Educator Preparation Programs Research Articles

GoReact: Video Annotation Software to Foster Feedback in Physical Education Instruction

University supervisors responsible for the programming and congruency between field experiences and the physical education teacher education (PETE) preparation program play a pivotal role in the opportunity for pre-service physical education teacher success. Due to limitations of time, quality mentors, and the residual effects of the pandemic, on-site observations are becoming more difficult to arrange. While there are concerns about the quality of remote observations, GoReact (GR), a video annotation software, can support PETE programs in conducting observations using this virtual tool. The purpose of this article is to describe how PETE programs can utilize video annotation software to provide alternative means for engaging feedback that encourages self-reflection when in-person observations are not feasible. Additional uses for this software in physical education are also suggested.

Centering educators of color in teacher preparation

Traditional teacher education and alternative teacher preparation programs struggle to recruit and retain prospective and early-career educators of color. To address this challenge, Jalene Tamerat and Clifford Lee recount their experiences as teachers and teacher educators-of color. They propose a reframing of pedagogies, curricula, and programmatic structures so they will more effectively center the cultural assets and critical perspectives among future educators of color. They share their personal reflections and offer an overview of the current educational landscape to contextualize and ground their recommendations for how teacher training programs can be more attuned to the needs of teacher candidates from minoritized and historically marginalized backgrounds.

The State of Higher Education Preparation Programs in the U.S.

While research reveals weaknesses in preparation-program curricula, there are challenges with these studies due to incomplete data from program directories. This descriptive study offers the results of an exhaustive search for programs in the United States and examines how each program’s required curriculum aligns with field standards. Findings include identification of 366 preparation programs at 274 institutions, with only 27% meeting all CAS standards and 18% addressing at least eight of the 10 professional competencies through the required curriculum.

Surviving and Thriving in Secondary Schools: A Response to the Cluster on “Medieval Studies and Secondary Education”

This essay responds to the cluster “Medieval Studies and Secondary Education” by suggesting that we shift our attention away from our understandable, but often unproductive, anxieties about the obsolescence of Medieval Studies within school curricula and towards the promotion of the professional health and intellectual pleasure of the exhausted and harried secondary school teacher. In addition to lauding the efforts of medievalists to enhance and expand the appeal and relevance of our disciplines through immersive activities and the provincialization of Europe, this response explores and evaluates the feasibility of proposals to offer online and in-person summer seminars on medieval topics, to augment easily accessible online resources for teaching the Middle Ages, and to develop mentorship structures within universities and professional societies that connect prospective and practicing teachers with medievalists in educator preparation programs.

Teaching Collaborative Practices: A Scoping Review of Preservice Interprofessional Education With a Focus on Preservice Speech-Language Pathologists and Preservice Teachers of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

Purpose: Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and teachers of students who are deaf and hard of hearing (TODs) often work with the same students in a school setting to support their linguistic and educational needs. Previous research has extensively documented the importance of interprofessional practice and how educator and professional preparation programs have modified the curriculum to become more focused on collaboration. What is currently missing from the literature, however, is a discussion of the evidence-based methods used to teach preservice SLPs and TODs how to effectively collaborate together in support of Deaf and hard of hearing students. Method: We reviewed the literature related to interprofessional education (IPE) for preservice SLPs and preservice TODs across eight databases with a focus on the methods used to teach and develop interprofessional collaboration skills. Results: We located six relevant articles focused on IPE for preservice SLPs and TODs. Due to the limited number of studies, we expanded our search criteria to also include relevant studies that focused on IPE strategies from related fields. Conclusions: This review integrates research about best practices for educating preservice professionals in effective collaboration strategies to make evidence-based recommendations on implementing effective collaboration-focused IPE for preservice SLPs and TODs. Recommendations include joint classroom experiences, explicit instruction in critical skills and competencies for successful collaboration, modeling collaboration through co-teaching, and explicit instruction and practice in conflict management and perspective-taking.

Comparative Exploration of Inclusive Practices Taught in Special Education Preparation Programs in Saudi Universities

ABSTRACT Over the last few decades, the inclusion of children with disabilities in general education classrooms worldwide has increased, however, the preparation and professional development of teachers has not kept pace. While teachers are instrumental in the facilitation of inclusive classrooms, they continue to struggle to provide accommodations and modifications, to exhibit supportive behavior, and to work collaboratively with one another to provide instruction and interventions for students with disabilities in inclusive settings. This study examined the views of university faculty throughout Saudi Arabia in relation to the skills and expertise critical for promoting inclusive classrooms. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was adopted with a survey and interviews with faculty that were based on the outcomes from the quantitative phase. Among other outcomes, statistically significant differences were found in faculty members’ perspectives regarding the preparation of pre-service teachers for inclusive education, with faculty in emerging programs indicating higher total mean scores in some domains. Additionally, faculty specializing in Learning Disabilities (LD) reported higher total mean scores in some Innovation Configurations (ICs) than faculty specializing in other areas. The outcomes suggest that further attention should be paid to inclusive education practices in teacher education programs that may open up in the future.

Bilingual teacher candidates and their professors: Efforts to pass a Spanish proficiency certification exam

ABSTRACT Heritage Spanish speakers (HSSs) in the U.S. who seek certification as bilingual teachers must show Spanish language proficiency. The state of Texas requires candidates to pass the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) a test seen as a gatekeeping mechanism (Clark & Flores, 2002) in a field that presents chronic shortage of certified teachers (Arroyo-Romano, 2016). This case study of a bilingual education preparation program (BEPP) in Texas reveals the efforts by both professors to help and students to pass the BTLPT. Findings report on faculty and candidate narrative accounts of pedagogical practices. Recommendations emerged from faculty and students’ suggestions for improving test-preparation and Spanish development of HSSs teacher candidates. The authors respond to Guerrero’s (2013) recommendation for “more concrete measures to help pre-service bilingual teachers improve their language skills” (p. 2) and accepts Zúñiga’s (2021) invitation for teacher educators to find venues to share how we “go about supporting bilingual TCs [teacher candidates] in their professional development” (p. 228). The study offers directions for action within BEPPs, universities with HSSs students, and the PK-20 school system. Heritage Spanish speakers (HSSs) in the U.S. who seek certification as bilingual teachers must show Spanish language proficiency. The state of Texas requires candidates to pass the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) a test seen as a gatekeeping mechanism (Clark & Flores, 2002) in a field that presents chronic shortage of certified teachers (Arroyo-Romano, 2016). This case study of a bilingual education preparation program (BEPP) in Texas reveals the efforts by both professors to help and students to pass the BTLPT. Findings report on faculty and candidate narrative accounts of pedagogical practices. Recommendations emerged from faculty and students’ suggestions for improving test-preparation and Spanish development of HSSs teacher candidates. The authors respond to Guerrero’s (2013) recommendation for “more concrete measures to help pre-service bilingual teachers improve their language skills” (p. 2) and accepts Zúñiga’s (2021) invitation for teacher educators to find venues to share how we “go about supporting bilingual TCs [teacher candidates] in their professional development” (p. 228). The study offers directions for action within BEPPs, universities with HSSs students, and the PK-20 school system. Heritage Spanish speakers (HSSs) in the U.S. who seek certification as bilingual teachers must show Spanish language proficiency. The state of Texas requires candidates to pass the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) a test seen as a gatekeeping mechanism (Clark & Flores, 2002) in a field that presents chronic shortage of certified teachers (Arroyo-Romano, 2016). This case study of a bilingual education preparation program (BEPP) in Texas reveals the efforts by both professors to help and students to pass the BTLPT. Findings report on faculty and candidate narrative accounts of pedagogical practices. Recommendations emerged from faculty and students’ suggestions for improving test-preparation and Spanish development of HSSs teacher candidates. The authors respond to Guerrero’s (2013) recommendation for “more concrete measures to help pre-service bilingual teachers improve their language skills” (p. 2) and accepts Zúñiga’s (2021) invitation for teacher educators to find venues to share how we “go about supporting bilingual TCs [teacher candidates] in their professional development” (p. 228). The study offers directions for action within BEPPs, universities with HSSs students, and the PK-20 school system.

Teacher Trainees’ Perspectives on Remote Instruction for Multilingual Learners of English

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a shift to virtual learning across many countries and school systems. It is worthwhile to examine the specific ways in which this shift is significant to teacher trainees preparing to work with multilingual learners (MLs). Considering the perspectives of teacher trainees preparing to teach MLs offers an opportunity to identify the questions and concerns that they are likely to have upon graduation. Examining these perspectives can also help to identify ways that teacher trainees can use virtual and remote teaching approaches more constructively. This paper presents findings from a qualitative study of an educator preparation program focused on preparing trainees in content areas along with English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), with a focus on the perspectives of teacher trainees who worked with MLs through virtual and remote modalities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper draws on data from an analysis of nine teacher trainees’ response journals and course assignments, and includes themes identified from the teacher trainees’ perceptions of virtual learning for MLs. The findings from the analysis revealed that teacher trainees emphasized the importance of establishing meaningful professional relationships in the virtual setting with their MLs, especially as a way to facilitate effective instruction and online classroom management. Participants also spoke about the importance of developing culturally responsive and sensitive instruction, and stressed the importance of engaging students and families in appropriate, linguistically accessible ways. Implications for future virtual instruction as well as teacher preparation are also discussed.

Elementary Preservice Mathematics Teachers Fraction Knowledge: An Integrative Review of Research

Elementary preservice teachers struggle with fractions and explaining them despite taking numerous mathematics courses. Therefore, they may have issues when they teach fractions and related concepts. Since fractions underlie many concepts like algebra, improving teachers’ fraction knowledge is imperative. This integrative review of research synthesized findings about teachers’ fractions knowledge to provide potential strategies educator preparation programs (EPPs) can use to improve fraction mastery. The literature shows teachers lacked conceptual knowledge, used incorrect strategies and too few representations, and misunderstood magnitude and manipulatives. However, number lines and teaching conceptually helped improve mastery of fractions. Resolving issues with fraction mastery may help future teachers meet their students’ needs better. Therefore, EPPs should assess new students’ fraction knowledge and implement conceptual instruction, number lines, etc. In addition, future research should include viewing which conceptual strategies are most effective and determining if methods used for K-12 students will also work for aspiring teachers.

Alignment of the synthesis of qualitative data (SQD) model, technology self-efficacy and TPACK Core measures in preparing pre-service teachers to integrate technology

Preparing pre-service teachers to integrate technology in their future classrooms is a complex endeavor. Several factors known to affect the use of technology in the classroom include technology knowledge and skills, positive attitudes toward integrating technology, pedagogical expertise with technology and content knowledge in one or more disciplines. One strategy that has been used in many educator preparation programs has been to create a course that teaches how to integrate technology. Measuring the impact of these types of courses is important in determining whether they are meeting the needs of the pre-service teachers in their pursuit to integrate technology in a meaningful and effective way. This paper reports on the measurement and alignment of three aspects that impact pre-service technology integration - technology self-efficacy, strategies and experiences provided by the preparation programs, and the intersection of technology, content knowledge and pedagogy. Pre-service participants in a semester-long course focused on integrating technology gained significantly from pre to post on each of the scales, demonstrating an increase in technology self-efficacy, experiences related to technology during their program and confidence in fusing technology, content knowledge and pedagogy. In addition, the three measures focused on different areas of technology integration aligned to show relationships of the attributes important for using technology in their future classrooms.

A Case for Adaptability: Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Preservice Teachers’ Culminating Field Experiences

The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain insight into the lived experiences of preservice teachers amid the Covid-19 pandemic, including how such experiences impacted their perceptions of self-efficacy and pedagogical readiness. The participants were preservice teachers (both graduate and undergraduate) enrolled in an educator preparation program who fulfilled their student teaching requirements during the fall 2020 semester. Data collection included an initial survey, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group discussion. Findings from our data suggest that teacher candidates taught in a variety of highly nuanced configurations. While some were teaching in strictly virtual or face-to-face settings, the majority were teaching across multiple modalities and therefore, carrying an increased workload. Findings also point to the importance of adaptability and self-efficacy as participants integrated health and safety protocols into their classroom practices, navigated altered modes of teaching, and overcame concerns for their personal safety.

Development of Teacher Education Candidates’ Self-Efficacy for Culturally Responsive Teaching Through Extended Clinical Experiences

ABSTRACT Teacher self-efficacy is a construct that exerts a powerful influence on the behaviors of teachers. Yet, few studies have been conducted examining the impact of contextual structures within educator preparation programs on the development of general and domain-specific teaching efficacy. This study investigated the impact of an embedded internship in culturally- and linguistically-diverse elementary schools on self-efficacy for culturally responsive teaching. The results indicated candidates who participated in the internship demonstrated differences in self-efficacy for culturally responsive teaching that were significantly different in comparison to candidates who completed the traditional teacher education program. Implications are discussed as related considerations for teacher education programs as they seek to structure clinical experiences with focused opportunities for mastery experiences and relationship-building.

Alignment of the synthesis of qualitative data (SQD) model, technology self-efficacy and TPACK Core measures in preparing pre-service teachers to integrate technology

Preparing pre-service teachers to integrate technology in their future classrooms is a complex endeavor. Several factors known to affect the use of technology in the classroom include technology knowledge and skills, positive attitudes toward integrating technology, pedagogical expertise with technology and content knowledge in one or more disciplines. One strategy that has been used in many educator preparation programs has been to create a course that teaches how to integrate technology. Measuring the impact of these types of courses is important in determining whether they are meeting the needs of the pre-service teachers in their pursuit to integrate technology in a meaningful and effective way. This paper reports on the measurement and alignment of three aspects that impact pre-service technology integration - technology self-efficacy, strategies and experiences provided by the preparation programs, and the intersection of technology, content knowledge and pedagogy. Pre-service participants in a semester-long course focused on integrating technology gained significantly from pre to post on each of the scales, demonstrating an increase in technology self-efficacy, experiences related to technology during their program and confidence in fusing technology, content knowledge and pedagogy. In addition, the three measures focused on different areas of technology integration aligned to show relationships of the attributes important for using technology in their future classrooms.

Achieving a more diverse special education teacher workforce: guiding questions for researchers and policymakers

Abstract Attracting, supporting, and retaining special education teachers of color (SETOCs) is critical in shaping a diverse special education teacher workforce in the United States. However, efforts to diversify this workforce are fraught with challenges at the federal, state, and local levels. This paper reviews what is currently known about efforts to attract, support, and retain SETOCs, and provides guidance for policy makers and researchers regarding what still needs to be done to realize a more diverse special education teacher workforce in the US. Four critical domains serve as the foundation for our guiding considerations: funding priorities, strategies to attract SETOCs, the role of educator preparation programs, and strategies to retain SETOCs.

Universal Design for Learning: Promoting Access in Early Childhood Education for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children

The following article is a literature review of the guiding principles for universal design for learning (UDL) specifically for early childhood education with implications for children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH). In recent years, early childhood education has become more inclusive for all children with and without disabilities. Given that educators need to plan lessons and design their classrooms with every child in mind prior to meeting them, guidance on the UDL framework is warranted. DHH children present unique barriers in the classroom. This article walks through the three guiding principles, engagement, representation, and expression along with integration of assistive technology for DHH children and their educators. Three future directions for integrating the UDL framework into the classroom are included. They are (a) educator preparation programs, (b) school district’s professional development, and (c) select available technology web-based resources.

First generation preservice teachers’ self-efficacy regarding the teaching of diverse students and the incorporation of diverse topics into classroom content

The purpose for this study was to examine whether there is a difference in self-efficacy between first generation and non-first generation preservice teachers to address the teaching of diverse PK-12 students. Bandura’s (1997) concept of self-efficacy was employed as a framework to understand the results of the study. A cross-sectional design was used to analyze a self-efficacy survey that was administered to first generation and non-first generation preservice teachers. A total of 55 preservice teachers nearing completion of their teacher preparation at one university participated. The data demonstrates statistically significant differences of unequal self-efficacy development between first generation and non-first generation preservice teachers despite being trained in the same program. The findings may shed light on how educator preparation programs can better prepare first generation preservice teachers to serve diverse students and the incorporation of diverse topics into classroom content.

“We’ve Been Forgotten”: First-Hand Perspectives on Teacher Leaders and Teacher Leadership in Urban Schools

The use of teacher leadership in PK-12 education has experienced a resurgence since the late 1990s as school leadership models have evolved to include the engagement of diverse stakeholders in school and district leadership processes aimed at improvement efforts. Despite this resurgence, there remain several barriers to understanding the nature of the work in which teacher leaders engage and the contributions that they make. This grounded theory study examined teacher perceptions of teacher leadership, the types of work in which teacher leaders do and should engage, the boundaries of that work, and barriers to teacher leadership. Leveraging interviews with teachers in a large urban school district, we found that teachers function in many domains of work and are eager for pathways to leverage their expertise, but some faced a lack of access to their school’s leadership and management space. We conclude by discussing the implications from our findings for school- and district-level leaders, local and state policymakers, and educational leadership preparation programs.

Examining Early Career Teachers’ Formative Practices to Inform and Support Continuous Improvement

This year-long, multiple case study followed a small group (N=6) of graduates from an initial licensure Education Preparation Program (EPP) into their classrooms to observe their first year as licensed teachers in United States public schools. The study’s purpose was twofold: 1) to explore the extent to which this group used formative assessments in their classrooms to positively impact student learning, and 2) to examine strengths and areas for improvement within our EPP based on our observations of the teacher participants’ practice and impact on their students. Multiple data sources were collected and analyzed. Based on participant interviews, survey data, and observations, findings indicate that our EPP coursework and clinical experiences contribute to beginning teachers’ effective use of formative assessments to impact student learning. However, findings support recommendations for EPP continuous improvement. This study highlights the importance of completing self-studies to determine strengths of an EPP and areas for improvement so EPPs, teachers, and K-12 students have greater success. To increase the effectiveness of teacher training, EPPs must continuously evaluate the efficacy of their educator preparation programs including evaluating their graduates’ ability to transition from pre to in-service teachers and implement effective pedagogical practices that promote student success. Keywords: formative assessment, educator preparation, continuous improvement

Teacher Perceptions of Self-Efficacy in Teaching Online During the COVID-19 Pandemic

To examine the effects of the sudden shift to online instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the early months of 2020, we sought to get a firsthand understanding of the experiences of teachers who were required to make the change to full online teaching. Teaching online requires technological knowledge, but it also requires a different pedagogy in order to keep students engaged and motivated to learn. Many educators indicated that this was a significant challenge. Our goal was to illuminate teachers’ experiences in order to include their voices in changes to educator preparation programs. A total of 699 complete survey responses were received representing educators in several grade levels working in nine states in the United States. Qualitative analysis revealed that many responses were related to extant research on teachers’ self-efficacy. Thus, this paper will shed light on the experiences of educators during the first semester of 2020 including the months of January through April, and teachers’ perceived efficacy. We find that teachers felt more efficacious regarding aspects of online teaching over which they felt an internal locus of control, such as delivery of curriculum and their own skill in the use of technology. For items over which they had less control, such as parental support and involvement, student motivation, and student access to adequate technology, teachers indicated much less efficacy. The majority of responses paint a complicated and somewhat dismal picture of the loss of personal connection with their students. Based on these data, recommendations for both education preparation programs, and policy are discussed such as districts and schools must provide sufficient professional learning opportunities and create a culture of collaboration amongst teachers that can assist them in building internal school capacity for good online instruction for their students. The COVID-19 pandemic should be used as an opportunity to evaluate gaps in digital equity and make positive strides to ensure all students, regardless of race, disability, economic background, or geographic location, have full access to quality online education. Keywords: teacher preparation, educator preparation, online teaching, COVID-19, self-efficacy

Got Schooled! Two Cases of Professors’ Return to the Middle School Health and Physical Education Classroom

Successful educator preparation programs rely on partnerships with k-12 schools. The literature emphasizes the importance of strong partnerships, but illustrates limitations in creating and maintaining partnerships that meet the needs of all parties – the partnering school and its students, the college/university and teacher candidates. The purpose of this article is to share valuable lessons learned from two professors’ return to the field.