Description:
Much has been written about the complexities involved in preparing pre-service teachers (PSTs) to take up the challenge of educating an increasingly diverse student population and, thus, enabling them to create connections and live productive lives in a world that is rapidly changing. However, there is a gap in the literature concerning PSTs that explores potential strategies and pedagogical approaches regarding the teaching and awareness of social inclusion issues for students in Higher Education and Secondary sectors. In order to discuss these strategies and approaches I first turn to Diane Celia Hodges’ (1998) notion of dis-identification as a framework from which the subject positions and contexts of teachers, students and situations can be examined. In this investigation, teaching practices that describe and work with difference can be constructed and analysed. Then, I look to Jacqueline Darvin’s (2011) work concerning Cultural and Political Vignettes (CPVs) that I have used as a tool to open up space for PSTs to explore, analyse and act upon a number of interactions between bodies that may occupy socially, politically and culturally different positions. While CPVs have originally been used in New York City public school classrooms, I have used them in courses at a regional Australian university. This paper is, then, a case study outlining some of the work I have done with CPVs in a setting that is very different to that of the original work. In this paper I continue the international discussion concerning CPVs and their effectiveness in forging student connections and working with issues of social inclusion.
Description:
This paper focuses on the development of the academic and personal literacy and numeracy skills of pre-service teachers. It examines how an embedded enhancement framework of literacy and numeracy support named the DEER (Developing, Embedding, Extending, Reflecting) framework by the researchers was created in initial teacher education (ITE) programs in regional Victoria. The implementation of the DEER framework will be discussed and an evaluation of the impact of the DEER framework will be presented. Quantitative data draws on two test results in both literacy and numeracy, comparing the performance of students. These tests were undertaken by pre-service teachers, before and after the implementation of the DEER framework. Effect sizes for the changes in the test results are presented with the effect size for the numeracy testing calculated as 0.99, while the effect size for the literacy testing was 0.75.
Description:
This paper focuses on the development of the academic and personal literacy and numeracy skills of pre-service teachers. It examines how an embedded enhancement framework of literacy and numeracy support named the DEER (Developing, Embedding, Extending, Reflecting) framework by the researchers was created in initial teacher education (ITE) programs in regional Victoria. The implementation of the DEER framework will be discussed and an evaluation of the impact of the DEER framework will be presented. Quantitative data draws on two test results in both literacy and numeracy, comparing the performance of students. These tests were undertaken by pre-service teachers, before and after the implementation of the DEER framework. Effect sizes for the changes in the test results are presented with the effect size for the numeracy testing calculated as 0.99, while the effect size for the literacy testing was 0.75.
Description:
This paper describes an innovative cross-institutional learning partnership that was designed to foster the learning of both Pre-Service Teachers (PSTs) and students and teachers from a local regional Secondary College. Around 150 Grade Nine (13-14 year old) students took part in a purpose-designed activity day at the university that was organised and conducted by 34 second year PSTs as part of their teacher education program. This project was designed as an authentic teaching experience for PSTs that would enable them to translate theory from their teacher education course into teaching practice. At the same time the secondary students were offered a range of learning experiences informed by school-derived curriculum. These specifically focused activities contributed to the students’ school based learning programs whilst also encouraging them to think of university as a future option. In this paper reflections, utilizing a self-study methodology, are provided by the lecturers who developed and implemented the program. The lecturers describe and discuss what they observed about the learning of the PSTs. Many of the PSTs indicated strongly that they were able to engage in a scaffolded, authentic teaching experience as preparation for their initial school placements. Overall, the evidence suggests that the initiative offered a powerful learning experience that enabled PSTs to connect theory with teaching practice.
Description:
This paper describes an innovative cross-institutional learning partnership that was designed to foster the learning of both Pre-Service Teachers (PSTs) and students and teachers from a local regional Secondary College. Around 150 Grade Nine (13-14 year old) students took part in a purpose-designed activity day at the university that was organised and conducted by 34 second year PSTs as part of their teacher education program. This project was designed as an authentic teaching experience for PSTs that would enable them to translate theory from their teacher education course into teaching practice. At the same time the secondary students were offered a range of learning experiences informed by school-derived curriculum. These specifically focused activities contributed to the students’ school based learning programs whilst also encouraging them to think of university as a future option. In this paper reflections, utilizing a self-study methodology, are provided by the lecturers who developed and implemented the program. The lecturers describe and discuss what they observed about the learning of the PSTs. Many of the PSTs indicated strongly that they were able to engage in a scaffolded, authentic teaching experience as preparation for their initial school placements. Overall, the evidence suggests that the initiative offered a powerful learning experience that enabled PSTs to connect theory with teaching practice.
Description:
This paper describes an initiative that was designed to forge strong connections between Pre-Service Teachers (PSTs) at the University of Ballarat, a regional university in Victoria, Australia and students and teachers at a local regional Secondary College (students aged 12-18). A group of around 150 year nine (13-14 year old) students took part in a day of learning activities at the university that were organised and conducted by second year PSTs as part of their teacher education program. This initiative aimed to provide the secondary students with a range of learning experiences at the university, thus allowing them to consider University study as a future option while contributing to their school-based learning program. At the same time, the PSTs were able to engage in an authentic teaching experience and to put theory from their teacher education course into practice. In this paper, some of the reflections from the PSTs, that describe what they learnt from the experience, are discussed. Most of the PSTs valued the opportunity to engage in a scaffolded, authentic teaching experience as preparation for their initial school placements. Overall, the initiative seemed to have contributed to the learning of the PSTs in powerful ways.