Evaluation of Pre-Service Teachers’ Opinions about Teaching Methods and Techniques Applied by Instructors
Abstract
Problem
Statement:
Training qualified teachers depends on the quality of the trainers. From
this point of view, the quality of teacher educators and their instruction in
the classroom are important to train qualified teachers. This is because
teachers tend to see teacher educators who have trained them as role models,
and during their school years, they tend to reflect the applications of teacher
educators on their educational practices. Studies have reported that there are
similarities between the teaching techniques teachers use in their practices
and those their instructors used during teacher training. Therefore, it is
important to explore what teaching methods and techniques teacher educators use
in their practices. The purpose of this study is to examine what kind of teaching
methods and techniques teacher educators use in the course, Introduction to
Educational Science, and to explore the reasons why they use those methods and
techniques as well as their ways of creating an active learning process.
Purpose of the
Study: The purpose of this study is to examine what kind of
teaching methods and techniques teacher educators use in their course,
Introduction to Educational Science, and to explore the reasons why they use
those methods and techniques as well as their ways of creating an active
learning process.
Method: One of the
mixed model designs, consecutive sequence design, was applied. The data was
collected by a questionnaire and semi-structured interview developed by the
researcher. The data obtained from the questionnaire were analyzed by calculating arithmetic
means and standard deviation; they were demonstrated in tables and
interpreted. In order to better clarify the
reasons behind the qualitative
findings, quantitative data were collected and analyzed with content analysis.
Findings:
Findings show that student teachers reported that their instructors
mostly employ question-answer, discussion, lecturing, brainstorming, group
work, and individual or group presentations in their practices. Student
teachers also reported that their instructors rarely use student-centered teaching
methods including dram, educational games, concept checking, dramatization,
aquarium, speaking ring, storytelling, station, conceptual, caricature, and
tour. Findings from interviews with instructors show that class size and the
physical structure of the classroom force them to use more traditional teaching
methods in their practice. Other reasons they used more traditional methods
were: a) lack of pedagogical content knowledge, b) the ignorance of the lesson,
and c) the perception that university level course are taught in traditional
ways.
Conclusion
and Recommendations: The research results showed that while
teacher educators frequently use questioning and lecture techniques in their
classrooms and they assign the students into groups or pairs and ask them to
present what they learn from the groups, they rarely use other effective
techniques such as concept controlling, educational games, drama, oral history,
speech circle, writing story, or conceptual comics. Additionally, teacher
educators contended that crowded classrooms, physical environments of
classrooms, using traditional teaching methods, and not spending more time
using active teaching methods negatively affect learning processes in
classrooms. Considering the results of the research, it can be recommended that
teacher educators attend courses related to effective use of active learning
strategies in classrooms and get involved in professional development seminars
concerning active learning strategies. Also, solving problems relevant to
crowded classrooms, organizing an environment for active learning activities, and
decreasing the number of courses teacher educators teach would make significant
contributions to this process.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
-
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Publication Date
December 15, 2016
Submission Date
December 15, 2016
Acceptance Date
-
Published in Issue
Year 2016 Volume: 16 Number: 66