| Moule (2005) suggest diverse students suffer isolation, invisibility and inappropriate labeling in many educational institutions. This mixed method study explores the multicultural awareness, knowledge, skills, and attitudes of prospective teachers. The research questions are: (1) what are the multicultural awareness, knowledge, skills and attitudes of prospective teachers during their final year of course work in a teacher education program (2) what are the attitudes and beliefs of prospective teachers about Multicultural Education and (3) how are prospective teachers prepared to teach diverse student populations in their teacher education programs?;The mixed-methods inquiry used a survey and interviews to ascertain the multicultural awareness, knowledge, skills and attitudes and beliefs of prospective teachers as related to Multicultural Education. This inquiry consisted of 36 survey respondents and three interviews of prospective teachers who provided "rich descriptions" of their multicultural awareness, knowledge, skills and attitudes. The sampling population consisted of (n=604) eligible participants from the three universities teacher preparation programs who were in their final year of course work. Prospective teachers in their final year of course work had completed all coursework and teaching practicum or had completed all course work but not teaching practicum for the 2010-2011 academic school year.;Results from the survey indicated that prospective teachers feel that they are being prepared to teach diverse student populations, however when face to face interviews were conducted, the researcher found that the prospective teachers did not feel as confident in their preparation to teach diverse student populations as opposed to what was indicated in the survey. This would suggest more opportunities are needed for prospective teachers to gain awareness, knowledge, and skills in Multicultural Education in a practical sense. |
