رحمت الله خسروی

Purpose: the aim of the present study was to investigate the dimensions and quality of teaching-learning interactions by elementary teachers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methodology: this was a qualitative study carried out using a phenomenological approach. The study population included all elementary school teachers in Abhar City (Iran). From this population, 12 individuals were selected as participants in the study using purposive sampling (chain sampling) who were engaged in online teaching from the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Data collection instrument included semi-structured or in-depth interviews performed in the Google meet interactive platform. The interviews continued until reaching data saturation. Data analysis was also carried out using thematic analysis and theme network formation. Validity was also assessed using peer review and member checking and reliability was assessed by text coding of three interviews by anonymous people outside the research. Findings: the results reflect the dimensions and quality of teaching/learning interactions by elementary teachers during the Covid-19 pandemic in the form of 226 basic themes, 21 organizing themes and 4 global themes. Conclusion: the results showed that elementary teachers had relatively acceptable interactions with themselves, students and parents during this process. However, there were no acceptable interactions between teachers and their colleagues.

Purpose: the present study aimed to design and validate decentering schemes for decision making about curriculum based on Schwab’s practical theory and features of the educational system in Iran. Methodology: in the first step, qualitative methods of "Speculative Essay", "Evaluative Inquiry: Situational Assessment", and "Integrative Inquiry: The Research Synthesis" were employed to explain decentering curriculum according to Schwab's theory, to evaluate and analyze the characteristics of the curriculum system in Iran with regard to the decision-making structure, and to codify the first options of decentering the curriculum, respectively. To evaluate the quality of the primary scheme and codify the final one, the qualitative research approach and interviews were employed. Findings: the findings of this study show that decentering decision making about the elements of curriculum in Iran’s curriculum development system includes seven schema as follows: (a) uniform (one type); (b) multiform (four types); (c) formless (ten types); (d) a combination of uniform and multiform (four types); (e) a combination of uniform and formless (ten types); (f) a combination of multiform and formless (forty types), and (g) a combination of uniform, multiform, and formless (forty types). Conclusion: in the designed scheme, several decision-making positions for curriculum are introduced according to various area features of the country to enable all areas to make optimal choices with regard to their capacity.