Initial and changing student teacher motivation and commitment to teaching

Abstract

In an era of teacher shortages, what would motivate individuals to become teachers when the demands on teachers are greater than ever and there are plenty of alternative occupations from which to choose? This paper presents the findings of a study of student teachers' motivations to be primary teachers and their commitment to teaching after their first practicum. Results suggested that student teachers are multi‐motivated to be teachers. The most common reasons for choosing teaching reflected a positive self‐evaluation of their attributes and capabilities to be teachers, to work with children and because of the intellectual stimulation teaching would provide. Motivation and commitment changed to some extent over the first semester of initial teacher education, particularly as a result of the first practicum. Implications for policy, practice and future research are drawn from the results to help attract, retain and educate the next generation of teachers and in some way help offset forecasted teacher shortages.

Keywords:

• motivation
• practicum
• student teachers
• teacher education

Notes

1. The University Admissions Index (UAI) is a score from 1 to 100 assigned to the overall results students achieved in the final year of their secondary schooling. It is used to allocate university places to school leavers who completed secondary school in the previous year. The higher the score, the better that student's result. Student teachers who are not school leavers are admitted to their courses based upon their secondary school result or UAI or equivalent, their full‐time paid work experience of one or more years, studies undertaken since leaving school, a Special Tertiary Admission Test (STAT) or results gained undertaking professional or paraprofessional qualifications.

2. Of these 134 student teachers, 7.5% achieved results in the top ranking of 91–100, 40.3% achieved a score of 81–90, 22.4% a score of 71–80 and 14.5% a score of 61–70. Only 8.2% of these student teachers entered with a UAI less than 60.