Ayesha Sadaf

Exploring Factors that Predict Preservice Teachers’ Intentions to Use Web 2.0 Technologies Using Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior

Abstract This study investigated factors that predict preservice teachers’ intentions to use Web 2.0 technologies in their future classrooms. The researchers used a mixed-methods research design and collected qualitative interview data (n = 7) to triangulate quantitative survey data (n = 286). Results indicate that positive attitudes and perceptions of perceived usefulness are significant predictors of preservice teachers’ intentions to use Web 2.0 technologies. Additional findings indicate that preservice teachers intend to use blogs, wikis, and social networking in their future classrooms to improve student learning, student-student and student-teacher interaction, collaborative learning, student writing ability, and sharing content knowledge. Although preservice teachers intend to use Web 2.0 technologies due to these pedagogical benefits, they believe that successful use of Web 2.0 depends on the meaningful integration of these technologies with the subject being taught, learning goals, and age level of their students. This study has implications for teacher educators who are preparing preservice teachers to use Web 2.0 technologies in their classrooms.

Expressions of critical thinking in role-playing simulations: comparisons across roles

The development of critical thinking is crucial in professional education to augment the capabilities of pre-professional students. One method for enhancing critical thinking is participation in role-playing simulation-based scenarios where students work together to resolve a potentially real situation. In this study, undergraduate nursing students were divided into small groups (2–3) to role-play a medical emergency (stroke) within a high fidelity simulation environment. The research team utilized a cross-case comparison design; cases were defined by the different roles played by the nursing students (e.g., primary nurse, secondary nurse, and family member). Results indicated that although students in all three roles displayed instances of reflection, contextual perspective, and logical reasoning, these were not distributed evenly across roles, with family members demonstrating fewer instances of reflection and logical reasoning and secondary nurses demonstrating fewer instances of contextual perspective. However, evidence of students’ abilities to apply clinical standards was observed fairly equally across all three roles. Implications for the use of role-plays within high-fidelity simulations are discussed.