An Investigation of the Relationship Between Preservice Science Teachers’ Epistemological Beliefs about the Nature of Science and Their Self-Efficacy Perceptions

This study aims to investigate the relationship between preservice science teachers’ epistemological beliefs about the nature of science (NOS) and their science learning self-efficacy perceptions by adapting a science learning self-efficacy scale for use in Turkey. This study is model as “Relational Survey”. A total of 125 preservice teachers (65 sophomores and 60 seniors) from a science education department of educational faculty in a state university participated in the study. Science Learning Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SLSEQ) and The Scientific Epistemological Beliefs Scale (SEBS) was used data collection. This study, considering the scale adapted into Turkish by Alpaslan and Işık (2016), readapted the self-efficacy scale developed by Lin and Tsai (2013) for use in the field of science education. The scale has 5 factors and 28 items. The preservice science education teachers are thought to have high perception levels based on their scores on the SLSEQ and its factors. The results of SEBS show that the preservice science teachers had a positivist understanding of science. The results on the SEBS and the SLSEQ show that there is a positive linear relationship between the scores on the two scales, and the scores on the SLSEQ predict and explain 23% of the SEBS scores. Keywords: epistemological beliefs, nature of science, self-efficacy perceptions, preservice science teachers

From Kansas to Queensland: Global learning in preservice elementary teacher education

Communication of information between groups of humans has been extended through out history progressing from smoke signals, drum beats, message couriers, post, telegraph, telephone and now the ICT. The time between the utterance of a message and the reception of that message has progressively decreased. We are now able to communicate relatively cheaply, simultaneously sharing and responding to ideas and thoughts on a scale never previously possible. Although the technology exists to make possible easy access to people in all parts of the world, we still lack understandings of the aspirations and sensitivities of other cultures with whom we can communicate. This project supported pre-service elementary teachers in two countries – Australia and the United States – to engage in collaborative learning through Internet communications. The purpose of the project was to develop greater understanding of other’s cultures, and practices in teaching elementary students. Students attending an Australian preservice primary science methods course were matched with a cohort of undergraduate preservice elementary student teachers from a university in the United States studying an integrated mathematics science methods course. Over a six-week period the students engaged in the computer-mediated communication and were encouraged to learn about mutual cultural practices and primary/elementary science education in both countries. The outcomes demonstrated that students involved in the project benefited from an array of different and enriching learning experiences. Students benefited through enhanced understanding of the teaching of science and an appreciation of the common problems confronting science education in both countries. However, there was little engagement in debate or discussion of individual differences and the cultural context of each other’s country even when opportunities presented themselves. Nevertheless, the on-line tasks provided the pre-service teachers with the experience and confidence to engage their own students in similar global learning initiatives when they become teachers

Opening the Classroom Door - A Survey of Middle Grades Teachers Who Mentor Preservice Teachers— Lessons from Clinical Partnerships and Implications for Practice

Mentor teachers that participate in school-university clinical experiences have a unique opportunity to support preservice middle grades teachers’ development and improve the schooling of young adolescents. This article investigates an early clinical experience and presents data from a survey of 38 middle school teachers who served as mentor teachers. Findings address how middle grades teachers view their role as mentors, their perceptions of the clinical experience as a collaborative learning partnership, and concludes with suggestions to improve clinical experiences for preservice middle grades teacher candidates

What music teachers want: the emergence of a unified understanding of an ideal teacher education course

[Abstract]: 'Burnout' and praxis shock are causing music teachers to leave the profession early. Much research suggests that this is a reflection on the quality of teacher education programs. Interviews with teachers in their first four years in the secondary music classroom reveal how they view their preservice preparation, and therefore provide an insight into how preservice teacher education might be effectively reconceptualised. This paper explores the relationship between Zeichner and Liston's (1990) teacher education 'traditions' and early-career music teachers' perceptions of an 'ideal' teacher education course. Analyses of interviews with 15 early-career secondary classroom music teachers suggest the emergence of a common understanding regarding the design of effective music teacher education programs. Rather than representing any of Zeichner and Liston's four traditions in particular, early-career music teachers speak of a music teacher education approach that incorporates all of the traditions in an integrated way. This understanding of an 'ideal' teacher education course should be considered when designing or reconceptualising teacher education courses in order to provide improved opportunities for future music teachers

The effects of journal-writing on EFL pre-service teachers' development of writing skills

Tesis (Profesor de Inglés para la Enseñanza Básica y Media, Licenciado en Educación)Entre las cuatro habilidades del idioma Inglés, la escritura es normalmente conocida por ser la última competencia en ser adquirida, ya sea por estudiantes nativos o por estudiantes de segunda lengua. Además, también es considerado como el área más dificultosa del lenguaje para enseñar o evaluar como señaló D. Albrechtsen, K. Haastrup and B. Henriksen (2008). Por lo tanto, como el escribir en inglés parece ser un desafío para los alumnos, este estudio busca investigar si es posible superar efectivamente las dificultades de escritura y, así mismo, mejorarlos por medio de la asignación de escribir un diario semanalmente. Seis estudiantes de primer año de dos clases de la Universidad Andrés Bello en la Facultad de Educación de Santiago, Chile, fueron solicitados para participar en este estudio de investigación dado su rendimiento académico y su propia percepción sobre sus habilidades de escritura. Los resultados prueban que aunque la información numérica recogida en este estudio no demostró una mejora significativa en términos cuantitativos; en cuanto a la calidad se evidenció un uso progresivo de estructuras escritas más complejas y elaboradas.Among the four skills of the English language, writing is normally known for being the last competency to be acquired, for both native and second language learners. Besides, writing is also considered as the most difficult area of the language when teaching or testing, as proposed by Albrechtsen, Haastrup, and Henriksen (2008). Therefore, as writing in English seems to be challenging, this study seeks to investigate if learners can effectively overcome the writing difficulties and improve them by writing weekly journal assignments. Six firstyear students from two sections of the English teaching (ELTT) program at Universidad Andrés Bello in Santiago, Chile, were asked to participate in this research study due to their academic performance and their own perceptions about their writing skills. The findings substantiated that even though the numerical data collected in this study did not demonstrate significant improvement in quantitative terms, in quality they progressively evidenced the use of more complex and elaborated writing features

Pedagogical content knowledge and preparation of string teachers

In the past few decades, there has been an increase in the percentage of non-string specialists teaching string classes. In this article, we review literature about subject-specific pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) in general and music education settings, to better understand the challenges that teachers with limited knowledge of string-specific content may face when teaching strings students. Included in this review are discussions concerning trends in the string teacher workforce, PCK in education and music, acquisition of PCK in general settings and music teacher preparation programs, and relationships between teacher content knowledge and instructional effectiveness, both in general and string education settings. Based on this review, we recommend that preservice and professional development curricula for music teachers include comprehensive preparation in both content-specific and pedagogical-specific knowledge for teaching strings

Importance of creativity and learning in preservice teachers

Introduction: Currently, the review of the scientific literature highlights the interrelation between creativity and learning; being learning a creative process that implies significant new personal fundamental changes in all educational stages, but above all in higher education, promoting the employability of university students. The objective of this research is to analyce the relationship between creativity and academic performance as a measure of learning. Method: The sample was conformed by 100 university students of the Degree of Primary Education of the University of Castilla la Mancha (UCLM) (40% boys and 60% girls) with ages between 19 and 24 years. All participants are administered the PICA test to assess creativity and self-report of the university entrance test to measure the grades academic performance. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression were used. Results: The results obtained show a significant positive correlation between the university access grade and general creativity, narrative, fantasy, fluency and flexibility. In addition, general and narrative creativity as well as fantasy, fluency and flexibility predict academic performance. Discussion or Conclusion: These findings have educational implications to enhance the learning of future teachers, aimed at teaching creative strategies and their employability.Introducción. Actualmente, la revisión de la literatura científica pone de manifiesto la interrelación entre la creatividad y el aprendizaje; siendo el aprendizaje, un proceso creativo que implica nuevos cambios significativamente personales fundamentales en todas las etapas educativas, pero sobretodo en la educación superior, promoviendo la empleabilidad del alumnado universitario. El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar la relación entre la creatividad y el rendimiento académico como medida del aprendizaje. Método. La muestra estuvo conformada por 100 estudiantes universitarios del Grado de Educación Primaria de la Universidad de Castilla La Mancha (UCLM) (40% chicos y 60% chicas) con edades comprendidas entre 19 y 24 años. A todos los participantes se les administra la prueba PICA para evaluar creatividad y las calificaciones de la asignatura de matemáticas y de acceso a la universidad para el rendimiento académico. Se emplearon estadísticos descriptivos, correlación de Pearson y regresión lineal múltiple. Resultados. Los resultados obtenidos evidencian correlación significativa positiva entre la nota de acceso a la universidad y la creatividad general, creatividad narrativa, fantasía, fluidez y flexibilidad; y correlación significativa positiva entre la nota de matemáticas y la creatividad general, creatividad narrativa, elaboración, fluidez y flexibilidad. Además, la creatividad y algunos componentes predicen el rendimiento académico. Discusión y conclusiones. Estos hallazgos tienen implicaciones educativas para potenciar el aprendizaje de los futuros maestros, dirigidas a la enseñanza de estrategias creativas y a su empleabilidad

Reconceptualising preservice teacher education courses for music teachers: the importance of pedagogical content knowledge and skills and professional knowledge and skills

[Abstract]: This paper explores the perceptions of early-career music teachers regarding the effectiveness of their preservice preparation. Findings suggest that early-career music teachers' perceptions of effective preparation contrast with their experiences in preservice education, and that their perceptions of a practical course are not reflected in the design of courses in Queensland. Whilst early-career teachers recommend a course that focuses on pedagogical content knowledge and skills and professional knowledge and skills, many courses focus predominantly on general education knowledge and skills and music knowledge and skills. Analysis of interviews suggests that a course that integrates these traditionally separate areas of preservice education, as well as contextualising learning in terms of the realistic roles of music teachers, may prepare preservice teachers more effectively for their future roles

Changing perceptions of preservice teachers : innovations in middle schooling teacher education

For the past twenty years, the disengagement of early adolescents has been the focus of much of the literature related to middle schooling. In response, some universities in Australia have introduced teacher education programs that focus upon graduating specialised middle schooling teachers. Constructing such programs is at the centre of much debate and discussion, however, it is advocated that positive futures for early adolescents can be enhanced through quality middle schooling teacher education programs (Education Queensland, 2004). At a Queensland university campus, middle schooling elective units were introduced as part of the Bachelor of Education (primary) degree. The design of the units was to support preservice teachers to gain the theoretical and pedagogical knowledge to engage and promote early adolescent learning. An innovative approach to the delivery of the units was promoted by a partnership agreement between local schools and the campus. The partnership allowed preservice teachers to combine university classes with opportunities to visit exemplary classrooms to observe, participate and reflect upon middle school teaching practices. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the 38 first-year preservice teachers’ perceptions of their first middle schooling elective unit and to ascertain whether the combination of university classes and school-based experiences assisted their development of middle schooling concepts and approaches. Data were gathered using pre-test and post-test questionnaires combined with guided written reflections to record their views before, after and during the unit delivery. Results indicated that initially 34 preservice teachers had little understanding of middle schooling concepts and pedagogical practices, however, 11 participants recognised that bullying and peer pressure were issues experienced by early adolescents. The collation of the written reflections supported the combined delivery of the middle years unit further supporting the inclusion of school experiences with university delivered units

Understanding Equitable Assessment: How Preservice Teachers Make Meaning of DisAbility

Disproportionality of historically marginalized populations in special education continues to be a critical concern. The identification of students with disabilities is reliant on valid and reliable assessment that is free of bias. The extent to which this is possible given measurement constraints and an increasingly diverse student population is unclear. How teachers are trained to design, select, administer, score, and interpret assessment data related to the identification of students with disabilities is vastly under-researched considering the significant implications of assessment practices. In this study, six special education preservice teachers engaged in an assessment methods course during their second semester of an initial certification program. This study focuses on shifts in preservice teacher understanding and the associated learning experiences in the course. Findings from this study have the potential to inform general and special education teacher preparation coursework