Fostering Competencies in Future Teachers: A Competency-Based Approach to Teacher Education

Susan Cydis

doi:10.4236/ce.2014.513130

Abstract

The study investigated the characteristics of instruction and assessment used by instructors in teacher education courses that foster student competencies as perceived by students. The sampling method used to collect the sample of instructors and their courses was purposive, non-probability sampling. Student participants included those that were currently registered in classes of the respective instructors. A qualitative analysis of the data collected revealed that instructors used a variety of competency-based educational practices in their instructional and assessment tasks and that students perceived themselves as competent in the areas identified by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (2009) as standards for student competencies in teacher education courses.

Highlights

As student learning outcomes and competency-based models of instruction and assessment continue to be the focus of discussion in higher education, this study serves as an opportunity to contribute to a base of empirical data that supports the concept of student learning outcomes and competency-based models of instruction and assessment
This article presents the results of an analysis of the methods of assessment and instruction that foster student learning in teacher education courses as well as perceived levels of learning acquired by student participants
The data collected in this study revealed that features of competency-based educational practices are present in each of the courses investigated in this study

Summary

Introduction

As student learning outcomes and competency-based models of instruction and assessment continue to be the focus of discussion in higher education, this study serves as an opportunity to contribute to a base of empirical data that supports the concept of student learning outcomes and competency-based models of instruction and assessment. This article presents the results of an analysis of the methods of assessment and instruction that foster student learning in teacher education courses as well as perceived levels of learning acquired by student participants. How to cite this paper: Cydis, S. Fostering Competencies in Future Teachers: A Competency-Based Approach to Teacher Education.

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Conclusion