HomeInternational Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Researchvol. 6 no. 2 (2025)

Exploring the Influence of Out-of-Specialized-Field Teaching on Educators Development and Motivation

Dianne C. Obias | Chris Aida B. Matitu | Bianca Jade Almodovar | Kelly Francine C. Nacu | Romelie D. Orsua | Julius L. Carlos | Christian Louie C. Simon

Discipline: Teacher Training

 

Abstract:

Teaching outside your field of expertise means handling a subject you are not trained in or familiar with. This study presents the experiences of teachers assigned to teach subjects outside their area of specialization, focusing on their motivation and development. The study explores the impact of teaching outside their specialization on a teacher's devel-opment and motivation. Through a qualitative phenomenology ap-proach, in-depth interviews were conducted with preselected Senior High school teachers in a private educational institution located in Gua-gua, Pampanga, the Philippines, teaching subjects that are not their field of expertise and fit the researcher’s established criteria. The com-plexity of teaching outside one’s specialization and how educators adapt to these demands. The study uncovers opportunities for professional growth. For some, the experience fostered resilience and broad-ened their perspectives, enabling them to become more versatile educators. Positive student responses give them a sense of fulfillment despite all the challenges. According to results, out-of-specialized-field teaching presents new challenges, but it helps show their adaptability, and resourcefulness and unlock more creative teaching strategies with the purpose of providing quality education. By focusing on the lived experiences of teachers, teachers should recognize teaching outside their specialization as a valuable opportunity for personal and professional growth, promoting a growth mindset that encourages embracing challenges.



References:

  1. Abrantes, L., & Bargamento, A. L. (2024). Lived experiences   of   out-of-field   senior   high school  teachers  teaching  physical  scienc pple. International Journal ofMultidiscipli-nary Educational Research and Innovation, 2(1), 117-143. https://doi.org/10.17613/r5pt-t937.
  2. Akyirem,  S.,  Ekpor,  E.,  Aidoo-Frimpong,  G.  A., Salifu, Y., & Nelson, L.  R. E. (2024). Online interviews for qualitative health research in  Africa:  A  scoping  review. Iramlinterna-tional Health, 16(1), 4–13. https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad010.
  3. Arendain, I., & Limpot, M. (2022). Phenomeno-logical  approach  of  out-of-field  teaching: Challenges and opportunities. EPRA Inter-national  Journal  of  Multidisciplinary  Re-search (IJMR), 8(1), 165–170. https://doi.org/10.36713/epra9379.
  4. Augusto  Jr.,  W.  (2019).  A  phenomenological study  on  the  lived  experience  of  the  out-of-field  mentors. International  Journal  of Advanced Research and Publications, 3(6). https://www.ijarp.org/published-re-search-papers/june2019/A-Phenomeno-logical-Study-On-The-Lived-Experience-Of-The-Out-of-field-Mentors.pdf.
  5. Aventura,  J.,  &  Viña,  M.  (2023).  Out-of-field teaching:  The  endeavors  of  junior  high school  teachers  teaching  non-specialized subjects. Psychology and Education: A Mul-tidisciplinary Journal, 8, 469-481. https://doi.org/10.5281/ze-nodo.7871380.
  6. Bartlett, S. & Burton, D. (2024). Introduction to education     studies. SAGE     Publication.https://books.google.com.ph/books?hl=en&lr=&id=6FgDEQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=related+literature+and+stud-ies+about+the+meaning+of+educa-tion+&ots=D_sRl2GDWa&sig=wlyNhl3C4_IWOcR5gOXGc1rfO8U&re-dir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=related%20lit-erature%20and%20stud-ies%20about%20the%20mean-ing%20of%20education&f=false.
  7. Basalan,  J.,  Cautivo,  D.  J.,  Dela  Victoria,  K.  J.,  & Broa,  D.  I.  (2024).  Coping  with  the  chal-lenges in teaching MAPEH subjects among non-specialized teachers of division of Da-vao Del Sur. International Journal of Inno-vative Research in Multidisciplinary Educa-tion, 3(4). https://doi.org/10.58806/ijirme.2024.v3i4n18.
  8. Bayani,  R.  T.,  &  Guhao,  E.  S.,  Jr.  (2018).  Out-of-field teaching: Experiences of non-filipino https://doi.org/10.5281/ze-nodo.1423235.
  9. Branzuela,   M.,   Ayro,   E.,   &   Cruz-Vidal,   M.   J. (2023).  Teaching  outside  the  box:  Senior high  school  teaching  experiences,  chal-lenges,  and  windows  of  innovations  of non-social  science  majors. International Journal  of  Multidisciplinary  Applied  Busi-ness  and  Education  Research, 4(7),  2210–2222. https://doi.org/10.11594/ijma-ber.04.07.06.
  10. Bugwak,   E.   (2021).   Travails   of   out-of-field teachers:  A  qualitative  inquiry.Journal  of World Englishes and Educational Practices, 3(2), 36–57. https://doi.org/10.32996/jweep.2021.3.2.4.
  11. Bugwak,   E.   (2021).   Travails   of   out-of-field teachers:  A  qualitative  inquiry. Journal  of World Englishes and Educational Practices (JWEEP), 3(2). https://doi.org/10.32996/jweep.2021.3.2.4.
  12. Cayabas, J., & Sumeg-ang, D. (2023) Challenges and  interventions  in  developing  instruc-tional  materials:  Perspectives  of  public school  teachers  in  basic  education. Inter-national Journal   of   Innovative   Research and    Scientific    Studies,    6(4),    849-855. https://doi.org/10.53894/ijirss.v6i4.2059.
  13. Chi,  C.  (2024).  62%  of  high  school  teachers teaching outside their field, new report re-veals. https://classteaching.word-press.com/2018/11/26/masters-reflec-tions-the-home-school-relationship/.
  14. Co,  A.  G.,  Abella,  C.  R.,  &  De  Jesus,  F.  (2021). Teaching  outside  specialization  from  the perspective  of  science  teachers. Open  Ac-cess Library Journal, 8(8), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1107725.
  15. Creswell,  J.  (2014).  Research  design.  Qualita-tive, quantitative, and mixed methods ap-proach.SAGE Publications, Inc.
  16. Crisan,  A.  &  Hobbs,  L.  (2019).  Subject  specific demands of teaching: Implications for out-of-field teachers. In: Hobbs, L and Torner, G,  (eds.),  Examining  the  phenomenon  of “teaching  out-of-field”:  International perspectives on teaching as a non-special-ist, 151-178. Springer: Cham, Switzerland. https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1574233/.
  17.  Du  Plessis,  A.,  Gillies,  R.,  &  Carroll,  A.  (2014). Out-of-field teaching and professional de-velopment:  A  transnational  investigation across Australia and South Africa. Interna-tional Journal of Educational Research, 66, 90–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2014.03.002.
  18. Gillies,  R.  M.  (2019).  Promoting  academically productive  student  dialogue  during  col-laborative  learning. International  Journal of   Educational   Research,   97,   200–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2017.07.014.
  19. Guiaselon, B., Omar, S., Mohamad, H., Sinsuat, R. R.,  Samson,  C.,  Maidu,  N.,  &  Maguid,  N. (2022). Mismatch of teachers’ qualifica-tions  and  subjects  taught:  Effects  on  stu-dents’ national achievement test. Psychol-ogy   and   education:   A   multidisciplinary journal, 6, 573-590. https://doi.org/10.5281/ze-nodo.7494892.
  20. Harja, H., Mukminin, A., Muhaimin, M., Hidayat, M., Haryanto, E., Sari, S. R., & Fridiyanto, F. (2021).  Voices  from  the  frontliners:  The case of motivations and challenges of mis-matched  women  teachers  in  public  sec-ondary  schools. Turkish  Online  Journal  of Qualitative Inquiry, 12(2), 201–221. https://doi.org/10.17569/tojqi.818881.
  21. Ho,  L.,  &  Limpaecher,  A.  (2022).  What  is  phe-nomenological research design? https://delvetool.com/blog/phenome-nology#:~:text=Phenomenologi-cal%20research%20design%20fo-cuses%20on,imposing%20precon-ceived%20theories%20or%20interpre-tations.
  22. Hobbs, L. (2020). Learning to teach science out-of-field:   A   spatial-temporal   experience. Journal    of    Science    Teacher    Education, 31(7), 725–745. https://doi.org/10.1080/1046560X.2020.1718315.
  23. Hobbs, L., & Porsch, R. (2021). Teaching out-of-field:  Challenges  for  teacher  education. European  Journal  of  Teacher  Education, https://doi.org/10.1080/02619768.2021.1985280.
  24. Hobbs, L., & Törner, G. (2014). Taking an inter-national    perspective    on    "out-of-field" teaching:  Proceedings  and  agenda  for  re-search  and  action  from  the  1st  teaching across    specialisations    (TAS)    collective symposium. TAS Collective. https://www.aca-demia.edu/22317695/taking_an_interna-tional_perspective_on_out_of_field_teach-ing_proceedings_and_agenda_for_re-search_and_action_from_the_1st_teach-ing_across_specialisations_TAS_collec-tive_symposium.
  25. Johnson, D. (2017). The role of teachers in mo-tivating  students  to  learn. BU  Journal  of Graduate    Studies    in    Education,    9(1). https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1230415.pdf.
  26. Kara,  K.  &  Ada,  K.  (2021).  The  relationship  be-tween  attitudes  toward  the  teaching  pro-fession, occupational resilience belief, and extra-role  behavior:  A  moderated  media-tion   model. Journal   of   Pedagogical   Re-search, 5(3), 105-121. https://doi.org/10.33902/JPR.2021371258.
  27. Kind, V. (2014). A degree is not enough: A quan-titative study of aspects of pre-service sci-ence  teachers’  chemistry  content knowledge. International  Journal  of  Sci-ence Education, 36(8), 1313–1345. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2013.860497.
  28. Kola,  A.  J.,  &  Sunday,  O.  S.  (2015).  A  review  of teachers' qualifications and its implication on  students'  academic  achievement in  ni-gerian schools. International Journal of Ed-ucation  and  InformationScience,2(2),  10-15.  https://www.researchgate.net/publi-cation/280238391_A_Review_of_Teach-ers'_Qualifications_and_Its_Implica-tion_on_Students'_Academic_Achieve-ment_in_Nigerian_Schools.
  29. , A. E. (2024). Teacher teaching not their specialization:    A    secondary    teachers' voice  in  the  municipality  of  Lambayong. Ignatian International Journal for Multidis-ciplinary Research, 2(5), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.5281/ze-nodo.11100150.
  30. Maffea,  J.,  (2020)  Lack  of  resources  in  class-rooms. English  Department:  Research  for Change -Wicked  Problems  in  Our  World, 38. https://research.li-brary.kutztown.edu/wickedprob-lems/38.
  31. Maguire, M.  & Delahunt B. (2017). Doing a the-matic  analysis:  A  practical,  step-by-step guide  for  learning  and  teaching  scholars. The  All  Ireland  Journal  of  Teaching  and Learning  in  Higher  Education  (AISHE-J), 8(3). https://ojs.aishe.org/in-dex.php/aishe-j/article/down-load/335/553/1557
  32. .McLeod,  S.  (2024).  Albert  Bandura’s  social learning  theory.  https://www.simplypsy-chology.org/bandura.html. Mercado,  H.  A.,  &  Morante,  L.  (2024).  Experi-ences  of  senior  high  school  mathematics teachers  in  out-of-field  teaching. Salud, Ciencia y Tecnología, 3(1125). https://doi.org/10.56294/sctconf20241125.
  33. Mizzi,  D.  (2019).  Supporting  science  teachers teaching  outside  specialism:  Teachers’ views of a professional development pro-gramme. European Journal of Teacher Ed-ucation, 44(5), 706–725. https://doi.org/10.1080/02619768.2020.179395.
  34. Molaba, K. N. (2023). Teaching: A noble profes-sion. Alison Blog. https://ali-son.com/blog/teaching-a-noble-profes-sion.
  35. Murray,  J.  (2021).  Good  teachers  are  always learning. International   Journal   of   Early Years Education, 29(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760.2021.1955478.
  36. National Commission  for the Protection of  Hu-man  Subjects  of  Biomedical  and  Behav-ioral  Research  (1979). The  Belmont  re-port:  Ethical  principles  and  guidelines  for the  protection  of  human  subjects  of  re-search. U.S.o Department of Health and Hu-man Services.https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/belmont-report/readthe-bel-mont-report/index.html.
  37. Owusu,  M.,  &  Mensah,  E.  (2022).  Out-of-field teaching:  The  bane  of  christian  religious education  in  senior  high  schools. Asian Journal  of  Humanities  and  Social  Studies,10(4), 108-114.  https://doi.org/10.24203/ajhss.v10i4.7032.
  38. Philippine    Health    Research    Ethics    Board (2017). National   ethical   guidelines   for health and health-related research. file:///C:/Users/isipp/Downloads/Na-tional%20Ethical%20Guide-lines%20for%20Health%20and%20Health-Related%20Re-search%202017%20(1).pdf.
  39. Price,  A.,  Vale,  C.,  Porsch,  R.,  Rahayu,  E.,  Faulk-ner, F., Ní Ríordáin, M., Crisan, C., & Luft, J. A.  (2019).  Teaching  out-of-field  interna-tionally:   International   perspectives   on teaching as a non-specialist. Springer, Sin-gapore.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3366-8_3.
  40.  Prince, G., & M. O’Connor. (2018). “Crunching the   numbers   on   out-of-field  teaching.” AMSI Occasional Paper 1. https://amsi.org.au/media/AMSI-Occa-sional-Paper-Out-of-Field-Maths-Teach-ing.pdf.
  41. Rao,  N.  (2019).  Transcendental  phenomenol-ogy. Ph.D.  Research  Methodology:  Course and  Content.  https://phd-research-meth-odology.blogspot.com/2013/07/tran-scendental-phenomenology.html?m=1.
  42. Raymundo,  M.  S.  M.  (2021).  Teaching  non-ma-jor  subjects:  A  challenge  to  senior  high school  teachers. The  URSP  Research  Jour-nal,     7(1).     http://www.urs.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/publications/the-ursp-research-journal/current-issue/05-Ray-mundo.pdf.
  43. Rebucas,   E.   (2022).   Experiences   of   science teachers teaching non–science subjects: A phenomenology study. International Jour-nal  on  Studies  in  Education  (IJonSE),  4(2), 130-140. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijonse.73.
  44. Recede, R. A., Asignado, R., & Castro, M. (2023). Out-of-field teaching: Impact on teachers’ self-efficacy and motivation. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Applied Business   and   Education   Research,4(2), 519–533. https://doi.org/10.11594/ijma-ber.04.02.19.
  45. Republic Act 10173 –Data Privacy Act of 2012. (2021,  November  11).  National  Privacy Commission. https://www.pri-vacy.gov.ph/data-privacy-act/.Schroder, J. (2016). Face-to-face surveys. GESIS Survey   Guidelines.   Mannheim,   Germany: GESIS –Leibniz Institute for the Social Sci-ences. https://doi.org/10.15465/gesis-sg_en_005.
  46. Sebrero, D. B. (2021).  The  lived experiences  of out-of-field    teachers    teaching    history courses in the tertiary level.PSAKU Inter-national  Journal  of  Interdisciplinary  Re-search, 2(7). https://www.re-searchgate.net/publica-tion/359208898_The_Lived_Experi-ences_of_Out-of-Field_Teachers_Teach-ing_History_Courses_in_the_Ter-tiary_Level.
  47. Šojat, G., Šojat, Z. (2023). The cornerstone of human future. International Conference on Research  in  Education  and  Science,  1800-1811. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED654823.pdf.
  48. Talili, I. N., Lomibao, L. S., Tan, R. G., Saludares, Saludares,   Q.   E.,   Bug-os,   M.   A.   A.,   & Besagas, R. (2021). Performance of out-of-field teachers in basic education: Basis for program    initiatives. Scientific    Interna-tional (Lahore), 33(5), 357–363. http://www.sci-int.com/pdf/637716185239730864.%20
  49. Talili-Laila-reviewed-revised%20-3-11-21.edited%20(1).pdf.Torcino,  A.  E.,  &  Villocino,  R.  (2023).  Out-of-field  teaching:  Experiences  of  non-BEED graduates. International   Journal   of   Ad-vance Research and Innovative Ideas in Ed-ucation, 9(4). https://doi.org/16.0415/IJARIIE-21357.
  50. Tran, H. L. (2023). Teaching outside area of ex-pertise:  A  barrier  to  or  enabler  of  teach-ers’ sense of competence? VNU  Journal  of Foreign Studies, 39(6), 86–99. https://doi.org/10.63023/2525-2445/jfs.ulis.5162.
  51. Tumacder,  M.,  &  Policarpio,  J.  (2024).  Out-of-field  specialization  teaching. EPRA  Inter-national  Journal  of  Multidisciplinary  Re-search, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.36713/epra2013.
  52. Weldon,  P.  R.  (2016).  Out-of-field  teaching  in australian  secondary  schools.Australian Council  for  Educational  Research  (ACER),(6). https://research.acer.edu.au/poli-cyinsights/6/.
  53. Yumang,  J.  (2021).  Bittersweet  moments  in teaching  non-specialized  subjects  among senior   high   school   teachers. European Journal of Humanities and Educational Ad-vancements,  2(8),  7-10.  https://scholar-zest.com/index.php/ejhea/arti-cle/view/1122