Quality Of Initial Teacher Education Research Articles

Professional and personal development of newly-qualified teachers as a factor in sustainable development of the region

Introduction. The article is devoted to the problem of newly-qualified teachers’ professional development. The aim of the study is to identify the difficulties of novice teachers during their adaptation in educational settings of the region and to substantiate the ways to improve the quality of initial teacher education in the system of continuous teacher education. Materials and Methods. The methodological basis of the study consists of contextual biographical and cluster approaches. The contextual biographical approach involves studying teachers’ professional biographies in the system of continuing education, taking into account complex external conditions. The cluster approach defines the principles of interaction between various stakeholders within the regional community in order to ensure the sustainable development of the regional educational system. In order to achieve the research goal, the following methods were used: theoretical (analysis of scholarly literature, comparison, generalization) and empirical (online questionnaire, focus group method, method of independent expert assessments). Results. Based on the analysis of scholarly literature, the authors provide their definition of professional and personal teachers’ development as a basic component of their professional development during the period of initial teacher education and at the initial stage of professional development. The authors argued that the main difficulty of novice teachers during the adaptation period is their interaction with various subjects of the educational process at school - students and their parents. The article substantiates the necessity of creating a regional educational cluster as an effective mechanism for improving the quality of initial teacher education at different stages of continuous teacher education. Conclusions. Based on the authors’ idea about professional and personal development of teachers as a basic component of their professional development in the initial period of their working life, the study reveals the main difficulties of novice teachers during their adaptation in educational settings of the region, overcoming of which requires changes in the system of psychological, teacher and methods education at universities and colleges. As an effective mechanism for improving the quality of teacher education, the authors substantiated the idea of creating a pedagogical scientific and educational cluster in the region, which unites the participants of the territorial educational community interested in providing the regional education system with highly qualified teaching staff.

Educational Experiences and Teacher Faith Integration Self-Efficacy in PreK–12 Mennonite Schools in North America

Educators at religious preK–12 schools attempt to integrate their faith into their teaching. Yet there is limited empirical study about how faith integration self-efficacy may develop. This study examines the relationships between the faith integration self-efficacy of educators at Mennonite preK–12 schools and their past educational experiences and initial teacher education. Regression analysis of survey responses indicates that the quality of initial teacher education is associated with educators’ faith integration self-efficacy. However, having attended a Mennonite preK–12 school or a Christian undergraduate institution were not predictive of faith integration self-efficacy. Discussion of results highlights implications for educators and future research.

Studying the influence of developing metacognitive processes on students' academic performance (with the main focus on psychological disciplines)

Introduction. The article addresses the problem of improving the quality of initial teacher education, which is especially important in the conditions of increasing requirements for teachers’ proficiency and competence. In particular, the article investigates how the development of metacognitive processes influences students' learning outcomes. The purpose of the study is to examine the relationships between metacognitive processes of Education students and their academic performance in psychological disciplines. Materials and Methods. The article presents the study of Education students’ metacognitive processes, which involves using various methods and techniques based on the BACEIS cognitive model (Hartman H., Sternberg R.). The diagnostic part of the study consisted in didactic tests in psychological disciplines and a questionnaire of metacognitive involvement. In order to process the results, the rank correlation coefficient and the statistical criterion of signs were used. The study involved a total of 86 first- and second-year students studying Education (44.02.05, double-major programme). Results. The results of the study suggest that the majority of students demonstrate the average level of metacognitive processes; and indicators of metacognitive knowledge are slightly better developed than indicators of metacognitive regulation. Based on the results of the formative experiment, the authors evaluated the effectiveness of using the BACEIS cognitive model in order to develop indicators of metacognitive involvement. Moreover, the first stage of the diagnostic study revealed correlations between students' academic performance in psychological disciplines and metacognitive indicators. Nevertheless, despite the increase in metacognitive processes determined by thoroughly organized formative work, no significant increase in student academic performance was detected. Conclusions. Finally, the authors conclude that, despite the identified links between successful completion of the didactic test and high indicators of metacognitive processes, the increase in the level of metacognitive processes does not affect the learning outcomes in psychological disciplines.

Provision of comprehensive secondary schools with teaching staff holding university-level degrees: With the main focus on the regions of the Russian Federation

Introduction. The current socio-political and economic situation in the Russian Federation requires significant reorientations of the Russian economy towards import substitution, the development of high-tech and social technologies, and a considerable renewal of the service sector. This, in turn, sets priorities for the entire Russian education system. Rapid changes in technological processes, the development of digitalization and artificial intelligence, the rapid obsolescence of knowledge and the need to update it, and the increasing processes of globalization require teachers to constantly advance their professional competences, have stable civic position, understand the vector of government policy and nurture the appropriate educational attitudes in the younger generation, to take part in the formation of a national-cultural consciousness, a conscious sense of national cultural peculiarities and the unity of the Russian people, taking into account the uniqueness and specificity of living in various Russian regions. The article discusses some regional features of staffing educational settings and examples of solving the national tasks of identifying professional deficits within regional educational systems, measures to support teaching staff, and strategies and mechanisms of state regulations in the field of education. The purpose of the study is to reveal the characteristic features of staffing comprehensive schools with employees holding university-level degrees in the regions of the Russian Federation. Materials and Methods. The article presents the results of investigating the representation of teacher education in the regions of the Russian Federation. The study was conducted using a comparative analysis of official statistical data on comprehensive secondary educational institutions (‘OO-11’ reporting form) and on Higher educational institutions (‘VPO-1’ reporting form). The research methods also included a sociological survey of Local Educational Authorities within the regions of the Russian Federation. Results. The research has revealed the need for teaching staff identified by Local Educational Authorities, the most common mechanisms for solving the problem of teacher shortage in the regions of the Russian Federation, and the mechanisms used for identifying the needs for teaching staff. The prevailing mechanisms of revealing the interest of children and youth in career in education and teaching are determined. The survey indicated the most common measures of support for teaching and education staff in the regions by Local Educational Authorities, directions for improving the quality of initial teacher education and other aspects related to the provision of regional education systems with teaching staff, and the quality of induction and mentoring systems for newly qualified educators. The results of the survey are selectively presented in the article. Conclusions. The results obtained can be used by the state authorities of the subjects of the Russian Federation, federal districts of the Russian Federation, and higher educational institutions to improve the efficiency of regional models of teacher education, integrating them into the national educational system of teacher education.

The importance of starting well: the influence of early career support on job satisfaction and career intentions in teaching

ABSTRACT Across the UK and internationally high rates of attrition among recently qualified teachers has focused attention on strengthening early career support. Policy attention has shifted from recruitment to the issue of sustainability. While the importance of induction is widely recognised, few studies investigate the components of early career support that new teachers deem most effective and the contextual conditions that support professional growth. This article explores the complex relationship between perceptions of pre-service preparation, school context and induction experience on the continuing learning needs, job satisfaction and career intentions of teachers at the end of their first year post-qualification. The analysis draws on 382 survey responses from teachers undertaking statutory induction in primary and secondary schools in the North West of England and Scotland in 2019. The findings suggest that the quality of initial teacher education is the strongest predictor of continuing development needs at the end of induction. High quality preparation has the potential to sustain new teachers across diverse employment contexts and the many challenges of the early career phase.

Developing a context-appropriate framework for measuring quality in initial teacher education

Against a backdrop of increasing pressure globally to enhance the quality of teacher preparation, and a corresponding push to ‘measure’ this performatively, we present a context-specific framework for identifying the quality of initial teacher education (ITE). The framework derives from a project involving all Scottish ITE providers. It adopts a vernacular globalisation perspective, drawing on international literature and local knowledge to create a mutually agreeable framework. In sharing the process, as well as the product, we offer a unique perspective on how one jurisdiction has reconciled global neoliberal pressures with a national educational ideology which values democratic approaches to schooling.

Development and Validation of a Scale to Explore Pre-Service Teachers’ Sense of Preparedness, Engagement and Self-Efficacy in Classroom Teaching

Raising the quality of initial teacher education can make an important contribution to raising the overall quality of the school system. In Australia, the National Framework for Professional Standards for Teaching is used as a common framework to set standards for the accreditation of teacher education programs. However, institution-wise assessments need to be carried out regularly to explore the quality of preparation pre-service teachers receive and to what extent they feel well prepared to enter teaching. This will enable teacher education programs to implement strategies to strengthen the link between university coursework and professional practice of pre service teachers. This paper discusses the development and validation of a scale to measure pre- service teachers’ perceptions of preparedness to teach, readiness to engage with the teaching profession and self-efficacy in teaching. The study also proposes a model describing the relationship among these variables. Data was collected from 235 final year pre-service teachers using a newly developed questionnaire at an Australian university. Data shows that the Pre service Teacher Professional Experience (PTPE) scale is a theoretically sound, gender invariant and psychometrically valid instrument. The implications of using the scale in teacher education programmes are discussed in the context of the findings.

Developing Knowledge, competences and a research stance in initial teacher education in the Post-Bologna context

This paper draws on previous empirical work and reflections on initial teacher education after the implementation of the Bologna process in Portugal. It focuses on issues of knowledge and competences developed under the new legal framework, particularly as far as the research component is concerned. As initial teacher education occurs at a Master level, the research dimension was assumed as a key feature of the new model being practicum one of its key distinctive and most innovative elements. The need to enhance the quality of initial teacher education and to reinforce the link between theory and practice and between research and teaching was at the forefront of the restructuring process at the University of Minho, particularly regarding practicum. The paper concludes with a summary of the positive aspects and issues that deserve further attention.

Towards initial teacher education quality: Epistemological considerations

Initial Teacher Education quality is often judged through the auspices of audit-style mechanisms designed to facilitate the identification of matters pertaining to the ‘readiness’ of student teachers to enter the world of the classroom as fully qualified. In this regard, quality of programmes is often determined by the knowledge and skills student teachers demonstrate. Whilst ontological aspects are not necessarily elided, they are often ignored in favour of such epistemological matters. While such knowledge-based positions do not describe the totality of ITE quality evaluation they do predominate. This paper identifies a tripartite heuristic for the identification of ITE epistemology that explicitly refers to, and is requiring of, ontological matters in the development of student teachers: identifying teaching, doing teaching, knowing teaching. Whilst it is the result of a Scottish project, Measuring the Quality of Initial Teacher Education (MQuITE), its emphasis is notable for other countries.

Innovation in Initial Teacher Education through a School–University Partnership

Global criticism on the quality of initial teacher education has led to calls for reform. One initiative that emerged in Australia was the establishment of Hub School partnerships, which facilitate collaborations between schools and universities to explore how initial teacher education could be improved. This paper reports one such partnership, which applied improvement science in its design to develop an ambitious approach to initial teacher education. A qualitative research approach aimed to uncover the outcomes of the project. The findings from the first prototype are reported herein and highlight the value in cross-faculty mentoring and in providing pre-service teachers opportunities for reflection while immersed in school settings.

Sistemas de avaliação da educação superior em Portugal e Brasil

<p>O artigo apresenta um estudo comparado entre Portugal e Brasil sobre os sistemas de avaliação da educação superior e suas influências nos currículos de formação inicial de professores. Utilizou-se a metodologia qualitativa para analisar como os sistemas de avaliação constituem referencial básico para os processos de regulação e supervisão da educação superior, a fim de promover a melhoria da qualidade e valorização das identidades institucionais. Os resultados indicam que o processo de avaliação externa tem influenciado os currículos, pois destacam os aspectos positivos e os pontos fortes dos cursos, reforçando concepções e práticas curriculares atuais. Conclui-se que os processos de regulação e supervisão, ao referenciarem os resultados da avaliação externa que valorizam as identidades institucionais, criam estratégias políticas para que a gestão institucional assuma a responsabilização e prestação de contas pela melhoria da qualidade da formação inicial de professores.</p><p>Sistemas de Avaliação, Educação Superior, Currículo, Formação Inicial do Professor.</p><p> </p><p>Sistemas de evaluación de la educación superior en Portugal y Brasil</p><p>El artículo presenta un estudio comparado entre Portugal y Brasil sobre los sistemas de evaluación de la educación superior y sus influencias en los currículos de formación inicial de profesores. Se utilizó la metodología cualitativa para analizar cómo los sistemas de evaluación constituyen un referente básico para los procesos de regulación y supervisión de la educación superior, a fin de promover la mejora de la calidad y la valorización de las identidades institucionales. Los resultados indican que el proceso de evaluación externa ha influido en los currículos, ya que destacan los aspectos positivos y los puntos fuertes de los cursos, reforzando conceptos y prácticas curriculares actuales. Se concluye que los procesos de regulación y supervisión, al referenciar los resultados de la evaluación externa que valoran las identidades, crean estrategias políticas para que la gestión institucional asuma la responsabilidad y la rendición de cuentas por la mejora de la calidad de la formación inicial de profesores.</p><p>Sistemas de Evaluación, Educación Superior, Currículo, Formación Inicial del Profesor.</p><p> </p><p>Higher education evaluation systems in Portugal and Brazil</p><p>The article presents a study comparing Portugal and Brazil's higher education evaluation systems and their influences on initial teacher education curricula. We used a qualitative methodology to analyze how the evaluation systems provide a basis for higher education and supervision processes in order to promote improvement in education quality and the valuing of institutional identities. Results indicate that external evaluation processes have influenced the curricula as they underline the positive aspects and strengths of teacher education programs, thus reinforcing current curricular practices and concepts. We conclude that as regulation and supervision processes build on evaluation results that promote institutional identities, they create political strategies that foster institutional management’s accountability for improving the quality of initial teacher education.</p><p>Evaluation Systems, Higher Education, Curriculum, Initial Teacher Education.</p><p style="margin: 0cm 49.05pt 0pt 5.2pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.05pt;"> </p>

Moving the andragogy of teacher educators forward: the potential and challenges of Problem-Based Learning in teacher education

Objectives To explore the benefits of Problem-based Learning (PBL) for pre-service trainee teachers, as a preparation for teaching in the primary school. Methods A case study at one centre of teacher education in Wales is reported, using a pragmatic, mixed methods approach. The research tools used included semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and analysis of video-recorded group meetings and module marks. Results Two hundred and eighty students (160 postgraduate and 120 undergraduate) responded to the questionnaire. Almost all report PBL to be highly motivating, engaging and relevant to teacher training. PBL modules had higher average marks for both postgraduate and undergraduate students than non-PBL modules. Interviews and video analysis with a focused group of fourteen students reveal perceived learning gains in applying theoretical knowledge to real-life problems, understanding multiple viewpoints and challenging assumptions. The greatest perceived challenges were self-directed research and time management. Conclusion Current discourse around the quality of initial teacher education in the UK focuses on institutional structures, location of training and leadership. We argue that PBL, and the quality of andragogy generally among teacher educators, should feature more strongly in these discussions. Keywords: teacher education, higher education, problem-based learning, Wales

Calling for ‘urgent national action to improve the quality of initial teacher education’: the reification of evidence and accountability in reform agendas

In early 2015, the Australian Government and an associated Ministerial Group called for ‘urgent national action to improve the quality of initial teacher education’. Following this call for action, the Australian Government launched a series of reforms into initial teacher education, targeting ‘teacher quality’ and ‘classroom readiness’. The reforms are based on a logic of deficiency within initial teacher education, mandating new accreditation processes, standardized assessments and the National Literacy and Numeracy Test for pre-service teachers. In this paper we set out to explore these reforms, considering the policy trajectories, technologies and technicist network in which they are operationalized. We propose the concept of reification and objectification to examine the institutionalization of auditing, standardization, and accountability. These reforms aim to intervene in both the content and delivery of initial teacher education. We argue that reforms such as these recondition our conceptions of professionalism and teacher quality. There is a contraction in scope for progressive or experiential teacher education, and moreover, the ongoing de-professionalism of teachers and teacher educators, whom are subjected to constant surveillance.

The influence of an intentional sustained practicum in a low-decile primary school on pre-service teachers’ knowledge of teaching priority learners

New Zealand has a persistent problem of inequitable educational outcomes between different student groups, which has led to New Zealand being designated a high achievement-low equity country. A key policy lever in the quest to lift educational achievement for priority learners, identified by the Ministry of Education as Māori, Pasifika, students with special learning needs, and students from low socio-economic communities, is improving teacher quality. Hence there has been a renewed policy focus on improving the quality of initial teacher education. The context for this study is an innovative Master of Teaching primary programme that includes an intentional practicum placement in partner schools with a high proportion of priority learners. This paper reports a qualitative study of how this practicum enhanced pre-service teachers’ knowledge of teaching, particularly the teaching of priority learners. A general thematic analysis of post-practicum reflective statements written by two cohorts of Master of Teaching students immediately following their practicum (n=41 [25+16]) indicated four major themes—Difference, Diversity, Differentiation, and Difficulty. A directed thematic analysis of the reflective statements was then carried out. Overall, the findings indicated that the intentional placement in a school with a high proportion of priority learners disrupted the pre-service teachers’ prior beliefs about such schools and their expectations of priority learners.

Impact of initial teacher education for prospective lower secondary school teachers in Rwanda

Rwanda has prioritized quality education by taking measures to increase the number of qualified lower secondary teachers. However, having a qualification does not necessarily guarantee higher quality teaching, as what matters is the process of how qualification is acquired. This paper explores quality of initial teacher education (ITE) for lower secondary teachers in Rwanda, focusing on intended, implemented and attained curriculum. The main finding is that the ITE curriculum is not constructed based on the theory of how student teachers learn, characterised by disregard of student teachers' prior-knowledge on teaching, fragmentation of different knowledge domains and lack of reflective practice.

Thinking, language and learning in initial teacher education

Initial teacher education (ITE) serves as a bridge between prospective teachers exiting the school system to enrol in teacher education faculties, on the one hand and newly qualified teachers (NQTs) who are embarking on a career in schooling on the other. The present paper describes the language and thinking skills student teachers bring to their ITE programmes and the conditions faced by NQTs when they enter schools on the other side of the chalk face. This is the context within which we ask the question: To what extent are the universities providing the teachers required by the school system? While a review of the literature, together with new evidence emerging from the Initial Teacher Education Research Project (ITERP) study, indicates that the answer to this question is by no means unequivocally positive, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has issued new regulations aimed at addressing the gap between current programmes and the demands of schooling. We conclude by arguing that the quality of ITE will only be improved once teacher educators move their practices closer to those of practitioners in the strong professions, which are characterised by the development of a strong theoretical knowledge base, from which effective protocols of practice may be derived and which is continuously interrogated by the practitioners themselves. We suggest that the place to start on this quest is the instruction of prospective primary school teachers in early literacy and numeracy.

THE EFFECTS OF THE PEDAGOGICAL EXPERIENCE ON THE QUALITY OF TEACHER EDUCATION

Faculties should ensure integration of science and teaching: science that constantly evolves following the changes in scientific thought and teaching that incorporates these changes in their own organization. So there is a need of including the students, who are prepare for teachers, in the process of pedagogical experience during their study. Pedagogical experience is a completed with a pedagogical practice and hospitation on one side and theoretical knowledge on the other side. Pedagogical experience is a kind of activities that students are involved in the educational process. Considering the importance of these activities, we made a research to determine the effects of pedagogical experience of students in the fourth year of studies at the Pedagogical Faculty in Skopje. This research is guided by two assumptions: 1. Pedagogical experience as an integral part of studies has positive effects on the quality of initial teacher education and educators; 2. The organization of pedagogical internship does not fully satisfy the educational-applicative needs of students and objectives of the internship.During the survey, we have found that the students have good theoretical knowledge about the educational process and are successful in selecting topics for discussion with the competent persons in institutions. But they are not initiative enough and they are not sufficiently active in the process that have no direct obligation to implement and to record. Because of that, students have to be well prepared and instructed for all activities through the practice that will relate to their overall engagement as teachers.It shows that there is a necessity to redefine the structure, objectives, content and organization of the internship.

Pre-service Teachers’ Views of Their Training: Key Issues to Sustain Quality Teacher Education

Abstract This paper draws upon data from a broader piece of research aimed at examining pre-service teachers' views of their initial teacher education within the context of a master’s degree programme in teaching. The data were collected through questionnaires and written narratives at the beginning and at the end of the programme. In this paper, the data arising from 47 narratives at the end of the programme are presented. Five categories emerged from the qualitative data: curriculum content, teaching practice, the role of teacher educators, teaching and learning methods, the organisational aspects and structure of the programme. Although the participants identified positive aspects of the initial teacher education programme, they also stress that there is room for improvement, especially with regard to a greater coherence of the curriculum and a better articulation of its different components. Implications of the findings for enhancing the quality of initial teacher education and the role of teachers’ educators are discussed.

Classroom management strategies and techniques: A perspective of English teacher trainees

1 IntroductionThe ever changing landscape of education nowadays calls for a re-thinking of teaching profession itself, and therefore of teacher education and professional development. Teachers need to take on new roles and responsibilities in a mobile world, they need to teach multicultural classrooms, they need to integrate ICT 's in their instructional strategies, they have to integrate students with special needs, take active part in assessment and accountability processes, build a learning community together with students' families and social environments. All governments, especially in Europe, are making efforts, at least at policy-making level, to implement provisions of European Union with regard to modernising education. Expectations regarding teachers are changing too, so that teachers are nowadays required to teach besides content matter and traditional competences, transversal competences, i.e. ways of thinking (creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making and learning); ways of working (communication and collaboration); tools for working (including information and communications technologies); and skills around citizenship, life and career and personal and social responsibility for success in modern democracies (Schleicher 2012).As concerns teacher education landscape in Romania, status quo is old system of a separate module, independent of and concurrent with curriculum of undergraduate and postgraduate degree studies; i.e. Module I for undergraduate students (30 ECTS), and Module II for postgraduate degree students (30 ECTS). Upon successful completion of first module, teacher trainees are entitled to teach at primary and secondary level (compulsory education, up to 10th grade), and upon successful completion of 2nd module, teacher trainees are entitled to teach at all levels of primary and secondary education (including upper secondary). Despite fact that new Law of Education, 1/2011, which provided for dissolution of concurrent teacher education modules, which were to be supplanted by a Master of Education programme, organised by nationally accredited universities and study programmes, this provision never materialised. The M.Ed. programme was to provide initial, theoretical training for duration of 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS), followed by an induction (probationary) teaching period for duration of one school year, carried at in educational institution under supervision of a qualified mentor. We have yet to see if such a system could be more efficient than current one. At present, however, we need to make efforts in order to increase students' readiness and willingness to enter teaching profession, and moreover, to increase their motivation to remain in system (c.f. Serbanescu, & Popescu 2014).2 Literature ReviewOne of main goals of European Commission is to ensure, among others, adequate policies for providing new teachers with high quality initial teacher education, and encouraging current teachers to continue developing and extending their skills and competences throughout their careers. The Communication 'Rethinking Education' of The European Commission (EC 2012) brought forth recommendation that Member States:... revise and strengthen professional profile of all teaching professions (teachers at all levels, school leaders, teacher educators). Key actions are reviewing effectiveness as well as academic and pedagogical quality of initial teacher education, introducing coherent and adequately resourced systems for recruitment, selection, induction and professional development of teaching staff based on clearly defined competences needed at each stage of a teaching career, and increasing teacher digital competence.Much long same lines, Report to UNESCO of International Commission on Education for Twenty-first Century Learning: The treasure within stresses fact that the importance of role of teacher as an agent of change, promoting understanding and tolerance, has never been more obvious than today (Delors 2000:119), as teachers find themselves looking for new perspectives. …

Teacher Competence Frameworks in Europe: policy‐as‐discourse and policy‐as‐practice

This article analyses the growing focus on teacher competences in European policy discourse against the backdrop of global convergences in education reforms. It traces key ideas, policy recommendations, peer learning and documents which underscore the relevance of teacher quality for education improvement, as recently stressed in the European Commission Communication and Staff Working Documents Rethinking Education. The intertwining of teacher competence frameworks with other areas of education policy is outlined — key competences in school education, the quality of initial teacher education, and the continuous professional development of teachers — teasing out reasons for their central role. Some insights from research and peer learning then explore key implications in the defining and implementing of teacher competence frameworks in national education systems. A comparative viewpoint further analyses current policy trends about teacher competences across European national contexts, in discourse and practice. In order to do so, a framework of analysis takes into account system features as key variables affecting national policy — roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, governance and education cultures, and the status of the teaching profession. Across the variety of policy practices, the analysis endeavours to trace some emerging patterns and trends, highlighting paradigmatic national examples, with some food for thought.