What factors contribute to teacher agency?5 answersTeacher agency is influenced by various factors such as personal conditions, contextual constraints, beliefs, identity, relationships, pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), aspirations, and structural resources. These factors play a crucial role in shaping how teachers make decisions, overcome student learning difficulties, choose teaching materials, and implement instructional strategies like inquiry-based science instruction (IBSI) for social justice. Teachers enact their agency by aligning decisions with their beliefs and values, interacting with structural influences, and collaborating with others to critique and combat educational disparities. To enhance teacher agency, it is essential for teacher educators to focus on developing pedagogical repertoires, supporting teachers in understanding agency, and fostering a willingness to drive positive changes in educational settings.
What part does inquiry play in teacher agency?5 answersInquiry plays a crucial role in shaping teacher agency by empowering educators to reflect on their practice, engage with students, and navigate the complexities of the educational landscape. Teachers who engage in inquiry-based practices are better equipped to develop their professional capacities, recognize their identities, and enhance their pedagogical and theoretical backgrounds. Through inquiry, teachers can explore how to scaffold student learning, balance teacher authority with student agency, and foster scientific attitudes in the classroom. Additionally, inquiry-based approaches can help teachers expand their pedagogical repertoires, enrich their decision-making processes, and align their practices with social justice aspirations. By embracing inquiry, teachers can not only enhance their own agency but also create more inclusive and effective learning environments for their students.
How are teacher beliefs related to agency?4 answersTeacher beliefs are intricately linked to agency, as evidenced by various studies. The research by Yang Gao et al. highlights that teacher beliefs, agency, and resilience co-evolve through reflections and affordances, emphasizing the interplay among these constructs. Similarly, Stolp et al. emphasize the significant role of teacher support in enabling student agency within the music classroom, underscoring the importance of teacher beliefs and actions in fostering student agency. Furthermore, Varpanen et al. discuss how teachers' beliefs about the future shape their agentic orientations, emphasizing the temporal aspect of agency and the influence of long-term visions on teacher agency. These studies collectively demonstrate that teacher beliefs play a crucial role in shaping and influencing teacher agency, highlighting the interconnected nature of these constructs in educational settings.
Does activity theory only views teachers agency as something not temporal?5 answersActivity theory does not view teacher agency as something that is not temporal. In fact, the abstracts suggest that activity theory recognizes the temporal dimension of teacher agency. According to the abstracts, teacher agency is seen as a dynamic process that evolves over time and is influenced by various factors such as experiences, beliefs, and contextual factors. The abstracts highlight the importance of understanding the temporal and relational aspects of teacher agency, as well as the role of individual actions and social activity in shaping agency. For example,discusses how a teacher's early experiences and image of their English teacher as a school pupil mediate their sense of agency throughout their career. Similarly,emphasizes the temporal process of achieving agency and the influence of professional experience on teacher agency. Therefore, activity theory acknowledges the temporal nature of teacher agency and recognizes that it is shaped by a range of factors over time.
How does principal change leadership influence teacher agency?5 answersPrincipal change leadership influences teacher agency by affecting teacher trust and teacher motivation, which in turn impact teacher engagement in professional learning. The relationship between leadership and professional learning is mediated by teacher trust and teacher agency, indicating that the full effects of leadership are channeled through these pathways. School leaders must focus on building teacher trust and promoting teacher agency in order to influence teachers' engagement in professional learning.
What are the factors that influence teachers' agency in Singapore?5 answersTeachers' agency in Singapore is influenced by several factors. One of the key factors is the embrace of neoliberal ideas in the educational system, which has led to performance appraisal mechanisms and competition among teachers. Additionally, the commitment to teacher recruitment, preparation, and professional development plays a significant role in shaping teachers' agency. Teachers in Singapore are recruited from top performers and undergo rigorous training to ensure they have the necessary competencies. The partnership between education stakeholders and evidence-informed policy formulation also contributes to teachers' agency, as it emphasizes professionalism and career-long development. Furthermore, the use of technology in education, such as leveraging cyberspace resources, can empower teachers to enhance students' agency in knowledge creation. These various factors collectively shape the agency of teachers in Singapore, enabling them to meet the demands and challenges of education in the 21st century.