Design and validation of a survey to measure perception of teachers about Spanish key competences in elementary education
Conference:
ECER 2014
Format:
Poster

Session Information

27 SES 05.5 PS, General Poster Session

General Poster Session, Chaired by Convenors of NW 27

Time:
2014-09-03
12:30-14:00
Room:
Poster Area D (between B014 - B018)
Chair:

Contribution

Introduction
Key competences are a topic of recent introduction in the Spanish educational system. The adoption of the Organic Law of Education (LOE) 2006 is directly linked to the recommendations made by European education agencies (European Commission, 2005). Competences were introduced into the curriculum of elementary education to give young students the knowledge and skills essential for full participation in society. All started with the DeSeCo Project. Its conceptual framework classifies such competences in three broad categories. First, individuals need to be able to use a wide range of tools for interacting effectively with the environment: both physical ones such as information technology and socio-cultural ones such as the use of language. Second, in an increasingly interdependent world, individuals need to be able to engage with others, and since they will encounter people from a range of backgrounds. Third, individuals need to be able to take responsibility for managing their own lives, situate their lives in the broader social context and act autonomously. Each of these categories has, according DeSeCo, a specific approach, are interrelated, and collectively build the basis for identifying and defining the eight key Spanish competences. Under this proposal made by the European Union, at the Spanish level, it was defined eight key competences to be delivered along Elementary and Secondary Education: 1) Communication skills; 2) Mathematical competence; 3) Knowledge and interaction with the physical environment; 4) Data processing and digital competence; 5) Social and civic competence; 6) Cultural and artistic competence; 7) Lifelong learning; and 8) Autonomy and personal initiative.
It is important to noted that the incorporation of competences in the curriculum should not be understood as a single element to be developed, but should be considered as the axis around which all curricular elements must turn around. This is essential for a conceptual and methodological shifting the educational community. However, to date there have not assessment tools to investigate the impact of the incorporation of the key competences in the curriculum methodological have reached in teachers. Their perceptions, concerns, perspectives and motivations in this process are unknown. Given that teachers are the agents to bring the change, it is necessary to see how this process is being developed. Many studies have the purpose of analyse the study of key competences (Escamilla, 2008; Moya and Luengo , 2010; Sarramona, 2004; Etelälahti and SahiRychen, 2001, Kelly, 2001; Knain, 2001; Lassnigg, Mayer, and Svecnik, 2001). However, few data have been collected on how this process is unfolding, and what is the perception of the teachers as important pieces. It is therefore the purpose of this study, the design and validation of a questionnaire to measure the perception of elementary teachers about the inclusion of key competences in the Spanish context.

Method

Method To assess the perception of elementary teachers about key competences it was developed a questionnaire. To study the validity of the questionnaire it was analyzed the: (a) content validity, (b) understanding validity, and construct validity. This procedure was developed following the phases proposed by Carretero-Dios and Pérez (2005). The reference construct was the perception of teachers on the inclusion of key competences in elementary education. The dimensions that define it were chosen of a selection of chapters from the LOE considered relevant by its direct relationship with the key competences. The dimensions chosen were: Aims of education, curriculum (objectives, content, methodology and evaluation principles), Students with specific educational need support, Functions of teachers, teacher education (initial and in-service), Institutional autonomy (Educational and Annual General programming) project, and financial resources. Then it was done the definition of the items that belongs to each dimension to be evaluated by a panel of experts. They were asked to rank with a likert scale, with scores from one (strongly disagree) to five (strongly agree), about the relation between the dimension and the construct, the relation of the items and the dimension, the writing style, and the level of understanding. Construct, dimensions and items were evaluated by 37 experts on the subject: (a) 17 elementary teachers whose area of specialization was psychology (four), sociology (two) and pedagogy (two per each of the following: Spanish language and literature, foreign language, social science, geography, history, physical education, mathematics, natural sciences, technology, art and visual education, music) and (b) 20 senior lecturers with a specific research interest in elementary subjects: Spanish language and literature, foreign language, social science, geography, history, physical education, mathematics, natural sciences, technology, education and plastic visual, music.

Expected Outcomes

Results Construct The panel of experts assesses on the adequacy, appropriateness and exhaustivity of each dimensions and the corresponding items, descriptive construct score was obtained. The elementary teachers gave an average score of 8.75(1.49), 8.70(1.59) in exhaustivity, and 8.80(1.40) in definition. From the view of senior lecturers, they gave a score of 8.76(2.68) in exhaustivity and 8.71(2.75) in definition. After analyzing the perceptions of both, a mean score of 8.73(2.13) in exhaustivity, and 8.75(2.07) in definition; achieving a final assessment of the construct of 8.74 (2.10). Dimensions Of the thirteen dimensions that were defined in the beginning, after completing two rounds of review by the panel of experts, three were removed. The dimension11th and the 12th (Institutional autonomy-Educational project and Annual General Programming), and 13th (Financial Resources) and all the items that belong to them were remove because they have been scored less than seven points by any of the experts. Items Of the 65 items that were defined in the beginning, after completing two rounds of review by expert judges, 28 were eliminated because as in the case of dimensions , having a mean score of less specificity and completeness of seven points. They were thus 37 items in the final version of the questionnaire, after this initial phase of validation by expert judges. Conclusions The final version of the questionnaire in its original language will be displayed and discussed at the presentation of the work, since the validation process continues with the statistical analysis of the items, the study of the internal structure, the estimation of its reliability , and external validity evidence.

References

References Carretero-Dios, H., y Pérez, C. (2005). Normas para el desarrollo y revisión de estudios instrumentales. International Journal of Clinical and HealthPsychology, 5, 521-551. Comisión Europea. (2005). Propuesta del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo sobre las competencias clave para el aprendizaje permanente. Extraído el 18 de octubre, 2007 de http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/2010/doc/keyrec_ es.pdf Escamilla, A. (2008). Las competencias básicas. Claves para su desarrollo en los centros. Barcelona:Graó. Etelälahti, A., & Sahi, A. (2001). Summary report for Finland on the DeSeCo Country Contribution Process. Prepared as part of the Country ContributionProcess (CCP) conducted by the DeSeCo Project. Kelly, F. (2001). Summary report for New Zealand on the DeSeCo Country Contribution Process. Prepared as part of the Country Contribution Process (CCP) conducted by the DeSeCo Project. Knain, E. (2001).Summary report for Norway on the DeSeCo Country Contribution Process. Prepared as part of the Country Contribution Process (CCP) conducted by the DeSeCo Project. Lassnigg, L., Mayer, K., & Svecnik, E. (2001). Summary report for Austria on the DeSeCo Country Contribution Process. Prepared as part of the Country Contribution Process (CCP) conducted by the DeSeCo Project. Moya, J., y Luengo, F. (2010). La concreción curricular de las competencias básicas: un modeloadaptativo e integrado. CEE Participación Educativa, 15, 127-141. Sarramona, J. (2004). Las competencias básicas de la enseñanza obligatoria. Barcelona: CEAC.

Author Information

Lourdes Meroño García (presenting / submitting)
UCAM Catholic University of Murcia
Murcia
Antonio Calderon (presenting)
UCAM Catholic University of Murcia
Guadalupe
UCAM, Catholic University of Murcia, Spain
University of Oviedo, Spain

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