ERIC Number: ED646623
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 185
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-8340-8403-7
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Investigating the Impacts of Participating in a Virtual Literacy Clinic: A Case Study Exploring Self-Efficacy in Pre-Service Teachers
Caitlin Mahoney Spears
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Arkansas
This study describes how participation in a university literacy clinic impacts self-efficacy in pre-service teacher candidates. This study was conducted one and a half years into the global COVID-19 pandemic, creating the need for the clinic's program, Literacy Camp, to be completed through fully virtual means. Thus, ways in which the pre-service teachers' experience was impacted by the method of instructional delivery was also detailed. Despite the body of growing research related to virtual learning and efficacy outcomes, there was a gap in the literature related to pre-service teachers' participation in a fully virtual university literacy clinic and its impacts on their self-efficacy. This study was designed with a need to fill this hole in mind. The unique and personal experiences of 23 elementary pre-service teacher candidates completing a yearlong internship and participating in a university literacy clinic were explored in this qualitative case study, framed through a social constructivist lens (Creswell, 2013; Vygotsky, 1978) so that the voice of the individual was elevated and carefully considered. A convenience sampling scheme was utilized to collect and analyze data compiled from three main data sources provided by pre-service teacher candidate participants: an efficacy pre-survey, an efficacy post-survey, and ten daily debrief forms. Four original themes emerged from the data: "Building a Learning Culture, Tutor as the Learner, Student First Approach to Intervention," and "The Virtual Environment." Findings from this study indicate that participation in the virtual literacy clinic allowed pre-service teachers to successfully plan and implement a full, individualized intervention related to literacy learning for one elementary or middle school student. Participants were able to reflect on their experience to grow as a learner and recognize the impacts they made on their Literacy Camp students. Despite the challenges faced through a fully virtual learning setting, pre-service teachers were able to overcome obstacles and complete their practicum experience, gaining self-efficacy throughout the process. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Preservice Teachers, Self Efficacy, Literacy Education, Clinics, Electronic Learning, Intervention, Individualized Instruction, Elementary School Students, Middle School Students
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Elementary Education; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A