Education Commons^™

How School And University Supervising Staff Perceive The Pre-Service Teacher Education Practicum: A Comparative Study, Jeanne M. Allen, Angelina Ambrosetti, David Turner

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Abstract: This paper reports on research conducted in two Australian universities to evaluate factors that are perceived to significantly impact on the professional experiences of pre-service teachers during practicum. Contextualised within teacher education programs in an urban university in Tasmania and a regional university in Queensland, the particular focus of this paper is the beliefs and experiences of school and university supervising staff members regarding the efficacy of the practicum in enabling students to integrate into practice the knowledge and skills they have acquired in their university coursework. Findings generated from the comparative analysis of both mixed methods studies revealed …

Pre-Service Secondary Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Inclusive Education, Shane Costello, Christopher Boyle

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The attitudes held by pre-service teachers have been shown to affect their willingness and ability to implement an inclusive approach to education. A sample consisting of 193 pre-service secondary teachers enrolled in secondary education courses at an Australian university were surveyed to determine their attitudes towards inclusive education, with a particular focus on attitudinal changes across the years of study. Results indicated that pre-service secondary teachers held positive attitudes towards inclusive education; however there was a significant decline in positive attitudes through the years of study. Pre-service secondary teachers enrolled in postgraduate programs were more inclusive than those enrolled in …

Second Life, First Experiences:Using Virtualworlds In Teacher Education, Judith L. Wilks, Lisa Jacka

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Innovating in a higher education teaching context is never a straightforward matter. There are many factors influencing how, what, and when we teach, and the students’ experiences of these things. This is especially so in the context of pre-service teacher education, forever evolving in response to rapidly changing technological, political and socio-cultural landscapes. In this paper we relate and reflect on the innovation of utilising the 3D immersive virtual world of Second Life in two secondary education units of study. We discuss and interrogate our own and our students’ experiences when we used Second Life to teach in during the …

Workplace-Based Practicum: Enabling Expansive Practices, Bruce A. Pridham, Craig Deed, Peter Cox

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Effective pre-service teacher education integrates theoretical and practical knowledge. One means of integration is practicum in a school workplace. In a time of variable approaches to, and models of, practicum, we outline an innovative model of school immersion as part of a teacher preparation program. We apply Fuller and Unwin’s (2004) expansive and restrictive conceptual framework of workplace learning to a case study of an immersive practicum experience to discuss themes of participation, personal development and institutional arrangements in relation to school-based practicum. Enablers and constraints are identified for our immersion model of workplace-based practicum. Based on the data analysis …

Middle Level Mathematics Teachers’ Self-Efficacy Growth Through Professional Development: Differences Based On Mathematical Background, Tara Stevens, Zenaida Aguirre-Munoz, Gary Harris, Raegan Higgins, Xun Liu

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Profile analyses were used to investigate differences in the self-efficacy growth of teachers with more and less mathematics background as the teachers participated in professional development across two summers. Professional development activities were associated with increases in teachers’ self-efficacy; however, without considering mathematics knowledge for teaching, teachers with more math background tended to benefit more than those with less background. Nonetheless, teachers with less math background had higher levels of teacher self-efficacy although this gap was closed by the last measurement. Such considerations are important when designing professional development as teachers may have different needs based on specific characteristics such …

Emerging Critical Literacy In Teachers As Novice Researchers, Jennifer Mitton Kukner

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This paper explores the experiences of three teachers as novice researchers as they taught full-time in a university English language school in Turkey. Viewing the participants’ experiences as researchers through a narrative understanding of teacher knowledge and a critical literacy lens enhanced their critical cognisance of their positioning as women instructors in a higher education setting. Their research experiences were shaped not only by their classroom concerns but also by expectations and larger social narratives that lived beyond their classroom doors. This study focuses specifically upon English language teachers and acknowledges the intersection of gender roles and contextual constraints as …

The Effects Of Problem-Based Learning On Metacognitive Awareness And Attitudes Toward Chemistry Of Prospective Teachers With Different Academic Backgrounds, Cemal Tosun, Erdal Senocak

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The aim of this study was to reveal the effects of Problem-based Learning (PBL) on the metacognitive awareness and attitudes toward chemistry of teacher candidates with different academic backgrounds. The study was carried out on one group using both pre- and post-test experimental studies. The findings of the study were obtained through quantitative approaches. The sample of the study was 70 first-year undergraduate students at a state university in Turkey taking General Chemistry/General Chemistry-II classes. The study was implemented during the spring semester of the 2011-2012 academic years and for a period of 20 hours. Quantitative data was obtained using …

Self- Efficacy And Participation In Choosing The Teaching Profession As Predictors Of Academic Motivation Among Arab Student's Girls, Qutaiba Ali Agbaria

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The purpose of this study is to examine the link between learning motivation among teaching trainees and self- efficacy and the rate of participation in choosing the profession of teaching. The main assumptions: There will be a clear positive link between the rate of self-efficacy of students and academic motivation, with its various elements. There will be a clear positive link between the rate of participation in choosing the profession (teaching) and academic motivation.

The sample included 181 female students. The sample was random relative to students of each academic year and specialization.

The findings of the study corroborated most …

Learning To Teach English Language In The Practicum: What Challenges Do Non-Native Esl Student Teachers Face?, Zhengdong Gan

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study investigates the challenges sixteen non-native preservice ESL teachers in a Bachelor of Education (English Language) (BEdEL) programme from Hong Kong experienced in an eight-week teaching practicum. Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews and reflective journals were collected from all 16 participants to obtain a detailed description of the participants’ perceptions of their field-based practicum experiences. Results indicate that the preserviece teachers’ practicum was characterized by a reality shock due to difficulties in experimenting with pedagogical practices they were taught in the BEdEL programme, and a lack of sense of control in class. This reality shock could destabilize the already …

Learning About The Effects Of Context On Teaching And Learning In Pre-Service Teacher Education, Lisl Fenwick, Maxine Cooper

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Preparing teachers to work effectively within increasingly diverse contexts is a key goal of teacher education programs. This study analyses the extent to which a semester unit within a teacher education course provided pre-service teachers with the understanding and practices required to teach in low socio-economic status (SES) contexts. The results suggest that a unit, which emphasises links between theory, historical perspectives and practice, can effectively provide pre-service teachers with the key understandings and skills associated with improving equity outcomes in education. However, when the ideas being presented conflict with pre-existing, strongly held ideas about the role of schooling, practices …

Novice Teachers Learning From Others: Mentoring In Shanghai Schools, Hairon Salleh, Charlene Tan

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This paper explores critically the practice of teacher mentoring in Shanghai schools. It begins with a review of the literature on teacher mentoring, which is followed by an introduction to education and teacher mentoring in the schools. The next section critiques teacher mentoring in Shanghai and we highlight three key characteristics and strengths of the practice of teacher mentoring that ensure the effectiveness and smooth implementation of mentoring in Shanghai schools. In terms of the weaknesses, we argue that the success of teacher mentoring in Shanghai is inhibited by a performative culture that emphasises examination scores and an instrumental view …

Debunking Myths: Reading Development In Children With Down Syndrome, Kathy Cologon

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

There is a considerable and growing body of research investigating reading development in children with Down syndrome. However, there appears to be a common gap between the research evidence and instructional practices. It has been argued that teachers have insufficient information to enable them to implement effective literacy instruction with children with Down syndrome. This has important implications for teacher education. The current paper draws on past and current research evidence to consider five common misunderstandings or ‘myths’ that exist in regards to reading development in children with Down syndrome regarding (1) receptive and expressive language, (2) phonological awareness and …

Teacher Retention And Attrition: Views Of Early Career Teachers, John Buchanan, Anne Prescott, Sandra Schuck, Peter Aubusson, Paul Burke, Jordan Louviere

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The provision and maintenance of quality teachers is a matter of priority for the profession. Moreover, teacher attrition is costly to the profession, to the community and to those teachers who leave feeling disillusioned. There is a need to investigate the experiences of early career teachers to consider how these issues contribute to decisions about staying in or leaving the profession. This paper reports on an aspect of a larger study on teacher retention. It describes and analyses the experiences of teachers participating in the study and highlights implications for teacher retention. The study proposes the notion of ‘resilient stayers’, …

Ensuring Student Success: Establishing A Community Of Practice For Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Preservice Teachers, Radha Iyer, Martin Reese

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This paper discusses the primacy of communities of practice within learning contexts at university and during practicum for culturally and linguistically diverse preservice teachers. The study illustrates that learning occurs when there are adequate opportunities for participation and practice. Data from interviews with 28 culturally and linguistically diverse preservice teachers illustrate that tensions created by social, cultural differences impact upon modes of identification and dimensions of practice (Lave & Wenger, 1991; Wenger, 1998). The study concludes by reiterating the importance of establishing proactive communities of practice to ensure success in learning and practice for this group of preservice teachers.

Teachers’ Perceptions On The Changes In The Curriculum And Exit Examinations For Biology And Human Biology, Mirko Krüger, Mihye Won, David F. Treagust

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

In the age of educational accountability, national and state-wide measures are assumed to secure and improve the educational quality. However, educators often wonder how much a new accountability measure may improve the actual teaching and learning practices when the agents of change (teachers) are not active participants of such educational reform. Nevertheless, in Australia, the National Curriculum is rolling in for the first time for K-10 school education in 2012-13. In Western Australia, the new Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) system with new compulsory exit examination requirements has been implemented recently for Years 11-12. In this study, using the …

Problem-Based Learning In Action: The Development Of The Virtual Health And Wellness Centre, Helen Metcalfe

eCULTURE

Nursing education in Australia has undergone significant change over the past 30 years. Most notably, the transfer from a traditional apprenticeship model to that of a professional degree based course in the tertiary sector. Contemporary healthcare institutions demand graduates who are ‘work ready’ and able to ‘hit the ward running’. The demographics of the Australian population indicate that groups of culturally diverse individuals are seeking healthcare along with an ageing population of Australians who have unique needs. The growing demand for more highly trained, work ready nurses has landed squarely on the shoulders of universities providing comprehensive nursing education. The …

Engagement In Practice: Case Studies Of Teaching And Learning At Ecu, Iris Mao, Charn Nang

eCULTURE

A paradigm shift to a life-long learning model has increased the demand for the Tertiary Education Institution to engage closely with external community in teaching and learning practice. Engagement activities have been undertaken in universities across Australia but its type and scope varies across the universities. A need is identified to develop valid and reliable indicators to measure the level and value of engagement for the key stakeholders. This paper examines the theoretical aspects of engagement in teaching and learning and discusses issues and problems of the engagement activities at Edith Cowan University using two case studies. It aims to …

Why And How Can We Teach E-Citizens With E-Books?, Atul Chandra

eCULTURE

"As the digital age moves ahead rapidly, the digital teaching and learning gap between educators and students requires continual bridging. For this reason, educators are increasingly embracing digital teaching tools and technologies to achieve learning outcomes for students. This line of thought has been followed to examine the reason and methodology of teaching current and future university students with e-Books. A new definition of e-Citizens was created, being persons who are digitally literate including university students. Also a multi-dimensional e-Citizen framework was developed for educators to evaluate the digital appetite of their students and themselves. The first dimension represents the …

Surviving And Sustaining Teaching Excellence: A Narrative Of ‘Entrapment’, Heather Sparrow

eCULTURE

"This paper discusses the key concepts of ‘surviving’ and ‘sustaining’ in the context of teaching excellence in contemporary universities, and reports the findings emerging from a work-in-progress study of Award Winning Teachers. It provides evidence that teachers recognized for their passion, commitment and expertise in teaching, work well beyond their paid hours to achieve excellence. Most become ‘entrapped’ in a culture of over-work that can have a negative impact on their lives and well-being. Factors that influence ‘teaching sustainability’ are presented, to support university teachers, administrators and managers in thinking about ways to improve the teaching and learning environment for …

Environmental And Social Sustainability Impacts Of Teaching And Research: Some Ideas, Rowena H. Scott

eCULTURE

"One aim of Australia’s 2009 National Action Plan for Education for Sustainability is to equip all Australians with the awareness, knowledge, skills, values and motivation to live sustainably in order that future generations can meet their needs. Despite the efforts of ECU Green Office Program, their brief is not to address curriculum issues so consequently this paper aims to be a starting point for discussions that examine how we at Edith Cowan University teach and conduct research that considers their environmental, social, cultural and economic implications. This paper focuses on two main issues: how ECU units teach in environmentally sustainable …

Sustainability Education, Or Educating Sustainably?, Angus Stewart

eCULTURE

"Many universities teach programs in sustainable energy, but should they be incorporating theories and practice of sustainability across many disciplines? The argument is proposed that institutes of higher education should be primary vehicles of change in our transition towards a sustainable future. It is discussed that this can occur at the institutional and curriculum level. Integrating concepts of sustainability within a biomedical discipline area is discussed with strategies exemplified to lift awareness within student groups and for teaching and support staff."

Sustainability, Survival And Engagement: Implications For Curriculum And Pedagogy In Social Professions, Trudi Cooper, Rowena H. Scott

eCULTURE

"The purpose of this paper is primarily to provide conceptual discussion of the implications of social sustainability for higher education. In this paper we examine the implications of concepts of social sustainability, survival and engagement for university curriculum and pedagogy in social professions. The first part of this paper briefly discusses the implications of social sustainability for the vision of university education and curriculum in the context of current debates in higher education. The second part of this paper provides an example of successful methods to engage initially reluctant learners with analysis of political, social and ethical issues relevant to …

Sustainable Curriculum, Sustainable University, Rowena H. Scott

eCULTURE

"Integrating the principles of sustainable development is a United Nations’ goal. One aim of Australia’s 2009 National Action Plan for Education for Sustainability is to equip all Australians with the awareness, knowledge, skills, values and motivation to live sustainably in order that future generations can meet their needs. Education is fundamental to enabling people to achieve this goal. Australian universities are starting to address these ideals. With many definitions of sustainability education, grown from environmental education in the 1970s, it is important to offer explanations for environmental, social, economic, cultural and corporate sustainability that show the broadness of the meanings …

Two On-Line Tools For Feedback On Grammar And Style In Academic Writing, Greg B. Maguire

eCULTURE

"This paper introduces two online academic writing tools which should help address two common feedback problems at ECU. Undergraduate students often consider that they receive little appraisal of the style (including grammar), rather than the content, of their academic writing. In contrast, many research students frustrate their supervisors by failing to learn from detailed corrections of their writing style. I independently developed a coding system for specific types of style errors, as have other academics and editors. The more significant innovation is the much more expansive interactive web tool which matches the numbered fault types to multi-layered explanations of each …

Transformative Education For Sustainability Transition At Edith Cowan University: A Discussion Paper, Sandra Woolltorton

eCULTURE

"Recently the Australian Government released a National Action Plan for sustainability education (DEWHA, 2009) that prescribes for universities a reorientation to sustainability through teaching and learning, research and campus management. It specifies a transformative approach to education, together with a whole‐of‐school, whole‐of‐system philosophy. In this paper I define ‘transformative education’ in the context of sustainability and discuss the implications of the National Action Plan for Edith Cowan University. I also conduct a reconnaissance of the sustainability websites of a small sample of international universities to consider the depth of their transformative approaches to teaching and learning. Finally, I ‘throw down …

Ponderers, Sloggers, Slackers And More: Understanding The Profiles Of Student Bloggers To Help Promote Academic Self-Regulation, Mark Mcmahon

eCULTURE

"Self-regulated learning is the fusion of skill and will. Students who can regulate their learning show a high level of self-awareness, are motivated and are able to adapt their approaches to the task at hand. Blogging may be seen as one approach to enhancing self-regulation but for that to take place, an understanding of how selfregulation is manifest in blogs must be developed. This paper identifies a range of blogger ‘profiles’ and offers suggestions as to how the processes in self-regulation can be developed through blogging as a learning activity."

Engaging Indigenous Content Within Teaching Of Qualitative Research In Psychology, Andrew Guilfoyle

eCULTURE

"Australian universities recognise cultural competency as an essential attribute for graduates. Within this context, The Australian Psychology Accreditation Committee (APAC) has enforced requirements for students within psychology programmes to have access to Indigenous content. Though Indigenous participation rates are low, the inclusion of Indigenous content or what is often labeled ‘Indigenous psychology’ acts at least as a symbolic gesture and important step forward in reconciling the massively disadvantaged position of Indigenous Australians. However there is little to date in the way of guides to help develop appropriate teaching methods to include such content more substantially in programmes. This paper reflects …

Addressing English Language Proficiency In A Business Faculty, Anne Harris

eCULTURE

"In the Faculty of Business and Law at Edith Cowan University, the percentage of international students enrolling in both undergraduate and postgraduate courses is increasing rapidly. The vast majority of these students come from backgrounds where English is not their main language of communication and a number come from regions where English is barely spoken. In order to assist these students in the most effective manner, at the beginning of first semester in 2009, the Faculty initiated the Business Literacy and Numeracy Project. This paper delves into the literacy aspect of this project. It charts why such a project was …

Waiting For Godot Or Sorting It Now?, E. A. Walker, J. L. Redmond, R. Morris, J. L. Ashton, J. L. Millsteed

eCULTURE

"Postgraduate business education has become a very important financial stream for most tertiary institutions. However, what is becoming increasingly evident is that the assumption of good or even adequate academic competence, based on IELTS scores, is incorrect and that in reality many international students struggle to meet the academic standards and expectations of the overseas universities. This manifests itself in many ways; ultimately students fail units and have negative learning experiences. At best they reflect competencies of surface learners rather than those of deep learners. This paper reports on interim results of a pilot study that embedded an academic skills …

Supporting Pre-Service Primary Teachers To Improve Their Mathematics Content Knowledge, Brenda Hamlett

eCULTURE

"When someone is told that their performance is not up to a required standard, there can be a tendency to react negatively and to lose confidence. Some deal with this by ignoring or withdrawing from the stressful situation while others face the issue and work to improve. The delivery of the first year unit Becoming Multiliterate as part of the BEd (Primary) and BEd (Early Childhood Studies) courses at Edith Cowan University entailed students completing diagnostic tasks in mathematics, writing and science at the start of the semester to identify their weaknesses. Students were then provided with targeted support to …