On 19 August 2019 at 11.00 Age Salo will defend her doctoral thesis „The dual role of teachers: school-based teacher educators’ beliefs about teaching and understandings of supervising“.
Supervisors:
Professor Krista Uibu, University of Tartu
Professor Aino Ugaste, University of Tallinn
Professor emeritus Helena Rasku-Puttonen, University of Jyväskyla
Opponent:
Professor Hannele Niemi, University of Helsinki
Summary:
School-based teacher educators who supervise the school practice of students (SBTEs) have a dual task: they have to ensure the comprehensive development of their pupils and, at the same time, prepare students for their future role as teachers. This might be a difficult task for teachers. In order to gain more knowledge of how to support teachers in performing the two roles, this doctoral thesis studied teachers' beliefs about teaching goals and practices, as well as their perception of university expectations to them as supervisors and the meaning teachers themselves give to their actions as supervisors. The study showed that teachers use a variety of teaching practices that support both the cognitive as well social development of pupils, but they are not able to clearly articulate the goals that support the social development of pupils. The main goals of teachers in the supervision of students are to set an example and to support students in independent teaching. As to university expectations, teachers perceive that they have to support students in associating their theoretical knowledge with experience. The results of the study confirm that in order to cope with their dual role, SBTEs need more knowledge of the scientific basis of teaching. Universities should clearly define the role of SBTEs when preparing students for their future career.