Rethinking Teacher Education for Classroom Behaviour Management: Investigation of an Alternative Model using an Online Professional Experience in an Australian University.

This paper responds to the theory-practice divide regarding classroom behaviour management in teacher education. Qualitative interviews and surveys were used to investigate whether an alternative model using an online professional experience could improve perceptions of teacher education students’ beliefs, knowledge, perceived skills and confidence in classroom management. Teacher education students participated in an innovative Master of Teaching course designed to integrate ecological classroom management theory, video observation, and critical reflection in an online professional experience (practicum). Results indicated that participants, upon completion of the course, reported improvements in their beliefs, knowledge, perceived skills and confidence in classroom management. Additionally, in a subsequent in-school professional experience, a preference for initial correction and prevention strategies to manage the learning environment was highlighted. The implications for future teacher education programmes are presented