Re-thinking Theory and Practice in the Preservice Teacher Education Classroom: Teaching to learn from learning to teach

Abstract

This paper addresses the relationship between theory and practice in preservice teacher education. Using Giroux's (1994) distinction between a "pedagogy of theory" and a "pedagogy of theorizing", it explores the difference between prospective teachers learning about education in teacher preparation courses and learning from it by critically reading the educative process in their own preservice education classrooms. Challenging the idea that preservice education is merely preparation for a practicum conducted elsewhere and in the future, this paper proposes that teacher education classrooms become practicum environment in-and-of-themselves, where practice gets theorized and theory is not only considered for practice but is indeed practiced as it interrogates practice.