Developing a T-GOLD Program to Enhance Preservice Elementary Teachers’ Professionalism and Adaptation

This study aimed to develop and implement a Teacher Go on Life Design (T-GOLD) program to help preservice elementary teachers adjust to college life and strengthen their professionalism as well as derive implications for program operation and improvement and curriculum revision in teacher education universities. The program, which ran from 2022 to 2024, consisted of three domains: freshman adaptation, exploration of teachers’ lives, and career design. Data were qualitatively analyzed through coding and triangulation to extract key themes. Findings demonstrated the program’s positive influence on teacher identity, adaptability, and professional growth, suggesting the need for institutional support for and curriculum integration of such programs in teacher education.