Challenges and Opportunities for Developing Sustainable Digitally Based Language Pedagogies in English Teacher Education Programs

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-250
Author(s):  
Matthew L. McConn ◽  
Donna Geetter

Research has shown that progressive methods taught in teacher education programs have little impact on traditional approaches teacher candidates encounter during their internship semester. To understand how to better address this disconnect with regard to preparing teacher candidates, the study reported here used instrumental case studies to examine two secondary English teacher candidates’ beliefs about teaching literature before, during, and after their student teaching semester. Through theoretical frameworks on learning processes, the researchers discovered discrepancies within the student teachers’ stated beliefs, lesson plans, videos of teaching, and their responses to interview questions. These discrepancies reveal both unexamined assumptions and a state of liminality, reflecting the process of transformation in their learning. The researchers suggest that education programs look at potential implications that are inherent in a state of liminality with regard to pedagogical content knowledge to better prepare teacher candidates for their experience in teacher education programs.


Author(s):  
Didin Nuruddin Hidayat

Numerous research studies on language program evaluation in many countries, for instance, Turkey (Uysal, 2012), Taiwan (Chang, 2010), Bangladesh (Rahman, 2007), Saudi Arabia (Liton, 2013) have yielded valuable ideas and insights in improving the quality of language programs. Those research studies have also expanded the plethora of discussion and have tested many ‘untested’ thoughts in the area of language program evaluation. Nonetheless, similar studies have not been researched much far in the Indonesian education context. The present study aims to describe the importance of English teacher education program evaluation. Also, the study aims to explore a suitable evaluation model in evaluating English teacher education programs, particularly in the Indonesian tertiary education context. The findings of the study found Peacock's (2009) model as a potential evaluation model to apply in evaluating English teacher education programs. These are based on at least three following grounds: suitable to the needs and environment of English teacher education in Indonesia, reliable and informative evaluation, and thorough involvement of the inner circle stakeholders. The study concludes that if an evaluation is conducted properly, then it has the potential to improve the quality of English language teachers training programs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 368-384
Author(s):  
Lucinda Grace Heimer

Race is a marker hiding more complex narratives. Children identify the social cues that continue to segregate based on race, yet too often teachers fail to provide support for making sense of these worlds. Current critical scholarship highlights the importance of addressing issues of race, culture, and social justice with future teachers. The timing of this work is urgent as health, social and civil unrest due to systemic racism in the U.S. raise critiques and also open possibilities to reimagine early childhood education. Classroom teachers feel pressure to standardize pedagogy and outcomes yet meet myriad student needs and talents in complex settings. This study builds on the current literature as it uses one case study to explore institutional messages and student perceptions in a future teacher education program that centers race, culture, identity, and social justice. Teaching as a caring profession is explored to illuminate the impact authentic, aesthetic, and rhetorical care may have in classrooms. Using key tenets of Critical Race Theory as an analytical tool enhanced the case study process by focusing the inquiry on identity within a racist society. Four themes are highlighted related to institutional values, rigorous coursework, white privilege, and connecting individual racial and cultural understanding with classroom practice. With consideration of ethical relationality, teacher education programs begin to address the impact of racist histories. This work calls for individualized critical inquiry regarding future teacher understanding of “self” in new contexts as well as an investigation of how teacher education programs fit into larger institutional philosophies.


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