This research concentrated on observing academic student teachers’ teamwork, especially its effectiveness and their attitudes to collaboration and transformation, as well as their reflective, written self-assessments in relation to teamwork. Teams have been studied widely, but these kinds of special contexts are rare. The target group was higher education teachers, the context was an introduction of a new pedagogical program, and the teams acted under the guidance of mentors and occasional lecturers. Besides the content analysis, the study method was a deep analysis of the essays. The most effective positive influencers proved to be social exchanges, including mentoring, peer support, input for learning and the experiences of wellbeing. Individual distrust of working methods in teams, and emotional suspicions of their self-efficacy in transformational settings emerged as latent factors, revealing mainly the difficulty of changing traditional mindsets. The analyses offered individual and community-wide opportunities to steer education in the future.

In the context of Vietnam's primary schools undergoing a digital transformation, this research investigates the relationship between organizational culture (OC), digital capabilities (DC), and organizational readiness (OR) for change. This survey, which employs a quantitative methodology, includes 892 teachers and school managers from different elementary schools. Analyses were conducted using SPSS Statistics 26.0. The study shows a favorable relationship between digital skills and organizational readiness, suggesting that more digitally capable institutions are better equipped to handle change. Furthermore, a significant correlation exists between corporate culture, digital skills, and organizational readiness, indicating that schools with a creative and supportive culture are more prone to embrace digital change. These results advance knowledge of the variables affecting organizational change-readiness in Vietnam's primary school digital transformation. These results also have significant implications for educational policymakers, school administrators, and other stakeholders facilitating digital transformation in primary schools. By recognizing the benefits of digital capabilities and organizational culture for organizational change readiness, decision-makers can implement strategies to foster a supportive culture and enhance digital capabilities within educational institutions, ultimately leading to more successful and effective digital transformation initiatives.

This study is designed to illuminate the role of four key constructs—teacher-student relationships, peer networks, satisfaction with support services, and employability trust—in shaping the social capital within universities. Utilising a sample of 1902 working students derived from the Eurostudent VII survey data, this research applies both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to validate the proposed model. The findings indicate that all four constructs demonstrate statistically significant and positive associations with university social capital. Crucially, the measures of reliability and validity are within an acceptable range, lending credibility to the findings. The teacher-student relationship was found to be the most influential factor, highlighting its crucial value in the functioning of social capital inside universities. Along with providing a framework for future studies on the ever-changing nature of social capital in universities, the results highlight the significance of cultivating an interconnected academic community, which enriches the educational organisation as a whole.

This paper examines how peer mentoring strengthens teaching practices in Regular Basic Education considering the changes undertaken since the COVID-19 pandemics. Peer mentoring is an in-service teacher training strategy that includes mutual collaboration, learning and monitoring. In this systematic review, we retrieved 24 articles since 2020 from Scopus (8), Web of Science (8), Dialnet (5), Google Scholar (2) and SciELO (1) to find out about the benefits of peer mentoring. Our review was guided by the PRISMA criteria. We found that educational companionship has a positive impact on reducing knowledge gaps regarding new technologies through the exchange of experiences, promotes openness to criticism, as well as the interest in learning and unlearning, supporting learning self-regulation, and guarantees consultation, reflection, and agreement between members of the teaching communities. We conclude that peer mentoring fulfilled, to a large extent, its purpose of improving teacher performance as one of the keys to educational quality.

This paper explores information related to misconceptions and conceptual change during the last thirty years 1992-2022 to be used as a preliminary study in science education. This study used bibliometric analysis with the help of the Scopus database. This paper used a bibliometric analysis study with the Scopus database and the help of MS Excel, VosViewer, and Rpackage software to visualize the data obtained. The results of this research found that Indonesian researchers have contributed the most in terms of the number of documents published in Australia and the United States. Additionally, research on these two topics has decreased since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, these findings present trends in the areas of misconceptions and conceptual change that can be used as baseline data for future research. Studies related to misconceptions will continue to develop because they cannot be separated from the inside of education, whether at any level of elementary school, middle school, or college. This is an opportunity that must be taken advantage of by institutions and policies in an effort to improve and create quality of education, teacher resources, and students.

The computing and creative skills of students in Indonesia are still low since the government has not focused on student creativity and computational empowerment programs. This research aims to develop a science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics, and reflection (STEAMER) hybrid learning project model for teachers' creative and computational thinking abilities, as well as analyze elementary school teacher candidates' perceptions of the use of STEAMER hybrid learning model to improve teachers' creative and computational thinking abilities. This research is development research with an analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) model. The instruments used in this study were questionnaires and interviews with experts, lecturers, and elementary school teacher candidates. The research was conducted at eight universities in Indonesia with a total sample of 100 elementary school teacher candidates. Through quantitative and qualitative data analysis, the research results have developed the STEAMER hybrid learning project model based on learning theory, syntax, social systems, support systems, and the instructional impact of learning models. The results of the validation show that the developed learning model is feasible in terms of model, material, media, and language experts. The model is suitable for elementary school teacher education. Furthermore, based on the perceptions of the teacher candidates, it is stated that the STEAMER hybrid learning project can develop the ability of the teacher candidates to think creatively and computationally.

Although research on ethnomathematics has been widely carried out, there is still little empirical evidence reporting the mapping and trends of ethnomathematical research in Scopus-indexed journals. The purpose of writing this article is to map trends in ethnomathematical research in Scopus-indexed journals in the range from 1986 to 2022. The fundamental tenet of ethnomathematics is to study, appreciate, and exclusively take into account the application of mathematics by ethnic groups. In other words, in understanding mathematics to look attractive, it is necessary to make a connection between everyday life and the realm of abstract mathematics. Scopus is a resource for further research, identifying scientific uniqueness and gaps. This study uses bibliometric analysis methods using VOSviewer, article searches using Publish or Perish (version 8), and SEforRA applications. Bibliometric research provides a reliable and impartial way to gauge the contribution of an article to knowledge advancement and is a tool that is often used to analyze trends and performance on certain subjects. These findings reveal an increasing trend in ethnomathematical research and identify some topics or keywords that could form the basis for additional studies. In conclusion, for future studies, bibliometric analysis will provide information and knowledge about the evolution of ethnomathematical research.

The main purpose of this study is to present the practice, opportunities, and challenges of fine art education activities in a prison setting. Prison is primarily a form of punishment, a place where prisoners are disempowered and excluded from the outside world. Art is, therefore, extremely useful as it empowers prisoners and brings them contentedness and relaxation. In this research, we present a case study of Hungary and Slovenia. Through meaningful fine art education support activities, we can impact the awareness of the personal situation of prisoners and empower them to cope with various emotional and social challenges. By systematically incorporating fine art concepts, diverse and user-friendly fine art techniques, and content that can engage users where emotional and social skills are identified, strengthened, and indirectly reinforced, it is easier and better to endure the daily challenges of the prison environment. The presented fine art activities in prisons show that it would be useful to think in the direction of systematic involvement of artist teachers or students of fine art education within practical training to create a stimulating environment that helps to strengthen the affective, psychomotor, and cognitive development of juvenile and adult prisoners.

The research on the pedagogical knowledge of teachers in technological education arises from the need to address the problem of pedagogical practices, which are traditional. The classes are at the graduate level, focusing on lecturing the student while the student remains with a passive attitude. It is believed that making explicit that teachers' pedagogical knowledge will allow reflection and awareness, thereby transforming pedagogical practices. Therefore, the objective is to understand the teachers’ constructions on pedagogical knowledge in technology programs in Plant Operations and Industrial Instrumentation of the Faculty of Engineering in order to reconstruct it theoretically, as well as identify its characteristics and trace action routes for teacher training. In this way, it allows education to be accessible to low-income and resource-poor populations, whose purpose is to strengthen the productivity and competitiveness of the economy through the training of human talent according to the needs of the working sector in a unique context. This research uses grounded theory as a methodological tool for data processing. In this sense, data collection procedures such as in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 teachers and seven of them were related to the industry. Whereas, 9 were linked to the teaching(educational) sector including elementary, high school and college level. The results showed differentiated, and socially constructed pedagogical knowledge that responds to teachers’ nature in a particular context. These results contribute to consolidate a broad vision about the pedagogical knowledge’s characteristics that the teacher builds.

This article is aimed at integrating the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) system with the Didactic Suitability Criteria (DSC) of the Didactic-Mathematical Knowledge and Competences (DMKC) system to improve the reflection of prospective mathematics teachers on online classes. Thirteen prospective teachers, divided into two subgroups, participated in a training cycle that addressed both models. Each participant used and created indicators of reflection of the assigned model to analyze an online class on functions, and subgroups exchanged reflections to examine the class from the other model’s perspective. It was noted that the DMKC model allows for a broad analysis of the class but has limitations in assessing technology and the teacher's technological knowledge, while TPACK’s emphasis is on technology and teacher knowledge but does not explicitly address mathematical interaction or affective aspects. It is concluded that combining the TPACK model and the DSC of the DMKC model can generate more complete tools to reflect on online math classes and consequently allow for a comprehensive evaluation that covers both the mathematical content and the technological and pedagogical skills of the teacher.

Writing is a complex activity. If a child’s preparation for writing, which begins to develop in the preschool years, is poor, this can inhibit writing and cause problems. Because children are expected to know how to hold a pencil correctly, how to sit correctly while writing, and how to prepare and adjust the writing surface without planning, this study seeks to determine how first graders are prepared for writing in terms of selected biomechanical and ergonomic factors at the beginning of the school year. The goal was to determine whether there are any differences between students according to sex and handedness and if there is any connection between basic pre-writing skills and the ergonomic suitability of furniture (table and chair size). An empirical study was conducted involving 246 first graders from randomly selected public primary schools in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and fifteen of their female teachers. The results of the research showed that inadequate furniture size affects how students sit and that there are statistically significant differences between the positions of the writing surface for right-handers and left-handers. The research did not show a correlation between posture and pencil grip, but it is very likely that it would have been demonstrated in a larger sample. No sex differences were found between pencil grip, writing surface position, and posture; no connection between handedness, pencil grip, and posture; no connection between pencil grip, poor posture, and writing surface position; and no connection between posture and ergonomically appropriate school desks and chairs.

The main thrust of the study was to explore the third-year English student’s sentiments on the application of the artificial intelligence (AI)-integrated paraphrasing tools. Specifically, it aimed to investigate the benefits and drawbacks brought by AI paraphrasing tools towards the writing skills of the students. The investigation utilized a semi-structured interviews with an open-ended questionnaire using an audio-video recorder. The data gathered were interpreted using the Thematic Analysis of Braun and Clarke. The study was carried out at one of the campuses of a state university located at Candijay, Bohol, Philippines. Using the Purposive sampling technique, twelve (12) respondents provided information on the research endeavor. The findings revealed that students had a positive opinion of AI-integrated paraphrase tools: they saw them as helpful resources that significantly improve their academic writing process; it includes plagiarism reduction, efficiency, and timesaving, and aids in rephrasing text. The findings also revealed the risks and issues of using AI-integrated paraphrasing tools, such as Prone to plagiarism, automated suggestions dependency, and loss of original meaning and context. With that, the students showed how they deal with those risks and issues, including as responsible users and thorough editing and reviewing. In accordance with the study, students are encouraged not to rely excessively on AI-integrated paraphrase tools, even though they can improve their writing abilities. This research emphasizes that students play a pivotal role in ensuring the appropriateness of texts generated by AI-integrated paraphrasing tools by mastering the art of proper paraphrasing.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a twelve-week Inquiry-Based Science (IBS) program on enhancing science process skills and scientific knowledge among preschool children in Morocco. Conducted in a quasi-experimental setting, it involved 105 children (M = 60.46 months, SD = 4.32), with 37 in the IBS group and 68 in the control group. The program utilized the 5Es instructional model and the Engineering Design Process (EDP) to engage children in active, hands-on learning experiences. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the IBS group achieved substantial improvements in both science process skills and scientific knowledge relative to the control group, with between-group effect sizes (Cohen’s d) ranging from 1.02 and 2.31. These findings highlight the significant impact of structured inquiry-based approaches in early childhood education. The study underscores the need for integrating such methods into the preschool curriculum to foster scientific understanding and skills from a young age, thereby better preparing Moroccan children for future academic and professional challenges. The results advocate for educational stakeholders to consider adopting inquiry-based learning frameworks to enhance the overall quality of early childhood education in Morocco.

Since the 1990s, there has been a global trend in the search for quality in school systems that have materialized in the educational policies of the most developed countries. This article analyzes the treatment given to the concept of quality in the educational reforms approved in the last fifty years in Spain. The objectives of this study were: (a) to analyze the presence and recurrence of the term ‘quality’ in each of the laws and (b) to identify the factors associated with quality in these laws. To respond to these objectives, a bibliographic study was carried out using a content analysis approach to the texts of the different laws, as well as a review of the existing literature on the subject in question. It was, therefore, an eminently qualitative research approach. Among the findings found, it is worth highlighting the high presence of the term ‘quality’ in the legislative texts analyzed since the beginning of the new millennium, as well as a continuity in the educational reforms of evaluation policies of the educational system in coherence with the demands produced by supranational organizations at a global level.

Teachers’ access to technology in this day and age could have a positive effect on the teaching and learning of English first additional language (EFAL). This qualitative interpretive case study explored how limited access to technology resources affects the teaching practices of Intermediate Phase EFAL teachers in rural schools in Limpopo, South Africa. This study, underpinned by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), conducted semi-structured interviews to collect data from ten EFAL teachers who were purposively sampled. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The study revealed that three of the ten EFAL teachers sampled integrated technology into their teaching despite challenges such as insufficient projectors, lack of learners’ smartphones and data bundles, and Internet connectivity. However, the other seven sampled participants did not use technology, citing a lack of digital tools and knowledge as a contributing factor. The study concludes that the lack of resources contributed to limited or no use of technology and the motivation to integrate technology into their lessons. Based on these findings, it is recommended that technological resources that can help EFAL teachers with digital teaching be made available so that they can integrate them to assist learners in developing language skills. Furthermore, in-service training and ongoing support should be provided to EFAL teachers to give them knowledge and skill to use available technology resources effectively.

The study investigated the effects of utilising English as the primary teaching language on the academic development of Grade 4 (Gr4) learners, specifically focusing on the Life and Living (L&L) component of Natural Sciences (NS). Gr4 learners commonly transition to English as the Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT), relegating native languages such as Sesotho to mere study subjects. This shift often results in comprehension and retention challenges, hindering students' academic achievements. By employing a quasi-experimental research design, the study used a purposefully selected sample of 80 Gr4 students from two primary schools. The control group (45 learners) received English instruction from Grade R to Grade 7, while the experimental group (35 learners) switched from Sesotho to English in Gr4. Both groups underwent pre-tests and post-tests, revealing statistically significant differences favouring the experimental group. These findings support the research hypothesis that introducing English as the LoLT as early as Grade R has a significant impact on learners' performance, particularly in NS. It is recommended that English be adopted as a medium of instruction for NS, as this better prepares students for future academic challenges.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed human lives in myriad ways and one of its impacts has been the significant transition to distance learning that has occurred at all levels of education around the world. In this emerging system, teachers and parents have proved ill-equipped for the sudden changes involved, and a number of critical difficulties and issues pertaining to increased parental involvement have been exposed. Parents have been called upon to engage more effectively with the education of their children and to support them in various types and levels of distance learning. Parents have always formed a critical link between children and schools; however, alongside teachers, they have recently been required to assume new and unfamiliar roles and responsibilities, working together within an online educational environment. This study investigates the extent to which the transition to distance learning has affected the partnership between schools and families of students with disabilities. A qualitative research approach has been adopted, using semi-structured interviews with special education teachers. The findings are predominantly positive, with teachers believing that distance learning creates opportunities for developing stronger connections between schools and families, enabling more personalised communication, greater capacity and confidence within families, as well as opportunities for enhancing connections with the wider community.

In today's uncertain world events, it is necessary to promote volunteering from early education. Therefore, it is important and necessary to introduce such extracurricular activities from the first grade of primary school. In the Republic of Croatia, there are various humanitarian organizations that gladly accept any kind of help. Therefore, we need to find teachers who will use their influence to motivate children for humanitarian action and make them aware of the importance of empathy and helping others on a daily basis. This study shows the activities of first-graders to fourth-graders of primary school in the Republic of Croatia. The school curricula in 21 Croatian counties were randomly analysed, and the results are represented in this study. The results show that teachers who organize volunteer activities for their students have a greater level of agreement with the statements that a positive attitude of teachers about volunteering encourages volunteer activities in school. It also helps to enrich the school prevention program by establishing a volunteer club within the school, where volunteering should be encouraged in the classroom class. Volunteering should be encouraged at the school's Student Council, and volunteering should be planned in the school curriculum for participants who do not organize volunteer activities for their students. It can be concluded that teachers have positive attitudes about volunteering within the school. However, participants show significant differences in attitudes regarding gender and personal experience of volunteering.

This study explores the relationship between language competence and intercultural communicative competence (ICC) among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners through a mixed-methods approach. A sample of 196 Chinese EFL learners was divided into three proficiency groups (low, intermediate, and high), with data collected through Likert-scale questionnaires and semi-structured interviews involving 16 participants. Quantitative analysis revealed that higher language proficiency is linked to improved overall ICC scores and its specific dimensions. The Kruskal-Wallis H test confirmed significant differences in overall ICC, attitude, and skill across proficiency levels, with attitude showing the strongest effect. Spearman's correlation analysis demonstrated small but significant positive correlations between English proficiency and overall ICC, attitude, and skill. Qualitative findings further enriched the quantitative results, emphasizing the foundational and catalytic role of language competence in enhancing ICC and its dimensions. However, participants acknowledged that language competence alone is insufficient for fully successful intercultural interactions. This study expands Byram’s model by offering detailed insights into the intricate relationship between language competence and various ICC dimensions. The study recommends that to fully cultivate ICC, it is essential to integrate the development of language competence into instructional practices.

The concept of sustainability in visual arts education is a relatively new way of looking at content. Therefore, it is important that the contents of sustainability are systematically integrated into the educational process at all levels of education. In this research, special attention was paid to the specifics of understanding the complexity of the term “sustainability" of pre-service teachers who come from a different educational background and who will also carry out visual arts activities with different aged students in their future work. A free association method with online interviews and artwork analysis was used in this study, with 5 female pre-service teachers from four different European countries. The study revealed that pre-service teachers recognize examples of good practice in architecture, the cultural landscape, and various other visual arts messages - they know what good sustainable practice in the environment and the arts is and what is not. However, they show less understanding of the specifics of materials as carriers of material cultural heritage or of the artworks themselves, as well as of contemporary artistic practices that emphasize themes related to sustainable issues or development. It can be concluded that further interdisciplinary approaches should be used in reaching sustainability goals in visual arts education and wider.