Perceptions of B. Ed Students on the Course of 'Understanding the Disciplines and Academic Subjects' Offered in Teacher Education Programs

Abstract

The primary objective of teacher education programs, such as the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), is to cultivate a profound and significant comprehension of various disciplines and academic subjects. A comprehensive understanding of multiple disciplines and school subjects is essential to the educational journey, particularly for students pursuing a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree to become teachers. The course 'Understanding the Disciplines and Academic Subjects' is primarily offered in the B.Ed programme for this purpose. This study investigates students' perceptions regarding this course and the difficulties students face in comprehending sub-topics. Research Questions: What is the perception of B.Ed students regarding the course ‘Understanding Disciplines and School Subjects’ offered in the B.Ed programme at Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University?  What is the perception of B.Ed students regarding the sub-topics of the course ‘Understanding Disciplines and School Subjects’ offered in the B.Ed programme at Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University?  Research objectives: To understand B.Ed students' perception of the course 'Understanding Disciplines and School Subjects' offered in the B.Ed programme at Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University. Population of the Study: All B.Ed. Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University students studying in the Cuddalore district of Tamilnadu during the year 2023 constituted the study population. Thirty colleges are offering B.Ed programmes in the Cuddalore district of Tamilnadu—about three thousand students studying in these colleges. Sample of the Study: The investigators selected five hundred and twenty-three B.Ed. Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University students studying in the Cuddalore district of Tamilnadu during the year 2023 were selected randomly as the study sample. Sampling technique: Cluster Sampling was used for this study. Five of thirty colleges were randomly selected for the investigation.   Hypothesis of the Study: Null Hypothesis: There is no significant difference in the perceptions of B.Ed. students' regarding the importance of learning the subject 'Understanding Disciplines and School Subjects'. The output of the study will help educators design pedagogical methods and modify the teaching-learning process to make the course understandable.