Pre-Teaching Concerns

• Main Author: Yerger, Sara
• Other Authors: Burross, Heidi L
• Language: en
• Published: The University of Arizona. 2011
• Subjects: early field experience; preservice teacher; teacher concerns
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/144370

This study was done to investigate the types and intensity of teaching concerns preservice teachers have during their coursework and how these are connected to early field experiences (EFE). A survey was conducted comparing preservice teachers in an on-campus versus an on-site course at a local elementary school. Participants (N = 99) were asked about 26 types of concerns and these groups were compared; only one significant difference was found, that the on-campus group had more general teaching concerns than the on-site group. Fuller's (1969; 1974) research on immature versus mature teaching concerns was corroborated by the survey items and factor analyses, although no change over time was found. School-based field experiences were significantly listed by both groups as being the most useful experience in their teacher education; therefore, it is recommended that opportunities be created for preservice teachers to participate in EFEs.