Curriculum Possibilities in "Teacher Education in University" :

practical research into similarity and diversity of content and method in teacher education

Abstract

  Over half a century has passed since the principle of "teacher education in university" was established. But its essence is not clear yet, and it is difficult to reach an agreement about it among the lecturers concerned with teacher education in each college and university. In Tokyo prefecture, a new system for teacher education has been recently introduced from not by universities but by the Board of Education. It should be explained what role the universities can play in teacher education, particularly at a time when practical skills are required for teachers.

  The purpose of this study is to indicate the significance of teacher education in university. It reexamines what role universities can play in teacher education and suggests the possibilities of proposing "teacher education" as a curriculum. For this purpose, we have investigated two cases of the same subject in a university, using three methods: self-observation by lecturers; evaluations by students; and researcher-observation to find the similarity and diversity.

  The following results were found. First, there are many differences between lectures, and hence exchanging information and discussion between lecturers are important to maintain the similarity and develop the diversity. Second, evaluations by students indicate that the diversity in their understanding is also caused by the lecturers' attitudes, media, and the number of students. On the other hand, their satisfaction with the lecture and effort for learning are correlated with their motivation to be a teacher in both cases. Third, the similarity and diversity are also found in the lectures, students' responses to the lecturer and a feeling of membership in a group fostered by discussion among students. At the same time, it suggests the necessity of development of lecturers' capability to create a better learning opportunity for students.

  The following task is that the similarity and diversity within each of the series of lectures should be analyzed in terms of the learning opportunities it gives the students.