The Accelerate Online/OPTIONS alternative certification program provides those possessing a degree an option leading to certification that can be completed in 18 months. The program consists of an online curriculum, an early field experience and a year-long paid internship. To determine program effectiveness across five years, five benchmark…

This study examined the impact of an intervention designed to promote inquiry-based instruction among early childhood/elementary preservice teachers in Earth science. Preservice teachers participated in training sessions and community-based internships to deepen Earth science content knowledge and develop inquiry-based practices. Analyses of Earth…

A field experience program balances great potential for learning against a major expenditure of resources and requires vision, commitment, flexibility, and persistence to implement. It enhances academic learning through use of the outside world's resources and provides a link to the world in which students prepare to live. (MSE)

This paper describes the University of Utah's recently revised Ed.D. program and reports the results of several program-evaluation efforts conducted since its implementation. In particular, the most recent evaluation assessed the effectiveness of the field-based doctoral program in educational administration in linking theory and research to the…

This paper reviews the characteristics of effective internship field experience and programs. The internship serves an important function in preparing educational administrators, as it bridges the gap between classroom practice and professional practice. Although the internship has been an integral component of many administrator preparation…

The report of the National Commission on Excellence in Educational Administration recommended that educational administration preparation programs be planned around five strands--including supervised practice consisting of short- and long-term internships directed by research faculty and practitioners who are clinical faculty members. This idea is…

The Department of Educational Administration, Higher Education, and Educational Research at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) uses the practicum in educational administration at the master's degree level as its primary vehicle in preparing school administrators. After listing and responding to the most frequent criticisms of…

A long-standing debate within the school counseling profession concerns requiring previous teaching experience as a prerequisite to certification for school counselors. Advocates of the teaching requirement argue that it is necessary for counselors to understand and empathize with classroom teachers. Opponents, although they agree with a need for…

A discussion of whether the pharmaceutical externship/clerkship experience fulfills all or part of the required internship distinguishes between the two program types, looks at what has been learned from the externship/clerkship, and outlines what still is needed if the externship/clerkship is to be accepted by pharmacy boards as fulfilling…

Literature on clinical experiences in educational administration programs is reviewed along with materials collected from University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) member institutions. Focus is on materials that support the value of structured clinical experiences. A framework for clinical experiences is developed, which is based on…

In a British teacher education program, student science teachers were placed in varied science- and technology-related organizations to explore the relationship between science curriculum and real-world educational needs. Results suggest some modification of curriculum is needed for student teachers to benefit most from these experiences. Concern…

Internship and field experience practices of University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) member institutions in the United States are examined in this report. Questionnaires were completed by 44 out of 47 chairpersons of educational administration departments at 44 UCEA member schools, a 93.6 percent response rate. Data were compared…

A North Carolina school system worked with NASSP and an area university to develop an improved administrator-preparation plan. Created by NASSP to unite key preparation elements, the "Potential Administrator Development Program" stresses field-based experiences via theory-to-practice classroom activities, mentoring opportunities,…

This article describes a design for a teacher preparation program that is successfully preparing teacher candidates to teach in the complex, diverse classrooms in urban schools. The program provides intensive, authentic, field-based experiences and effective mentoring support for teacher candidates as they gain the knowledge, skills, and…

The situation created by a glut of lawyers in the profession is examined, particularly heightened competition and need for technical legal skills. Eight recommendations are made concerning the financing of legal education, curriculum design, field experience program changes, and expansion of access to legal services. (MSE)