Browsing by Author "Dallman, Dallas Ann"

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Critical thinking in the 21st century : pre-service elementary teachers perceptions and application of critical thinking in a social studies methods course
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2015) Dallman, Dallas Ann; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Jayne Downey
Critical thinking can be described as the process by which an individual or group of individuals collects, organizes and evaluates information with the purpose of making judgments that guide beliefs and actions. While the development of critical thinking skills has long been a goal of education, and is thought to be even more critical in the world of the 21st century, there is evidence to suggest it is not an easy outcome to realize. It is unknown whether todays pre-service teachers are prepared to encourage and support the development of critical thinking skills in the k-8 classroom. This mixed methods study explores the perceptions of elementary pre-service teachers with regard to their personal application of critical thinking skills and their ability to promote the development and application of critical thinking skills in a k-8 classroom. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from participants who were enrolled in an elementary social studies methods course. Data collection included a self-reporting survey of everyday critical thinking, a document analysis of civics and government lesson plans, and face to face interviews. These three different data points help build a complete picture of the ways in which critical thinking is or is not promoted in elementary classrooms. The results demonstrated that pre-service elementary teachers believe themselves to be critical thinkers at least some of the time, however, few critical thinking skills were required in the lesson plans designed by participants. While the interviews help to shed some light on the reasons, the study is not conclusive in this area. The study certainly reinforces the idea that critical thinking is a complex and abstract idea - difficult to define, measure or teach at any age level.
Instructional feedback and learning: understanding the perspective of pre-service teachers for personal learning and future teaching
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2021) Dallman, Dallas Ann; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Jayne Downey
Instructional feedback has been demonstrated to be a critical element in student learning and achievement. While important for learning, instructional feedback is challenging to provide and challenging to receive. Research suggests that instructional feedback is often underutilized, particularly in post-secondary education. Pre-service teachers are in a unique position of being both receivers and providers of instructional feedback concurrently. There is a lack of research examining the perspectives of this group as it relates to the receipt and application of instructional feedback as well as their intentions regarding the use of instructional feedback in their future practice. This case study explores the perspectives of elementary pre-service teachers in the advanced stages of their teacher education program. A three-part interview protocol included a constructed scenario, a guided recall, and direct questioning about beliefs and values. The protocol was used to identify the ways in which pre-service teachers experience instructional feedback, understand instructional feedback, intend to use instructional feedback in their own practice and pre-service teachers perceived level of preparedness to do so. The results demonstrated that this group of pre-service elementary teachers values instructional feedback as a tool for learning, are hungry to receive effective instructional feedback from experts in the field, and would like more practice and preparation to be able to provide effective instructional feedback to their K-8 students. While this case study is a spotlight on a specific group of pre-service teachers in one specific teacher education program, the findings suggest that pre-service teachers as a group may also be unique in their understandings and appreciation for instructional feedback.