The Transformation of Teacher Education and Special Education

1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 310-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAMES PAUL ◽  
BETTY EPANCHIN ◽  
HILDA ROSSELLI ◽  
ALBERT DUCHNOWSKI
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Teacher Education ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
South Florida ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
Local Contexts ◽  
Services Integration ◽  
Science Teacher Educators ◽  
The University

As public schools implement the national reform agenda and as educational philosophy and practice reflect the changes in culture and science, teacher educators are finding themselves needing to make more extensive changes in their programs and in themselves. what follows is a discussion of the changes in one department of special education that restructured all aspects of its program in order to respond to educational reforms in institutions of higher education and to the reforms relative to services integration. addressing the broad reform agendas that cut across and integrate fields of education, social welfare, public health, and other service systems has resulted in changes both within the university of south florida and between the university and the community. a major focus of this article is on our attempt to address the changing needs of teachers and schools. a discussion of the national and local contexts of our work, and the philosophy guiding our research and program development, is followed by a description of specific changes in our approach to teacher education and our work in the community.

scholarly journals Education for Social Change: The Case of Teacher Education in Wales

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8574
Author(s):  
Rebecca Weicht ◽  
Svanborg R. Jónsdóttir
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Social Change ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Entrepreneurial Education ◽  
Constructive Learning ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
The University ◽  
Action Competence ◽  
Shed Light

Entrepreneurial education offers valuable opportunities for teachers to foster and enhance creativity and action competence, which are also important for sustainability education. The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) is a leader in the development of entrepreneurial education in teacher education both in Wales and internationally. The objective of this article is to shed light on how an entrepreneurial education approach can help foster social change. The aim of this study is to learn from teacher educators at UWTSD about how they support creativity, innovation, and an enterprising mindset in their learners. A case study approach is applied. By analysing documentary evidence such as module and assignment handbooks, we explore how teacher educators at UWTSD deliver entrepreneurial education for social change. Our findings indicate that UWTSD’s development of entrepreneurial education in teacher training has enabled constructive learning, cultivating creativity and action competence. We provide examples that display how the intentions of the Curriculum for Wales and entrepreneurial education approaches of the UWTSD emerge in practice. These examples show outcomes of the entrepreneurial projects that evince the enactment of social change. The findings also show that the educational policy of Wales supports entrepreneurial education throughout all levels of the educational system.

Whiteness as Property in Science Teacher Education

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-38
Author(s):  
Felicia Moore Mensah ◽  
Iesha Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
Science Teacher ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Elementary Science ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Science Teacher Education ◽  
Methods Course ◽  
Teachers Of Color ◽  
Science Teacher Educators

Background/Context The disparity between the race and ethnicity of teachers and students is expected to increase as our nation and classrooms continue to become more racially, ethnically, linguistically, and economically diverse. It is extremely important to think about not only the educational needs of such a diverse student population within schools but also who will teach these students. However, when looking at subject-matter specificity for the retention of Teachers of Color, such as science teachers, the picture becomes extremely serious when we understand teachers’ paths into and out of science and teaching. Purpose The purpose of the study is to analyze the experiences of preservice Teachers of Color (PTOC) enrolled in an elementary science methods course as they gain access to science as White property. Our analysis provides evidence that PTOC can break the perpetual cycle of alienation, exclusion, and inequity in science when they are given opportunities to engage in science as learners and teachers. In addition, we also offer insights regarding the role science teacher educators may play in preparing teachers and especially TOC for urban schools. Setting/Research Design The context of this study was a graduate-level preservice elementary science methods course at a large urban university in New York City. Multiple data sources included pre-post surveys, semester observation journals, final course papers, and a post-course questionnaire. Utilizing constructivist grounded during the initial phase of analysis and themes from critical race theory (CRT), our unique voices of color and positionalities allowed us to interpret the data from a CRT perspective and arrive at findings relevant to making science inclusive to PTOC. Conclusions/Recommendations In order to push the field of science teacher education toward social justice issues of access, opportunity, and enjoyment, efforts must focus on increasing representation of Teachers of Color in science education. The transformation of science teacher education to grant equitable learning experiences for Teachers of Color is needed. Further research on the experiences of science Teachers of Color, as well as Faculty of Color and their relationship with students, is highly encouraged. Both teacher preparation and science education must be open to interrogate and reveal structural forms of race, racism, and power that manifest through curriculum, structure, and pedagogy that cause alienation and exclusion for Teachers of Color. Therefore, we encourage science teacher educators to examine their own course curriculum, structure, and pedagogy through self-study and refection. Overall practices in teacher preparation must empower rather than impede progress toward important goals of CRT, and this may be achieved through building stronger relationships with PTOC and Faculty of Color across teacher preparation courses in support of these goals.

scholarly journals Developing Communities of Praxis: Bridging the theory practice divide in teacher education

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael James Anderson ◽  
Kelly Freebody
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Beginning Teachers ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Teach For America ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Initial Teacher Education ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Education Policies ◽  
The University ◽  
New Education

Teacher education in universities is under pressure. In many new education policies there is a renewed focus on teacher quality, and therefore quality initial teacher education. In some countries this renewed focus has led to a resurgence of “alternative approaches” to teacher education such as Teach for America / Australia. One of the most persistent complaints about pre-service teacher education is that educational theory presented in these programs does not relate sufficiently to the real work of teachers. In an attempt to overcome these real or perceived divides, tertiary drama educators at the University of Sydney constructed a professional experience program based on both the community of practice model (Lave and Wenger, 1991) and Frierean notions of praxis (1972). The community of praxis approach emphasises the importance of integrating theory and practice to support the development of beginning teachers. This article outlines the development, implementation, and evaluation of this approach, including the reasoning behind its foundation and the theoretical and practical significance of such an approach for teacher-educators.

scholarly journals The Power and Possibilities for Understanding Teaching in these Times with Ethnodramatic Inquiries into Teacher Stories: Two Reviews

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 302
Author(s):  
Sarah Reed Hobson
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Chicago Public Schools ◽  
Teacher Stories ◽  
Ethnographic Interviews ◽  
Teacher Challenges

The following is a review and commentary on two of Charles Vanover’s ethnodramatic performances of the ethnographic interviews of two teachers. At two sessions at two educational conferences, Charles staged verbatim excerpts from each interview to open conversations with teacher educators about the challenges faced by two teachers in Chicago Public Schools. With this review, I explain the structuring behind each performance and the ensuing conversations about teacher challenges and needs in these times. I illuminate how educators can use ethnodramatic inquiries into teacher stories to deepen their understandings of teacher education and to re-write narratives that scapegoat teachers as the problem.

Ethical Issues in General and Special Education Teacher Preparation: An Interface with Rural Education

2008 ◽  
Vol 27 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 43-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy M. Sileo ◽  
Thomas W. Sileo ◽  
Thomas B. Pierce
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Teacher Education ◽  
Rural Education ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Special Education Teacher ◽  
Teacher Preparation Programs ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Education Teacher

Teacher education may be the most important variable to ensure consideration of ethical issues in public schools. However, many teacher preparation programs may not equip teachers with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to make moral judgments and decisions necessary to provide high quality education for all students. This article addresses ethical issues and practices that impact teacher education, their interface with rural education, and results of a national research study that assesses extent to which and how preservice teacher preparation programs attend to ethical issues. Survey results indicate that teaching about ethical and professional practices is important to teacher preparation, and yet, receives little emphasis in most programs. Key Words: Educational Equity, Ethics, Morality, Rural Education, Special Education, Teacher Preparation, and Values

John Dewey and Teacher Education

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Schmidt ◽  
Randall Everett Allsup
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
Beginning Teachers ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Individual Responsibility ◽  
Teacher Wellbeing ◽  
Thoughtful Reflection ◽  
Continued Learning

John Dewey’s writings on schooling are extensive, and characteristically wide-ranging: teachers are expected to think deeply about knowledge construction, how we think and learn, the purpose of curriculum in the life of the child, and the role of school and societal reform. He worked throughout his life to develop and refine his philosophy of experience, describing all learning as defined by the quality of interactions between the learner and the social and physical environment. According to Dewey, teachers have a responsibility to structure educational environments in ways that promote educative learning experiences, those that change the learner in such a way as to promote continued learning and growth. The capacity to reflect on and make meaning from one’s experiences facilitates this growth, particularly in increasing one’s problem-solving abilities. While Dewey wrote little that specifically addressed the preparation of teachers, his 1904 essay, “The Relation of Theory to Practice in Education,” makes clear that he grounds his beliefs about teachers’ learning in this same philosophy of experiential learning. Dewey argued that thoughtful reflection on previous and current educational experiences is especially important in teacher preparation; teacher educators could then guide beginners to examine and test the usefulness of the beliefs formed from those experiences. Teacher educators, therefore, have a responsibility to arrange learning environments for beginning teachers to promote sequential experiences leading to increased understanding of how children learn, “how mind answers to mind.” These experiences can then help beginning teachers grow, not as classroom technicians, but as true “students of teaching.” Dewey’s ideas remain relevant, but must also be viewed in historical context, in light of his unfailing belief in education and the scientific method as ways to promote individual responsibility and eliminate social problems. His vision of a democratic society remains a fearless amalgam of human adaptation, continuity, change, and diversity: public schools are privileged locations in a democracy for the interplay and interrogation of old and new ideas. Teacher preparation and teacher wellbeing are crucial elements; they can provide experiences to educate all children for participation in their present lives in ways that facilitate their growth as citizens able to fully participate in a democracy. Despite criticism about limitations of his work, Dewey’s ideas continue to offer much food for thought, for both research and practice in teacher education.

Teacher Education

2002 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Smith
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Teacher Education ◽  
Multicultural Education ◽  
General Education ◽  
General Education Teachers ◽  
Training Needs ◽  
University Of Kansas ◽  
Education And Technology ◽  
Multicultural Perspectives ◽  
The University

In this issue, Dr. Monica Brown, a colleague here at the University of Kansas, offers perspectives related to multicultural education and technology. While specific needs exist within multicultural education, readers should see that there are direct correlation between the needs of multicultural education and technology and special education and technology. We would argue that as we strive to address training needs of future as well as current special and general education teachers towards technology, special education and multicultural perspectives should be considered as part of this process and be pertinent to the overall success.

Designing a pre-service CLIL teacher education program

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (3 (253)) ◽  
pp. 173-193
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Brzosko-Barratt
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Education Program ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Teacher Education Program ◽  
Mentor Teachers ◽  
Instrumental Case Study ◽  
Early Primary ◽  
The University

This paper is a part of a larger instrumental case study exploring the process of creating a CLIL teacher education program for early primary level at the University of Warsaw. The paper identifies some challenges related to program design and describes areas of growth of student teachers specifically related to CLIL planning instruction. The data were collected over a period of five years and included interviews and focused groups with student teachers, teacher educators and mentor teachers as well as the analysis of CLIL units created by the student teachers.

Exemplify what you explicate

1973 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-211
Author(s):  
Evelyn Sowell
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Mathematics Education ◽  
Prospective Teachers ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Education Faculty ◽  
Education Students ◽  
University Of Houston ◽  
Competency Based ◽  
The University ◽  
Teacher Education Students

That professor! What he says is great—but that idea just won't work in the classroom!” These statements may be common among some teacher education students. Such comments are now heard much less frequently, however, around the University of Houston. The mathematics education faculty is experimenting with a competency- based program, as part of a collegewide endeavor, that requires prospective teachers to actually use in their classrooms what they hear and read about teaching. Initial experiences with this program suggest several advantages both for teachers in training and for teacher educators. This article describes some features and benefits of one type of approach to competency-based mathematics education.

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