The establishment of the European Higher Education Area has involved specifying lists of professional competencies that programs are expected to develop, and with this the need for procedures to measure how every course within a higher education program is aligned with the program's competencies. We propose an instrument for characterizing this…

This article presents findings from the longitudinal study, Research about Teacher Education (RATE). The data presented represents the perceptions of faculty (N=250) and students (N=1130-1140) in elementary teacher education about several programatic aspects of teacher preparation including curriculum, conceptions of teaching, faculty instruction,…

This study identified strengths and weaknesses of the components in the general methods course, "Micro-teaching: Practice in Teaching Techniques", prior to a curriculum reorganization. The course included four basic components: (1) classroom instruction; (2) laboratory pre-conference; (3) laboratory teaching practice; and (4) laboratory…

The value of a practicum as part of a reading methods course is explored through a questionnaire soliciting reactions of pupils and of student teachers. The statements gathered are interpreted as indicating that the experience has a positive effect on the attitudes of all participants. Classroom teachers are urged to allow their pupils to…

Describes the development of the Teacher Technology Portfolio Program at Elmhurst College in Chicago, Illinois, that integrates instruction on technology and modeling of instruction in technology into the teacher training programs. Discusses the evaluation and revision of the program and its current status. (CMK)

The purpose of this paper is to examine the perceptions and opinions of the 128 students who have matriculated in a competency-based reading methods course at Rhode Island College. The course presently consists of 54 objectives in 14 instructional modules. Alternate learning activities and various postassessment options are listed in each module,…

Describes current programs and practices in training of modern language teachers in Latin America on the basis of visits to institutions in several countries, interviews with instructors and students, and program description materials. Sees a need to develop communication and a sense of professional identity among the members of the profession.…

This paper explores the question of the relative quality of the academic and professional components of teacher education programs from three different angles: (1) a critical assessment of several widely publicized and representative critiques of education courses with a focus on describing the variety of the criticisms and on assessing the…

The Multiple Perspectives Teacher Education Emphasis Area at Michigan State University was designed to integrate teacher candidates' field experiences with the instruction from the methods courses. Field instructors were informed about the specific methods, content, and procedures. Some methods courses were taught within the field setting and…

Thirty-one student teachers participated in a study of the language arts and reading module of a competency-based program at the University of Toledo, to determine the extent to which objectives were implemented during the student teaching experience. Results from an observation schedule and questionnaires completed by student teachers and…

Noting that both the college and the collaborating schools gain from early field placement (prior to student teaching) in education programs, this paper presents a prototype for early placement practicums based on 10 years experience in providing practicums for reading methods courses for Medgar Evers College, City University of New York…

This study sought to determine graduates' perceptions of program effectiveness in ten undergraduate areas of study at the University of Central Florida. Alumni responded to an original questionnaire that assessed three primary program components: foundations for teaching, specialization, and student teaching experiences. Questionnaire items…

Describes how hypermedia technology is being used in content methods courses in Vanderbilt University's elementary teacher education program to achieve improvements in preservice teacher education. Evaluation data indicate that use of video examples in the mathematics methods courses influenced the way preservice teachers taught mathematics.…

Researchers investigated how prepared recent California State University teacher education graduates felt to teach limited English proficient (LEP) students. Results indicated subjects believed they had inadequate preparation in methods and adapting instruction in content areas. They felt they lacked opportunities to teach LEP students under the…

A longitudinal study examined the content and goals of an undergraduate social studies methods course and compared course perspectives to a teacher's perspectives as she progressed through the course, through student teaching, and into beginning teaching. Results highlight many issues related to methods courses and teacher induction. (SM)