Associate Teachers in Pre-service Education: Clarifying and enhancing their role

The research literature indicates lack of clarity and agreement about the role of 'associate teachers'—teachers who supervise teacher education students during their practicum. This study of a group of associate teachers revealed that they found their role satisfying and gave student teachers a considerable amount of support, feedback and direction. However, they often seemed to be rather 'tough' on the student teachers, limiting their freedom to innovate, giving them a very heavy workload and generating in them a considerable amount of anxiety. The study suggests the need for joint inquiry with associate teachers to establish a clear conception of teaching and learning, a conception which can guide the ongoing development of the pre-service programme and be modelled by associate teachers and university faculty in their relationships with student teachers.