Developing a Proof-of-Concept Selection Test for Entry into Primary Teacher Education Programs

Year 2017, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 96 - 114, 01.07.2017

Robert Klassen Tracy L. Durksen Lisa Kim Fiona Patterson Emma Rowett Jane Warwick Paul Warwick Mary Wolpert

https://doi.org/10.21449/ijate.275772

Cited By: 22

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to report on the development of a proof-of-concept situational judgment test (SJT) to assist in the selection of candidates for primary teacher education (ITE) programs. Nine development steps involving practising teachers, teacher educators, and applicants to ITE programs were carried out to establish target attributes and to develop content for the test. The results from administering the test to 124 primary ITE candidates showed a near-normal distribution, high levels of reliability, and significant positive correlations with a range of concurrently administered interview scores. We conclude with a description of the necessary next steps needed to implement evidence-supported teacher education selection processes in a range of international settings.

Keywords

teacher selection, initial teacher education, situational judgment tests, teacher effectiveness, recruitment, teacher characteristics

Developing a Proof-of-Concept Selection Test for Entry into Primary Teacher Education Programs

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to report on the
development of a proof-of-concept situational judgment test (SJT) to assist in
the selection of candidates for primary teacher education (ITE) programs. Nine
development steps involving practising teachers, teacher educators, and
applicants to ITE programs were carried out to establish target attributes and
to develop content for the test. The results from administering the test to 124
primary ITE candidates showed a near-normal distribution, high levels of
reliability, and significant positive correlations with a range of concurrently
administered interview scores. We conclude with a description of the necessary
next steps needed to implement evidence-supported teacher education selection
processes in a range of international settings.

Keywords

teacher selection, initial teacher education, situational judgment tests, teacher effectiveness, recruitment, teacher characteristics

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