JOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION THEORY AND PRACTICE

How Can Universities Support Beginning Teachers?

Author(s): Peter Hudson

Citation: Peter Hudson, (2012) "How Can Universities Support Beginning Teachers?," Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, Vol.12, Iss. 3, pp. 50 - 59

Article Type: Research paper

Publisher: North American Business Press

Abstract:

Many beginning teachers struggle in teaching, consequently, tertiary education has been criticised for not

preparing preservice teachers well enough. This qualitative study uses interviews and questionnaires to

investigate 10 first-year teachers’ understandings of how universities can support them more effectively.

The findings indicated that university preparation needed more literacy (particularly reading and

spelling), numeracy, catering for lower socio-economic students, understanding behaviour

differentiation, and communicating with parents. A two-prong approach may support beginning teachers:

(1) timely induction and mentoring within school settings, and (2) research for advancing teacher

education coursework to ensure currency of addressing beginning teachers’ needs.