Applying An Aptitude-Treatment Interaction Approach to Competency Based Teacher Education.

Aptitude treatment interaction (ATI), as applied to education, measures the interaction of personality factors and experimentally manipulated teaching strategies. ATI research has had dissappointingly inconclusive results so far, but proponents argue that this has been due to imprecise methods, which can be rectified. They believe that intervention strategies can remedy learning deficiencies, circumvent a learning deficiency by presenting information in a highly accessible manner, and capitalize on specific learning strengths. One way this is possible is by taking into consideration the cognitive development level of the learner. This is done by providing highly structured learning environments for students at a low conceptual level, and very little structure with an emphasis on choice and decision making on the part of the students for learners at high conceptual levels. Proponents of ATI argue that it broadens competency based teacher education by stressing the importance of the individual and the environment, and by varying the content, sequence, and practice variables of teacher education. (CD)