O'Keeffe, Margaret (2024) An Exploration of Pre-Service Teachers’ Journeys in their Development as Socially Just Teachers: An Interpretative Study. PhD thesis, National University of Ireland Maynooth.
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2027-Margaret-O-Keeffe Thesis.pdf
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Abstract
It is widely acknowledged that the development of just teachers, teachers who ensure that all
students have access to a high-quality education regardless of their background, is essential within
initial teacher education (ITE). Teacher bias can significantly impact the educational experiences of
some children and contribute to educational inequality. This interpretative study aims to explore the
experiences of pre-service teachers in the journey of their development as a just teacher. To support
this goal, a professional development framework involving engagement with arts-based workshops
and school placement in a diverse education setting was designed, implemented, and researched to
enable pre-service teachers to confront their bias. Pre-service teachers in this study were enrolled in
year three of a four-year B. Ed program in an ITE college in Ireland.
The design of this interpretative study is subdivided into two phases. Phase One draws on the
reflective journals of pre-service teachers' engagement in arts-based workshops. The workshops
sought to enable pre-service teachers to develop awareness of their bias. Thirty pre-service teachers
took part in phase one. Phase two involves ten semi-structured interviews to explore how school
placement supports pre-service teachers' development as just educators. Data was analysed using
reflective thematic analysis. Findings indicated that the professional development framework
supported pre-service teachers' personal and professional learning. Key conclusions from this study
offer possible implications for pedagogical design and research in ITE
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) |
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Keywords: | Pre-Service Teachers’; Socially Just Teachers; Interpretative Study; |
Academic Unit: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Education |
Item ID: | 20092 |
Depositing User: | IR eTheses |
Date Deposited: | 26 Jun 2025 10:35 |
URI: | https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/20092 |
Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here |
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