Using Online Education to Transition Teaching Assistants to Teacher Certification: Examining the Differences Between Teacher Education Programs
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-2-2016
Department
Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
School
Education
Abstract
Elementary education teacher candidates who studied under two delivery methods—online and face to face—were compared to determine if there was a significant difference in professional knowledge and skills using Praxis II test scores. The participants included 60 teaching assistant program (TAP) online candidates and 564 face-to-face candidates. The two groups’ perceptions of self-efficacy were also compared. Results indicated a significant difference in professional knowledge based on Praxis II test scores and no significant difference in perceptions of self-efficacy. Although both groups felt confident in their teaching abilities, the traditional candidates outperformed TAP candidates on Praxis II. However, in the ancillary findings of this study, 41.6% of traditional candidates were admitted to the teacher education program with a Praxis I exemption, whereas only 23.4% of TAP candidates were exempt from the requirement. This suggests that traditional candidates entered the program at a more advanced level than the TAP candidates, possibly explaining the significant difference in the finding of the Praxis II test scores.
Publication Title
American Journal of Distance Education
Volume
30
Issue
3
First Page
192
Last Page
202
Recommended Citation
Stricklin, K.,
Tingle, B.
(2016). Using Online Education to Transition Teaching Assistants to Teacher Certification: Examining the Differences Between Teacher Education Programs. American Journal of Distance Education, 30(3), 192-202.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/19533