A Literature Review on Adaptive Practice of Teachers: Focusing on Network Analysis

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze research papers of teachers’ adaptive practices published in the last ten years through theoretical considerations on the concept and factors of teachers' adaptive practices for examining the characteristics of teachers’ adaptive practice and related factors and to suggest future research directions and implications for teacher education. Methods: For this purpose, a total of fifty-four papers on adaptive practices published in the last ten years searched in ERIC database were analyzed for an adaptive practices’ definition, factors, and effects, and the definitions of adaptive practices were analyzed with network analysis. Results: As a result of the analysis, first, teachers' adaptive practices occur to help learning in response to new, uncertain, or non-routine teaching and learning situations or to individual learners' various responses. This could be viewed as the active controlled behavior of teachers. Second, reflective thinking, flexibility, knowledge, and experience of teachers are required as important teacher factors for the adaptive practices of teachers. As for environmental factors, adaptive practices are limited in a uniform education policy or evaluation system, and are promoted in an environment that is open and supports various attempts. Third, it was found that the teachers’ adaptive practices help to improve learning achievement and enhance students’ interest and participation in class, and it was helpful for teachers to improve expertise and lifelong learning ability, and to establish a teacher's identity. Conclusion: Considering the results of the analysis, the adaptive practice of teachers is one of the important areas of teachers’ expertise. To further improve in this area, it is important to understand the nature of unpredictable educational environments, to develop reflective thinking and flexibility, and to provide opportunities for professional development that can build a repertoire of adaptation cases through various challenges.