NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ746436
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Jan
Pages: 17
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0742-051X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Longitudinal Research on Beginning Teacher Development: Complexity as a Challenge to Concerns-Based Stage Theory
Watzke, John L.
Teaching & Teacher Education: An International Journal of Research and Studies, v23 n1 p106-122 Jan 2007
Stage theory represents a concise explanation for change in teacher professional development with gained experience in the classroom. This study examines the "self-task-impact" stage chronology proposed by concerns-based theory within the framework of longitudinal research on beginning teaching. The study investigated developmental change in a panel (N = 79) of beginning teachers across two years utilizing the Teacher Concerns Checklist, a concerns inventory, at six application points. Analysis of variance with Scheffe post hoc tests was utilized to rank categories of concerns and to test whether teacher and school contextual variables would affect these rankings. The results confirm findings of similar longitudinal studies, indicating teachers' concerns for "impact" consistently rank highest across time. Additionally, the ranking of concerns categories was not affected by the contextual variables. Two aspects of "impact," one academic in orientation and the second consisting of personal and individual concerns for students, emerged as distinct dimensions across time. The author proposes a reconsideration of concerns-based theory for its limited ability to comprehensively explain the complex nature of teacher development. Rather than chronological, concerns are recurring and indicate the need to scaffold linkages between student learning, learning theory, and instructional practices early in teaching careers in lieu of singularly focused managerial aspects of teaching.
Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A