Contradictory and Missing Voices in English Education: An Invitation to English Faculty
Abstract
This article offers both a rationale and a proposal for the meaningful contribution of English faculty to the preparation of English teachers. We draw on data from teacher licensure tests and interviews with English and English Education faculty to underscore contradictions among the various voices in English education and to identify ways of bringing English faculty more meaningfully into the conversation. While analysis of our quantitative data suggests correlations between Praxis II exams and other measures of candidates’ content knowledge and skills, analysis of interview transcripts and course documents reveals clear differences. We conclude with recommendations for involving English faculty in teacher preparation to balance out the contradictory and dominant voices in English education.
Reference
Smith, E. R., Bowen, B. A., & Dohm, F. A. (2014). Contradictory and Missing Voices in English Education: An Invitation to English Faculty. English Education, 46(2), 117.
Journal
English Education
Analysis
Is this article part of a larger project or series of studies?
no
Does this study draw on a large, preexisting data set?
yes
Research Approach
- mixed methods
- Qualitiative
- Quantitative
- teacher research
Geographic Setting
Institutional Context
Certification Level
Programatic Focus
Research Location Context
Preservice Participants
- Undergraduates (university based program)
Preservice Sample Size
137
Other Participant Data
Duration of Data Collection
Data Sources
- course materials
- Interviews
- Standardized Assessments
Data Analysis Tools
- Constant comparative analysis
- grounded theory
- multilevel regressions
Researcher Positionality
- inside (staying their own students)
- Inside (studying their own programs)
Research Questions
What relation- ship, if any, is there between performance on the Praxis II English tests and other indicators of English teacher candidate performance?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
How does the assessment of literary knowledge and skill in the Praxis II exams match or differ from that practiced in English literature and education courses?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes