Research on Training Needs,Training Transfer,and Training Effectiveness of In-Service Teachers in Local Normal Colleges

This study aims to understand the in-service training needs,training transfer,and training effectiveness of teachers in local normal universities in China,while also proposing a continuous professional development plan for teachers.Descriptive research methods were employed,with questionnaires serving as the primary data collection tool.The survey revealed that the educational background of teachers in local normal universities is characterized by an unreasonable distribution of academic qualifications,with a shortage of teachers holding postgraduate and higher degrees.Additionally,the training effectiveness for female teachers was found to be lower than that of male teachers.There is a lack of personalization in training needs,which tends to be more generalized.The transfer effect of training is moderate,and there is a need for further enhancement at the behavioral level of training effectiveness.A continuous professional development plan for teachers has been formulated to improve training effectiveness and promote professional development.

Three Subjects and Seven Duties Model:Empowering Informatization Teaching Ability of Pre-Service Teachers

By constructing a model,this study seeks to provide suggestions for strengthening pre-service teachers’informatization teaching ability.It aims to answer the following research questions:(1)What do the pre-service teachers know about informatization instruction?What is their level of informatization teaching ability?(2)What factors influence pre-service teachers’ability to deliver informatization instruction?How to overcome the obstacles?The inquiry focuses on the theoretical exploration of informatization teaching ability,questionnaire,and interview analysis on the current condition and improvement of pre-service teachers’informatization teaching ability.The data from the questionnaire and interview of the pre-service teachers were evaluated from three dimensions:awareness and attitude towards informatization teaching,knowledge of informatization teaching,and the ability to apply informatization teaching skills innovatively and comprehensively.The 3S-7D(Three Subjects and Seven Duties)model consisting of three subjects and the seven duties that go with them is established.The three subjects include pre-service teachers,teacher educators,and higher education schools.The seven duties involve pre-service teachers demonstrating learning motivation,cross-discipline thinking,and information and communications technology mastery;teacher educators actively constructing informatization teaching practice and formative assessment;and higher education schools providing adequate hardware and software equipment while offering cooperative opportunities with primary and junior schools through institutionalization.

Relationship between the use of smart medical services and mental health status

In this editorial,I comment on the article by Zhang et al.To emphasize the importance of the topic,I discuss the relationship between the use of smart medical devices and mental health.Smart medical services have the potential to positively influence mental health by providing monitoring,insights,and inter-ventions.However,they also come with challenges that need to be addressed.Understanding the primary purpose for which individuals use these smart tech-nologies is essential to tailoring them to specific mental health needs and prefe-rences.

A Research of Pre-service Teachers' Lead-in Strategies in English Teaching

Lead-in, referring to the teaching activities at the very beginning of a class, is one of the most basic steps in English classroom teaching. Short though it is, it plays an essential role in arousing students' attention, stirring up students' interest, enhancing their motivation, activating the atmosphere of classroom teaching, and achieving teaching objectives. Based on the previous literature about lead-in, the author first discusses the importance and functions of lead-in, and then analyzes some lead-in strategies on the basis of the 17 teaching cases of pre-service English teachers.

Pre-Service Teachers Attitude towards Teaching Environmental Education (EE) during Practicum in Malaysian Primary Schools

Environmental Education (EE) has been introduced into the Malaysian Curriculum since 1992. Related to that, EE was found to be an important subject that must be known by the teachers, prior to teach EE indirectly in the classroom. Problems occurred while implementing EE in schools such as;less knowledge about EE an extra burden among teachers to teach. At Teachers Training Institute (TTI), EE is a compulsory subject due to complete their training and this study carried out to identify the attitude of teaching EE among pre-service teachers’. The reliability of the items showed 0.830 cronbach’s alpha. One hundred and twenty five respondents among pre-service teachers’ were analyzed and the result shows pre-service teachers’ have positive attitude towards teaching EE in classroom. Analysis of data shown that there are significant differences between male and female pre-service teachers’ in attitude of teaching, with t = 0.036 (p 0.05).

Investigating the writing proficiency of pre-service English as a Second Language teachers:Making use of distinguishing features

This research aims to investigate the writing proficiency of Hong Kong pre-service ESL teachers,in particular how their writing proficiency differs as characterized by distinguishing features inherent in such teachers' writing performances. Over 120 pre-service ESL teachers from various programmes in local universities in Hong Kong were recruited for the study. Results showed that the higher their writing level,the better they performed in a set task as well as in grammatical range and accuracy. The different programmes they enrolled in could affect the number of cohesive devices they tended to use. Mode and years of study had an effect on task achievement and number of cohesive device. Pre-service teachers enrolled in the teacher training programmes on a part-time basis outperformed those enrolled on a full-time basis. Teachers with more teacher training outperformed newly admitted pre-service teachers.The results of this study could provide empirical evidence for identifying different levels of writing proficiency for Hong Kong pre-service ESL teachers. On this basis,the link between the writing proficiency of pre-service ESL teachers and their assessment of student scripts could be subsequently established in a follow-up study to explore their differences in scoring focuses and strategies when scoring students' writings. This could further contribute to teacher evaluation,teacher training concerning language proficiency,and the improvement of teachers' assessment literacy in high-stakes and L2 classroom writing assessment.

ESL pre-service teachers＇ views of Teaching Practice supervision and assessment in Nigeria

This paper suggests that English as a Second Language （ESL） pre-service teachers＇ views and opinions about Teaching Practices be used by faculty to make TP more effective and interesting for the professional development of teachers. The main objective was to study the motivational dimensions of Teaching Practice （TP）, analyze trainees perception of the strength of their content courses （knowledge base） and pedagogy programme （psychology, teaching methods）, and investigate the quality of TP orientation program supervision and assessment by faculty （teacher trainers）. A survey was carried out to determine procedures and processes for minimizing anxieties and fears concerning TP and the relationship between faculty and trainees, mentoring and monitoring procedures, the giving of feedback and utilization of the views of students. Questionnaires were used to obtain information on the content courses or subjects which students found difficult, irrelevant or not adequately taught, what faculty should do to make TP experience better and rewarding to make them become professional teachers. Participants in the study found pedagogy courses relevant to their training and quite enjoyable. They also acknowledge that the courses help them to develop learner centered instructional skills and competence in classroom management. On the contrary, participants confessed they were weak in grammar and spoken English because these were not adequately taught, they also limited exposure to reading and writing. Focused group discussion with students revealed that TP Orientation Programs were too crowded and ill-organized to meet their needs and reduce their anxiety. The points of focus of the orientation-dress code, comportment in schools-were not as crucial as some issues-mentoring, relationship between faculty and students-which were left out. Respondents rated TP supervision and assessment very low because of inadequacies in the number of visits, lack of feedback and low level interaction with their trainers. Some of the students used peer interaction, self-development and self-study skills to improve their skills and cope with TP. The results suggest that knowledge base of students in ESL courses need to be strengthened and enriched. Orientation program should be geared towards trainee＇s needs. Also supervision and assessment require a lot of improvement while faculty should give prompt feedback and utilize trainees＇ opinions and views for meeting students＇ needs and improving TP.

Genre Analysis on the Abstracts of Graduation Papers Written by Pre-service Teachers of English

As a particular genre,Abstract is a growing field of study in linguistics. Move analysis is one aspect that has conducted to describe RA abstract. This article analyzed the particular genre with the purpose of helping them work out good abstracts for academic writing to improve their ability of doing research. One hundred abstracts were selected randomly from all the 450 graduation papers written by Eng lish-major pre-service teachers in 2010 in Hunan First Normal University in China. These informative abstracts were analyzed with the framework of Hyland's 2000 Model. The results revealed that these English-major pre-service teachers haven't done well in the abstract writing for their graduation paper, most of whom have no good understanding about the move model and move sequence, which impli cates that explicit introduction of terms of genre, move and move sequence etc., and training on how to write good abstracts in future study are really needed.

Beliefs about Language Learning Held by Pre-service Teachers:A case study

Language learning beliefs play a very important role in influencing learners' attitudes,motivations and also shape their experiences and actions in classroom.Successful learners develop insightful beliefs about language learning process,their own abilities and the use of effective strategies.However language learning beliefs can be different because of individual learner differences and contextual diversity.This study aimed at exploring beliefs about language learning held by pre-service teachers.159 pre-service teachers majoring in English at Qianan Normal College for Nationalities participated in the study.A 34-item questionnaire adapted from Horwitz's(1987) BALLI was used to collect the data.The results were reported and discussed from the following five aspects:1) beliefs about foreign language aptitude,2) beliefs about difficulty of language learning,3) beliefs about nature of language learning,4) beliefs about learning and communication strategies,and 5) beliefs about motivation and expectations.Suggestions on pedagogical implications and for future research were also indicated.

An Investigation on Pre-service English Teachers’ Perceptions Toward Using Portfolio Assessment in English Writing Teaching at Middle Schools

According to curriculum reform,more diversified ways of evaluation on students are needed.In response to the need of this,recent years have seen an increase in using portfolio assessment as evaluation method in English writing teaching,which is a kind of formative assessment.Prior studies investigated the effects of portfolio assessment on improving students’writing abilities from students’points of views.However,this thesis is set from the angles of pre-service teachers,which looks at their perceptions to using portfolio assessment in teaching writing.

Pre-service Early Childhood Teachers’Attitude Towards Mathematics:A Jamaican Inquiry

The purpose of the study was to evaluate Jamaican early childhood pre-service teachers’attitudes towards mathematics.The study is designed according to the quantitative survey model in the descriptive type.In this study,a modified version of the Fennema-Sherman mathematics attitude scale was used to measure the mathematics attitude of 144 early childhood pre-service teachers in four different categories of the attitude scale(mathematics usefulness,confidence in learning mathematics,mathematics anxiety,and mathematics motivation).The data were collected from participants in the five teachers’colleges that offer the early childhood education program in Jamaica.The findings revealed that Jamaican early childhood pre-service teachers generally have a more positive attitude towards mathematics.A comparison among the different year groups revealed that a significantly greater percentage of the Year two group of participants possessed a more positive mathematics attitude than the other year groups.A significantly higher percentage of the Year three group indicated that they do not want to teach the subject in the future.The findings have implications for the teaching and learning of mathematics in the early childhood education program in Jamaica and,by extension,the teaching and learning of mathematics at the early childhood level of the education system.

Pre-service Early Childhood Teachers’ Attitude Towards Mathematics: A Jamaican Inquiry

The purpose of the study was to evaluate Jamaican early childhood pre-service teachers’attitudes towards mathematics.The study is designed according to the quantitative survey model in the descriptive type.In this study,a modified version of the Fennema-Sherman mathematics attitude scale was used to measure the mathematics attitude of 144 early childhood pre-service teachers in four different categories of the attitude scale(mathematics usefulness,confidence in learning mathematics,mathematics anxiety,and mathematics motivation).The data were collected from participants in the five teachers’colleges that offer the early childhood education program in Jamaica.The findings revealed that Jamaican early childhood pre-service teachers generally have a more positive attitude towards mathematics.A comparison among the different year groups revealed that a significantly greater percentage of the Year two group of participants possessed a more positive mathematics attitude than the other year groups.A significantly higher percentage of the Year three group indicated that they do not want to teach the subject in the future.The findings have implications for the teaching and learning of mathematics in the early childhood education program in Jamaica and,by extension,the teaching and learning of mathematics at the early childhood level of the education system.

Understanding the Process of Pre-service EFL Teachers＇ Reflective Thinking on Classroom Interaction

Based on Dewey＇s （1933） connotation on reflection, this study focuses on the process ofpre-service EFL （English as a foreign language） teachers＇ reflective thinking. There are eight teachers participating in the study during their practicum. Their reflective diary, the interviews between the researchers and the teachers, and classroom observation data are triangulated each other. The features of their reflection process are concluded： （1） Their reflections tend to be spontaneous interpretation; （2） their reflective thinking is partly ＂reasoning＂ phases; and （3） they depend on the authorities in the process of reflective thinking. Some implications are made for the guidelines in EFL teachers＇ practicum

Mathematics Knowledge of Proof in Geometry： Pre-Service Teachers＇ Perspectives

This article is based on research on pre-service teachers＇ perspectives on their mathematics knowledge of proof in geometry. The study was framed using tile mathematical knowledge for teaching framework. This qualitative study employed the use of a task-based worksheet, focus group sessions and semi-structured individual interviews. The task-based worksheet was completed by 180 pre-service mathematics teachers （second, third and fourth year mathematics education students）. Pre-service mathematics teachers are student teachers who have not yet completed their training to become teachers. After the analysis of the task-based worksheet, 20 participants were invited to participate in focus group sessions and individual interviews. The findings of the study reveal that the participants possess peripheral mathematics knowledge of proof in geometry. The study aims at assisting pre-service teachers and interested educationists to explore innovative methods of acquiring and imparting mathematics knowledge of proof in geometry. The study proposes possible changes in curriculum at school and university level.

Preservice Teachers＇ Applications of Integrated Design Models for Teaching and Learning of Solids

This study integrated instrumental and relational approaches to the teaching and learning of solids in a preservice teacher＇s class. The researcher guided the preservice teachers to gather various prisms, pyramids, and spheres to study the total surface areas and volumes. At the end of the integrated models, the test scores showed closed relationships in the concurrent instructional strategies of the integrated models. The researcher therefore, recommended the design models for the teaching and learning of solids in mathematics.

In-Service LTE Program for Chinese Private Institute English Teachers

This paper describes a half-year in-service Language Teacher Education(LTE)program,targeting the trainee teachers who work in Chinese private English institutes.This is to better prepare them at the outset of their career.Primarily intending to build the trainee teachers' professionalism and raise their awareness,an overall illustration of adopted training courses and choice of activities are introduced in this paper.Focusing on integrating instructional knowledge from ESL and English language teaching,the LTE program schedule will allow majority of readers to implement during their daily teaching and research activities.Principles underpinning this program design are illustrated one by one.A course like this may not foster all teachers to become professionals at once,but to be a reflective practitioner can be a reachable goal,as accumulation of professional expertise is based on teachers’ capability of understanding how to reflect on teaching.

Outside the Backdoor:Entrepreneurship,Field Experience and Preservice Teachers

This research is to share qualitative data of one preservice teacher,and one early childhood entrepreneur,who educated young children in an exclusive outdoor preschool.The study was conducted in a rural community where most preschools were held in the traditional venue-inside.The Coronavirus-19 pandemic presented many obstacles to the placement of preservice teachers in an appropriate early childhood setting.The university discouraged all direct contact with children.Instead,preservice teachers were expected to view videos of veteran teachers,who in former years,submitted teaching videos to obtain a“National Boards Certification.”The objective was that the preservice teachers would“reflect”and learn from the electronic source.This electronic substitution was unacceptable to the researcher.Practicum experiences allow for rich collaboration between preservice teacher and child.Electronic sources can never replicate the rich learning that happens during an authentic face-to face encounter with a child.Thus,the vision for the study was born.As an alternative to exclusive electronic learning,the preservice university supervisor initiated the opportunity for preservice teachers to participate with a local entrepreneur who was in the process of designing and implementing an exclusive outdoor school.Nature and environmental field experience opportunities for preservice teachers are promising alternatives to the traditional preschool setting.Venues that encourage nature and environmental studies enhance early childhood programs and create opportunities for preservice teachers,and the children they serve,to appreciate the nature around them enhancing their natural curiosity and investigative skills to seek,study,and share.This research article shares the reflections of both the preschool entrepreneur as well as the preservice teacher.It is a pragmatic description of how the exclusive outdoor environment is feasible and presents the challenges and assets that the environmental venue provides.

The coordinated evolution of ecological environment,public service,and tourism economy along the Silk Road Economic Belt,using the Dual-Carbon Targets

Carbon peak and carbon neutrality(dual-carbon)are important targets for the international response to climate change.The Silk Road Economic Belt is a strategic resource region and is important for future ecological environment and tourism development.Based on the“dual-carbon”targets,the Single index quantification,Multiple index synthesis,and Poly-criteria integration evaluation model were used in this study to measure the coordinated development index of the ecological environment,public service,and tourism economy along the Silk Road Economic Belt and to analyze its spatial and temporal evolution.Further,it explores the dynamic evolution and development trend of the three systems using the Kernel Density and Grey Markov Prediction Model.The results show that the coordinated development index along this region needs to be improved during the study period.Furthermore,the coordinated development index of the Southwest region is relatively higher than that of the Northwest region.From the development trend of the three systems,all of them develop in a stable manner;however,the tourism economy system is easily affected by external disturbances.The coordinated development index of the three systems changes dynamically and tends to be in a good state of coordination.There is a certain spatial and temporal heterogeneity.The gravity center of the coordinated development index has been in the Southwest region.During the forecast period,the coordinated development index along this region will improve significantly,while insufficient and unbalanced development will continue.