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Using the Student Engagement and Teacher Reflection App (SETRA) as a Teacher Professional Learning Tool: A Pilot Study

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Professionalism and Teacher Education

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Abstract

This chapter reports on a pilot study conducted into the potential effectiveness of an application (app), titled the Student Engagement and Teacher Reflection App (SETRA), which is being developed as a professional learning tool to assist teachers to cater for the diversity of students in contemporary schools through engaging all young adolescents in learning. Drawing from the evidence-based Young Adolescent Engagement in Learning (YAEL) Model, the app serves to support teachers’ growth in professional learning, which is an important characteristic of teaching and teacher professionalism. The YAEL Model, developed in 2016 by members of the research team, provides a professional learning approach for secondary school teachers to engage all students in their learning, including those at risk of disengagement. In order to facilitate teachers’ access to, and implementation of the many dimensions and characteristics of the Model, SETRA has since been developed as a tool to provide teachers with real time, “anywhere, any place” professional learning. A pilot study subsequently determined proof of concept of the baseline version of the app, as well as its potential effectiveness as a teacher professional learning tool. In this chapter, the YAEL model is first overviewed and then the findings from the SETRA pilot are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the valuable work undertaken by Dr. Michelle Ronksley-Pavia as a research assistant during this project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Jeanne Allen, Glenda McGregor & Donna Pendergast

Authors
  1. Jeanne Allen
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  2. Glenda McGregor
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  3. Donna Pendergast
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeanne Allen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, Australian Catholic University, Banyo, QLD, Australia

    Amanda Gutierrez

  2. School of Education, Australian Catholic University, Banyo, QLD, Australia

    Jillian Fox

  3. School of Education, Australian Catholic University, Banyo, QLD, Australia

    Colette Alexander

Appendix 1: Pilot Study Interview Schedule

Appendix 1: Pilot Study Interview Schedule

Thank you for participating in this interview. The interview should take about one hour.

There are two sets of questions. First, we would like to hear your views about the learning experiences you had in using the app, and then, secondly, we would like to hear about your experiences in using the app itself. Your answers will help us to modify and improve the app and its functionality.

  1. A.

    The first four questions relate to your professional learning through the use of the app.

    1. 1.

      To begin with, could you please explain your approach to using the app? In other words, what method did you find suited you best in accessing the app for your professional learning needs?

    2. 2.

      Could you please describe some of the positive professional learning experiences you had in using the app?

    3. 3.

      In what ways, if any, did you find that the app didn’t meet your professional learning needs?

    4. 4.

      How do you think we could improve the type of learning provided through the app in order to better meet your needs?

  2. B.

    The following questions relate to the app itself.

    1. 1.

      How easy, or otherwise, did you find it to use the app?

    2. 2.

      Could you please describe some of the most positive features of the app?

    3. 3.

      What were some of the challenges you encountered?

    4. 4.

      Taking a ‘blue sky’ approach, how do you think we should re-design the app to provide maximum benefit?

This the end of the questions. Do you have any other points or questions you would like to raise?

Thank you for participating in this interview.

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Allen, J., McGregor, G., Pendergast, D. (2019). Using the Student Engagement and Teacher Reflection App (SETRA) as a Teacher Professional Learning Tool: A Pilot Study. In: Gutierrez, A., Fox, J., Alexander, C. (eds) Professionalism and Teacher Education. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7002-1_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7002-1_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-7001-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-7002-1

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