The Learning Systems Institute (LSI) at Florida State University has received its inaugural grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to evaluate the effectiveness of pre-service teacher training on foundational learning in Zambia.
Stephanie Simmons Zuilkowski, LSI's associate director for research and a professor of International and Multicultural Education, will lead the project as the principal investigator. Zuilkowski expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to advance research in pre-service teacher education in Zambia and acknowledged the foundation’s support in generating crucial evidence for the field.
The study will investigate the knowledge and teaching methods of student teachers who have completed their training at public colleges of education, which are supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Transforming Teacher Education Activity. The project will also assess the reading performance of primary school children in the classrooms of these student teachers.
This grant aims to enhance the understanding of how pre-service teacher training influences classroom practices and student learning outcomes. There has been limited empirical research on teacher education outcomes in low- and middle-income countries, making this study particularly valuable for understanding and improving Zambia's teacher training program.
For over 55 years, LSI has focused on creating systems that improve learning and performance for individuals and organizations both in Florida and worldwide, utilizing advanced research and implementation strategies.
