Browsing by Subject "Novice Teachers"
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Item A Phenomenological Exploration of Novice Texas English/Language Arts Teachers' Experiences with Media Literacy(2012-10-19) Huie, Allison MartinThis mixed method study employs a phenomenological methodology to explore the experiences of novice secondary Texas English/Language Arts (E/LA) teachers' who integrated media literacy curriculum within their content area during the 2010-2011 school year. Data relating to the phenomenon was collected through Likert-type survey items and an in-depth three-interview protocol. The key findings in this study highlight the complex relationships that affect novice secondary Texas E/LA teachers' development of curriculum and pedagogy in the context of media literacy education. Participants' backgrounds were found to influence their beliefs and attitudes related to media literacy, which in turn, influenced the way they integrated media literacy curricula. Despite a commonly held belief in the value of media literacy education and intent to integrate media literacy in the E/LA curriculum, participants' confidence in their ability to teach students media literacy skills declined over time. Data suggest that this decrease is attributable to environmental factors such as access to technology resources and the culture and climate of the schools in which the participants teach. The study also finds that participants were insufficiently prepared to teach media literacy in the E/LA classroom and that both participants' teacher preparation program and school districts bear the burden for this deficiency. The findings of this study have specific implications for current educational practice. Schools of education and school districts are appropriately positioned to provide needed, but currently deficient, support to novice E/LA teachers with regard to media literacy integration in the content area. Such support could consist of formal coursework and/or mediated discussion in professional learning communities regarding: media literacy in the standards; technology skills and integration; pedagogical content knowledge related to media literacy education; sources for media literacy self-study and independent professional development; and teaching media literacy skills in technologically under-resourced or hostile environments.Item Exploration of the Impact of the Same Developmental Mentor Training Within the Infrastructure of Two Different School Districts(2010-01-16) Anderson, Amy E.The literature is convincing that the revolving door presently occurring in schools as new teachers prematurely leave the profession is difficult not only on children and families, but also school staff and school-wide improvement efforts. However, there is also adequate literature that supports new teacher induction coupled with a qualified mentor as a means for reducing new teacher attrition. While mentoring has been found to be an effective approach for retaining new teachers in the profession, there has been little attention on the supports needed to implement and sustain such programs. The primary purpose of this study is to identify those components of infrastructure necessary to support the implementation and sustainability of a developmental mentoring program. Using literature from the areas of Improving Workplace Conditions and Educational Systemic Change along with Project CREATE and the national standards for mentoring programs a model for infrastructure is proposed. These components along with implications for including or deleting infrastructure from program design are considered. The outcomes from this study will be useful for those in the midst of creating and improving district level mentoring programs. The findings offer the potential to identify the root causes of instability reducing the possibility of program ineffectiveness in planning, implementing, sustaining and improving developmental mentoring programs.Item Roles of School Counselors in Supporting Novice Teachers(2010-07-14) Bradley, KeenaMany novice teachers are leaving the teaching profession at alarming numbers creating teacher turnover rates that may be difficult for educational administrators to combat. Novice teachers have a variety of needs and if those needs are not met, these teachers may not return for another year in the classroom. Teacher induction programs are designed to help meet the needs of novice teachers, but they must be structured appropriately and must use trained personnel who will be able to provide support for the novice teachers. The purpose of this study is to determine to what degree school counselors could be used as an additional source of support to help meet the needs of novice teachers by providing preparation and support to assist their transition into the classroom in order to improve retention rates among novice teachers. The review of literature examined teacher induction programs and the professional, developmental, and social needs of novice teachers. It also examined the role of school counselors to assess the skills and training they have that may be used to support novice teachers. This study asked school counselors to indicate the type and amount of support they currently provide to novice teachers and to provide their perception on serving as a source of support for novice teachers. The results of this study indicate that school counselors have several skills that could be used to support novice teachers. However, because they lack skills in certain areas where novice teachers have need, school counselors should not be used as a sole source of support for novice teachers. The results of this study suggest that school counselors should be used in conjunction with other campus personnel to most effectively meet the needs of novice teachers.