A survey of Newfoundland and Labrador's post-secondary instructors and their employers regarding their views of the importance of pre-service teacher training for post-secondary instructors

Fleet, Beverly Ann (1998) A survey of Newfoundland and Labrador's post-secondary instructors and their employers regarding their views of the importance of pre-service teacher training for post-secondary instructors. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

This study examined two different groups employed in the post-secondary education sector in Newfoundland and Labrador, instructors and their employers, regarding their views of the importance of pre-service teacher preparation for post-secondary instructors prior to the commencement of teaching. As well, it examined the views of those same groups according to geographical sector; east, central, west, or north. The study also sought to identify the nature of pre-service training, if any, that was deemed important by these same groups. -- Using a geographical cluster method, in which the Province was sectioned into four geographical sectors, east, central, west and north, and a single college as a cluster within each sector, a survey sample of 20% of the total population of instructors (n = 235) and 37% of the total population of employers (n = 31) was drawn using a table of random numbers. A total of 26 colleges, 116 instructors, and 18 employers participated in the study. -- The survey was conducted using a mail-out questionnaire. The instructor questionnaire contained a total of 53 items and the employer questionnaire a total of 47. The questionnaires were composed often open-ended items, six closed items (on the instructor questionnaire only) and a series of 37 items that asked the individual to respond on a five-point Likert-type scale. The 37 items were grouped into nine categories that corresponded to different areas of teacher training. -- There were no significant differences found between the views of instructors and employers across the Province, with both instructors and employers having the view that pre-service teacher training for post-secondary instructors has importance. -- The means for each section of the questionnaire were slightly different which indicated some areas of pre-service training were considered more important than others. The area given the most importance was "Lesson Presentation Skills". -- There was a significant difference in the views of instructors and employers towards pre-service teacher training for post-secondary instructors among the different geographical sectors, with the west sector generally placing less importance on it than their counterparts in the east, central and north sectors. -- The conclusions that can be drawn from this study are that pre-service teacher training for post-secondary instructors has importance. Therefore, it is recommended that instructors obtain teacher training before entering the classroom. As well, there were differences between geographical sectors with regards to views regarding the importance of pre-service teacher training. Therefore, further research into why this disparity exists should be conducted.

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