INDICATORS OF SUCCESS IN TEACHER EDUCATION

1
INDICATORS OF SUCCESS IN TEACHER EDUCATION

• Tom Russell, Queens University
• Suzin McPherson, Limestone District School Board,
  Kingston

2
FOUR MAJOR THEMES

• QUALITY OF TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS
• EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL INFLUENCES ON TEACHER
  EDUCATION

• HOW QUALIFICATIONS AFFECT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
• IMPACT OF OUT-OF-FIELD TEACHING

3
QUALITY OF TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS

• Reform movements have not reduced the criticisms
  of pre-service teacher education programs.
• The transition from preparation to first year of
  teaching is often so traumatic that the quality
  of preparation is assumed to be low.

4
QUALITY OF TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS

• Exposure does not constitute experience.
  (McPherson, 2000)
• The importance of experience and the limited
  value of pre-service courses perpetuate the gap
  between theory and practice, between schools and
  university.

5
REFORM MOVEMENTS HAVE NOT MADE A DIFFERENCE

• The simple model of learning . . . is that
  knowledge goes in during teacher education and
  professional development and comes out to be used
  in classrooms. (N.A.E., 1999)
• Tinkering without examining program foundations
  does not change program quality.

6
FEATURES OF SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS

• Make explicit what teachers think and do.
• Take candidates experiences and concerns as
  central.
• Create collaborative environments between schools
  and faculty.

7
EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL INFLUENCES

• Structural divisions between theory and practice.
• Lack of consensus within programs on fundamental
  premises.
• Demands for external assessments and
  accountability generate more tension than quality.

8
FEATURES OF SUCCESSFUL RESTRUCTURE PROGRAMS

• Unified perspective and purpose
• Research-supported conceptions of teaching and
  learning
• Address the realities of uncertainty,
  unpredictability, and instability associated with
  change

9
INDUCTION PROGRAMS FOR CAREER-LONG DEVELOPMENT

• Regardless of quality of preservice programs, the
  new teacher is still a beginner.
• Successful induction programs assign teaching
  responsibilities collaboratively.
• Teachers who are mentored report smoother
  entrance into profession.

10
EVIDENCE FROM SUCCESSFUL INDUCTION PROGRAMS

• Lower rates of attrition from profession.
• Foster development of proactive practitioners.
• Help teachers develop high expectations for
  student achievement and personal professional
  growth.

11
HOW QUALIFICATIONS AFFECT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

• Student achievement levels are positively
  affected by teachers who are satisfied,
  motivated, experienced, and knowledgeable.

12
HOW QUALIFICATIONS AFFECT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

• In the USA, states leading in student achievement
  and making greatest achievement gains have the
  most highly qualified teachers and make
  consistent investments in teachers professional
  development.

13
FACTORS THAT INCREASE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

• Smaller school size
• Small class size
• Higher teacher ability
• Fewer unqualified teachers

14
SUCCESS IS OBVIOUS YET ELUSIVE

• Successful pre-service and induction programs
  have features similar to successful programs of
  professional development.
• Teachers have direct access to experts, influence
  over substance and process, and opportunities to
  experiment and reflect.

15
IMPACT OF OUT-OF-FIELD TEACHING

• Out-of-field teaching significantly downgrades
  the quality of instruction.
• Out-of-field placements may be the cause of
  significant teacher departure.
• Teachers should not be viewed as mere
  facilitators able to teach any subject.

16
CONCLUSIONS

• Reform of pre-service teacher education is widely
  sought and rarely achieved.
• Researchers call for reforms and policies they
  have not achieved in their own institutions.
• External accountability threatens internal
  standards of quality.

17
CONCLUSIONS

• COLLABORATION and COOPERATION between schools and
  universities are essential to successful change.
• COHERENCE across and within program elements is
  an essential indicator of quality.