When technology meets educational sciences:Combining virtual reality and microteaching to train pre-service teachers’ kindergarten classroom management strategies

In our study, we asked 19 pre-service teachers (PSTs) about their experiences with and perceptions of a microteaching-supported virtual reality (VR) kindergarten classroom where they practiced and experimented with different classroom management strategies (CMS). We analyzed quantitative and qualitative responses to gain insight into the perceived usefulness of this learning environment for CMS development and transfer to internship practices. The quantitative results show that practicing in the VR classroom supported mastery of CMS and helped PSTs to manage behaviors at their internships. The qualitative data suggest that the microteaching approach can support transfer of CMS practiced in the VR-kindergarten classroom to in-situ classroom management situations, possibly because of the opportunity to collaboratively engage in reflexive practices. Moreover, PSTs raised valuable suggestions to further improve the microteaching structure to strengthen the effect of peer feedback. The results of this study underline the importance of purposefully grounding VR applications in proven instructional theories

Teaching in times of COVID-19:A mixed-method study into teachers’ teaching practices, psychological needs, stress, and well-being

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the working life of teachers when schools all over the world went into lockdown. As teaching already is known to be a demanding profession, we aimed to study how teachers dealt with teaching during lockdown, and what kind of job demands and resources were relevant for different teachers. We conducted a cross-sectional mixed method study (questionnaire and interview) amongst 307 Dutch teachers (86% female). Cluster analyses revealed three types of teachers: ‘relaxed’, ‘worried and stressed’, and ‘happy work-a-holic’ teachers. Pro-active, supportive supervisors and connectedness with colleagues proved to be crucial job resources during the lockdown

Caught between relief and unease:How university students’ well-being relates to their learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands

Previous literature shows that university students are particularly vulnerable to psychological ill-being. Also throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, stressors ranging from uncertainty to disruption of social lives have influenced their well-being. Resilience as a psychological resource could help students deal with such crises. Furthermore, students’ learning environment can substantially determine their well-being and resilience, by satisfying their basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The present study aims to longitudinally investigate students’ well-being and resilience in relation to their learning environment. To this end, we interviewed six participants, of which two were university students, two university teachers, one study advisor, and one student psychologist. With a longitudinal interview study with four dates of measurement, spanning the pre to mid-COVID-19 pandemic period, we gathered commentary about the evolution of student well-being, resilience factors, and the effects of the learning environment. To analyse the interview data, we used thematic inductive and deductive coding. The participants confirmed the postulated stressors, but also positive consequences for student well-being, including resilience growth. Interviewees also reported a variety of resilience factors, both within the individual (e.g. social support) and within academia (e.g., impaired student-teacher relationship, diminished sense of belonging). Furthermore, the interview data indicate changes in teaching related to students’ needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, which in turn have consequences for learning and engagement, including challenges, opportunities, and positive outcomes. These findings, connecting the learning environment to student wellbeing and resilience, may help reshape academic systems for the post-pandemic future.</p

Technology-supported teaching in times of COVID-19’s first period of emergency remote teaching:an exploratory analysis of influencing factors

In this exploratory study, we evaluated which factors are predictive of technology-supported teaching, conceptualised as Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) competences and related professional development needs, and teachers’ mental health in terms of job satisfaction, work-life balance, and teacher stress during COVID-19’s first period of emergency remote teaching (ERT). In spring 2020, an online questionnaire was administered to gauge factors relevant to (1) shifting to ERT, (2) teachers’ well-being, and (3) teacher characteristics. Data from 309 Dutch teachers across educational sectors were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling in two models. We further explored the results of the model predicting technology-supporting teaching as this showed the most optimal fit. Our analyses show that factors from all three categories contributed to technology-supported teaching during the first educational lockdown, but that competence-related aspects were the strongest predictors. Our results offer directions to strengthen the teaching context to support teachers navigating challenging ERT-periods