scholarly journals How Do Physics Teacher Candidates Substantiate Their Knowledge? An Analytical Framework for Examining the Epistemic Dimensions of Content Knowledge in Higher Education

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 120
Author(s):  
Maija Nousiainen ◽  
Heidi Hyytinen ◽  
Elina Palmgren ◽  
Auli Toom

Supporting teacher candidates’ learning of coherent and well-ordered content knowledge is one of the most important educational aims in subject teacher education. To reach this aim, teacher educators need suitable tools to enhance the formation of such knowledge. In this article, we present an analytical framework to examine conceptual knowledge, meaning the ability to define the relevant concepts pertaining to a task; relational knowledge, i.e., the ability to consider interrelations between the concepts; and strategic knowledge, i.e., the ability to use the knowledge by providing (experimental or modeling) procedures, which build new knowledge. A sample analysis of 16 teacher candidates’ written reports is presented to illustrate how this framework can be used. The aim of the study was to reveal what kind of variation in teacher candidates’ content knowledge can be found. This study suggests that teacher candidates’ written reports can reveal remarkable differences in the epistemic dimensions of content knowledge. The framework shows the differences among the teacher candidates as well as produces information for teacher educators of the critical aspects, when and where to intervene, and where to focus using different teaching practices.

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Kirsti Klette ◽  
Karen Hammerness ◽  
Inga Staal Jenset

AbstractWorldwide, teacher educators and policymakers call for teacher preparation that is more deeply linked to practice. Yet, we know little about how such linkages are achieved within different international programs. We examine the degree to which programs provide opportunities to learn that are grounded in practice. We report on survey data (n = 486 teacher candidates) from five pro-grams in Finland, Norway, California, Chile, and Cuba, and observation data from the methods courses (n = 104 hours) in six programs in Finland, Norway, and California. Using an analytical framework decomposing the conception of ‘opportunities that are grounded in practice’ in teacher education, this article provides evidence regarding the successes—and challenges—concerning incorporating practice in teacher education. These findings suggest that some ways of linking to practice in teacher education seem to be established, while others are still evolving.Keywords: teacher education, practice, coursework, comparative research Delvis etablert, delvis i utvikling: Funn fra en internasjonal studie om koblinger til praksis i lærerutdanningenSammendragLærerutdannere og politikere over hele verden etterlyser en mer praksisbasert lærerutdanning med tydelige koblinger til praksis. Likevel vet vi lite om hvordan slike koblinger ser ut i ulike lærerutdanningsprogram internasjonalt. I denne artikkelen undersøker vi i hvilken grad ulike lærerutdanningsprogram tilbyr studentene praksisbaserte læringsmuligheter. Studien bygger på survey data (n = 486 lærerstudenter) fra fem lærerutdanningsprogram i Finland, Norge, California, Chile og Cuba, og observasjonsdata fra fagdidaktikkurs (n = 104 timer) i seks program i Finland, Norge og California. Ved hjelp av et analytisk rammeverk som operasjonaliserer konseptet ‘praksisbaserte læringsmuligheter’, viser denne artikkelen til suksesser – og utfordringer – med å innlemme praksis i lærerutdanningen. Funnene indikerer at det finnes etablerte måter å koble til praksis på i lærerutdanningen, mens andre fremdeles er i utvikling.Nøkkelord: lærerutdanning, praksis, undervisning på campus, komparativt design


Author(s):  
Drew Polly ◽  
Ian C. Binns ◽  
S. Michael Putman ◽  
Tracy Rock ◽  
Amy J. Good

The digital age requires teacher education programs to constantly evaluate and revise their programs and courses, particularly with reference to guiding teacher candidates towards integrating current and emerging technologies. This designed-based research study demonstrates how state-wide mandates to revise teacher education programs were used in promoting subsequent revisions influencing the course components and teacher candidates' development of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). Cases of four undergraduate elementary education courses and the advanced licensure elementary education program are described. The cross case analysis reveals the subsequent influence on the program for improving the TPACK preparation of the teacher candidates. The chapter concludes with implications for teacher educators and leaders of teacher education programs.


Author(s):  
Drew Polly ◽  
Ian C. Binns ◽  
S. Michael Putman ◽  
Tracy C. Rock ◽  
Amy J. Good

The digital age requires teacher education programs to constantly evaluate and revise their programs and courses, particularly with reference to guiding teacher candidates towards integrating current and emerging technologies. This designed-based research study demonstrates how state-wide mandates to revise teacher education programs were used in promoting subsequent revisions influencing the course components and teacher candidates' development of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). Cases of four undergraduate elementary education courses and the advanced licensure elementary education program are described. The cross case analysis reveals the subsequent influence on the program for improving the TPACK preparation of the teacher candidates. The chapter concludes with implications for teacher educators and leaders of teacher education programs.


2016 ◽  
pp. 915-943
Author(s):  
Drew Polly ◽  
Ian C. Binns ◽  
S. Michael Putman ◽  
Tracy C. Rock ◽  
Amy J. Good

The digital age requires teacher education programs to constantly evaluate and revise their programs and courses, particularly with reference to guiding teacher candidates towards integrating current and emerging technologies. This designed-based research study demonstrates how state-wide mandates to revise teacher education programs were used in promoting subsequent revisions influencing the course components and teacher candidates' development of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). Cases of four undergraduate elementary education courses and the advanced licensure elementary education program are described. The cross case analysis reveals the subsequent influence on the program for improving the TPACK preparation of the teacher candidates. The chapter concludes with implications for teacher educators and leaders of teacher education programs.


Author(s):  
Erin K. Washburn ◽  
Candace A. Mulcahy

Skilled reading is a complex process in which many subskills are involved, including an awareness of the morphological structure of language. Morphological awareness is the ability to understand how words are broken into meaningful units (e.g., affixes, root words). Explicit and systematic teaching of morphological concepts are reported to help striving readers, particularly those in upper elementary, middle, and secondary grades, with reading. To teach morphological concepts and their relation to reading, teachers need to have both awareness and knowledge of morphology. In the present study, general and special education teachers’ knowledge of morphological concepts are examined. Results indicate that teachers, regardless of type of certification (general vs. special education) or grade level (elementary vs. secondary), have difficulty identifying morphemes in both simple and complex words. Suggestions for what and how teacher educators can integrate the teaching of morphological concepts into teacher preparation contexts are provided.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 356-373
Author(s):  
Blessing F. Komolafe ◽  
Moses O. Ogunniran ◽  
Fen Y. Zhang ◽  
Xu S. Qian

Microteaching practice is an important part of Pre-Service Physics Teacher (PsPT) Training Program adopting different approaches to inspire the acquisition of teaching skills by prospective teachers. Using psychomotor domain aspect of revised Bloom’s taxonomy to explore microteaching practice as it relates to physics teaching, this research examined the significant influences of the two approaches (Nigeria and China) identified on the teaching skill of PsPT and suggests the best ways of improving the teaching skill of PsPT through micro-teaching practices. Data were collected using the mixed-method research design of administering descriptive survey questionnaire on final year PsPT while a structured interview question was used to interview the teachers. It was found that the two approaches had significant influences on the teaching skill acquisition of PsPT through microteaching practices with respect to physics as a subject that requires motor skill, and that this can be improved through micro-teaching by a combination of theory with practice. Also, physics teacher educators need to focus on developing PsPTs’ psychomotor domain in line with time reform in microteaching practices to accommodate more time for PsPTs’ to master the subject concept of physics as a psycho motive subject. Keywords: micro-teaching practices, pre-service physics teacher, teaching skill acquisition, training program.


Author(s):  
Yukiko Asami-Johansson ◽  
Iiris Attorps

The aim of this paper is to investigate which kind of conditions and constraints affect Japanese and Swedish teacher educators’ pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). We analyse the praxeologies of the lessons in which the educators teach area determination. Our study shows that the Japanese teacher educators’ PCK are more explicitly shared by the community of the teacher educators compared to the Swedish counterpart. Also, the detailed Japanese curriculum and the structured problem solving approach promote to illustrate how to construct rich mathematical and didactical organisations for prospective teachers.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Grizzo Gobato ◽  
Aline Maria De Medeiros Rodrigues Reali

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a base de conhecimentos de professores experientes e participantes do Programa de Formação Online de Mentores da UFSCar-Brasil, bem como responder à seguinte questão: quais dos conhecimentos específicos, pedagógicos e sobre a função de mentor, que o auxiliarão a desempenhar a nova função, podem ser apreendidos nos professores experientes, participantes do Programa de Formação Online de Mentores? O Programa é responsável pela formação de mentores, sua proposta curricular é flexível e foca o desenvolvimento profissional de professores experientes. A investigação qualitativa baseou-se na análise descritivo-interpretativa das narrativas presentes em quatro atividades, realizadas durante o processo formativo, de quatro participantes. Foram analisados conhecimentos pedagógicos gerais, conhecimentos de conteúdo específico, conhecimentos pedagógicos do conteúdo, conhecimentos sobre formação e atuação docente e, por fim, conhecimentos sobre a função de gestor, de mentor e da escola. Como resultado, percebe-se que a base de conhecimentos atribuída ao mentor se assemelha à dos profissionais gestores e formadores de professores, ainda que a prática da mentoria e em sala de aula seja importante para que a base seja continuamente remodelada e aperfeiçoada para melhorar o desempenho do mentor e, possivelmente, dos professores iniciantes por ele acompanhados. Palavras-chave: Programa de Formação Online de Mentores; Identidade docente; Base de conhecimentos para o ensino ABSTRACTThis article aims to analyze the knowledge base of experienced teachers and participants of an Online Mentor Education Program from UFSCar Brazil and to answer the question: what specific, pedagogical and mentoring skills, that will assist the mentor to fulfill a new role, are evidenced by the experienced teachers participating of Online Mentor Education Program? This mentor training program has a flexible curriculum and focuses on the professional development of experienced teachers. The qualitative research was based on the descriptive and interpretative analysis of four narratives from four selected participants from a wider group and written during the training. It analyzed pedagogical knowledge, specific content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge content, knowledge about training and teaching practice and knowledge of the manager role, mentor and school. As results, the data analysis shows that the mentor knowledge base resembles the professional managers’ and teacher educators’. However, teaching and mentoring practice is important so that this knowledge base is continuously remodeled and improved, thus improving the mentors’ performance and, possibly, of beginning teachers accompanied by them.Keywords: Online Mentor Education Program; Teacher identity; Knowledge base for teaching


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