‘Let them fish’: empowering student-teachers for professional development through the project approach

Abstract

This action research was a form of ‘appreciative enquiry’ into my practice with my group of Bachelor in Education (TESL) students. I have adopted a postmodernist approach to research as narrative; that is ‘research as it is experienced’ and not just ‘research as it is described’. I used a project as an approach to relinquish control and empower my students to organize a seminar for their professional development. Twenty-six student-teachers (15 males and 11 females), aged around 24 years old, made up my target group. In this study, I used three data sources: student reflections, a ‘post-mortem’ feedback session, and a self-reflection journal. All documented reflections, communications and transcriptions were analysed to elicit patterns and conclusions from the data. A significant learning point for the student-teachers was that communication and interpersonal skills were important in getting results from the top management and people of authority. The project was a process of change and self-discovery for the student-teachers. Students had to get over their resistance towards unwanted responsibilities and accept that in the real world, irrespective of their preferences, the job has to be done. The learning points I have acquired from this action research exercise will allow me to improve the project approach and make it more effective for increased capacity-building of the future teachers in my care. This research was significant in exploring the issue of empowerment in developing the professionalism of the student-teachers.