Postgraduate teachers' commitment to teach Aboriginal studies in Australian schools

This study was commissioned by the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) under its Education Innovation Program (EIP). The project goals were supported by the NSW Teachers Federation, NSW Primary Principals' Association; NSW Department of Education and Training (NSW DET); NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc.; the Aboriginal Studies Association; and the Australian Council of Deans of Education. This paper presents the findings emanating from the qualitative component of the study. The qualitative component of this project followed and elaborated on the quantitative study which aimed to: a) critically evaluate the impact of preservice primary teacher education Aboriginal Studies courses on practising teachers' self-perceived abilities to appreciate, understand and effectively teach Aboriginal Studies, Aboriginal perspectives, and Aboriginal children in Australian schools; b) compare and contrast the self-perceptions of teachers who had undertaken a core or elective course in Aboriginal Studies in their initial teacher education course with the self-perceptions of teachers who had not undertaken such courses; c) characterise participating teachers' initial teacher education courses in relation to the Aboriginal Studies content covered; and d) identify teachers' perceptions of useful structure and content to consider including in future teacher education courses. The responses from telephone interviews with teachers in schools and responses to open-ended questions in surveys are discussed. The findings identify congruence and dissonance in the areas of: the contribution of preservice teacher education; benefits of preservice Aboriginal Studies for students in schools; the place of Aboriginal Studies in schools and the curriculum; Aboriginal Studies and student ethnicity; strategies for teaching Aboriginal Studies; and the content of preservice courses.

Strengthening work integrated learning (WIL) experiences for rural education students : exploring community based partnerships

This paper investigates three areas of priority for rural teacher education: work integrated learning (WIL); attraction and retention of teachers to rural areas; and the potential challenges and benefits of community based partnerships to address these areas of need. The data on which this paper is based focuses on a Victorian project around six case studies that explored the research and scholarship of teaching graduates to be work ready for the needs of rural and regional communities. The project also aimed to explore how preservice teacher education can develop and better support pre-service teachers (PSTs) through rural and regional community-based WIL experiences.
The project investigated what sort of support PSTs undertaking WIL experiences in rural and regional communities need in order to develop positive attitudes and understandings in relation to working in a rural/regional community. Consideration was also given to how support from the university, school,
supervising teacher and broader local community enhances or detracts from the PST’s experience of WIL in rural and regional areas. In order to explore these issues in this paper the authors will outline some recommendations with regards to ways in which teacher education programs may enhance the experiences of stakeholders involved in rural and regional WIL experiences, including PSTs, supervising teachers, university teacher educators and community members.
The project’s underlying conceptual framework of place, productivity and partnerships will be explained in terms of its overlapping dimensions of community, creativity and capital in order to reconceptualise preservice teacher education in local, rural and regional and global contexts as adaptive community-based work integrated learning within a knowledge economy.
The final discussion will make recommendations on how universities and other identified stakeholders can better facilitate WIL and enhance stakeholder engagement in rural and regional areas in order to equip PSTs
and classroom teachers to work creatively together in productive partnerships to meet the future demands of local rural and global contexts of change in a knowledge economy.

Glimpses of generative practice : constructing pre-service teachers' learning in partnership

In this paper, the authors describe a program to enhance pre-service teachers' mathematical and pedagogical knowledge through a partnership with middle years teachers and learners in a primary school. The authors wanted to investigate how pre-service teachers' experience of teaching mathematics could enhance both their knowledge of mathematics and the development of generative practices. The findings have inspired the development of similar partnerships with other primary schools.

Valuing practice over theory : how beginning teachers re-orient their practice in the transition from the university to the workplace

This paper is about the experiences of beginning teachers in turning theory learned in universities into practice in the workplace. The research is situated in the context of a preservice teacher education program that explicitly and deliberately seeks to bridge the theory-practice gap in teacher education. The paper argues that, despite long-standing awareness of the theory-practice gap as a central issue faced by beginning teachers, attempts by teacher educators to address this issue remain thwarted. The argument draws on interview and focus group data collected via a study of 1st year graduate teachers of an Australian preservice teacher education program. The theoretical perspective of symbolic interactionism is used to focus on the meanings that graduates have of their experiences of turning theory into practice. The data suggest that prospective teachers during preservice training value both the theory that they learn on campus and the practice that they observe in schools. However, once they become practitioners, they privilege the latter. Upon entry to the workplace, graduates come to associate good practice with that of the veteran teacher, whose practice and cache of resources they seek to emulate. The paper concludes that background knowledge and occupational socialization remain key influences on teacher development and continue to play a key role in ensuring the continued transmittal of the cultural heritage. In particular, it proposes the need for innovative disruptions to the conventional model of teacher education.

Falar ou não falar?: eis a questão

Pós-graduação em Estudos Linguísticos - IBILCE

O impacto do estágio nas crenças pedagógicas de professores de inglês em formação

Pós-graduação em Estudos Linguísticos - IBILCE

Changing student teachers' attitudes towards disability and inclusion

A total of 274 preservice teacher education students were surveyed at the beginning and end of a one-semester unit on Human Development and Education which combined formal instruction with structured fieldwork experiences. The latter included interviewing community members regarding their knowledge of Down syndrome and opinions on inclusive education, and writing an associated report. At the end of semester, not only had student teachers acquired more accurate knowledge of Down syndrome, together with more positive attitudes towards the inclusive education of children with Down syndrome, but their attitudes towards disability in general had also changed, and they reported greater ease when interacting with people with disabilities. The study illustrated the value of combining information-based instruction with structured fieldwork experiences in changing attitudes towards disability and inclusion. It also demonstrated that raising awareness of one disability may lead to changes in attitudes towards disability in general.

Variation talk: Articulating meaning in statistics

Little is known about the way that teachers articulate notions of variation in their own words. The study reported here was conducted with 17 prospective secondary math and science teachers enrolled in a preservice teacher education course which engaged them in statistical inquiry of testing data. This qualitative study examines how these preservice teachers articulated notions of variation as they compared two distributions. Although the teachers made use of tandard statistical language, they also expressed rich views of variation through nonstandard terminology. This paper details the statistical language used by the rospective teachers, categorizing both standard and nonstandard expressions. Their nonstandard language revealed strong relationships between expressions of variation and expressions of distribution. Implications and the benefits of nonstandard language in statistics are outlined.

Investigating the Effects of Cognitive Apprenticeship-Based Instructional Coaching on Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs

The overall purpose of this collected papers dissertation was to examine the utility of a cognitive apprenticeship-based instructional coaching (CAIC) model for improving the science teaching efficacy beliefs (STEB) of preservice and inservice elementary teachers. Many of these teachers perceive science as a difficult subject and feel inadequately prepared to teach it. However, teacher efficacy beliefs have been noted as the strongest indicator of teacher quality, the variable most highly correlated with student achievement outcomes. The literature is scarce on strong, evidence-based theoretical models for improving STEB. This dissertation is comprised of two studies. STUDY #1 was a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study investigating the impact of a reformed CAIC elementary science methods course on the STEB of 26 preservice teachers. Data were collected using the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI-B) and from six post-course interviews. A statistically significant increase in STEB was observed in the quantitative strand. The qualitative data suggested that the preservice teachers perceived all of the CAIC methods as influential, but the significance of each method depended on their unique needs and abilities. STUDY #2 was a participatory action research case study exploring the utility of a CAIC professional development program for improving the STEB of five Bahamian inservice teachers and their competency in implementing an inquiry-based curriculum. Data were collected from pre- and post-interviews and two focus group interviews. Overall, the inservice teachers perceived the intervention as highly effective. The scaffolding and coaching were the CAIC methods portrayed as most influential in developing their STEB, highlighting the importance of interpersonal relationship aspects in successful instructional coaching programs. The teachers also described the CAIC approach as integral in supporting their learning to implement the new inquiry-based curriculum. The overall findings hold important implications for science education reform, including its potential to influence how preservice teacher training and inservice teacher professional development in science are perceived and implemented. Additionally, given the noteworthy results obtained over the relatively short durations, CAIC interventions may also provide an effective means of achieving improvements in preservice and inservice teachers’ STEB more expeditiously than traditional approaches.

Authentizität und Lernen - das Fach in der Fachdidaktik. Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik Jahrestagung in Berlin 2015

Die 42. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik (GDCP) wurde im September 2015 an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin ausgerichtet. Zum Tagungsthema „Authentizität und Lernen - Das Fach in der Fachdidaktik“ diskutierten neben den Plenarreferentinnen und -referenten eine große Anzahl an Tagungsgästen. Der vorliegende Band umfasst die ausgearbeiteten Beiträge der Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmer. (DIPF/Orig.)

Internetbasierte Wissensorganisation in der Lehrerbildung

In diesem Artikel geht es um die internetbasierte Wissensorganisation von multimedialen Lerninhalten. Die Lernenden in der Lehrerausbildung sollen nicht allein eine rezeptive Rolle bei der Nutzung multimedialer Inhalte einnehmen, sondern sie werden aufgefordert, eine aktive Rolle bei der Erstellung von Inhalten zu übernehmen. Dabei wird die Trennung zwischen dem Autor auf der einen Seite und dem Leser bzw. Nutzer von Inhalten auf der anderen Seite aufgebrochen. Basis ist die Auseinandersetzung mit konkreten Lehr-/Lern-Situationen über die Nutzung von Video- und Audiosequenzen (Situated Learning). Eine internetbasierte Wissensbasis mit multimedialen Inhalten ist dabei der Ausgangspunkt, um die individuelle Wissensorganisation in der Lehrerbildung zu unterstützen. Exemplarisch werden diese Aspekte einer internetbasierten Wissensorganisation an dem Projekt MaDiN deutlich gemacht (MathematikDidaktik im Netz). Ohne detailliert auf die in MaDiN aufgebaute Wissensbasis einzugehen, geht es in diesem Artikel um allgemeine Methoden, internetbasiertes Wissensmanagement in die Lehrerbildung zu integrieren. Im Rahmen des vom Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft und Forschung mit 1,6 Millionen Euro geförderten Projektes zum Aufbau einer Wissensbasis mit mathematischen und mathematikdidaktischen Inhalten (Primarstufe, Sekundarstufe I und II) wurde eine spezielle Methode zur internetbasierten Wissensorganisation entwickelt. Das Konzept einer internetbasierten Wissensorganisation hat einen konstruktivistischen Hintergrund. Die Umsetzung in der Lehrerbildung erfolgt über ein Autorensystem, mit dem der Nutzer ein Werkzeug zur Online-Strukturierung personalisierter Lerninhalte besitzt.(DIPF/Orig.)

Mirelle Schied: Schulpraktische Studien im Rahmen der Lehrerausbildung. Konzeptionalisierung und Evaluierung nach dem Gmünder Modell. Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt 2013 (301 S.) [Rezension]

Rezension von: Mirelle Schied: Schulpraktische Studien im Rahmen der Lehrerausbildung. Konzeptionalisierung und Evaluierung nach dem Gmünder Modell. Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt 2013 (301 S.; ISBN 978-3-7815-1913-8)

Relatório final de estágio pedagógico : relatório elaborado na Escola Secundária Rainha Dona Leonor

O presente documento resume, de modo claro com uma abordagem reflexiva e crítica, todo o processo de formação desenvolvido e enquadrado no estágio pedagógico, tendo como objetivo principal evidenciar a análise realizada às várias atividades desenvolvidas enquanto professor no meio escolar. Todas as áreas de intervenção do professor estagiário estarão sob análise, destacando-se o estudo de relação entre hábitos alimentares dos alunos e prática de atividade física, assim como o trabalho desenvolvido no seio do grupo de educação física sobre os critérios de avaliação. O estágio é um processo de aprendizagem fundamental para qualquer profissional conseguir estar apto para o desempenho das funções que a profissão acarreta, possibilitando o experienciar da responsabilidade e autonomia nas várias áreas de intervenção do professor na escola, e que permite um desenvolvimento de competências pessoais e profissionais muito sustentado. O ensinar e o aprender são duas variáveis com uma importância elevadíssima no desenvolvimento da prática letiva, pois conduzem a uma necessidade constante do professor para poder dar a melhor resposta às necessidades dos alunos, influenciando o crescimento do professor e mobilizando os seus conhecimentos de modo a que o conhecimento dos alunos seja também mobilizado. O crescimento e desenvolvimento pessoal e profissional são fundamentalmente singularidades conseguidas ao longo do processo de estágio, face à grande partilha de opiniões, pensamentos, estratégias e soluções para dar respostas às várias experiências que o estágio pedagógico proporciona e que contribui em muito para o ganho de autonomia e competências para o futuro como professor.

Nurturing the next generation of early childhood teachers in Victoria, Australia: the role of mentoring

The research literature points to the fact that making the transition from preservice teacher to beginning teacher is a challenging experience. New to the profession teachers can experience self-doubt and feelings of anxiety about meeting expectations, inadequacy and disillusionment. What is valued at the start of their career is support, especially if it is ongoing and tailored to meet their needs. This chapter presents data from the first mentoring program for new to the profession early childhood teachers in Victoria, Australia - the State-wide Mentoring Program for Early Childhood Teachers (SWMP) (2011-2014). The chapter provides an overview of this mentoring program highlighting aspects considered most effective in supporting beginning early childhood teachers. It proposes that developing a mentoring program incorporating respectful, responsive, reciprocal and reflective elements, can enhance both mentor's and mentee's professional growth and professional identity. The impact of this program is evidenced by the voices of those involved - the mentors and mentees.

Investigating the effects of cognitive apprenticeship-based instructional coaching on science teaching efficacy beliefs

The overall purpose of this collected papers dissertation was to examine the utility of a cognitive apprenticeship-based instructional coaching (CAIC) model for improving the science teaching efficacy beliefs (STEB) of preservice and inservice elementary teachers. Many of these teachers perceive science as a difficult subject and feel inadequately prepared to teach it. However, teacher efficacy beliefs have been noted as the strongest indicator of teacher quality, the variable most highly correlated with student achievement outcomes. The literature is scarce on strong, evidence-based theoretical models for improving STEB.^ This dissertation is comprised of two studies. STUDY #1 was a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study investigating the impact of a reformed CAIC elementary science methods course on the STEB of 26 preservice teachers. Data were collected using the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI-B) and from six post-course interviews. A statistically significant increase in STEB was observed in the quantitative strand. The qualitative data suggested that the preservice teachers perceived all of the CAIC methods as influential, but the significance of each method depended on their unique needs and abilities. ^ STUDY #2 was a participatory action research case study exploring the utility of a CAIC professional development program for improving the STEB of five Bahamian inservice teachers and their competency in implementing an inquiry-based curriculum. Data were collected from pre- and post-interviews and two focus group interviews. Overall, the inservice teachers perceived the intervention as highly effective. The scaffolding and coaching were the CAIC methods portrayed as most influential in developing their STEB, highlighting the importance of interpersonal relationship aspects in successful instructional coaching programs. The teachers also described the CAIC approach as integral in supporting their learning to implement the new inquiry-based curriculum. ^ The overall findings hold important implications for science education reform, including its potential to influence how preservice teacher training and inservice teacher professional development in science are perceived and implemented. Additionally, given the noteworthy results obtained over the relatively short durations, CAIC interventions may also provide an effective means of achieving improvements in preservice and inservice teachers’ STEB more expeditiously than traditional approaches.^