"How Am I Going to Do This There?" Collaborative Inquiry as a Pedagogy for Student Teaching

• In Event: 46.086 - Roundtable Session 16
  In Roundtable Session: 46.086-16 - Qualitative Inquiry in Middle-Level Education Research

Abstract

This study informs the emerging body of literature on middle level teacher education, particularly as it concerns supporting middle level preservice teachers (PSTs) in innovating while student teaching in the context of middle level education reform. Using qualitative inquiry, this study investigates the experiences of four PSTs and one teacher educator as they engage in a collaborative inquiry cycle designed to bring reform-oriented teaching practices into field placements. This paper thus describes the unique collaborative inquiry cycle and investigates the challenges and benefits the inquiry group faced while attempting to innovate via collaborative inquiry. Special attention is also given to the strategies PSTs learn about what it takes to participate in middle level education reform in their own schools.

Author

• Jessica DeMink-Carthew, The University of Vermont