Pre-service Education Programs Research Articles

Exploring the role of Black feminist thought in pre-service early childhood education: On the possibilities of embedded transformative change

As a Black feminist scholar who teaches in an early childhood studies program, the author has witnessed how dominant theories and methods used for pre-service early childhood education and care disconnect students from their lived experiences. The detachment of social location in theoretical text, and particularly in developmental discourse, is not isolated to the field; it is instead a result of the fragmentation of knowledge, which is central in the modern colonial project. The author explores what the possibilities are for Black feminist scholarship in pre-service early childhood education and care while unpacking the many racial and intersecting injustices in the field. The dominant research and pedagogy practices in early childhood education and care have limitations, with omissions of the nuances of the critical engagement of students, families and community more broadly through lived experience. When assumptions of detached and ‘objective’ knowledge are centred, then ideas that challenge norms and the status quo are omitted or peripheralized, when they are included. The article explores the possibilities of what the author calls ‘embedded transformative change’ – a change that is central to pedagogy and research in the field of early childhood education and care as opposed to being placed at the margins. Through embedded transformative change, members of pre-service early childhood education and care programs can think of themselves as active agents in change and liberation.

Integrating Computing into Preservice Teacher Preparation Programs across the Core: Language, Mathematics, and Science

This paper describes the beginning of a design-based research project for integrating computing activities in preservice teacher programs throughout a middle and secondary education department. Computing integration activities use computing tools, like programming, to support learning in non-computing disciplines. The paper begins with the motivation for integrating computing that encouraged widespread buy-in, design goals, and design parameters. The primary motivating factor for this work was preparing teachers to use technology to support learning in their classrooms. Involving computing education faculty in the preparation enabled the activities to include computer science and spread computational literacy. The paper also describes the process and year-long timeline for designing and implementing the integrations, followed by the details of the computing integrated activities. Last, the paper describes preservice teachers’ reactions to computing integration, focusing on before-and-after perceptions and knowledge of computing. Preservice teachers perceptions and knowledge of computing evolved similarly to teachers who engage in different approaches to learning about integrated computing, such as in elective or educational technology courses, suggesting that this approach is effective for engaging all teachers in integrating computing. In particular, the common feature that ignited teachers’ excitement about integrating computing was offering new opportunities to improve student learning and providing engaging activities within their non-computing discipline.

Professional ruptures in pre-service ECEC: Maddening early childhood education and care

This article engages in an autoethnographic analysis to offer an argument for the importance of bringing mad studies to pre-service early childhood education and care (ECEC) programs. Through both analysing reflections on two "maddening moments" during pre-service teaching as a mad-identified pre-service ECEC educator and discussing relevant mad studies literature, I aim to forward an argument for the criticality of maddening pre-service ECEC programs and pedagogies. I argue that mad studies can provide ruptures to normativities ingrained in the developmentalist curricula and pedagogies in pre-service ECEC post-secondary programs and offer new ways of thinking of children, educators, and ECEC outside of developmental and normative tropes of early childhood educators (ECEs). As such, I examine how a maddening pedagogy in pre-service ECEC can bring affect into the classroom and disrupt how sanism functions through the knowledges and normativities prioritized within pre-service ECEC.

Barriers general education teachers face regarding the inclusion of students with autism.

As the number of students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present in general education (GE) classrooms has increased in the past few decades, GE teachers must adapt to meet the needs of these students. Laws and regulations require students with ASD to be educated in the least restrictive environment, as well as that they be instructed by the teachers who were qualified to teach them. Unfortunately, GE teachers face the challenges supporting students with ASD in GE settings. This qualitative research investigates the barriers that prevent teachers from successfully implementing an inclusive environment in the GE classroom. In total, four elementary school teachers at a school in the northeast of the United States were interviewed and observed. The data were analyzed to identify emerging themes. The findings showed that GE teachers lack training in how to work with students with ASD in their GE classrooms, lack collaboration opportunities with their special education colleagues to better support their students with ASD, and are not provided sufficient resources by their schools and programs to create an appropriate inclusive environment in their GE classrooms. Based on these findings, certain improvements in professional development offerings for in-service general educators on how to teach students with ASD are recommended, such as providing broader training programs that give teachers the opportunity to practice interventions and teaching plans for inclusive classrooms and receive feedback from the training instructor(s). Furthermore, certain additions to the curriculum of pre-service university education programs for GE teachers are suggested. In addition, the research found that schools must make certain resources, including technology, available to GE teachers to meet the requirements of United States law regarding educating students with disabilities, including ASD, in the least restrictive environment, which is the GE classroom.

Building Resilience through Peace Education: Perspectives of Teacher Educators about Pre-service Teacher Education

The key objective of this research was to establish an evidence-based study about current teaching practices; focusing on the key elements of teaching methods used in pre-service education programs that can build resilience against (violent) extremism. One of the principles underpinning training young teachers is to help prepare and equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to practice peace education. The qualitative data was collected from teachers engaged in the education programs. In total 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Wah Cantonment, and six major cities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, Pakistan. The study argues that in order to ensure resilient teachers and trainers, the Bachelors of Education degree (B.Ed) program needs to offer both specialist skills and a theoretical understanding of peace, civic, and tolerance education. Such a result-orientated focus can enhance the effectiveness of the existing education programs in Pakistan vis-à-vis resilience towards (violent) extremism.

Self-Efficacy of English Language Teachers With Low and High Curriculum Literacy in Indonesian Schools

This study explores the difference in self-efficacy between high school English language teachers with two levels of curriculum literacy. The data were collected using a curriculum literacy test and a self-efficacy scale that were delivered online to 251 English teachers in Indonesia. The respondents were split into two groups based on their curriculum literacy scores. The findings show that teachers with higher curriculum literacy levels were more self-efficacious than those with a lower level of curriculum literacy. This implies that curriculum related courses in preservice teacher programs need to be improved, and in-service teacher training should focus on curriculum knowledge.

Pedagogical Competence of Science Pre-Service Teachers: Baseline for Training Program

This descriptive survey aimed to explore the pedagogical competence of science pre-service teachers (PSTs). The study involved 35 PSTs in a state university in Central Luzon, Philippines. In accordance to the National Competency-Based Teachers Standard (NCBTS) domains, science PSTs were assessed using an adapted NCBTS survey questionnaire to find out the pedagogical areas they do best and the areas that they have to develop. Results revealed that a typical science PST is a female, aged 21 years old and below from college. The study concluded that the pedagogical competence of Science pre-service teachers is moderately evident in terms of social regard for learning, learning environment, diversity of learners, curriculum, community linkages and personal growth and professional development domain. The findings on this study served as basis in constructing a training program for science PSTs which could enhance their pedagogical competence as they embrace the actual workplace after graduation.

The Impact of a Rater Training Program on the TGMD-3 Scoring Accuracy of Pre-Service Adapted Physical Education Teachers.

This study aimed to examine the impact of a TGMD-3 rater training program on pre-service adapted physical education (APE) teachers’ ability to score fundamental motor skills for children with developmental disabilities (DD). The training program consisted of a description of the TGMD-3 instrument and DD, as well as content focused on skill performance and correct scoring through systematic analysis of 13 FMS via the instrument. Three experts established the standard score through the TGMD-3 performance evaluation of a child with DD. Thirty-nine pre-service APE teachers in the experimental group and 30 pre-service teachers in the control group completed the pre- and post-test process in this study. There were significant impacts on the pre-service teachers’ ability to score the locomotor, ball skill subtests, and total skill scores (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Specifically, the results of the three locomotor skills (running, horizontal jump, & slide) and three ball skills (two-hand strike, dribble, & kick) significantly improved in scoring accuracy. The results of this study can evidence that a TGMD-3 rater training program for pre-service APE teachers enhances the scoring accuracy of FMS among children with DD.

Emotional experiences of student teachers of English language and their professional self-adequacy

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to examine the emotional experiences of student teachers of English language and the possible effects of these experiences and emotions on their professional self-adequacy. The current study used a social constructivist approach to emotions. Twelve student teachers of an ELT Program at a state university in Turkey took part in this study. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed inductively through content analysis. The analysis of the data yielded five major themes: Positive emotional experiences, negative emotional experiences, professional self-adequacy of student teachers, coping strategies, and regaining professional self-adequacy. The study indicated that student teachers of English language experienced both positive and negative emotional experiences during their pre-service teacher education. More importantly, this study highlighted the ways in which both positive emotional experiences of the student teachers and negative emotional experiences were connected to their professional self-adequacy. A model revealing the relation between the student teachers’ emotional experiences and their professional self-adequacy was proposed. Finally, this study makes a call to pre-service education programs to reconsider the key role that emotions play in teacher training.

A developmental research-based teacher education: designing and implementing a new program for preservice teachers in France

ABSTRACT In many countries, preservice teachers’ (PTs) education programs neglect the importance of connecting research and practice. Reconciling training and research remains problematic for PTs, who often encounter difficulties in making connections between the academic knowledge acquired in university and their experiences in the classroom. This context inhibits the development of their professional skills. Taking this observation as our starting point, the aim of this article is to conceptualize and to illustrate an alternative approach in order to establish a reciprocal link between training and research, sketching the outlines of a developmental research-based program of teacher education. We begin by studying different training-based approaches to research and their respective limitations, identifying the key principles and steps of a developmental research-based approach to teacher education. Then, we illustrate these principles using data from empirical studies. Finally, we discuss the conditions required for the implementation of such an approach to the teacher education of PTs in France.

Through Their Eyes: Ethnic Minority Students Describe Teachers Who Helped Them Succeed in School

In this article, ethnic minority students describe teachers who helped them succeed in school. Data are drawn from interviews conducted in 1997 with successful students enrolled in a pre-service education program at Yunnan Normal University. Many of the interviewees are now mid-career teachers in schools throughout Yunnan Province. Plans (postponed due to the pandemic) have been made to interview these individuals again, hopefully later in 2022. The focus here is on one characteristic of effective teachers that was mentioned frequently by the students, and that is teachers’ ability to bring about change. A tentative theoretical model was developed to explain teacher change agency. Using the model, we find that change brought about by teachers is manifested in students, schools, and society.

Exploring Motivational Orientations of Prospective Language Teachers

Pre-service teacher program has been a big issue in educational development and research worldwide. A dichotomy of their motivation under intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation is widely accepted but the motivational orientations under altruistic, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are also identified. This study was meant to identify what motivational orientations the Indonesian preservice language teachers had and whether their motivations changed while taking the training program. The criteria on reliability of internal consistency of the items were relatively high with their Cronbach’s Alpha .85. The results show that the participants had the three classifications of motivation of pre-service teachers and the results also revealed that the three sub-scales were significantly correlated. The empirical data in this study supported that the category of motivation of pre-service students under altruistic, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and the data also revealed that the participants became more motivated to be teachers after entering to the teacher training program. The data also suggests that the three types of motivation (altruistic, extrinsic and intrinsic orientation) are not antagonistic. The data also implies that motivational orientations in general are identified under the continuum of the extrinsic- intrinsic motivation and other categories, if any, may be grouped under the continuum.

An Evaluative Case Study on Investigating Preschool Teachers’ Views on Philosophy with Children

The purpose of this evaluative case study was to examine preschool teachers' views on the Philosophy with Children approach and its use in early childhood education through the Philosophy with Children experience. In this study, 11 preschool teachers participated in Philosophy with Children sessions for ten weeks, and then later attempted to implement the PwC approach in their educational environment at least twice. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews, basically before and after the 10-week PwC session as well as after the practices implemented by preschool teachers in their educational setting. In addition, during the 10-week PwC session, observations were conducted and audio recordings of all the procedures and field notes were collected. According to the study findings, the preschool teachers claimed the PwC approach could be used in early childhood education and positively affect children. Preschool teachers reported that the PwC approach led them to look critically at the relationship between the teacher and child in traditional education, understanding of guidance, and classroom management. On the other hand, this study revealed that preschool teachers reported handicaps related to self-confidence while using PwC and motivation to use PwC. They claimed some aspects of the traditional educational structure may hinder using the PwC approach. In conclusion, it was recommended that future research and in-service or pre-service education programs with preschool teachers be organized with more comprehensive content, including the philosophical dimension of the PwC approach.

Kirkpatrick Four-level Model Evaluation: An Evaluation Scale on the Preservice Teacher’s Internship Program

Internship programs are organized depending on the program provider (school), so many students have a big difference in the internship experience. On the other hand, the campus has limitations in running the program, one of which is evaluating the achievement of the internship program. The purpose of this study is to build validity on the evaluation scale of the apprenticeship program for pre-service teachers using Kirkpatrick's four-level evaluation model. This type of research is quantitative with a confirmatory quantitative approach. The sample is 212 pre-service teachers. The methods used in collecting data are observation, tests, and questionnaires. Instruments used for test sheets and questionnaires. Data analysis used a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) approach with the SmartPLS v3.0 application. The analysis results are that the four-level evaluation model meets construct validity and proves accurate validation on the internship program evaluation scale. In particular, the internship program evaluation scale effectively tracks program achievements at each level. The implication is that academic stakeholders on campus can use this evaluation scale as a measuring tool to experiment with the success of the internship program. In addition, they can review the achievements of pre-service teachers in implementing apprenticeship programs based on each level of the Kirkpatrick model.

Science Content Knowledge of Pre-Service Teachers in Biology Elementary School Level

Expectations for qualified primary school teachers in Indonesia are very high. The public is aware that education in elementary schools is an essential part of introducing a scientific discipline to students, one of which is science. To provide optimal science learning, teachers must have qualified Science Content Knowledge (SCK) so that students have no misconceptions and confusion. This study aims to analyze the mastery of prospective SCK teachers on biology subjects at the elementary level. The research method in this study is a descriptive method using a survey design. Data were obtained from 284 primary school teacher education program participants at the end of the semester. The instrument is a multiple-choice test with four answer choices with 40 questions. The device was then given to the participants and analyzed by calculating the percentage and putting it into a predetermined category. This study found that the mastery of pre-service teacher SCK needs to be considered because the average category of understanding is in the "Very Poor" and "Less" types. This study suggests the need for a professional program for both teachers and pre-service teachers who can combine SCK and pedagogy so that the learning provided is more optimal and offers a good learning experience.

A MOOC-based Flipped Classroom Model: Reflecting on pre-service English language teachers’ experience and perceptions

The flipped classroom (FC) model has recently gained an increasing interest in higher education. Similarly, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have attracted international attention in the literature. However, a review of previous studies suggests that although a MOOC-based FC model have often been advocated in theory, it has consistently been disregarded in practice. Therefore, the main significance of this study lies in its implementation of a MOOC-based FC model in an English Language Teaching (ELT) program for pre-service English language teachers for the first time in a Turkish context, and possibly in the literature. Moreover, the study explores their perceptions of a MOOC-based FC model and its effects on their academic achievement. In this regard, the study provides an exciting opportunity to advance our knowledge of the MOOC-based FC model in teacher education, especially in the field of ELT. The study took place at a state university in Turkey with 27 pre-service English language teachers in the 2019-2020 academic year. The methodological approach adopted in this study was a mixed-methods research design, benefiting from both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques. It followed a pre-experimental research design, involving the One-Group Pre-test - Post-test Design. A four-week intervention of MOOC-based FC implementation took place between the pre-test and the post-test. Taking the findings of this study into account, some stakeholders, e.g., educators, teacher trainers, policymakers, administrators, other professionals might consider integrating a MOOC-based FC model into their traditional classroom settings or creating a blended course that incorporates a MOOC into their existing face-to-face programs.

Pre-service Teachers’ Perceptions of Professional Standards and their Integration into Pre-service Training: A Comparative Study of Australia and Pakistan

This paper critically analyses 52 Australian and 68 Pakistani pre-service teachers’ (PST) perceptions of professional standards for teachers enabling the comparison of teacher preparation in the two countries. A multivariate analysis of variance tested the hypothesis that an integrated standards-based teacher preparation program was more effective for professional skills and competencies development than a non-integrated one. While the Australian PSTs undertaking a standards-integrated curriculum reported significantly higher levels of professional preparation in ten areas of professional Standards, their Pakistani counterparts - who were not exposed to such curriculum - reported inadequate preparation. The findings have implications for teacher educators and policy makers involved in the development of pre-service teacher programs.

Student Perceptions of Academic Engagement and Student-Teacher Relationships in Problem-Based Learning.

Students’ academic engagement depends on a variety of factors that are related to personal learner characteristics, the teacher, the teaching methodology, peers, and other features in the learning environment. Components that influence academic engagement can be cognitive, metacognitive, affective, social, task-related, communicative, and foreign language-related. Rather than existing in isolated spheres, the factors contributing to an individual’s academic engagement intertwine and overlap. The relationships students cultivate with others are prominent in several of these areas. Positive interpersonal relationships enhance individuals’ enthusiasm for learning (Mercer and Dörnyei, 2020), which benefits sustainable learning success and self-confidence. The relationships between students and teachers and the perceptions students have of their teachers seem to be particularly influential on students’ engagement in academic undertakings. Problem-based learning (PBL), a teaching approach particularly suitable for tertiary education, involves students in authentic problem-solving processes and fosters students’ self-regulation and teamwork. Intensive relationship-building is one of the key characteristics of this student-centered approach (Amerstorfer, 2020). The study reported in this article explores the connection between the academic engagement of 34 students and their perceptions of three instructors in a teacher education program for pre-service English teachers in Austria. An online questionnaire was used to investigate the participants’ perceived academic engagement (effort, dedication, learning success) in a university course that implements PBL as its underlying teaching methodology in comparison to conventional teaching approaches. The study further examines how the students perceived the course instructors’ caring, credibility, communication style, and feedback, which leads to new information about how PBL shapes student-teacher relationships. Due to Covid-19, the otherwise face-to-face course was taught online.

Action research in a teacher education program: probing into pre-service elementary teachers’ understandings of scientific practices and teaching scientific practices

ABSTRACT The study presented here is an action research that was conducted in a science and technology teaching course in a pre-service elementary teaching program at a private university in Turkey aiming at improving the pre-service elementary teachers’ understanding of science and teaching science. In order to achieve this aim, an innovative approach, using Benzene Ring Heuristic (BRH) to introduce scientific practices (SPs) to pre-service elementary teachers was implemented in the study. This heuristic was used to illustrate the interrelatedness of cognitive-epistemic and social-institutional aspects of SPs in a holistic presentation. The data were gathered from various sources, including pre-service teachers’ posters, individual lesson plans, and individual interviews. The results suggest that the method helped the pre-service teachers have a coherent and organised understanding of SPs; however, despite the increase in the usage of discourse and social certification, they still have difficulties understanding these issues. In light of evidence gathered from this study, further research includes deliberate attempts to encourage the pre-service teachers to integrate discourse and social certification in their own instruction.

Language Guerrillas: Signing Multilingualism into Action

This article opens an analytical window into the creation of multilingual guerrilla translations by participants in a preservice language teacher program at a public university in the United States. As an intervention responding to the prevalence of English monolingual signage on this highly diverse university campus, the college students invited a public audience into a joint critical interrogation of implicit institutional language policies, as their signage offered a necessarily incomplete and intentionally makeshift alternative to the official English displays. Inspired by the three-phase model of critical pedagogy, this grassroots endeavor embraced Freire’s notion of transformative praxis defined by the symbiotic relation of action and reflection. A closer examination of the scaffolding, which guided the planning and implementation, lends insight into activity design with the potential to nurture an activist aptitude among students. Comments from participants suggest that the conceptual stepping stones towards students’ collective critical engagement had a positive influence on their perception of language (teacher) advocacy and activism.