Co-teaching Model Research Articles

Coteaching in Higher Education

Tenure-track faculty at research intensive universities have competing responsibilities in their role as both researchers and teachers, leading to barriers to pedagogical change. This has been well-documented in the sciences. Coteaching models of collaborative planning and teaching with an explicit goal of facilitating educator growth have been successful in increasing the use of research-based pedagogy in higher education settings. We documented our experiences coteaching in an undergraduate ecological agriculture course and, drawing on sociocultural views of faculty work as learning, identified opportunities for learning that occurred. We found that the collaborative teaching team structure provided timely access to pedagogical knowledge, the collaborative planning process was a mechanism for faculty learning, and observing members of the team teach provided opportunities for new insights. Coteaching has had significant, lasting impacts for the instructors. We recommend that universities implement coteaching as a mechanism for supporting faculty use of student-centered pedagogy.

An innovative teaching model in an academic-practice partnership for a Doctor of Nursing Practice program.

Teaching innovations in Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs are essential for preparing practitioners for role responsibilities. The purpose of this paper is to describe a teaching model implemented in a public-private academic-practice partnership in which DNP-prepared healthcare organization nursing leaders joined with college of nursing faculty to teach didactic courses in the DNP program. The conceptual framework for this model is organized around Boyer's (1990) principles of the scholarship of teaching, integration, and application, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing definition of scholarship (2018). A logic model evaluation plan of the teaching model includes a description of inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes. Outcomes include the attainment of short term goals related to student satisfaction and DNP program completion; faculty and peer satisfaction; and administrator perspectives. Future evaluation will include assessment of long-term impact of the teaching model. The teaching model can be replicated in preparing cohorts of students for advanced practice nursing and cultivating the scholarship of teaching, integration and application.

Impact of Co-Teaching Approach in Inclusive Education Settings on the Development of Reading Skills

This study was conducted on three students with special education needs and their 16 non-disabled classmates in the 2nd year of an elementary school in Cyprus where inclusive education is offered to them and their parents. In the mentioned inclusive education setting, student and parent opinions with regard to the effectiveness of reading comprehension applications based on a one teacher one assistant model, which is a co-teaching model, conducted by the classroom teacher and special education teacher, have been evaluated. For this purpose, opinions have been obtained from students during the application that consisted of 14 sessions between October 2017 and January 2018 and from parents after the applications with regard to the effectiveness of the co-teaching practice using semi-structured interview forms. When the research findings were evaluated, it was seen that the students felt happy, successful and academically prepared during the co-teaching practices, they found the materials used by their teachers interesting, they were willing to attend the class, and were pleased to be in the school / classroom environment. When the findings of the parents' opinions were evaluated, the parents stated that they had some concerns prior to the co-teaching practices were implemented. However, they stated that the variety of materials and homework used during the practices and seeing their child's academic progress made parents feel at ease with the new approach. The parents also stated that the reading skills of their children had improved, their willingness to read had improved and their writing skills had improved as well.

Co-teaching: Equity for English Learners?

This study adds to the current understanding of co-teaching in rural school systems, specifically its use to equitably serve the needs of English learners (ELs). The authors investigated one western U.S. rural district’s implementation of a co-teaching model where general classroom teachers shared teaching responsibilities with an English as a second language (ESL) teacher in a secondary school setting. Research has long shown traditional pull-out models for teaching ELs are not the most effective because there is often a disconnect between what is happening in the mainstream classroom and what is happening in the pull-out placement. This quantitative study included observations of 20 co-taught classes during 400 minutes of classroom instruction to measure fidelity to the district’s co-teaching model. This article details the extent to which teachers utilized specific co-teaching strategies. It also reports on the quantity of teacher-student interactions in general and relative to ELs and non-ELs. Observations revealed that EL students worked primarily with the language specialist, and most of those interactions took place in the context of individualized support. Implications regarding equity and opportunity to learn academic content for both EL and non-EL students are discussed.

The Effect of Co-teaching on Student Cognitive Engagement

Delivering special education to students with disabilities requires highly prepared and collaborative teachers, inclusive learning environments, and strategies that promote cognitive engagement, but many students lack access to these necessities. In rural schools teacher shortages and traditional teaching methods may contribute to disengagement. Some rural districts have turned to co-teaching to disrupt this pattern of inequity. Effective co-teaching between two highly prepared teachers in a general education setting offers students the opportunity to be included and may improve engagement for all students. To investigate the relationship between co-teaching and student cognitive engagement, this study observed teachers in eight rural secondary schools in West Virginia to evaluate differences in student cognitive engagement in co-taught versus solo-taught classrooms. Four district personnel were trained on both cognitive engagement strategies and co-teaching approaches and collected observational data. The Instructional Practices Inventory was used during short walk-throughs to measure cognitive engagement during 701 solo-taught and 181 co-taught observations. Observations occurred in 5th- through 12th-grade classes in reading, mathematics, science, and social studies throughout one full school year. Statistical tests compared mean engagement scores across the different models of instruction. Results indicated that students in co-taught classrooms were more cognitively engaged than students in solo-taught classrooms. These results suggest the need for increased professional development for teams to move beyond the one teach, one support model of co-teaching, additional research on cognitive engagement and co-teaching, and teacher preparation programs to include more examples of, and training in, quality co-teaching models.

Co-Teaching: Collaborative and Caring Teacher Preparation

This study investigated what happened during the implementation of a co-teaching model for student-teaching from a relational perspective. When analyzed through the theoretical framework of care ethics, teacher-candidates and their mentor-teachers developed caring relationships, acknowledged and negotiated differential power dynamics, and described cultivating a caring climate through dialogue and modeling.

Regular Teacher Collaboration in the Learning Process at the School of Inclusion Organizers

This article discusses the importance of collaboration between regular teachers and special class teachers in the Learning Process of children with special needs in inclusive schools. During collaboration, regular teachers develop their competencies and learn from their peers how to apply the knowledge gained in practice. Collaborative teaching provides opportunities for pedagogy to share their knowledge, skills and experiences. While for students is an opportunity to get more diverse support and education. Collaborative systems can also facilitate the tasks of teachers in. The implementation of collaboration systems in inclusive schools on teacher learning processes is very important and has implemented a collaboration system in the Co-Teaching model with one teaching, one assist with the inclusive classroom system used is a pull out system.

A 3-Year Model for Building a Sustainable Science Outreach and Teacher Collaborative

BioEYES is a K-12 science outreach program that develops self-sustaining teachers as a replication strategy to address high demand for the program while promoting long-term school partnerships. This paper explores the practices of “model teachers” from multiple grades, who are empowered over a three-year period to deliver BioEYES’ hands-on science content autonomously, as compared to the program’s standard co-teaching model (BioEYES educator + classroom teacher). The authors found that BioEYES’ professional development (PD) workshop, classroom co-teaching experience, and refresher trainings assist teachers in gaining autonomy to teach the program’s curricula. In addition, the authors found: 1) a similar effectiveness on student learning across three grade bands, and 2) positive attitude changes about science as a result of the program, regardless if the BioEYES unit was taught by a model teacher or program staff. Further we found that high school model teachers exceeded the performance of BioEYES educators. This observation supports our contention that giving high quality STEM programing that includes multi-level PD to teachers generates the strongest possible outcome. Overall, we characterize the impact and financial investment of BioEYES and describe a PD framework that can be used by outreach providers to deliver content, expand their reach, and sustain school partnerships.

Implementing a Co-Teaching Model in Music Student Teaching: A Literature Review

The purpose of this literature review is to examine music education research concerning the emerging practice of co-teaching between cooperating music teachers and student teachers, and to understand the benefits of co-teaching for both. The review is organized into two sections: (a) how cooperating music teachers and student teachers view their co-teaching experiences and (b) how cooperating music teachers mentor student teachers in a co-teaching model. Co-teaching during student teaching can occur successfully through cooperating teachers’ willingness to facilitate the co-teaching process, student teachers’ reflective practice with cooperating teachers and careful sequencing in teaching opportunities, and co-teachers’ engagement in daily communication activities. Music education researchers should continue to examine various topics related to implementing a co-teaching model in student teaching. This article will provide current P–12 music teachers with successful co-teaching examples and suggestions for applications in music classrooms.

Preservice general educators using co-teaching models in math and science classrooms of an urban teacher residency programme: learning inclusive practices in teacher training

ABSTRACT As schools adopt more inclusive practices, educators increasingly collaborate and co-teach to meet the needs of diverse learners. Co-teaching has been found to have benefits for students across elementary and secondary grades. However, there is a need for teacher educators to provide more preservice training in collaboration and in co-teaching. This mixed method study describes the experience of 20 general education teacher candidates, or residents, using co-teaching models to differentiate instruction with their mentor teachers in high school math and science classrooms of a yearlong urban teacher residency programme. Data included surveys on co-teaching and resident evaluations of lessons co-taught with their mentors, and how these practices influence inclusion of children with special needs. Findings indicate some comfort and effectiveness at implementing co-teaching models in the residency. Implications for preparing preservice general educators using co-teaching models in residency are shared.

Interprofessional Education for BSW Students: A Pilot Course

The focus on interprofessional education (IPE) for professional training programs in allied health professions such as social work has increased recently. There is limited pedagogical literature regarding either the instruction or application of IPE in any given profession. Based on a co-teaching model of instruction, this article delineates the preparation and integration process of a pilot course on IPE. The pilot course was taught at a small liberal arts college where it was cross-listed in two undergraduate professional programs in social work and speech-language pathology. This article discusses the relevance of including IPE in allied health professional training programs. Additionally, this article outlines the timeline for developing and implementing the course, from conceptualization to the integration phases including implications from student evaluations of their experience in the course. Elements of the course including delivery, descriptions of assignments, and projects also are discussed.

Coteaching in Content Area Classrooms: Lessons and Guiding Questions for Administrators

Secondary school administrators increasingly include students with disabilities in general education classrooms with coteaching models. Theoretically, coteaching enables two educators to attend to the learning needs of students with disabilities while exposing them to grade-level content area instruction. However, our study on teachers’ perceptions of coteaching found that teachers often viewed their schools’ leadership decisions as adversely affecting their ability coteach effectively. The purpose of this article is to provide administrators with an overview of common coteaching models, summarize findings from our study on teachers’ perceptions of how their schools’ leadership influenced their coteaching practices, and provide a set of guiding questions to consider when seeking to support coteaching.

“It Just Works Better”: Introducing the 2:1 Model of Co-Teaching in Teacher Preparation

Many issues influence reform in teacher preparation including national accountability efforts, professional teaching standards, and local or regional factors. This study examines a rurally-located teacher education program’s efforts to reform clinical preparation through co-teaching. Researchers argue that their adaption of the typical one-to-one (1:1) model of co-teaching to a two-to-one (2:1) model, where two teacher candidates work collaboratively with one cooperating teacher, greatly enhances the student teaching experience. This phenomenological research describes the first year of implementation. Despite cooperating teacher concerns about teacher candidates being prepared for their own classrooms, student teachers learned valuable lessons in collaboration and co-planning, built strong relationships with peers and cooperating teachers, and greatly impacted K-6 student learning. Implications suggest a 2:1 co-teaching model of student teaching allows for fewer placements, which ultimately allows selection of quality cooperating teachers who mentor teacher candidates in powerful ways.

Making the Shift to a Co-Teaching Model of Instruction: Considering Relational Trust as a Precursor to Collaboration

Collaboration among teachers is necessary for school improvement efforts. In the case below, a high school shifts its instructional model to include students with disabilities in general education classes. The school needs to raise state test scores for students with disabilities and hopes this instructional change will help. To implement a full-inclusion model, general education and special education teachers will be assigned to teach classes together as co-teachers. Co-teaching, however, is a collaborative model that requires relational trust among colleagues. Leaders are encouraged to consider how developing trust for collaboration may be difficult during times of school improvement.

Co-Teaching in the Academy-Class Program: From Theory to Practical Experience

This study focuses on implementing co-teaching models in the practical experience of teacher training processes. It examines the experience models in terms of theory versus practice from the perspectives of students of education and training teachers (school and pre-school) who participated in the special “Academy-Class” program in the 2017 academic year at Ohalo College. 125 subjects participated in the study. The overriding goal of the research was to identify the dominant patterns in this unique practical experience in teachers training. The research questions sought to clarify the extent to which the six main co-teaching models described in the research literature are manifested in practical and educational terms in the Academy-Class program; offer a comparison between common teaching practices and the co-teaching models; and assess how common Synergetic Collaboration is as a co-teaching method relative to other low-level methods.Our findings show that the co-teaching models were more dominant than the traditional teaching models among all the sample groups. The greatest difference was found in the reports of the training teachers (0.79) at the school, while the smallest difference was found among students training to become teachers (0.13). We have seen that experiencing a clinical model of co-teaching involves shared work between a training teacher and of a student of education. There is a need to change training processes, as well as expanding the theoretical approaches that describe the wide range of shared co-teaching.

Collaborative co-teaching models and specially designed instruction in secondary education: A new inclusive consultation model

ABSTRACTPresented in this article are the rationale and construct of a new consultative teaching model for the inclusive instruction of students with learning disabilities in secondary schools. The inclusive consultation model (ICM) is a proposed alternative to traditional co-teaching models as described in the extant literature. In recognition of the particular instructional needs for secondary-level students, this model includes structured collaboration and delineated roles for each teacher, and emphasis on providing specially designed instruction (SDI) that is one-on-one between students and special education teachers. The ICM meets federal requirements for inclusion and is flexible and potentially useful for any academic subject at the secondary level. The ICM promotes students' transition from high school to college and career readiness.

Reading Comprehension and Co-Teaching Practices in Middle School English Language Arts Classrooms

This study reports practices implemented in over 2,000 minutes by 16 middle school special education and general education co-teaching pairs in English language arts classes. We report the extent to which teachers integrated literacy activities that support reading comprehension, the co-teaching models used, and the frequency with which each teacher led instruction. We also report the types of grouping structures teachers used and the extent to which teachers interacted with students with disabilities. Finally, we report the types of text used. Observations revealed that more than half of time spent on literacy activities involved reading aloud or silently with no co-occurring literacy instruction that supports reading comprehension. Students with disabilities spent a majority of their time in whole-class instruction or working independently with little teacher interaction. Special education teachers spent most of their time supporting whole-class instruction led by the content-area teacher. Implications and directions for future research are provided.

An exploratory study of self-efficacy, school belongingness, and co-teaching perspectives from middle school students and teachers in a mathematics co-taught classroom

ABSTRACTIn this exploratory study, self-rated measures from two co-teachers who taught mathematics to a group of students with and without disabilities were gathered to determine perspectives about their co-teaching experiences. Students also completed three measures. Students and co-teachers agreed that the one-teach, one observe or drift co-teaching model was used most frequently. Although students noted the general educator was the instructional lead, they also believed the special educator provided a valid and valuable role in providing help to all students. All students reported high levels of school belongingness and self-efficacy. Some results matched other researchers’ findings that special educators are less frequently the lead teacher, yet our results indicated students appreciated the support received from both co-teachers. Students’ reports may have been influenced by their co-teachers’ mastery approach to instruction, which emphasised students’ individual progress versus a competitive approach. Implications for researchers and co-teachers include examining how supportive co-teaching can be transformed to maximise instructional experiences for students, and how positive co-teacher relationships translate to students’ sense of belonging and increased self-efficacy.

Coteaching Recovery to Mental Health Care Professionals.

In 2010, the Regional Council of the Capital Region of Denmark endorsed a vision of mental health services based on personal recovery, rehabilitation, and the involvement of caregivers. Programs to achieve this vision include hiring peer support workers, a Recovery College, and service user participation at the organizational level. This column describes a cornerstone of these initiatives-an education program in the recovery model for mental health professionals. In 2013-2014, the Capital Region implemented 148 workshops on recovery-oriented services for all practitioner staff in mental health services in the region. The workshops featured a coteaching model, with both a mental health professional and an individual with lived experience serving as trainers. This model showed promise and should be expanded, including more targeted training for specific services. Such an expansion could be included in a national strategy for user involvement and recovery-oriented practice set to launch in 2018.

The Promises and Realities of Implementing a Coteaching Model of Student Teaching

Within a sociocultural framework, we use situated learning theory to explore the use of a coteaching approach during student teaching. Coteaching is a model for learning to teach where clinical educators and teacher candidates teach alongside one another and share responsibility for pupil learning. Teacher education programs have adopted this model for student teaching because there is evidence that coteaching supports pupil learning and coteacher learning. This study of coteaching in three teacher education programs, within the same university, examined opportunities afforded for teacher candidates’ development of growth competence, adaptive teaching expertise, and collaborative expertise. Data analysis from the nested, cross-case qualitative study enabled us to examine opportunities for candidate learning afforded by coteaching during student teaching, posit recommendations on using coteaching, explain the necessary conditions, and discuss the model’s current limitations.