Audible conversational affordances and constraints of verbalizing professional noticing during prospective teacher lesson study

Lesson Study, which assumes multiple variations, is a collaborative method that provides an opportunity for teachers to notice professionally. We analyzed how audible conversational components afforded and constrained the verbalization of professional noticing of a lesson study team. The team, comprised of six prospective teachers, a classroom teacher, and a university facilitator, participated in weekly lesson study cycles in a teacher education program. Results indicate that a structured lesson study process afforded professional noticing as participants attended to and analyzed students’ thinking. However, noticing was constrained by shifts in the conversation content and lengthy segments of individuals exerting expertise. Findings indicate that the facilitator played a crucial role in increasing the incidence of professional noticing and also contributed to the decline of noticing. Implications for teacher education programs are included.     

Novice in secondary school – the coin has two sides

The aim of this study is to gain an insight into novice teachers’ diverse experiences. The study is conducted among nine beginning teachers in upper secondary school in Norway, and the research instrument was semi structured interviews. The main findings indicate that there are two sides of the coin of being a new teacher, positive as well as less positive aspects. The beginning teachers want to be recognised as who they are, new to the job, and on the other hand, they want to be accepted as fully qualified teachers. The two contradictory perceptions of themselves as professionals represent two sides of the same coin.     

Implementing environmental education in pre‐service teacher training

Implementing environmental education is a complex, unpredictable and time‐consuming process, which, despite the introduction of cross‐curricular attainment targets, is often ignored in Flemish teacher training curricula. This article reports on implementing environmental education in two teacher training colleges using seven criteria: participant engagement, instructor credibility, intention, functionality, self‐efficacy, school climate and evaluation. One college has a long history of cross‐curricular education, whereas the other college has just started. It was found that the implementation processes in the two teacher training institutions stagnated owing to personal and organizational obstructions. To deal with these constraints, several recommendations are suggested.