Observations and student perceptions of the quality of preservice teachers’ teaching behaviour:Construct representation and predictive quality

Observations and student perceptions are recognised as important tools for examining teaching behaviour, but little is known about whether both perspectives share similar construct representations and how both perspectives link with student academic outcomes. The present study compared the construct representation of preservice teachers’ teaching behaviour as perceived by trained teacher observers and students. It also examined the predictive power of both measures of teaching behaviour for student academic engagement. The theoretical framework of teaching behaviour used in this study is based on evidence-based research derived from empirical teacher effectiveness research. The study was part of a national project that included 2164 students and 108 teachers in The Netherlands. Results suggest that, although observations and student perceptions of teaching behaviour shared similar theoretical considerations, the construct representations seemed to differ to some extent. Furthermore, although both perspectives are significant predictors of student academic engagement, student perceptions appeared to be more predictive of their perceived academic engagement than observations. Implications for research on learning environments and teacher education are discussed

Unravelling the challenges of the data-based approach to teaching improvement

The goal of this article is to clarify and unravel the complexity and challenges of improving teaching quality, based on measuring teaching quality and feeding back the results to teachers. We analyze different conceptualizations of teaching quality, and synthesize a framework for conceptualizing teaching quality in educational practice. We explain the pros and cons of four types of instruments for measuring teaching quality. Next, we scrutinize the requirements of effectively feeding back teaching quality data and the requirements for effective actions to improve teaching quality. We conclude with implications for improving the consequential validity of teaching quality measurements

We zijn begonnen! begeleiding startende leraren 2013-2019

Gezamenlijke uitgave van de negen regionale BSL projecte

Profiles and developmental pathways of beginning teachers' intrinsic orientations and their associations with effective teaching behaviour

Prior research has highlighted the importance of intrinsic motivational-affective characteristics in empowering teachers to excel amidst professional complexities. This study sought to move beyond the prevailing focus on cross-sectional relationships between individual motivational-affective factors and specific aspects of effective teaching, seeking to understand their cumulative significance in shaping the longitudinal development of effective teaching. By proposing teachers' intrinsic motivational-affective orientations as profile indicators, this study profiles teachers during their initial two career years. Through surveying and observing 274 Dutch beginning teachers over three data collection waves, the results of latent profile and transition analyses identified two distinct profiles and four developmental pathways. A favorable profile exhibits positive correlations with stimulating learning climate and differentiated instruction. Moreover, the desirable pathways contribute to the development of differentiated instruction, offering valuable insights into sustainable professional growth for beginning teachers.Educational relevant statementThe present study holds significant educational relevance as it contributes to the theoretical understanding of teacher motivation, identity, and professional development. By identifying distinct profiles and developmental pathways of beginning teachers' intrinsic motivational-affective orientations, the study offers valuable guidance for targeted support strategies in teacher education and professional development programs. Furthermore, the recognition of non-linear associations between teachers' intrinsic orientations and specific effective teaching behaviours highlights the importance of cultivating desirable orientations to enhance teachers' capacity for establishing inclusive and stimulating learning environments. In general, this study carries practical implications for school leadership and educational institutions, offering avenues to foster positive and sustainable learning experiences for both teachers and students

Teachers’ Intrinsic Orientation, Self-Efficacy, Background Characteristics, and Effective Teaching:A Multilevel Moderated Mediation Modeling

Teachers’ intrinsic orientation for the profession (TIOP) refers to a compound trait derived from the meaningfulness and positive affect teachers attribute to the profession. It can be validly measured by three conceptually correlated yet empirically separable factors of autonomous motivation, enthusiasm for teaching, and enthusiasm for the subject. Grounded in the previous findings of non-significant direct relationships between TIOP and effective teaching, the present study further tested the hypothesized indirect relationships between the two constructs. To better understand the underlying relational mechanisms, the potential mediating role of self-efficacy and the moderating effects of both teacher- and school-level background factors were addressed in single- and multi-level models. A total of 239 beginning teachers from 32 Dutch secondary schools responded to the questionnaires at the beginning of the first career year. Actual teaching behaviour was observed by means of classroom observations. The results of lower-level mediation analysis confirm the mediating effect of self-efficacy on the relationship between TIOP and activating teaching behaviour at career entry. The results of single- and cross-level moderated mediation analysis show that self-efficacy significantly mediates the links between TIOP and three specific teaching behaviour domains: providing safe and stimulating learning climate, classroom management, and clarity of instruction. These effects were respectively moderated by teachers’ qualification, age, and gender. The present study makes a unique contribution to understanding the importance of TIOP for beginning teachers’ well-being and effective teaching, providing insights for both teacher educators and mentors

Student's perceptions of teaching behaviour in Turkish secondary education:A Mokken Scaling of My Teacher Questionnaire

Teacher behaviour has significant impact on student learning and outcomes and determines the teaching quality in learning environments. The My Teacher Questionnaire (MTQ) has been used to assess students’ perceptions of teaching behaviour in national and international studies with well-cited outcomes. In this cross-sectional survey study, we adjusted and shortened the MTQ for diverse settings in Turkish secondary education, using the nonparametric IRT model, Mokken Scaling (MS). The sample consisted of 12,036 students (grade 9–12, age 15–19 years) involving 446 classes/teachers from 24 general public high schools in Turkey. More than half of the students (n = 6544, 54.40%) were females, while 306 students (2.5%) did not report their gender. The MS polytomous Double Monotonicity Model (DMM) was employed for scaling the individual student data. The ten selected items (MTQ10) showed a strong unidimensional structure (H = 0.61) with good internal reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.93, Molenaar Sijtsma ρ = 0.93) and construct validity. The final structure was tested on three random data sets and convergent validity of the MTQ10 was examined using student engagement in learning. The scale MTQ10 functioned well across various groups (random samples, genders, grades, subjects). Based on these results, MTQ10 reveals strong psychometric quality for the assessment of students’ perceptions of teaching behaviour with the potential to deepen our understanding of teaching behaviours and teaching quality in Turkey

The Influence of School Context Factors on the Induction Support as Perceived by Newly Qualified Teachers

This study explores the relationship between school demographic characteristics and the amount of provided induction activities, as perceived by beginning teachers (BTs), with special attention for Professional Development Schools and non-Professional Development Schools. The aim is to provide information that is useful to improve induction arrangements to particular school contexts. Data were collected in a Dutch national induction program in which qualified BTs are supported in their first 3 years of professional practice. The support monitor measures multiple induction activities with regard to the implementation of workload reduction, school enculturation, professional development plans and lessons support. 1,670 BTs working in 195 schools reported on these activities. Linear regression analyses revealed that less induction activities were associated with schools with multiple locations, more enrolled students and number of BTs employed, and with schools with older male teaching staff. No significant differences were found between the amount of support perceived by BTs in PDSs and non-PDSs. Yet school characteristics revealed stronger predictive values for the amount of support provided in non-PDS settings. These insights are relevant for mapping school differences in induction arrangements in order to enhance the equity of support across schools to assure the development of teaching skills of BTs