Teaching Mathematics and Physical Education: Does Teaching Effectiveness Vary by Subject Matter?

• In Event: 18.071 - Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: 18.071-2 - School Effectiveness and School Improvement SIG Roundtable Session

Abstract

Although for years teaching effectiveness was considered to cut across different subject matters, recent works have started empirically testing this assumption. Most of these works, however, pertain to “core” subject matters focusing on cognitive outcomes. Considering two subject matters with notable differences in teaching context and targeted learning outcomes—mathematics and Physical Education—in this study, we examined how consistent 24 elementary schoolteachers were in promoting student learning and in their teaching quality when teaching both subject matters. Multi-level modeling and Item Response Theory models helped explore associations in effectiveness across these subject matters. Although some teachers were equally effective in both subject matters, for several others effectiveness varied. In discussing these findings, we question current teacher evaluation systems.

Authors

• Charalambos Y. Charalambous, University of Cyprus

• Ermis Kyriakides, University of Cyprus

• Leonidas Kyriakides, University of Cyprus

• Niki Tsangaridou, University of Cyprus