Poster #22 - Preservice Teacher Learning About Doing Projects With Young Children

• In Event: 35.081 - MTCC Poster Session Eight
  In Poster Session: 35.081-2 - Early Childhood Poster Session 2

Abstract

This study examined the learning experiences of pre-service teachers completing a project with young children using the Project Approach methodology. Using a mixed-methods research design, 55 EC-6 pre-service teachers enrolled in an Early Childhood course completed a project with kindergarten and first-grade students. Scores on the Project Approach Survey indicated a significant increase in feelings of preparedness and efficacy to complete a project with young children (t = -11.32, p < .001; t = -10.55, p < .001). The pre-service teachers’ responses to open-ended questions indicated that while they all began with little to no knowledge about doing project work with young children, their understanding and confidence greatly increased through the experience of doing a project themselves.

Authors

• Amber L. Brown, University of Houston - Clear Lake

• Preeti Jain, University of Houston - Clear Lake