Support Preservice Teachers Research Articles

Toward More Meaningful Tech Integration: Supporting Preservice Teachers to Connect and Ideate

Mentor teacher technology practices are typically not considerations when identifying practicum placements for preservice candidates. Yet, these shape how new teachers use technology in their own future classrooms. Grappling with patterns in candidate gathered observational data (121 pre-service teachers over seven separate technology-focused courses), this study explored the perceived impact of a designed Thinking Tool and ideation process in lieu of practicum experiences revealing little to no modeling of student use of technology for in-process learning. Data were collected from the Thinking Tool and candidate reflections, and findings suggest a value add toward generating multiple innovative applications. Ideation resulted in moving beyond book-end use in instructional designs to creatively integrating technology to support student talk and sense-making, collaboration, and student organization, engagement, and content creation.

Supporting pre-service teachers’ integration of engineering into STEM lessons throughout engineering-infused training

ABSTRACT Background Training both pre – and in-service teachers who are capable of planning and enacting engineering design–based science instruction are critical for integrating engineering into K-12 science curricula. Purpose This study investigates pre-service teachers’ efforts to integrate engineering into their lesson plans. Sample 13 pre-service chemistry teachers, enrolled in a 13-week engineering-infused integrated STEM course, were the participants of the study. Design and Method Considering the purpose of the study, qualitative design was deemed to be the best fit including qualitative data collected through lesson plans and reflection papers. To assist pre-service teachers’ learning, 13-week engineering-infused integrated STEM was started with the information about the engineering profession and how engineers work. Additionally, pre-service teachers engaged in six integrated STEM activities including engineering design cycle. After each activity, the participants were asked to write a reflection paper on what they learned about engineering, the engineering design process, and integrated STEM. Finally, the participants had three chances for analyzing strong and weak integrated STEM lesson plans and planning integrated STEM lesson planning experience with mentors. The pre-and post-course lesson plans (n=26) were analyzed using existing codes from the related literature, which is a deductive coding process. Later, an inductive approach was used to determine the categories of engineering integration into the lesson plans. Four categories (ranging from a complete engineering lesson to a science lesson with no engineering link) were formed. Reflection papers were used to support the findings. Result The results showed that none of the pre-plans included engineering. However, after participated in a 13-week integrated STEM course, all post-course lesson plans integrated engineering through the use of engineering design processes to some extent. Conclusion The training with different experiences seems promising for pre-service teachers to learn engineering integration into STEM lesson plans.

Preservice Teachers’ Self-efficacy Through COVID-19: A Large Scale Survey of Students at a Regional University In Australia

Throughout 2020, the world was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the context of higher education, the pandemic critically affected professional experience, a core component of teacher education. This paper shares data from a large-scale survey about teachers’ sense of self-efficacy and the impact of COVID-19 on professional experience. Findings showed that the disrupted context had a moderate effect of pre-service teachers’ self-efficacy in relation to their classroom management, instructional strategies, and student engagement. Qualitative results illuminated that the modes of learning, changing classroom contexts and communication between the pre-service teachers, school and their university were the underlying contextual factors that impacted pre-service teacher’s self-efficacy. Implications from these findings challenge universities to consider how to best support pre-service teachers’ progression in times of disruption and consider how Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programs prepare pre-service teachers to teach in disrupted classrooms.

Flipped Learning Model - Learning Style Interaction: Supporting Pre-service Teachers on Science Teaching Methods and Personal Epistemologies

This study revealed how the flipped learning model interacted with the learning styles of primary pre-service teachers. In addition, the impact of the flipped model on participants’ science teaching course achievement and personal epistemologies was investigated. A mixed-method research design was conducted with 27 primary pre-service teachers enrolled in a Science Teaching Course. The flipped classroom model was applied for 15 weeks. The Kolb Learning Style Inventory was distributed to categorize participants under learning styles. Midterm and final exam scores were used as an indicator of course achievement and compared with 30 primary pre-service teachers’ achievement from the previous semester. Lesson plans of the participants were analyzed qualitatively to investigate the personal epistemologies of the participants. Analysis indicated that flip learning environment supported “divergers” more than the others on course achievement. The level of sophistication on personal epistemologies changed across learning styles and the method of teaching differed across learning styles. Further studies need to be conducted to reveal how teacher education programs help pre-service teachers improve personal epistemologies and transfer them to their instruction.

“Sometimes You're Going to Be Uncomfortable”: Pre-service Elementary Teachers’ Generative Orientations Toward Facilitating Critical Conversations Around Texts

Grounded in our commitment to support preservice teachers (PSTs) in an urban elementary teacher education program to develop anti-bias pedagogies, we engaged in a design-based study aimed at enacting critical conversations about texts that foster dialogue about power and privilege. In this analysis, we explore how PSTs engaged with children during discretionary moments within critical conversations in their field placements. We asked: What generative orientations are visible in PSTs’ analysis of and reflection on their facilitation of critical conversations with children? Findings reveal that PSTs who extended dialogue during these moments in critical conversations—rather than avoiding or ignoring children’s contributions—displayed an orientation toward seeing children as sensemakers; flexibly responded to encourage dialogue; and recognized the value of feeling uncomfortable.

Preservice teachers’ struggles in finding culturally sustaining spaces in standardized teaching contexts

ABSTRACT Policymakers’ neoliberal reforms have negatively altered early childhood teaching and teacher education. In doing so, these policies make it difficult for preservice teachers to learn how to engage in pedagogical practices that sustain their students’ sociocultural worlds. To address this issue, we utilized case study methodology to examine how a sample of preservice teachers (n = 5) struggled with making sense of how to engage in culturally sustaining practices across their professional training program. Findings from our investigation demonstrate how these preservice teachers appeared to possess both a conceptual and pedagogical understanding of culturally sustaining practices. Yet, they stated that they struggled to find the space required to implement such practices in their field placements, which made them question the landscape of public education while seeking out spaces that might allow them to engage in such practices as classroom teachers. Analyzing these findings illuminate at least three opportunities for teacher educators to support preservice teachers in identifying spaces within their teaching for engaging in culturally sustaining practices in their field placements and future classrooms.

Learning analytics and flipped learning in online teaching for supporting preservice teachers’ learning of quantitative research methods

Research methods, including those of a quantitative nature, are an important part of preservice teacher training in Finland. However, quantitative research methods are considered challenging, often feared, and even hated among preservice teachers. This may be due to previous negative experiences and emotions associated with their use, which also influence other aspects of learning such as self-regulation, self-efficacy, and orientations. Given such circumstances, new ways to teach and support the learning of quantitative methods are needed. Here, we investigate the self-regulation, self-efficacy, orientations, and emotions of preservice teachers (N = 38) enrolled in a quantitative methods online course incorporating learning analytics and a flipped learning approach. Dispositional learning analytics data from five measurement points were used, and data were analyzed via descriptive statistics, internal consistency (Cronbach alpha), bootstrapped paired sample t-test (between first and final measurement point), and profiles based on mean. The results demonstrate that in this teaching context, preservice teachers’ time management skills can be improved, and task avoidance, anxiety, and boredom towards quantitative methods decreased. The meaning of these results from the teaching context perspective are also examined, as are the limitations and implications of this study.

Examining the usability and viability of using a simulated classroom environment to prepare preservice science teachers during and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Educator preparation programs experienced extreme challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many universities and K-12 schools moved to fully online or hybrid instructional models. These abrupt changes significantly limited preservice teachers’ opportunities to engage in classroom-based practice teaching experiences, which are a bedrock of educator preparation programs to support preservice teachers in learning how to teach effectively. In this study, we examined the usability and viability of integrating simulated teaching experiences, which occur in an online, virtual classroom environment consisting of five student avatars, into elementary science method courses during the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare preservice science teachers to engage in one critical science teaching practice: facilitating discussions that engage students in scientific argumentation. This study uses qualitative content analysis of survey data and a focus group interview to identify patterns and themes in how four elementary science teacher educators and 49 of their preservice teachers perceived the use of this tool within elementary science teacher education, particularly the opportunities and challenges this tool afforded during the pandemic and possibilities for use in the post-COVID era. Study findings suggest that these elementary science teacher educators and preservice teachers perceived the simulated teaching experience as valuable for supporting teacher learning, addressing COVID-related challenges, and tackling perennial challenges in science teacher education. They also noted challenges related to implementation and concerns with future access. A discussion of key factors that may support and hinder the use of such tools within elementary science teacher education and implications for leveraging lessons learned post-COVID are included.

INVESTIGATION OF PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ TEACHING EFFICACY BELIEFS: A MULTI-VARIANCE ANALYSIS

Öğretim yeterliği, öğretmenlerin öğretim hakkında ne düşündüklerini, kendilerini nasıl motive ettiklerini ve sınıfta nasıl davrandıklarını etkiler. Fen öğretimi bağlamında yeterlik inancının iki boyutu vardır: kişisel fen öğretimi özyeterliği ve fen öğretimi sonuç beklentisidir. Bu çerçevede öğretmen adaylarının fen öğretimi öz yeterliği ve sonuç beklentisi inançlarının incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmada betimsel araştırma desenlerinden kesitsel tarama modeli kullanılmıştır. Araştırma örneklemi Orta Anadolu bölgesinde öğrenim görmekte olan ve lisans dönemi boyunca en az bir defa fen bilimleri dersi almış öğretmen adayları arasından rastgele seçilmiştir. Verilerin elde edilmesinde kişisel bilgi formu ve fen öğretimi yeterlik inanç ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Öğretmen adaylarının fen öğretimi öz yeterlik ve fen öğretimi sonuç beklentisi inançları üzerinde bağımsız değişkenlerin (öğrenim görülen bölüm, cinsiyet ve sınıf düzeyi) etkisi ayrı ayrı ve birlikte çift yönlü MANOVA testi ile incelenmiştir. Öğretmen adaylarının fen öğretimi öz yeterlik ve fen öğretimi sonuç beklentisi inançları öğrenim gördükleri bölüme göre farklılaşmaktadır. Sınıf düzeylerine göre öğretmen adaylarının fen öğretiminde sonuç beklentilerinde son sınıf öğretmen adayları lehine farklılık göstermiştir. Fakat fen öğretimi özyeterlik inançlarında farklılık görülmemiştir. Öğretmen adaylarının fen öğretimi yeterlik inançlarının desteklenmesi için fen ve öğretimine yönelik derslerin sayısı arttırılabilir. Öğretmen eğitim programlarında önemli miktarda alan bilgisi ile mesleki deneyimlerine daha fazla vurgu yapılması fen eğitiminin kalitesini arttırabilir.

Supporting preservice teachers to transition to university through a purposely structured Health and Physical Education subject

Transitioning to university can be challenging for many first-year students. This study focusses on a Health and Physical Education (HPE) subject delivered at an Australian regional university and designed to support first-year preservice teachers training to teach in primary schools. The aim of this mixed-methods research was to investigate if a purposely structured first-year HPE subject could support primary preservice teachers’ confidence to (1) be part of a community of learners; (2) promote success and retention at university; and (3) develop the skills for teaching HPE, specifically, Fundamental Movement Skills. Survey results indicated 90 per cent or more of the preservice teachers’ self-reported confidence across the three areas being investigated. Interview responses highlighted the importance of well-structured coursework and real-world learning experiences in developing confidence for teaching HPE.

The relationship between self‐assessment and performance in learning TPACK: Are self‐assessments a good way to support preservice teachers' learning?

AbstractBackgroundTo purposefully integrate information and communication technologies (ICT) into contemporary teaching, teachers must have complex technological, pedagogical and content‐related knowledge (TPACK). TPACK could be fostered through diverse learning environments such as working in a makerspace as part of university teacher training. The development of TPACK in (preservice) teachers depends on how effectively they can assess their own knowledge and adapt their own learning process. Self‐assessment tools can be used to identify and assess their individual TPACK.ObjectivesThe study presents data on TPACK development through project work in a makerspace. It examines the consistency of self‐assessment and performance tests in relation to TPACK and discusses the applicability of self‐assessment scales to self‐regulated learning.MethodsTPACK self‐assessment takes place among preservice teacher students (N = 327) in a pre‐post design. This is complemented and contrasted with an external assessment in form of a self‐developed performance test (teaching vignettes).ResultsSelf‐assessment and performance test show a TPACK‐increase resulting in the project work in the makerspace, with higher performing students benefiting more from the intervention than lower performing students. All students tend to overestimate their TPACK before and after the intervention, with low‐performing students overestimating themselves more than high‐performing students. Existing TPACK scales can serve as readily available self‐assessment tools, but should be complemented by other knowledge assessment measures. Furthermore, depending on the results of the self‐assessment, different learning opportunities should be made available so that preservice teachers with a lower TPACK still benefit from the project work in the makerspace.Take AwaySelf‐assessments accompanying the work in the makerspace could provide feedback information about TPACK‐related knowledge, learning processes and learning outcomes and thus support students in structuring their work. For this purpose, it seems necessary to improve the quality of self‐assessment to enable reliable reflection on preservice teachers' own learning process.

Transformative Learning in an African American Agriculture Course

Despite agricultural education’s prioritized efforts to increase diversity, people of color remain minimally represented. The overwhelming majority of all School-Based Agricultural Education (SBAE) teachers are White, non-Hispanic. The limitations of SBAE teachers’ prior experiences or knowledge base of ethnic and racial diversity could lead to challenges in successfully supporting minority students. Agricultural education programs play an essential role in supporting preservice teachers’ attainment of deeper understanding by providing multicultural education curriculum that encourages growth in their critical awareness of diverse cultures. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the transformative learning experience of students completing an African American (AA) Agriculture course. This study analyzed responses provided by students both at the beginning and end of the course experience to understand if and to what degree the transformative learning process occurred. Findings revealed evidence of transformative learning among the students in the way of six emergent themes that described their perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs about AA agriculture when comparing responses acquired before and after the completion of the course. With the limited representation of AA teachers in SBAE programs, the evaluation of the transformative learning process of students in this course may open the door to create a more culturally inclusive environment in SBAE and the agricultural industry as a whole.

“A Prescription for Play”: developing early childhood preservice teachers’ pedagogies of play

ABSTRACT Although research supports play for children’s learning and development, many teachers and schools do not support play or relinquish it to recess or “If time.” Teachers need to experience how they learn through play to advocate for play in their classrooms. It is not enough to say, “play is learning”; they need to learn through play. This study uses data from multiple classroom assignments in a course on early childhood curriculum to examine how these play-based assignments support preservice teachers’ support for play and creativity in early childhood classrooms. The study found that preservice teachers had a positive shift to supporting play and creative experiences, including an appreciation of open-ended materials. They also developed understanding of children’s perspectives, the value of play as adults and found that engaging in play and creative experiences was beneficial to preservice teachers’ mental health and self-care. These findings reveal that if we want teachers to advocate for play and creativity in their classrooms, it is essential for them to have direct experiences learning through play and creativity themselves. Recommendations suggest that teacher educators should integrate authentic play experiences for play advocacy and support preservice teachers’ mental health and well-being.

Primary preservice teachers' perspectives of their literacy mentoring experiences during professional placement

PurposeBeing literate can change the lives of Australian students. Therefore, graduating effective teachers of literacy is an imperative for Australian schools. Professional experience provides an opportunity for preservice teachers to refine their skills for teaching literacy under the guidance of a mentor teacher. This study investigates from the perspective of preservice teachers, the attributes and practices primary mentor teachers demonstrate when mentoring literacy teaching during professional experience.Design/methodology/approachThis investigation utilised survey design to gather data from primary preservice teachers (n = 402) from seven Australian universities. The 34 survey items were underpinned by the Five Factor Model of Mentoring and literacy practices prescribed by the Australian curriculum. Preservice teachers self-reported their responses about their literacy mentoring experiences on a five-point Likert scale. The Five Factor Model of Mentoring provided a framework to analyse and present the data using descriptive statistics.FindingsFindings revealed 70% or more of preservice teachers agreed or strongly agreed mentor teachers had the personal attributes, shared the pedagogical knowledge, modelled best practice and provided feedback for effective literacy teaching. Conversely, only 58.7% of the participants reported their mentor teachers shared the system requirements for effective literacy teaching.Research limitations/implicationsThe preservice teachers self-reported their experiences, and although this may be their experience, it does not necessarily mean the mentor teachers did not demonstrate the attributes and practices reported, it may mean they were not identified by the preservice teachers. While there were 402 participants in this study, the viewpoints of these preservice teachers' may or may not be indicative of the entire population of preservice teachers across Australia. This study included primary preservice teachers, so the experiences of secondary and early childhood teachers have not been reported. An extended study would include secondary and early childhood contexts.Practical implicationsThis research highlighted that not all mentor teachers shared the system requirements for literacy teaching with their mentee. This finding prompts a need to undertake further research to investigate the confidence of mentor teachers in their own ability to teach literacy in the primary school. Teaching literacy is complex, and the curriculum is continually evolving. Providing professional learning in teaching literacy will position mentor teachers to better support preservice teachers during professional experience. Ultimately, the goal is to sustain high quality literacy teaching in schools to promote positive outcomes for all Australian school students.Originality/valueWhile the role of mentor teacher is well recognised, there is a dearth of research that explores the mentoring of literacy during professional experience. The preservice teachers in this study self-reported inconsistencies in mentor teachers' attributes and practices for mentoring literacy prompting a need for further professional learning in this vital learning area.

Supporting Pre-service Mathematics Teachers’ Professional Noticing of Students’ Reasoning About Length

This study examined how the levels-of-sophistication framework supports pre-service mathematics teachers’ professional noticing of students’ reasoning about length measurement. Three pre-service teachers were asked to analyse students’ written solutions in the tasks that reflected different characteristics of students’ reasoning before and after participating in an intervention based on the “Levels of Sophistication in Students’ Reasoning about Length” (Battista, 2006) conceptual framework The findings indicated that the levels-of-sophistication framework enabled the pre-service teachers to give their full attention to students’ mathematical understanding and to provide proper instruction to support students’ learning and hence, it had a significant role in the improvement of the professional noticing skills of these pre-service teachers. Thus, it is suggested that the levels-of-sophistication framework can be used to support pre-service teachers’ professional noticing skills and to better prepare them to teach length measurement based on students’ reasoning.

The Name Jar Project: Supporting Preservice Teachers in Working with English Language Learners

Classrooms are becoming more linguistically and culturally diverse and many educators are feeling unprepared to meet the varied needs of English language learners (ELLs). Through a larger design-based research doctoral study, I collaborated with 11 preservice teachers and 28 ELLs in Grades 2 and 3 to design and implement a literacy intervention that focused on cultivating literacy engagement to foster English language development. This paper documents the positive impact the implementation of the literacy intervention, also known as the Name Jar Project, had on supporting the preservice teachers’ emerging practice. Analysis of focus group data, preservice teachers’ written reflections, and field notes revealed that (a) the preservice teachers, through their informal learning experiences, were able to empathize with the ELLs’ strengths and challenges of learning English; (b) the service learning model provided a safe learning environment for preservice teachers to gain practical experience working with ELLs; and (c) through the research design, preservice teachers connected practice and theory to inform their future teaching experiences.

PLAT 20(3) 2021: Promoting Self-Regulated Learning: Training, Feedback, and Addressing Teachers’ Misconceptions

Self-regulated learning is the capacity to monitor and regulate your learning activities and is vital in an increasingly complex and digitalized world with unlimited amounts of information at your fingertips. The current Special Issue highlights five articles and one report, which provide different approaches for teachers to promote effectively self-regulated learning in various educational contexts: training, feedback, and addressing teachers’ misconceptions. This editorial serves as a succinct review article and an introduction to the content of this issue. Training programs frequently teach information about effective learning strategies. Accordingly, Benick et al. (2021) found that students reported using more learning strategies when their teachers provided direct-strategy instruction combined with a learning diary, as compared to when these supports were not implemented. Yet, in this study, no transfer effect on academic performance was observed. Note that it is important that students are motivated to engage with these training courses and the learning strategies that are taught. Accordingly, van der Beek et al. (2021) investigated high school students in their last year before graduation and demonstrated that “motivated” students more often participated in a voluntary, self-regulated-learning training. However, a utility-value and implementation-intention intervention did not increase the likelihood of participation. McDaniel et al. (2021) reported a theoretical training framework addressing multiple components of self-regulated learning. The authors then tested a pilot college course based on this framework: knowledge of and belief in the effectiveness of learning strategies are targeted combined with efforts to promote students’ commitment and planning to apply these strategies (Knowledge-Belief-Commitment-Planning framework; McDaniel & Einstein, 2020). Another approach to promote self-regulated learning is to provide feedback and opportunities to effectively process and utilize it. Bürgermeister et al. (2021) developed an effective online tool supporting preservice teachers to assess and provide feedback on peer learners’ self-regulated use of effective learning strategies. Kuepper-Tetzel and Gardner (2021) demonstrated how to enhance self-regulated processing of feedback by temporarily withholding university students’ grades in favor of accessing and engaging with the feedback first. Finally, teachers’ misconceptions about learning can affect the degree to which teachers can scaffold students’ learning how to learn. As a first step, to address these misconceptions, Eitel et al. (2021) developed and psychometrically evaluated the Misconceptions about Multimedia Learning Questionnaire (MMLQ). Using the MMLQ, the authors showed that (preservice) teachers endorsed three out of four common misconceptions of self-regulated multimedia learning, with the potential to design instructional devices to refute them and thereby to promote rather than hinder self-regulated learning in students. Taken together, the contributions of the current Special Issue highlight self-regulated learning as a critical skill at all levels of education, which can be promoted through structured training programs, various uses of feedback, and addressing misconceptions about self-regulated learning from (pre-service) teachers.

Exploring the Impact of Field-Based Supervision Practices in Teaching for Social Justice

The purpose of this study is to understand how field-based supervisory practices support preservice teachers’ conceptualizations of reflective practice, curriculum inquiry, and social justice-oriented pedagogies. Moving away from the more traditional supervisory triad model (e.g., preservice student--cooperating teacher--university supervisor), our qualitative investigation examined five supervisory practices: formal observation, Lesson Study, video debriefs/observations, guided observations, and participation in Intellectual Learning Communities (ILCs). Through a case study of two preservice teachers, this study highlights how these supervisory practices helped support preservice teachers’ notions of reflective practice and curriculum inquiry but did not deepen their notions of social justice and inclusivity.

Enacting Number Talks in a Simulated Classroom Environment: What Do Preservice Teachers Notice About Students?

Number talks are short mathematical discussions offering sensemaking opportunities for students. Aside from bolstering students’ mathematical learning, this instructional routine may also support preservice teachers (PSTs) in investigating how to facilitate discussion-focused instruction. In this study, PSTs engage in a learning cycle to explore, plan and rehearse two separate number talks during human-in-the-loop simulations, and then reflect on these experiences. During the first simulation, PSTs focus on understanding the routine’s components while positioning avatar-students as sensemakers as they elicit their participation. In the second simulation, PSTs build their instructional skills as they record representations of students’ mathematical thinking, probe students’ thinking in order to make mathematics visible, as well as notice missed opportunities to support students’ mathematical reasoning during reflections of their experiences. Implications of this study suggest that simulations, when embedded within a cycle of enactment and reflection, support PSTs in developing professional noticing skills.

Supporting preservice teachers to become informed teachers of reading through one-to-one tutoring in an English initial teacher education setting

ABSTRACT Training preservice teachers as teachers of reading is a complex task, as is reading itself. Preservice teachers need to understand the theory that underpins practice; the cognitive skills and knowledge required to read and the contextual factors that impact beginner readers. This longitudinal, mixed-methods study evaluates the benefits for preservice teachers and for the children they tutor, of a collaborative approach between an English university, its city’s schools and Local Education Authority. Preservice teachers (n = 362) were trained in and then implemented the Boosting Reading at Primary intervention. The children’s (n = 724) pre- and post-intervention reading age data was analysed along with qualitative and quantitative data from a case study of one cohort of preservice teachers (n = 87). The study demonstrates the reading progress made by children in the project and the increased knowledge, skills, pedagogic practices and self-efficacy of the preservice teachers.