Interpersonal Dynamics of the Supervisory Triad of Pre-Service Teacher Education: Lessons Learned from 15 Years of Research

Clinical field experience is recognized by many as the most influential and beneficial component of preservice teacher education. The present article represents part of a larger qualitative meta-synthesis, the purpose of which was to explore the influence of the interpersonal dynamics of the supervisory triad—comprised of the pre-service teacher candidate, the mentor teacher, and the university supervisor—on pre-service candidates’ clinical experiences. Positioning theory was chosen to frame this investigation, as it employs distinct definitions for role and position, the delineation of which is of critical importance in the context of pre-service clinical relationships. Findings of the larger study reveal three primary factors of influence, four primary patterns of communication, and many modes of positioning of self and others as influential to pre-service teachers’ clinical experiences. This article addresses those findings regarding factors of influence and modes of positioning, the implications of which are discussed through the lens of positioning theory and in connection to practice in the field.