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

Developing a Theory of Program Vision as Professional Socialization in Special Education Teacher Preparation

2021 ◽  
pp. 088840642110589
Author(s):  
Hannah Morris Mathews
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
General Education ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Professional Socialization ◽  
Special Education Teacher ◽  
Teacher Preparation Programs ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Education Teacher ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities

In general education, researchers find candidates’ pre-service experiences are a tool for socialization into the knowledge, norms, and values of the profession. An important aspect of this process is program vision—the collective understanding of teaching put forth by a preparation program. Yet, few investigations in special education examine program vision. Using interviews with candidates across six teacher preparation programs, the author generates theory to understand the role of vision in special education teacher candidates’ professional socialization and how experiences of program vision are associated with their conceptions of their future roles and responsibilities. Candidates’ conception of special educators’ roles reflected three characterizations consistent within, but distinct across programs: Direct Instructor, Supportive Differentiator, and General Responder. Each profile was associated with unique roles and responsibilities for special educators. Findings draw attention to the importance of examining vision as a tool for professional socialization in special education teacher preparation.

Assistive Technology Integration in Special Education Teacher Preparation: Program Coordinators' Perceptions of Current Attainment and Importance

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 29-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig A. Michaels ◽  
Jennifer McDermott
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Curriculum And Instruction ◽  
Special Education Teacher ◽  
Teacher Preparation Program ◽  
Teacher Preparation Programs ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Education Teacher ◽  
Program Coordinators

This article reports findings from a national survey of special education teacher preparation programs regarding the integration of assistive technology (AT) into curriculum and instruction. Two questions framed this research. The first focused on how AT knowledge, skills, and dispositions are currently integrated (the Current Attainment Level), and the second focused on how AT should ideally be integrated (the Importance). All paired t tests between Current Attainment Level and Importance were statistically significant (p < .01 for factors and p < .001 for individual items) and substantively meaningful (large effect sizes, mostly > .8). Qualitative analysis focused on understanding (a) potential strategies for promoting the integration of AT knowledge, skills, and dispositions, and (b) the barriers to AT integration. The findings have important implications for future practices in special education teacher preparation.

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