice and inservice teachers in measures of identity, beliefs, motivation, and desire to teach learners with gifts and talents, (2) modeling the structural relationships among dimensions of identity, motivation, beliefs, and desire to teach, and (3) understanding how participants experiences and perceptions inform their identity, motivation, and belief systems. I used a combination of Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and qualitative thematic analysis to answer my research questions.</p><p>Findings revealed inservice teachers (n=155) have high levels of relational goals, instructional efficacy, positive beliefs, and teacher identity, while preservice teachers (n=81) have high levels of intrinsic motivation and social value for gifted education. SEM showed that teacher identity, mastery goals, influenced positive beliefs; teacher identity was influenced by efficacy, mastery and relational goals. The strongest predictors of desire to teach learners with gifts and talents were teacher identity, teacher efficacy, and relational goals. Qualitative findings indicated that self-perceptions as gifted played a meaningful role in participants deciding to become teachers, understanding the needs of gifted learners, and advocating for gifted education.</p>

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Limited research has focused on the knowledge, beliefs, and professional practices of elementary educators related to digital citizenship. The purpose of this study was to identify elementary educators' knowledge and beliefs about digital citizenship, as well as understand their plans and implemented practices, supports, and barriers related to digital citizenship instruction. This study was grounded in Mezirow's theory of transformative learning, Siemen's theory of connectivism, and Ribble's concept of digital citizenship. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data collected from an original survey instrument developed from the literature by the researcher. Participants were recruited using publicly accessible email addresses and the monthly newsletter from Hawaii Society for Technology Education; a total of 74 educators completed the survey. All educators in the district who met the demographic criteria of working at the elementary level as a teacher, curriculum coordinator, or technology coordinator were welcome to participate in the study. Data were analyzed for frequencies and percentages to develop generalized statements about the population. The results indicated, on average, that educators rated themselves with high knowledge and beliefs about digital citizenship concepts with the exception of digital law. Additionally, correlational analysis revealed schools with greater adoption rates of 1:1 technology-device integration had a significant impact on professional practices in digital citizenship implementation and overall instructional practices. This research study contributes to positive social change by helping educational leaders identify what is needed to support educators in teaching with digital citizenship, and especially in supporting those educators in schools which are further behind in adopting 1:1 technology integration.

No description available.

Access to safe water and improved sanitation remains threatened by the ever increasing demand in urbanised cities of the world. Adequate management of this problem could not be achieved through technical and regulatory methods alone. A human values-based education approach, namely the Human Values Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education (HVWSHE) programme, was considered a suitable intervention strategy to bring about the desired changes in attitude and behaviour by the water users. This research involves an empirical case study approach that explores the experiences of Laotian teachers as adult learners of the HVWSHE intervention as well as a literature study on adult education, adult learning facilitation, human values-based education and teacher beliefs. Focus group meetings, lesson observations, participant observation, field notes and a researcher journal was used to collect data. This study revealed that the HVWSHE training programme had a positive effect on the adult learners’ attitude and behaviour towards a better water-use and sanitation-friendly ethic. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Adult Education)

En el marco del programa Erasmus Mundus de Aprendizaje y Enseñanza de Español en contextos multilingües e internacionales (MULTIELE), profesores en formación de diferentes orígenes participan en estadías académicas en varias universidades localizadas en diferentes países y realizan prácticas en un contexto externo. La presente investigación busca analizar cuáles son las creencias de siete de estos profesores en formación con respecto a la competencia intercultural, en qué medida se ven influidas por sus experiencias vivenciales y sus aprendizaje durante el programa de máster. A través del análisis cualitativo de siete entrevistas semi-estructuradas, los resultados muestran una falta de definición del concepto de competencia intercultural y su trabajo en el aula, una estrecha vinculación entre las experiencias vivenciales y la concepción de la competencia intercultural y la necesidad de un mayor desarrollo teórico en el área durante el máster. La discusión y las conclusiones ofrecen sugerencias basadas en estas observaciones y sugieren futuras líneas de investigación. / Within the Erasmus Mundus program for Teaching and Learning Spanish in Multilingual and International Contexts (MULTIELE), pre-service teachers from different backgrounds participate in academic stays in several universities located in different countries and complete their internships in an external context. This research paper seeks to analyze the beliefs of seven pre-service teachers regarding intercultural competence, taking into account their life experiences and the master’s program. Through the qualitative study of seven semi-structured interviews, results show a lack of definition in the concept of intercultural competence and its teaching, a tight link between life experiences and the conception of this competence and a need for theoretical training during the master’s program regarding this topic. The discussion and conclusions offer some proposals based on these observations and suggest further research lines. / Dans le cadre du programme Erasmus Mundus pour l'enseignement et l'apprentissage de l'espagnol en contextes multilingues et des internationaux (MULTIELE), des futurs enseignants de différents horizons participent à des séjours universitaires dans plusieurs universités situées dans différents pays et complètent leurs stages dans un contexte externe. Ce travail vise à analyser les croyances de sept futurs enseignants par rapport à la compétence interculturelle, en tenant compte de leurs expériences de vie et au long du programme de maîtrise. Grâce à l'étude qualitative de sept entretiens semi-structurés, les résultats montrent un manque de définition de la notion de compétence interculturelle et de son enseignement, un lien étroit entre les expériences de vie et la conception de cette compétence et la nécessité d'une formation théorique pendant le programme de maîtrise en ce qui concerne ce sujet. La discussion et les conclusions offrent des propositions fondées sur ces observations et suggèrent de nouvelles lignes de recherche.

The specific goal of this study was to determine the use of the physical classroom environment as a teaching and learning tool in an era of the implementation of the Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI). This qualitative multi-case study focused on the learning principles and epistemological beliefs of primary teachers with reference to the physical classroom environment and the teaching process in regard to meeting the expectations set forth by the CCSSI. The researcher sought participation from a city school district in Northeast Tennessee which included a total of 8 participating teachers consisting of 2 each of grades kindergarten, first, second, and third. The Teacher Beliefs Survey (Woolley, Benjamin, & Woolley, 2004) was administered to determine teachers’ philosophical position regarding constructivist and traditional beliefs. Based upon responses, 8 teachers representing the most constructivist and most traditional teachers in each grade were selected for further participation. Teachers’ practices and perceptions of the role of the physical environment in the teaching and learning process including consideration of the CCSSI were further explored through interview. Each physical classroom environment was evaluated using the Primary Educators Environment Rating Scale (PEERS), a rubric designed to assess the use of the physical classroom environment on a continuum from traditional to constructivist practices (Evanshen & Faulk, under review). Observational field notes and photographs were collected in order to document environmental components of the physical classroom environment of each participant. Data was collected and triangulated through the use of the aforementioned methods. Through the data analysis process, the researcher found all participants to demonstrate support for the role of the physical environment in the teaching and learning process which was determined based on results of the interview in conjunction with findings of the PEERS and supporting photographic evidence. Each teacher’s personal experiences and philosophy of education was found to guide the physical classroom environment design and layout in various ways. While most teachers felt the CCSSI had little or no impact on their physical classroom environment, all shared in varying degrees the use of the physical environment as a tool to support students in developing 21st century skills.

Access to safe water and improved sanitation remains threatened by the ever increasing demand in urbanised cities of the world. Adequate management of this problem could not be achieved through technical and regulatory methods alone. A human values-based education approach, namely the Human Values Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education (HVWSHE) programme, was considered a suitable intervention strategy to bring about the desired changes in attitude and behaviour by the water users. This research involves an empirical case study approach that explores the experiences of Laotian teachers as adult learners of the HVWSHE intervention as well as a literature study on adult education, adult learning facilitation, human values-based education and teacher beliefs. Focus group meetings, lesson observations, participant observation, field notes and a researcher journal was used to collect data. This study revealed that the HVWSHE training programme had a positive effect on the adult learners’ attitude and behaviour towards a better water-use and sanitation-friendly ethic. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Adult Education)