5. Summary
4.2. Data analysis
4.2.1. The students’ questionnaire
The students’ questionnaire (Appendix 1) consisted of 10 questions which investigated the students’ opinions about their teachers’ leadership styles and traits that can affect their academic achievement and their positive behavior as well. The researcher shared the questionnaire online with approximately 50 students in the private cycle 3 school where he worked, but 35 students responded to the questionnaire (Figure 1).
The first question stated that the teacher who an effective leader is should be entirely knowledgeable about the curriculum. The results show that most students (66%) strongly agree that an effective teacher should be entirely knowledgably about the curriculum, nearly a third of the respondents agree with the statement, whereas only one student strongly disagree with the statement. This shows that students believe that an effective teacher should master the curriculum that is being taught as this will impact the quality of their learning and also the way the class is successfully managed.
33 (Figure 1)
Knowledge about the curriculum:
The second question in the students’ questionnaire investigated the students’ opinion regarding the various teaching methodologies which should be implemented by the teacher and how they could engage the students during their learning in the classroom. The results indicate that slightly over half of the students (51%) strongly agree that the implementation of various teaching methodologies by the teacher are effective in engaging the students during their learning in the classroom, 44 % of the students also agree with the same statement while the results was equal for showing disagreement and disagreement with only 1 student for each. The results stress the positive effect of implementing various teaching methodologies on students’ engagement which consequently contribute to positive behavior and effective classroom management (Figure 2).
34 (Figure 2)
Implementing various teaching methodologies:
The third question in the students’ questionnaire examined the students’ opinion regarding the effect of the communication skills which the leader should possess and their effect on the students.
The results indicate that slightly over half of the students strongly agree that an effective leader should have communication skills with students and teachers, 45% of the students also agree with the same statement whereas only one student disagreed with the statement. This indicates that students value communication skills as necessary for the teachers to be effective leaders through communicating with students and colleagues in the educational environment (See Figure 3)
35 (Figure 3)
Communication skills:
Classroom rules are considered the foundation for a successful and functional classroom that make people behave positively and be more well-behaved and attentive during the lesson. As far as this aspect is considered , the results of the questionnaire indicate that most of the students (63%) believe that classroom rules are extremely important for enhancing the students’ behavior during the lesson , a fifth of the students (20%) also think that classroom rules are quite important for enhancing the students’ behavior in the classroom , slightly less than fifth of them (17%) also believe the classroom rules are important while no student regard the classroom rules as unimportant for enhancing the students’ positive behavior in the lesson. This result highlights the importance and the necessity of asserting the implementation of classroom rules because they
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contribute positively to the positive behavior of the students which creates a positive learning environment that will also be reflected on the academic achievement of the students (see Figure 4).
(Figure 4)
Classroom rules for enhancing behavior:
Leaders do not only play effective roles in the class, but real successful leaders enable others to play similar leadership roles and give them opportunities to contribute to the enhancement of the teaching and learning process. The results show that most of the students (64%) strongly agree that successful teachers give students opportunities to share their ideas and play leading roles in the classroom, approximately a third of the students (31%) agree with the same statement while only one student disagree with the statement and another student also strongly disagree. The results
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show that students believe that teachers are more successful when they give students the opportunities to share their ideas and enable them to play leading roles in the classroom (See figure 5).
(Figure 5)
Giving students opportunities for sharing ideas and playing leading roles:
Regarding the impact of the teachers with effective leadership on the creation of an innovative and creative environment and culture that enhances the students’ innovative skills, results show that more than half of the students (52 %) strongly agree that teachers who have good leadership skills enhance the innovative culture in the classroom and make students more innovative. The other students (48 %) also agree with the same statement while no student disagreed with it. This shows that all the students consider that students with leadership skills enhance the innovative and
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creative environment which affects the academic achievement of the students and their positive behavior (See figure 6).
(Figure 6)
Enhancing innovation culture in the classroom:
The provision and availability of various teaching and learning resources and interactive exercises is also considered one of the traits of the teachers with good leadership skills. Most of the students strongly agreed that teachers who have good leadership skills provide the students with the resources and the interactive activities which engage them during their learning also improve their academic achievement. In addition, nearly a third of the students also agree with the statement while only one student disagree with the statement. This shows that students believe that teachers who have good leadership skills are also good at selecting the appropriate teaching and learning resources which enhance their learning and their engagement in their lessons (See figure 7).
39 (Figure 7)
Providing teaching and learning resources and interactive exercises:
Regarding the impact of the teachers’ feedback on the academic achievement of the students, the results show that slightly less than half of the students (48 %) strongly agree that teachers who have good leadership skills provide students with feedback on their performance and this effectively enhances the academic achievement of the students. 43 % of the students also agree with the statement while 2 students strongly disagree and other 2 students disagree with the same statement regarding the impact of the teachers’ feedback on the academic achievement of the students. Overall, the results indicate that providing effective feedback to the students on their academic performance is considered one of the leadership skills and styles that teachers can use in order to enhance the academic achievement of the students and their positive behavior (See figure 8)
40 (Figure 8)
Providing feedback on students’ performance:
Assessment is one of the areas that was investigated in the students’ questionnaire and examined the students’ opinions about the how teachers with good leadership skills can use effective assessment tools in order to contribute to the academic achievement of the students. The results show that more than half of the students (54%) strongly agree that teachers who have good leadership skills use effective assessment tools that contribute to the improvement of the academic achievement of the students. 41% of the students also agree with the same statement, while 1 student strongly disagree with the same statement and also one student disagree with the statement (see figure 9).
41 (Figure 9)
Using effective assessment tools:
Setting learning objectives and planning for students’ learning are also considered essential for the improvement of the academic achievement of the students and their behavior. Results indicate that more than half of the students (58%) strongly agree that good teachers who possess leadership skills have clear learning objectives for their students and plan successfully to achieve them. More than a third of the students (39%) also agree with the statement that teachers with good leadership skills set clear learning objectives for their students and plan successfully for their learning. Only one student strongly disagreed with the statement which indicate that teachers should set clear objectives and plan well for their students’ learning as their will positively impact their academic achievement and their positive behavior (See figure 10).
42 (Figure 10)
Having clear learning objectives and planning successfully: