Education Teacher Preparation Research Articles

Integrating emerging technologies to enhance special education teacher preparation

Integrating emerging technologies to enhance special education teacher preparation

“Close to my Heart”: Teacher Educators Building Racial Literacies

Although building preservice teachers’ racial literacy is a key goal to reducing racial inequity in K-12 settings, little attention has been paid to how literacy teacher educators are prepared to conduct this work. This is unsurprising given the neoliberal logic underpinning universities today. In this multiduo autoethnographic study, six literacy teacher educators utilized reflection on critical incidents to examine their own racial literacy development. By forming cross-racial pairs and utilizing a combination of writing and dialogue, these six participant/researchers interrogated their own views and experiences of race and racism. Findings suggest that the examination of critical incidents can support teacher educators’ racial literacy growth. Specifically, participants reflected on the vulnerability necessary to support preservice teachers’ racial literacy development and utilized ethnographic methods to build the practice of sharing about their own racial literacy learning. They also used critical incidents to come to a deeper understanding of the construct of racial literacy itself. These results imply that for professional organizations such as the Literacy Research Association to deliver on their espoused commitments to addressing ongoing institutional racism, they must intentionally create professional spaces for coreflection and dialog about racial literacy. Further, we consider the implications of this work for literacy doctoral programs and teacher educator preparation within contexts of college and university-based teacher education programs.

Findings from Two Pilot Studies: The Perspectives of Teachers and Chinese Immigrant Parents on Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This manuscript combines two pilot studies to understand teachers’ and immigrant parents’ perspectives on K-12 students’ schooling experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews were collected as the data sources in both studies. The socio-ecological theory is utilized to analyze the data. Participants included two teachers and two Chinese immigrant parents. The findings show that (1) both parents and teachers described concerns and challenges linked to social isolation at the microsystem level, (2) the participants felt connected or disconnected when reflecting on teacher-parent communication at the mesosystem level, and (3) the participants shared their expectations on the resources that could be offered by school districts and teacher education preparation programs at the exosystem level. The findings informed recommendations for supporting teachers, immigrant students, and parents in the post-pandemic world.

Preparing future primary school teachers to solve the problem of historical education of primary schoolchildren with the main focus on the formation of historical memory: Methodological and tech-nological aspects

Introduction. The article deals with the problem of preparing future teachers for delivering historical education and the formation of historical memory in primary schoolchildren. The purpose of the article is to clarify methodological and technological aspects of preparing future primary school teachers to solve the problem of historical education of primary schoolchildren with the main focus on the formation of historical memory. Materials and Methods. The study follows the value-semantic approach. The research methods employed include the survey, the unfinished sentence method, statistical methods and content analysis. Results. The authors summarized the existing theoretical research on this problem, identified the level of future teachers’ awareness about the history of our country, justified the need to apply a value-semantic approach to the process of preparing students for delivering historical education in primary school with the main focus on the formation of historical memory, and proposed ways of preparing students for delivering historical education. Conclusions. The authors conclude that the preparation of future teachers for historical education with the main focus on the formation of historical memory among students should be carried out on the basis of a value-semantic approach. The basis of readiness for the implementation of this process is high level of teachers’ awareness about the history of our country, as well as their understanding and practical application of the mechanism of historical education in conjunction with the formation of historical memory.

THE CONTENT OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF FUTURE EDUCATORS TO WORK IN PRESCHOOL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

This paper provides a comprehensive examination of the content of professional training for future educators preparing to work in preschool education institutions in the United States. It delves into various aspects of the curriculum, highlighting essential components such as child development theories, instructional strategies, assessment techniques, and classroom management practices that are crucial for fostering a conducive learning environment for young children. The study emphasizes the significance of integrating theory with practical experiences. It discusses how hands-on training, including internships and field placements, equips future educators with the skills needed to effectively engage with preschool children and adapt to diverse learning needs. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of culturally responsive teaching, advocating for a curriculum that reflects the varied backgrounds of children and their families. Additionally, the paper explores the role of collaboration with families and communities, recognizing that strong partnerships are vital for supporting children’s holistic development. It discusses strategies for effective communication with parents and caregivers, as well as the importance of involving them in the educational process. By analyzing current trends and standards in early childhood education, including accreditation requirements and professional competencies, the paper aims to identify best practices for developing skilled educators. It also addresses challenges faced by teacher preparation programs and suggests ways to enhance the quality and relevance of training. Ultimately, this study seeks to contribute valuable insights into the ongoing discourse about teacher preparation in early childhood education, advocating for a well-rounded approach that equips future educators to meet the diverse and dynamic needs of young learners in the United States.

From Background to Foreground: A Retrospective Self-Study of Critical Social Studies Teacher Educating

ABSTRACT In this retrospective collaborative self-study, we examined our development as justice-based social studies teacher educators. Rooted in frameworks centered on critical social studies and teacher educator knowledge and practice, an analysis of discussions and curricular-instructional materials spanning 12 years found that justice was treated as optional in early iterations of our methods courses. Yet over time, we have taken steps to move justice from the background to the foreground of our work. We discuss and offer explanations for this growth, concluding with implications for our own practice as well as those charged with structuring (and teaching within) teacher educator preparation and induction programs.

Early Adopters: Navigating AI Integration in Special Education Teacher Preparation

Exploring the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education is important as it challenges traditional teaching practices and shapes how educators may approach them in the future. In this article, we document the transformative integration of AI in special education teacher preparation, highlighting how we, as early adopter professors, attempted to navigate this journey, offering practical applications for AI use. Practical applications of generative AI tools include aligning course objectives, developing modules, and creating assignments and assessment measures. Additionally, we describe innovative uses for AI, such as incorporating chatbots in teacher preparation courses, navigating curriculum development, generating case studies, and aligning individualized education program (IEP) goals with curricular standards. We also explore how AI can be employed as a reflective coaching tool for teaching practice. Ethical considerations are emphasized, focusing on transparent communication about AI use and documenting the learning process to humanize assessment experiences and mitigate potential risks.

Teaching in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Reimagining Activities and Assignments in Preservice Special Education Teacher Education Programs

Artificial intelligence (AI) text generators, such as ChatGPT and Copilot, have been used for various purposes such as creating written content, writing or debugging computer code, answering questions, providing information, and improving written communication. This robust functionality of AI text generators along with the high rate of use reported by college students highlights the need for instructors in special education teacher preparation programs to contend with the impact of AI on teaching and learning. The purpose of this article is to provide examples of how teacher educators might reimagine assignments and activities in the era of AI text generators. Specifically, the authors explore ways that AI applications might be intentionally incorporated or, conversely, intentionally restricted in the design of course assignments and activities.

Exploring the Integration of Artificial Intelligence into Special Education Teacher Preparation through the TPACK Framework

With the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI), specifically generative AI and large language models (e.g., ChatGPT, Google Gemini), into education, there is a conversation regarding what knowledge teachers still need and will need moving forward. In this article, we describe how AI can, and should, be aligned to the Technological Knowledge, Pedagogical Knowledge, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, as a part of special education teacher preparation. Additionally, we explore the implications of AI on the TPACK framework, specifically how AI can be integrated within each of the three components, specific tools that support each aspect, and guiding questions that teacher-educators and pre-service teachers should be using when considering AI. We will provide teacher-educators with example activities they can use with their pre-service teachers to introduce AI and integrate its use within their curriculum, framed within the TPACK.

Navigating AI-Powered Personalized Learning in Special Education: A Guide for Preservice Teacher Faculty

Integrating Artificial Intelligence-Powered Personalized Learning (AI-PPL) in special education teacher preparation represents a shift toward tailoring educational experiences to meet the unique needs of preservice teachers and students with disabilities. This article explores the implementation of AI-PPL tools in teacher preparation programs, highlighting their potential to customize learning experiences, provide adaptive feedback, and enhance engagement through interactive content. This review of current AI-PPL functionalities, such as adaptive learning environments and customized feedback mechanisms, demonstrates how AI-PPL can impact teaching practices and student learning outcomes. The article introduces critical attributes for successful AI-PPL integration, such as ensuring accessibility and inclusivity. It calls for further professional development to enhance educator competency and skills. By presenting real-world examples and guiding questions for special education faculty, the authors offer practical insights for educators and faculty members to effectively navigate the complexities of adopting AI technologies in teacher preparation programs.

Artificial Intelligence in Special Education Teacher Preparation: An Introduction from the Guest Editor

Artificial Intelligence in Special Education Teacher Preparation: An Introduction from the Guest Editor

The Preparation of Music Teacher Educators

The Preparation of Music Teacher Educators

Critically Conscious Early and Elementary Educators: Towards Abolitionist Education in Teacher Preparation

How do teacher preparation programs re-culture themselves so that we can supply educational settings with teachers who work toward liberation from racism and other systems of oppression? Abolitionist education is one strategic framework that can be utilized to support this systemic re-culturing. I share my experiences in re-designing and facilitating a diversity course in an early childhood education (ECE) teacher preparation program toward abolitionist education through culturally and historically responsive learning, social justice teaching frameworks, Chicana/Latina feminist philosophy, and abolitionist pedagogy. The course explored four units: Identity, Justice and Anti-Bias, Intergenerational Genius, and Freedom Dreaming and Abolition. In-class and at-home projects included positionality statements, analyzing characteristics of white supremacy culture operating in ECE, studying abolitionist movement organizers, and transforming mandated curriculum based on social justice for young children. In this article, I share the context of the course redesign, my facilitation, and reflexive ideas for moving toward abolitionist education as a field of teacher preparation.

An Exploration of Physical Education Teacher's Preparation Process for Educational Professions

An Exploration of Physical Education Teacher's Preparation Process for Educational Professions

Quality of Health Education Teacher Preparation Program Curricula Throughout the United States.

Undergraduate majors in education, specifically in school health education (HE), have declined considerably in the United States. Reductions in state and federal funding for K-12 public education and increased demands on educators to prioritize standardized academic outcomes versus focusing on the whole child encompass many factors leading to fewer qualified teachers and reduced quality of HE delivery within schools. A content analysis of over 300 HE teacher preparation programs throughout the United States was conducted from 2019 to 2020 to assess available and required curriculum for pre-service HE teachers. Seven curriculum areas were reviewed: nutrition, physical activity (PA) and physical education (PE), HE, chronic disease management (CDM), social emotional learning and mental health (SEL/MH), drug abuse and tobacco prevention (DA/TP), and a methods course in teaching HE. Findings indicated program type influenced course offerings, with stand-alone HE and joint HE/PE programs providing the most comprehensive curriculum. Most programs required courses in general HE, PA and PE, and nutrition. Programs were deficient in offering courses in CDM, DA/TP, and SEL/MH. This article contains recommendations to improve the quality of HE delivery in public schools, for example by ensuring that school health educators are trained in providing skills-based HE to youth, which can assist in addressing child and youth health outcomes (eg, CDM, mental health) for the nation.

Special Education Teacher Preparation in Hungary

This article provides an overview of general and special education in Hungary, including training and teacher preparation. We examine trends towards inclusion and the challenges of training general education teachers to support students with disabilities. We also outline the process of qualifying for special education and explore teacher preparation in Hungary, including the various paths to becoming a certified teacher and the ongoing professional development requirements. This article concludes by addressing the historical importance of public education in Hungary and the laws and policies pertaining to special education. We highlight current issues in special education and teacher preparation, such as the diagnosis process for autism and the need for improved support and pay for teachers. Overall, a comprehensive overview of special education in Hungary is provided, highlighting its challenges, progress, and areas for improvement.

Preservice teachers’ pedagogical competence and transformation learning in a dual online-offline teaching practicum

The amount of research discussing preservice teachers’ (PSTs) critical reflection on teaching practicum in transformative learning (TL) within teacher education programs is evident. However, research investigating PSTs’ pedagogical competence (PC) and TL through the lens of critical reflection on Indonesian EFL teaching practicum settings is limited. The study aimed to investigate what PSTs learned from critical reflection on a dual online-offline teaching practicum for developing PC and how they performed TL. Ten PSTs engaged in a two-month teaching practicum experience within the English teacher education preparation program of a state university in Central Kalimantan Indonesia were purposely sampled in this case study. Multiple data were garnered through reflective journals and focus group interviews. Data were analyzed deductively and thematically to explore prominent themes. The results shed some light on lessons learned encompassing the instructional practices for PSTs’ PC development and their improved PC. PSTs performed TL by boosting students’ ability in changing mindsets and thinking habits in learning and making them aware of learning and becoming better learners. The research implication provides empirical evidence pertaining to how critical reflection on the dual online-offline teaching practicum contributes to PSTs’ PC development and TL performance for professional development.

Constructing expertise: reframing intelligence with preservice teachers

ABSTRACT We argue that part of inclusive teacher preparation is building a mindset that positions all learners as valuable and capable members of the classroom community. A key piece of developing this mindset is engaging pre-service teachers in authentically rethinking their understanding of intelligence and expertise. This article is a descriptive piece of an inclusive education teacher preparation programme making changes to construct teachers and peers with intellectual disability as experts to help develop future teachers. We describe the programme and two features that position people with intellectual disability as experts: hiring a teaching assistant with an intellectual disability for an introductory special education course and embedding a semester-long experience that pairs pre-service teachers with college students with intellectual disability. We describe these experiences and what preservice teachers shared about them. Implications for teacher education and future research are discussed.

Integrating disability into equity-focused general education teacher preparation

Most students with disabilities spend the majority of their school day in general education classrooms, yet most general education teachers do not feel prepared to meet the diverse learning and social and emotional needs of these students. A key to the enactment of evidence-informed practice for creating and supporting meaningful learning experiences for students with disabilities is the preparation of general education teachers. In this article, we conceptualize the key features of high-quality teacher preparation that support general education teachers to teach students with disabilities. We illustrate how these features have been addressed in one equity-focused elementary teacher education program and provide recommendations and questions to consider for teacher preparation programs and future research. Recommendations for teacher preparation include (1) naming disability in guiding principles and program documents, (2) examining ableism, (3) integrating universal design for learning, and (4) navigating policies and practices together within higher education.

Effectiveness of School Violence Prevention Programs in Elementary Schools in the United States: A Systematic Review

School violence remains a major concern for scholars, policymakers, and the public in the United States. Despite the implementation of various school violence prevention programs, information regarding their effectiveness in the United States is outdated and limited. This systematic review identified current elementary school programs that effectively reduce school violence in the United States and determined the types of elementary school violence prevention programs implemented, their effectiveness, and the types of tools used to enhance such programs. A qualitative methodological approach was employed, and four databases were searched. English articles published between 2012 and 2023 were selected. Furthermore, data involving elementary school education, school personnel, teachers, and children (5–12-year-old) in the United States were included in the thematic analysis. Results confirmed that the school-wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports program effectively decreases violence, suspensions, office referrals, and disruptive behaviors, whereas positive action effectively reduces negative violent behaviors. Social–emotional learning (SEL) implementation also reduced behavioral issues. The findings of this study are relevant for guiding teachers, school administrators, policymakers, teacher education preparation programs, and health professionals in constructing evidence-based violence prevention programs with an added SEL component for elementary schools.