Transitions to becoming a teacher on an initial teacher education and training programme

This article is based on research with a group of one‐year Postgraduate Certificate in Education secondary trainee teachers during their initial teacher education and training in England. It considers tensions between trainees’ prior experiences and conceptions of teaching and their training programme. In doing so, it seeks to examine how a trainee’s dispositions as revealed through practice in various contexts are reflective of Bourdieu’s ‘habitus’. Associated with this, the paper also examines how particular forms of pre‐existing cultural capital and manifestations of biographical identity also pre‐dispose trainees to form affinities and disaffinities within particular fields. Lacanian concepts of the symbolic, imaginary and real are used to help explain how trainee teachers articulate resonance and dissonance during their field experiences, particularly in relation to ontological concerns of securing a professional stable sense of self.     

Practicalising theoretical knowledge in student teachers' professional learning in initial teacher education

This paper reports the findings collected from a four year longitudinal study aiming to investigate the professional learning of student-teachers in Bachelor of Education programmes. Four case studies which suggest a typology of ways of practicalising theoretical knowledge with one extreme as the testing out of teaching approaches mainly to find out their practicality in the school context to the other extreme whereby the student-teacher sought to work out a schema or personal theory were identified. Influences from the campus-based and the field-based components of the teacher education programme are drawn. The paper ends with implications for initial teacher education.     

Social pedagogy in schools: student teacher attitudes in England and Norway

This study explored the views of student teachers in England and Norway regarding the extent to which they felt the school should take the lead role (in comparison to the roles played by parents and other professional agencies) in addressing the needs of pupils identified by the school as experiencing a problem. A questionnaire comprising 30 problem areas was developed and distributed to student teachers at two universities in England and at two universities in Norway. A total of 542 student teachers participated in the study. The findings indicated that the ratings by student teachers in both countries of these problem areas fell broadly into four main groupings (in terms of the strength of feeling that the school should take the lead role): these concerned poor basic core attainment, disaffection, anti-social behaviour, and unhealthy lifestyles, respectively, except for one very important caveat: concerns regarding bullying received a high rating and were located in the first grouping. These findings are interpreted in the context of whether schools might be ready to adopt a social pedagogical approach to offering targeted support to pupils experiencing such problems and the implications this may have for inclusive education and initial teacher education.     

Exploring student teachers' motivation change in initial teacher education: A Chinese perspective

Informed by a multiple, integrated perspective on teacher motivations, this study explores ten student teachers' motivation change throughout a pre-service language teacher education program in China. Drawing on data from the participants' personal reflections, focus group interviews, and individual interviews, this study reveals how the participants' motivations were shaped and reshaped through their professional practice and social interactions in relation to their self-efficacy, outcome expectations, professional autonomy, and social support in their learning context. This study concludes with some implications for policy makers and teacher educators on how to cultivate and promote pre-service teachers' motivations and commitments towards teaching as a life-long career.     

Talking about Assessment: Mentor-student dialogues about pupil assessment in initial teacher training

This is an account of a study, conducted over the period of one extended school placement lasting a term, which monitored the dialogues between student teachers undertaking their school-based initial training and their mentors. The study took place in the context of the increasing emphasis placed on pupil assessment in England and Wales and the increasing prominence of school-based work in initial teacher training. This particular analysis focuses on the extent and kind of attention within the dialogues given to the assessment of pupil learning, and the ways in which school-based mentors model assessment practice through their formative discussions with student teachers. The evidence suggests that the dialogues are tending to define assessment in terms of examinations, tests and class control rather than in terms of pupil learning. While this suggests that there is scope for continued development of the mentoring role and the interpretation of initial teaching competences, it also adds to existing evidence that pupil-assessment is an area of difficulty for many experienced teachers.     

The effect of portfolios on students' learning: student teachers' views

This study reports on student teachers' views of portfolios as a learning tool when they are combined with a weekly test conducted at the end of each lesson to help student teachers self‐evaluate. Student teachers' written reflections during the process provided data for the study. Analysis of the data showed that a majority of student teachers initially felt that compiling a portfolio would be time‐consuming and an extra burden added to their already busy schedule. However, later on they all found that the process was a useful learning experience. Moreover, the portfolio process – especially combining self‐reflection with weekly tests – encouraged students to study regularly, increased retention and made learning more enjoyable. Suggestions for the successful portfolio implementation include the following: guiding students both at the beginning of and during the process, providing continuous and prompt feedback during the process and making self‐reflection – especially guided by reflection prompts – an essential part of the process.     

Multi-point e-conferencing with initial teacher training students in England: Pitfalls and potential

This article reports on attempts to initiate multi-point e-conferencing between English teacher education students on school placements, their host teachers and their university tutors. A sociocultural perspective is adopted in analysing the project, using the metaphor of a ‘professional knowledge landscape’ [Clandinin, D. J., & Connelly, F. M. (1995). Teachers’ professional knowledge landscapes. New York: Teachers College Press] to make sense of participants’ experiences. Findings suggest that considerable difficulties exist not just in terms of technical challenges, but also in terms of ethics, values, complexity and communications in schools. A similar project undertaken in Singapore [Sharpe, L., Hu, C., Crawford, L., Gopinathan, S., Khine, M. S., Moo, S. N., et al. (2003). Enhancing multi-point desktop video conferencing (MDVC) with lesson video clips: Recent developments in pre-service teaching practice in Singapore. Teaching and Teacher Education, 19(5), 529–541] is used to highlight the contextual nature of these challenges. The paper concludes that the promotion of new technologies as a key part of current education planning in the UK is questionable with insufficient attention being given to the sociocultural implications of such change. Implications are drawn for universities, schools and for future policy development.     

Impact of an in-service training in neurocognitive insights on teacher stress,teacher professionalism and teacher student relationships

The stressful nature of the teaching profession is recognised worldwide. Consistent with the recent international attention regarding the connection between neurocognition and education, the study ‘Learn2be@school’ introduced a training for teachers about the occurrence of stress and the relationship between human behaviour and the functioning of the human brain. This study investigates whether neurocognitive insights contribute to stress reduction in the professional and personal functioning of teachers, and focuses more specifically on the impact of the training on their attitudes (attitude level), understanding (knowledge level) and handling (application level) of complex stress situations. Using a quasi-experimental study design with 12 participants and 28 non-participants, data were gathered twice through the use of vignettes and in-depth interviews. The results indicated an impact of the training, not only on the stress experienced by teachers in their professional and personal functioning, but also at the level of the teacher–student relationship and team functioning.     

Teachers' perceptions of student threat to teacher status and teacher pupil control ideology

Three hypotheses were examined. The first posited a direct relationship between teachers' perceptions of student threat to teacher status and custodialism in teacher pupil control views. The other two proposed that secondary school teachers, compared with elementary teachers, would perceive greater student threat to teacher status, and would be more custodial in pupil control ideology. The hypotheses were tested, using a sample of 373 teachers. None of the hypotheses could be rejected. The first hypothesis served as a premise in a theoretical framework used in past research. Since a test of this theoretical proposition was carried out, an opportunity was afforded more directly to disprove the theory.     

Exploring student learning approaches on an initial teacher education programme: A comparison of mature learners and direct entry third-level students

This article compares the learning approaches of students on an initial teacher education programme. Using a mixed method approach, the study examines differences between mature learners and direct entry students, across the domains of deep, strategic and surface learning approaches. Following the quantitative phase, group interviews were conducted to gain additional insights into the factors, which impacted learning approach. Significant differences were evident between both cohorts. The key categories that contributed to learning approach included; motivation to learn, collaborative and competitive learning, prior educational experiences and school placement. The findings provide insights into the diversity of student cohorts.     

Teacher training and teacher education in England and Norway: a comparative study of policy goals

In this paper, we examine the complementary and differing state‐defined roles of beginning schoolteachers in England and Norway by investigating centrally mandated initial teacher preparation programmes in both countries. Through comparative analysis, we get to see the roles that the policy‐makers in London and Oslo seek to confer upon the educators of future generations of schoolchildren, as well as exploring opportunities for cross‐cultural policy learning. In broad terms, we found that centrally prescribed initial teacher training in England is, as its name implies, a training model that seeks to induct trainee teachers into the practical skills and willingness necessary for: instructing pupils in National Curriculum subjects, managing classroom activities, setting homework to consolidate and extend classroom work and providing pupils with a safe learning environment. Centrally prescribed initial teacher education in Norway is, as its name implies, an educative model whose goal is to help student teachers to: reflect and act upon the practical implications of educational theory, instruct pupils in National Curriculum subjects, display leadership in the classroom, act as a member of a caring profession, promote Norwegian values and provide pupils with a safe learning environment.     

The effect of a brief teacher training on student achievement

On the basis of previously determined correlations between teacher behavior and student achievement, a training program for mathematics teachers was developed. Previous research had established that this training did change the behavior of teachers. This article reports the effects of the training program on teacher behavior, student achievement, and student attitudes towards mathematics. From this study it appeared that the timing of the training was important for its effect on student achievement. There was no effect on student attitude.     

The impact of a language education programme on the development of PGCE English student teachers' perceptions of subject identity

This article builds on work by Burley and Pomphrey, described in previous articles (2002 Burley, S and Pomphrey, C. 2002a. Intercomprehension: a move towards a new type of language teacher. Language Learning Journal, 25: 46–51. [Taylor & Francis Online] [Google Scholar]a, 2000 Burley S Pomphrey C From language user to language teacher 2002b www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/00002356.htm  [Google Scholar]b, 2003 Burley, S and Pomphrey, C. 2003. Intercomprehension in language teacher education: a dialogue between English and Modern Languages. Language Awareness, 12(3 & 4): 247–255. [Taylor & Francis Online] [Google Scholar]). It describes student teachers' changing perceptions of English as a subject as they experience a language education programme on their PGCE English course. What began as a programme for encouraging cross‐curricular links between the subjects of English and Modern Languages has also effected dramatic changes in English student teachers' perceptions of their subject and thus their subject identity. The focus is on English student teachers. The Modern Languages student teachers also gained from the collaboration, and this has been documented in articles by Burley and Pomphrey, and a booklet entitled ‘Language teacher education’ (2004). The data informing this article were collected over the past four years through student feedback, evaluations of individual sessions and overall evaluations.     

The professional report in initial teacher training in France

While the IUFM (University Institutes for Teachers' Training) are going to become part of universities, this article questions one of the bases validating the teachers' training: the professional report. This assessment concerns exercising teachers in having a critical mind towards their practical experience, because its purpose is to prepare teachers to adapt to the different types of pupils they are going to teach. This is the reason why the Government can only define this assessment briefly, even if they want to have better control over the teachers' training. To be precise concerning this assessment, the Government has to trust the teachers' trainers' control and the latter are only lightly encouraged. Despite the positive opinion expressed by specialists, this assessment could disappear because the Government favours a training efficient in a short‐term period and ignores the analyses which would take long‐term needs into account.

Alors que les IUFM (Instituts universitaires de formation des maîtres) vont être intégrés à l'université, cet article questionne un des piliers de la validation de la formation des enseignants qui semble être remis en question: l'épreuve du «mémoire professionnel». Cette épreuve a pour but d'exercer les enseignants à porter un regard critique sur leur pratique, car sa finalité est de les préparer à s'adapter à la diversité des publics scolaires qu'ils rencontreront. C'est la raison pour laquelle l'Etat, malgré sa volonté de contrôler davantage la formation des enseignants, ne peut que définir l'épreuve de manière sommaire. Pour la préciser, il doit accorder sa confiance à une régulation effectuée par les formateurs, qu'il n'encourage cependant que modestement. Cette épreuve, malgré le regard positif que les spécialistes portent sur elle, pourrait même disparaître car l'État privilégie les modalités de formation efficaces sur le court terme, en ignorant les analyses qui intégreraient les besoins sur le plus long terme.

Zum Zeitpunkt der Integrierung der Lehrerausbildung des IUFM (Instituts universitaires de formation des maîtres) in die Universität, stellt dieser Artikel stellt das Problem der Anerkennung der Lehrerausbildung und der Lehrerprüfung : die sogenannte “berufliche Diplomarbeit” welche mittlerweile in Frage gestellt wird. Diese Prüfung hat das Ziel den Lehrern zu helfen über ihre Praxis nachzudenken ausüben, und sie auf die Unterschiede des Schülerpublikums vorzubereiten. Aus diesem Grund kann der Staat die Prüfung nur global definieren, auch wenn er die Lehrerausbildung mehr kontrollieren will. Um diese Prüfung klarzustellen, muss der Staat der durchgeführten Regulierung der Dozenten vertrauen, Regulierung die jedoch ganz bescheiden gefördert wird. Trotz dem positifen Ruf dieser Prüfung bei den Späzialisten, wäre es möglich dass sie verlorengeht, denn der Staat bevorzugt eine kurzfristig effektive Ausbildung, und ignoriert die Analyse der langfristige Bedürfnisse.

Mientras los Institutos Universitarios de Formación de los Profesores van a ser integrados en la Universidad, este articulo provoca cuestiones a propósito de un sostén fundamental en la validación de la formación del profesorado : la probatura del ‘alegato profesional’. La finalidad de aquella probatura es que el profesorado se adiestre a volver ojos críticos a su práctica profesional, preparandoles a ajustarse a los varios públicos escolares que van a encontrar. Por ello, con ser acuicioso de controlar todavía mas la formación de los profesores, el Ministerio sólo puede dar una compendiosa definición de aquella probatura. Para determinarla, tiene que esperar en una regulación realizada por el mismo magisterio, mientras que la enfervoriza con poco celo. A pesar del interés que presenta para los especialistas, podría aun desaparecer aquella probatura porque el Estado privilegia modos de formación inmediatamente operativos en vez de tomar en consideración estudios integrando necesidades diuturnas.     

Promoting inclusive education in secondary school in Norway: a national programme for teacher development

There is a great need in many countries for extended and new teacher competence to meet the challenges of inclusive education. This paper presents a national programme for developing new teacher competence in secondary schools in Norway. The programme was developed and implemented during the 1990s, its aim being to start a continuing process in schools directed at promoting inclusive education and improving the quality of education for pupils with special educational needs. Further, the paper presents some findings from a national survey of 2240 teachers and school administrators in 104 schools one year after the implementation of the programme. The survey partially replicated a survey carried out before the programme started. The purpose was to give an overall picture of the situation with respect to teacher competence in special needs and inclusive education, and the impact of the competence building programme on teacher practice, and to identify possible system changes in schools.     

The development of student teachers' practical theory of teaching

This study explores the professional development of two student teachers. Changes in their “practical theories”—their system of knowledge, attitudes, and values related to teaching—provide an insight into their professional development. The study reveals the evolution of their practical theory of teaching and identifies a number of interrelated factors which impinge on their professional development. The role of critical reflection is explored as one of these factors.     

Jordanian student teachers' perceptions of teaching writing in kindergartens during their field training experience

The purpose of the study was to examine student teachers' perceptions of teaching writing in kindergartens and to identify to what extent the cooperating teachers influence the student teachers' perceptions. To achieve the research aims, a 31‐item questionnaire was developed by the researchers and administered to 50 student teachers and their cooperating teachers. The questionnaire was administrated to both groups as a pre‐test and to student teachers as a post‐test. The results of the study revealed that student teachers were more likely to be emergent literacy‐oriented in their perceptions of teaching writing than they were to the reading readiness philosophy. Furthermore, the influence of the cooperating teachers was insignificant as the student teachers' perceptions of teaching writing developed earlier were more stable and difficult to alter later. In light of these findings the researchers addressed a number of suggestions and recommendations.     

Teacher behaviour and student outcomes: Suggestions for research on teacher training and professional development

The study reported here examines whether teaching skills included in the dynamic model of educational effectiveness can be grouped into types of teacher behaviour and whether these types are related with different student outcome measures. The data stem from a study which was conducted in order to test the validity of the dynamic model. Results reveal that teaching skills can be grouped into five types of teacher behaviour which are discerned in a distinctive way and move gradually from skills associated with direct teaching to more advanced skills concerned with new teaching approaches and differentiation of teaching. Teachers exercising more advanced types of behaviour have better student outcomes. Suggestions for research on teacher education and professional development are drawn.     

The lost promise of teacher professional development in England

This paper explores three influences on the effectiveness of teacher professional development for improving schools – the individual teacher, the learning activities in which teachers participate and the structures and supports provided by schools for teacher learning. It does so by relying on survey data collected for a national study of teacher professional development in England. The analysis indicates that while the professional development of teachers in England is generally ineffectual and lacks school level systems and supports, the professional development and supports for professional learning by teachers in high performing schools display many of the characteristics associated with effective professional learning. Given the results showing a link between school factors and professional learning and the lack of influence of individual teacher factors, the paper concludes that the previously reported importance of school capacity in influencing learning and improvement is supported by the findings.