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SERVANT LEADERSHIP AND PERCEIVED CHALLENGES IN STEM CLASSES: THE REINFORCING ROLE OF PROBLEMS AND MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
Corresponding Author(s) : Rima Charbaji El-Kassem
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews,
Vol. 7 No. 1 (2019): January
Abstract
Purpose: This study investigates how high school principals’ leadership can directly and indirectly affect perceived challenges (obstacles) in STEM classes, with specific reference to teachers in Qatar.
Design/methodology/approach: A large convenience sample of 424 high school STEM teachers in Qatar was surveyed. Using SPSS and two suitability tests—the Kaisers-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy and the Bartless test of sphericity—the researcher established the construct validity of the instrument. The 11 extracted dimensions were found to be reliable and valid.
Main Findings: Findings from a regression analysis show that only 3 out of 11 independent variables are significant in predicting perceived challenges (obstacles) in STEM classes with specific reference to teachers in Qatar. In addition, results of the path causal model reveal that the direct effect of each explanatory variable is strengthened via the effect of the other independent variables.
Practical implications: Findings of this investigation provide strategic insights and practical thinking that have important implications for understanding and overcoming challenges (obstacles) in STEM classes as perceived by teachers in Qatar. Moreover, this paper contributes to the limited knowledge about the direct and indirect effects of leadership on such challenges via strategic variables such as classroom problems and classroom management techniques.
Originality: Empirically, this article bridges the gap between three fields: leadership, classroom management, and STEM education.
Keywords
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- Al Bawaba (2015, September 16). 2000–2019.Al Bawaba.Retrieved from www.albawaba.com
- Al-Sada, M., Al-Esmael, B., &Faisal, N.(2016). Influence of organizational culture and leadership style on employee satisfaction, commitment and motivation in the educational sector in Qatar. Euro Med Journal of Business, 12(2), 163–188. https://doi.org/abs/10.1108/EMJB-02-2016-0003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EMJB-02-2016-0003
- Barnett, K.,&McCormick,J.(2003). Vision, relationships and teacher motivation: A case study. Journal of Educational Administration, 41(1), 55–73. https://doi.org/abs/10.1108/09578230310457439 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/09578230310457439
- Bates, T., & Poole, G. (2003). Effective teaching with technology in higher education: Foundations for success.
- Benders, D. S. (2011). Student apathy: The downfall of education. Available at SSRN 1968613. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1968613
- Bush, T., & Heystek, J.(2006). School leadership and management in South Africa: Principals’ perceptions. International Studies in Educational Administration,34(3), 63–76. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143206068212
- Cansoy, R.,& Parlar, H. (2018).Examining the relationship between school principals’ instructional leadership behaviors, teacher self-efficacy, and collective teacher efficacy. International Journal of Educational Management, 32(4), 550–567 https://doi.doi/abs/10.1108/IJEM-04-2017-0089 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-04-2017-0089
- Cemaloğlu,N. (2011).Primary principals’ leadership styles, school organizational health and workplace bullying. Journal of Educational Administration, 49(5), 495–512. https://doi.org/abs/10.1108/09578231111159511 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/09578231111159511
- Fadlelmula, F. K.,&Koc, M. (2016).Overall review of education system in Qatar compared to national and international outcomes. Germany: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing.
- Freiberg,H. J., Templeton,S. M.,&Helton, S. (2013). Classroom management: A pathway to improving school climate in two British secondary schools. In M. Newberry,A. Gallant, &P. Riley(Eds.), Emotion and school: Understanding how the hidden curriculum influences relationships, leadership, teaching, and learning (Advances in research on teaching, Vol. 18)(pp. 203–225). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.emeraldinsight.com https://doi.org/abs/10.1108/S1479-3687%282013%290000018015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-3687(2013)0000018015
- Hallinger, P., &Heck, R.(1996).Reassessing the principal’s role in school effectiveness: A review of empirical research, 1980–1995.Educational Administration Quarterly,32(1), 5–44. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0013161X96032001002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X96032001002
- Herschbach, D. R. (2011). The STEM initiative: Constraints and challenges. Journal of STEM Teacher Education, 48(1), 96-122. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30707/JSTE48.1Herschbach
- Jennings, K., &Stahl-Wert, J. (2003). The serving leader. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.
- Kouzes, J., &Posner,B. (2002).The leadership challenge. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
- Luthans, F.,&Avolio, B.J. (2003). Authentic leadership: A positive developmental approach. In K. S. Cameron, J. E. Dutton, &R. E. Quinn (Eds.), Positive organizational scholarship (pp. 241–261). San Francisco: Barrett-Koehler.
- Macmillan Dictionary. Definition and synonyms of obstacle. In The online English dictionary from Macmillan education. Retrieved from https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/obstacle
- McInnis, C. (2000). Changing academic work roles: The everyday realities challenging quality in teaching. Quality in Higher Education, 6(2), 143-152. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/713692738
- Meyers, S. A., Bender, J., Hill, E. K., & Thomas, S. Y. (2006). How Do Faculty Experience and Respond to Classroom Conflict?. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 18(3), 180-187.
- Nasser, R. (2017). Qatar’s educational reform past and future: Challenges in teacher development.Open Review of Educational Research,4(1),1–19,DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23265507.2016.1266693 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23265507.2016.1266693
- Saleh, Y. (2018, August 16). Qatar the most entrepreneurial Arab state – Competitiveness Report.ZAWYA.Retrieved April, 17, 2019, from www.zawya.com/mena/en/economy/story/Qatar_the_most_entrepreneurial_Arab_state__Competitiveness_Report-ZAWYA20180816033631
- Sithole, A., Chiyaka, E. T., McCarthy, P., Mupinga, D. M., Bucklein, B. K., & Kibirige, J. (2017). Student Attraction, Persistence and Retention in STEM Programs: Successes and Continuing Challenges. Higher Education Studies, 7(1), 46-59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v7n1p46
- Qatar tops region in Global Finance Safety Index (2019, February 4). The Peninsula. Retrieved April 17, 2019, from https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/uploads/2019/02/04/f8772fbeeb498acab806f7604f77cdcdf0a70b59.pdf
- Van Dierendonck, D. (2011). Servant leadership: A review and synthesis. Journal of management,37(4), 1228–1261. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206310380462
- Velasco, I., Edmonson, S. L., & Slate, J. R. (2012). Principal Leadership Behaviors And School Climate: A Conceptual Analysis. Journal of Education Research, 6(3).
References
Al Bawaba (2015, September 16). 2000–2019.Al Bawaba.Retrieved from www.albawaba.com
Al-Sada, M., Al-Esmael, B., &Faisal, N.(2016). Influence of organizational culture and leadership style on employee satisfaction, commitment and motivation in the educational sector in Qatar. Euro Med Journal of Business, 12(2), 163–188. https://doi.org/abs/10.1108/EMJB-02-2016-0003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EMJB-02-2016-0003
Barnett, K.,&McCormick,J.(2003). Vision, relationships and teacher motivation: A case study. Journal of Educational Administration, 41(1), 55–73. https://doi.org/abs/10.1108/09578230310457439 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/09578230310457439
Bates, T., & Poole, G. (2003). Effective teaching with technology in higher education: Foundations for success.
Benders, D. S. (2011). Student apathy: The downfall of education. Available at SSRN 1968613. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1968613
Bush, T., & Heystek, J.(2006). School leadership and management in South Africa: Principals’ perceptions. International Studies in Educational Administration,34(3), 63–76. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143206068212
Cansoy, R.,& Parlar, H. (2018).Examining the relationship between school principals’ instructional leadership behaviors, teacher self-efficacy, and collective teacher efficacy. International Journal of Educational Management, 32(4), 550–567 https://doi.doi/abs/10.1108/IJEM-04-2017-0089 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-04-2017-0089
Cemaloğlu,N. (2011).Primary principals’ leadership styles, school organizational health and workplace bullying. Journal of Educational Administration, 49(5), 495–512. https://doi.org/abs/10.1108/09578231111159511 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/09578231111159511
Fadlelmula, F. K.,&Koc, M. (2016).Overall review of education system in Qatar compared to national and international outcomes. Germany: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing.
Freiberg,H. J., Templeton,S. M.,&Helton, S. (2013). Classroom management: A pathway to improving school climate in two British secondary schools. In M. Newberry,A. Gallant, &P. Riley(Eds.), Emotion and school: Understanding how the hidden curriculum influences relationships, leadership, teaching, and learning (Advances in research on teaching, Vol. 18)(pp. 203–225). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.emeraldinsight.com https://doi.org/abs/10.1108/S1479-3687%282013%290000018015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-3687(2013)0000018015
Hallinger, P., &Heck, R.(1996).Reassessing the principal’s role in school effectiveness: A review of empirical research, 1980–1995.Educational Administration Quarterly,32(1), 5–44. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0013161X96032001002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X96032001002
Herschbach, D. R. (2011). The STEM initiative: Constraints and challenges. Journal of STEM Teacher Education, 48(1), 96-122. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30707/JSTE48.1Herschbach
Jennings, K., &Stahl-Wert, J. (2003). The serving leader. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.
Kouzes, J., &Posner,B. (2002).The leadership challenge. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Luthans, F.,&Avolio, B.J. (2003). Authentic leadership: A positive developmental approach. In K. S. Cameron, J. E. Dutton, &R. E. Quinn (Eds.), Positive organizational scholarship (pp. 241–261). San Francisco: Barrett-Koehler.
Macmillan Dictionary. Definition and synonyms of obstacle. In The online English dictionary from Macmillan education. Retrieved from https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/obstacle
McInnis, C. (2000). Changing academic work roles: The everyday realities challenging quality in teaching. Quality in Higher Education, 6(2), 143-152. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/713692738
Meyers, S. A., Bender, J., Hill, E. K., & Thomas, S. Y. (2006). How Do Faculty Experience and Respond to Classroom Conflict?. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 18(3), 180-187.
Nasser, R. (2017). Qatar’s educational reform past and future: Challenges in teacher development.Open Review of Educational Research,4(1),1–19,DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23265507.2016.1266693 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23265507.2016.1266693
Saleh, Y. (2018, August 16). Qatar the most entrepreneurial Arab state – Competitiveness Report.ZAWYA.Retrieved April, 17, 2019, from www.zawya.com/mena/en/economy/story/Qatar_the_most_entrepreneurial_Arab_state__Competitiveness_Report-ZAWYA20180816033631
Sithole, A., Chiyaka, E. T., McCarthy, P., Mupinga, D. M., Bucklein, B. K., & Kibirige, J. (2017). Student Attraction, Persistence and Retention in STEM Programs: Successes and Continuing Challenges. Higher Education Studies, 7(1), 46-59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v7n1p46
Qatar tops region in Global Finance Safety Index (2019, February 4). The Peninsula. Retrieved April 17, 2019, from https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/uploads/2019/02/04/f8772fbeeb498acab806f7604f77cdcdf0a70b59.pdf
Van Dierendonck, D. (2011). Servant leadership: A review and synthesis. Journal of management,37(4), 1228–1261. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206310380462
Velasco, I., Edmonson, S. L., & Slate, J. R. (2012). Principal Leadership Behaviors And School Climate: A Conceptual Analysis. Journal of Education Research, 6(3).