MEDIATED PEER COACHING FOR TRAINING PRESERVICE TEACHERS

• Published in: The Journal of special education Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 251 - 271
• Main Author: Hasbrouck, Jan E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.07.1997; Pro-Ed; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Beginning Teachers; Coaching; Disabilities; Education; Elementary Education; Peer Coaching; Peers; Preservice Teacher Education; Preservice Teachers; Special education; Special Education Teachers; Special Needs Students; Student Teachers; Teachers; Teaching Skills; Tutorial Programs
• ISSN: 0022-4669; 1538-4764
• DOI: 10.1177/002246699703100206

A form of peer coaching was used with preservice special educators using The Scale for Coaching Instructional Effectiveness (SCIE; Hasbrouck, 1994). Eleven pairs of preservice teachers (PTs) engaged in a preliminary demonstration study of a “mediated” form of peer coaching, facilitated by seven experienced consulting teacher/mediators. The PTs designed and implemented lessons for children enrolled in a 4-week skills-remediation program. The 22 PTs participated in three peer coaching sessions across the 4 weeks of the program. Analysis of data from 132 observations and three case studies indicated that the PTs improved their (a) interrater reliability across the three observations and (b) teaching skills (i.e., planning and organization, instruction, and classroom management) as measured by the SCIE. In questionnaires completed after training, participants also reported that using the SCIE for peer coaching enhanced their teaching skills, self-confidence, and sense of professionalism.