Section archive - Programs & Practicum

The present research demonstrates initial evidence of validity of a model of pedagogical practice for teacher educators, the Pre-Service Teacher Motivation Model, which is conceptually based in self-determination theory. The study deployed a survey comprising items constituting the proposed model’s factors, and measures of satisfaction of basic psychological needs and teacher self-efficacy, which were completed by pre-service teachers (N = 402) in two independent cohorts (n = 185; n = 217). The final model comprised three factors, Relational Dynamics, Student-Centered Organization, and Connected Learning. The findings are evidence of the model’s potential utility as a tool for informing the design of learning and teaching, and reflective practices in teacher education.

A significant goal of teacher education is to support the development of reflective practitioners. This intention, however, is not easily achieved when after-the-fact recall and reporting are key features of pre-service teacher learning rather than critique and contemplation. This research reports on a small-scale pilot study evaluating a novel approach to help pre-service teachers develop reflective skills in order to both understand and address the requirements of the profession. The approach involved a set of Conversation Cards with a series of question-based prompts directly linked to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APSTs) and designed to enhance reflective conversations. Focus group interview discussions unveiled the surprising ways in which the pre-service teachers used the question prompts, not only as tools for reflection but for planning lessons and preparing for professional discussions with mentors. This research provides insight into a creative and meaningful approach for integrating reflection, professional standards and classroom practice through professional experience.

One aspect of teaching which has implications for teacher development is the practicum student-supervising teacher relationship. The current study examines this relationship. Over 100 pre-service teachers across 3 institutions of higher education reported on their relationship with their supervising teacher and their feelings of teaching self-efficacy. Results show that practicums students report both positive and negative relationship aspects; environmental stressors were associated with reported relationships. Furthermore, practicum student efficacy was associated with both positivity and negativity in reported relationships. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for teacher preparation and providing support to pre-service teachers during their practica.

A comparison of population and employment projections shows the gap between teacher supply and demand growing through 2025. Alternative certification programs (ACPs) were created to increase teacher production, but research on who selects ACPs versus traditional preparation programs (TPPs) shows mixed results as does research on new teacher attrition. Analyzing employment and preparation data for over 225,000 new teachers (56% ACP), the authors found male and teachers of color were more likely to be ACP prepared. Using survival analysis, they found TPP teachers were significantly more likely to remain in the classroom than ACP teachers. They also found that teachers of color were more likely to stay teaching after accounting for preparation differences, and Latinx teachers from traditional preparation programs were most likely to stay teaching.