ERIC Number: EJ1090207
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0260-7476
EISSN: N/A
An Idealistic View of Teaching: Teacher Students' Personal Practical Theories
Maaranen, Katriina; Pitkäniemi, Harri; Stenberg, Katariina; Karlsson, Liisa
Journal of Education for Teaching: International Research and Pedagogy, v42 n1 p80-92 2016
Personal practical theories (PPTs) are built based on underlying beliefs, experiences, values and conceptions regarding 'good teaching'. Having a vision of teaching and valuing the work may have a strong effect on one's sense of identity, resilience and commitment. This study focused on Finnish teacher students' (N = 84) PPTs constructed during the middle or at the end of their studies, on average during their fourth year of a five-year MA programme. All of the PPTs, written as statements (N = 647), were combined, and a unified conception of the theories was formed using inductive content analysis. The three main categories found were "the foundations of good teaching," "the teacher" and "the teacher's daily work." The analysis of the statements shows that the notions of good teaching are very idealistic: they emphasise abstract ideologies and high standards for the teacher, but also everyday matters of teaching, although also here the ideology of the pupil's individuality is at the centre. The paper concludes by arguing that it is good to have high aims and values for teaching, although in reality some of them might be difficult to achieve.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Student Teachers, Theories, Graduate Students, Teacher Competencies, Preservice Teacher Education, Educational Methods, Values, Research Skills, Student Attitudes, Content Analysis, Coding, Teacher Characteristics
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Finland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A