Teacher self-efficacy (TSE) is among the most-studied constructs in teacher education and resists change after the early stages of development, particularly during professional experience. This study investigates the sources of early-career TSE longitudinally, which few previous studies have done. Two phases of one-on-one interviews were completed…

Using epistemic perspectives as a theoretical framework, this study investigated Australian pre-service teachers' perspectives about knowing, knowledge and children's learning, as they engaged in a semester-long unit on philosophy in the classroom. During the field experience component of the unit, pre-service teachers were required to teach at…

In June 2008, 10 pre-service teachers and 2 teacher educators from Edith Cowan University (ECU) participated in an existing community education program in rural and remote Indigenous communities in central Australia. From an intrepid start with a mountain of overloaded baggage and camping cutlery setting off the scanning machine at the airport,…

This paper explores two seemingly disparate areas of social inquiry: teacher education and the sustainability of rural communities in Australia. It suggests that these may be usefully understood in close connection with each other, and that healthy rural communities may be supported via reform of the ways in which teacher education prepares…

The Work-Study Innovative Teaching Programme (WSITP) developed during 1975-1977 at Churchlands College in Western Australia proposes a developmental approach to continuous long-term practice teaching and concurrent related lecture experiences as a means of assisting student teachers in their search for personal meaning about teaching and about…

Twenty-three second-year education students at Charles Sturt University (New South Wales) participated in a three-week practicum program at remote rural schools. Participants offered generally positive comments about the value of the teaching and living experience and willingness to teach in such schools in the future. (SV)

Investigated field-based teacher educators' perceptions of their contribution to preservice teachers' personal-professional development. Focus groups data indicated that respondents perceived wisdom, authenticity, and passion as particularly valuable in working with student teachers. Their work with student teachers constitutes a transformative…

Several recent developments represent attempts to remove at least some of the barriers between the teacher education and vocational education sectors of Australian tertiary education. A specific site where this trend is apparent is fieldwork experiences, which are partly intended to broaden students' understandings of professional knowledge and…

A social studies elementary teacher education program at Phillips Institute of Technology in Australia is described. The program, which places students in charge of teaching a 9-week social studies unit, is recommended as an alternative to the conventional lecture method. The paper is divided into discussion of five aspects of the course:…

This paper examines definitions of reflection and the concept of reflective teaching, and then documents attempts to implement a reflective approach taken by second-year undergraduate teaching students at the Australian Catholic University, Queensland Division. Sixteen students completed their first field experience, which included 12 half-day…

This study was designed to provide a rich description of the changing perceptions student teachers had about increased personal growth and enhanced global awareness as a result of teaching placements in foreign countries. The study included an examination of research on the impact of international student teaching (IST) experiences, description of…

The supervision of neophytes in all professional vocations is a complex and multifaceted process and not really achieved without adequate training and experience. This project's aim was to develop innovative, problem solving, teaching resources in the form of "case knowledge" episodes to provide "strategic knowing" activities…