Initial Teacher Training Research Articles

Initial teacher training in light of the vision of complexity in the 21st century: state of the art review

This research focused on investigating and analyzing how the Complexity Paradigm can serve as an epistemological support in teacher training. Given this, the present study aims to answer the following problem: how can the epistemology of the Theory of Complexity Thinking support initial teacher training? The objective was to raise research that presents the Theory of Complex Thinking as an innovative epistemology capable of subsidizing the initial training of teachers.To develop this analysis, a State of the Art survey was carried out, opting for qualitative and exploratory research. Theoretical foundations were sought from the authors; Morin (2000, 2014, 2015), Moraes (2017), Farias (2020). The research allowed us to realize that there is an urgency to understand that initial teacher training requires a reform of thinking, which leads to a paradigmatic transposition, which seeks to reconnect knowledge, understand uncertainties, restore ethics and human understanding. During this investigation it was possible to understand that breaking with old paradigms becomes a strong challenge for educators in the 21st century.

Building knowledge from the epistemology of the South: the importance of training researchers in initial teacher training

This study aims to reflect on the importance of considering epistemologies of the South and research training as benchmarks in the initial teacher of educators in the Latin American context. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the need to diversify and decolonize knowledge production in education, especially in the Global South. The epistemology of the South provides a conceptual framework that challenges traditional Eurocentric perspectives and promotes alternative ways of knowing and understanding education. To achieve the research objective, a literature review was conducted focusing on key concepts such as Southern epistemology, researcher training, and initial teacher education. The review encompassed academic articles, books and relevant theoretical frameworks. Content analysis techniques were employed to critically examine the literature, identifying themes, theoretical perspectives, and implications for research training in Initial Teacher Education (ITE). The findings of this study suggest that the incorporation of the epistemology of the South into researcher training can have a transformative impact on the educational sector. By adopting ways of knowing and understanding, future researchers can develop a more nuanced and contextualized understanding of educational phenomena. This approach promotes critical thinking skills and encourages researchers to question dominant narratives and power structures in education. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of integrating research training into initial teacher education. By fostering the development and consolidation of research skills and a critical mindset in future teachers, it promotes their transformation into change agents within the Latin American educational system in which they operate. From this perspective, research-oriented teacher training programs empower educators to engage in evidence-based practices, contribute to educational research, and advocate for pedagogical approaches that respond to local contexts and social realities in which they act. This study underscores the need to integrate Southern epistemologies and research training within into initial teacher education. By doing so, we can nurture a new generation of educators with critical thinking skills capable of effecting significant societal changes. This research contributes to the ongoing dialogue on the decolonization of education and promotes the development of inclusive and contextually relevant educational practices.

Learning strategies in initial teacher training: a systematic review

A systematic review is presented using the PRISMA protocol in order to analyse the link between teaching methodology and learning strategies in initial teacher training at the university level. The key descriptors were initial teacher training, learning strategies and teaching methodologies at the university level. The results yielded 13 articles from different countries between 2000 and 2021, which employed mixed research designs. It is suggested that methodologies are being implemented at the university level, while learning strategies could be linked to student motivation. Moreover, the relationship between methodologies and learning strategies in the university context promotes meaningful learning.

Connect the dots: connecting problem solving and videogames in initial training of early childhood education teachers

Video games, although not originally designed for educational purposes, have the potential to serve as a significant tool in creating an efficient and motivating learning environment that facilitates the acquisition of mathematical concepts or notions. This study aims to examine the responses provided by students (n = 100) majoring in Early Childhood Education to the video game “Connect the dots” concerning the opportunities it offers. These opportunities encompass the knowledge and notions that can be addressed, strategies employed to overcome various stages or levels in comparison to those posed for problem-solving, potential modifications for classroom integration or the exploration of alternative concepts, as well as the emotions evoked in a non-traditional learning environment. The responses were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively to gain a deeper understanding of their alignment with the research objectives and questions. Our data show that the students demonstrated the ability to identify the possibilities offered by a video game for classroom application and to envision alternative approaches to mathematical knowledge teaching.

Development of meaningful learning on the subject of thermal conductivity: a proposal for initial teacher training in a normal course

This article is the result of what was experienced during the application of a Research Project in the Professional Master 's Degree in Science and Mathematics Teaching at PPGECIMAT, Franciscan University of Santa Maria, RS. The purpose of this study was to investigate the contributions of the use of Information and Communication Technology (TIC) and Experimental Activities (AEx) in the process of meaning of the topic Thermal Conductivity, based on a perspective of Ausubel's Theory of Significant Learning (TAS) in students of a Normal Course of a public school in Santa Rosa, RS, in the year 2018. It is understood that the graduates of the courses of this nature are those that will awaken in the students the taste for science and scientific knowledge. To achieve the goal, the students were organized into three work teams and made use of technological and experimental resources. During the nine meetings of eighteen classes proposed in a Learning Unit (UA), there were experiments and activities involving technology such as web research, videos, reports, simulators, infographics, etc., always with the objective of contributing to the development meaningful learning of concepts involving Calorimetry. During the work there was a participation and a significant interest of the students and with the analysis of the pre-test and post-test became evident the appropriation of the concepts about heat, temperature, thermal equilibrium and the forms of heat transfer by the students.

Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions on the Use of Heritage in Secondary Education and Their Reception of Educational Materials from the Heritage and Museum Sector: A Case Study in Flanders (Belgium)

There has been a growing policy interest in establishing connections between heritage and education. Nevertheless, there seems to be very little evaluation or critical reflection on what actually happens in practice, and it remains unclear how heritage education is employed in countries throughout Europe. The aim of this paper is to assess the current status of heritage education in Flanders (the Dutch-speaking northern part of Belgium) via a literature review and an exploratory case study. The perceptions and opinions of pre-service teachers (n = 17) were investigated using three instruments: a questionnaire, document analysis, and the think aloud method. The results show that the pre-service teachers had a traditional interpretation of heritage, mainly relying on well-known and monumental examples and following a rather historical–artistic conception. However, it was found that their opinions were positive towards the use of heritage as an educational resource, and their evaluations of educational materials from the heritage and museum sector provided detailed information concerning teachers’ desires and needs in this regard. The implications of this study should encourage initial teacher training in Flanders to further consider the epistemological and methodological challenges in the emerging field of heritage education.

Game on! Enhancing primary physical education through a Rosenshine-inspired approach

ABSTRACT Since Bunker and Thorpe (1982. A model for the teaching of games in secondary schools. Bulletin of Physical Education, 18(1), 5–8.) introduced Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU), there has been a growing recognition of advocating approaches to pedagogy that addresses participant learning with games-based approaches (GBA) advocated. With little guidance of how to apply these approaches in practice, more support is needed for practitioners (Vinson, D., & Parker, A. (2019). Vygotsky and sports coaching: Non-linear practice in youth and adult settings. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, 10(1), 91–106. https://doi.org/10.1080/25742981.2018.1555003). This is pertinent in primary where teachers are challenged with teaching a variety of subjects and can struggle to adapt their good classroom practice to Physical Education (PE) (Morgan, K., Bryant, A., Edwards, L., & Mitchell-Williams, E. (2019). Transferring primary generalists' positive classroom pedagogy to the physical education setting: A collaborative PE-CPD process. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 24(1), 43–58. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2018.1533543). A criticism has been teachers lack of training and low confidence levels in being able to deliver high quality PE (Clohessy, L., Bowles, R., & Chroinin, D. N. (2020). Playing to our strengths: Generalist teachers' experiences of class swapping for primary physical education. European Physical Education Review, 26(2), 571–586. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X19877195). It is imperative that primary practitioners are given more support in applying PE specific pedagogies. Rosenshine's (2012. Principles of instruction - research-based strategies that all teachers should know. American Educator, 36(1), 12–39.) principles of instruction has gained traction in recent years to inform elements of Initial Teacher Training. It provides guidance on effective teaching; however, the examples are classroom focused, limiting application in PE. This paper explores Rosenshine's principles, provides suggestions of employing GBA, before presenting a conclusion that summarises the paper and provides suggestions for future exploration. The intention is to support trained and trainee primary teachers in developing their PE pedagogy.

South Korean University Lecturers’ Opinions About Initial Teacher Education in Gifted Education

Despite the importance of initial teacher training, no primary education courses in South Korean universities provide a compulsory course in gifted education and elective courses are limited. Individual in-depth interviews with seven lecturers of gifted education courses were conducted to elicit their opinions about initial teacher education in gifted education. The lecturer interviewees suggested that there should be more of an emphasis on gifted education in initial teacher education programs. They also emphasized the importance of practical teaching experience with gifted students. The expansion of initial teacher education in gifted education in South Korea has the potential to improve preservice teachers’ understanding gifted students, ultimately improving the outcomes of this population.

La formación lingüística en los Grados de Maestro: las nociones de ‘competencia comunicativa’, ‘razonamiento crítico’ y ‘género discursivo’ / Linguistic training in teacher degrees:the notions of ‘communicative competence’, ‘critical reasoning’, and ‘discursive genre’

In this text we propose to carry out a set of reflections on communicative competence and critical reasoning (from now on CC&CR) with respect to initial teacher training, within the context of academic writing. These are two aspects considered strategic in teacher training and which have already been the subject of specific measures in some universities and autonomous communities in Spain in relation to accessing such training. We provide a conceptual description of the notions of CC&CR and propose a set of measures based on the fact that these competences must be worked on in a transversal way across all the subjects involved in the teaching degrees, drawing on the fundamental concept of “discursive genre”.

Analysis of self-perceived digital competences in future educators: A study at the university of Granada

Digital competence is a key aspect to be taken into account in training at all stages. It is especially necessary to emphasize higher education stages and specifically on initial teacher training, as future teachers have the responsibility to promote these competencies and to be the first to introduce them into their programs. However, for this to happen, they must have previously established a framework of reference on which to train in digital competence, and they must be prepared to transmit this knowledge in this context that framework is DigCompEdu. For this reason, in the present research a correlational study is carried out with a retrospective ex-post-facto design to analyse the digital competencies of future teachers in the Faculty of Education Sciences at the University of Granada.The main results of the research carried out are that the self-perceived digital competence varies according to the sex of the students, being more positive in the case of men, while other factors such as the course or degree do not have a significant relevance. However, the majority of students at the Faculty of Education of the University of Granada have a self-assessed level of B1 as their level of digital competence, which is insufficient for transmission to future generations. This is also maintained because, according to the students, spaces, and training related to this aspect are not generated, although there are disparities according to the degree of this thinking.

Media and information literacy (MIL) and emerging methodologies in early childhood education and primary education degrees in Andalusia

Since the 1980s, the growing consumption of media by various segments of the population has been of concern to education experts, who have warned of the need for teacher training to integrate Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in their curricula. In this article we analyse the curricular plans and teaching guides for subjects related to MIL in Early Childhood Education and Primary Education degrees in Andalusia. Through these documents, we seek to identify the presence of AMI in initial teacher training, its characteristics, potential and limits, as well as the emerging methodologies arising from the relationship between technology and education. In methodological terms, we conducted a quantitative analysis, using simple descriptive statistics, combined with a qualitative analysis, using the principles of content analysis, according to Bardin (1991). The data indicate that training for AMI is very uneven across the universities and courses analysed. Moreover, most of the subjects related to AMI are optional and deal mainly with aspects related to the presence of technology as a support for teaching, with little presence of emerging methodologies, which leads to a marginalisation of aesthetic training and critical training of future teachers for and with the media.

Emotional Knowledge in a Sample of University Students

Background: One of the current challenges in higher education is the development of students’ emotional competencies, and consequently, how these competencies can be trained. Moreover, this must be addressed within the UN framework of inclusive, equitable, quality education (United Nations Agenda 2030; SDG 4). Methods: The present study the following objectives: (1) to study the degree of interest and the level of general knowledge that students studying for Education degrees perceive themselves to have; (2) to examine the perception of the participants of variables of emotional knowledge, according to their degree program and year of study; (3) to analyze the relationship between these emotional knowledge variables and perceived emotional intelligence (EI), using Spearman’s Rho test; and (4) to study the predictive capacity of the study variables on future teachers’ emotional knowledge variables through a linear regression analysis. The study sample contained a total of 434 university students from three degree programs at two universities in Spain. Two instruments were used: an ad hoc questionnaire, which assessed perceived emotional knowledge according to three variables (general knowledge of EI, where the level of training in EI is considered; intrapersonal knowledge of EI; and theoretical/practical knowledge related to teaching), and the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24), which assesses metaknowledge of emotional states (attention, clarity, and repair). Results: The results of this study show that there are differences in students’ self-perceived knowledge of EI depending on their course and degree, and indicate that students present high interest, while their perceived level of knowledge is low. In addition, emotional clarity is the EI variable that was identified as being important in the emotional knowledge of future teachers, and therefore, a key skill to stimulate in a theoretical/practical way during their initial training. Conclusion: This study shows evidence of the importance of social–emotional competencies in initial teacher training.

Desarrollo de las habilidades investigativas en la formación inicial docente: caso de la Universidad Pedagógica Veracruzana (México), ciclo escolar 2022-2023

The Universidad Pedagógica Veracruzana (UPV) offers the Bachelor's Degree in Basic Education, which constitutes the initial teacher training. Over eight semesters, students explore topics in educational research through an integrative approach. Considering that the Educational Reform of 2019 in Mexico establishes that teachers' knowledge and skills should be directed towards creating solutions with their communities, the research aimed to understand the knowledge, skills, and educational research interests declared by students in the eighth semester during the academic year 2022-2023 in the Dlegree program at UPV. The adopted methodological approach is quantitative, with a descriptive scope and a non-experimental cross-sectional design. Out of the 115 students who completed the eighth semester at the Xalapa Regional Center during the academic year 2022-2023, this study focused on 95 of them who completed an electronic questionnaire, along with the documentary review of 115 research papers produced by all students in the same semester. The goal was to identify the knowledge, skills, and research interests declared by the students. From this, it was found that the most significant themes in their work were related to teaching and learning techniques in the field of language and communication. Over 60% of the studied population considered having research skills and knowledge. These results provide valuable information to propose support alternatives to strengthen these educational research skills during initial teacher training, thereby improving the perception of educational issues to be addressed.

Notions of resistances and points of entry for texts formats in teacher physics education

We develop the notions of resistance and points of entry in the context of alternative written textual formats used in physics teacher education. Studies point out that textbooks have played an important role in undergraduate physics courses, which can be part of the initial training of physics teachers. On the foundation of theories in the philosophy of science, it is possible to verify that there are philosophical reasons for the privileged use of this textual format in physics undergraduate courses. However, alongside the transformation of the educational field in terms of its theoretical-methodological approaches, there is a growing body of research and educational practices that highlights the importance and possibilities of incorporating others written textual formats in all levels of physics education. The notions of resistance and points of entry can enhance the awareness of these dynamics of physics education. To produce such an understanding, we put the philosophy of science in dialogue with the philosophy of action, which provides an overview of the interactions of life, including physics pedagogy - in which actions promote transformations.

The dialogical self and the multiplicity of I-positions: Experiences of becoming a teacher in the international practicum

The internationalisation of education poses local challenges for training pre-service teachers to navigate new and unfamiliar education contexts. For Chinese language teachers in Australia and beyond, undertaking initial teacher training has been informed by China’s wider agenda regarding the worldwide promotion of Chinese language. Building upon Dialogical self theory, this paper adopts traditions from autoethnography to unpack a Chinese novice teacher’s learning journey during a placement in an Australian Chinese language learning classroom. We focus on the lead author’s conflicted identity and how this identity was positioned and repositioned in response to contexts and through dialogue with the self and with others. This paper offers an alternative approach to understanding pre-service teachers’ learning and professional development, providing insight into how the practicum can be improved to better support Chinese international pre-service teachers who are navigating unfamiliar contexts.

Competências digitais dos futuros professores do ensino pré-escolar e do ensino básico: um estudo de comparações múltiplas

Digital competence is an essential element for the initial training of teachers, as it allows them to integrate digital technologies into their teaching practice. Therefore, the purposes of this study were: (1) to know the self-perceived level of future teachers of Primary Education and Early Childhood Education regarding their digital competences; (2) to compare if there are significant differences in the digital competences between the future teachers of both educational stages; and (3) to identify if there are significant differences in the competences of the future teachers between the different academic courses of the educational degree, for each educational degree. To achieve the objectives, a non-experimental ex post facto study was carried out with a sample of 897 students from the Infant and Primary degrees. The results showed that future teachers have a medium-high self-perceived level of digital competence in both educational degrees, finding significant differences between future teachers of Early Childhood Education and Primary Education, being the latter those who obtained higher scores. For future teachers of the Early Childhood Education stage, significant differences were found between the students of the first and fourth year, while for those of Primary Education, differences were found between all the academic courses, except between the third and fourth. These results suggest that initial teacher training should focus on the development of the digital competences of future teachers, with special attention to the first academic courses.

Changes in the conception of science in the initial training of biology teachers

Changes in the conception of science in the initial training of biology teachers

Curriculum conceptions expressed in the pedagogic projects for initial training of rural teachers in the Amazon

RESUMO Esse estudo responde ao seguinte problema: quais são as concepções de currículo de formação inicial de professores do campo expressas nos Projetos Pedagógicos Curriculares (PPCs) oferecidos por universidades federais da Região Norte do Brasil? Analisou-se as concepções de currículo identificadas nas referências teóricas de base para a definição da concepção de currículo que orientaram os PPCs, bem como os conceitos e princípios que os estruturam. O objetivo é analisar que concepções de currículo apresentam os PPCs de Formação Inicial de Professores do Campo oferecidos na Amazônia. Trata-se de uma pesquisa documental fundamentada em Apple (1999), Gimeno Sacristán (2000), Quijano (2005), Freire (2011) e Arroyo (2019). A metodologia correspondeu a três fases: 1. Mapeamento dos PPCs de sete universidades federais da Região Norte do Brasil; 2. Descrição e análise destes; e 3. Produção de relatório de pesquisa. As concepções de currículo expressas nos PPCs analisados vinculam-se às concepções críticas de currículo advindas principalmente de referências teóricas marxistas, freireanas e decolonizadoras. Alguns PPC omitem as referências teóricas nas quais se fundamentam. Em contrapartida, em todos os PPCs analisados constam um quantitativo robusto de referências legais, o que evidencia uma preocupação maior com a prescrição legal do que com a fundamentação teórica. Observou-se também uma polifonia teórica nos PPCs visto que autores de perspectivas teóricas muito distintas configuram como referências em um mesmo PPC.

Incentives for the initial training of Chilean teachers. From a teaching state to an educational subsidiary state

Resumen El ensayo presenta una línea argumentativa en torno al análisis de las políticas de incentivo para el ingreso a la FID en Chile. Se estructura en base a dos dimensiones reflexivas: a) Construcción de sujetos alternizados en las estrategias de incentivo. Apartado orientado a reflexionar en torno a la distinción de clases de estudiantes que subyacen en las estrategias dispuestas para el ingreso a pedagogía. La segunda dimensión b) Calidad como epíteto fundacional en la Educación de mercado; busca insistir en el análisis, incorporando la concepción de calidad como una dimensión relevante y de construcción advenediza en la política educativa. Se concluye señalando, que la implementación de estrategias, responde de manera desarticulada a las necesidades contextuales y profesionales, relegando las legítimas demandas provenientes de los contextos educativos locales.

Percepciones del profesorado sobre el papel de los sistemas aumentativos y alternativos de comunicación

Abstract The number of students using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems in mainstream schools has increased in recent years, in line with the principles of inclusive education. Teacher perceptions of AAC significantly influence school practices and the overall effectiveness of these systems as a tool for communication and inclusion, which can enhance the presence, progress, and participation of students who use it. The present study seeks to analyze these perceptions and find out if aspects such as training or previous experience influence them. To this end, an analysis is conducted using the Spanish Questionnaire “Perceptions on the Inclusion of Students who use AAC in mainstream classrooms (PSIASAAC)” with a sample of 122 teachers from the Spanish Autonomous Community of Valencia. The results show favorable perceptions towards the inclusion of students who use AAC. However, there are notable differences between teachers with and without training and/or professional experience with AAC. The findings align with those of several previous studies conducted in different contexts. This leads us to believe that while there are generally positive perceptions of students who use AAC systems, it is important to intensify efforts in the initial and ongoing training of teachers. It is also crucial to share successful practical experiences demonstrating how the use of AAC systems contributes to improving the educational inclusion of the students who use it.