Bridging the Gap between Theory and Practice

Abstract

In this chapter, the focus is on the perceptions of pre-service teachers as nascent professionals moving from the lecture hall into the classroom. In addition to focusing on existing literature regarding what is meant by the two worlds of ‘theory’ and ‘practice’, and how these are portrayed in the literature, the experiences of the participants in the FIRE project are discussed. The emphasis is specifically on exploring student teachers’ experiences of theory and practice at various levels, including their experiences at university, in teaching practicum classrooms as well as in terms of their own teaching practices. At the end of the chapter there will be a proposal with regard to possible ways in which the gap between theory and practice may be limited.