As a profession, we must have a shift in both perspective and practice to transform teaching at all levels. Are pre-service education classrooms preparing students to be flexible, adapt to new situations, and rely on their own expertise and understanding while seeking support when needed? Lieberman and Miller (2004) identify the following shifts…

To get a preliminary understanding of how mathematics methods courses are taught, this study examined course syllabi from as wide a range of public and private universities as possible. Mathematics methods course syllabi from 200 randomly selected members of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE) were requested. Following the…

A competency-based methods course for preservice secondary mathematics teachers is described. Ten competencies, or skills, are identified as necessary for the successful teaching of mathematics. Each student either tests out of or works through a series of modules associated with each skill or competency. The objectives may be either knowledge,…

This paper is a detailed description of the foreign language methods course at Eastern Montana College. It is designed as an aid to teachers and curriculum planners who need practical suggestions about the format of a methods course. The paper begins with the course description that appears in the Eastern Montana catalog. This is followed by the…

As a result of the new era in science education reform, professional associations in science such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) have developed science standards for grades K-12. This paper describes a model for utilizing the AAAS Project 2061 benchmarks for these standards in a science methods course. The course…

This publication describes a joint program in which K-12 social studies methods students enrolled at Indiana University utilize the facilities of the Northern Indiana Historical Society Museum (NIHSM). The museum has developed two kits--the Indian Kit and the Pioneer Kit--which contain items most representatve of the pioneer and Indian eras of…

A 12-hour curriculum/methods block designed to lead elementary education teacher candidates through a constructivist, integrated model of teaching and learning is outlined. This block is part of a graduate level program that leads to licensure and a master's of Curriculum and Instruction in Curriculum and Instruction called Initial Teacher…

The effect of technological change on library users and its implication for library instruction are examined; two courses which provide library instruction for students enrolled in graduate methods history courses are described; and an annotated bibliography of materials which can be used in a course in bibliographic instruction is provided. (RM)

A teaching/learning strategy called "Content-Field Synergy" (C-FS) promotes systematic instruction in the use of naturalistic inquiry as a higher order thinking strategy in social context. C-FS is a total course of study design that synthesizes and extends material from the required course text and lectures with observations from a…

A review was done of how teacher training programs teach prospective teachers. After searching the literature for research on secondary English methods classes and finding none, the study solicited syllabi from over 300 universities across the country. Syllabi from 81 universities were received. Through analysis of the syllabi the study identified…

It is proposed that professional preparation programs for English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teachers can help teachers become better cultural observers by drawing on their prior experiences in developing perceptions about their own culture and the classroom culture. A theoretical framework and its application in one ESL teacher education program…

Drawn from a teacher-educator's experience in teaching a basic reading methods course and a Master's course for inservice teachers, this paper provides practical strategies for promoting active involvement, reflection, decision-making, and collaboration among preservice and inservice teachers. The paper first presents syllabi for the methods…

In response to numerous criticisms of technocratic models of social studies curricula this paper describes a critical approach to curriculum design. Major areas of criticism related to knowledge, learning and evaluation, and teaching are explored as they relate to issues of curriculum planning and implementation and a critical approach to…

A basic media utilization course at the University of Utah was developed on a self-instructional basis and was designed to teach skills related to the effective utilization of media in instruction. The course was organized around a set of 12 self-instructional packages with each package covering one topical area of the course. Six components…

Because so many elementary schools are employing whole language instruction, it is essential that graduates from university elementary education programs be prepared to teach in this way. Twenty-five junior and senior elementary education majors enrolled in a block program of 3 courses: reading methods, language arts methods, and a field practicum…