Millennial Preservice Teachers' Cultural Competence: Self-Assessment, Analysis, and Implications

• In Event: 77.058 - MTCC Roundtable Session 36
  In Roundtable Session: 77.058-4 - Developing Preservice Teachers' Cultural Competence

Abstract

Millennial preservice teachers are part of the millennial population described to be globally-minded, receptive to diversity, and committed to social justice. Do millennial preservice teachers’ liberal attitudes translate into cultural competency? How do they understand and view their cultural competency? This study examines senior year preservice teachers’ self-assessment of their cultural competence for culturally responsive teaching. Preservice teachers completed a pre-course instructional self-assessment of their cultural competence level and reassessed it based on new understanding at the completion of the course. Analysis reveals millennial preservice teachers overrated themselves and function at a cultural pre-competence level. The findings illuminate concerns about millennial preservice teachers’, misguided and naïve attitudes. Implications for teacher education are examined with recommendations.

Author

• Omiunota N. Ukpokodu, University of Missouri - Kansas City