“Becoming” is a natural phenomenon that is experienced throughout one’s life, and yet it does not appear to involve a simple process. This study was about how preservice teachers become teachers. As such, it was focused on the developmental processes that preservice teachers experience as their conceptions of teaching and their teacher identities change throughout their teacher education program. Although the two developmental aspects have been importantly considered by teacher educators when setting goals for teacher education and have been popular topics to educational researchers, few studies have explicitly observed how conceptions of teaching and teacher identities are related to each other in preservice teachers’ professional development trajectories. In a longitudinal study that tracked eight preservice teachers for three semesters of their teacher preparation, naturalistic observations of student teaching and semi-structured interviews served as the primary data sources. Data analysis was inductive and interpretative, using the qualitative methods of grounded theory. All of the preservice teachers in the study experienced conceptual change in their conceptions of teaching toward the direction aligned with their teacher education program, though their developmental patterns varied in terms of nature, speed, and distinctiveness. In the process of conceptual development, preservice teachers’ attention shifted from a focus on self to a focus on students, which I called an outward journey. They also evolved their teacher identities throughout the program with increasing confidence in becoming a teacher every semester. The formation of their teacher identities began by recognizing self as a teacher as positioned by others and continued with self-cultivation as a teacher, a process I called an inward journey. Needing continuous validation and reflection, the two journeys were closely related, sharing some characteristics and mechanism of growth and reciprocally influencing each other. Through interpretation of the data, I concluded that these two journeys cannot be separated from each other but, instead, should be integrated into external and internal development of becoming a teacher. As lifelong learners, preservice teachers are beginning the continual journey of becoming a good teacher throughout their career. / text

In a mixed method study, teacher efficacy and contributing theoretical constructs of teacher concerns and teacher orientation with preservice teacher candidates were examined. Intermediate/Senior mathematics preservice teacher candidates from two major Ontario Universities’ Faculties of Education participated in this study. Data sources included a web-based survey containing two teacher efficacy scales and short answer questions, interviews with the preservice teacher candidates, and Intermediate/Senior mathematics course and program information collected from course instructors. Complexity theory provides support for the mixed methods methodology and the integrated and complex nature of teacher efficacy and its contributing factors. The literature on teacher efficacy rarely ventures into the secondary school mathematics preservice teacher level of teacher professional development. The study more clearly identifies teacher efficacy with preservice mathematics teachers and how teacher efficacy relates to teacher concerns and teacher orientation. The findings deepen the understanding of the connections between the constructs of teacher efficacy, teacher concern, and teacher orientation. Following from these findings, changes and considerations for preservice teacher preparation programs in order to more fully prepare secondary school mathematics teachers are described.

Primary science education is a key area in the curriculum, yet primary science education is still less than adequate, both in the number of teachers implementing a primary science syllabus and the quality of primary science teaching. Mentoring may support both teachers in their roles as mentors and preservice teachers as mentees to develop their primary science teaching practices. This research investigated mentoring for developing preservice teachers of primary science, which was divided into two stages. Stage 1 was concerned with the development of an instrument aimed at measuring preservice teachers' perceptions of their mentoring in primary science teaching. Stage 2 involved developing a mentoring intervention based on the literature and the instrument developed from Stage 1 of this research, and further investigated the influence of the intervention on mentoring practices. Stage 1 involved a survey instrument developed from the literature and a small qualitative study. This instrument was refined after pilot testing and then administered to 331 final year preservice teachers. Stage 2 involved pilot testing a mentoring intervention, which was then implemented with 12 final year preservice teachers and their mentors over a four-week professional experience (practicum). Using a two-group posttest only design, these 12 final year preservice teachers (intervention group) and 60 final year preservice teachers (control group) from the same university were compared after their four-week professional experience program. The survey instrument developed from Stage 1 was used to measure both the control group's and intervention group's perceptions of their mentoring in primary science teaching. Stage 1 results indicated that five factors characterised effective mentoring practices in primary science teaching and were supported by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The final CFA model was theoretically and statistically significant, that is, X2(513) = 1335, p < .001, CMIDF = 2.60, IFI = .922, CFI = .921, RMR = .066, RMSEA = .070. These factors were Personal Attributes, System Requirements, Pedagogical Knowledge, Modelling, and Feedback, and had Cronbach alpha reliability coefficients of .93, .76, .94, .95, and .92, respectively. Stage 2 findings indicated that mentees involved in the intervention received statistically significant more mentoring experiences in primary science teaching on each of the 5 factors and on 31 of the 34 survey items. It was concluded that the mentoring intervention provided mentors and mentees with opportunities for developing their primary science teaching practices. Additionally, this approach simultaneously targets mentors and mentees' teaching practices and was considered economically viable.

abstract: Drawing on Lave and Wenger (1991) this study explores how preservice elementary teachers develop themselves as teachers of mathematics, in particular, from the time of their teacher education courses to their field experiences. This study also researches the critical experiences that contributed to the construction of their identities and their roles as student teachers in their identity development. The stories of Jackie, Meg, and Kerry show that they brought different incoming identities to the teacher education program based on their K-12 school experiences. The stories provide the evidence that student teachers' prior experience as learners of mathematics influenced their identities as teachers, especially their confidence levels in teaching mathematics. During the mathematics methods class, student teachers were provided a conceptual understanding of math content and new ways to think about math instruction. Based on student teachers' own experiences, they reconstructed their knowledge and beliefs about what it means to teach mathematics and set their goals to become the mathematics teachers they wanted to be. As they moved through the program through their student teaching periods, their identity development varied depending on the community of practice in which they participated. My study reveals that mentor relationships were critical experiences in shaping their identities as mathematics teachers and in building their initial mathematics teaching practices. Findings suggest that successful mentoring is necessary, and this generally requires sharing common goals, receiving feedback, and having opportunities to practice knowledge, skills, and identities on the part of beginning teachers. Findings from this study highlight that identities are not developed by the individual alone but by engagement with a given community of practice. This study adds to the field of teacher education research by focusing on prospective teachers' identity constructions in relation to the communities of practice, and also by emphasizing the role of mentor in preservice teachers' identity development. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Mathematics Education 2012

Doctor of Philosophy / Curriculum and Instruction Programs / Sherri L. Martinie / This study examined the differences in knowledge of mathematical modeling between a group of elementary preservice teachers and a group of elementary inservice teachers. Mathematical modeling has recently come to the forefront of elementary mathematics classrooms because of the call to add mathematical modeling tasks in mathematics classes through the Common Core State Standards (NGACBP & CCSS, 2010). According to Ellis and Berry (2005), the recommendation for teachers to think differently about teaching mathematics includes more comprehensive knowledge of mathematics continuing beyond rote facts, skills, and procedures. Although preservice teachers and inservice teachers vary in teaching experience, their knowledge in mathematical modeling may be similar as, quite possibly, neither had explicit instruction during their elementary education programs. In learning and teaching mathematics, the modeling approach can be useful by directing the focus on creating generalizable and reusable relations rather than solving a particular problem (Doerr & English, 2003). This survey research, tailored design method employed a brief online survey to a convenience sample of preservice and inservice elementary teachers to gain information about their knowledge of mathematical modeling in the elementary school classroom. For the purposes of this research, the definition of mathematical modeling was applying mathematics to real world problems with the purpose of understanding the problem. This study used non-experimental, survey research to determine if there was a statistical significant difference between preservice teachers’ and inservice teachers’ knowledge of mathematical modeling. Independent t-tests were used to determine there was no statistical significant difference in elementary preservice teachers and elementary inservice teachers knowledge of mathematical modeling. Another aspect of this research was to determine if any variables were able to predict the preservice or inservice teachers’ knowledge of mathematical modeling. Multiple regression was used to determine the variables of years of teaching experience, grade level currently taught, or type of school in which teaching occurs did not have any predictor aspects of knowledge of mathematical modeling. ANOVA was used to determine there was no relationship between preservice and inservice teachers’ perceived knowledge of mathematical modeling and their actual knowledge of mathematical modeling

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor Of Education in Science Education in the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education at the University of Zululand, 2017 / This study investigated possible factors predicting e-learning technology integration into the teaching and learning of science subjects by preservice science teachers. An E-learning technology integration model was developed in which factors such as intention (INT), attitude (ATT), Skill (SKL) and Flow Experience (FLW) served as possible precursors of e-learning technology integration. This was done against the gap that continued to exist between intention to integrate e-learning technology and actual integration of e-learning technologies. To close the gap, the study developed a model to predict e-learning technology integration by the research sample. More specifically, the model hypothesised that quality consciousness and innovation consciousness moderated the intention-integration gap. The proposed model was first pilot-tested on a sample of 30 preservice science teachers (PSSTs) before it was applied to the main study, which comprised a research sample of 100 final year PSSTs at the University of Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The study was located within the mixed-methods research paradigm, based on a survey research design. Data collection was carried out using a semi-structured questionnaire which allowed for the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data were analysed using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), while qualitative data were analysed using a hermeneutic content analysis approach. The results of the study were, firstly, that the proposed model explained 44% of the PSSTs integration of e-learning technologies into the teaching and learning of science subjects and that skill was the most significant and strongest factor predicting the PSSTs integration of e-learning technologies; flow experience was the second important factor predicting the PSSTs integration of e-learning technologies, followed by intention and lastly, attitude. Secondly, the study revealed that quality consciousness and innovation consciousness significantly moderated the gap between intention to integrate e-learning technologies and the actual integration of e-learning technologies, with quality consciousness having the stronger moderating effect. Thirdly, the study revealed that some preservice science teachers were able to utilise e-learning technologies during the period of teaching practice for instructional preparation, instructional delivery, and to facilitate learning. However, some PSSTs were unable to utilised e-learning technologies during teaching practice, ostensibly because of a lack of e-learning facilities in the schools. Some recommendations are made based on the findings of the study. These relate to the management of e-learning at the university, schools and implications for policy.

A classroom teaching experiment was conducted in a semester-long undergraduate mathematics content course for elementary education majors. Preservice elementary teachers' development of rational number understanding was documented through the social and psychological perspectives. In addition, social and sociomathematical norms were documented as part of the classroom structure. A hypothetical learning trajectory and instructional sequence were created from a combination of previous research with children and adults. Transcripts from each class session were analyzed to determine the social and sociomathematical norms as well as the classroom mathematical practices. The social norms established included a) explaining and justifying solutions and solution processes, b) making sense of others' explanations and justifications, c) questioning others when misunderstandings occur, and d) helping others. The sociomathematical norms established included determining what constitutes a) an acceptable solution and b) a different solution. The classroom mathematical practices established included ideas related to a) defining fractions, b) defining the whole, c) partitioning, d) unitizing, e) finding equivalent fractions, f) comparing and ordering fractions, g) adding and subtracting fractions, and h) multiplying fractions. The analysis of individual students' contributions included analyzing the transcripts to determine the ways in which individuals participated in the establishment of the practices. Individuals contributed to the practices by a) introducing ideas and b) sustaining ideas. The transcripts and student work samples were analyzed to determine the ways in which the social classroom environment impacted student learning. Student learning was affected when a) ideas were rejected and b) ideas were accepted. As a result of the data analysis, the hypothetical learning trajectory was refined to include four phases of learning instead of five. In addition, the instructional sequence was refined to include more focus on ratios. Two activities, the number line and between activities, were suggested to be deleted because they did not contribute to students' development.

By law, physical education (PE) teachers must provide direct service to children with disabilities in the least restrictive environment, which, whenever feasible, is a regular PE class. Traditionally, the adapted physical education (APE) specialist was responsible for teaching students with severe disabilities and the PE teacher was responsible for teaching students with mild disabilities. Today, however, many students with disabilities must be taught in a regular PE setting minimizing the need for the APE specialist. Now PE teachers are having to teach all students with disabilities, but some teacher preparation programs are not providing preservice teachers with opportunities to work with these students before their student teaching experience. A qualitative study was conducted to investigate preservice PE teachers' in-class experiences teaching students with emotional/ behavioral disorders (EBD) in a general education setting. Multiple interviews and observations were conducted with four preservice teachers throughout the span of their student teaching experience to examine their thoughts, feelings, and concerns about teaching students with EBD as well as examining their interactions with these students. The participants indicated that in order to feel more qualified to teach students with EBD, they needed more experience. Further, they struggled with issues of inclusion while they encountered a gamut of emotions throughout their experiences. These findings point to the need to enhance preservice PE teachers' experiences with more related fieldwork. / Ph. D.

Thesis advisor: Lisa Patel Stevens / In this dissertation, I share findings generated from a year-long ethnographic and sociolinguistic study of the discursive practices of Black and Latina female preservice teachers, all nonstandard language and dialect speakers, across three settings: the university classroom, the practicum teaching classroom, and a social setting. The aim of the study was to examine how teacher education as a discursive space shapes the linguistic decisions of ethnolinguistic minority preservice teachers—individuals who speak varieties of languages and dialects that are deemed “less than” and “inferior to” dominant language varieties (e.g., African American Language (see Baugh, 1999; Smitherman, 1999); Spanish language varieties (e.g., Anzaldúa, 1987/1999; Zentella, 2004)), and accordingly, are granted lower status in American society (Lippi-Green, 2004). Guiding this inquiry was the understanding that through the study of language, it is possible to reveal the tacit theories and ideologies that persist within dominant spaces and the ways in which such ideologies affect the language choices that ethnolinguistic minority preservice teachers must make in order to acculturate a dominant teacher identity. I captured and examined transcripts of discursive practices evidenced through videotaped and audiotaped speech events, observations, interviews, and archival data (e.g., journal reflections, classroom assignments) using ethnographic research methods and critical discourse analysis (see Chouliaraki and Fairclough, 1999; Rogers, 2004c). My analysis of the data prompted implications for the field of teacher education and for the role of qualitative research methodologies in the study of language, discourse, and identity. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2008. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Curriculum and Instruction.

No description available.