Lost in adaptation? Issues of adapting Japanese lesson study in non-Japanese contexts
The phenomenal spread of Japanese lesson study (LS) beyond Japan is indicative of the perception that the seemingly obvious routines of LS are transferable into foreign contexts. It is, however, to be expected, that various aspects of LS would be adapted to suit the culture of the adopting context. The diverse ways in which LS is adapted across different contexts provides the opportunity for researchers to unpack what needs to be done to better adapt, implement and sustain LS to support teacher development across non-Japanese contexts. This paper is based on the findings from a nation-wide research project undertaken to explore the adaptations made to LS in Singapore schools. Surveys and case studies provided data to examine LS structure and implementation processes in Singapore schools and to investigate school leaders’ and teachers’ experiences and understandings of LS processes. In teasing out the subtle differences among the Singaporean adaptations and Japanese LS, we gleaned a deeper understanding of the cultural and contextual factors that elucidate key features of LS that are pertinent in creating the necessary conditions for effective teacher learning.
Implementation of formative assessment in the English language classroom: Insights from three primary schools in Singapore
This study attempts to explore the links between research, policy and practice. Specifically, it investigated how teachers enact a national policy on the implementation of formative assessment practices and explored what affects their capacity and will to carry out educational reform. Using a case study approach, formative assessment-related practices of six teachers within three primary schools in Singapore were examined. Findings from interviews, document analysis and classroom observations brought out how teachers reframed policy and implemented instructional practices in terms of what they knew or thought they understood of it. Policy enactment was also found to be influenced by the contextual setting as the schools also played a part in the way these teachers implemented their practices. Drawing on these findings, the study discusses issues pertinent to policy implementation and makes recommendations for policy enactment.
Choosing relevant internet-assisted approaches for professional development courses
Online teaching and learning for the professional development of workers in service is ever pervasive and continually growing. Yet, studies of learning with technology are mostly conducted in K-12, pre-service, or higher education settings resulting in a lack of attention given to the professional development. In addition, most studies are investigating learners instead of instructors, even though the latter are reportedly struggling in conducting online teaching. One of the struggles instructor faces includes choosing effective technologically enhanced pedagogy that are in line with the learning contents and intents. This study aims to alleviate the issue by investigating online learning in a professional development context, particularly one in a government institution such as the Financial Education and Training Agency (FETA) under the Indonesian Ministry of Finance. By analyzing curriculum documents known as program syllabi of 148 online courses conducted by FETA, informed by a prevailing theory of adopting educational technology known as the Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition (SAMR) model, the study found the majority of courses were under Substitution category for uses of technology, followed by Modification and Augmentation categories. Redefinition category had the least number of courses. Characteristics of each use of technology are explained in the Findings and Discussion section. It is hoped that the uses of technology explicated in this study will be useful for guiding the practice of crafting a defensible curriculum for online learning in professional development contexts.
Educational evaluation research in Asia: A scoping review
This scoping review examines the landscape of educational evaluation research in Asia over the past decade, uncovering the methodologies, themes, and unique regional challenges within this domain. By delving into 62 articles from evaluation-centric journals, the study reveals a predominant focus on learning, teaching, and assessment, highlighting the importance of pedagogical methods and learning outcomes. The review also notes a significant emphasis on institutional-level evaluation, with China leading in contributions. Despite the rich insights offered, this review points to gaps in leadership and evaluation tools, suggesting areas for future exploration. Ultimately, this review aims to enrich global discussions on educational evaluation, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of Asia’s diverse and evolving educational evaluation practices.
Applying Q methodology to understand priorities in profiles of teacher reflections
This study demonstrates the use of Q methodology as a suitable approach to distinguish salient groups of reflections, giving insights to what the teacher participants prioritize. Revealing priorities may help identify teachers' core concerns, and what practical and professional knowledge could help them in their daily practice. Core concerns of the teacher participants uncovered in this study were: the needs of learners, the nature of mathematics, and activities that are pedagogically appropriate. A discriminating factor among the three profiles had to do with whether the teachers were teaching in primary or secondary schools.
Validity and reliability of an English translation of the Teacher Metacognition Inventory (TMI) with mathematics teachers in Singapore
The purpose of the study was to examine the validity of an English translation of the Teacher Metacognition Inventory (TMI) originally developed by Jiang et al. Teaching and Teacher Education, 59, 403-413, (2016) in China with a sample of mathematics teacher in Singapore. A total of 436 valid responses were collected from primary and secondary female and male mathematics teachers with various degrees of experience. This inventory measures teachers’ metacognitive knowledge about self and pedagogy, regulation on planning and monitoring, reflection and experiences. Whereas the original inventory had six dimensions and 28 items, a better fit was found with seven dimensions and 26 items. The extra dimension reflected a split of Teacher Metacognitive Experiences into positive and negative ones. The seven-dimension structure had good reliability and validity. The instrument was also invariant across gender, level (i.e., primary and secondary school teachers) and years of experience. Together, the results suggest that the TMI was an effective instrument and could be used to assess teacher metacognition in educational settings or for teachers to reflect on their metacognition and metacognitive practice, as suggested by the original developers of the scale.