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1 – 10 of over 14000Alan Chi Keung Cheung, Koon Lin Wong, Hong Fang Wang and Jian Bing Dai
The purpose of the present study was to examine the impact of a student teaching internship program on the self-efficacy of pre-service teachers in China.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the present study was to examine the impact of a student teaching internship program on the self-efficacy of pre-service teachers in China.
Design/methodology/approach
With 1,367 participants, structural equation modelling was used to evaluate the fit of the hypothetical model and a latent path analysis was conducted to identify the relationship among various variables.
Findings
The results suggested that the program had a significant impact on efficacy in terms of personal skills, general teaching skills and personal qualities of the student interns concerned. Although this study was set in rural China, the findings of this study offered insights for teacher education in other places.
Originality/value
To the best of our knowledge, no research studies have been conducted on this in-service teacher training program in a systematic and comprehensive way using a large sample size and involving all major stakeholders. The aim of the present study is to fill this gap, by exploring the experience of a large cohort of pre-service teachers participating in this student teaching internship program. Studying the experiences of these student teachers will illuminate some of the key challenges faced and how they impacted their teaching and learning during their teaching practices in rural areas. The findings may help teacher education institutions to review and enhance their existing approaches to teaching practices and professional development initiatives not only in rural China but in similar contexts in other countries.
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Candida Brush, Birgitte Wraae and Shahrokh Nikou
Despite the considerable increase in research on entrepreneurship education, few studies examine the role of entrepreneurship educators. Similarly, most frameworks from…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the considerable increase in research on entrepreneurship education, few studies examine the role of entrepreneurship educators. Similarly, most frameworks from entrepreneurship education recognize the educator’s importance in facilitating instruction and assessment, but the factors influencing the educator role are not well understood. According to the identity theory, personal factors including self-efficacy, job satisfaction and personal values influence the perspective of self, significance and anticipations that an individual in this role associates with it, determining their planning and actions. The stronger the role identity the more likely entrepreneurship educators will be in effectively developing their entrepreneurial skills as well as the overall learning experience of their students. The objective of this study is to pinpoint the factors that affect entrepreneurial role identity.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing upon the identity theory, this study developed a theoretical framework and carried out an empirical investigation involving a survey of 289 entrepreneurship educators across the globe. Structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was applied to analyze and explore the factors that impact the identity of the educators in their role as entrepreneurship teachers.
Findings
The findings show that the role identity of entrepreneurship educators is significantly influenced by their self-efficacy, job satisfaction and personal values. Among these factors, self-efficacy and job satisfaction have the most significant impacts on how educators perceive their role. The implications of these results and directions for future research are also discussed.
Originality/value
The novelty of the current study is derived from its conceptualization of the antecedents of role perception among entrepreneurship educators. This study stands out as one of the earliest attempts to investigate the factors that shape an individual’s scene of self and professional identity as an entrepreneurship educator. The significance of comprehending the antecedents of role perception lies in the insights it can offer into how educators undertake and execute their role, and consequently, their effectiveness in teaching entrepreneurship.
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Jennifer L. Edwards, Kathy E. Green and Cherie A. Lyons
Examines the personal empowerment and efficacy of teachers, and relates these constructs to environmental characteristics in order to provide information for principals to assist…
Abstract
Examines the personal empowerment and efficacy of teachers, and relates these constructs to environmental characteristics in order to provide information for principals to assist teachers in personal growth. Presents multiple regressions for the Vincenz empowerment scale with The School Culture Survey, teacher efficacy scale, learner‐centered battery, paragraph vompletion method, as well as for satisfaction and age‐related variables. Multiple Rs were low to moderate for all variables except for the paragraph completion method, which were nonsignificant. Significant predictors of personal empowerment were administrator professional treatment of teachers, reflective self‐awareness, honoring of student voice, personal teaching efficacy, and satisfaction with teaching as a career. Presents strategies for principals to use in helping teachers increase in empowerment.
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Goudarz Alibakhshi, Hossein Abdollahi and Behzad Nezakatgoo
This study aimed at exploring the antecedents of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers' self-efficacy (SE). That is, the main purpose was to deeply delve into the main…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed at exploring the antecedents of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers' self-efficacy (SE). That is, the main purpose was to deeply delve into the main variables and latent which lead to a high sense of SE among teachers of English as a foreign language.
Design/methodology/approach
A phenomenological inquiry was employed to explore the antecedents of language teachers from their eyes. In this study, the phenomenon is SE antecedents. The researchers employed this method to help identify the meaning behind the human experience as it is related to a phenomenon or notable collective occurrence. A semistructured interview checklist was developed, carefully worded, reviewed by five teacher educators known as experts in qualitative research methodology and teacher education and edited based on the experts' feedback
Findings
The findings showed that the antecedents of SE can be categorized into personal variables, educational variables and institutional variables. Personal variables include verbal intelligence, language proficiency and some other traits. The institutional variables include support from administration, support from colleagues, support from the community and quality of work life. The educational antecedents include preservice and in-service training courses. Preservice training courses included the following: the courses on general language skills, courses on teaching methods, practicum courses, etc.
Originality/value
This study was undertaken in a specific context and the participants are specific. Almost all studies on SE are quantitative, and this qualitative study explored the antecedents of teachers' SE from their own eyes. Some of the explored studies were not mentioned in any of the related studies.
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Yuen Onn Choong, Lee Peng Ng, Seow Ai Na and Chun Eng Tan
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of teachers’ perception on trust over their willingness to exercise organisational citizenship behaviours (OCB) using self…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of teachers’ perception on trust over their willingness to exercise organisational citizenship behaviours (OCB) using self-efficacy as a mediator.
Design/methodology/approach
Usable questionnaires were collected from 411 teachers in secondary schools. A two-stage analytic approach was used to analyse the data.
Findings
The results indicated that trust and teachers’ self-efficacy dimensions (general teaching and personal teaching) are positively related to OCB. Additionally, trust in the principal, colleagues and clients are predicted to have indirect influence on OCB through self-efficacy.
Practical implications
Teachers’ personal sense of efficacy is largely dependent on the amount of efforts devoted in their teaching, their decision-making ability and the degree of persistency in solving problematic issues. School management and policy makers are urged to develop effective human resources initiatives and programmes that can create a trusting relationship in the organisation and enhance teachers’ self-efficacy. These may include the socialisation programmes that can inculcate teachers’ inner natures, confidence and interpersonal skills when directed towards perceived abilities in given specific tasks and responsibilities to make a significant impact on OCB. Apart from this, the school administrator is advised to offer relevant training and workshops that able to enhance the efficacy level of teachers.
Originality/value
This study explored how teachers’ self-efficacy was related to trust and OCB. Teachers’ positive behaviours enable them to have greater belief in their capability of handling pressures and crises. The study contributes to the current body of literature and creates a comprehensive theoretical framework for teachers to be involved in OCB. Besides, these unique findings served as a reference to management of any school to better understand the importance of trust in the school and how it relates to teacher self-efficacy, which, in turn nurture the citizenship behaviour in workplace.
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Peter J.C. Sleegers, Eric E.J. Thoonen, Frans J. Oort and Thea T.D. Peetsma
Elementary schools have been confronted with large-scale educational reforms as strategies to improve the educational quality. While building school-wide capacity for improvement…
Abstract
Purpose
Elementary schools have been confronted with large-scale educational reforms as strategies to improve the educational quality. While building school-wide capacity for improvement is considered critical for changing teachers’ classroom practices, there is still little empirical evidence for link between enhanced school capacity for improvement and instructional change. In this study, the authors examined the impact of school improvement capacity on changes in teachers’ classroom practices over a period of time. Leadership practices, school organizational conditions, teacher motivation and teacher learning were used to measure school-wide capacity for improvement. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Mixed-model analysis of longitudinal data over a four years (2005-2008) period of time from 862 teachers of 32 Dutch elementary schools were used to test the impact of school improvement capacity on changing teachers’ instructional practices.
Findings
The results showed that organizational-level conditions and teacher-level conditions play an important, but different role in changing teachers’ classroom practices. Whereas teacher factors mainly affect changes in teachers’ classroom practices, organizational factors are of significant importance to enhance teacher motivation and teacher learning.
Research limitations/implications
More longitudinal research is needed to gain better insight into the opportunities and limits of building school-wide capacity to stimulate instructional change.
Practical implications
By encouraging teachers to question their own beliefs, facilitating opportunities for teachers to work together to solve problems, and through the promotion of shared decision making, school leaders can reinforce the personal and social identification of teachers with the organization. As a consequence, teachers will feel increasingly committed and are more willing to change their classroom practices. Additionally, school leaders can use the findings from this study and the related instrument as a tool for school self-evaluation.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the nature of changes in conditions for school improvement and its influence on changes in teachers’ instructional practices over a period of time.
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Tomas Jungert, Rickard Östergren, Nathalie Houlfort and Richard Koestner
Perceived support from co-workers and managers is important for many organizational outcomes. However, the benefit of competence support from colleagues and school management on…
Abstract
Purpose
Perceived support from co-workers and managers is important for many organizational outcomes. However, the benefit of competence support from colleagues and school management on personal teacher efficacy has not been investigated. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to investigate the impact of competence support from colleagues and the school management on growth in teacher efficacy and second, to investigate cultural differences (Canada and Sweden).
Design/methodology/approach
The authors administered an inventory measuring support for competence and personal teacher efficacy to over 400 teachers in Canada and Sweden at 27 schools, at two times. Time 1 took place at the first week of a fall semester and Time 2 at the end of the same semester.
Findings
Structural equation modeling revealed that competence support from colleagues predicted growth in teacher efficacy, whereas competence support from school management did not. No differences in these relations emerged between Canadian and Swedish teachers.
Practical implications
The findings have implications for how schools organize teachers in teacher teams so that competence support from co-workers is promoted.
Originality/value
This study is the first cross-cultural study to empirically show that teachers’ self-efficacy is significantly benefitted by competence support from their teacher peers.
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Jeroen G.M. Imants, Cees M. Van Putten and Gabrielle Leijh
Discusses a method for the evaluation of school management trainingprogrammes, and explores the usefulness of this evaluation approachwithin the context of two school management…
Abstract
Discusses a method for the evaluation of school management training programmes, and explores the usefulness of this evaluation approach within the context of two school management training programmes. Investigates whether the impact of these training programmes on principals and teachers can be demonstrated by changes in their self‐efficacy. Training effects are determined by means of repeated measures. Finds significant principal effects and no teacher effects. Discusses theoretical and practical implications within the context of self‐efficacy theory and a model for staff development.
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Marzlin Marzuki, Nava Subramaniam, Barry J. Cooper and Steven Dellaportas
The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which ethics education is incorporated in the curriculum by accounting academics (EXTENT) and its relationship with the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which ethics education is incorporated in the curriculum by accounting academics (EXTENT) and its relationship with the following four factors: accounting academics’ attitudes towards ethics education (ATTDE); head of department support (HODS); peer support (PEERS); and accounting academics’ ethics teaching self-efficacy (ETSE).
Design/methodology/approach
The study utilises data from a questionnaire survey of 117 accounting academics in Malaysia and engages path analysis to test various hypothesised relationships.
Findings
The results indicate that ATTDE, HODS and PEERS have a significant and positive impact on accounting academics’ ETSE. The findings also suggest that ETSE and PEERS have a direct and positive impact on EXTENT. Overall, ETSE is found to be a significant mediating variable in the relationship between ATTDE, HODS, PEERS and EXTENT.
Research limitations/implications
The relatively small sample of 117 Malaysian accounting academics and the limited number of factors studied as drivers of ETSE, which limits generalisability of the results.
Practical implications
This paper is particularly useful for informing heads of departments and the regulatory and professional bodies of resourcing and fostering a work environment that supports peer support and interactions as well as knowledge resources that facilitate individual accounting academics’ to integrate ethics content in their courses or units.
Originality/value
The study is guided by Bandura’s (1977, 1997) self-efficacy theory and adapts Tschannen-Moran and Hoy’s (2001) teacher efficacy construct in understanding how accounting academic’s belief in one’s ability to complete tasks and achieve goals affects the level of integration of ethics in their courses.
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Robert M. Klassen and Ellen L. Usher
For half a century, psychologist Albert Bandura has worked to advance a cognitive interactional model of human functioning that emphasizes the role of cognitive and symbolic…
Abstract
For half a century, psychologist Albert Bandura has worked to advance a cognitive interactional model of human functioning that emphasizes the role of cognitive and symbolic representations as central processes in human adaptation and change. In his seminal 1977 publication, Bandura emphasized that these representations – visualized actions and outcomes stemming from reflective thought – form the basis from which individuals assess their personal efficacy. An efficacy belief, he contended, is the “conviction that one can successfully execute the behavior required to produce the outcomes” one desires (p. 193). Efficacy beliefs serve as the primary means by which people are able to exercise a measure of control over their lives. During the next two decades, Bandura (1986, 1997) advanced his social cognitive theory, in which people are viewed as self-organizing, proactive, self-reflecting, and self-regulating rather than as solely reactive organisms, products of environmental or concealed inner influences. From this agentic perspective, people are seen as contributors to their life circumstances, not just recipients of them. In this way, people are “partial architects of their own destinies” (Bandura, 1997, p. 8).