TEACHER EDUCATORS’ SELF-REPORTED PREPAREDNESS TO TEACH STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS IN HIGHER EDUCATION

TitleTEACHER EDUCATORS’ SELF-REPORTED PREPAREDNESS TO TEACH STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsHolmqvist, M, Anderson, L, Hellström, L
JournalProblems of Education in the 21st Century
Volume77
Issue5
Start Page584-597
PaginationContinuous
Date PublishedOctober/2019
Type of ArticleOriginal article
ISSN1822-7864
Other NumbersE-ISSN 2538-7111
Keywordsdisability research, inclusive teaching, professional development, special educational needs, teacher education
Abstract

This research explores teacher educators’ self-reported preparedness to teach students with special educational needs. Teacher educators are concerned with preparing the next generation of teachers who will, in turn, be addressing the needs of students with special educational needs within schools. Being able to address this important task also in their own teaching at the teacher education program is important for their own credibility. In total, 104 teacher educators at two university faculties completed an online questionnaire with questions about teaching students with special education needs. The results showed a significant difference between the educators’ self-reported professional development needs. At University B, educators rated their own competence as well as the organizational ability to meet students with special educational needs higher than educators at University A, regardless of disability. One explanation for the differences in self-rated competence might be due to the mandatory courses about how to teach students with special educational needs, shaping a community of practice with a shared knowledge among the teacher educators at University B. However, the experienced challenge lies in difficulties to transform the knowledge of what is required and expected into practical solutions for teaching students with special educational needs.

URLhttp://oaji.net/articles/2019/457-1571384344.pdf
DOI10.33225/pec/19.77.584
Refereed DesignationRefereed
Full Text