Personal voices in higher education: A digital storytelling experience for pre-service teachers

Digital storytelling (DST) has recently emerged as a new tool in instructional environments. DST involves the combination of media and technology with traditional storytelling to help students learn. This paper examines the use of DST in a university course and pre-service teachers’ perceptions of their learning experiences using this tool. Thirty-eight pre-service teachers participated in the study, in which DST was employed as a learning activity. In the course, the participants created personal digital stories about their careers. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used for data collection and analysis. The findings indicate that DST is very useful for learning. The pre-service teachers perceived DST as an attractive way to share ideas and feelings, and valuable for using in lessons. DST served as a practical learning tool to present the students’ personal experiences to others, and the process encouraged emotional interactions. Implications regarding these findings are discussed.     

我国职前教师教育中的全纳教育政策研究

全纳教育从提出就不仅仅是针对特殊教育或是有特殊教育需要的学习者而言的,它是在促进全民教育、教育公平的基础上提出的。在我国,与全纳教育相关的政策是"随班就读"政策,而在职前教师教育中与全纳教育相关的政策几乎没有明确的表述,主要面临的问题有:所有的相关政策中都没有明确提出全纳教育的概念;政策较为单一;政策分散;政策中用词笼统;没有专门的全纳教师资格认证制度等。本文提出了相关建议。     

A digital storytelling project in a multicultural education class for pre-service teachers

ABSTRACT

This paper, against the background of trends in the development of initial teacher training in Europe as a whole, identifies and explains some of the recent, radical reforms which were introduced in France by a socialist government. These include the need to raise the status and the competence of the teaching profession; the creation of new teacher‐training institutions of university status (Instituts universitaires de formation des maitres); the introduction of common entry qualifications at degree level for both primary and secondary levels; the harmonisation and the extension to 2 years of the post‐degree teacher‐training course and the increase in emphasis placed on professional training, both theoretical and practical. These reforms provoked a storm of protest and an examination of the reasons for this reveals a multiplicity of crucial questions which have far‐reaching implications.     

Lifelong education for teachers: A valuable strategy for developed and underdeveloped countries?

Lifelong education is getting more and more into the centre of general interest. Small wonder that lifelong education for teachers is a widely discussed subject in circles of teacher education, like the ATEE. By taking up this issue from a somewhat more global point of view Peter Sachsenmeier gives a valuable contribution to those discussions, which seem to form the means by which we–teacher educators–realise our own lifelong education.     

中美中小学教师职前教育课程的理论比较

中小学教师职前教育课程是我国高等师范院校教育改革的重点,高师院校课程结构和内容关系到未来中小学教师的培养和国民科学素质的提高。．美国在中小学教师职前教育课程设置与改革方面的经验对我国有很大的借鉴意义。本文首先阐述教师职前教育的相关概念和理论。接着以物理学科为例,介绍中美两国中小学教师职前教育课程的基本概况。     

Idiographic roles of cooperating teachers as mentors in pre-service distance teacher education

This study aims to define the roles of cooperating teachers as mentors in the context of distance-learning teacher education. The participants included 358 cooperating teachers who mentored 4th-year student teachers in a Distance English Language Teacher Training Program in Turkey. To determine the roles that were perceived as mentoring roles by the cooperating teachers in the distance practicum, an inventory of 10 primary mentoring functions was constructed. These functions included five primary mentoring roles: ‘self-trainer’, ‘networker, ‘social supporter’, ‘academic supporter’, and ‘psychological supporter’. The results will contribute to an increased understanding of how cooperating teachers perceive their mentoring roles during distance practicums.     

Situated learning in an educational technology course for pre-service teachers

This qualitative study investigated a situated learning environment implemented in an educational technology course where pre-service teachers worked collaboratively on meaningful real-world projects, assuming the role of professional teachers. With a traditional learning environment as a critical frame of reference, we found that the students in the situated learning environment demonstrated sophisticated problem-solving skills, exhibited metacognitive awareness, produced coherent artifacts, and showed high levels of motivation. The findings implied that if we want to successfully implement situated learning, effort should be made to promote a constructive learning culture, improve individual performance, manage students’ perceptions, and foster their positive attitudes.     

New maps of learning for quality art education: what pre-service teachers should learn and be able to do

It would be a rare thing to visit an early years setting or classroom in Australia that does not display examples of young children’s artworks. This practice serves to give schools a particular ‘look’, but is no guarantee of quality art education. The Australian National Review of Visual Arts Education (, 2009) has called for changes to visual art education in schools. The planned new National Curriculum includes the arts (music, dance, drama, media and visual arts) as 1 of the 5 learning areas. Research shows that it is the classroom teacher that makes the difference, and teacher education has a large part to play in reforms to art education. This paper provides an account of one foundation unit of study (Unit 1) for first year university students enrolled in a 4-year Bachelor degree program who are preparing to teach in the early years (0–8 years). To prepare pre-service teachers to meet the needs of children in the twenty-first century, Unit 1 blends old and new ways of seeing art, child and pedagogy. Claims for the effectiveness of this model are supported with evidence-based research, conducted over the 6 years of iterations and ongoing development of Unit 1.     

Gender,pre-service teachers and assessment of pupil work

Across Australia fewer females choose to study the physical sciences and their achievements are lower than for males. Many reasons have been put forward for this. Elsewhere science teachers have been found to hold gender-stereotyped expectations of their pupils and to assess pupil capabilities differently according to the gender of the pupil. The gender of the teacher has also been found to affect the assessments made. This study investigated whether pre-service teachers would assess pupil capability across a range of work samples and potential in science differently according to the gender of the pupil or the gender of the pre-service teacher. No statistically significant differences were found for the assessments made. Weak trends in the data along gender-stereotypic lines were found which have implications for teacher training courses. Correlational findings also revealed worrying trends relating forms of assessment with assessment of pupil capability and potential. Ms Helen Forgasz, Research assistant and Ph.D. studen, Faculty of Education, Monash University, 3168.Specializations: science, physics and mathematics education, gender issues.     

Infusing assessment into mathematics content courses for pre-service elementary school teachers

The present study aims to explore the use of assessment in mathematics content courses for future elementary school teachers. Analysis of self assessment data on mathematical understanding and peer assessment data on oral mathematical presentation showed that pre-service teachers had a balanced understanding of procedural knowledge and problem solving. Conceptual understanding was not in the structure of pre-service teachers’ mathematical knowledge. Understandings of conceptual knowledge, procedural knowledge, and problem solving had no meaningful effects on gains in mathematics performance. Aspects of oral mathematical presentation were associated with improved understanding of procedural knowledge and in particular conceptual knowledge. The result of the study calls for a conceptual approach to mathematical knowledge and sufficient mathematical problem solving in college-level mathematics content courses and in particular the infusion of assessment into college-level mathematics education for pre-service teachers.     

Preparing pre-service teachers for culturally diverse classrooms: a conceptual model

Society in the USA has become increasingly diverse, with schools across the nation serving student populations that are culturally and linguistically very different from the European-American majority of the past. It is imperative that pre-service teachers are effectively prepared for diverse learning environments. This article describes a conceptual framework that has been found to be invaluable towards achieving that end.     

Preparing pre-service teachers for the profession: creating spaces for transformative practice

Within professional learning communities, the processes of shared reflection and critique, or critical transformative dialogues are considered crucial for the maintenance and improvement of professional practice. This paper focuses on the development of the processes of critical transformative dialogues and their application in the professional development of pre-service teachers. Participants reported a growing understanding of the importance of a continuing critical dialogue, and an appreciation of the value that critical feedback has in developing professional skills. The paper argues for the value of providing spaces for early engagement in the processes of critical transformative dialogue as part of professional preparation. A cumulative model of transformative practice for supporting pre-service teachers’ emerging schema for teaching is proposed.     

Peer coaching and pre-service teachers: Examining an underutilised concept

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of peer coaching on the classroom practices of pre-service teachers. Four teacher interns learned peer coaching functions and techniques before participating in coaching cycles with their peers. Pairs of participants reciprocally observed classes, collected data, and held conferences. Multiple forms of data were collected and analyses reveal that training was adequate. Findings show that peer coaching altered current teaching practices, but a trend of making suggestions for improvement without affirming strengths was also evident. Recommendations for integrating peer coaching in the pre-service curriculum are provided.     

Professional growth during cyber collaboration between pre-service and in-service teachers

This study investigates the potential for two-way professional development during a telecollaboration between pre-service and in-service teachers (PSTs and ISTs), exemplified with the context of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) MA program. Thirteen IST-PST dyads engaged in collaboration with e-pals and completed two tasks: professional interviews and lesson planning. Thematic analysis was used to analyze questionnaire responses and work logs. Partakers all exhibited the cultivation of reflective thinking by sharing knowledge and learning experiences—occupationally, pedagogically, and academically—with each other. The study depicts a need-based and task-based collaboration mechanism in a cyber professional community; mutual benefit was achieved with minimum social pressure.     

Classroom behaviour settings for science: What can pre-service teachers achieve?

Routines are a fundamental aspect of classroom life and much attention in recent years has focused on routines for management. The concept of ‘behaviour settings’ and transitions between them as classroom routines is explained and exemplified. This view of routines provides an explanation for the difficulties faced by relieving teachers and student teachers who enter classrooms at mid year and suggests how new routines for complex science activity may be introduced. Specializations: Science curriculum science teacher education, teacher     

Student primary teachers and their experience of religious education in schools

This article is based on research into the way student primary teachers experience religious education when they train in schools. The research findings suggest that the experience and quality of training in many schools is not adequate and that this experience undermines student confidence in relation to religious education. The author argues that despite the increased reliance on school as an arena for the training of teachers, in the case of religious education many student teachers do not have the opportunities to observe or teach religious education even where the school or student is keen to do so.     

Changes in learning process caused by the implementation of ICT in education in Estonian in-service and pre-service teachers perceptions

The current paper reports on a qualitative study examining in-service and pre-service teachers perceptions about changes in the learning process caused by the involvement of ICT （Information and Communication Technology） in Estonian schools. Based on five in-service and five pre-service teachers＇ interviews, findings indicate some positive, some negative and some in-between （considered by teachers as positive from one side and as negative from the other side） changes in the student＇s and teacher＇s roles in the learning process and teaching process. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Content analysis was used as the data analysis method. The paper discusses estimated changes by both groups in the Estonian educational system. A comparison of in-service and pre-service teachers＇ opinions has been provided.     

Challenging pseudoscientific and paranormal beliefs held by some pre-service primary teachers

The widespread public acceptance of many paranormal and pseudoscientific claims should be of some concern to science educators who are striving to produce a scientifically literate community. There is ample evidence to show that students at all levels of our education system believe in aspects of pseudoscience based on claims and assumptions that are in conflict with accumulated scientific knowledge and a rigorous methodology. A survey was designed to assess primary and secondary science teacher-trainees' views. Afterwards 60 students were introduced to the notion of a ‘fair test’ and what constitutes ‘evidence’. Demonstrations of psychic powers were provided and a video shown of professional water-diviners repeatedly failing to locate water under controlled conditions. A re-survey, 3 months later, indicated a rejection of many prior beliefs. However, almost half of the group retained their beliefs in miracles and E.S.P. whilst more than 40% retained their belief in visitors from outer space and that the solar system was created by a supernatural force. Specializations: misconceptions, conceptual change, earth sciences education.     

Integrating alternative assessment in a project-based learning course for pre-service science and technology teachers

This paper deals with a required methods course, based on the national curriculum of science and technology for junior high schools. The course participants are pre-service teachers who study towards a B.Sc. degree in education in science and technology parallel to their studies in one of the faculties of sciences or engineering. Working in small teams, the students carry out a project in a Project-Based Learning (PBL) environment. The final outcomes of the project are group and individual written reports, a portfolio, a multimedia presentation and a physical model. The research question was: what implementation issues and processes do higher education students encounter in a Project-Based Learning environment which involves an alternative assessment approach? Qualitative and quantitative tools for collecting data included ‘the participant as observer’ observations at the classroom, semi-structured interviews with students, questionnaire, and analysis of students' reports and products. The findings relate to the advantages of PBL from the students' point of view, the challenges students experienced and perceived while conducting their projects, and the benefits students may gain from formative assessment.