Using Primary Research Literature to Teach Critical Thinking in Pre-Service Teacher Education

Abstract

Much of the coursework in pre-service teacher education programs focuses on “best practices” in classroom teaching that span from general pedagogical knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge (e.g., methods, management, assessment, etc.), in addition to supervised practica and student teaching experiences. Given that pre-service (and in-service) education students are being prepared for a career in teaching, coursework should also prepare them to understand, critique, and adapt to changes in best practices that occur over the course of their careers. The authors argue that one of the best ways to prepare students for changes in educational practices is to help them understand where best practices come from in the first place—primary research in education. Reading, thinking critically about, and applying the findings from primary research articles can improve the professional development of pre-service teachers. The goals of this chapter are to 1) provide a review of the benefits of requiring primary research articles as required readings in undergraduate curriculum, 2) underscore the argument for why primary research should be included in pre-service teacher education curriculum, and 3) offer a model for how this could be implemented in a pre-service teacher education curriculum.