Diana Vieira

Becoming a teacher : student teachers' experiences and perceptions about teaching practice

In an attempt to build a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of the complexity, dynamics and idiosyncrasies involved in becoming a teacher, this study focussed on the experiences of 295 student teachers. Their feelings, cognitions and perceptions regarding teaching practice were analysed using the short version of the Inventory of Experiences and Perceptions of the Teaching Practice. Results emphasise some of the difficulties experienced during this period (e.g., stress, sense of weariness and ‘vulnerability’), as well the positive perceptions of these student teachers regarding their growing knowledge and skilfulness, as well as their sense of efficacy, flexibility and spontaneity in their performance and interactions. Their perception of their accomplishments in achieving reasonable levels of acceptance and recognition within the school community and their positive evaluation of the guidance and support provided by their supervisors are also emphasised. Differences were found – in terms of gender and graduate course background – in the way these student teachers experienced some aspects of teaching practice.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the Questionnaire on the Health Staff's Perceptions Regarding Doutores da Alegria's Interventions.

A confirmatory analysis was performed to validate the Questionnaire on the Health Staff’s Perceptions Regarding Doutores da Alegria’s Intervention, a 40-item instrument designed to assess pediatric staff’s perceptions regarding the effects of Doutores da Alegria, a Brazilian hospital clowning professional organization. Eight dimensions were evaluated: the permanence of Doutores da Alegria’s interventions; Doutores da Alegria’s intrapersonal and interpersonal effects on their relation to health staff; themselves; staff–children; and staff–family relationships; as well as their effect on staff’s cultural development; children’s relation to their own disease; and families’ attitude regarding their child’s condition. In all, 567 health professionals from 13 Brazilian hospitals participated. The instrument’s good psychometric features are acknowledged.