Improving learning and teaching in early childhood teacher education: A focus on personal epistemology

A growing body of research about personal epistemological beliefs has provided tertiary educators with evidence to inform strategies in promoting eff ective teaching and learning. Personal epistemological beliefs refer to an individual’s beliefs about the nature of knowing and knowledge and are considered to infl uence how one engages in teaching and learning experiences. Th ere has been very little research, to date, that has explored how pre-service teacher education students’ beliefs change over time and identifi ed factors associated with such changes. No research exists in the area of early childhood teacher education. Th is paper uses current literature on the development of epistemological beliefs to provide a conceptual framework on which to base intervention for early childhood pre-service teacher education students. It is focused on providing a constructivist approach to knowledge through personal engagement and authentic experiences.