Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Abstract
Voluntary professional experience can be a powerful way for initial teacher education (ITE) students to develop an understanding of schools and their communities. Do ITE students make use of these opportunities? There is little Australian research that explores genuine volunteering that does not “require” students to engage with the community. We conducted an on-line survey with 141 ITE students who were eligible to participate in a volunteer program. What factors reduced volunteering and what factors enhanced it? The results showed that, while students value volunteering and can point to benefits that come from it, most are unable or unwilling to participate. What factors differentiate those students who do volunteer despite the demands of complex, busy lives?
Recommended Citation
Forster, D. J., Archer, J., & Tajin, R. T. (2015). Volunteering within Initial Teacher Education: Factors that Boost and Block Participation. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 40(11). https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2015v40n11.10
Included in
Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Community-Based Learning Commons, Higher Education Commons, Other Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons, Pre-Elementary, Early Childhood, Kindergarten Teacher Education Commons, Secondary Education and Teaching Commons, Service Learning Commons