Wil Meeus

Validity and Reliability of Portfolio Assessment in Pre-Service Teacher Education.

This article concentrates on the validity and reliability of portfolio assessment as used in pre‐service teacher education. It is not possible to make general pronouncements about the validity of portfolio assessment in pre‐service teacher education as there are multiple portfolio applications. The validity depends on the purpose, namely the divers competencies which the course organisers wish to assess with it. Therefore, three categories of competencies and consequently three types of portfolios were distinguished in order to determine the validity of portfolio assessment. For the assessment of teaching and partnership competencies, it is argued that the validity is low due to the roundabout nature of the assessment. On the contrary, the validity of portfolio assessment for learning competencies can be high. The execution of a self‐regulated learning process can be accurately assessed using portfolios. The reliability of portfolio assessment is problematic, since it is incapable of fulfilling the classic psychometric requirement of reliability. Nevertheless, provided that the necessary measures are taken, the reliability of portfolio assessment can still be brought to an acceptable level. Five measures are proposed.

The Effect of a Short Voice Training Program in Future Teachers

The purpose of this study was to investigate if a module consisting of 6 hours of voice training is effective in future teachers. Sixty-five students, enrolled in the academic teaching program at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, participated in this study. The trained group (n=35) received 6 hours of voice training, whereas the control group (n=30) received no voice training. A multidimensional test battery containing subjective judgments and objective measurements was applied in both groups at the study onset and after 4 months to evaluate the training outcome. No significant differences were observed for the subjective judgments. For the objective measurements, by contrast, several significant differences between the trained and the control groups were found. This outcome favors the systematic introduction of voice training during the schooling of future teachers.

Portfolios for Prior Learning Assessment: Caught Between Diversity and Standardization

Abstract In recent years, procedures have been established in Flanders for “Prior Learning Assessment” (PLA) outside the formal learning circuit, of which the portfolio is a regular component. In order to maximize the possibilities of acknowledgement of prior learning assessment, the Flemish government is looking for a set of common criteria and principles for the PLA portfolio. Using intensive research, 30 PLA portfolio projects were inventoried. An in-depth analysis revealed that although certain standardization may be sought, a universal PLA portfolio is neither possible nor desirable without sacrificing functionality. Although this article focuses mainly on the design and the results of the present study, it also references PLA practices in the U.S.

Stimulating independent learning: a quasi‐experimental study on portfolio

A portfolio model was developed which can serve as an alternative to the literature study with practical processing, the predominant dissertation model used in teacher education courses in Flanders. Using a pre‐ and post‐test quasi‐experimental design with 174 teacher students and 44 supervisors, we examined whether the use of portfolio as a dissertation model has a greater effect on the students’ capacity for independent learning than the literature study with practical processing, using three questionnaires. The research shows that portfolio results in students acquiring greater metacognitive knowledge. It also appears that students only get the chance to use their metacognitive skills when supervisors give them sufficient autonomy. However, supervisors experience loss of control and therefore tend to restrict students’ autonomy. This leads us to the paradox of independent learning: students will only learn independently when they are given the opportunity to learn independently. Supervisors need to transfer learner control.

Teacher Educators Developing Professional Roles: Frictions between Current and Optimal Practices.

Abstract This article reports on a study of the professional learning of Flemish teacher educators. In the first part, an exemplary survey was conducted in order to compile an inventory of the existing types of education initiatives for teacher educators in Flanders. An electronic survey was then conducted in order to identify the professional needs of teacher educators in Flanders. The third part of the study focused on how the professional learning of teacher educators can evolve throughout their careers. This topic was examined by organising focus groups with teacher educators at two international conferences for teacher educators. Flemish teacher educators devote considerable attention to professional learning, and they are able to meet their needs through the broad range of existing courses and programmes offered within the educational system. Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement in the alignment of professional learning with the needs and career stages of teacher educators.

Motives of masters for the teaching profession : development of the MMTP questionnaire

Increasing teacher shortages provide incentives for conducting research into the motives of future teachers aspiring to work in education. The present study builds on previous research into motivation for entering the teaching profession. Given the shortage of studies carried out with direct empirical foundations, multiphase factor analyses, and large respondent groups, the present research focuses on developing the questionnaire Motives of Masters for the Teaching Profession (MMTP) while meeting these methodological criteria. Master’s students described their motivations for entering the teaching profession. Confirmatory factor analysis was carried out in order to confirm the factor structure produced by the exploratory factor analysis . On the basis of content and statistical arguments, a 7-factor solution was obtained and a 35-item questionnaire was produced. Future cross-contextual research on the MMTP should attempt to improve the generalizability of the questionnaire.

Portfolio en supervisie in de lerarenopleiding in Vlaanderen

Wil Meeus en Nadine Engels gaan vanuit hun praktijk in Vlaanderen in op de vraag hoe supervisoren kunnen inspelen op het werken met een portfolio. Omdat ook in Nederland in opleidingen het portfolio steeds gangbaarder wordt, bevat hun bijdrage belangrijke aandachtspunten voor Nederlandse opleidingssupervisoren.