Teacher Candidates Research Articles

Shaping future preschool teachers in Ethiopia: A qualitative evaluation of pedagogical competence development mechanisms

Preschool teacher training programs in Ethiopia are designed to enhance the teaching skills of future teachers. Grounded in this context, this study aimed at evaluating how a pre-service teacher education program develops these essential pedagogical competences through coursework and hands-on training. Using phenomenological design, the research focuses on preschool teacher candidates, instructors, department heads, and education officials from six selected teacher education colleges across Ethiopia, involving a total of 18 participants chosen for convenience. To gather qualitative data, the study employed semi-structured interviews and direct observations of lesson facilitation. The findings indicate a strong and effective preschool teacher education program that develops the pedagogical competencies of preschool teachers. However, it was highlighted that there are significant challenges such as limited practical exposure, resource constraints, and language barriers. Key findings emphasize the need for improved support mechanisms, highlighting the importance of practical training components in the improved curriculum, optimum practical exposures, enriching extracurricular activities, rigorous assessment methods, and the provision of constructive feedback.

Inclusive and Equitable Early Childhood Teacher Preparation Programs: Recruiting and Retaining Teacher Candidates with Disabilities

Inclusive early childhood education teacher preparation programs are tasked with preparing teacher candidates to work with young children with and without disabilities. Yet, many teacher preparation programs continue to function in a medical model of disability, where teacher educators teach candidates to “fix” or “cure” young disabled children. Working from a medical model of disability positions young disabled children as problematic and ostracizes disabled teacher candidates as they see themselves in the very children spoken of by their teacher educators. Instead, practices can be implemented to build on the unique strengths and assets disabled teacher candidates bring to the early childhood field. This call to action has been co-authored by disabled teachers and candidates to highlight the practices teacher educators can instill in their programs with the goal of recruiting and retaining disabled teacher candidates.

Enhancing Fieldwork Supervision During Early Childhood Inclusive Practicum Placements

This manuscript outlines a collaborative initiative among four state universities to enhance practicum and field-based experiences for early childhood education (ECE) candidates. Grounded in research highlighting the impact of early childhood experiences, the collaboration addresses challenges in the ECCE workforce by fostering inclusive decision-making and engagement with ECCE partners. Through dialogue and partnership, the initiative aims to ensure comprehensive training and support for future early childhood educators. It highlights the evolution of practicum experiences, emphasizing collaborative relationships between novice teachers, mentor teachers, and university supervisors. Key components include the creation of universal training modules and an open-source platform to house training materials. The manuscript concludes with recommendations for enhancing practicum experiences and addressing workforce challenges, emphasizing ongoing collaboration and partnership in promoting high-quality early childhood education.

Preparing Teacher Candidates for Inclusive Practice: A Program Overview

This paper provides a programmatic overview of an early childhood education (ECE), dual-licensure personnel preparation program in the Midwest. The foundation of the ECE program includes blended faculty from general and special education, a cohort model, field placements every semester, and continual review and innovative practices. The ECE Program is offered in both campus-based and online delivery models to meet the needs of prospective students across the state and region. Faculty have recently expanded the program array to include two additional online programs to meet the changing needs of the workforce: a non-license credential-based bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in public policy. The ECE program’s unique components and multiple offerings position it well to prepare teacher candidates to educate all children within inclusive settings. Future directions include developing a master’s degree in early childhood special education. Key words: early childhood, personnel preparation, dual-licensure

Recognition of Effective Co-Teaching Practices by Interdisciplinary Pre-Service Candidates

This study investigates the degree to which pre-service interdisciplinary groups of undergraduate education candidates recognize co-teaching skills and behaviors in practice. With the increasing emphasis on collaborative teaching models in contemporary educational settings, understanding how future educators perceive and identify effective co-teaching practices is crucial for enhancing educational preparation programs (EPPs). Using a mixed-methods approach, this study analyzed consensus ratings from an interdisciplinary assignment that asked candidates to work collaboratively while identifying best practices in co-teaching across example and non-example videos. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using student ratings and videos of group discussion for consensus scoring. Quantitative data were collected using consensus ratings for each indicator on the observation checklist. Qualitative data derived from video transcripts of the consensus rating sessions illuminated the process each group used and reasons each group provided for consensus ratings. The findings reveal varying degrees of recognition and understanding of co-teaching skills, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement in the candidates’ ability to identify and apply these practices. This study provides valuable insights into the preparedness of pre-service educators for collaborative teaching environments and offers recommendations for integrating co-teaching competencies more effectively into EPPs.

Pedagogizing Identity in Teacher Education Through Critical Autoethnographic Narrative

In this study, I report on my use of critical autoethnographic narrative (CAN) writing with English language teacher candidates (TCs) in a graduate-level teacher education course. In that iterative, scaffolded writing activity, I coached TCs to construct their teacher identity in narrative and make visible to themselves ideologies dominant in the sociopolitical context of language teaching. Drawing data from my CAN implementation in Spring 2023, I analyze Pamela's (pseudonym) case to address this research question: How does she construct her English language teacher identity in a semester-long CAN writing activity? The qualitative data analysis demonstrates that Pamela's language teacher identity involved: (a) becoming a social justice advocate, (b) grappling with neurodiversity, and (c) positioning language as an evolving local contextualized practice. Based on her positioning of language, she denies ‘one right way’ approach to language use, ‘teaching as correcting errors’ approach, and ‘assessment as gatekeeping’ approach as part of her teacher identity. Pamela's CAN shows that the personal, professional, and political dimensions of language teaching are intricately intertwined in teacher identity, and that teacher identity construction involves tensions of competing ideologies in the sociopolitical context.

Development of an Artificial Intelligence-Based Mobile Application Platform: Evaluation of Prospective Science Teachers’ Project on Creating Virtual Plant Collections in terms of Plant Blindness and Knowledge

This research aims to investigate the use of an artificial intelligence-based mobile application with plants and plant identification techniques (AImPLANT) with prospective science teachers in outdoor activities. The goals of the study are: i) to develop an AI-based mobile application from scratch based customized for education ii) to enhance knowledge about common plants iii) to increase awareness of plants, animals, and the natural environment, offering solutions to reduce plant blindness iv) to support outdoor activities to observe, identify and taxonomically determine specific characteristics of plants (endemic, economic, health, aesthetic etc.) v) guide students creating an individual virtual herbarium. The research will achieve the expected goals by coding an original “AI-Based Mobile Application” using ChatGPT and PlantNet APIs through technologies like Flutter, Firebase, Firestore, involving approximately 3200 lines of code. The mobile application includes components such as an “Plant collection (herbarium) project module”, “AI-based chatbot", "AI-based plant identification module", "AI-based student assessment module", and a "Student assistance section". The application provides guidance in creating virtual plant collections (herbariums). Additionally, aids by the “help module” and “chatbot”. Furthermore, an AI-based “self-assessment module” evaluates like a teacher based on the answers. The research question and sub problems were based on prospective science teachers' knowledge about plant identification and taxonomy, plant blindness, and opinions on studying with artificial intelligence outdoors with common plant species. The research, once again showed that artificial intelligence facilitates teaching biology, increases academic success, has positive contributions to eliminating plant blindness, and reduces teacher candidates' concerns about artificial intelligence and affects their opinions positively.

Artificial Intelligence Integration in Teacher Education: Navigating Benefits, Challenges, and Transformative Pedagogy

This article explores the potential uses, benefits, and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for teacher educators and their teacher candidates. It begins with a brief introduction to the topic, followed by a discussion of existing literature concerning the impact of AI on K–12 education; the importance of preparing AI-literate teachers; and specific issues related to AI’s use in teacher education, which includes studies on perceptions about AI utilization in education. The author also examines the challenges of AI implementation in the preparation of teachers; poses critical questions and ethical, pedagogical, and philosophical concerns faculty and students must consider; and provides ideas on using AI tools in courses through exemplar activities. The various activities illustrate the integration of AI- and non-AI-based activities to promote AI literacy among teachers. The goal of these activities is to support candidates’ competency development to become effective teachers while understanding the potential of AI tools for assisting in planning instruction and creating curricula. The exemplars also focus on developing critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration in carrying out pedagogical tasks. The author advocates for embracing AI tools in education cautiously and strategically by recognizing their power to transform teaching and learning for teachers and students.

Elementary school teacher candidates’ perceptions on defining and integrating civic literacy

Elementary school teacher candidates’ perceptions on defining and integrating civic literacy

A Mixed-Methods Quality Analysis of Behavior Intervention Plans for Students With Extensive Support Needs

Students with extensive support needs are at risk of demonstrating challenging behavior due to inadequate support of their individual needs or class-wide factors such as low quality of instruction. Students with extensive support needs are also among the students who are most likely to experience aversive interventions and be placed in segregated educational placements. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate behavior intervention plans (BIPs) written for students with extensive support needs to understand their structural features and technical adequacy, trends across components of plans, and the alignment of the BIP with the student’s individualized education program (IEP). We analyzed BIPs that were developed by IEP teams including a teacher candidate enrolled in a master’s program, a mentor teacher, or a colleague. We found BIPs were of low technical adequacy with patterns of errors reflecting harmful assumptions about students, lack of operational definitions, and intervention procedures that were not aligned with other components of the plan. BIPs and IEPs were not well-aligned, a finding that reflected overall poor planning for students with extensive support needs. Implications for research and practice are presented with a focus on the critically important nature of effective behavior supports for students with extensive support needs.

Biographically Driven Development of Translanguaging Stance for a Modern Language Teacher Candidate in a Graduate TESOL Class

This case study investigated a modern language teacher candidate’s developing translanguaging stance in a Masters-level TESOL course as she made sense of emerging tensions while drawing on her personal and teaching experiences. Data included the participant’s oral contributions to the course, the course syllabus, and student-produced artifacts. We used thematic analysis focusing on the participant’s perceptions of translanguaging as both theory and practice to analyze the data. A semi-structured interview was carried out five years later to review the impact of translanguaging on the participant’s teaching and ideology as a Spanish teacher in a dual language program. Findings uncovered five primary themes all related to the participant’s biographically related development of translanguaging stance: traditional second language acquisition theories as a concern, updating the notion of social justice, the ability to support positive identity development, contemplating translanguaging as a pedagogy, and the longevity of the biographical approach to lifelong learning. The findings highlight the importance of biographical approaches to lifelong learning in language education and suggest that teachers can foster bilingual development, establish inclusive teaching strategies, and create equitable language learning spaces by recognizing the potential of translanguaging, which may be made possible by fostering similar contexts in teacher education courses.

STEM Teacher Candidates’ Preparation for Online Teaching: Promoting Technological and Pedagogical Knowledge

Emergency remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on pedagogical challenges that require the immediate attention of teacher education programs. This paper focuses on teacher candidates’ preparation to teach online in a STEM curriculum and pedagogy course in a teacher education program at a Canadian university. The authors present a two-phase study of two cohorts of teacher candidates enrolled in this course and explore 1) their perceptions of the dynamics and effectiveness of online teaching as a teaching modality, and 2) the impact of the course on their technological and pedagogical skills necessary for online teaching. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through pre- and post-surveys administered online at the beginning and end of the course. Findings suggest that teacher candidates’ engagement with course content resulted in a notable improvement in their views toward online teaching as a teaching modality, pedagogical approaches, and personal abilities utilizing innovative online teaching strategies. This research emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive training programs that enhance teacher candidates’ technological competencies while simultaneously refining their pedagogical methodologies for online settings. Implications for teacher education research and practice are discussed.

Influencing Factors in Teaching Career Choices in Cambodia in Teacher Education Colleges: A Conceptual Framework

An education system should strive to attract qualified teachers and teacher candidates who have a high degree of professional commitment to meet the society requirements these days as well as, in the future, toward country development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the decision to teach career choices and aspirations among primary and lower secondary school teachers in Cambodia and student teachers at teacher education colleges (TECs). This study was synthesized from several previous studies, review papers, academic publications, public organization sources, instructional resources and empirical investigations. Four main factors, namely, the influence of others, including family, friends, teachers and mass media; motivational influences; sociocultural factors; and teaching as a fallback career, influence the decision to choose teaching as a career. The implications of the findings from the various sources have been discussed in this study. This study can help relevant people, as well as other researchers, to be aware of the influencing factors in career choice so that they can refine recruitment policies, increase their actions and efforts, and enter a preparation program for teaching careers in the Cambodian context.

Science interdisciplinary learning approach: a study interdisciplinary thinking skills and literacy environment

The formation of environmental literacy in the education system through education for sustainable development (EfSD) experiences many obstacles. The aim of the research is to analyze the impact of interdisciplinary science learning for interdisciplinary oriented education for sustainable development to improve interdisciplinary thinking and environmental literacy of prospective teachers. The experimental method with a quasi-experimental pretest posttest group design was used in this study. The data collection technique used is an environmental literacy questionnaire and an interdisciplinary thinking test. Data analysis technique used independent t test. The results obtained were that the science interdisciplinary learning effective in improving interdisciplinary thinking performance and environmental literacy. The performance of students’ interdisciplinary thinking affects environmental literacy of students. The university forms student teacher candidates who have the ability to think interdisciplinary so that they can manage science learning in an interdisciplinary and environmentally literate manner. The implication of this research is the importance of fostering interdisciplinary thinking and environmental literacy at all levels of education.

Spotlight On CEC’s Teacher Candidate Support Network with Ruby Owiny

Spotlight On CEC’s Teacher Candidate Support Network with Ruby Owiny

Wolfram alpha and maple as educational technology for future teachers of mathematics

The paper’s purpose is to present technology-enhanced activities with triangular, square, and other polygonal numbers arranged in basic geometric shapes – equilateral and isosceles triangles and squares. The author’s review of recently published mathematics education papers found no use of computing technology in teaching polygonal numbers either at the college or the pre-college levels worldwide. This omission served as a motivation to share and discuss computational algorithms designed by the author for the summation of such numbers within each geometric structure. A method through which those algorithms were used with teacher candidates is based on the technology-immune/technology-enabled problem-solving pedagogy. This method can be recommended for the modern-day teaching of elementary number theory and other mathematical topics across multiple grade levels and educational programs. The activities, supported by Wolfram Alpha and Maple, can be used by instructors of technology-motivated mathematics teacher education courses. The paper argues that the power of digital tools allows future teachers of mathematics, in the context of elementary number theory, to appreciate the use of simple algorithms in achieving sophisticated computational outcomes. Reflective comments of teacher candidates (the author’s students) are shared to indicate the importance of the history of mathematics and the focus on mathematical visualization as a pedagogical approach aimed at conceptual understanding of the subject matter.

Investigation of Communication, Social Intelligence and Intercultural Sensitivity Competencies of Teacher Candidates in Sustainable Education by Structural Equation Modeling

It has become increasingly important to provide equal educational opportunities to all students for quality and sustainable education in classrooms with rapidly increasing diversity. In this context, communication skills, social intelligence and intercultural sensitivity are important competences that can affect teacher performance and efficiency in classrooms. Despite the importance of these competencies, empirical studies examining the relationships between these variables are scarce. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the relationships between teacher candidates’ communication skills and their intercultural sensitivity and social intelligence levels through the application of structural equation modeling (SEM). The participants were selected from among the teacher candidates studying at Kütahya Dumlupınar University, a public university in Türkiye, using simple random sampling method. The results indicated that teacher candidates had high levels of communication skills, intercultural sensitivity and social intelligence. In addition, while there was a significant positive relationship between communication skills and intercultural sensitivity level and social intelligence level at low level, there was a significant positive relationship between intercultural sensitivity and social intelligence level at medium level. Furthermore, communication skills and intercultural sensitivity were found to be significant predictors of social intelligence and intercultural sensitivity had a partial mediating role in the relationship between communication skills and social intelligence. In the study, it was concluded that teacher candidates’ communication skills predicted social intelligence through intercultural sensitivity.

Empirical Foundations for Developing New Learning Models to Improve Chemical Literacy, Scientific Habits of Mind, and Science Process Skills of Chemistry Education Students

The development of a new learning model to increase chemical literacy skills, scientific habits of mind (SHOM), and science process skills (SPS) of chemistry education students is needed to prepare competent chemistry teacher candidates in the future. Theoretical studies have discussed the low chemistry literacy, SHOM, and SPS of students. This research aims to prove the theoretical study data by looking directly at the conditions of chemical literacy, SHOM, and SPS of chemistry education students. The research took place in four stages: measuring and comparing chemical literacy; measuring SHOM; observing SPS during learning activities in the laboratory; and conducting needs analysis for lecturers. The scores obtained from measuring chemical literacy are very worrying. However, there are significant differences in chemical literacy as the years of study increase. Student SHOM is also still in the medium category and needs to be improved. Student SPS is also still relatively low. Furthermore, the lecturers suggested developing a learning model that could develop these three abilities. The model developed must be suitable for adult learning and be able to develop student abilities

Quality of Discovery Learning-Based Chemistry Learning Tools Developed by Chemistry Teacher Candidates

Prospective chemistry teachers play an important role in implementing Discovery Learning through the learning tools they develop. It is important to evaluate the quality of discovery learning-based learning tools utilised by prospective chemistry teachers in order to provide constructive feedback and improve their competence. This study aims to describe the quality of learning tools in the form of teaching materials and Learner Worksheets that have been prepared by prospective chemistry teachers. This research is a quantitative descriptive research. The population of this study were all students majoring in chemistry class of 2021. This study used purposive sampling technique. The sample of this study was prospective teacher students from the 2021 class B chemistry education study programme, totalling 23 people. Data collection techniques in the form of portfolio/document evaluation in the form of learning devices made by prospective chemistry teacher students. The learning tools collected by prospective teacher students are in the form of teaching materials and student worksheets based on Discovery learning. The learning devices that have been collected are then assessed using validated instruments and assessment rubrics and then scored to determine the ability category of prospective teacher students. The results showed that the quality of discovery learning-based teaching materials prepared by Chemistry teacher candidates in the construction component is categorized as Good, content/material is categorized as Very Good, learning assessment is categorized as Quite Good and discovery learning orientation is categorized as Good. The quality of discovery learning-based student worksheets prepared by prospective chemistry teachers in terms of the construction component is categorized as Very Good, learning activities are categorized as Very Good, learning assessment is categorized as Good and discovery learning orientation is categorized as Very Good.

Phenomenological exploration of educational mentoring relationships and concerns for 21st century pedagogical praxis in Fitche pre-service primary school college of teacher education, Ethiopia

Purpose: The study explored phenomenological experiences of educational mentoring relationships and concerns for 21st century pedagogical praxis in Fitche pre-service primary school college of teachers’ education. The study answered the central research question “What do the phenomenological experiences of educational mentoring relationships and concerns for 21st century pedagogical praxis in Fitche pre-service primary school teacher education looks like?” Methodology: The study explored the lived experiences of instructors and pre-service teacher candidates regarding mentoring relationships through phenomenological research design. I selected 47 participants using purposive sampling technique based on teaching experience, mentors-mentees’ performance, and academic position. Findings: The data were collected using semi-structured interview, focus group discussion, and researcher’s direct observation. The researcher observed educational relationship experiences between mentors and mentees, and caused vertical and lateral effects on professional development beyond engagements in classrooms. The researcher analyzed textual and contextual data qualitatively in themes. The finding indicated that cognizant to critical realistic approach to education, the study explored mechanisms of re-educating educators towards understanding of lived experiences through contentment, contention, conflict, and conciliation of emotional sates into positive mind-sets. I observed the existing phenomenon in educational mentoring based on inquiry, sharing, encouraging, and caring occurred between mentors and mentees. Educational relationship is stronger between students and grades than mentors and mentees. Implications: Educational mentoring should improve capacity of mentors and mentees’ professional and pedagogical development practices to improve quality of pre-service teacher education.