Creating a strong clinical practice experience for every teacher at scale requires that three core actors--prep programs, school districts, and states--work together. This framework sets out the six focus areas of clinical practice backed by research and supported by the field as the most important to build a quality clinical practice experience.…

Clinical practice opportunities are critical elements of teacher preparation. However, the landscape is extensive, encompassing an ever-growing variety of preparation models, from centuries-old traditional student teaching to newly minted registered apprenticeships. The purpose of this paper is to create a clinical practice lexicon for the…

This article describes a multi-year project carried out by a team of early childhood teacher educators to critically inquire about and innovate clinical experiences. As part of our on-going program reflection and evaluation, we gathered data from multiple stakeholders about their perspectives of successful clinical experiences. Simultaneously, we…

The cases presented describe two levels of struggle. One level identifies two student teachers (ST) and their mentors failing to meet one another's expectations. Another level presents school administration as it seeks to find ways of meeting STs' needs while maintaining a positive and productive school climate. Relevant research is presented to…

Inquiry-into-practice represents a valuable disposition for teachers; reflecting on one's teaching to derive insights for subsequent practice can enhance professional efficacy and promote student achievement. To support this disposition among teacher candidates (TCs), Lynch School of Education faculty at Boston College created a capstone course,…

The Academy for Educational Development (AED) sent a research team to Western Kentucky University (WKU) on June 19-20, 2008 to conduct interviews with individuals who play important roles in the university's teacher preparation program (see Appendix A). These interviews, along with additional documentation provided by WKU and identified by the AED…

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…

Teacher preparation, historically, has involved learning experiences offered by personnel in four distinct settings--faculty in Colleges of Letters and Science, faculty in Colleges of Education, practicing teachers in clinical-based sites, and personnel in local school districts. The disparate nature of these settings often complicates the…

The Academy for Educational Development (AED) sent a research team to the University of Dayton (UD) on November 5-7, 2008, to conduct interviews with individuals who played significant roles in the university's teacher preparation program (see Appendix A). These interviews, along with additional materials provided by UD and identified by the AED…

The nature and assessment of education is changing significantly, and the assessment trajectory is away from sole reliance on the traditional perspective of student grades. Technology faculty must respond to the changing requirements of student assessment and ensure that graduates of the program meet both the expectations and standards of the…

Professional Development Schools provide many different opportunities for the supervision of pre-service teacher. One of these options is the Shared Supervision of student teachers in which the university faculty member and the supervising classroom teacher now work together to complete observations, provide feedback, and complete summative…

The Academy for Educational Development (AED) sent a research team to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) on October 23-24, 2008, to conduct interviews with individuals who play important roles in the university's teacher preparation program. These interviews, along with additional documentation provided by UNCG and identified by…

The Academy for Educational Development (AED) sent a research team to Jackson State University (JSU) on October 13-14, 2008 to conduct interviews with individuals who play important roles in the university's teacher preparation program (see Appendix A). These interviews, along with additional documentation provided by JSU and identified by the AED…

A survey was conducted on the quality of preparation in teacher education of student teachers at the University of Northern Iowa and their performance level during student teaching. Student teachers were asked to assess teacher education program contributions to 29 competencies relevant to teaching effectiveness, plus their overall teacher…

The Teacher Center at the University of Houston-Clear Lake (Texas) invites public school supervisors who work with their student teachers, and any other teachers who are interested in supervising student teachers, to a High Tea/inservice program each semester. In planning the inservice program, the organizers first look at evaluations from…