School Mentors Research Articles

Understanding student teachers’ learning from negative experiences of feedback during teaching practicum: A feedback literacy perspective

Although the majority of studies have examined student teachers’ perceptions, emotional experiences, and responses during their teaching practicum (TP), there is a scarcity of research focusing on English as a foreign language (EFL) student teachers’ internal and behavioural responses to negative feedback from mentors or supervisors. Feedback literacy, as a comprehensive concept encompassing internal factors, offers an innovative perspective to explore the characteristics and interplay among learners’ cognitive, affective, and behavioural capacities when dealing with feedback. Therefore, from the perspective of feedback literacy, this study investigated how student teachers cope with negative feedback experiences during TP. This study involved 16 student teachers from five teacher education programmes at the four selected Chinese universities in Sichuan, Fujian, Guangdong, and Macau contexts in China. Multiple data sources were collected, including participants’ narrative reports, semi-structured interviews, and teaching documents. The results revealed participants’ various situations of feedback literacy to cope with negative feedback experiences from their university supervisors and school mentors during TP. Student teachers’ feedback literacy is crucial in mediating their responses to negative feedback experiences, which started with their appreciation of feedback by understanding its meaning, conflicts, and difficulties. Following that, they did not necessarily generate negative external and internal judgements towards negative feedback. Meanwhile, it enabled participants to regulate their emotions with diverse external or internal strategies to respond to such feedback. The findings of this study also provided pedagogical implications for student teachers and teacher educators, respectively.

An Assessment of the Administration of Teaching Practice in a Teacher Training Institution of Zimbabwe

This study sought to assess the administration of teaching practice in a primary education teacher training institution in Zimbabwe. The chosen population consisted of lecturers, school mentors and student teachers. Convenience sampling was used to select primary schools in Gwanda town. These were four in total. From these, purposive sampling was used to select heads of schools, teachers who were student-teacher mentors and student teachers who were in teaching practice. There were twelve teachers in total, and there were twelve student teachers. Purposive sampling was also applied to select lecturers who manned the chosen institution's teaching practice department. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from the heads of schools and lecturers, while focus group discussion guides were used to gather data from teachers and student teachers, respectively. As one of the core findings, it unveiled that some students went for teaching practice inadequately prepared to meet associated demands. Furthermore, some mentors seemed burdened by constantly supervising the student teachers while at the same time executing other school duties done by other teachers who were not mentors. Based on these, the study recommends intensification of the assessment of the readiness of student teachers to engage in the teaching practice exercise before the institution releases them to schools. In addition, teachers who are assigned the role of student-teacher mentorship should be relieved of other school duties as this might enhance their commitment to student-teacher development.

Crisis intervention, mediation, counseling, and mentoring in schools: Building resilient educational communities

Crisis intervention, mediation, counseling, and mentoring in schools: Building resilient educational communities

Preparing EFL Pre-Service English Teachers: Challenges and Solutions for Integrating Local and Global Reading Materials

Despite ongoing effects to improve Thai children’s reading competency, particularly their engagement with reading strategies, concerns remain regarding EFL pre-service English teacher’s (PSTs) ability to effective instruction these strategies. This study investigates stakeholders’ perspectives on PSTs’ reading proficiency and instructional skills, alongside their own needs in these areas. Data was collected through surveys and semi-structured interviews with five English teaching specialists, three ELT instructors, five school mentors, fifteen English education program alumni, and twenty-two current undergraduate students. The findings highlight key dimensions for improving reading strategy instruction, including addressing challenges and promoting best practices. A crucial theme emerged: the need to align locally-set contexts with global reading materials. This research identifies both problems and needs that can inform the development of curriculum and course design for PSTs, specifically in the creation of reading strategy materials. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of integrating cultural awareness and cross-cultural understanding into English reading instruction to effectively prepare Thai students for 21st century learning.

Post-Epidemic Period Construction of Professional Identities of Elementary School Pre-Service Teacher Mentors in China

Abstract Teacher practicum, a crucial step in transitioning from pre-service to in-service teaching, provides an essential professional development opportunity. This study investigates how elementary school mentors construct their professional identities (PIs) as they guide pre-service teachers (PSTs) through their practicum. Data was collected through interviews with four mentors and four PSTs in elementary schools in China, and a thematic analysis was conducted. The results reveal that in guiding pre-service teachers, the mentors construct four PIs: committed practitioners, role models, lifelong learners, and coaches. The factors affecting the construction of mentors' PIs include job burnout, teacher commitment, teacher learning methods, self-efficacy, teacher knowledge, Chinese traditional culture, and career development experiences.

Sociology of Engineering: Exploring Female Students Social Quest of Engineering at University of Sierra Leone, Fourah Bay College, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Sierra Leonean women and undervalued social minority students persevere to be undervalued in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and attain the shallow segment of undergraduate engineering degrees. The sociological researcher engaged a mixed methods research approach predicated in social networks premise to examine when they first contemplate pursuing engineering as a university degree major, who shapes this social commitment, and how the social guidance transpires. Foremost, the sociological researcher inquired one thousand one hundred and eighty six first year undergraduate students entering engineering programs at University of Sierra Leone, Fourah Bay College in Freetown during the commencement of the 2022/2023 pedagogical year of course. Subsequently, the sociological researcher dialogued a down-sample of fifty five women and female students. The inquiry social findings specified that women were further probable than men to contemplate pursuing engineering while in secondary school, prior admission into university, or duration in university alternately contemplating it beforehand in their pedagogy. Metropolitan or western urban students were further probable than rural students to contemplate pursuing engineering after secondary school. Besides, metropolitan and western urban students were further probable than rural students to recognize a school mentor (alternately a household associate) as possessing the ultimate guidance on their engineering academic and vocation resolutions. In social dialogues, women and undervalued social minority students gifted instances of prominent folks who associated their competence and zest for mathematics, science, and problem elucidating to engineering, analyzed the merits of being an engineer, and furnished counsel about engineering pedagogical and vocation trajectories. Inspiring previous contemplation of engineering majors, such as during junior secondary school, may permit women and undervalued social minority female students cadence to grasp essential programs and grasp merit of university rudimentary planning. Correspondingly, Sierra Leonean universities can capture in conscious attempts to recognize women and undervalued social minority female students with engineering curiosities and issue social counsel. Comparable attempts should also involve associating them with other women and undervalued social minority students in engineering. Furthermore, Sierra Leonean universities need assist secondary school and university staffs in offering direction that can impact student’s social resolution to proclaim engineering major, that might succor enlist further women and undervalued social minority students into engineering.

Beginning to Implement Ambitious Mathematics Instruction: What Promising First-Year Elementary Teachers’ Lessons Can Teach Us

ABSTRACT Although teachers are expected to teach mathematics ambitiously, it is challenging for them to do so. Given that the first year represents a critical juncture between teacher preparation and inservice teaching, it may be particularly challenging to teach ambitiously. Understanding the nuanced characteristics in lessons taught by first-year elementary teachers identified as being generally ambitious can inform how mathematics teacher educators and school mentors support them. A thematic analysis of 15 transcribed lessons revealed instructional moves that were more and less prevalent. Task-level findings indicated that while first-year teachers solicited student input, encouraged them to participate in discussions, and had them attend to cognitively demanding tasks, they seldom assigned open-ended and non-procedural tasks. Students also had few opportunities to grapple with the mathematics. Turn-level findings indicated that first-year teachers maintained the task potential, facilitated student participation, and promoted student authority and perspectives. They further aimed to deepen students’ mathematical thinking, albeit the subtle ways they did so sometimes were apparent across lessons (e.g., encourage students to continue to problem solve) and other times were limited (e.g., provide an opportunity for students to agree or disagree).

Investigating Pedagogical Competencies of Post Graduate Certificate in Education Students to Teach Accounting: A South African Case Study

This paper documents the pedagogical competencies of Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) students prepared to teach Accounting. There is an arguably perspective that students who tailored their teaching qualification through the PGCE programme are not competent to teach at a school level compared to students who did an Initial Teacher Education Bachelors degree. Further, there is an observation that school principals prefer to employ B.Ed. teachers than PGCEs underpinned by the thinking that the former are better prepared in terms of pedagogy. The Social Learning theory foregrounded this study and sought to respond to two questions: What are the pedagogical competencies of PGCE students to teach Accounting? How can pedagogical competency be enhanced in the PGCE programme? This study adopted a qualitative approach and a constructivist paradigm to understand the research phenomenon. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three school mentors and thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data. The study found that PGCE students are pedagogically incompetent to teach Accounting since they possess insufficient subject knowledge, limited conceptualisation of teaching strategies, and PGCE students dawdle to complete Accounting content. Furthermore, pedagogical competency among PGCE can be enhanced through programme development splitting into two phases and content modules development. In light of the above findings, this study recommends that PGCE students must be provided continuous professional development which would act as a bridge to the perceived incompetency among PGCE students in South Africa. The study also concludes that the PGCE programme among universities must focus more on pedagogical competency through Social Learning theory as it can fully capacitate students to achieve the expected competencies in teaching. The study contributes knowledge and proposes suggestions to improve teaching training programmes, particularly PGCE among South African universities. Keywords: Accounting, PGCE Students, Pedagogical Competencies, Social Learning, Professional Development

The development of EFL pre-service teachers’ critical thinking in teaching practicum: a case study

ABSTRACT This study investigates the development of critical thinking skills among EFL pre-service teachers during their teaching practicum. The participants comprised three pre-service EFL teachers, belonging to a teaching practicum group that included one university supervisor and three middle school mentors. Data were collected through video recordings of group meetings conducted during the practicum and interviews with the pre-service teachers. Analysis of the data revealed a gradual development of critical thinking among the pre-service teachers over the course of the teaching practicum. They attributed this development to several factors, including the guidance provided by the university supervisor and middle school mentors, peer communication, and the practice of evaluation during the practicum. The implications of these findings are discussed in light of the analysis, offering insights for teacher education programmes aiming to foster critical thinking skills among pre-service teachers.

A meeting place for meaningful collaboration – student teachers’ experiences and learning

ABSTRACT Background Internationally, teacher education usually involves close school-university cooperation. In Norway, such collaboration includes enabling student teachers to develop into researching teachers. In this article, our interest lies in how the Change Laboratory (CL), a form of participatory workshop, can lay the foundation for three-way collaboration between student teachers, teacher educators, and practice teachers, in terms of resolving practice issues and facilitating student teachers’ research planning. Purpose The study, contextualised within cultural historical activity theory (CHAT), sought to better understand student teachers’ experiences and learning gleaned from collaboration in the CL. Method Eight student teachers participated in the research, which was carried out over a four-year teacher education research and development project involving one university and one primary school. During this time, the student teachers met in the CL with the teacher educators from the university, and the practice teachers, who were working as mentors in the training schools. The data collected, comprising presentations and dialogues from the CL sessions, were analysed qualitatively. Findings According to the analysis, the student teachers thought that their CL experiences had supported them along the trajectory of becoming reflective, professionally oriented practitioners. They felt that, through participatory meetings with the teacher educators and practice teachers, they had developed in-depth subject knowledge; learned to collaborate; learned about school development; and learned how to be well prepared for the profession they were entering. In addition, they considered whether the project could be expanded to the entire teacher education system. Conclusions The findings draw broader attention to the role of participatory meeting places in creating a community of trust, and their potential to support teachers’ learning at crucial stages of their professional journeys, from early career phases and beyond.

Describing the women of orthopaedic surgery.

The purpose of this survey study was to examine the demographic and lifestyle factors of women currently in orthopaedic surgery. An electronic survey was conducted of practising female orthopaedic surgeons based in the USA through both the Ruth Jackson Society and the online Facebook group "Women of Orthopaedics". The majority of surveyed female orthopaedic surgeons reported being married (76.4%; 285/373) and having children (67.6%; 252/373). In all, 66.5% (247/373) were collegiate athletes; 82.0% (306/373) reported having no female orthopaedic surgeon mentors in undergraduate and medical school. Their mean height is 65.8 inches and average weight is 147.3 lbs. The majority of female orthopaedic surgeons did not have female mentorship during their training. Additionally, biometrically, their build is similar to that of the average American woman.

The mentoring experience of Jordanian pre-service science teachers

The purpose of this study is to examine Jordanian pre-service science teachers’ perceptions of their mentoring experience using the five-factor model of mentoring (personal attributes, system requirements, pedagogical knowledge, modeling, and feedback). This study uses a descriptive survey research design, and the Arabic version of the validated Mentoring for Effective Primary Science Teaching (MEPST) survey was administered electronically to collect responses from 49 participants. The data was summarized using descriptive statistics, and t-tests were conducted to test for significant differences in the perceived mentoring experiences between male and female Jordanian pre-service science teachers. The study supports efforts to validate the Arabic version of the MEPST survey. The means of the participants’ perceptions of mentoring were relatively high, greater than four on a five-point Likert scale, indicating that the pre-service teachers perceived their mentoring experience as positive based on the five factors. No statistically significant differences were found in the perceived effectiveness of the mentoring experiences between the male and female pre-service science teachers. The study findings have several practical implications and suggested directions for future research. Researchers are encouraged to investigate mentors’ perceptions and practices related to effective mentoring, and research on identifying and understanding school factors that may influence the effectiveness of mentoring in schools is also needed.

Mentoring as an effective tool of pedagogical activity in the training of mid-level medical specialists

The article highlights the system of organization of mentoring in the technical school of the MIFI on the basis of the social and humanitarian department. The main directions in the training of medical students are presented, mentoring models that are implemented during the educational process are considered.

Project Building Bridges: A Framework for Preparing Highly Qualified Speech-Language Pathologists to Serve Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students With Augmentative and Alternative Communication Needs.

Project Building Bridges was funded by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs to address the shortage of speech-language pathologists qualified to serve students with complex communication needs who benefit from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and are culturally and linguistically diverse. The purpose was to train future speech-language pathologists in culturally responsive AAC practices through coursework and fieldwork in AAC integrated into the Master of Science degree in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. Fifty-seven graduate students completed the project. The scholars' curriculum consisted of two AAC courses, both on-campus and externship AAC clinical practicum experiences to provide services to multicultural and linguistically diverse students, a U.S. or international service-learning opportunity, and cumulative portfolio presentations. Mixed-methods outcome measures consisted of four sets of pre- and postsurveys and qualitative feedback from exit interviews to assess changes in graduate student competencies. Significant differences were demonstrated between scholars' pre- and post-assessments of confidence ratings. Significant differences were also demonstrated in both scholars' and school mentors' pre- and post-assessments of competency ratings. No significant differences were found between evaluations of AAC preparation by Clinical Fellowship (CF) candidates and their CF mentors at 1 year postgraduation. Project Building Bridges provides a framework for preparing highly qualified speech-language pathologists to serve culturally and linguistically diverse students who benefit from AAC as evidenced by pre- and postsurvey results. The project can serve as a model for other university programs in the development of preservice preparation programs focusing on culturally and linguistically diverse students with AAC needs.

A Millennial’s leadership perspective: reflections on a decade of mentorship from a servant leader

PurposeThis article illustrates the transformational nature of servant leadership and its capacity to empower and develop others. In it, I recount my close relationship with a high school mentor who embodied the key tenants of Greenleaf’s (1970) servant leadership philosophy. I also advocate for others to provide mentorship and support in a similar fashion.Design/methodology/approachThis Origins contribution was constructed as a reflective narrative in response to a mentorship experience earlier in my life.FindingsA mentorship experience from my youth profoundly shaped my approach to leadership and teamwork that I still embrace to this day. Readers are asked to consider the power of servant leadership in their own lives.Originality/valueStudents of leadership can utilize this reflective essay as a touchstone for further classroom discussion.

Examining teacher candidates’ self-determined motivation to develop self-regulated learning promoting practices

The development of self-regulated learning leads to positive academic, social, and emotional outcomes for learners. For many educators, teaching towards self-regulated learning is challenging. This study investigated contextual and motivational features within teacher education programs that support or hinder teacher candidates' motivation to development self-regulated learning practices. Zimmerman's model of self-regulated learning (2008), along with Perry, Hutchinson, and Thauberger’s (2008) descriptions of self-regulated learning practices and Ryan and Deci's (2017) self-determination theory informed this process. Codes and categories drawn from interviews, documents, and in-class observations and reported upon in previously published work was analyzed to identify themes that are supportive or constraining of teacher candidates' motivation to develop practices that foster self-regulated learning in the classroom. Results reveal five themes: (a) opportunities for teacher candidates to see their school mentors' formation of classroom participation structures, (b) the provision of freedom for teacher candidates to experiment with practices along with in-situ scaffold support, (c) adequate support for teacher candidates to integrate self-regulated learning content into their practice, (d) teacher candidates' perceptions of alignment across their learning experiences, and (e) adequate time and support for teacher candidates to establish relationships in their practicum settings.

Educational Nurturing in Underdeveloped Contexts Unraveling the Dynamics of Student Teachers’ Holistic Development

Introduction: The paper underscores the crucial necessity of providing effective guidance to student teachers, referred to as "Pre-Service," to effectively address and navigate classroom challenges and overcome issues related to teaching practicum. Study explores the experiences of 08 student teachers focusing on their mentoring experiences during teaching practicum in rural areas of Sindh. Methodology: The study was conducted in schools situated in rural Sindh, involving participants who were new teachers in their fourth year of the Bachelor of Education program. The qualitative approach utilized structured open interviews to gather insights into the challenges faced by pre-service teachers during their teaching practicum, specifically exploring the guidance provided by mentors in underprivileged schools. Findings: The findings disclose a common experience among interviewed student teachers who lacked awareness of the challenges confronted by in-service teachers in underprivileged schools, particularly in rural areas with limited resources such as electricity,computers, whiteboards, and data projectors. The study highlights the concerns expressed by pre-service teachers regarding insufficient guidance from trained mentors and a lack of mentor motivation when assigned to schools in challenging environments. Implication/Future Direction: Drawing on the "Situativity theory" as a framework, the implications suggest the need for enhanced mentorship programs and support mechanisms to better prepare pre- service teachers for the challenges in diverse educational settings. Future directions include developing comprehensive mentor training programs and refining existing mentorship structures to ensure the successful integration of pre-service teachers into underprivileged school environments.

The Practicum Evaluation Conundrum: Perceptions of Preservice English Language Teachers and Their Mentors

The evaluation conundrum during teaching practicum concerning the criteria used and perception of them by faculty mentors, school mentors, and preservice teachers remains a critical concern in language teacher education. This multi-perspective research quantitatively investigates the viewpoints of preservice English teachers and their school and faculty mentors regarding the significance of the evaluation criteria set by the Ministry of National Education for evaluating preservice teachers’ teaching in teaching practicum. While all three groups considered the evaluation criteria to be significant—although at varying degrees—the faculty mentors ascribed greater importance to the evaluation criteria, compared to school mentors and preservice teachers, for both the evaluation criteria used by faculty mentors and school mentors. The study highlights the key role of evaluations and feedback provided by school and faculty mentors during teaching practicum despite higher degrees of significance attached to the evaluation criteria used by school mentors. The implications can inform policy and practice in language teacher education, promoting better outcomes for the preparation of future English language teachers in Türkiye.

Mentoring and Monitoring of Student Teachers in Their In-School Placements—The Case of the University of Santiago de Compostela

(1) The in-school placement is a key scenario in linking theory and practice in the processes of initial teacher education (ITE) and constitutes a crucial element in the understanding of professional competencies and the experimentation of educational innovation proposals. For this reason, the pedagogical model that guides teaching practices and the set of learning activities that university and school mentors develop is especially relevant. This paper aims to analyze the current individualized monitoring processes of student teachers, as well as to detect difficulties and needs for improvement. (2) The center of interest corresponds to the internship mentors of the ITE degrees of the Faculty of Education Sciences at the University of Santiago de Compostela. This research was carried out through a descriptive study with a survey method and a study sample of 202 mentors. (3) Results show that there are discrepancies in the activities that university and school mentors implement with students, as well as in the observation and supervision processes. (4) We propose a learning reflective methodology based on the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) model to coordinate agents involved in the internship, connecting them through a specialized eLearning environment equipped with specific tools to facilitate the processes of individualized monitoring, reflective learning, and self-regulation.

Implementation Of Accreditation Follow-Up Management (IAFUM) To Enhance Vocational High School Education Quality (Descriptive Study Of SMK XYZ In Bandung City)

This research identifies key post-accreditation issues in Vocational High Schools (VHS/SMK), highlighting low awareness of educational quality, limited involvement in planning, and a mismatch between SMK graduate skills and industry needs. Busy schedules hinder evaluating accreditation outcomes, delaying improvements and re-accreditation preparations. The study applies Corrective Action, Preventive Action, and Continuous Improvement concepts aligned with ISO 9001:2015. It analyzes Accreditation Follow-up Management's (IAFuM) impact on SMK XYZ in Bandung, employing a descriptive qualitative method. Accreditation, crucial for program eligibility, operates independently based on open criteria and government regulations. Findings reveal that while IAFuM was executed at SMK XYZ with documented planning, implementation, and evaluation actions, no records of the Inventory of Problems Resulting from Accreditation (IPRA) were found. The School Self-Evaluation based on National Education Standards (NES) and the School Quality Management System (QMS) lacked documentation. Post-IAFuM implementation, improvements in teaching processes, educator competency, administrative services, community participation, and industry collaboration were observed. However, not all schools saw enhanced alumni absorption or national exam scores. Insufficient follow-ups such as corrective actions, preventive measures, and sustainable enhancements were noted.Recommendations to boost education quality at SMK XYZ Bandung include: schools and accreditation teams reviewing issues, integrating IAFuM with QMS, policymakers considering IAFuM for accreditation gaps and school mentoring, and Accreditation Body for School/Madrasa (AB-S/M) including accreditation result records in school certificates.