Evaluation of Professional Dispositions in Teacher Candidates by University Field Supervisors at a Distance

• Published in: The international journal of technologies in learning 2015, Vol.22 (4), p.61-66
• Main Authors: Stone, Theodore, Schwartz-Bechet, Barbara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Computer conferencing; Preservice Teachers; Research Methodology; Student Teachers; Supervisors; Teacher Interns; Teachers; Universities
• ISSN: 2327-0144; 2327-2686
• DOI: 10.18848/2327-0144/CGP/v22i04/49080

This paper examines whether university field supervisors (who have conducted observations of interns at a distance) believe they are able to adequately assess the professional dispositions of student teacher interns when the observations of the interns are made at a distance via a technology-mediated observation that include web conferencing and video recording. Using an action research approach, the university field supervisors were asked to provide recommendations for improving detection of professional dispositions at a distance. University field supervisors from two universities were involved in this study. Several issues emerge from this study on observing professional dispositions at a distance. Technology seems to impact the perception of getting to know the disposition of the intern and having a single camera in the back of the room was a limiting factor in assessing professional dispositions. There also seemed to be variance among the supervisors in understanding the nature of professional dispositions and what was expected of them in assessing dispositions in the interns.