Elementary Teacher Education Curriculum in Chinese Universities

After the Promulgation of “Teacher Education Curriculum Standard (Trial)”

Abstract

This paper explores the commonalities and differences in elementary education curricula at sixteen education colleges in China, and considers how different colleges meet the China's Teacher Education Curriculum Standard as well as the various demands presented by local social contexts. Main findings are as follows: Teaching skills courses as well as pedagogical courses are taught most ubiquitous. The weeks of school and classroom observation and student teaching in many colleges were greater than eighteen weeks. These findings illustrate the strong influence of the Teacher Education Curriculum Standard on teacher education colleges in China. The curricula for elementary teacher education at the sixteen colleges were classified into major three types: Theory oriented, curriculum and instruction, and professional skills. These differences reflect the history of each institution and the local needs for elementary school teachers. In addition, Professional skills programs are strongly influenced by the Teacher Education Curriculum Standard of China.