Worldwide, scholars and policymakers have called for teacher education to link fieldwork and coursework. This article examines teacher candidates' opportunities to talk about field placement within their campus coursework as one way of doing so. It reports on survey data (n = 270) and observation data (n = 52 hours) from 3 teacher-education…

Thirty preservice teachers enrolled in a field-based science methods course were placed at a public elementary school for coursework and for teaching practice with elementary students. Candidates focused on building conceptual understanding of science content and pedagogical methods through innovative curriculum development and other course…

Despite the complex emotional and interpersonal challenges inherent therein, credential students often comment that their student teaching experience had the greatest influence on their development as new teachers. An essential component of teacher education programs, the field experience serves many purposes. Although the theoretical potential…

Schools of education, whose responsibility is to add skills in teaching to a student's repertoire, cannot remedy inadequacies in basic academic training. The California State University system is developing initiatives regarding student selection and knowledge and practice of teaching in order to improve its teacher education programs. (MT)

Presents a contextually situated case study on the critical nature of early field experiences in teacher preparation, describing an exemplary program at California State University, Los Angeles, that focuses on a blended program in preparing secondary school science teachers. The blended option provides access to teacher education for those who…

Investigated the perceptions that traditional student teachers and emergency-permit teachers held regarding their experiences during their semester of student teaching. Data from student surveys indicated that most students from both groups were satisfied with, and successfully culminated, their field experiences. Both groups reported many…

This is a collection of reports on innovative practices in student teaching programs. The label "innovative" is justified on the basis of the investigation's scope. Identification of innovative student teaching practices was accomplished by contacting chief state school officers, chairmen and members of state commissions on teacher…