An Analysis of Readiness of Education Students in the Use of Technology at Mississippi State University

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-87
Author(s):  
Vahid Motamedi
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Mississippi State University ◽  
State University ◽  
Major Question ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Pre Service Teacher Education ◽  
Teacher Education Graduates ◽  
Pre Service Teacher

The purpose of this study was to analyze the readiness of pre-service teacher education graduates at Mississippi State University (MSU) in the use of technology. The design of this study was a survey approach. Data from the completed survey instruments was coded onto data sheets and was entered into the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Description statistics were used initially on the data to answer the research question. Chi-square was selected as a statistical tool because the data for the study was nominal and ordinal. The focus of the study promoted one major question and three sub-questions. The major question was: Are undergraduate teacher education graduates at MSU adequately prepared to teach with technology? The three sub-questions were: (a) which students seem to be the most and the least prepared to use technology in the classroom? (b) what are the differences between students who are prepared and those who are not? and (c) which experiences do the most prepared students have that the others do not? The analyses of the data indicated that students with a higher skill level had been exposed to teachers/instructors who used technology in teaching, whether in student teacher placement, practicum placement, or during the last two years of classes. The analyses of the data showed the courses student teachers took did not seem to make them more proficient in the use of technology. The study showed that there were student teachers who did not have exposure to the use of technology in courses they took. The findings of this study indicated that pre-service teacher education graduates were inadequately prepared in the use of technology.

Difficulties in Field-Based Observation among Pre-Service Teachers: Implications to Practice Teaching

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maripaz C. Abas
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Field Observation ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Administrative Support ◽  
Cooperating Teachers ◽  
Pre Service Teacher Education ◽  
Pre Service Teacher

<span>Field-based observation has long been a central part of pre-service teacher education in many countries and is crucial for implementing effective practicum of student teachers. T</span><span>his paper focused on the perspectives of graduating pre-service teachers regarding their difficulties </span><span>related to </span><span>administrative support, cooperating teachers, student supervisors, students, peers, assigned tasks and learning environment during their </span><span>17-hour</span><span> field observation </span><span>in selected private and public secondary schools.</span><span> An explanatory sequential mixed-methods research design was adopted utilizing survey questionnaire, Focus Group Interviews, and Key Informant Interview. Quantitative data were obtained from 136 sample respondents through stratified random sampling using proportionate allocation while qualitative data were gathered from 10 pre-service teachers, 10 cooperating teachers, six student supervisors and three school principals who were chosen purposively. Results of descriptive statistical analysis served as  basis  for  the  design  of  qualitative interview and focus group schedules which helped the researcher to  explain, or elaborate on the quantitative results” [1]. Findings of the study showed that pre-service teachers had over-all moderate difficulties during the field observation particularly on students, assigned tasks and learning environment. Findings of the study were substantiated through in-depth discussions of qualitative data. Implications were determined for continued enhancements of the practicum component that can help bridge the theory–practice nexus in pre-service teacher education, and contribute to the development of teachers’ professional competencies</span>

scholarly journals Communicative Approaches in Teaching Spoken English Pre-service Teacher Education in EFL Contexts

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Helen Jang
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Education Policy ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Classroom Practice ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
English Classrooms ◽  
Spoken English ◽  
Pre Service Teacher Education ◽  
Pre Service Teacher

Following on the education policy and curriculum innovations for spoken English development, there have been changes as well as challenges in English classrooms in Korea in recent years. In line with the new government policy for pre-service English teacher education, this research explored the nature of teacher learning during the practicum. The aims of this study were to understand the student teachers’ views and experiences of classroom practice period with regard to the use and instruction of spoken English in English classrooms. This research employed two case studies in urban and rural contexts during the intensive period of the practicum.  Data were generated by classroom observations in secondary schools and by in-depth interviews with the student teachers from the communicative perspectives: Contextual factors were taken into consideration in relation to the influence how the student teachers perceived and conducted teaching of speaking in accordance with the curriculum policy presented by the Ministry of Education. Based on the main findings of this research, implications were drawn the relationships between education policy and classroom practice and school contexts.  Suggestions were made as regards effective ways of facilitating teaching and learning spoken English reflecting the diversity and complexity of classroom contexts through context-sensitive approaches in EFL contexts. Keywords: Communicative Approach, Spoken English, Pre-service Teacher Education, EFL Contexts, case study

Research Engagement in the EFL Pre-Service Practicum

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayşe Akyel
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Research Engagement ◽  
Pre Service Teacher Education ◽  
Pre Service Teacher

Abstract The study aims to add to our understanding of pre-service teachers’ perceptions and experiences of research engagement during the school practicum. Specifically speaking, the following research question was addressed: What are Turkish pre-service EFL student teachers’ perceptions of the extent to which research engagement in the school practicum is beneficial for their professional development? Twenty-Four EFL student teachers (22 female, 2 male) participated in the study. They all took the practicum course together with the teacher research course during the 8th semester of their four-year undergrad education. Data came from an open-ended questionnaire, student teachers’ written reflections, conclusion sections of the research projects and semi-structured interviews with some of the participants after graduation. The findings indicated that participants benefited from research engagement during their practice teaching experience in questioning and reframing their understandings of teaching. However, they had some difficulties in research engagement during the school practicum. These findings have some crucial implications for the school practicum component of EFL teacher education programs. There is a common agreement that the pre-service teacher education programs are ideally responsible for laying the foundation for “contextualized” and “personalized” (Freeman & Johnson,1998) learning opportunities and preparing novices “to learn in and from their practice”(Feiman-Nemser, 2005). To this end, teacher candidates need support in using their own teaching practice as well as that of others (Kane and Francis, 2013) as a site of inquiry to examine and or reframe their understandings of teaching and students. (Ball and Cohen, 1999; Cochran and Smith and Lytle, 2009; Norman and Feiman-Nemser, 2005; Parr and Timperley 2010, Trent 2012). However, it is generally accepted that opportunities for such a process are not efficiently created by pre-service teacher education programs (Freeman&Johnson 1998, Feiman- Nemser 2009; Kane and Francis, 2013)

scholarly journals Evaluating Pre-Service Teaching Practice for Online and Distance Education Students in Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nauman Ahmed Abdullah ◽  
Munawar Sultana Mirza
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Distance Education ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Prospective Teachers ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Pre Service Teacher Education ◽  
Pre Service Teacher

In addition to conventional modes, teacher education programs in Pakistan are also offered through online and distance education. Teaching practice is a significant component of pre-service teacher education programs. Assessing the quality of teaching practice for pre-service student teachers is important, as these modules train the prospective teachers for their professional teaching careers. Virtual University of Pakistan (VU), an online university, offers pre-service teacher education programs. This research is an investigation into the learning opportunities and practices of VU student teachers in their teaching practice modules. Students enrolled in different teacher education programs served as the population of this study. Those in the fall 2018 semester who were enrolled in teaching practice modules were selected as a sample. Data sources included lesson plans prepared, lessons delivered, administrative and co-curricular duties performed by the students, as well as evaluation reports by supervisors, cooperating teachers, and school principals. There were improvements in the student teachers’ lesson plan formation and their overall learning. Data obtained through personal visits by VU faculty was used to verify and assess actual classroom teaching. Lack of regular attendance and punctuality by student teachers was observed as a result. Internal review of the VU system as it relates to the teaching practice modules was conducted to address any shortcomings in the course(s), its procedures, and its controls. Recommendations for improving the system, such as grading the modules, peer-assessment, and orientation workshops for student teachers are provided, as well as suggestions for developments in the teaching practice modules themselves. 

scholarly journals 1. Challenges to Understanding Curriculum Development: Lessons from a Pedagogy Class with Arts Pre-Service Student-Teachers

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-208
Author(s):  
Mihaela Mitescu Manea
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Curriculum Development ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Conceptions Of Learning ◽  
Critical Reasoning ◽  
Pre Service Teacher Education ◽  
Induction Practices ◽  
Pre Service Teacher

Abstract The intent to structure valuable learning experiences, focusing on student-teachers’ exercise of pedagogical creativity and informed critical reasoning, may prove particularly challenging in the current national curriculum for pre-service teacher education. It is proposed here a reflective view of the challenges to arts pre-service student-teachers understandings of concepts and processes related to curriculum development; findings of previous empirical exploratory research questioning student-teachers conceptions of learning, and identity issues related to induction practices drawing heavily on apprenticeship models of learning feed into the proposed analysis. It is concluded on possible conceptual and methodological shifts towards understanding learning in teacher education.

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