TRANSFORMATIONS IN TEACHER EDUCATION IN UNITED STATES OF AMERIKA, FINLAND, SINGAPORE, AND TURKEY

Dr. Erdem Aksoy
Çankaya University

Dr. Dilek Gozutok
Ankara University

 

Abstract

In this study it is aimed to identify the transformation in teacher education in the last 10 years and to contribute into forthcoming innovations in the field of teacher education in Turkey by analyzing the systems of teacher education in Finland and Singapore, acknowledged as being successful in the field of teacher education and the U.S.A. (New York), being in the leading position in new approaches and reforms in teacher education. This study is prepared in the light of the PhD thesis entitled “Transformations in Teacher Education in USA (New York), Finland, Singapore, and Turkey-2000/2010”. The study is a comparative action research analyzing the teacher education systems of four countries. Qualitative data collection techniques are employed in the study which is based on scanning model. Official documents and a semi structured interview form have been used as data collection tools. As a result of the study, it was found that in the policy level personalistic and inquiry oriented paradigms in teacher education have been emphasized in all four countries; however, in New York, Turkey, and Singapore behaviorist and apprenticeship paradigms have been dominant in real applications. In Finland, it was concluded that inquiry oriented paradigm has been emphasized and successfully implemented. As a result, it could be stated that the paradigm which has been stressed in the country at the policy level should be consistent with the realities and the present conditions of the country rather than popular paradigms in other countries. In terms of teacher education programs, it was concluded that alternative certification programs are damaging teacher education especially in New York and Turkey and directing teacher education from an intellectual base to a technical expertise. As a result, it could be stated that alternative certification programs should immediately be prevented.

Keywords

Teacher education paradigm, Teacher education programs, Pre service teacher education, In service teacher education.

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