Teacher Education Research Articles

From awareness to action: multicultural attitudes and differentiated instruction of teachers in Chinese teacher education programmes

AbstractThe increasing diversity in modern classrooms necessitates that teacher education programmes equip pre-service teachers with skills to create equitable and inclusive learning environments for all students. In response to this imperative, particularly within the Chinese educational context, this study investigated pre-service teachers' multicultural attitudes—including stages of awareness (Know), emotional engagement (Care), and behavioural intentions (Act)—and their differentiated instruction skills. Furthermore, it examined how Chinese teacher education programmes can cultivate these attributes and enhance their alignment. Using a mixed-methods approach, we surveyed 257 pre-service teachers on their multicultural attitudes and 1356 students on their perceptions of their teachers' differentiated instruction skills, supplemented by in-depth interviews with 10 pre-service teachers. Results from descriptive, correlation, and multilevel modelling analyses revealed that pre-service teachers generally possessed positive multicultural attitudes, progressing from initial awareness to empathy and behavioural intention, and were perceived as proficient in differentiated instruction. However, the Know and Act dimensions showed limited direct relationships with student-perceived differentiated instruction practices, highlighting an 'intention-action gap'. Content analysis identified several essential components of teacher education for enhancing pre-service teachers' multicultural competence and bridging this gap, including specialized formal training, reflection activities, and practical application opportunities. These findings advocate for a shift towards more personalized, experiential, and reflective learning environments in Chinese teacher education programmes to better align multicultural attitudes with effective differentiated instruction implementation.

Complex Instruction: developing teachers’ professional knowledge and practice in Brazil

ABSTRACT ‘Programa de Especialização Docente Brasil’ (PED Brasil) is a learning and professional development program in mathematics or science education for primary or secondary in-service schoolteachers. Designed to be a teacher education program that addresses issues related to educational quality and equity in racially, socially, and academically diverse Brazilian schools, PED Brasil intended to craft a program with a signature pedagogy that could be capable of shaping the ways of thinking and acting in the teaching profession. PED Brasil does it by integrating different dimensions of knowledge and demonstrating various aspects of professional practice, considering the democratic society we aim to build. In this paper, we analyse how PED Brasil has adopted Complex Instruction as its signature pedagogy.

Research on Teacher Disposition Domestically and Internationally: Status and Implications

Adopting the literature research method, the core studies on teacher disposition in the past 40 years at home and abroad are systematically sorted out and analyzed. On the theoretical level, scholars at home and abroad focus on the connotation, content dimensions, main features and their importance of teacher disposition; on the practical level, scholars focus on the status of teacher disposition development, influencing factors, evaluation tools and the impact on students’ learning through many empirical studies. Future research should focus on the multiple factors affecting the development of teacher disposition, expand the research objects and enrich the research methods, and construct the evaluation system of teacher disposition. In-depth research on teacher disposition can help teachers develop and improve teacher education.

‘Non-stop wokeism’: facilitating social justice teacher education amidst epistemic oppression and popular misogyny

ABSTRACT This paper considers a social justice teacher education (SJTE) course that is intellectually and emotionally demanding, time-poor, and yet aimed at generating relations of reparative coexistence. Interspersed with feminist testimony, the article exposes intensities of course facilitation as a female academic at a sandstone university amidst: 1) a worldwide rise in ‘anti-woke’ populism, and 2) a higher education (HE) sector that is epistemically hostile. Combining the concepts of affective infrastructure and discomfort, the paper develops a genealogy of Australian HE as a backdrop for analysis. Within this field, bodies are affected by and affect discomforting pedagogical encounters. The paper argues that SJTE is crucial work that is carried unevenly and that alongside honing the affective craft of SJTE, awareness be raised concerning ways in which HE institutions make this work harder and riskier for some. Affective solidarities are offered as one means of ‘staying with’ the unavoidable discomforts.

Centering Multilingual Learners and Countering Raciolinguistic Ideologies in Teacher Education: Principles, Policies and Practices

Centering Multilingual Learners and Countering Raciolinguistic Ideologies in Teacher Education: Principles, Policies and Practices

Deficit to Asset Thinking: An Exploration of Incorporating Community Cultural Wealth on Preservice Teachers’ Mindsets

This qualitative inquiry examined how using Yosso’s community cultural wealth (2005) model as a framework in a 16-week teacher-education course focused on home, schools, and communities which supported the development of 24 preservice teachers’ equity mindsets in relation to these spaces. To examine the nature of preservice teachers’ viewpoints, the following data sources were collected: a researcher-developed survey with open-ended questions based on Yosso’s model used as a pre- and post- survey, reflection assignments, and semi-structured interviews. These data were analyzed using priori coding based on the Equity Mindset Framework (Nadelson et al., 2019). Analysis revealed that Yosso’s community cultural wealth model provided a framework for preservice teachers to develop all eight attributes of an equity mindset to some degree, but three of those attributes were developed at a higher level: development of culturally relevant practices and thinking, the importance of understanding and knowing student populations, and taking responsibility for student success. This research has implications for teacher educators, as it provides guidance for a practical way to enhance preservice teachers’ equity mindset.

Backward Design in Pre-Service Teacher Education to Enhance Curriculum Knowledge

This action research aimed to enhance the curriculum knowledge of 37 pre-service teachers in early-childhood education through backward design (BD) as an innovative framework. Participants enrolled in an online curriculum development course focusing on curriculum elements and underwent BD-based instruction for five weeks. Multiple data collection tools were employed, including pre- and post-achievement tests and curriculum literacy scales, digital learning journals, performance tasks, course observations, and interviews. The results showed a significant improvement in the curriculum knowledge of the pre-service teachers. This was evidenced by a notable increase in curriculum literacy scores, a moderate improvement in achievement test scores, and positive performance task outcomes. These findings highlight the effectiveness of BD-based instruction in enhancing the curriculum knowledge of pre-service teachers. This study provides valuable insights for teacher educators to effectively tailor their instructional approaches. Further research is needed to validate these results and advance instructional practices in pre-service teacher education.

Exploring global citizenship education for preservice early childhood teachers in South Korea: critical reflections on transformative pedagogy through journal writing

AbstractThis study aims to reveal how the “Global Citizenship Education (GCE) for Preservice Early Childhood Teachers” course offered at a teacher education program in South Korea fosters critical reflection in preservice early childhood teachers. Of the 21 preservice early childhood teachers who registered for this course, 11 agreed to participate in the research. The participants were asked to submit journals after each class, and the researchers analyzed the content of the participants' journals, focusing on the aspects of key concepts, inquiry, and change. Participants’ journal entries reevaluate the notion of child-centered education, critique institutional biases, and offer a clarifying perspective on the limitations of “equality” in achieving happiness for all. Participants also critically analyzed anthropocentric perspectives and behaviors, exploring how their thinking, being, feeling, and acting were shaped. By illuminating the possibility of providing opportunities to encourage GCE and critical reflection, albeit on a small scale, this study is expected to encourage teacher educators to implement GCE for preservice teachers.

Teacher Identity Discourses in Place—Exploring Discursive Resources in Pre-Service Teachers’ Constructions of Teacher Identity

This methodological article focuses on how to effectively map pre-service teachers’ use of discursive resources in professional identity production. By adopting a discourse analytical approach, this study views identity construction as a situational, real-time process occurring in interaction. The aim is to contribute knowledge about how to systematically map and analyze the resources that pre-service teachers use to construct their teacher identities during their education. Drawing on the framework of Mediated Discourse Analysis, this article presents a model that integrates two key concepts: discourse domains, which refer to the types of discourse commonly used in teacher education, and layers of discourse, which address societal levels in identity construction. The results suggest that using these concepts to map students’ use of discursive resources highlights how their knowledge of the teaching profession, their education and everyday experiences can be assets when constructing their teacher identities. While the model can be further refined and developed to better show the complexity of discursive resources in identity construction processes, it shows promise as a fruitful approach. By mapping and visualizing discursive resources through this model, this study offers valuable methodological insights into how to approach professional identity development among pre-service teachers.

‘I thought I was a refugee’: a narrative inquiry of an EFL teacher’s piloting of a newly published textbook

ABSTRACT Textbooks hold a central position in English Language Teaching (ELT), providing linguistic, sociolinguistic, and cultural resources embedded within specific pedagogical frameworks. Despite its centrality, the end-users’ engagement in textbook development remains vague and untouched. Situated within a textbook development project, this longitudinal study attempts to delineate an experienced English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) teacher’s piloting of a newly published textbook in tertiary education in China. Drawing on data from semi-structured interviews, field observations, classroom observations, and documents spanning over one year, the narrative inquiry traces and depicts the participant’s transition from ‘groping in the darkness’ to ‘seeing a silver lining in the cloud’, which is fluctuated with the participant’s analysis, adaptation, evaluation, and appropriation of the material, highlighted with her re-interpretation of the textbook rationales and re-construction of the personal pedagogical approach in a context-response manner. Facing the challenges and pressures during the textbook piloting project, the teacher’s continuous self-reflection and perseverance are the fundamental driving forces to customize the materials. Furthermore, the flexibility of the textbook content and the support from the editorial team do play essential roles in the piloting project. Through deciphering the rocks and roses in a teacher’s first encounter with a newly published textbook, the study provides practical insights for textbook publishers, textbook writers, language teachers and teacher educators regarding both textbook development and professional development.

Is Your Syllabus Trauma Informed?

Recognizing the limitations of existing trauma-informed education approaches, this research emphasized the need to address systemic issues and societal inequalities. The study documents a transformative process undertaken by the author in the Spring semester of 2023, involving a meticulous reevaluation and rewriting of course policies using Shevrin Venet's (2021) four proactive priority questions. The article explores student perceptions of the equity-centered trauma-informed education through surveys conducted at the beginning and end of the semester, revealing positive shifts in student attitudes towards the implementation of the four priorities. The findings suggest that a thoughtfully crafted and trauma-informed syllabus can contribute to a positive learning environment, emphasizing predictability, flexibility, empowerment, and connection. Through this inquiry, the article contributes to the ongoing discourse on bridging the gap between theoretical frameworks and practical application in trauma-informed pedagogy within teacher education.

From Educator to Broader Impacts Professional: A Case Study Analysis of the BI Toolkit Approach

Increasing emphasis is being placed by granting agencies on the need for specialists who support the translation of research into societal benefits. This societal benefit is often referred to as broader impacts (BI), and BI is important for acquiring grant funding and fulfilling land-grant university missions, among other benefits. However, few career paths lead directly to becoming a BI professional, so individuals moving into BI work need to transition from another career, which requires learning about BI. This case study examines the experiences of four former classroom teachers making the transition to both teacher educator (a teacher of teachers) and BI professional, and the ways in which their transition was supported using the Center for Advancing Research Impacts in Society (ARIS) BI Toolkit. Implications for onboarding using this toolkit are described and recommendations are made for how to use the ARIS BI Toolkit for transitioning BI professionals.

Review of technology and English language teaching in a changing world: A practical guide for teachers and teacher educators

Review of technology and English language teaching in a changing world: A practical guide for teachers and teacher educators

Research Thinking for Responsive Teaching: Research Skill Development with In-service and Preservice Educators

The book focuses on responsive teaching, highlighting the importance of adaptability and the effective utilization of resources to meet the needs of diverse learners. In the context of Education 4.0, digital literacy is crucial; however, educators also require clear objectives and a comprehensive understanding of their practices to maintain professional autonomy. The book presents the Research Skills Development (RSD) framework to guide teachers' research thinking across various contexts, including secondary schools in Australia and Canada, as well as pre-service teacher education in Indonesia and the United States.

Developing Translanguaging Repertoires in Critical Teacher Education

Developing Translanguaging Repertoires in Critical Teacher Education

PRESERVICE TEACHERS’ ACHIEVEMENT AND RETENTION OF PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS IN PROGRAMMING : A CHATGPT-BASED FLIPPED CLASSROOM ANALYSIS

This pre-experimental study, utilizing a one-group pretest and posttest design, aims to investigate the effects of a ChatGPT-based flipped classroom approach on preservice teachers’ achievement and retention of problem-solving skills in programming. The study sample comprised 33 preservice teachers (one intact class) from an Institute of Teacher Education Malaysia in Sabah, Malaysia, selected through cluster sampling. A Computer Programming Achievement Test (CPAT) were used as the research instrument, which were administered during pretest, posttest and delayed posttest. Data analysis was conducted using one-way repeated measures ANOVA. The results showed an increased in problem-solving skills from the pretest (M=16.84, SD=8.35) to the posttest (M=31.25, SD=13.25), indicating significant improvement in preservice’ teachers achievement. Additionally, retention of problem-solving skills was evident, with the delayed posttest scores (M=24.43, SD=6.68) significantly higher than the pretest scores, though slightly lower than the posttest scores, suggesting some decay over time but overall retention of the skills learned. This research suggests that integrating artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, in educational setting can lead to substantial improvements in learning outcomes, which provides valuable resource for educators aiming to foster advanced problem-solving abilities in their students.

The construction of ‘we’ empowering music practice in kindergarten

ABSTRACT Singing together fosters connections across social contexts. While this activity is expected to flourish in kindergartens and nurseries, studies from multiple countries have highlighted a growing decline in confidence in singing among both kindergarten teachers and students. To address this, Kulset and Halle [(2020). Togetherness!: adult companionship – the key to music-making in kindergarten.’ Music Education Research 22 (3): 304–314] introduced ‘we’, promoting adult companionship and collective music-making. This study deepens the ‘we’ concept and its practical implications. Using Cultural-historical Activity Theory (CHAT), we compared recent studies on self-concept in musicality among kindergarten teachers and students. While existing research emphasises the significance of nurturing musical skills and a theoretical understanding of musicality, our analysis suggests that practical engagement in music-making mainly as a collaborative effort could catalyse a transformative shift towards fostering musical togetherness. We propose adjusting music programmes in kindergarten teacher education to prioritise such collaborative music-making skills. Practical ‘we’ implementation could reverse declining confidence in singing, instead fostering musical companionship.

Transitioning from lectures to online flipped classrooms: enhancing pre-service teacher education in Luxembourg

Transitioning from lectures to online flipped classrooms: enhancing pre-service teacher education in Luxembourg

Intentionality, Pygmalion, and Cognitive Fun Redirects Elementary School Children in Pull-Out Neural Enrichment

This study describes an academic enrichment intervention for 15 ‘high risk’ children who were pulled out of General Education classrooms in Bangalore India for 40 minutes four-times a week during a typical school year. Could a brain-based intervention reduce achievement gaps that showed up for these children in terms of below-grade academic outcomes and impoverished social and emotional wellbeing? The null hypothesis stated that a teacher’s mental model that shifted to brain-based methodology would have no perceivable effect on (i) children’s academic achievement or (ii) their social and emotional engagement. This study was grounded in teacher education literature involving mental models that illuminate classroom management techniques. Subjects were drawn from second grade students (mean 6.7 years; n = 15). Study was an opportunistic quasi-experimental design reflecting school life across India. Qualitative ethnographic data using grounded theory were triangulated with quantitative measures that best account for observed outcomes. Findings highlight significant academic, and social and emotional growth, which dramatically reduced the achievement gap for all participants.

Exploring a Collaborative Synchronous Online Learning Environment in an Initial Language Teacher Education Program

This qualitative study explores pre-service language teachers’ experiences in a collaborative synchronous online course in language teacher education program in Turkey. A course was designed to equip pre-service language teachers of English with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively incorporate technology into their teaching and self-learning practices. Adopting a generic qualitative inquiry design, data were collected over 14 weeks from 63 pre-service EFL teachers through weekly reflection papers, online surveys, and face-to-face follow-up semi-structured interviews. The study found that technology-enhanced collaborative online course had a positive influence on participants’ engagement, interaction, and professional development with participants perceiving the course experience positively. The findings suggest that collaborative online courses, when they are effectively taught, can be a valuable professional development opportunity in initial language teacher education programs.