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Micro lessons in teacher education are intended to empower student teachers by developing skills which are necessary in their teaching careers. The study used student teachers’ reflections to explore how participation in micro lessons develops skills which are key in the teaching profession. Experiential learning theory was the theoretical framework for this study. Purposive sampling was used to select 14 fourth year Bachelor of Education student teachers. A focus group interview was used to collect data which was narratively analysed. The findings revealed that micro lesson presentations can develop student teachers’ skills when there are different forms of progression in micro lesson presentations; micro lesson presentations should progress from friendship groupings, random groupings, and peer presentations. Participation in micro lessons develops teacher professional skills such as lesson planning, craft of teaching, how to use resources, reflection, decision making, time management, responsibility and professional conduct.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) student teachers participate in work-integrated learning to develop their professional skills by critically reflecting on their school experience. This study examined how PGCE student teachers perceived Communities of Practice during their work-integrated learning. This study adopted a generic qualitative research design and involved a group of PGCE student teachers at a South African university. Data, which was thematically analysed, was generated by means of reflective group discussions and summaries. The study was underpinned by the Cultural Historical Activity Theory as the underlying theoretical framework. The study revealed that student teachers perceived Communities of Practice as a sustainable and collaborative means through which their professional practices can be enhanced. In addition, Communities of Practice are viewed as an effective catalyst to strengthen school management in its broadest sense. Contextually appropriate recommendations for strengthening initial pre-service teacher training within the broader South African context are provided.

This study explored how the curriculum structure of the Bachelor of Education in economics teaching qualification at one South African university impacts on content knowledge of economics student teachers. Document analysis was undertaken on the university’s Faculty of Education prospectus. Due to meetings restrictions during lockdown, email focus group interviews were conducted. Ten fourth year economics student teachers participated in the study. The study adopted social transformation theory as a theoretical framework. Data was thematically analysed. Data revealed that economics student teachers study the subject content that is meant for economists and other economics related careers. The subject content that is not relevant to school curriculum economics negatively affects content knowledge needed during work-integrated learning and in in their teaching career. For this reason, the curriculum is unfairly structured. To strengthen the content knowledge of economics student teachers, the study recommends that a relationship between economics content in academic major modules and school curriculum economics content be formed. Secondly, economics academic major modules should expose economics student teachers to an introduction in economics content as a way of advancing their subject content knowledge but the focus should be more on school curriculum economics content.