Ng, Betsy Ling Ling

The present study focuses on the perspectives of teachers and students in Singapore schools after an autonomy-supportive classroom intervention. Nurturing of students to become motivated and self-regulated learners can be achieved by promoting an autonomy-supportive learning climate. This study examines the perspectives of teachers and students in an in-depth and meaningful manner after the classroom intervention. Through students' viewpoints, teachers can understand their structure of teaching style and students' expectations. Findings of semi-structured interviews with students and teachers were analyzed, with emerging themes discussed in the context of literature. Based on qualitative data, this preliminary study explores a rich and meaningful insight to students' expectations of their teachers and teachers' expectations towards their students. The qualitative data provided relevant and practical insights into the classroom intervention, suggesting that teachers should be aware of their instructional behaviors in class as such acts might have ramification on students' perception, motivation and learning. Limitations and implications are also discussed.

Purpose The present qualitative paper examined the changes in students' motivation before and after lesson study for learning community implementation at a primary school in Singapore. Design/methodology/approach Student focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with six students from each of the classes involved in the research lessons. Students were asked specific questions relating to the research lessons and teachers. Findings Findings suggest that there are some changes in students' perception of classroom climate and their motivation to learn after the implementation of lesson study for learning community. Together with self-determination theory, lesson study for learning community may be viewed as a social and collaborative model as well as a supportive learning climate, promoting students' adaptive outcomes and needs satisfaction. Research limitations/implications Teachers need to be provided support to plan their lessons and to become familiar with the lesson study for learning community approach. There is also a major challenge of teacher “buy-in” whether they would undertake the practice of lesson study for learning community voluntarily. Originality/value This study provides evidence of the existence of an approach via listening pedagogy for the teaching of listening that focuses on students' motivation to listen and learn in class.