Examining Teachers' Perspectives on Implementing Team Teaching in a Secondary School Setting in Leribe, Lesotho

Abstract

As secondary education globally continues to evolve, teachers are confronted with the ongoing challenge of integrating instructional strategies that best suit the interests of 21st-century students. In navigating this educational shift and trying to enhance the learning experiences of students in contemporary classrooms, team teaching has emerged as a pedagogical approach that fosters collaboration among educators. This qualitative case study investigated teachers' perspectives on implementing team teaching in a secondary school setting in Lesotho. Guided by Albert Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory, the study explored two primary research questions: (1) What are the teachers’ beliefs/attitudes towards team teaching instructional strategy? (2) What are the factors that contribute to teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness and feasibility of team teaching? A purposive sample of eight teachers participated in the study. Findings revealed that teachers hold positive attitudes towards the implementation of team teaching, citing benefits such as student engagement, effective differentiated instruction, and improved academic performance among others. Moreover, factors contributing to teachers' perceptions of team teaching effectiveness included collaboration, team spirit, trust, and administrative support. The study recommends Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to equip teachers with the necessary skills and strategies for effective team teaching and the researchers also recommend implementing mechanisms for ongoing evaluation and feedback to assess the effectiveness of team teaching initiatives.