Undergraduate Pre-service Teachers Research Articles

Student attitudes towards smartphone use in a pre-service teacher tech course

In contemporary classrooms, characterized by students who are digital natives with a firm reliance on mobile phones, integrating these devices into educational activities presents an opportunity to enhance learning experiences and increase engagement. This qualitative case study investigates undergraduate pre-service teachers’ perceptions of using smartphones for learning activities in a Teacher Education Program (T.E.P.) technology course at a 4-year institution in the U.S. The researchers sought to examine how the use of smartphones influenced the students’ learning experiences. Understanding students' experiences can inform the development of strategies to enhance technology-integrated lessons and foster improved learning environments. The findings indicated that students had positive experiences with using smartphones in class. They found the devices to help enhance online learning security and were reliable, versatile, and affordable compared to other forms of technology. The ability of the devices to download and accommodate a variety of educational materials was also a valuable attribute for the students. However, challenges associated with unrestricted phone access in the classroom, including the risk of addiction, distraction, decreased engagement, and concerns regarding academic integrity, were reported. As smartphones become integral to our learning environment, educators should establish policies promoting responsible usage to optimize students' learning potential rather than imposing bans. The researchers propose that institutions invest in innovative software solutions to manage smartphone usage proactively. This approach enables students to enhance their focus and productivity during crucial learning moments while mitigating distractions posed by mobile phones.

Explicit Incorporation of the Nature of Science (NOS) in an Undergraduate Preservice Teacher Science Content Course: Action Research

This study aimed to address the gap in an environmental science undergraduate course by investigating the impact of explicitly integrating the Nature of Science (NOS) into the instruction of scientific inquiry. The lab-based course focused on developing an understanding of the natural world, as well as the processes scientists use to study that world. Through action research, data collection methods included the Views of Nature of Science Questionnaire (VNOS-B) and analysis of students' reflections on assignments and open inquiry projects for 37 students. Pre- and post-questionnaires were analyzed using NVIvo12, categorizing responses into five levels of NOS understanding thematically. Descriptive statistics were used to assess NOS views. Class reflective assignments and open inquiry projects were coded and evaluated using the revised NSI rubric employing a mixed methods analysis. The results reveal a notable shift in students' NOS understanding following the intervention which demonstrates the significance of deliberate NOS instruction. The research also pinpoints areas where students require focused instruction, offering valuable insights for educators with an emphasis on the impact of NOS integration in enhancing scientific literacy and highlighting the role of action research in refining instructional practices.

Disparities in teaching practice corrective feedback among university teaching practice assessors in Tanzania: Implications on pre-service professional practices

This study examines disparities in teaching practice corrective feedback among university assessors in the Tanzanian context: Implications on pre-service professional practices. A mixed-method research design was employed to bring together different strengths and non-overlapping weaknesses of quantitative and qualitative methods. The purposive sampling technique was used to get 120 undergraduate pre-service teachers from three colleges involved in the study. Questionnaire, interview and documentary reviews were used to collect data and analyzed descriptively to provide summaries in terms of numerical counts and frequencies. The study revealed that teaching practice assessors have conflicting suggestions and non-consensus in supporting pre-service teachers when dealing with similar issues. Conflicting suggestions might pose anomalies on the course of action to be undertaken by pre-service teachers who are trying to grow professionally. The study recommends the formulation of inter-institutional consensual supervisory guidelines that could inform synergy among university teaching practice assessors and supervisors.

Impact of the Split Teaching Practice Model on Undergraduate Pre-Service Teachers’ Performance in Science Content Delivery

The study adopted an observational research design to assess the impact of the Split Teaching Practice Model on undergraduate pre-service teachers' performance in science content delivery within classroom settings, without researchers’ intervention. The population consisted of 119 second-year and 102 third-year science education students at Federal University Gusau - Nigeria, engaged in First and Second-phase teaching practice during the 2022/2023 academic session. A convenience sample of 96 pre-service teachers (54 in First-phase, 42 in Second-phase) was obtained. Data collection involved structured classroom observations using instrument tagged Pre-service Teachers' Performance in Science Content Delivery. Validity and reliability of the instrument were established through expert validation and inter-rater reliability assessment, yielding a correlation coefficient of 0.86. Four null hypotheses were tested using t-tests, focusing on lesson planning, presentation, class management, and attainment of objectives. The findings of the study revealed that, significant differences in favour of Second-phase pre-service teachers in aspects like sequential presentation, subject matter mastery, instructional materials usage, time management, and student participation. No significant differences were found in lesson introduction and questioning techniques. Second-phase pre-service teachers outperformed in class management and objective attainment. The study recommended continued adoption of the Split Teaching Practice Model, emphasizing refinement and customization to address specific improvement areas through feedback in teacher training institutions.

Reasoning in classroom dilemma situations: how pre-service teachers judge performance assessment

This study examines pre-service teachers’ reasoning structures based on their beliefs in the context of school performance assessment. We used reflective writing to investigate pre-service teachers’ judgment and reasoning regarding different functions of performance assessment. Forty-five undergraduate pre-service teachers participated in our study. Using a mixed-method approach, we conducted categorial and reconstructive text analyses as well as exploratory statistical analyses to describe the participants’ reasoning structures. Such cognitive structures comprise potential solutions to the performance assessment dilemmas that teachers face in their everyday teaching practice. We found varying distributions of and relationships between (individual-, objective-, social-, and ability-related) reference norms (neutral, student-, and teacher-centered) reference perspectives as well as (causal-analytic, normative, descriptive, and effect-oriented) modes of argumentation. Our discussions related to future research activities on teachers’ reasoning structures in the classroom.

Individual learning paths mastering teachers’ professional vision

IntroductionPromoting a professional vision of teaching as a key factor of teachers’ expertise is a core challenge for teacher professionalization. While research on teaching has evolved and successfully evaluated various video-based intervention programs, a prevailing emphasis on outcome measures can yet be observed. However, the learning processes by which teachers acquire professional vision currently remain a black box. The current study sought to fill this research gap. As part of a course dedicated to promoting a professional vision of classroom management, students were imparted knowledge about classroom management that had to be applied to the analysis of authentic classroom videos. The study aimed to determine the variety of individual strategies that students applied during their video analyses, and to investigate the relationship between these and the quality of the students’ analyses, measured by their agreement with an experts’ rating of the video clips.MethodsThe sample comprised 45 undergraduate pre-service teachers enrolled in a course to acquire a professional vision of classroom management. By applying their imparted knowledge of classroom management, students engaged in the analysis of classroom videos to learn how to notice and interpret observable events that are relevant to effective classroom management. Implementing a learning analytical approach allowed for the gathering of process-related data to analyze the behavioral patterns of students within a digital learning environment. Video-based strategies were identified by conducting cluster analyses and related to the quality of the students’ analysis outcomes, measured by their concordance with the experts’ ratings.ResultsWe gained insight into the learning processes involved in video-based assignments designed to foster a professional vision of classroom management, such as the areas of interest that attracted students’ heightened attention. We could also distinguish different approaches taken by students in analyzing classroom videos. Relatedly, we found clusters indicating meticulous and less meticulous approaches to analyzing classroom videos and could identify significant correlations between process and outcome variables.DiscussionThe findings of this study have implications for the design and implementation of video-based assignments for promoting professional vision, and may serve as a starting point for implementing process-based diagnostics and providing adaptive learning support.

Factors influencing student teachers’ intention to use mobile augmented reality in primary science teaching

AbstractThanks to the advancement of mobile technologies, Augmented Reality (AR) has become broadly accessible through mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Mobile Augmented Reality can benefit science education in a variety of ways. However, except from some sporadic experimental cases, it is rather rarely employed by teachers and has not yet been fully introduced in education. Moreover, little research exists about the adoption behavior of mobile AR by pre-service teachers. Against this background, the current study proposes and validates an integrated adoption model to explain and predict the factors that significantly influence student teachers’ intentions to use mobile AR in teaching primary science. The study also introduces two new constructs, Perceived Immersion and Perceived Educational Value in the context of mobile AR. Eighty-nine undergraduate pre-service primary school teachers participated in a mobile augmented reality workshop creating mobile augmented reality experiences for teaching physics to primary school pupils. Following that, student teachers answered an online survey. The quantitative survey data was analysed using structural equation modelling. The study confirmed the proposed model explaining and predicting approximately 72% of the variance of student teachers’ Behavioral Intention to Use mobile AR to teach primary science. Perceived Immersion and Perceived Educational Value significantly influence Behavioral Intention to Use after being mediated by Perceived Usefulness. The study offers insight into the factors influencing pre-service primary teachers’ intentions to utilise mobile augmented reality (AR) in their future lessons, which is relevant given the growing interest in utilising these technologies in education. Implications are discussed.

Welcoming Newcomers to Makerspaces

This article provides several self-guided, simple, creative activities to help learners gain familiarity and create with maker tools. Activities center around four categories: low technology, paper circuitry, Sphero robotics, and Cricut cutting machines. Learners use maker resources to build animals, construct LED bracelets or lanterns, code sirens, design stickers, and more. Although the intended audience for this article was undergraduate preservice teachers, most activities have also been completed by students in grades 3-8. Because materials differ by activity, they are presented in each activity.

The Development of the Decoding Skills Scale in Information and Communication Technologies and an Investigation of Preservice Teachers in This Framework

Decoding skills of individuals can be observed in different fields, one of which is information and communication technologies (ICT). Within the scope of the current study decoding skills are a new concept. There is no measurement tool available in the literature. At this point, the researchers aimed (1) to develop the ICT-Decoding Skills Scale and to conduct a validity and reliability study and (2) to identify undergraduate preservice teachers’ level of ICT-Decoding skills, studying in faculties of education. The participants of the study involved a total of 1580 faculty of education students studying in 59 different universities in Turkey. The ICT-Decoding Skills Scale is a 4-factor, 5-point Likert-type scale comprising of 23 items. CFA results showed that model fit indices were calculated as the following: [χ2=897.841; df=219; χ2/df=4.100 p<.001; GFI=.873; AGFI=.840; CFI=.938; NFI=.920; NNFI(TLI)=.928; RMSEA=.070; RMR=.068; SRMR=.060]. When the internal consistencies were analyzed, Cronbach’s Alpha value for the overall scale was (α=.94). As to address the second aim of the study, the ICT-decoding skills of preservice teachers were examined. Preservice teachers’ ICT-decoding skills were found to be at a high level in the overall scale. However, in the subscales, they were observed to have medium and low levels of skills. Similarly, low levels of sensemaking, debugging and problem-solving skills were observed in their Coding Skills. At this point, preservice teachers are suggested to be supported in advanced technical skills, safety and social skills in digital environment and coding skills in addition to basic digital skills.

“Open Our Hearts and Minds to Say I Belong Here”: Undergraduate Preservice Teachers’ Transfer Experiences

Examining transfer students’ sense of belonging and perceptions of community in the context of their journey toward becoming teachers highlights the challenges and opportunities they encounter during this academic transition. Through the use of thematic analysis, this study analyzed the dynamics of building a sense of belonging among 14 preservice teachers of color as they transferred into a large four-year Hispanic Serving Institution. Through a Transfer-Receptive Culture lens, the study finds that students placed limited significance on their racial identities but described other factors as more impactful on their sense of belonging. The study argues for foregrounding students’ intersectional identities, including race, to enhance their overall academic success, enable them to create meaningful connections with peers and equip them with the necessary skills to excel in their future roles as teachers.

Building a Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program with Backward Design

Research has shown that high impact practices improve the quality of student learning, experience, retention, and academic success, particularly for underserved students. The teaching and learning practices that have been extensively tested and have been shown to be beneficial for college students include study abroad and field-based service-learning projects. In Summer 2019, a group of four undergraduate pre-service teachers at a Hispanic-serving university from the United States participated in a 10-day faculty-led Taiwan Study Abroad Program. One of the components of the program was a service-learning project – a 2-1/2-day English Language Camp in a Taiwanese elementary school. Using this study abroad program as a model, this article discusses how to develop and implement a program with the end in mind, including the respective academic preparation including the pre-travel, on-site, and post-travel assignments. The backward design framework provides instructors a planning structure and process to guide curriculum, assessment, and instruction.

Findings from the expert-novice paradigm on differential response behavior among multiple-choice items of a pedagogical content knowledge test - implications for test development.

Pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) is one core dimension of teachers' professional knowledge and comprises knowledge about conceptual ideas of learners and appropriate instructions. However, several challenges regarding the assessment of PCK are discussed in the literature: For example, PCK is a topic-specific construct and contains differentiable subdomains, which must be considered during test development. In addition, the choice of test type needs to be considered. While open-ended instruments can capture a broader range of cognitions, they often require a high level of interpretation; in contrast, multiple-choice instruments have advantages in terms of objectivity and test economy. Some challenges of assessing PCK are particularly related to multiple-choice instruments, such as an insufficient focus on specific components or the accidental assessment of teachers' beliefs instead of PCK. To better understand and explain these challenges in developing multiple-choice PCK instruments, we exemparly used an instrument to assess PCK about scientific reasoning and considered the assumptions of the expert-novice paradigm to analyze differential response behavior between n = 10 researchers in the field of biology education (experts) and n = 10 undergraduate pre-service biology teachers (novices). As expected, experts scored significantly higher than novices. At the same time, experts answered the items more consistently than novices, i.e., showed less variance. However, the difference found was statistically insignificant. Regarding the explanations for choosing a response option, experts more often correctly identified the quintessence of the items, which means that they more often understand the items as intended and argued based on their PCK. On the other hand, novices focused more on surface characteristics, i.e., they argued rather with surface knowledge like intuition or personal experience, than choosing the response option based on their PCK. These crucial differences in how experts and novices understand the items of the used PCK instrument and how they respond based on their understanding affect different test characteristics. In conclusion, we recommend ensuring that instruments address only a few, specific PCK aspects, considering the target group of a test, and take into account that target groups with larger variability among their responses require a higher number of items to achieve satisfactory discrimination and reliability indices.

Exploring Contradictions in Pre-Service Teachers’ Feedback About Inquiry-Based Collaborative Learning

ABSTRACT Curriculum and professional standards mandate that digital technologies are used in schooling, and consequently, universities are required to prepare pre-service teachers for this in initial teacher education degrees. In response, one Australian university developed an inquiry-based collaborative approach, called creative inquiry. Feedback from end-of-semester evaluation surveys is positive; however, the written comments include diverse and apparently contradictory feedback. This paper uses thematic analysis to retrospectively identify the contradictions found in three years of feedback from a combined cohort of 1473 undergraduate pre-service teachers. The findings indicate, firstly, that the rationale for using digital technologies in schooling was inconsistent with some pre-service teachers’ prior experience and expectations for future practice. Secondly, creative inquiry was inconsistent with some pre-service teachers’ preferences for coursework. The findings are theorized using Mezirow’s Transformative Learning Theory, and identify potential implications for constructivist, student-centric approaches to initial teacher education about learning and teaching with digital technologies.

Preliminary Results from Norway, Slovenia, Portugal, Turkey, Ukraine, and Jordan: Investigating Pre-Service Teachers’ Expected Use of Digital Technology When Becoming Teachers

Digital technology has become an important part of society and deserves attention and in-depth research, which is still lacking. The study presented in this paper includes international perspectives from six countries and examines which factors influence the use of digital technologies in future pedagogical work in primary schools. Specifically, we investigated how pre-service teachers assess their attitudes, knowledge, and skills towards digital technology, and we determined these factors’ role in the pre-service teachers’ future use of digital technologies in pedagogical work. For the purpose of the research, an online questionnaire was used, which contained open-ended questions, optional questions, and five-point Likert-type scales, and Spearman correlation and Stepwise linear regression statistical methods were used in the data analysis. The sample consisted of 573 full-time and part-time undergraduate pre-service teachers from the Faculties of Education’s higher professional programmes in Norway, Slovenia, Portugal, Turkey, Ukraine, and Jordan. Data were collected between June 2021 and May 2022 and processed using IBM SPSS. The present research showed the significant importance of knowledge and skills about digital technologies and professional attitude towards digital tool factors for pre-service teachers’ future professional use of digital technologies. The demonstrated intention of the future use of digital technologies showed the readiness of pre-service teachers regarding the inclusion of digital technologies in pedagogical work. Opportunities for further research are in the implementation of focus groups after surveying pre-service teachers, as well as regular measurements and the inclusion of other important constructs in the regression model.

Justice-Centered STEM Education with Multilingual Learners: Conceptual Framework and Initial Inquiry into Pre-Service Teachers’ Sense-Making

ABSTRACT When pressing societal challenges (e.g., COVID-19, access to clean water) are sidelined in science classrooms, science education fails to leverage the knowledge and experiences of minoritized students in school, thus reproducing injustices in society. Our conceptual framework for justice-centered STEM education engages all students in multiple STEM subjects, including data science and computer science, to explain and design solutions to pressing societal challenges and their disproportionate impact on minoritized groups. In the first part of this article, we extend our conceptual framework by articulating the affordances of justice-centered STEM education for one minoritized student group that has been traditionally denied meaningful STEM learning experiences: multilingual learners (MLs). Justice-centered STEM education with MLs leverages the assets that MLs bring to STEM learning, including their transnational knowledge and experiences as well as their rich repertoire of meaning-making resources, thus refuting deficit narratives of these students. To illustrate the affordances of justice-centered STEM education with MLs, we draw on examples from our instructional unit that engages students in the pressing societal challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the second part of the article, we report on an initial inquiry into how 14 undergraduate pre-service teachers made sense of our conceptual framework after participating in lessons from our COVID-19 instructional unit. Findings indicated that pre-service teachers perceived both opportunities and obstacles of justice-centered STEM education with MLs. We close by discussing what it might take to prepare the next generation of teachers to disrupt systemic injustices in and out of school.

Unpacking Preservice Elementary Education Majors’ Pre-Covid Experiences with Instructional Technology: Implications for Post-Covid Technology Use

Virtual learning during the Covid-19 pandemic has made the effective use of technology, as a learning tool, more important than it has ever been. One of the challenges within instructional technology courses for preservice elementary education majors was whether or not to train students to use technology as a means to an end or to focus on technology skills. Instructional technology courses could reinforce traditional approaches or encourage higher order thinking or acquisition of twenty first century skills for formal or informal settings. This study explored the pre-Covid inclinations and experiences of undergraduate preservice teachers who engaged in various types of technology that facilitated both the learning of content and the building of technological skills to varying degrees. This basic qualitative exploratory study looked at preservice teachers’ perceptions about their engagement with the technologies and about their own capabilities. The findings show connections that were most salient to the preservice teachers. These pre-Covid pandemic findings have implications for the current state of instructional technology and learning using technology in the post-Covid pandemic era.

Pre-service Teachers’ Use and Usefulness of Blackboard Learning Management Systems for Self-Regulated Learning

Although BLB has many applications students use, it is not clear which applications are used most and perceived most useful for Self-Regulated Learning (SRL). The objective of this research is to establish applications pre-service teachers use most and perceive as most useful for SRL. The study used a cross-sectional survey design with 120 technology education undergraduate pre-service teachers. A questionnaire was distributed during the Technology Education period and collected after 45 minutes. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) determined the most BLB applications and their perceived usefulness, while a t-test examined male and female differences in the use and usefulness of BLB applications for SRL. Both tests were done using SPSS version 22. The major result shows half of all BLB applications perceived as useful were the ones used most and had positive associations. Three out of eight accounted for 95.69% of the use, while four applications accounted for 73.33% variances in usefulness. Component loadings 1-3 for BLB use variance were: subject content 80.9%, assessment 11.2%, and 3.55%, while usefulness components 1-4 variance were: subject content 26.7%, assessment 17.9%, class task 16.1%, and grade centre 12.6%. There were differences between gender in the use and usefulness of BLB applications, with males taking the lead in both. Thus, this study extends the debate on the gender gap in technology use in higher education.

Pre-Service Teachers' Task Engagement in Flipped Chinese Language and Culture Learning

The flipped classroom approach is becoming increasingly popular in higher education as a substitute for more conventional teaching methods. This study examines pre-service teachers' task engagement in flipped Chinese language and culture learning by employing three engagement facilitators as a theoretical framework. In this study, 50 American undergraduate pre-service teachers who were enrolled in an ESL methods course learned Chinese language and culture online outside of class and then engaged in practice and collaborative learning under the guidance of an instructor. Surveys, follow-up interviews, focus groups, and student documents were analyzed to explore how pre-service teachers perceived their task engagement in their learning tasks and the reasons for their perceptions. The main findings reveal that students are positively engaged in flipped learning when tasks match their abilities, offer opportunities to set their learning goals, provide instant feedback, and have clear learning goals, instructions, and directions. The results also indicate that a fixed course format, clearly defined learning tasks with step-by-step instructions, and effective assessment were essential in engaging students in learning. Conclusion and implications are generated for flipped instructional design and practice for foreign languages. Finally, limitations and future studies are discussed.

Development of an Online Learning Lesson in the Educational Technology Equipment Operation Course for Pre-Service Teachers

The objectives of this study are (1) to explore pre-service teachers’ needs in using educational technology tools for online learning, (2) to develop an online lesson about the use of educational technology tools for pre-service teachers, and (3) to compare the learning achievements before and after taking the lesson. The methodology was divided into three phases. The first phase was a needs assessment concerning the use of educational technology tools in online learning. The samples were 272 undergraduate pre-service teachers at the University of Phayao. The research instrument was a needs analysis questionnaire on the use of educational technology tools in online learning. The collected data was analyzed using Modified Priority Needs Index (PNImodified). In the second phase, an online lesson about the use of educational tools was developed. The research samples were three experts in three different fields, including instructional design, educational technology, and assessment and evaluation. The research instrument used in this phase was a suitability assessment form for the designed online lesson. Document analysis and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. In the third phase, the learning achievements before and after completing the lesson were compared. The samples were 112 pre-service teachers at the University of Phayao. The research instrument was a learning achievement test. The data analysis included means, standard deviations, and a t-test.
 The results were as follows: 
 
 Regarding the needs analysis concerning the use of educational technology tools in online learning, the pre-service teachers considered that tools for completing learning tasks were the most crucial element. The data collected from open-ended questions revealed that the most critical problems experienced in online learning were learning tools and poor Internet speed.
 The results from the suitability test showed that the developed online lesson was overall suitable (M = 2.98, SD = .174).The pre-service teachers’ average post-test score on the achievement test on the use of educational technology tools was higher than the average pre-test score with a statistically significant difference at the .05 level.

Promoting Undergraduate Pre-Service Teacher Computational Thinking

The study aimed to evaluate the results of a computational thinking (CompThink) and learning management model using a flipped classroom (FC), combined with critical thinking problem-solving (CTPS) activities. The sample consisted of 57 third-year Thai computer studies (CS) pre-service teachers (PST) (29 = control group, 28 = experimental group). The mean scores of CompThink and Academic Achievement were analysed using a One-way MANOVA. Post-course testing revealed that learning achievement and CompThink were higher than students studying using traditional methods.