Academic literature on the topic 'Teaching History 12'

Pre-service teachers’ preparedness and confidence levels to teach is a topical subject in higher education. Previous studies have commented on the role of teacher in-service training in preparing teachers for provision of meaningful classroom experiences to their learners, but many researchers regard pre-service teacher development as the cornerstone. Whilst teacher competence can be measured in terms of different variables e.g. pedagogy, knowledge of the curriculum, technological knowledge etc., the present study focused on teacher competency in terms of Life Sciences subject matter knowledge (SMK). The study was framed by pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). The study sought to answer the research question: How do preservice teachers perceive their levels of preparedness and confidence in teaching high school Life Sciences topics at the end of their four years of professional development? In a qualitative study, a total of 77 pre-service teachers enrolled for the Methodology and Practicum Life Sciences course at a university in South Africa participated in the study. Each participant was tasked to identify topic(s)/concept(s) in Life Sciences they felt challenged to teach, provide a critical analysis of the reasons for that and map the way forward to overcome the challenges. This task was meant to provide the pre-service teachers with an opportunity to reflect and at the same time evaluate the goals of the learning programme they had gone through. Pre-service teachers’ perspectives show their attitudes, values and beliefs based on their personal experiences which therefore help them to interpret their teaching practices. The qualitative data was analysed using content analysis. The findings showed that whilst pre-service teachers were competent to teach other topics, the majority felt that they were not fully prepared and hence lacked confidence to teach the history of life on earth and plant and animal tissues in grade 10; excretion in animals particularly the functions of the nephron in grade 11; and evolution and genetics in grade 12. Different reasons were proffered for the lack of preparedness to teach these topics. The participants regarded some of these topics as difficult and complex e.g. genetics. Evolution was considered to be antagonistic to the participants’ and learners’ cultural and religious belief systems. Hence the participants had negative attitudes towards them. Some of the pre-service teachers indicated that they lacked interest in some of the topics particularly the history of life on earth which they considered to be more aligned to Geography, a subject they did not like. As remedies for their shortcomings in the content, the pre-service teachers planned to co-teach these topics with colleagues, and others planned to enrol for content enrichment programmes. These findings have implications for teacher professional development programmes.

Az előadás egy átfogó kutatási téma eredményeinek megosztására irányul (Érsek, 2019). Olyan neveléstudományi témában kerestem módszertani megoldást, amely szorosan kapcsolódik a kritikai gondolkodás fejlesztéséhez elektronikus tanulási környezetben. A történelmi tartalomba ágyazott kritikai gondolkodás kognitív elemeinek mérési, fejlesztési területeire koncentráltam. A történelemtanítás kutatásának nemzetközi dimenziójában az egyik megközelítés szerint a kritikai gondolkodás fejlesztésének és a forráselemzésnek kell a történelemtanítás középpontjában állnia (Jancsák, 2019). A feladat és a fogalmi keret összetettsége miatt kevés a sikeresnek tekinthető empirikus vizsgálat a kritikai gondolkodás terén. Magyarországon elindult a fogalom pedagógiai értelmezése (Molnár L., 2002.; Tóth, 2007.; Kovács, 2009.; Fábián, 2014.), az angolszász pedagógia fókuszában a fogalmi tisztázás és a kritikai gondolkodás szerkezeti elemeinek feltárása, összegzése áll (Elder – Paul, 2006.; Lai, 2011). Kutatásom során megalkottam a történelem témakörben alkalmazható kritikai gondolkodás taxonómiát, amelyet pontosítottam Anderson-Krathwohl (2001) tanulási célkitűzések modelljének segítségével. A történelemtanárok gondolkodását és nézeteit feltártam strukturálatlan kognitív térkép módszerével, támogatott felidézéssel. Szakértői mintavétel történt. Az oktatástervezési megközelítések közül (Ollé, 2015. p. 86.) a jelen kutatás fejlesztése oktatástanulás szempontjából építette fel a tanköri modulokat, azaz a kognitív folyamatok fejlesztésére koncentrált. A pedagógiai kísérlet terepe a Neo LMS alkalmazás lett, ami e-learning keretrendszer, tananyagtartalom szervező rendszer (LCMS). Általam fejlesztett 2 hetes tanórán kívüli anyagot osztottam meg, tutorként támogattam a diákok tanulási folyamatait. A kutatás eljárásrendjét (eszközök, módszerek), megbízhatósági mutatóit ismertetem az előadás során. A 11-12. évfolyamos gimnazistáknál csoportos valószínűségi mintavételt alkalmaztam, kiegészítettem a hólabda mintavételi eljárással (összesen 330 fő). Kutatási kérdés volt: Milyen módon mérhető a történelmi tartalomba ágyazott kritikai gondolkodás kognitív elemeinek tanulói teljesítménye elektronikus tanulási környezetben? A kutatás hipotézisei közül egyet emelek ki (egymintás t-próbát alkalmaztam ennél): A történelmi tartalomba ágyazott kritikai gondolkodás kognitív elemeinek tanulói teljesítményét lényegesen befolyásolja a Neo LMS fejlesztő anyagainak megismerése. Az önkontrollos csoport esetében ez bizonyítást nyert. Bízom benne, hogy a tanulók kritikai gondolkodásának kognitív elemeit és a digitális kompetenciát fejlesztő módszertani megoldásom hozzájárul a pedagógiai kultúraváltáshoz. A bemutatásra kerülő pedagógiai kísérlet a tanulók egyéni fejlesztésérére koncentrál, egy jó példája a SAMR modell (Puentedura, 2006) felső szintjének, alkalmazásával hatékonnyá tehető a különböző történelmi források feldolgozása, miközben az IKT által nyújtott lehetőségek is megvalósulnak. ----- A report on developing critical thinking connected to historical sources ----- The goal of the presentation is to share the results of a comprehensive research topic (Érsek, 2019). I attempted to find a skill developing methodological solution in the field of pedagogy that is closely connected to the development of critical thinking in an e-learning environment. The focus is on assessing and developing the cognitive elements of critical thinking embedded in historical teaching materials. One approach to the research on History teaching at an international level states that developing critical thinking and source analysis are the main tasks of History instruction (Jancsák, 2019). Owing to the complexity of the task and the complex conceptual framework, there has been only a few empirical studies in the field of critical thinking that can be regarded as successful. The pedagogical interpretation of the concept has begun in Hungary (Molnár L., 2002.; Tóth, 2007.; Kovács, 2009.; Fábián, 2014.), and the Anglo-Saxon pedagogy focuses on conceptual clarification and on the exploration and summarization of the structural elements of critical thinking (Elder – Paul, 2006.; Lai, 2011). Based on my research, I created a critical thinking taxonomy which can be applied within the context of History, and I further refined it by using Anderson-Krathwohl’s (2001) model of learning objectives. I explored the beliefs and attitudes of History teachers by using a non-structured cognitive map and stimulated recall with questions. The sample procedure was expert sampling. From the educational planning approaches (Ollé, 2015. p. 86.), the development of the present research created the modules of the course from the education-learning perspective, which means that it focused on the development of cognitive processes. The present pedagogical experiment was executed within the Neo LMS application, which is an e-learning platform and a learning content management system (LCMS). I created and shared a two-week skill developing material, which was not part of class activities, with the students, and I assisted their learning processes as a tutor. In this presentation, I outline the research protocol (tools, methods) and reliability indices of the research. I applied probability cluster sampling in the case of eleventh- and twelfth-graders, and additionally used snowball sampling (altogether 330 participants). The research questions were the following: How can the students’ performance be assessed related to the cognitive elements of critical thinking embedded in historical teaching materials in an elearning environment? I highlight one of the research hypotheses (one-sample t-test was used in this case): Students’ performance related to the cognitive aspects of critical thinking embedded in historical teaching materials is significantly influenced by becoming familiar with the Neo LMS skill developing materials. In the case of the single-case experiment group, this hypothesis was confirmed. I hope that my methodological solution that develops the cognitive elements of students’ thinking and their digital competence will contribute to the transition in pedagogical approach. The presented research in the field of pedagogy focuses on the individual development of students, which is a good example of the highest level of the SAMR model (Puentedura, 2006), and by applying this, the interpretation of different historical sources can be more effective and the opportunities offered by the ICT environment are also incorporated.

Aim/Purpose: This paper provides the results of the preliminary analysis of the findings of an ongoing study that seeks to examine the social media use, cultural and political awareness, civic engagement, issue prioritization, and social activism of Gen Z students enrolled at four different institutional types located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The aim of this study is to look at the group as a whole as well as compare findings across populations. The institutional types under consideration include a mid-sized majority serving or otherwise referred to as a traditionally white institution (TWI) located in a small coastal city on the Atlantic Ocean, a small Historically Black University (HBCU) located in a rural area, a large community college located in a county that is a mixture of rural and suburban and which sits on the border of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and graduating high school students enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) programs in a large urban area. This exploration is purposed to examine the behaviors and expectations of Gen Z students within a representative American region during a time of tremendous turmoil and civil unrest in the United States. Background: Over 74 million strong, Gen Z makes up almost one-quarter of the U.S. population. They already outnumber any current living generation and are the first true digital natives. Born after 1996 and through 2012, they are known for their short attention spans and heightened ability to multi-task. Raised in the age of the smart phone, they have been tethered to digital devices from a young age with most having the preponderance of their childhood milestones commemorated online. Often called Zoomers, they are more racially and ethnically diverse than any previous generation and are on track to be the most well-educated generation in history. Gen Zers in the United States have been found in the research to be progressive and pro-government and viewing increasing racial and ethnic diversity as positive change. Finally, they are less likely to hold xenophobic beliefs such as the notion of American exceptionalism and superiority that have been popular with by prior generations. The United States has been in a period of social and civil unrest in recent years with concerns over systematic racism, rampant inequalities, political polarization, xenophobia, police violence, sexual assault and harassment, and the growing epidemic of gun violence. Anxieties stirred by the COVID-19 pandemic further compounded these issues resulting in a powder keg explosion occurring throughout the summer of 2020 and leading well into 2021. As a result, the United States has deteriorated significantly in the Civil Unrest Index falling from 91st to 34th. The vitriol, polarization, protests, murders, and shootings have all occurred during Gen Z’s formative years, and the limited research available indicates that it has shaped their values and political views. Methodology: The Mid-Atlantic region is a portion of the United States that exists as the overlap between the northeastern and southeastern portions of the country. It includes the nation’s capital, as well as large urban centers, small cities, suburbs, and rural enclaves. It is one of the most socially, economically, racially, and culturally diverse parts of the United States and is often referred to as the “typically American region.” An electronic survey was administered to students from 2019 through 2021 attending a high school dual enrollment program, a minority serving institution, a majority serving institution, and a community college all located within the larger mid-Atlantic region. The survey included a combination of multiple response, Likert scaled, dichotomous, open ended, and ordinal questions. It was developed in the Survey Monkey system and reviewed by several content and methodological experts in order to examine bias, vagueness, or potential semantic problems. Finally, the survey was pilot tested prior to implementation in order to explore the efficacy of the research methodology. It was then modified accordingly prior to widespread distribution to potential participants. The surveys were administered to students enrolled in classes taught by the authors all of whom are educators. Participation was voluntary, optional, and anonymous. Over 800 individuals completed the survey with just over 700 usable results, after partial completes and the responses of individuals outside of the 18-24 age range were removed. Findings: Participants in this study overwhelmingly were users of social media. In descending order, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, WhatsApp, LinkedIn and Tik Tok were the most popular social media services reported as being used. When volume of use was considered, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and Twitter were the most cited with most participants reporting using Instagram and Snapchat multiple times a day. When asked to select which social media service they would use if forced to choose just one, the number one choice was YouTube followed by Instagram and Snapchat. Additionally, more than half of participants responded that they have uploaded a video to a video sharing site such as YouTube or Tik Tok. When asked about their familiarity with different technologies, participants overwhelmingly responded that they are “very familiar” with smart phones, searching the Web, social media, and email. About half the respondents said that they were “very familiar” with common computer applications such as the Microsoft Office Suite or Google Suite with another third saying that they were “somewhat familiar.” When asked about Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Blackboard, Course Compass, Canvas, Edmodo, Moodle, Course Sites, Google Classroom, Mindtap, Schoology, Absorb, D2L, itslearning, Otus, PowerSchool, or WizIQ, only 43% said they were “very familiar” with 31% responding that they were “somewhat familiar.” Finally, about half the students were either “very” or “somewhat” familiar with operating systems such as Windows. A few preferences with respect to technology in the teaching and learning process were explored in the survey. Most students (85%) responded that they want course announcements and reminders sent to their phones, 76% expect their courses to incorporate the use of technology, 71% want their courses to have course websites, and 71% said that they would rather watch a video than read a book chapter. When asked to consider the future, over 81% or respondents reported that technology will play a major role in their future career. Most participants considered themselves “informed” or “well informed” about current events although few considered themselves “very informed” or “well informed” about politics. When asked how they get their news, the most common forum reported for getting news and information about current events and politics was social media with 81% of respondents reporting. Gen Z is known to be an engaged generation and the participants in this study were not an exception. As such, it came as no surprise to discover that, in the past year more than 78% of respondents had educated friends or family about an important social or political issue, about half (48%) had donated to a cause of importance to them, more than a quarter (26%) had participated in a march or rally, and a quarter (26%) had actively boycotted a product or company. Further, about 37% consider themselves to be a social activist with another 41% responding that aren’t sure if they would consider themselves an activist and only 22% saying that they would not consider themselves an activist. When asked what issues were important to them, the most frequently cited were Black Lives Matter (75%), human trafficking (68%), sexual assault/harassment/Me Too (66.49%), gun violence (65.82%), women’s rights (65.15%), climate change (55.4%), immigration reform/deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) (48.8%), and LGBTQ+ rights (47.39%). When the schools were compared, there were only minor differences in social media use with the high school students indicating slightly more use of Tik Tok than the other participants. All groups were virtually equal when it came to how informed they perceived themselves about current events and politics. Consensus among groups existed with respect to how they get their news, and the community college and high school students were slightly more likely to have participated in a march, protest, or rally in the last 12 months than the university students. The community college and high school students were also slightly more likely to consider themselves social activists than the participants from either of the universities. When the importance of the issues was considered, significant differences based on institutional type were noted. Black Lives Matter (BLM) was identified as important by the largest portion of students attending the HBCU followed by the community college students and high school students. Less than half of the students attending the TWI considered BLM an important issue. Human trafficking was cited as important by a higher percentage of students attending the HBCU and urban high school than at the suburban and rural community college or the TWI. Sexual assault was considered important by the majority of students at all the schools with the percentage a bit smaller from the majority serving institution. About two thirds of the students at the high school, community college, and HBCU considered gun violence important versus about half the students at the majority serving institution. Women’s rights were reported as being important by more of the high school and HBCU participants than the community college or TWI. Climate change was considered important by about half the students at all schools with a slightly smaller portion reporting out the HBCU. Immigration reform/DACA was reported as important by half the high school, community college, and HBCU participants with only a third of the students from the majority serving institution citing it as an important issue. With respect to LGBTQ rights approximately half of the high school and community college participants cited it as important, 44.53% of the HBCU students, and only about a quarter of the students attending the majority serving institution. Contribution and Conclusion: This paper provides a timely investigation into the mindset of generation Z students living in the United States during a period of heightened civic unrest. This insight is useful to educators who should be informed about the generation of students that is currently populating higher education. The findings of this study are consistent with public opinion polls by Pew Research Center. According to the findings, the Gen Z students participating in this study are heavy users of multiple social media, expect technology to be integrated into teaching and learning, anticipate a future career where technology will play an important role, informed about current and political events, use social media as their main source for getting news and information, and fairly engaged in social activism. When institutional type was compared the students from the university with the more affluent and less diverse population were less likely to find social justice issues important than the other groups. Recommendations for Practitioners: During disruptive and contentious times, it is negligent to think that the abounding issues plaguing society are not important to our students. Gauging the issues of importance and levels of civic engagement provides us crucial information towards understanding the attitudes of students. Further, knowing how our students gain information, their social media usage, as well as how informed they are about current events and political issues can be used to more effectively communicate and educate. Recommendations for Researchers: As social media continues to proliferate daily life and become a vital means of news and information gathering, additional studies such as the one presented here are needed. Additionally, in other countries facing similarly turbulent times, measuring student interest, awareness, and engagement is highly informative. Impact on Society: During a highly contentious period replete with a large volume of civil unrest and compounded by a global pandemic, understanding the behaviors and attitudes of students can help us as higher education faculty be more attuned when it comes to the design and delivery of curriculum. Future Research This presentation presents preliminary findings. Data is still being collected and much more extensive statistical analyses will be performed.