Browsing by Author "Wilén, Jenna"

The research-based approach is the main organising theme in Finnish teacher education (Kansanen, 2014, 279). Previous researches (Jyrhämä et al., 2008; 2009; 2009) indicate that student teachers and teacher educators appreciate the research-based approach as the main organising theme of teacher education. The previous researches also indicate that the students presume that the research-based approach is detectable in their studies and so was the case in most of the courses. The aim of this research is to describe student class teachers' perspectives on the research-based approach and the vision of the class teacher education at the University of Helsinki. The aim is also to provide knowledge of the research-based class teacher education at the University of Helsinki and its vision. The research was carried out as a web-based survey, which was sent to every student class teacher education major at the University of Helsinki. 27 student class teachers responded to the questionnaire. The research was carried out as a survey research and both qualitative and quantitative methods were used side by side. The research analysis methods were content analysis and Wilcoxon signed-ranks test. The research results indicated that the student class teachers at the University of Helsinki appreciate the research-based approach in the teacher education. Although the students presumed that the research-based approach is more detectable in their studies, as was the case. The student class teachers also appreciated the Master's degree level and methodological studies in their education. All students did not however consider the possibility to continue studies to the doctoral level important. The student class teachers understood the vision of the class teacher education to be to develop students to experts, who have metacognitive skills, master pedagogic thinking, are capable of integrating theory and practise and improve the society. Therefore the research results indicate that the students have accepted the idea of a research-based approach.