An investigation of first grade elementary teacher candidates’ perceptions of their teaching profession competencies: A mixed method study

Although teaching profession has lost its prestige over the years, the recent studies demonstrate that teaching still ranks among the top of most respected of professions. Teacher candidates’ individual characteristics play a crucial role in choosing teachers and designing curriculum for educating teacher candidates. The present study is of vital importance to identify the perceptions of first grade teacher candidates enrolled in Faculty of Education towards teaching profession and whether they have teaching competencies needed or not. In this research, a mixed research, sequential explanatory mixed design was utilized in which both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed together. The quantitative data were collected through using teaching competency scale for teacher candidates and afterwards quantitative data was statistically analyzed. It was thus attempted to draw a general picture of the research problem. According to the results obtained, an in-depth analysis of teacher candidates’ perceptions of teaching competencies was required. Employing quantitative data, purposive sampling was identified and semi-structured interviews were carried out with the participants in the purposive sampling. The unidimensional scale developed by [1] and adapted into Turkish by [2] was employed for data collection in the quantitative stage of the research. When viewing teacher candidates’ perceptions on their teaching competencies, first grade teacher candidates stated that they perceive themselves competent in terms of attitude and values and vocation skills. © 2018 by authors, all rights reserved

Development of a New O&M Clinical Competency Evaluation Tool and Examination of Validity and Reliability Evidence

The goal of this study was to create an evaluation tool that would be the new standard for evaluating clinical competencies of interns in the field of orientation and mobility (O&M). Using results from previous research in this area, specific competency skills were identified and the O&M Clinical Competency Evaluation Matrix (CCEM) was developed. O&M university faculty were surveyed to gather content evidence. After revisions were made to the O&M CCEM, the evaluation tool was piloted with O&M clinical internship supervisors and validity and reliability evidence was examined. The combination of all the validity evidence supported the intended inferences. The content evidence showed that experts in the field agreed that the O&M CCEM as a whole was representative of the content area. The internal structure evidence showed that scores on the O&M CCEM could be interpreted as measuring clinical competency in relation to standard teaching skills, O&M specific skills, and advanced O&M instruction skills. The external structure evidence showed that scores on the O&M CCEM are related to scores on the ACVREP evaluation form. The practicality evidence showed that the tool is useful for measuring clinical competence. In addition, the internal consistency reliability evidence showed that there was consistency in ratings within dimensions and the inter-rater reliability evidence showed there was moderate consistency in ratings between supervisors

Education Technology Policy In Teaching And Learning

This research is to develop a Education Policy Technology in teaching and learning. The process of developing policies work involves the Delphi technique works. The Delphi Technique implementation process chosen by the researcher which it involves five rounds? Seven qualified experts appointed by the expertise and have the criteria in the policy area. The policy was developed based on the standards ISO 27001 and Security Policy Information and Communication Technology for the Public Sector by MAMPU (Malaysia Administrative Modernization and Management Planning Unit) . Integrated Model Delaney in Development Policy adopted by researchers for the process of developing the policy area. Future policy development outcomes can be applied at the Institute of Teacher Education In Malaysia (ITEM) and indirectly provides a guide to future teachers who will be placed in primary schools as their guide in conducting teaching and learning in technology education. The final formulation of collecting data represent the opinions and comments of experts which will be used as a complete production of the draft policy

Convergence of Expert Opinion via the Wideband Delphi Method: An Application in Cost Estimation Models

This paper discusses the notion of collective intelligence through the application of the Wideband Delphi method as a way to obtain convergence among a group of experts. The specific application is the definition and calibration of cost estimation models that use data collected from experts as part of their calibration. Convergence is important in this case because companies need to commit to cost estimates early in the planning cycle since so many other decisions are dependent on it. Our results demonstrate that, in most cases, convergence among experts can be achieved after three rounds of the Wideband Delphi