Examining the Use of Teacher Candidate-Created Protocols to Connect Research to Practice in Elementary Classrooms: A Pilot Study

• In Event: Investigations on Constructivist Learning Environments

Abstract

This qualitative study involving 9 mentor teachers and 14 teacher candidates in a rural elementary school examined the extent to which mentor teachers partnering with a university teacher preparation program modeled research-based practices as measured by teacher candidate-created observation protocols. Additionally, the study investigated teacher candidates’ ability to connect current research to classroom practice. Teacher candidates engaged in current research-based readings, created observation protocols, and observed the in mentor teachers’ classrooms to connect the readings to classroom practice. Focus group sessions were conducted with the teacher candidates using semi-structured questions to gauge their understanding of the research, the frequency with which they observed (or did not observe) the research-based practices, and their ability to connect the research and practice.

Authors

• Jannah Walters Nerren, Stephen F. Austin State University

• Tracey Covington Hasbun, Stephen F. Austin State University