Browsing by Author "Saarijärvi, Kia"

This research aims to understand the motivational factors of the first year class teacher students to seek their way into the industry as well as their expectations towards the studies. The target is also to study the most meaningful experiences of the studies described by the third year class teacher students. Analyzing the motivational factors of the individuals entering the industry provides understanding why class teacher studies are so popular and what are the driving factors towards the industry. The class teacher studies are facing a variety of different types of expectations that are actively changing within the society and its diversified structure. Despite the fact that class teacher studies have been seen as practical academic education, during the past few years the relationship with theory and practicality has been questionalized. The research was conducted using qualitative research methods. The research material was collected using narrative thematic interviews. Eight first year students and four third year class teacher students were selected to the interviews. First group of interviews were conducted in the autumn of 2017 and the second group during the autumn of 2019. The interviews were recorded and transcribed after which they were analyzed following the principles of thematic analysis. The first year class teacher students had applied to the industry from many different back-grounds and driven by diverse set of motivational factors. The most significant motivational factors for entering the industry were social factors as well as own personality and values related to it. There were a vast set of expectations directed to the class teacher studies. The studies were desired to provide readiness to act in a practical manner and developing individuals professional identity towards the ideal profile of a teacher. Third year class teacher students felt that the studies had enhanced their professional identity as well as developed their pedagogic and academic skills. The teacher apprenticeship included in the studies had been experienced as the most meaningful part of the studies, which is the reason for desire of more practical content to be included in the class teacher studies.