Rather than being neutral, teacher education is grounded in a set a values that are culturally defined and politically transmitted. These values, and their political significance in terms of power and control issues, go far toward defining the educational experience that students and teachers, both in the schools and in universities, have.…

Evaluation methods lack direction to improve efforts of teachers because the methods operate on vague impressions. Congruence analysis techniques offer promise for diagnostic determination of strengths and weaknesses in teaching practices over a variety of specified criteria. The analysis circumvents some of the problems of linking objective data…

This essay distinguishes between the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act's narrow definition of highly qualified teachers and the full range of skills and knowledge teachers must have to teach all children effectively. It asserts that the NCLB's lack of distinction between minimally and highly qualified teachers, along with rapid implementation…

Discusses the ways that videotape technology can be used to help evaluate and advise preservice teaching activities of student teachers. Describes a method by which teachers videotape their own class session for the purpose of self-evaluation. Argues for the benefits of such a method. (HB)

Examines how reflection has been discussed in teacher education, presenting data from a longitudinal study of 10 teacher apprentices that investigated the experience of becoming reflective through a portfolio process and identifying developmental elements of reflection. The study notes that student teachers consistently report little formal…

Describes the experiences of a student teacher who worked with two art teachers with contrasting ideas on how to structure their art instruction. Examines goal setting for student teaching, the role of the cooperating teacher, advantages and disadvantages of having the student teacher in the classroom, and evaluation procedures. (KM)

This collection of nine papers was presented at a workshop on evaluation for excellence in education. "Why Evaluate?" by Madeline I. Hardy, contends that although reform is needed, evaluation must continue in order to measure educational change, bring improvement, and provide public accountability. In "Evaluation for Excellence in…

Suggests that conversations about portfolio entries offer the best opportunity to grow, learn, and enhance teaching expertise as teachers develop from beginners to experts. Portfolios have emerged as an alternative form of assessment well-suited for formative and summative assessment of self and others and for elevating the dialog about teaching…

This proposal focuses on the grading system used for preservice student teachers in the Faculty of Education's certificate and degree programs at Universiti Brunei Darussalam. A rationale for an appraisal system with finer delineations than the existing pass-fail system is presented. This rationale is based on the beliefs that standards of quality…