Organizational learning and program renewal in teacher education: A socio-cultural theory of learning, innovation and change

Pressures for change in the field of teacher education are escalating significantly as part of systemic education reform initiatives in a broad spectrum of economically developed and developing nations. Considering these pressures, it is surprising that relatively little theoretical or empirical analysis of learning and change processes within teacher education programs has been undertaken. In this paper, we illustrate some ways in which contemporary socio-cultural learning theory may be used as a lens for addressing these issues. Using a theoretical framework developed by Harré [Harré, R. (1984). Personal being: A theory for individual psychology. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press], we show how processes of individual and collective learning led to changes in a teacher education program observed over an eighteen month period of time. Important innovations in program practice were generally found to have their sources in the creative work of individual faculty. However program level changes required negotiation of new ideas and practices within small groups of faculty, and with the larger collective of the program. We conclude that the Harré model, and the socio-cultural learning theories from which it is derived, may offer a useful theoretical framework for interpreting complex social processes underlying organizational renewal, innovation, and change.     

Towards the Development of Valid (Additional) Selection Instruments for Pre-Service Teacher Education

The search for valid selection instruments to act as a screen for potential teachers is not a new concern. In the past, the concern was not matched by resources diverted to their development or by an adequate fund of knowledge and skill necessary for developing such instruments. Also conventional wisdom has it that the traditional criteria of teacher selection based on levels of educational attainment would be adequate to ensure that candidates selected for teacher education would be able to measure up to the demands of the teaching task.     

Illness-induced taste aversion under states of deprivation and satiation

A taste aversion to saccharin was induced under conditions of satiation or deprivation. Subsequent testing occurred under the same or opposite conditions. A preference test yielded significant drug-placebo effects only under similar training and testing conditions. Ss trained and tested under satiation produced the greatest drug-placebo differences. The data are discussed in terms of state dependency and the procedures used to induce and measure the taste aversion.     

New hopes and prospects for Colleges of Education in England and Wales

This contribution offers a statistical and policy analysis of the movements of student enrolment in Colleges of Education and other teacher training institutions in England and Wales. It discusses the situation of the Colleges of Education, which differ widely in size, against the background of educational economics and policy after 1960, in particular the consequences of the rapid increase in the number of students and the resulting overcrowding of these institutions, especially the Colleges of Education. Thus some 1,000 more students than the Robbins Committee had anticipated for 1974 were already enrolled in Colleges of Education in 1969. The preponderance of women students with their specific study motivations also influences the work and results of the Colleges of Education. A principal factor in the organisation and content of the courses is the decision in favour of “concurrent courses” integrating specialist studies with practical teacher training. This design of the study programme will become an important issue in the integration of the Colleges of Education with other institutions where different didactic principles prevail, such as the universities (“consecutive courses”). Another point of crucial significance for the future of the Colleges of Education is the link between teacher training and further education for teachers. In the Annex the student population is analysed and extensive documentation provided on the possibilities of integrating these Colleges with other institutions.     

Evaluation of Students' Conceptual Understanding of Malaria

In this study, a two‐tier diagnostic test for understanding malaria was developed and administered to 314 Bruneian students in Year 12 and in a nursing diploma course. The validity, reliability, difficulty level, discriminant indices, and reading ability of the test were examined and found to be acceptable in terms of measuring students' understanding and identifying alternative conceptions with respect to malaria. Results showed that students' understanding of malaria was high for content, low for reasons, and limited and superficial for both content and reasons. The instrument revealed several common alternative conceptual understandings students' hold about malaria. The MalariaTT2 instrument developed could be used in classroom lessons for challenging alternative conceptions and enhancing conceptions of malaria.