ERIC Number: EJ1152336
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2470-6353
EISSN: N/A
"I'm Not so Sure…": Teacher Educator Action Research into Uncertainty
Rogers, Carrie
Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research, v18 n2 Article 3 Fall 2016
Using a framework of uncertainty that is informed by Hannah Arendt's philosophy this four-semester action research project describes the creation and analysis of an assignment that allows teacher candidates to explore their own uncertainties in regards to the teaching profession. This action research project examines the assignment and its development over time toward the goal of encouraging teacher candidates to have a disposition that frames uncertainty or doubt as an essential and necessary part of teaching. Findings were mixed. While this study reaffirms the theoretical perspective that action research, for me as a teacher educator, is about taking pedagogical risks to improve the quality of educational processes (Elliott, 1991) teacher candidates' dispositions toward uncertainty remain a concern. While many, in this study, saw uncertainty as inherent to teaching many also felt that these uncertainties could be remedied with the right training or experience.
Descriptors: Action Research, Assignments, Preservice Teachers, Teaching (Occupation), Career Choice, Teacher Characteristics, Student Attitudes, Elementary School Teachers, Experiential Learning, Writing Assignments, Grouping (Instructional Purposes), Qualitative Research, Content Analysis, Essays, Self Esteem
New Prairie Press, Kansas State University Libraries. 137 Hale Library, Manhattan, KS 66506. e-mail: nppress@ksu.edu; Web site: http://newprairiepress.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A