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Full-Text Articles in Education
Consonance And Dissonance Between Turkish Prospective Teachers’ Values And Practices: Conceptions About Teaching, Learning, And Assessment, Altay Eren
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
This study aimed to examine the consonance and dissonance between prospective teachers’ values and practices in terms of their conceptions about teaching/learning and conceptions about assessment, as well as to explore the patterns of those consonance and dissonance between prospective teachers’ values and practices. The sample consisted of 304 prospective teachers majoring in teaching science, art, special education, music, Turkish literacy, mathematics, English language, and classroom teaching domains in a large university located in the north-west of the Black Sea region in Turkey. Overall results of the study showed that the prospective teachers valued constructivist teaching/learning, making learning explicit, and …
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 …
The Dynamics Of Emergent Self-Organisation: Reconceptualising Child Development In Teacher Education, Minkang Kim, Derek Sankey
The Dynamics Of Emergent Self-Organisation: Reconceptualising Child Development In Teacher Education, Minkang Kim, Derek Sankey
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
For more than half a century, child development has endured as one of the main components of teacher education. But if children do develop, as developmentalists claim, what precisely is it that develops and how? Traditionally, within education, answers to these questions have drawn heavily on the theories of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. Piaget advocated the progressive development of reasoning through identifiable linear phases or stages. Vygotsky emphasised the role of cultural mediation, whereby the child internalises the habits of mind of his/her social group. More generally within cognitive psychology, development has been attributed to the interaction of two …
The Relationships Between University Students’ Chemistry Laboratory Anxiety, Attitudes, And Self-Efficacy Beliefs, N. Izzet Kurbanoglu, Ahmet Akim
The Relationships Between University Students’ Chemistry Laboratory Anxiety, Attitudes, And Self-Efficacy Beliefs, N. Izzet Kurbanoglu, Ahmet Akim
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
The aim of this study is to examine the relationships between chemistry laboratory anxiety, chemistry attitudes, and self-efficacy. Participants were 395 university students. Participants completed the Chemistry Laboratory Anxiety Scale, the Chemistry Attitudes Scale, and the Self-efficacy Scale. Results showed that chemistry laboratory anxiety was correlated negatively to chemistry attitudes and to self-efficacy. On the other hand, chemistry attitudes were found to be positively associated with self-efficacy. The path model showed that self-efficacy predicted chemistry laboratory anxiety in a negative way. Also, self-efficacy has a direct and positive effect on chemistry attitudes which in turn affects chemistry laboratory.
The Attributes Of Effective Lecturers Of English As A Foreign Language As Perceived By Students In A Korean University, Bruce D. Barnes, Graeme Lock
The Attributes Of Effective Lecturers Of English As A Foreign Language As Perceived By Students In A Korean University, Bruce D. Barnes, Graeme Lock
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
This study, conducted in a Korean university setting, examines student beliefs about the attributes of effective lecturers[1] of English as a foreign language. Student opinions about rapport and delivery type attributes are particularly informative. Rapport attributes were the major focus of discussion and viewed as particularly important in Korean university contexts where student anxiety about interacting in English often inhibits effective English language learning. Discussion about delivery attributes was generally supportive of participatory modes of instruction, but contained different views about how aggressively lecturers should enlist participation. The beliefs of Korean university students revealed in this study can, if seen …
Climate Change? Who Knows? A Comparison Of Secondary Students And Pre-Service Teachers, Helen J. Boon
Climate Change? Who Knows? A Comparison Of Secondary Students And Pre-Service Teachers, Helen J. Boon
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
In the context of recently published academic discrepancies between Queensland students and students from other Australian states, final year pre-service teachers were surveyed to explore their understanding and knowledge of climate change. Their responses were compared to those of secondary students to discern any significant gains in knowledge as a consequence of tertiary teacher training. Responses from a survey completed by a sample of 107 pre-service teachers and 310 grade 10 secondary students were examined for their level of understanding and knowledge, models of explanation and sources of information of the phenomenon. Results showed similarities between the two groups, with …
Self As Teacher: Preliminary Role Identification Of The Potential Teaching Candidate, Lisa A. Gross, Shanan Fitts, Tracy Goodson-Espy, Ann-Marie Clark
Self As Teacher: Preliminary Role Identification Of The Potential Teaching Candidate, Lisa A. Gross, Shanan Fitts, Tracy Goodson-Espy, Ann-Marie Clark
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
In this study, the researchers used qualitative surveys to explore potential teaching candidates’ preliminary perceptions of self as teacher and examine how roles are identified, defined and constructed in the context of a tutoring lab that provides support to English Language Learners. Prospective candidates’ perceptions of their tutees, children whose cultural identities and backgrounds differ from their own, are also examined. Findings indicate participants’ teaching identities and conceptualizations of their roles as teachers became more specific and elaborated over the course of the semester. Additionally, the significance of multiple practicum experiences in diverse settings for ongoing identity development and for …
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 …
Proposed Principles For Promoting Pre-Service Teacher Transfer Of Group-Based Learning To The Classroom: A Discussion Paper, Terry De Jong, Marguerite Cullity, Sue Sharp, Sue Spiers, Julia Wren
Proposed Principles For Promoting Pre-Service Teacher Transfer Of Group-Based Learning To The Classroom: A Discussion Paper, Terry De Jong, Marguerite Cullity, Sue Sharp, Sue Spiers, Julia Wren
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
The effective ‘transfer’ of knowledge and skills from university to the workplace is of global interest, yet this area of inquiry lacks research. Teacher educators, for example, require information on how to advance pre-service teachers’ transfer of group-based learning to the primary school classroom (Scott & Baker, 2003). Group-based learning (GBL) is a valued means of developing learners’ group work, personal attributes and interpersonal skills, and in the case pre-service teachers their professional skills.. Graduate teachers do not necessarily generalise GBL pedagogy to the classroom. This discussion paper draws from a qualitative case study that examined this pedagogy in a …
Increasing Effectiveness Of Strategic Planning Seminars Through Learning Style, Nail Yildirim
Increasing Effectiveness Of Strategic Planning Seminars Through Learning Style, Nail Yildirim
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
This research tests the effectiveness of taking learning style variables from the Kolb learning model in designing strategic planning seminars. We observe in our research that the participants in the seminar – school principals – positively judge the effectiveness of the seminar. The research also tests the seminar’s effectiveness in terms of the appropriateness of the schools’ strategic plans. The research finds that the plans are largely successful. The findings indicate that the effectiveness of in-service training seminars increases when the learning styles of the participants are taken into account when planning the seminars.
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.
The Impact On Final Year Pre-Service Secondary Teachers Of A Unit In Teaching Literacy And Numeracy Across The Curriculum, Paul White, Maya Cranitch
The Impact On Final Year Pre-Service Secondary Teachers Of A Unit In Teaching Literacy And Numeracy Across The Curriculum, Paul White, Maya Cranitch
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Addressing literacy and numeracy as social practices in different teaching content areas create challenges for teachers and teacher education. Literacy and numeracy skills and understandings are generally addressed incidentally in teacher education courses and often overlooked by teachers in secondary schools. This paper reports on a study which examined the impact of a unit called ‘Curriculum Literacies’ in the final year of a Secondary Bachelor of Teaching/ Bachelor of Arts course. The unit developed students’ personal skills and understanding of literacy and numeracy and their application to teaching in particular discipline areas. Findings show the unit had positive effects on …
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 …
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 …
Minding The ‘P’S For Implementing Online Education: Purpose, Pedagogy, And Practicalities, Wendy Sutherland-Smith, Sue Saltmarsh
Minding The ‘P’S For Implementing Online Education: Purpose, Pedagogy, And Practicalities, Wendy Sutherland-Smith, Sue Saltmarsh
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Online education has a presence in most Australian universities, and its uptake has been broadly understood as being driven by external imperatives associated with intensive competition within the global knowledge economy. However, the implementation of online education does not take place uniformly, and tensions can arise as a consequence of the considerable variation in approaches taken by institutions, faculties, departments and individual educators. In this paper, we analyse interview data from five Australian universities to consider how senior administrators, teacher educators and educational designers interpret the drivers of and barriers to online education. Our findings indicate that there are considerable …
Cultivating Teachers’ Beliefs, Knowledge And Skills For Leading Change In Schools, Suzanne Carrington, Joanne Deppeler, Julianne Moss
Cultivating Teachers’ Beliefs, Knowledge And Skills For Leading Change In Schools, Suzanne Carrington, Joanne Deppeler, Julianne Moss
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Australian policy initiatives and state curriculum reform efforts affirm a commitment to address student disengagement through the development of inclusive school environments, curriculum, and pedagogy. This paper, drawing on critical social theory, describes three Australian projects that support the cultivation of teachers’ beliefs, knowledge and skills for critical reflection and leading change in schools. The first project reports on the valued ethics that emerged in pre-service teacher reflections about a Service-learning Program at a university in Queensland. The second project reports on a school-based collaborative inquiry approach to professional development with a focus on literacy practices. The final project reports …
The Relation Between The Level Of Job Satisfaction And Types Of Personality In High School Teachers, Sezer Ayan, Faruk Kocacik
The Relation Between The Level Of Job Satisfaction And Types Of Personality In High School Teachers, Sezer Ayan, Faruk Kocacik
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Teachers are loaded important responsibilities in educational process. The productivity and effectiveness of them are influenced by promotion, charging, job security, technological level, course load and working schedule which all are determined mostly by their institutions and influenced by noncognitive characteristics such as age, gender, family structure and finally influenced by personality types and characteristics, attitudes and behaviors, social values, competency and other personality characteristics of teachers. Purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between the level of job satisfaction of high school teachers and types of personality and to evaluate the differences of the levels of job …
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 …
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 …
Community Service Learning: A First Year Transition Tool For Teacher Education, Sharn Donninson, Diane Itter
Community Service Learning: A First Year Transition Tool For Teacher Education, Sharn Donninson, Diane Itter
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Community Service Learning (CSL) as a first year transition strategy into teacher education is a new concept not previously identified in either the CSL literature or the First Year in Higher Education literature. This paper reports on a study that investigated how first year preservice teachers experienced CSL and how this impacted on their current and future professional sense of self. The study showed that the students benefitted professionally, personally, and academically from undertaking community service. We argue that given these results and the similar framing discourses of both CSL and first year transition into Higher Education, that CSL can …
Putting Theory Into Practice: Moving From Student Identity To Teacher Identity , Dawn Joseph, Marina Heading
Putting Theory Into Practice: Moving From Student Identity To Teacher Identity , Dawn Joseph, Marina Heading
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
As teaching is a highly skilled and complex profession, pre-service teachers’ need to develop a series of attributes for their practice in relation to pedagogy, content, student learning, classroom management and their ability to engage in reflection. Through reflective narrative, this article seeks to share how a tertiary music educator prepares her generalist primary pre-service teachers to engage, explore and experience music education within the Bachelor of Education (Primary) course at Unnamed University. It also presents one pre-service teacher’s experience of teaching music during her school placements in 2009 in what she calls ‘putting theory into practice’ moving from student …
The Models Used By Elementary School Teachers To Solve Verbal Problems , Yasin Soylu
The Models Used By Elementary School Teachers To Solve Verbal Problems , Yasin Soylu
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
One of the most important goals of mathematics education is to improve students’ problem solving skills, which can only be realized by teachers who are well-trained in this field. In this context, the purpose of the studies on the subject is to investigate the models used by elementary school teachers to solve verbal problems and their opinions in this process. A multiple-case study was conducted for this study which employs the Problem Information Scale comprised of eight open-ended questions. The study sample consists of a total of 100 elementary school teachers. Six of them were selected for individual interviews on …
Cross-National Comparisons Of Background And Confidence In Visual Arts And Music Education Of Pre-Service Primary Teachers , Deirdre Russell-Bowie
Cross-National Comparisons Of Background And Confidence In Visual Arts And Music Education Of Pre-Service Primary Teachers , Deirdre Russell-Bowie
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
This paper reports the findings of a study on pre-service teachers’ background and confidence in music and visual arts education. The study involved 939 non-specialist pre-service primary teachers from five countries. Initially the paper identifies the students’ perceptions of their background and confidence in relation to music and visual arts education. Secondly it examines any differences between the visual arts and music education background and confidence of Australian students and those from the other four countries. Results indicated that 25% of the subjects agreed or strongly agreed that they had a good background in music education and 16% indicated that …
Casualties Of Schooling? 18 To 22 Year Old Students In A Tertiary Bridging Programs, Robert Whannell, Bill Alen, Kathy Lynch
Casualties Of Schooling? 18 To 22 Year Old Students In A Tertiary Bridging Programs, Robert Whannell, Bill Alen, Kathy Lynch
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
A sample of 81 students between the ages of 18 and 22 years in a tertiary bridging program at a regional university completed a questionnaire examining how demographics, social context, academic engagement and the ability to cope with the curriculum complexity influenced academic success in high school and adversely affected their preparedness for tertiary study. The demographics of the study participants, including socio-economic status, private/public school attendance and first in family to attend university were such that the study participants could not be considered to be members of a disadvantaged group. The study supports the hypothesis that a number of …
Teachers’ Influence On Integration Of Tools Into Mathematics Teaching, Sibel Yesildere
Teachers’ Influence On Integration Of Tools Into Mathematics Teaching, Sibel Yesildere
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
This paper examines the process through which three pre-service teachers learn to use mathematical tools; it also looks at pre-service teachers’ instrumentation of tools into mathematics teaching. Three pre-service teachers were studying at a primary mathematics teacher training program at Dokuz Eylül University in Turkey. During an eight-week period, workshops were conducted on curriculum tools with pre-service teachers. Subsequently, pre-service teachers’ lessons were observed in real school settings. The findings are underpinned by the theoretical framework based on the instrumental approach to tool use. Results indicate that pre-service teachers had difficulty in applying the appropriate use of tools, and teachers’ …
“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 …
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 …
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 …
Schools As Sites Of Race Relations And Intercultural Tension, Fethi Mansouri, Louise Jenkins
Schools As Sites Of Race Relations And Intercultural Tension, Fethi Mansouri, Louise Jenkins
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Australia’s education system endeavours to provide an environment in which students can learn in a safe and comfortable manner, free of fear of verbal or physical abuse. However, for many schools, the ability to create this safe environment has been undermined by a recent rise in society-wide intercultural tensions that inevitably permeate the school boundary. Empirical data from a national project about racism among Australian youth provides evidence that these intercultural tensions are generating an unsettling level of verbal, and in some cases, physical abuse in Australian secondary schools. These project findings inform the discussion presented in this paper that …
Barriers To Providing Physical Education And Physical Activity In Victorian State Secondary Schools, Kate A. Jenkinson, Amanada C. Benson
Barriers To Providing Physical Education And Physical Activity In Victorian State Secondary Schools, Kate A. Jenkinson, Amanada C. Benson
Australian Journal of Teacher Education
An on-line questionnaire was completed by 115 physical education teachers to establish the barriers to their implementation of physical education in Victorian state secondary schools. In addition, the barriers perceived by teachers to impact on students’ participation in school-based physical education and physical activity were examined. The barriers to the provision of physical education were found to be largely institutional, although two-thirds of respondents recognised their own difficulties in engaging students when teaching as potential obstacles to student participation. Students were also perceived to be influenced by their own (45 per cent) and their peers (62 per cent) low levels …