Formal placements on initial teacher education programmes focus on the students’ learning and, in some contexts, co-operating teachers are involved formally as mentors in this process. Traditionally in Ireland, the location of this research, co-operating teachers had no formal or recognized role on placement. However, recent policy changes (Teaching Council, 2011) recognize the significant contribution which co-operating teachers can make to the student on placement. In the context of this policy change, this research examines how a co-teaching model of placement promotes the learning of the student teacher and of the co-operating teacher, thereby redefining the roles assumed by both on traditional placements. Following a case study approach in the qualitative paradigm, this research documents the experience of four co-teaching partnerships, each comprised of a final year student teacher and an experienced teacher. Data gathered included semi-structured interviews, planning templates, reflections and vignettes and these were analysed to determine how co-teaching compared with formal placements as a learning to teach experience, how each co-teacher learned from the other and how each co-teacher considered they contributed to the others’ learning. The research concluded that professional dialogue between students and co-operating teachers was enhanced when the placement model promoted and expected such dialogue, as opposed to leaving it at the participants’ discretion. The students to a greater extent than the teachers, were able to articulate the professional knowledge which they developed in the course of co-teaching. In light of the policy focus on the role of the co-operating teacher, the implications of these findings, at an immediate practice level and at a national policy level are considered and areas of further research are also identified.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:719589 |
| Date | January 2017 |
| Creators | Ó Conaill, Neil |
| Publisher | University of Nottingham |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/41920/ |
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