The purpose of the study was to examine the teacher education curricula in exemplary agricultural teacher education programs. I identified eleven exemplary agricultural teacher education programs through a call for nominations to a national listserv of the American Association for Agricultural Education (AAAE). Course syllabi and course checksheets provided by each of the selected institutions were analyzed to determine patterns of professional course requirements and specific professional topics at each of the universities. Competencies were derived from assignments or topics expressed in course syllabi. Data analysis established common themes among the programs studied. The resulting list of professional topics was examined to yield five overarching curricular areas: Experiential Components, Foundations, Program and Curriculum Planning, Teaching and Methods, and Technology. Microlesson presentations and managing Supervised Agricultural Experience programs were the only professional topics addressed in all programs studied. The study also revealed that professional course titles were very different at the participating institutions. No institution covered all of the topics. Treatment of topics among institutions varied widely. Although literature reveals that the field of education is trying to establish itself as a profession, few of the programs studied offered courses focusing solely on professional development, professional organizations, or professional ethics. Many of the programs studied did address professionalism issues, but it may have been provided in only one lecture. Using the course syllabi provided by each exemplary university, I was able to identify 16 courses taught in pre-service agricultural education and 118 common topics. Not all topics were addressed at each university nor were all courses presented. Microlesson presentation and Supervised Agricultural Experience Programs were the only two topics all universities addressed. From the 118 general topics, five general curricular clusters were established: teaching methods, program and curriculum planning, foundations, experiential components, and technology. / Master of Science

Teacher training institutions in Jamaica have been introducing, developing, and revamping undergraduate degree programs. There is, however, little evaluation of these efforts. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine The Mico University College's early childhood education undergraduate degree program by exploring the lived experiences of its graduates. The research questions elicited from the participants their views about how changes were being implemented in the program, and how they impacted the institution's development and improvement, how major policy shifts related to changes in national educational policies, and how together these shifts may impact future processes at The Mico and at similar institutions in Jamaica. The study used theoretical frameworks of organization development and performance improvement. In-depth semi-structured interviews were the main source of data collection and were supported by thick description, memoing, reflexive journaling, and document review. Data analysis methods consisted of coding interview transcripts and identifying common themes. The results of the study indicated that the participants commended many of the program's underlying policies and operational practices, but they identified some challenges and areas of weakness. This study may be used as a backdrop to program development and policy initiation at The Mico and at other institutions in Jamaica and the Caribbean as it encapsulates a wide breadth of the lived experiences of the participants and examines key components such as curricula, pedagogy, and assessment. By strengthening their program offerings, The Mico and other teacher training institutions have the potential to improve performance and to contribute to sustainable national development.

From Mother of Society to a Teacher Qualified for Post-graduate Studies – Continuity and Change in a Local Pre-school Education. The aim of this thesis is to throw light upon the basic values and representations of knowledge within a local female teacher education tradition and identify what kind of expectations are held of a pre-school teacher over time. The main question concerns central values and notions in a local pre-school teacher education regarding what is expected of a recognised pre-school teacher between the beginning of the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st century. A key interest is how these underlying values and notions are maintained and how they are transformed over time. Another interest is how these values and notions are maintained and transformed when they meet other teacher education traditions and when they are confronted with traditional academic values. The preschool teacher education is deeply rooted in a female tradition and the study presented here also focuses on the role that gender plays in the formation, changes and continuity of the central values in pre-school teacher education. The empirical sources include in-depth-interviews with 22 lecturers and supervisors from a local pre-school education in addition to document studies of selected materials from the archives of the Department of Education at Örebro University and at the Örebro University Library. The historical context and the dimension of time have been analysed using James Wertsch’s (2002) conception of voices of collective remembering in addition to the concepts of knowledge cultures (Englund & Linné 2005, Nerland 2008) and communities of practice (Lave and Wenger 2003). The results presented in this dissertation indicate that major shifts have occurred in the collective memory of the local pre-school teacher education during the 20th century and the first years of the 21st century. I have distinguished seven historical periodic themes in the analysis. These are: Mother of society – formation of a new female activity system (ca 1902–1942), All-round kindergarten leader (ca 1942–1963), Personality development and child observation (ca 1963–1972), Developmental psychology and dialogue pedagogy (ca 1972–1977), Education in a university setting and a citizen of society (ca 1977–1983), Reflective child pedagogue (ca 1982 1993) and Teacher of younger children – qualified for a research tradition (ca 2001– 2007).

abstract: Arizona State University's (ASU) teacher education program has been restructured several times in the last two decades to train teachers to teach children more effectively by responding to their individual needs and learning demands. One of the reasons for restructuring was to respond to new licensing requirements by the State. To serve young children's needs, the state of Arizona required individuals working with young children to obtain either early childhood licensing or endorsement by January, 2009. Responding to these new requirements, ASU now requires student teaching in a preschool setting in addition to the existing Kindergarten to third grade student teaching and internship requirements. This study addressed the question of teacher preparation and self-efficacy based on this newly restructured teaching model used in the ASU Tempe teacher education program. The following questions guided this study: 1) What effects do beginning teachers perceive that their split-student teaching experiences have on their experience as a new teacher; 2) How do beginning teachers' prior schooling, educational, and personal background influence their current teaching; and 3) What role does home, family, and collegial support play as beginning teachers start their teaching career? A qualitative case study research method was utilized in this study. Two face-to-face, in-depth individual interviews and one focus group interview with three second-year and two third-year beginning teachers were utilized to understand their experiences in the program and in their beginning years of teaching. An analysis of interview data revealed beginning teachers' student teaching experiences partially fulfilled their need of having adequate in-classroom experience before starting their teaching careers; yet they highlighted some suggestions for student teaching assignments to better prepare prospective teacher candidates in the program. Moreover, they expressed both satisfaction and dissatisfaction toward courses taken in the program. Their statements also emphasized the importance of having effective mentorship in their student teaching and first year of teaching. Support from administration, experienced colleagues, friends, and family members were also acknowledged as highly valuable as they struggled with issues in their beginning career. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction 2010

A investigação da Linha de Pesquisa: Universidade: Teoria e Prática, Ênfase em Formação de Professores, "Do professor licenciado ao docente crítico intelectual e reflexivo: uma análise a partir de cursos de licenciatura em matemática e história de universidade privada no RS", estudou as implicações da reforma educacional pós LDBEN, Resolução CNE/CP 1/2002, verificando a manifestação dessas concepções na prática pedagógica dos professores de duas licenciaturas de uma universidade privada no litoral do RS. Buscou igualmente evidenciar a lógica que permeia os documentos legais normativos para formação de professores e a concepção de professor reflexivo que aparece a partir da Resolução CNE/CP 1/2002, que institui as Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais para Formação de Professores da Educação Básica, em nível superior, em curso de licenciatura, de graduação plena, esta antecedida pelo Parecer CNE/CP 09/2001. Neste estudo de caso que pautou-se num modo de análise ancorado na teoria crítica e, na análise de conteúdo dos dados coletados, encontrou-se como resultado que tais políticas são balizadas por estratégias econômicas, entendidas neste texto como reflexo de políticas neoliberais. Esta resolução sinaliza uma inovação na perspectiva de formação docente, que embora inovadora, é permeada pela racionalidade técnica, tratando-se então, de novas roupagens para velhos discursos. A intencionalidade da reflexão sofre interferências deste contexto, resultando num esvaziamento de seu real significado. Em contraponto a esta perspectiva, esta dissertação apresenta a concepção de professor como intelectual crítico e reflexivo (Pimenta, 2002). Concluo a investigação, constatando nos cursos analisados que estes se pautam no que apresentam as normativas legais; que os professores, principais agentes de efetivação destas propostas, muitas vezes desconhecem ou não participaram da reforma curricular dos cursos, resultando num alienamento das intenções e na superficialidade de entendimento dos conceitos abarcados. / The investigation of the Research Line: University: Theory and Practice, with emphasis on Teacher Education, "From a licentiate teacher to a critical and reflexive educator: an analysis on mathematics and history licentiate courses at a private university in RS", studied the post-LDBEN educational reform implications, CNE/CP 1/2002 Act , verifying the manifestation of such conceptions on the pedagogical practice of two licentiate courses at a private university in RS's coastal region. Also it sought to make clear the logic permeating the normative legal documents for teacher education and the conception of a reflexive teacher that comes out from the CNE/CP 1/2002 Act, which instituted the National Curriculum Guide for the Formation of Basic Education Teachers, at higher level licentiate course, full degree programs, being the latter preceded by the CNE/CP 09/2001 Act. Drawing on the critical theory analysis as well as on the collected data content analysis, this case study has shown that such policies are oriented by economic strategies, herein understood as a consequence of neoliberal policies. They point toward some innovation on teacher education; such innovative perspective, however, is permeated by technical rationality, what means, in the end, that we have new garments for old speeches. Such context interferes greatly on the initial intent for reflection, emptying its real meaning. In contrast with that perspective, this dissertation presents the conception of a teacher as a critical and reflexive intellectual (Pimenta,2002). The investigation findings show that the analysed courses draw from the legal norms while the teachers, who are the main agents for such proposals to enter into force, are either unaware of the curricular reform or have not taken part in it. Thus, the result is alienation of purposes and superficial understanding of the concepts involved.

A investigação da Linha de Pesquisa: Universidade: Teoria e Prática, Ênfase em Formação de Professores, "Do professor licenciado ao docente crítico intelectual e reflexivo: uma análise a partir de cursos de licenciatura em matemática e história de universidade privada no RS", estudou as implicações da reforma educacional pós LDBEN, Resolução CNE/CP 1/2002, verificando a manifestação dessas concepções na prática pedagógica dos professores de duas licenciaturas de uma universidade privada no litoral do RS. Buscou igualmente evidenciar a lógica que permeia os documentos legais normativos para formação de professores e a concepção de professor reflexivo que aparece a partir da Resolução CNE/CP 1/2002, que institui as Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais para Formação de Professores da Educação Básica, em nível superior, em curso de licenciatura, de graduação plena, esta antecedida pelo Parecer CNE/CP 09/2001. Neste estudo de caso que pautou-se num modo de análise ancorado na teoria crítica e, na análise de conteúdo dos dados coletados, encontrou-se como resultado que tais políticas são balizadas por estratégias econômicas, entendidas neste texto como reflexo de políticas neoliberais. Esta resolução sinaliza uma inovação na perspectiva de formação docente, que embora inovadora, é permeada pela racionalidade técnica, tratando-se então, de novas roupagens para velhos discursos. A intencionalidade da reflexão sofre interferências deste contexto, resultando num esvaziamento de seu real significado. Em contraponto a esta perspectiva, esta dissertação apresenta a concepção de professor como intelectual crítico e reflexivo (Pimenta, 2002). Concluo a investigação, constatando nos cursos analisados que estes se pautam no que apresentam as normativas legais; que os professores, principais agentes de efetivação destas propostas, muitas vezes desconhecem ou não participaram da reforma curricular dos cursos, resultando num alienamento das intenções e na superficialidade de entendimento dos conceitos abarcados. / The investigation of the Research Line: University: Theory and Practice, with emphasis on Teacher Education, "From a licentiate teacher to a critical and reflexive educator: an analysis on mathematics and history licentiate courses at a private university in RS", studied the post-LDBEN educational reform implications, CNE/CP 1/2002 Act , verifying the manifestation of such conceptions on the pedagogical practice of two licentiate courses at a private university in RS's coastal region. Also it sought to make clear the logic permeating the normative legal documents for teacher education and the conception of a reflexive teacher that comes out from the CNE/CP 1/2002 Act, which instituted the National Curriculum Guide for the Formation of Basic Education Teachers, at higher level licentiate course, full degree programs, being the latter preceded by the CNE/CP 09/2001 Act. Drawing on the critical theory analysis as well as on the collected data content analysis, this case study has shown that such policies are oriented by economic strategies, herein understood as a consequence of neoliberal policies. They point toward some innovation on teacher education; such innovative perspective, however, is permeated by technical rationality, what means, in the end, that we have new garments for old speeches. Such context interferes greatly on the initial intent for reflection, emptying its real meaning. In contrast with that perspective, this dissertation presents the conception of a teacher as a critical and reflexive intellectual (Pimenta,2002). The investigation findings show that the analysed courses draw from the legal norms while the teachers, who are the main agents for such proposals to enter into force, are either unaware of the curricular reform or have not taken part in it. Thus, the result is alienation of purposes and superficial understanding of the concepts involved.

A investigação da Linha de Pesquisa: Universidade: Teoria e Prática, Ênfase em Formação de Professores, "Do professor licenciado ao docente crítico intelectual e reflexivo: uma análise a partir de cursos de licenciatura em matemática e história de universidade privada no RS", estudou as implicações da reforma educacional pós LDBEN, Resolução CNE/CP 1/2002, verificando a manifestação dessas concepções na prática pedagógica dos professores de duas licenciaturas de uma universidade privada no litoral do RS. Buscou igualmente evidenciar a lógica que permeia os documentos legais normativos para formação de professores e a concepção de professor reflexivo que aparece a partir da Resolução CNE/CP 1/2002, que institui as Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais para Formação de Professores da Educação Básica, em nível superior, em curso de licenciatura, de graduação plena, esta antecedida pelo Parecer CNE/CP 09/2001. Neste estudo de caso que pautou-se num modo de análise ancorado na teoria crítica e, na análise de conteúdo dos dados coletados, encontrou-se como resultado que tais políticas são balizadas por estratégias econômicas, entendidas neste texto como reflexo de políticas neoliberais. Esta resolução sinaliza uma inovação na perspectiva de formação docente, que embora inovadora, é permeada pela racionalidade técnica, tratando-se então, de novas roupagens para velhos discursos. A intencionalidade da reflexão sofre interferências deste contexto, resultando num esvaziamento de seu real significado. Em contraponto a esta perspectiva, esta dissertação apresenta a concepção de professor como intelectual crítico e reflexivo (Pimenta, 2002). Concluo a investigação, constatando nos cursos analisados que estes se pautam no que apresentam as normativas legais; que os professores, principais agentes de efetivação destas propostas, muitas vezes desconhecem ou não participaram da reforma curricular dos cursos, resultando num alienamento das intenções e na superficialidade de entendimento dos conceitos abarcados. / The investigation of the Research Line: University: Theory and Practice, with emphasis on Teacher Education, "From a licentiate teacher to a critical and reflexive educator: an analysis on mathematics and history licentiate courses at a private university in RS", studied the post-LDBEN educational reform implications, CNE/CP 1/2002 Act , verifying the manifestation of such conceptions on the pedagogical practice of two licentiate courses at a private university in RS's coastal region. Also it sought to make clear the logic permeating the normative legal documents for teacher education and the conception of a reflexive teacher that comes out from the CNE/CP 1/2002 Act, which instituted the National Curriculum Guide for the Formation of Basic Education Teachers, at higher level licentiate course, full degree programs, being the latter preceded by the CNE/CP 09/2001 Act. Drawing on the critical theory analysis as well as on the collected data content analysis, this case study has shown that such policies are oriented by economic strategies, herein understood as a consequence of neoliberal policies. They point toward some innovation on teacher education; such innovative perspective, however, is permeated by technical rationality, what means, in the end, that we have new garments for old speeches. Such context interferes greatly on the initial intent for reflection, emptying its real meaning. In contrast with that perspective, this dissertation presents the conception of a teacher as a critical and reflexive intellectual (Pimenta,2002). The investigation findings show that the analysed courses draw from the legal norms while the teachers, who are the main agents for such proposals to enter into force, are either unaware of the curricular reform or have not taken part in it. Thus, the result is alienation of purposes and superficial understanding of the concepts involved.

This qualitative descriptive study explored the experiences of three Kuwaiti pre-service teachers with guided reflection and the extent to which video technology facilitates reflection. The data sources were semi-structured and video-elicited interviews, field notes, and researcher reflective journals. The study was guided by two research questions: In what ways does video elicitation facilitate Kuwaiti pre-service teachers’ reflections? What do Kuwaiti pre-service teachers reflect about? I used Rogoff’s Sociocultural Theory (2003; 1995) as my conceptual lens for this study which stresses the importance of cultural contexts in all areas of education. I developed a concept I call “third-eye” thinking to define a multifaceted approach to education and reflection. I also developed a concept I call “cultural spheres of influence” to describe the multitude of cultural influences that shape individuals and groups in unique ways. This study also depended on guided reflection to complement the process of video elicitation. The findings of my study indicated that video elicitation provided concrete material as a basis for reflection. My findings showed that Kuwaiti early childhood preservice teachers reflected on various topics including: teaching tools and materials, strategies and techniques, everyday problems and challenges, classroom dynamics and management, and evaluators and the evaluation process. This research contributes to the existing body of literature by giving reflection a new culturally-rooted definition based on its application by Kuwaiti pre-service teachers and through a careful consideration of the cultural spheres of influences that shaped who the participants were and what they brought to the reflective process.

In the United States, approximately 26% of children will witness or experience a traumatic event before they turn 4 years old. Therefore, teachers must be prepared to meet the individual needs of children who exhibit symptoms of trauma. However, there is a gap in research regarding teachers' perspectives about how teacher preparation experiences influence teaching strategies and the creation of supportive environments for preschool children who have experienced trauma. Using Bandura's theory of self-efficacy, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how teachers' perspectives about teacher preparation experiences influenced their teaching strategies and the creation of supportive environments for preschool children who have experienced trauma. In-depth interviews were used to collect data from 10 preschool teachers from a southern state who had varying teaching experience, degrees, and preparation experiences. The continuous data analysis process included organizing the data, reflecting on meaning, and identifying and coding key words and themes to answer the research questions. Results indicated that teacher preparation experiences influenced the participants' teaching strategies and the creation of supportive environments. However, the results also suggested a need for more content specific teacher preparation experiences. Potential social implications of this study include (a) improving teacher preparation opportunities, (b) an increase in teacher self-efficacy, (c) an increase in child development outcomes, and (d) adding to the current literature on teacher preparation and childhood trauma.

No description available.