Despite the wide use of discussion in online courses, the quality of these exchanges varies. In this article, the authors draw on the community of inquiry (CoI) model to inform the design of what we call "first responder/connector" (FR/C) discussions, which are student-led asynchronous online discussions. The authors propose and describe…

Although much has been written about the use of video cases--particularly, video cases in teacher preparation programs in the United States--little is known about what the consumers of video cases (i.e., preservice teachers) think about such cases and how they are implemented in teacher education courses. This research investigated preservice…

How can university faculty use communicating-to-learn activities to enliven discussions, check understanding, and assess learning? By incorporating various reading, writing, listening, speaking, and thinking strategies into their classes, faculty are teaching through example and are making classes invigorating. As such, their undergraduate and…

This article describes Challenge Education, an instructional approach to student teaching which authentically and directly involves students in their own learning and utilizes the school culture as the learning laboratory. (IAH)

This article describes a seven-session workshop to train cooperating teachers. Workshop activities include a review of recent research, reflection upon and composition of a lesson observation guide, and a simulated supervision episode. In addition, a series of idea exchanges were interspersed throughout the workshop. (IAH)

A program for teaching reading offered courses for teachers during after-school hours and in the summer. The success of the program was demonstrated at the end of the year when more than 90 percent of the children passed the basic competency reading tests. (JN)

A rationale is offered for parent involvement in seeking solutions to the problems faced by middle school students; and for inclusion, in the middle school courses of preservice teachers, of instruction on parent/teacher conferences. Specific suggestions for conducting positive parent-teacher conferences, are offered, with emphasis on proper…

The four components of an undergraduate curriculum theory course are outlined. In addition, results are reported from a survey (N=100) designed to assess the effectiveness of the course. (IAH)

This article summarizes research findings related to teacher burnout, examines the literature on induction programs, proposes ways in which an induction program can be an effective means of reducing stress and burnout for the purpose of retaining beginning teachers, and describes a seminar developed as part of an induction program. (IAH)

A description is given of how a thinking skills component was incorporated into a graduate teacher education program. Topics include the theoretical basis for a thinking skills component; a course, "Thinking Skills in the Classroom"; and the incorporation of thinking skills into other courses in the program. (IAH)

The Collaboration for the Improvement of Teacher Education (CITE) program is briefly described; the program's model of reflective thinking is discussed; and an outline is given of the content and structure of a seminar designed to develop teachers' and professors' reflective thinking. (IAH)

Reports a study that examined the use of story in an adolescent development course, reviewing the methodology employed, the problematics of storytelling in teaching, and the three patterns of storytelling that emerged. The discussion highlights the role of storytelling as a way of expanding experience and the analysis of experience for beginning…

This article describes several cooperative learning activities which can be included in teacher education courses. Jigsaw learning, study teams, informal resource groups, and group projects are discussed. Student perceptions of cooperative learning, based on a survey of 52 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in education courses, are also…

This article relates experiences from three examples of cooperative learning activities at Arizona State University. These descriptions illustrate that cooperative learning activities work well with adults, can promote higher levels of thinking and mastery of the content, and can be used as a student evaluation vehicle. (IAH)

Describes the variety of motivating instructional techniques modeled by the instructor in an undergraduate foundations of education course: lecture with transparencies; effective use of videos; cooperative learning; effective review techniques; computer-assisted instruction; and the Program for Effective Teaching model. (IAH)