Management process for defining and monitoring teacher dispositions

Abstract

This study describes one university’s effective management process for identifying dispositions of pre‐service teacher candidates. Identification of specific dispositions was solicited from university professors, pre‐service teachers, practicing teachers, professors, and administrators through 221 surveys, and was analyzed through the Delphi method. To evaluate if the teachers at differing levels similarly valued identified dispositions (i.e. professors, pre‐service, practicing, elementary, high school) a Pearson chi‐square analysis was conducted. Findings from this analysis showed that there was not a significant difference between the dispositions valued by various groups. This led to the development of an instrument to measure and monitor the dispositions of pre‐service teachers. A monitoring system to provide managers with a process to assist pre‐service teachers in improving areas of weakness was then developed.