Abstract:

Education prepares people for a successful personal, professional, and social life. That begins with the initial training program for teachers. The goal––irrespective of the country where teachers live––is to prepare professionals to educate students as successful for society. In some parts of the world, as developed countries, this objective is easily fulfilled as the educational system is developed, with valuable attainments over the years. However, other developing countries may struggle in making the educational aim a certainty. A significant factor positively influencing the achievement of educational goals is the Initial Teacher Training (ITT). How can this training be designed so that teachers may be adequately prepared for their profession?

This study is built upon social interdependence theory (Johnson and Johnson 2008), structure-process-outcome theory (Johnson and Johnson 2018), and empowerment education framework (Freire 1993). The purpose of the study was to explore the teaching practices in a Romanian university and propose a process model to improve teaching by implementing interactive teaching and cooperative learning. The study aimed to train the participants in using interactive teaching methods and prepare them for their profession. Additionally, the study explored teachers’ and students’ experiences during and after the implementation of cooperative learning.

This qualitative research used an intra-paradigm mixed methodology of action research, case study, and photovoice. Data were collected through interviews, focus-group discussions, surveys, observations, document analysis, and photos. Faculty, students, and experts were participants selected by using purposive criterion sampling. In the preliminary phase were 50 participants and in the last phase 18 participants. The data were transcribed, translated, coded, and grouped under themes. The findings bound seven core components of CoLearnITT model (Cooperative Learning for Initial Teacher Training) presented in this study. The model was successfully applied in the ITT program from 2020 to 2022 and for in-service teachers. MA and Ph.D. students in an international school of higher education in Asia also benefited from the training with similar positive results.

Keywords:

Initial teacher training, CoLearnITT, action research, case study, photovoice, intra-paradigm research design.