Daniel S. Hellman, Missouri State University
danielhellman@missouristate.edu
Dale E. Bazan, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, USA
dale.bazan@unl.edu
Amy Fraser, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, USA
afraser@york.edu
Polly Yukevich, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, USA
pollyyukevich@gmail.com
A variety of reform-oriented policies such as year-long residencies, coteaching and teacher performance assessments have been aimed at shaping student teaching experiences in recent years with an aim toward great standardization (CochranSmith et al, 2015; Parkes & Powell, 2015; Robinson, 2015; Rodgers & Jenkins, 2010; Ronfeldt & Reininger, 2012). Some scholars have observed this as worrisome trend possibly compounded by the isolation of music teacher educators from reform-oriented policy discourses on policy development and implementation (Kashub & Smith, 2014; Robinson, 2015). Few research studies have investigated the mechanisms and decision-making involved in the administration, negotiation and design of music student teaching placements (Baumgartner, 2014; Draves, 2013; Zemek, 2008). Considering the rapid acceleration of reform-oriented policies, systematic data on the range, extent and impact of student teaching policies and practices across states and institutions could provide a valuable resource for describing trends and informing the field.
The purpose of this study was to examine student teaching policies and practices that shape the experiences of music preservice teachers. A survey was created to collect information at all NASM institutions with at least five completers annually, across 10 states with separate K-12 instrumental and vocal certifications. The sample consisted of music education directors or coordinators who lead music education programs. Information collected through the survey included the scope of student teaching experiences, considerations used in making placements, criteria used for selecting cooperating teachers, and required assessments. Face and content validity were established through a review by members of the research team and a small-scale pilot conducted in two states not utilized in the study. Data were collected between June and November 2016, resulting in a response rate of 32%.
The results indicate that the expertise of music teacher educators are the most influential factor in making music student teaching placements. Music teacher educators overwhelmingly report that they have autonomy in coordinating field experiences. Decisions about student teaching placements are wholly or at least partially made within the music unit at nearly all institutions. Informal relationships and personal connections are used in making student teaching placements. Over 80% of programs utilize semester-length placements, and two-thirds of programs utilize consecutive placements to provide breadth within the student teaching experience. The highest consideration in making student teaching placements was given to cooperating teachers’ characteristics such as musicianship, personality, teaching, and mentorship potential. Proprietary teacher performance assessments are used in over 70% of programs. The results revealed that the strengths of cooperating teachers are given more consideration than the breadth of curricular experiences across grade levels and types of music classes in making student teaching placements. Notably, the administrative and coordination responsibilities for music education faculty vary with institutional context.
The researchers discuss the results with respect to the policy needs and goals of music teacher education.
References
Baumgartner, C. M. (2014). An examination of music student teaching seminars at Midwestern universities. Journal of Music Teacher Education 24, 51-64. doi:10.1177/1057083713494013
Cochran-Smith, M, Villegas, A. M., Abrams, L., Chavez-Moreno, L. Mills, T. & Stern, R. (2015). Critiquing teacher preparation research: An overview of the field, Part II. Journal of Teacher Education 66, 109-121. doi:10.1177/0022487114558268
Draves, T. J. (2013). Transition from student to teacher-student teaching: The capstone experience. Journal of Music Teacher Education, 23(1), 50-62. doi:10.1177/1057083712474935
Kaschub, M. & Smith, J. (eds.) (2014). Promising practices in 21st century music teacher education. New York: Oxford.
Parkes, K. A., & Powell, S. R. (2015). Is the edTPA the Right Choice for Evaluating Teacher Readiness?. Arts Education Policy Review, 116(2), 103-113. doi:10.1080/10632913.2014.944964
Potthoff, D. & Alley, R. (1996). Selecting placement sites for student teachers and preservice student teachers: Six considerations. The Teacher Educator, 32, 85–98. doi:10.1080/08878739609555135
Robinson, M. (2015). The Inchworm and the Nightingale: On the (Mis)use of Data in Music Teacher Evaluation. Arts Education Policy Review, 116(1), 9-21. doi:10.1080/10632913.2014.944966
Rodgers, A. & Jenkins, D. B. (2010). Redesigning supervision: Alternative models for student teaching and field experiences. New York: Oxford.
Ronfeldt, M. & Reininger, M. (2012). More or better student teaching. Teaching and Teacher Education 28, 1091 – 1106. doi:10.1016/j.tate.2012.06.003
Ronfeldt, M., Reininger, M. & Kwok, A. (2013). Recruitment or preparation: Investigating the effects of teacher characteristics and student teaching. Journal of Teacher Education 64, 319 – 337. doi:10.1177/0022487113488143
Zemek, M. D. (2008). The selection and preparation of cooperating teacher in music education. Journal of Music Teacher Education, 17, 7 – 18. doi:10.1177/1057083708317619