What teachers teach and how they teach it: A case study on fidelity of implementation in Turkish Cypriot schools

Gulen Onurkan-Aliusta
Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, North Cyprus
Hasan Ozder
Atatürk Teacher Training Academy, Nicosia, North Cyprus

Most studies on fidelity focus on adherence (how much it is done), ignoring quality of delivery (how well it is done) as a measure of implementation, and are mainly quantitative in nature. In-depth qualitative studies assessing how much and how well curricula are implemented are scarce. Drawing on data from a qualitative study, this article addresses both the adherence and the quality of delivery dimensions of a newly developed life sciences curriculum. The study also seeks to identify the factors affecting fidelity of implementation. Evaluative case study design, in which the required data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and classroom observations, was used. Sixteen primary school teachers participated in the study, and the data were analysed through thematic analysis. Findings reveal that the participating teachers focus solely on knowledge transmission while also making adaptations to the curriculum. The study highlights the striking role textbooks play in the implementation process. The findings provide strong evidence for urgent needs in organising professional development for teachers to equip them with competencies to implement the curriculum with fidelity.
[ PDF full text for this article ]

Authors: Dr Gulen Onurkan Aliusta is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, North Cyprus. She holds a BA from Istanbul University and an MA in TEFL from Bilkent University, Turkey. She earned her PhD in curriculum and instruction from the Eastern Mediterranean University. Her research interests include teacher education, student-centred learning and peace education. ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1964-2615 Email: gulen.onurkan@emu.edu.tr Dr Hasan Ozder is Associate Professor in the Atatürk Teacher Training Academy, Nicosia, North Cyprus. He received his BA from Atatürk Teacher Training Academy and MSc and PhD from Hacettepe University, Turkey, in the field of curriculum and instruction. His research interests are curriculum evaluation, critical pedagogy and educational measurement. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1094-3590 Email: hasan.ozder@aoa.edu.tr Please cite as: Onurkan Aliusta, G. & Ozder, H. (2022). What teachers teach and how they teach it: A case study on fidelity of implementation in Turkish Cypriot schools. Issues in Educational Research, 32(1), 333-351. http://www.iier.org.au/iier32/onurkan-aliusta.pdf