This research study investigates pre-service teachers' perceptions of their field experience in kindergartens and schools in Jordan. A total of 57 pre-service early years teachers wrote weekly reflective journals describing and commenting on their experiences during placement in kindergartens and elementary schools. Three major themes emerged from the journals: descriptive narratives of pre-service teachers' field experience, the difficulties they faced, and the advantages of their experience. In light of the study findings, some suggestions are introduced to improve field training programmes. It is also concluded that journal writing can be used in teacher education as a learning tool that enhances pre-service teachers' learning and professional development.
This study was designed to investigate the effect of mathematics learning environment supported by error-analysis activities on classroom interaction. To achieve this purpose, two classes of seventh grade students (aged 12-13 years) were randomly selected and were assigned into two groups; experimental (number of student=24) and control (number of students=24). The experimental group was exposed to error-analysis activities, whereas the control group studied the same mathematics content without any error-analysis activities. Moreover, two instruments were used to collect the data: an observation checklist including indicators of classroom interaction and a semi-structured interview, after ensuring their validity and reliability.<br />
14 classes for each group were observed by two observers using an observation checklist. The findings of the study revealed that statistically significant differences were found between the rating means of classroom interaction of the two groups. Moreover, the qualitative analysis of the interviews revealed that the mathematics error-analysis activities contribute to improving the quality of teacher-student, student-student and student-content interaction. They enhance the quality of students’ responses, help students be more engaged in mathematics learning through social interaction and more active in oral communication, improve their classroom predications and discussions and support student-content interaction through sustaining error-analysis to be a learning behavior. Based on these findings, it was recommended that mathematics learning environment supported by error-analysis activities could be adopted as a teaching-learning strategy to improve classroom interaction, which enhances students’ mathematics learning in primary education.
This study investigated the effect of mathematical error analysis-based learning on proportional reasoning ability of seventh-grade students. To achieve the purpose of the study, a proportion unit for the seventh-grade students in Jordan was designed according to the error analysis-based learning. A sample of 45 seventh-grade students participated in the study and were randomly assigned into the following two groups: Experimental group and control group. The data were collected through the following two instruments: A proportional reasoning test and an interview, after ensuring their reliability and validity. The results of the study revealed that the error analysis-based learning led to a significant improvement in proportional reasoning among the experimental group and contributed to providing students with positive experiences in learning mathematics. In light of these results, a set of recommendations for educational researchers, mathematics curriculum designers, and mathematics teachers were presented.
This study investigates the appropriateness of the Action Pack Textbook Series (APTS) currently taught in the first four primary stage classes in Jordanian public schools. An evaluation checklist, compiled from the literature, and a semi-structured interview were used to evaluate the content, layout, assessment tasks, teacher's book and the availability of supplementary materials.
The findings support the following conclusions: Poor ratings were minimal; APTS is adaptable to the needs of both teachers and pupils and provides a broad range of resources that can be selectively integrated into the curriculum; APTS contains modes of instruction that are developmentally appropriate for a wide range of learners; APTS instructional materials are interesting, engaging and effective for the target learners; the format of the teacher's book is easy to follow, the directions for implementing activities are clear, and the teacher's book itself is flexible and allows teachers to choose from a variety of activities to use with their pupils; for the most part, non-text materials are used appropriately to promote learning; and, overall, the materials for the pupils are well written, age-appropriate and compelling in content.
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