Preservice Music Teachers' Conceptions of Teaching Effectiveness, Microteaching Experiences, and Teaching Performance

Abstract

Fifteen undergraduate music education majors who were enrolled in an introductory music education course constructed concept maps on the topic of “teacher effectiveness” prior to and following two microteachings. The Survey of Teaching Effectiveness (STE) and a time sampling procedure based on criteria from teacher-intensity (TI) research measured teaching performance. Conceptions of teaching effectiveness were examined from two perspectives: cognitive structure, measured by map scores, and conceptual understanding, based on qualitative data from maps, self-evaluations, and interviews. Quantitative results indicate that participants' cognitive structure did not change, nor did it correlate with their teaching performance. Qualitative results provide insight into how preservice teachers acquire conceptions of teaching effectiveness and suggest that microteachings in conjunction with concept mapping may help shape preservice music education teachers' understanding of what it means to teach.