Section archive - Instruction in Teacher Training

The role of special education teachers is currently facing an extensive renewal process closely related to the professional transition from a narrow understanding of special education, rooted in the deficit paradigm, to a broader vision of inclusion as a whole-school and community action. Within such a process, student teachers’ professional development in special education plays a crucial role. Studies on this topic underline how student teachers’ beliefs and attitudes regarding inclusive education deeply affect their future teaching activity. Research shows that, while student teachers usually agree with the principles of inclusive teaching, they are much less sure of how to implement those principles in their teaching practice. By assessing the breadth of the gulf between ideals and practice, the author’s investigation emphasises how the video analysis of simulated lessons carried out by student teachers can contribute to a positive change in student teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion in school. Such a change would help student teachers develop a reflective stance that would strengthen their ability to transform inclusive principles into everyday educational practices.

Education Preparation Programs (EPPs) are increasingly pressured to demonstrate alignment between program supports and candidates’ outcomes. Using mixed methods, we studied the Early Field Immersion School (EFIS), an effort to improve candidates’ early field experiences. Participants included 171 candidates enrolled in a graduate certificate program and 11 university-based faculty. EFIS candidates spent increased time in early field experiences, yet EFIS was not associated with candidates’ performance at program exit. Although we found that while candidates and faculty alike valued EFIS supports, participation was negatively associated with perceptions of preparedness. We discuss these discrepancies and offer suggestions for ongoing research.

The study presented here sought to determine how student teachers’ personal characteristics, attitudes, knowledge, experience and skills for using collaborative learning influence their willingness to use this demanding pedagogy in their classes. A structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis model based on data from questionnaires emphasized the direct effect of experience on attitudes and skills, but showed no such effect on knowledge. There was no difference in research variables based on gender, age and degree in respondents’ willingness to integrate collaborative learning. One major conclusion of the study is that teacher education programs should include a study of the theoretical and strategic aspects of collaborative learning, as well as active experience with this pedagogy.

Rehearsals and other approximations of practice are often touted as effective pedagogies for preparing teachers to reproduce/replicate practices deemed universally beneficial. However, scholars have noted that reproducing practices across contexts risks undermining equity and justice. This article reports on a three-year project that examined the potential of Boalian Theater and Freirean culture circles to facilitate learning among justice-oriented teacher educators. Using an ethnographic approach, the article shows how, guided by these critical pedagogies, rehearsals can facilitate transformational learning by re-imagining responses to dilemmas of practice in equity-oriented and contextually sensitive ways.