A Case Study On Educational Practice: Based On Teachers' Professional Development Background

Educational practice, as an important practical course in pre-vocational education, has been widely used in teacher educational institutions. However, the traditional idea and mode of educational practice has prevented itself from producing desired result, which is a key link in promoting student teachers' development. With the deepening of teacher educational reform and the growing concern for teachers' professional development, there is no doubt that a reform in educational practice is in urgent need. This study, choosing a teachers' educational institution as a case, aims to explore how an institution promotes the teachers' professional development by educational practice reform.Case study was the main research method employed in this study. The case chosen is Department of Education of H Institute in Anhui province. In this department, a series of reform in educational practice has been undertaking to improve the student teachers' professional development since as early as 2003. Data was collected in different ways including interview, questionnaire, documents analysis and directly participative guidance etc.The five periods of the development of the educational practice in China are presented and the main features of each period are summarized. The educational practice in our country is defined, and the three modes of educational practice appearing in different periods in the west countries are interpreted. On this basis, the demand for reforming educational practice from the background of teacher professional development is analyzed.This research explores the activities of "daily practice combined with centralized practice" during the time the Department of Education in H College established. After the analysis of the basic situation in the early stage of H College, case study is adopted in the classroom observation and assessment, extra-curricular activities and symposium. And the effect of the educational practice is unveiled.On the basis of the pre-service teachers' needs, the reform plan of "the Five-stage Mode of Educational Practice" is proposed, which includes one-day-per-week practice, cognitive practice, simulated practice, examinations of professional skills and graduation practice. And the process and effect of "the Five-stage Mode of Educational Practice" is analyzed.On the basis of rethinking the function of educational practice, the study puts forward the strategy to promote pre-service teachers' professional development, which includes establishment of comprehensive curriculum focus on professional quality, the organization of full and multi educational practice, the formation of reflective teaching and symbiosis promoted by cooperative practice.