ERIC Number: EJ914053
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1940-4476
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Available Date: N/A
Looking Back at Their Futures: Preservice Middle Level Teachers' Examination of Past Educational Experiences
Wellenreiter, Benjamin R.; Lucey, Thomas A.; Hatch, Douglas D.
RMLE Online: Research in Middle Level Education, v34 n1 p1-11 2010
The researchers investigated the reflections of preservice middle school teachers (PSMTs) who were enrolled in an activity-based middle level social studies methods course. These reflections concerned the students' past educational experiences. Through weekly journals, the PSMTs were encouraged to reflect on course activities and relate them to the perceived effectiveness of teacher-centered and student-centered methodologies experienced in K-12 and college settings. Findings indicated that the analysis and evaluation of past educational experiences grew in complexity throughout the course. As the course progressed, the participants actively integrated the current activities into reconceptualizations of their past experiences. The researchers recommend future work with preservice teachers' reflections to address preservice teachers' perceptions of the reflective process and the effects on future practice.
Descriptors: Preservice Teachers, Methods Courses, Teacher Education Curriculum, Elementary Secondary Education, Middle School Teachers, Educational Experience, Researchers, Teaching Methods, Reflection, Higher Education, Evaluation, Educational Philosophy, Social Studies, Student Centered Curriculum, Teacher Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education; Higher Education; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A