Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Keywords
English language knowledge, teacher education standards.
Abstract
This paper evaluates the validity of teaching English grammar to preservice teachers in a teacher education course at a regional university. The course was delivered in blended mode using the grammar component of My Writing Lab Global (MWLG) and face-to-face instruction. The aim of this study was to establish if there are benefits to derive from teaching knowledge about language (KAL) to preservice teachers. Our quasi-experimental study found MWLG was well-received by participants who believed it had improved their KAL; this improvement was confirmed by 10% improvement on a pre and post KAL test (p < .001). MWLG scores and the KAL test also reliably predicted other academic competencies: the students’ accumulated GPA and their final written assessment scores for the course (r= .4 to .54; p < 0.01). Collectively, these findings suggest that explicit KAL is valued and valid knowledge and should be included in teacher education programs.
Recommended Citation
Carey, M. D., Christie, M., & Grainger, P. (2015). What Benefits can be Derived from Teaching Knowledge about Language to Preservice Teachers?. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 40(9). https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2015v40n9.2