How do those completing initial teacher training in the post-compulsory education and training sector consider ‘theory’ in relation to their practice?

摘要

This research examines theory in relation to educational practice analysing how one specific group of practitioners consider the construct ‘theory’ in relation to their practice. The participants were drawn from those completing Initial Teacher Training in the post-compulsory education and training sector. The participants were all members of the same cohort; had been asked to consider a range of theories as part of their studies, and had been asked to reflect on ‘theory’ in relation to their practice in one of their examined assignments. I was drawn to study this area when, as the participants’ teacher, I found myself questioning the unexamined regard that the curriculum held ‘theory’ in. The data was collected through individual interviews, focus group discussions and the examination of written assignments. All the data was gathered at the end of the participants’ studies in order to gain a ‘snapshot’ of their perspectives at that particular moment. The data suggests that participants were inclined to consider that theory starts from practice and can be adapted by practitioners and it was found that the participants built their own personal pedagogical perspective through consideration of their subject, context and experience.