Understanding graphs in the dynamics of market (DM) is a challenge to learners; its teaching demands a specific kind of teacher’s knowledge. This study aims to examine the topic-specific pedagogical content knowledge (TSPCK) of experienced economics teachers in teaching graphs in DM to enhance learners’ understanding of the topic. It reports using a qualitative approach underpinned by the TSPCK framework for teaching specific topics developed by Mavhunga. Data were collected through classroom observations and analyzed thematically using a case study of two economics teachers. The study revealed that adopting a step-by-step approach and the use of worked graphical examples promote an understanding of graphs in DM. It also established that active learning is preferable to the predominant chalk-and-talk (lecture) method of teaching graphs in DM. The study proposed a Dynamics of Market Graphical Framework (DMG-Framework) to enable teachers, particularly pre-service teachers in lesson delivery, to enhance learners’ understanding of graphs in DM. The result of this study will broaden the international view in the teaching of graphs in DM.

This article describes a methodology and a didactic innovation in higher education that employs Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) across four universities in the fields of sociology, psychology, social education and economics in order to explore the phenomenon of economic violence. The COIL activities were developed by four teachers in the second semester of 2022. The students explored the social and cultural origins of economic violence and the daily exposure to economic inequality in the domestic sphere, while also studying the prevention and responses offered by anti-violence centers from both organizational and social perspectives. The most novel aspect of COIL projects is the research approach to the topic (gender violence) and the students' participation in extracurricular activities, namely presenting the results of their research developed during their academic subjects after the course, at international events. In this study, we describe the projects and the assessment of this part of the research, analyzing the perceptions of the Italian and Spanish students who participated in the dissemination activity. The students' perceptions were recorded through a semi-structured questionnaire utilizing Likert scales and open-ended questions, which included their self-assessments of their knowledge before and after participating in the project, the impact on their development of competences and skills, and their satisfaction with the whole experience. Students acquired a great deal of knowledge and understanding of the phenomenon being studied through COIL methodology and connected these extracurricular activities to a clear improvement in their transversal skills.

Successfully solving reality-based tasks requires both mathematical and text comprehension skills. Previous research has shown that mathematical tasks requiring language proficiency have lower solution rates than those that do not, indicating increased difficulty through textual input. Therefore, it is plausible to assume that a lack of text comprehension skills leads to performance problems. Given that different sociodemographic characteristics and cognitive factors can influence task performance, this study aims to determine whether text comprehension mediates the relationship between these factors and competence in solving reality-based tasks. Additionally, it examines the impact of systematic linguistic variation in texts. Using an experimental design, 428 students completed three reality-based tasks (word count: M = 212.4, SD = 19.7) with different linguistic complexities as part of a paper-pencil test. First, students answered questions about the situation-related text comprehension of each text, followed by a mathematical question to measure their competence in solving reality-based tasks. The results indicate that: a) Tasks with texts of lower linguistic complexity have a significantly higher solution rate for both text comprehension (d = 0.189) and mathematical tasks (d = 0.119). b) Cognitive factors are significant predictors of mathematical solutions. c) Text comprehension mediates the relationship between the impact of students’ cultural resources and cognitive factors and their competence to solve reality-based tasks. These findings highlight the importance of linguistic complexity for mathematical outcomes and underscore the need to reinforce text comprehension practice in mathematical education owing to its mediating role.

Open schooling is a recent educational approach that has been recently introduced in European policies, so the literature on its transfer to the education system is still limited. The aim of this study is to configure an overview of how open schooling has been implemented in science education in terms of its definition, the topics addressed, the pedagogical aspects considered, and the benefits obtained for the teaching-learning processes. A systematic literature review was carried out using the PRISMA 2020 methodology, in which 27 documents published between 2015 and 2024 were analysed. Open schooling is defined mainly as an approach in which students, teachers, and other stakeholders, especially students’ families, collaborate to provide solutions to real-life issues in search of the community’s well-being. The open schooling experiences usually addressed environmental and health issues through scientific practices and contextualization mainly, developing activities of data collection, synthesis and analysis, dissemination, and information and communication technologies with the students. Companies and local businesses are the preferred stakeholders involved, followed by experts and researchers. Questionnaires are the preferred instruments for data collection, and the documents analysed report benefits for students’ learning and motivation and also for teachers and schools. 

Home economics education connects multidisciplinary knowledge and is crucial in addressing the challenges of changing society at the individual and family levels. For quality home economics education, pupils need to acquire knowledge and skills based on the fundamentals of home economics literacy, content, and goals defined in the curriculum for this subject. Our research aimed to establish the needs and perspectives of teachers, pupils, and parents regarding the importance and utility of home economics education. Areas of home economics to be included in the subject’s curriculum were identified, based on the perceived needs of pupils, parents, and teachers. The Delphi methodological approach was used. The first round of the Delphi study involved 30 teachers, 34 9th-grade pupils, and 34 parents of 9th-grade pupils, and its second round involved 16 teachers, 33 9th-grade pupils, and 29 parents of 9th-grade pupils. Survey results showed that by the end of elementary school, pupils in their home economics classes had acquired knowledge and skills in the economic and financial area, as well as in environmental and consumption, textiles, nutrition, health and well-being, social skills, and family and home. Although individual groups of respondents differed in the perceived importance of particular home economics areas, the respondents considered it important that pupils acquire home economics knowledge and skills in all identified areas. The Delphi research method proved to be an adequate method to identify the areas of home economics education that are important for a quality of life in modern society and need to be included in the home economics curriculum.