Thesis advisor: Michael G. Barnett / Elementary science instruction and teacher preparation need improvement for various reasons: 1) preservice teachers lack opportunities to experience (Windschitl, 2003) or observe (Smith, 1999) inquiry science, 2) pre-service teachers have even fewer opportunities to practice teaching science in a classroom settings (Hewson, Tabachnick, Zeichner, & Lemberger, 1999); and 3) methods courses and field experiences fail to provide proper scaffolding and support for science teaching (Crawford, 1999). One way to improve preservice teacher growth and understanding in teaching inquiry science is through supported field based teaching experiences (Eick, Ware, & Williams, 2003). However, research is necessary to examine how innovative field-based science methods courses compare to traditional, university-based science methods course. This mixed methods study compares the experiences of thirty-two preservice teachers with a specific focus on four preservice teachers involved in either a field-based science methods course or a university-based science methods course. It examines the impact of the two courses on preservice teachers' confidence in teaching science content and beliefs regarding the role of inquiry-based science instruction with culturally and linguistically diverse students. Data sources included a pre/post survey that was distributed to preservice teachers in both courses, with additional interviews and final unit reviews for each of the four preservice teacher case studies. Themes were identified and re-examined through an analysis of the data which informed the development of four case studies, two from each class, to investigate specific trends between the two methods courses. Findings indicate that both field- and university-based instruction have strengths and weaknesses. This research suggests that field-based methods have a stronger impact on improving preservice teachers' beliefs and skills in regard to designing inquiry-based instruction for diverse students, while university-based course promotes greater confidence in preservice teachers' ability to teach different science content areas. However, preservice teachers in both courses struggled to create inquiry-based science lessons where students used evidence to support claims or construct explanations. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Teacher Education, Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction.

Investigamos abordagens de conceitos de física em aulas da educação básica, por professores de física em formação, do ponto de vista microssociológico dos encontros face a face e o papel das emoções nesses encontros. Analisamos como essas interações face a face ocorrem em aulas de física durante abordagens de conceitos e os rituais de interação colocados em jogo pelos professores em formação. Desta forma, por meio de um estudo de casos, identificamos alguns rituais de interação que ocorrem durante o processo de ensino e aprendizagem em aulas de física, identificados pelo clima emocional da classe. Utilizando uma abordagem fenomenológica e uma metodologia reflexiva na qual, a partir das observações in loco, focamos nossa atenção nas abordagens conceituais em aulas de física e utilizamos o clima emocional como heurístico na busca de eventos salientes. Nossa investigação mostra que abordagens conceituais não são apenas processos de trocas intelectuais, mas interações face a face características dos encontros sociais e repletas de emoções que constituem a linguagem dessas interações e podem alterar o clima emocional da classe. Constatamos que o professor, consciente ou inconscientemente, coloca em ação rituais de interação de salvamento da fachada como o aprumo e o processo de evitação, podendo até mesmo subverter conceitos científicos para salvar a fachada, o que evidencia a importância de uma atitude reflexiva na prática docente, para que o professor realize escolhas mais conscientes como utilizar mais processos corretivos. Propomos também a inovação na utilização de medidas do clima emocional por leigos como heurístico para encontrar eventos salientes, fundamentados na perspectiva das emoções básicas, na possibilidade de compartilhamento interacional das emoções e na sua relação com o clima emocional da classe. / We investigate approaches of physics concepts in basic education classes, by preservice physics teachers, from the micro-sociological point of view of face-to-face encounters and the role of emotions in these encounters. We analyze how these face-to-face interactions occur in physics classes during concept approaches and the interaction rituals put in place by the teachers in formation. In this way, through a case study, we identify some rituals of interaction that occur during the teaching and learning process in physics classes, identified by the emotional climate of the class. Using a phenomenological approach and a reflexive methodology in which, based on in situ observations, we focus our attention on conceptual approaches in physics classrooms and use the emotional climate as heuristic in the search for salient events. Our research shows that conceptual approaches are not only processes of intellectual exchanges, but face-to-face interactions characteristic of social encounters and full of emotions that constitute the language of these interactions and can alter the emotional climate of the class. We found that the teacher, consciously or unconsciously, put into action the interaction of salvage interaction of the facade as the mastery and avoidance process, and may even subvert scientific concepts to save the facade, which highlights the importance of a reflexive attitude in practice the teacher to make more conscious choices such as using more corrective processes. We also propose innovation in the use of measures of the emotional climate by lay people as heuristic to find salient events based on the perspective of basic emotions, the possibility of interactional sharing of emotions and their relation to the emotional climate of the class.

Investigamos abordagens de conceitos de física em aulas da educação básica, por professores de física em formação, do ponto de vista microssociológico dos encontros face a face e o papel das emoções nesses encontros. Analisamos como essas interações face a face ocorrem em aulas de física durante abordagens de conceitos e os rituais de interação colocados em jogo pelos professores em formação. Desta forma, por meio de um estudo de casos, identificamos alguns rituais de interação que ocorrem durante o processo de ensino e aprendizagem em aulas de física, identificados pelo clima emocional da classe. Utilizando uma abordagem fenomenológica e uma metodologia reflexiva na qual, a partir das observações in loco, focamos nossa atenção nas abordagens conceituais em aulas de física e utilizamos o clima emocional como heurístico na busca de eventos salientes. Nossa investigação mostra que abordagens conceituais não são apenas processos de trocas intelectuais, mas interações face a face características dos encontros sociais e repletas de emoções que constituem a linguagem dessas interações e podem alterar o clima emocional da classe. Constatamos que o professor, consciente ou inconscientemente, coloca em ação rituais de interação de salvamento da fachada como o aprumo e o processo de evitação, podendo até mesmo subverter conceitos científicos para salvar a fachada, o que evidencia a importância de uma atitude reflexiva na prática docente, para que o professor realize escolhas mais conscientes como utilizar mais processos corretivos. Propomos também a inovação na utilização de medidas do clima emocional por leigos como heurístico para encontrar eventos salientes, fundamentados na perspectiva das emoções básicas, na possibilidade de compartilhamento interacional das emoções e na sua relação com o clima emocional da classe. / We investigate approaches of physics concepts in basic education classes, by preservice physics teachers, from the micro-sociological point of view of face-to-face encounters and the role of emotions in these encounters. We analyze how these face-to-face interactions occur in physics classes during concept approaches and the interaction rituals put in place by the teachers in formation. In this way, through a case study, we identify some rituals of interaction that occur during the teaching and learning process in physics classes, identified by the emotional climate of the class. Using a phenomenological approach and a reflexive methodology in which, based on in situ observations, we focus our attention on conceptual approaches in physics classrooms and use the emotional climate as heuristic in the search for salient events. Our research shows that conceptual approaches are not only processes of intellectual exchanges, but face-to-face interactions characteristic of social encounters and full of emotions that constitute the language of these interactions and can alter the emotional climate of the class. We found that the teacher, consciously or unconsciously, put into action the interaction of salvage interaction of the facade as the mastery and avoidance process, and may even subvert scientific concepts to save the facade, which highlights the importance of a reflexive attitude in practice the teacher to make more conscious choices such as using more corrective processes. We also propose innovation in the use of measures of the emotional climate by lay people as heuristic to find salient events based on the perspective of basic emotions, the possibility of interactional sharing of emotions and their relation to the emotional climate of the class.

I report how methods course assignments shifted from simulation to actual participation in remediation, assessment, and co-teaching in a K- 6 methods course in a state where policies dictate a residency model in place of traditional courses followed by student teaching

The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine the observations of elementary school music teachers regarding the level of preparation of their most recent student teachers at the beginning of their student teaching experience. Twenty-seven elementary music teachers participated in a survey rating the preparedness of their student teacher in the areas of personal, teaching, and musical skills, and provided free-response feedback concerning the skills and abilities they observed as strong and weak. These responses were compared to the 1997 research completed by David Teachout, where preservice teachers and experienced teachers were asked to list what they felt were the forty most important skills necessary for success in regard to new music teachers. The results of the survey found a shift in emphasis in personal skills toward skills related to relationship quality with the students. Teaching skills surrounding Classroom Management were considered important but were the weaker of the demonstrated abilities. Musical skills showed the closest alignment between what was considered essential and demonstrated strength. Additional skills, both strong and weak were noted, and implications for the music teacher curriculum was discussed.

Curriculum standards in social studies encourage a curriculum that helps students understand how minority groups and women have historically sought access to equality of opportunity through organization and struggle, as well as a curriculum that supports democratic dialogue and mutual understanding among groups from diverse backgrounds. This study investigated how preservice social studies teachers have experienced efforts to help them understand dimensions of diversity and how these dimensions implicate classroom practices. Their pedagogical intentions were explored using educational criticism and connoisseurship, a humanities-based qualitative methodology that describes, interprets, and evaluates the various dimensions of educational experiences. This investigation followed four preservice social studies teachers and their instructors as they shared their encounters with difference and a diversity education course. Their experiences were rendered as written portraits of their intentions for teaching and learning. These portraits revealed themes of "earnest impotence" and structural obstacles that made truly transformative multicultural education difficult to achieve. Recommendations for curricular enhancements that attend to the "commonplaces" of curriculum are suggested.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Teachers are unique when compared to most other professionals, as pre-service teachers spend more than a decade observing teachers in practice before entering their own professional training. This study investigated teacher candidates at the earliest point of their teacher training, entry into a teacher certification program, at the University of Sydney and University of Auckland in 2005. Specifically, this study sought to address how prior experiences informed the teacher role identity of male primary, female secondary and non-traditional student teachers. These three teacher candidate groups emerged from a previous study (Sexton, 2002) which explored post-graduate teacher candidates’ beliefs with the most vivid and articulate prior experiences. The study used a mixed-model research design to explore the research question, How do pre-service teacher candidates interpret prior teacher experiences as to the type of teacher they do and do not want to become? 354 entry-level teacher candidates were surveyed using both closed item and open-ended responses. From these participants, 35 were then interviewed before their course commencement and then again after their first teaching practicum. The study showed that there were differences as to how prior teachers informed the teacher role identity of entry-level student teachers. Male primary candidates were more influenced by their positive primary experiences of role model teachers. Female secondary participants remembered those secondary teachers who encouraged the development of critical thinking and they now wish to emulate this in their practice. Non-traditional student teachers remembered a wider range of educational experiences and entered into their teaching program to make a difference in both their and their students’ lives. The study highlights how in-service teachers play an important role in not only who will become teachers but also what subjects and school level future teachers will teach.

This study investigates the nature of the mathematical understanding possessed by preservice teachers as they enter Early Childhood and Primary Teacher Education Programmes. The subjects comprised thirty students divided into groups of ten to represent three levels of mathematics competency as measured on a mathematics competency test. Evidence of mathematical understanding was gathered from videotaped interviews in which students were required to provide solutions for a set of six tasks. The analysis of student performance included monitoring students' ability to provide multiple representations for tasks as well as the students' demonstration of connections between mathematical ideas. The results show that preservice teachers entering the Early Childhood and Primary Teacher Education Programmes at the University of Canberra do so with weak understanding of many of the mathematical concepts that are fundamental to primary level mathematics curricula. The type of understanding demonstrated by these students was predominantly instrumental in nature. Differences between groups were found with reference to the amount of confidence and interest displayed during tasks. The implications of these results on mathematics teacher education are discussed. The study identifies the need for alternative assessment protocol for mathematics screening of preservice teachers. Discussion of appropriate techniques for the reconstruction of mathematical understanding is also considered.

This qualitative study was designed to identify and explore the preservice technology training experiences of novice teachers and examine their perceptions of how well their teacher preparation program prepared them with the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS•T). Data were collected by following an instrumental case study design utilizing semi-structured interviews, documents, and field notes. Simultaneous collection and analysis of the data helped the researcher to create a deeper understanding of the technology training experiences of novice teachers. The findings of this study revealed that novice teachers believe there was a lack of emphasis on technology integration in their teacher preparation program outside of the one required technology course. They expressed a need for technology training to be integrated across the curriculum. They wanted to be provided with authentic learning experiences so they could connect the theory to the practice in relation to technology integration. They wanted more time to practice, reflect, and plan student-centered, technology-rich lessons and they wanted to see all teacher education faculty modeling technology so connections could be made between the technology tools and the appropriate uses of these tools within their content areas. Last, they believe future preservice teachers need more hands-on experiences in creating student-centered, technology-rich lessons, not just within the one required technology course, but throughout their teacher preparation program. Furthermore, 90 percent of the participants expressed a need for more exposure to the technology standards. They stated the only place they were exposed to these technology standards was in the one required technology course and felt that one semester was not enough exposure for them to learn how to implement each of the standards with confidence. All stated they would have liked to have seen all faculty members throughout the teacher preparation program incorporate these technology standards into their teaching, so they would have been provided with adequate exposure to the technology standards.

The purpose of this study was to explore what the word "play" means and implies for Korean preservice kindergarten teachers in an early childhood teacher education program. The research questions under investigation were: (1) How do Korean preservice teachers with an early childhood emphasis view play? (2) How do factors such as culture and education influence the constructing of these views? The participants were ten Korean preservice kindergarten teachers enrolled in the Department of Early Childhood Education in one teacher education college in Korea. The data for this study was collected through in-depth qualitative interviews both individual and group and other qualitative methods. The findings of this study showed that Korean preservice kindergarten teachers had a conceptual conflict in the perception of general play and educational play. General play was considered as a fun, enjoyable, and spontaneous activity that is engaged in without concern for a specific outcome. General play was also thought as the opposite concept to work or study. Educational play was regarded as an ironical concept, since Korean preservice kindergarten teachers thought that learning occurs through working, not playing. Korean preservice kindergarten teachers theoretically advocated for the pedagogy of learning through play, just as they were taught in the teacher education program. However, Korean preservice kindergarten teachers did not agree with the practical effect of play on children's learning. Korean preservice kindergarten teachers were more supportive of a structured and pre-planned program for young children, believing that it resulted in better learning opportunities for children than a play-oriented program. The findings of the study revealed that personal experiences with play, the kind of education of the preservice teachers themselves received in their teacher training program, and Korean culture had significant roles in influencing the participant preservice teachers' ideas on play. This study implies that interpretations of play as an educational tool vary from culture to culture. Further research is needed to more deeply understand how views and attitudes on play are created and enacted.