Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 31 - 53 of 53
Full-Text Articles in Education
Attitudes Toward Communication Skills Among Students’-Teachers’ In Jordanian Public Universities, Fathi M. Ihmeideh, Aieman Ahmad Al-Omari, Kholoud A. Al-Dababneh
Attitudes Toward Communication Skills Among Students’-Teachers’ In Jordanian Public Universities, Fathi M. Ihmeideh, Aieman Ahmad Al-Omari, Kholoud A. Al-Dababneh
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
The present study was carried out to determine the positive and negative attitudes among 289 students of class teachers and childhood teachers' disciplines using the communication skills attitude scale (CSAS) in Jordanian public universities. GPA, year level of students were recorded. Overall results of study revealed that the mean of positive attitude score was 4.03. The mean of negative attitude scale score was 3.63. There were no significant differences between class teachers and childhood teachers students in their positive and negative attitudes toward communication skills. Students with grade point averages 2 and more have positive attitudes toward communication skills than …
Training English Language Student Teachers To Become Reflective Teachers, Ali Al-Issa, Ali Al-Bulushi
Training English Language Student Teachers To Become Reflective Teachers, Ali Al-Issa, Ali Al-Bulushi
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Reflective teaching practice has become a central theme in professional growth at the pre-service teacher education level almost everywhere. English language teaching (ELT) teacher trainers, like any other teacher trainers, have a powerful role to play in fostering reflection in their student teachers through the approaches and strategies they incorporate in their training, which can have implications related to the perceived worth of reflective practice. This quantitative study describes the responses of 90 final-year ELT student teachers and eight of their trainers at Sultan Qaboos University in the Sultanate of Oman, to a survey about the roles, approaches and strategies …
Examining Perspectives Of Entry-Level Teacher Candidates: A Comparative Study, Ping Liu
Examining Perspectives Of Entry-Level Teacher Candidates: A Comparative Study, Ping Liu
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
This study examines entry-level teacher candidates on career choice, professional goals and view on a teacher’s role. The candidates were enrolled in two elementary teacher education programs in the People’s Republic of China and the United States of America. A total of 66 participants responded in writing to three questions about why they decided to become a teacher, what they wanted to accomplish as a teacher, and how they viewed the role of a teacher. Major differences were found between these groups in their responses to the first two questions but the participants used similar terms to describe a teacher’s …
“Use-It-Or-Lose-It”? Interrogating An Educational Message From Teen Brain Research, Monica A. Payne
“Use-It-Or-Lose-It”? Interrogating An Educational Message From Teen Brain Research, Monica A. Payne
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Recent neuroimaging research has encouraged a fundamental shift in psychological thinking about cognitive development in adolescence. Challenging the existing view that early childhood was the most critical period for intellectually hard-wiring the brain, findings led researchers to speculate that early adolescence might be the more important use-it-or-lose-it period. Despite cautions from critics and some neuroscientists themselves, the new story seems to be following its predecessor in acquiring the status of hard fact. An eclectic sampling of texts examines possible implications of the penetration of this hypothesis into educational discourse. Elements of classism and adultism are identified, and considered with reference …
“My Two Masters”: Conflict, Contestation, And Identity Construction Within A Teaching Practicum, John Trent
“My Two Masters”: Conflict, Contestation, And Identity Construction Within A Teaching Practicum, John Trent
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
This paper reports the results of a qualitative study into the teaching practice experiences of eight preservice English language teachers in Hong Kong. Using in-depth interviews, the preservice teachers’ practicum experiences are explored in terms of their understandings of the requirements of their teacher education institution and their teaching placement school, their relations with full time teachers within their placement schools, as well as their own beliefs about the teaching and learning of the English language. A contribution of this study is to examine these experiences through the lens of teacher identity construction. Results indicated that participants constructed rigid divisions …
Mentors Report On Their Own Mentoring Practices, Peter Hudson
Mentors Report On Their Own Mentoring Practices, Peter Hudson
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Implementing an Australian National Curriculum will require targeting both teachers and preservice teachers. Classroom teachers in their roles as mentors are well situated for developing preservice teachers. This mixed-method study presents mentors’ reports on their mentoring of primary preservice teachers (mentees) in mathematics (n=43) and science (n=29). Mentors claimed they mentored the teaching of mathematics more than the teaching of science; 20% or more indicated they did not provide mentoring practices for 25 out of 34 survey items in the science and 9 out of 34 items in the mathematics. Mentors also claimed that professional development on effective mentoring can …
Historical Novels: Engaging Student Teachers In K-10 History Pre-Service Units, Grant Rodwell
Historical Novels: Engaging Student Teachers In K-10 History Pre-Service Units, Grant Rodwell
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
No abstract provided.
Stress Among Prospective Teachers: A Review Of The Literature , Sallie Gardner
Stress Among Prospective Teachers: A Review Of The Literature , Sallie Gardner
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Student-teacher distress has the potential to impact on the individuals who are to become teachers, the profession and the education system. This review examines what is known of psychological distress among university students, teachers and student-teachers, the demands associated with their practical experiences and the known impact of psychological distress. A brief overview of contemporary stress management approaches is also presented. The reviewer contends that the potential problem for prospective teachers requires a holistic approach, beginning through understanding contemporary strategies available to individual university students, and preventative stress management programs provided within tertiary education, which may be made available to …
Chinese Teachers’ Views On The Increasing Use Of Putonghua As A Medium Of Instruction In Hong Kong Schools, Xuesong (Andy) Gao, Pamela Pui-Wan Leung, John Trent
Chinese Teachers’ Views On The Increasing Use Of Putonghua As A Medium Of Instruction In Hong Kong Schools, Xuesong (Andy) Gao, Pamela Pui-Wan Leung, John Trent
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
The use of a particular language as medium of instruction (MOI) is a complex issue in multilingual and post-colonial contexts such as Hong Kong, on which teachers’ voices are often neglected. To capture their voices, this paper reports on an interpretive inquiry of eight experienced Chinese teachers’ professional experiences with a focus on their perceptions concerning the increasing use of Putonghua as MOI in Chinese classes in Hong Kong. Through a collaborative interpretative process, the study revealed a wide spectrum of perceptions including reservations and enthusiasm for the switch to Putonghua as MOI. The findings suggest that the participants’ perceptions …
Supporting Primary And Secondary Beginning Teachers Online: Key Findings Of The Education Alumni Support Project, T. W. Maxwell, I. Harrington, H. J. Smith
Supporting Primary And Secondary Beginning Teachers Online: Key Findings Of The Education Alumni Support Project, T. W. Maxwell, I. Harrington, H. J. Smith
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
During 2005, the Education Alumni Support Project (EdASP) (Maxwell, Smith, Baxter, Boyd, Harrington, Jenkins, Sargeant & Tamatea 2006) provided online support for University of New England (UNE) graduand, and later, graduate, teachers as they commenced their careers. The project was based on research which reported that many beginning teachers did not get the support they needed as permanent or contract workers, or, as casual, relief or support teachers, and that small scale trials had shown that online support could be effective. One third of beginning teachers who were alumni of UNE in 2004, reported they did not receive adequate or …
Interactive Whiteboards And The First Year Experience: Integrating Iwbs Into Pre-Service Teacher Education, Chris Campbell, Dona Martin
Interactive Whiteboards And The First Year Experience: Integrating Iwbs Into Pre-Service Teacher Education, Chris Campbell, Dona Martin
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
The focus of this paper is on how pre-service teachers investigate using interactive whiteboards (IWBs) to incorporate e-teaching into their lessons. Digital convergence in the classroom makes technology an integral part of teaching rather than an add-on feature (Kent, 2004a, 2004b). To establish a context for the use of IWB in schools, the paper first examines relevant literature on IWBs. It then describes a program designed to link knowledge gained in a first-semester Information and Communication Technology (ICT) unit of a first year pre-service teacher undergraduate course with the practical use of IWBs in a mathematics education unit, Working Mathematically, …
Meeting The Standards? Exploring Preparedness For Teaching, Karen Swabey, Geraldine Castleton, Dawn Penney
Meeting The Standards? Exploring Preparedness For Teaching, Karen Swabey, Geraldine Castleton, Dawn Penney
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
This research focused on the perceptions of pre-service and beginning health and physical education (HPE) teachers in relation to their preparedness for teaching. A questionnaire was designed to engage with teacher professional standards addressing (i), professional knowledge; (ii), professional relationships and (iii), professional practice. Follow-up interviews with randomly-selected teachers facilitated deeper interrogation of the issues. Findings indicated that both groups felt that their training had prepared them well in relation to most elements of the three aspects of the professional standards. Pre-service teachers had concerns with some elements of professional knowledge: specifically, knowledge and understanding of numeracy, ICT and literacy …
Towards A Classroom Pedagogy For Learner Autonomy: A Framework Of Independent Language Learning Skills, Hayo Reinders
Towards A Classroom Pedagogy For Learner Autonomy: A Framework Of Independent Language Learning Skills, Hayo Reinders
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
In recent years there has been a growing recognition of the importance of learner autonomy and the role of individual learners in directing their own learning process, both inside and outside the classroom (Alford & Pachler, 2007; Benson, 2000; Breen, 2001; Conacher & Kelly-Holmes, 2007). However, in practice it is not always clear how to support learners in this role, and how to ensure they are ready to assume it. This paper explores some of the teaching aspects related to the development of learner autonomy and proposes a framework of skills that could be used by teachers as a guide …
The Interconnectedness Of The Roles Of Mentors And Mentees In Pre-Service Teacher Education Mentoring Relationships, Angelina Ambrosetti, John Dekkers
The Interconnectedness Of The Roles Of Mentors And Mentees In Pre-Service Teacher Education Mentoring Relationships, Angelina Ambrosetti, John Dekkers
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
This review of the research literature focuses on the interconnectedness of the roles of mentor teachers and pre-service teachers. In order to examine the interconnectedness of mentors and mentees, the paper firstly delves into what mentoring is and what contextual factors influence mentoring in pre-service teacher education. It then examines the research literature on mentors and mentees and the roles they undertake in a mentoring relationship. Emerging from the examination of the roles is identification of how the relationship functions with regard to the mentor and mentee who work together to achieve specific goals. The paper highlights the fact that …
Philosophical And Pedagogical Patterns Of Beliefs Among Vietnamese And Australian Mathematics Preservice Teachers: A Comparative Study, Bao Hiep Ly, Christine Brew
Philosophical And Pedagogical Patterns Of Beliefs Among Vietnamese And Australian Mathematics Preservice Teachers: A Comparative Study, Bao Hiep Ly, Christine Brew
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Swayed by global pressures and poor international academic standing, Vietnam in 2002 initiated further school-wide curriculum change reflecting a student-centred reform agenda. Initial research on implementation is producing mixed results. One explanation is a mismatch with a Confucian Heritage Culture as a social-constructivist philosophy may counter the traditional widespread teacher-centred classrooms in Vietnam. School mathematics is often regarded as culture-independent as similar topics are taught across nations. We take as a premise that the adoption of the reform agenda is a worthwhile goal. Presented are the findings of a small scale study that set out to explore antecedent philosophical predispositions …
Evaluating An English Language Teacher Education Program Through Peacock’S Model, Abdullah Coskun, Aysegul Daloglu
Evaluating An English Language Teacher Education Program Through Peacock’S Model, Abdullah Coskun, Aysegul Daloglu
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
The main aim of this study is to draw attention to the importance of program evaluation for teacher education programs and to reveal the pre-service English teacher education program components that are in need of improvement or maintenance both from teachers’ and students’ perspectives by using Peacock’s (2009) recent evaluation model in a Turkish university context. The study is based on the data collected from teachers and fourth year student teachers who have had experience with the new teacher education program initiated by Higher Education Council (HEC) in 2006-2007 academic year. The data collected by means of questionnaires and interviews …
Sustaining Productive Collaboration Between Faculties And Schools, Cheryl Sim
Sustaining Productive Collaboration Between Faculties And Schools, Cheryl Sim
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Work integrated learning which is terminology now very familiar to all universities’ faculty members, has always been integral to initial teacher education programs. As a result of the complexities involved in this field, building effective partnerships with schools continues to be a major focus of education faculties. These complexities around a partnership between two very different institutional contexts require negotiating a relationship that is of value to all involved. The concept of communities of practice can provide a framework to establish the collaboration needed. The Australian Commonwealth government conducted in 2007 a national inquiry into the effectiveness of the teacher …
Pre-Service Primary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Early Childhood Philosophy And Pedagogy: A Case Study Examination, Alison Lord, Laura Mcfarland
Pre-Service Primary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Early Childhood Philosophy And Pedagogy: A Case Study Examination, Alison Lord, Laura Mcfarland
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
This study examined the experiences of three primary teacher education students participating in early childhood-focused community play sessions, as well as their perceptions of early childhood and primary philosophy and pedagogy. The purpose was to explore perceived differences in primary and early childhood pre-service teacher courses, which may then translate to differences in approaches to pedagogy in the field. Three pre-service teachers participated in a weekly community play session on a rural university campus in NSW, Australia. As these students had been educated in primary education pedagogy, a focus group interview was conducted to gain insights to their experiences in …
Reciprocal Mentoring Residencies … Better Transitions To Teaching, Lisa Paris
Reciprocal Mentoring Residencies … Better Transitions To Teaching, Lisa Paris
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
The 2007 "Top of the Class" report on the Inquiry into Teacher Education in Australia found teacher induction failure and high attrition rates were endemic in most Australian states. Mentoring was advocated as an important mechanism for countering the debilitating drain attrition exerted on the profession (more than 30% within the first years in most developed nations). Reciprocal mentoring represents a departure from traditional mentoring arrangements in that it aligns two professionals with skills of equivalent importance and stature but in different discipline areas/domains. The importance of "reciprocity" in sustaining mentoring relationships is a distinctive theme in the conceptual framework …
Preparing Pre-Service Teachers For Multicultural Classrooms, Jessica Aimée Premier, Jenny Miller
Preparing Pre-Service Teachers For Multicultural Classrooms, Jessica Aimée Premier, Jenny Miller
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Cultural diversity is evident throughout schools in Victoria, Australia. Many students are new arrivals from war-torn countries including Sudan, Afghanistan and Iraq. To what extent do teacher training courses in Victoria prepare pre-service teachers to cater for the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) students? This paper reports findings from a qualitative study on pre-service preparation for teaching CALD students in mainstream secondary schools. It investigated ways in which CALD student needs are addressed in secondary teaching courses in Victoria. Data included course outlines, questionnaires completed by forty-one final year pre-service teachers, and interviews with four final year pre-service …
The Effect Of Problem Posing Oriented Analyses-Ii Course On The Attitudes Toward Mathematics And Mathematics Self-Efficacy Of Elementary Prospective Mathematics Teachers, Hayri Akay, Nihat Boz
The Effect Of Problem Posing Oriented Analyses-Ii Course On The Attitudes Toward Mathematics And Mathematics Self-Efficacy Of Elementary Prospective Mathematics Teachers, Hayri Akay, Nihat Boz
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Research on mathematics teaching and learning has recently focused on affective variables, which were found to play an essential role that influences behaviour and learning. Despite its importance, problem posing has not yet received the attention it warrants from the mathematics education community. Perceived self-efficacy beliefs have been found to be a strong predictor of mathematical performance, while problem posing is considered to be a fundamental ability in mathematical learning. On the other hand majority of research in this area present a positive relation between attitude toward mathematics and success. Therefore, it is shown that attitude toward mathematics is a …
Facilitating The Teaching-Learning Process Through The Reflective Engagement Of Pre-Service Teachers, Gloria Jean Rodman
Facilitating The Teaching-Learning Process Through The Reflective Engagement Of Pre-Service Teachers, Gloria Jean Rodman
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
The repeated use of reflection throughout their teacher preparation experience can be useful in encouraging growth and improving pedagogical knowledge, teaching performance and professional development among pre-service teachers. This study looks at how the reflective engagement of these teachers in a structured classroom activity reinforces the application of the teaching-learning process in the classroom and enables them to construct meaning from that application. It seeks to identify ways in which the teachers engage in reflection; determine their levels of reflective engagement; examine what they discover about teaching through reflection; and establish how this reflection affects their pedagogical ability.
Negotiating Identities In The Transition From Graduate Student To Teacher Educator, Melody Viczeko, Lisa L. Wright
Negotiating Identities In The Transition From Graduate Student To Teacher Educator, Melody Viczeko, Lisa L. Wright
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Although practitioners, policy-makers, and academics call for reform in teacher education, there is ambiguity surrounding the identity transformation of graduate students who “become” teacher educators. This self-study uses narratives, based on intricate personal and collaborative reflection, to explore how the assumption of new role identities is an intricate and ongoing process of learning and reflection. In addition to considering the complexities and interrelationships inherent in role socialization, implications for teacher education practice and policy are raised. We conclude that it is beneficial, for both teacher educators and preservice teachers, to engage in collaborative and relational forms of self-study that foster …