Presentation Schedule
How Studying Hybrid Spaces Impacts a Research Team’s Outlook on Teacher Education (96146)
Session Chair: Kevin O'Connor
Thursday, 2 October 2025 17:55
Session: Session 3
Room: (1F) Sant Sebastià
Presentation Type:Oral Presentation
This paper investigates the influence of theory-practice hybrid spaces (Zeichner, 2018) on the practices, theories, and relationships of teacher candidates. The context is a Professional Development School (PDS) setting within a four-year teacher education program. The research team includes two teacher candidates, one faculty, a staff member and a critical friend who share a passion for addressing the theory-practice dilemma that has been a perennial problem of teacher education (Korthagen, 2010). This paper investigates our experiences of grappling with the research question: How does the implementation of a PDS model impact the relationships, practices, and theories of teacher candidates and of ourselves?
Through self-study methodologies (2023-25), multiple data sources were used to examine our professional practice which include transcripts of five individual interviews with alumni, six alumni focus groups (18 alumni: 1-9 years of teaching experience), three focus groups (13 mentor teachers), and one focus group (5 school administrators). Data sources for investigating personal experiences include meeting notes from collaborative research conversations and individual reflections about our experiences. The researchers met monthly with a critical friend to reflect on the experience conducting research into PDS and how it impacts our professional identity. Data was first coded individually according to emerging themes that relate to our research question (Strauss, 1987). We then reviewed our analysis, collaboratively adjust the codes, and write findings together.
The following themes emerged: Supporting Professional Development through Curriculum and Programming; Relational Program Design and the Importance of Alumni in the PDS Model; Strengthening Our Understanding Through Research.
Authors:
Kevin O'Connor, Mount Royal University, Canada
About the Presenter(s)
Dr Kevin OConnor is a University Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer at Mount Royal University in Canada
See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule
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