The purpose of this case study with supporting quantitative data was to investigate the influence of paired grouping on student participants' perceived attitudes toward technology, perceived proficiency with technology, and perceived technological knowledge after completing a required educational technology course. Additionally, student participants' perceptions regarding the use of paired grouping on their attitudes, proficiency, and technological knowledge with regard to technology was also investigated. To measure the difference between perceived attitudes toward technology, perceived proficiency with technology, and perceived technological knowledge after completing a required educational technology course, 83 student participants enrolled in a required educational technology course at a suburban midsized Gulf Coast University in the southern United States, completed the Attitude Toward Technology Scale (ATTS), Technology Proficiency Self-Assessment for 21st Century Learning (TPSA C21), and Technological Knowledge Tool (TK). Additionally, 24 student participants participated in semi-structured interviews.

The following question and sub-question guide this thesis project: 1) How does a service-learning approach in an arts-based technology course increase pre-service teacher receptivity to teaching technology? 2.) What are some barriers to teaching technology for pre-service teachers? A positive service-learning experience provides good learning models which have the potential to address the barriers to teaching technology for pre-service teachers by influencing their self-efficacy. Included in this thesis is a unit plan which responds to these research questions. There are many barriers to teaching technology for teachers including lack of funds, availability and quality of computer hardware and software, teaching models for using computer technology in instruction, time to learn to use computer technology, and teacher attitude (Rogers, 2000). A service-learning approach in an arts-based technology course could increase pre-service teacher receptivity to teaching technology by addressing these needs, the most important of which is providing pre-service teachers with a model for using computer technology in their instruction. Computer hardware and software availability is a problem which the teacher educator can address through writing a grant for funds, computer hardware and software, introducing the pre-service teachers to free and open source software, and negotiating with the partner school's administration and classroom teachers. Equally important is discussing this process with the pre-service teachers so they may learn from that experience. A positive experience teaching using computer technology has the potential to change pre-service teacher attitude about the ability of a teacher to influence students and their personal ability as a teacher (Wade, 1995; Root & Furco, 2001). Through service-learning, K-12 students and pre-service teachers have the opportunity to teach each other about digital art. It is through these unit plans that a mutual relationship is formed, which enables learning to occur on both ends. Throughout the unit plan, pre-service teachers are given time to reflect on their learning experiences and discuss what they are learning by working with the students. When teaching digital art to pre-service teachers, while it is important to give goals, guidelines and some basic instruction to lay the ground work for future discoveries, pre-service teachers and students alike need the opportunity to find the solutions to their own technical and artistic problems. The curricular ideas and unit plans contained within this thesis may serve as idea-generators for teacher educators interested in enriching their computer technology curriculum for pre-service teachers by incorporating service-learning into their practice. The big ideas were chosen to emphasize the idea of a learning community. Students and pre-service teachers develop a relationship over the course of teaching in which both learn from each other through the pre-service teachers' lessons and how the lessons are interpreted by the students. In effect, these unit plans are a beginning for future projects which integrate service-learning and the digital arts.

A case study was used to survey 308 teacher trainees in western Kenya to investigate the extent to which pre-service teachers in two Kenyan teacher training colleges are prepared to integrate technology in teaching. . The study uses the technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) framework to understand the knowledge needed by the pre-service teachers to integrate technology effectively. Data was gathered using the Survey of Pre-Service Teachers' Knowledge of Teaching and Technology and three open-ended questions. Data from the survey does not distinguish the TPACK variable among the respondents. The data suggests that the pre-service teachers rate themselves highly on the other six TPACK subscales of technological knowledge, content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, technological pedagogical knowledge, and technological content knowledge. Further, the data suggests that the respondents' personal use of technology, to a large extent, influences how they use technology in classrooms. Lastly, the data indicates that the survey instrument is inadequate in capturing all the TPACK subscales in this population as it shows weak internal consistency. These findings imply that faculty in these colleges need to be more intentional and deliberate in teaching the trainees how to integrate technology in lessons. Policymakers and college administrators may also influence the teachers' personal use of technology to inculcate into the trainees tested methods of technology integration. Another implication is that future research could employ other supplementary methods, in addition to surveys, to find out the levels of technology integration in the teacher trainees.

The problem of this study was to investigate the relationship between the degree of authoritarianism expressed by pre-service secondary science teachers and the ways in which they spent their instructional time. This study was conducted on all students enrolled in the secondary science instructional methods course at a large North Texas area university for the fall semester of 1972 and the spring semester of 1973. The total population for the study was 55 students. To aid in resolution of the problem three purposes were formulated. The first purpose was to determine whether authoritarianism expressed by prospective science teachers was related to the ways they spent their instructional time. The second purpose was to determine if the authoritarianism expressed by prospective science teachers was related to their use of an indirect teaching style. The third purpose was to provide feedback to the prospective science teachers on the ways they spent their instructional time. It was concluded that teachers who were very authoritarian asked fewer questions and a different type of question than someone of lesser authoritarianism. The authoritarian asked questions that could be answered with a short answer such as yes or no, while the lesser authoritarian asked questions that allow the student to have more freedom in his response. Further studies of this type should focus on the teaching of questioning techniques to extreme authoritarians to establish whether they might learn to use divergent questions to teach science indirectly.

Este estudo é uma pesquisa qualitativa, em que procuramos conhecer e analisar as concepções dos alunos de uma turma de licenciatura em Química da USP (Universidade de São Paulo), sobre o uso de visualizações no ensino de Química. O papel dos modelos e da visualização na Ciência e no ensino da Ciência, e em especial na Química, tem ganhado importância teórica e prática ao longo da última década. A Química envolve a interpretação das mudanças observáveis na matéria (ex.: mudanças de cor, libertação de gases) na dimensão macroscópica (concreto) em termos de mudanças imperceptíveis na dimensão submicroscópica (imaginária). Estas mudanças são representadas de forma simbólica e abstrata usando símbolos e fórmulas químicas, equações, gráficos, imagens etc. Com o objetivo de tornar acessíveis estas representações para os alunos, professores de vários graus de ensino recorrem com cada vez mais freqüência à visualização. Para alcançar os nossos objetivos foram acompanhadas pela pesquisadora, as aulas de Metodologia de Química II desta turma, durante um semestre. Foi aplicado, no início do semestre um questionário a toda a turma, cujo objetivo era registrar quais as concepções que estes possuíam acerca desta temática. No final do semestre, foram escolhidos dois grupos de sete alunos desta turma, aos quais foi feita uma entrevista semi-estruturada, cujo enfoque incidia sobre a escolha e uso de visualizações que estes alunos apresentaram durante um mini-curso de duas aulas que estes ofereceram a alunos do ensino médio, na Faculdade de Educação da USP. A análise destes discursos (questionário e entrevistas), assim como, do relatório do mini-curso dos dois grupos escolhidos foi efetuada com base nas contribuições de Michel Foucault para a análise do discurso. Como resultado deste estudo destacamos que as concepções teóricas destes futuros professores acerca deste tema são superficiais, pouco sólidas e por vezes até errôneas. De acordo com o referencial teórico escolhido, o discurso destes futuros professores, acerca do uso de visualizações apresenta como principais referentes a natureza abstrata dos conceitos químicos e a capacidade que as visualizações apresentam para tornarem as aulas de Química mais interessantes, para captar a atenção dos alunos e de tornarem os conceitos químicos mais próximos do cotidiano. Nos enunciados destes discursos aparecem associados enunciados de outros domínios discursivos (mídia, publicidade, da psicologia cognitiva, etc.). Verificamos igualmente nestes enunciados a presença da instituição que frequentam, das práticas dos seus professores da graduação, da indústria informática (domínios não discursivos). Também de acordo com Foucault, encontramos associado a este discurso um conjunto de práticas não discursivas relacionadas com o uso destas ferramentas visuais. A escolha das visualizações e as formas de uso observadas durante o mini-curso que apresentaram estão fortemente relacionadas com os referentes apresentados, nomeadamente, com a capacidade de estes recursos captarem a atenção dos alunos, fomentarem o interesse das aulas e ainda a capacidade de tornar os conteúdos químicos mais próximos da \"realidade\" e/ou do cotidiano. / This study is a qualitative research where we try to find out and analyze the conceptions of pre-service teachers of a Chemistry class from University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, about visualizations\' use in chemistry instruction. Models and visualization\'s role in science and science education, especially in chemistry, has grown up during the last decade. Chemistry involves the interpretation of matter observables\' changes (e. g. color changes or gas\' release) on the macroscopic level in terms of imperceptive changes on the submicroscopic level. These changes are represented in a symbolic and abstract way using symbols, equations, graphics, etc. With the purpose of making these representations accessible to the students, teachers are using visualizations more frequently. In order to reach our aims the researcher followed the Chemistry Teaching Methodology II classes, during a semester. In the beginning a questionnaire was applied to all the class with the purpose to register what conceptions they had on this issue. At the end of the semester two groups of seven pre-service teachers were chosen to apply a semi-structured interview that focused their own choices and visualizations\' use as teachers in a mini-course that they presented to middle school pupils at S. Paulo\'s University. The speech\'s analysis (questionnaire, interviews and mini-course reports) of the two chosen groups was done based on the Michel Foucault\'s contribution to speech analysis. As a result of this study we highlight that the theoretical conceptions of these pre-service teachers are superficial, not solid, and sometimes even become misconceptions. According to the chosen theoretical framing, the speech of these pre-service teachers on visualizations presents as main referent the abstract nature of chemical concepts and the capacity that this resource has to make chemistry classes more interesting, to keep students attention and to make chemistry concepts close to quotidian. We also found on these statements the presence of their college, the practices of their own teachers and the IT industries (none-speech domains). According with Foucault, we also found associated to this speech a set of none speech practices related to the use of these visual tools. The visualization\'s choices and the way that they used these tools were strongly related with the presented referents,specially with their capacity to keep attention, to increase the class interest, or the capacity to make chemical concepts more close to the reality and/or quotidian.

O Processo de Reflexão Orientada apresenta-se como uma nova proposta formativa, a qual pode contribuir para a formação inicial professores. Nesse processo, o futuro professor, mediado por um professor mais experiente, tem a oportunidade de elaborar e avaliar suas ideias sobre o ensino e a aprendizagem, suas metodologias e suas práticas de ensino, podendo clarificar e confrontar suas teorias pessoais. Neste sentido, este trabalho investigou as contribuições do PRO na atuação pedagógica de licenciandos em Química, visando um ensino por investigação e para a promoção da alfabetização científica no Ensino Médio. Para isso, mediados pela pesquisadora, os três licenciandos participantes da pesquisa elaboraram uma sequência de aulas e a desenvolveram em sala de aula, refletindo sobre suas concepções e práticas durante todo o processo envolvido. Diversas propostas de uma mesma sequência de aulas, sobre um mesmo conteúdo químico, foram elaborados pelos licenciandos, de forma a contemplar uma sequência investigativa e para promoção da AC. A última proposta foi aplicada em sala de aula. Os licenciandos avaliaram e refletiram sobre a sua prática em sala de aula e sobre os planos desenvolvidos, utilizando referenciais teóricos sobre ensino por investigação, AC e exigência cognitiva das questões. Para compreender a evolução dos licenciandos durante o PRO, a pesquisadora analisou os níveis investigativos dos elementos pedagógicos presentes nos planos elaborados e nas aulas ministradas por eles; o nível de AC dos planos e das aulas ministradas, bem como, o nível cognitivo das questões propostas nos planos e nas aulas. O processo reflexivo sobre a prática dos licenciandos é evidenciado por meio de categorias de análise e exemplificadas por trechos das transcrições dos encontros reflexivos realizados entre eles e a pesquisadora. As contribuições do grupo durante o processo também foram avaliadas. Os resultados mostram que os planos desenvolvidos pelos três licenciandos apresentaram evoluções na maioria dos tópicos avaliados, o que pode ser justificado pelas reflexões proporcionadas pelos encontros individuais e em grupo. No entanto, algumas dificuldades foram evidenciadas quanto a proposição da questão problema e de materiais para o levantamento das ideias prévias dos estudantes. A análise das aulas evidencia algumas dificuldades vivenciadas pelos licenciandos durante suas regências, como a sustentação da questão problema, bem como, das interações dialógicas. As reflexões realizadas entre a pesquisadora e os licenciandos, durante os encontros individuais, evidenciam momentos relevantes para a formação inicial, visto que os futuros professores expunham suas concepções, anseios e dilemas. Os encontros reflexivos em grupo também evidenciam contribuições, o que possibilitou ao grupo socializar, confrontar e compartilhar suas ideias e experiências. Esta pesquisa também mostra a importância do papel do mediador, já que a confiança dos licenciandos pela pesquisadora parece ter contribuído para o comprometimento deles durante o processo. Assim, o PRO vivenciado pelos licenciandos parece ter contribuído para eles desenvolverem uma postura crítica com relação à prática docente. Ao elaborar os planejamentos e avaliar suas ações, baseados em referenciais teóricos, puderam construir novas ideias sobre o processo de ensino e de aprendizagem em Química. / The Reflection-Oriented Process is a new educational trainning proposal that may contribute to pre-service teachers trainning. In the process, the future teacher, mediated by a more experienced teacher, has the opportunity to develop and evaluate their ideas about teaching and learning methodologies and their teaching practices, may clarify and confront their personal theories. Thus, this study investigated the contributions of PRO in pedagogical proceeding on pre-service teachers chemistry, aiming investigative approach and the promotion of scientific literacy (SL) in high school. For this, mediated by the researcher, the three pre-service teachers developed lessons\' sequence and teaching in class, reflecting on their conceptions and practices throughout the process involved. Several proposals of a same sequence, by the same chemical content, were developed by future teachers in order to contemplate a investigative approach and the promotion of SL sequence. The last proposal was developed in the classroom. The pre-service teachers evaluated and reflected on their practice in the classroom and on the plans developed by using theoretical frameworks for investigative teaching approach, SL and cognitive demand of the questions. To understand the pre-service teachers evolution in PRO, the researcher analyzed the investigative levels of pedagogial elements present in elaborate plans and classes taught by them; SC level presentes on plans and classes, as well as the cognitive level of the questions proposed in the plans and in class. The reflective process on the practice of pre-service teachers is evidenced by categories analysis and exemplified by excerpts from transcripts of reflective meetings held between them and the researcher. The group\'s contributions during the process were also investigated. The results show that the plans developed by the three future teachers showed gains in most analyzed topics, which can be justified by reflections provided by individual and group meetings. However, some difficulties were highlighted as the proposition of the question problem and materials to identify the previous ideas of students. Analysis of classes shows some difficulties experienced by future teachers during their regencies, such as support problem concerned and, of dialogic interaction. The discussions held between the researcher and the pre-service teachers during the individual meeting, evidence relevant times for pre-service training, as future teachers expounded their views, concerns and dilemmas. Reflective group meetings also show contributions, which enabled the group to socialize, compare and share their ideas and experiences. This research also shows the importance of the mediator\'s role, since the pre-service teachers reliability by the researcher seems to have contributed to their commitment throughout the process. Thus, the PRO experienced by pre-service teachers seems to have assisted them to develop a critical position relative to teaching practice. Propose plans and evaluate critically their actions based on theoretical frameworks, it seems to cotributed to build new ideas about teaching and learning in chemistry.

The connection between educational technology and critical pedagogy has not been greatly explored. This yearlong research study was conducted with pre-service teachers as they progressed through a teacher licensure program. Data collection included the use of focus groups, individual interviews and participant journals. In addition, this study explored the personal and technology identity of the participants. The results led to a greater understanding of how pre-service teachers view the connection between educational technology and critical pedagogy. / 10000-01-01

The problem of this study was to analyze the effects of a human relations component in an introduction to education course on the self-concept and interpersonal relations of secondary education pre-service teachers. The purposes of this study were (1) to develop a human relations component to be used in an introduction to education course; (2) to utilize the component in an actual teaching situation; and (3) to examine the effects of the course on the self-concept and interpersonal relations of secondary education pre-service teachers. The results of the statistical analyses revealed that the differences between the experimental and control groups on measures of the self-concept and interpersonal relations were not statistically significant. No significant gains were made by the experimental group on both criterion measures. Findings derived from personal observations indicated that the experimental group became aware of the affective dimension of the teaching-learning process. It was also evident that factors in addition to increased scores should be considered in research concerning enhancement of the self-concept and interpersonal relations.

Initial teacher education is an area of weakness within the Chilean education system. Yet it is highlighted as a crucial aspect of educational success. Success in educational improvement depends mainly on the teachers (because they enact a reform by putting it into practice), and teacher thinking is likely to influence teacher decision-making. How teacher conceptions and practice change, and how to facilitate this change, was the focus of this study. It explored to what extent peer assessment could facilitate change in pre-service science teachers’ conceptions and practices regarding conceptual explanations in science teaching.In a quasi-experimental design, a ten-session peer assessment intervention was carried out with thirty seven pre-service science teachers in three Chilean universities, each with an experimental and control group. The intervention sought to develop changes in teachers’ conceptions about the quality of explanations and in their skill of explaining scientific concepts. Teachers' thoughts were obtained through a peer assessment questionnaire, feedback sessions, focus groups and interviews. The quality of their explanations was measured at pre, post and follow-up in their eventual first job via video-recorded microteaching episodes using observational analysis. Inter-rater reliability was calculated on 5% of all qualitative data and all the videos were rated by two researchers in a blind process. Qualitative analysis indicated how teachers transformed their conceptions about the quality of explanations from general pedagogical knowledge into pedagogical content knowledge. A quantitative instrument was created to evaluate student teachers’ explanations in practice. Its reliability enables the assessment the skill of explaining based on ten elements (Cronbach’s alpha=.77). Results showed pre-service teachers significantly improved their explanations of scientific concepts in some practical aspects, although not all of them were transferred into real teaching contexts. The changes in student teachers’ conceptions and practice were analysed to indicate how the process occurred, to what extent peer assessment had a role on it, and which elements facilitated or made difficult the transference of the skill of explaining into real teaching. These results indicated that peer assessment can play a noteworthy role in teacher education to develop skills. There are implications for policy and practice in this study, not only for teacher education but also for in-service teacher professional development, not only for Chile but also for other countries.

The demands placed upon stakeholders of the public education system have become more and more compelling with each passing year. With the success of schools and students at stake, it is imperative to examine multiple facets of the public education structure. One of the most important aspects of this process is the development of preservice teachers entering the classroom. This study initially chronicled the history of teacher education and state licensure. Subsequently, standards enforced by the Tennessee Department of Education and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education were also explored to gain information about the guidelines and criteria required for accrediting teacher education and licensure programs. Further information in regard to teacher education was examined through current trends and issues that affect classroom teachers. The teacher education program criteria from 6 Tennessee higher education institutions were also reviewed. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the perceptions of classroom teachers about effective higher education programs. Twelve K-6 classroom teachers with 5 or fewer years of teaching experience were interviewed to gain insight about the opinions of effective components of teacher education programs. This information was examined to explore specific program requirements. The analysis of the data collected in this study introduced several themes and common patterns. Most commonly, participants expressed the importance of a substantial field experience within the teacher education program. The value of relating content and theoretical approach to the practical application of the classroom was also noted as a priority. Participants reported the most effective teacher education programs as those that formulated a realistic portrayal of the classroom setting. These responses illustrated the significance of a hands-on approach to teacher education training and development.