In this descriptive, mixed methods study, the researcher investigated the influence of teacher preparation programs' field experiences on teacher candidates' sense of teaching efficacy. Tschannen-Morgan & Woolfolk-Hoy's (2001) Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale questionnaire was sent to 221 teacher candidates enrolled in one of…

Students in the five year Austin Teacher Program at Austin College (Texas) major in academic disciplines--English, history, mathematics, biology--not in education. Child psychology, educational psychology, and educational philosophy courses are taken through the departments of psychology and philosophy. The primary undergraduate exposure to the…

Strategies for implementing changes that will improve the effectiveness of teacher education are discussed. These include: (1) redesigning curriculum by incorporating entrance and exit criteria and a performance-based emphasis, allowing for continuous assessment of the effectiveness of the curriculum and ensuring a more individualized and…

A reform effort in the initial preparation of teachers has focused upon extended teacher education programs. Future teachers must know academic subject matter thoroughly, have a comprehensive understanding of the principles of human development and learning, and be able to apply their education and training effectively prior to becoming fully…

Researchers compared an eleven-week term student teaching program with a fifteen-week semester program. Examined were the effects of the length of the student teaching experience on student teachers' perceptions regarding teaching skill development and on the amount of time spent in actual classroom instruction. Subjects were nine 15-week semester…

A questionnaire was developed to determine the understanding and response of student teaching field experience directors to the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) student teaching requirement. NCATE-approved schools in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska were surveyed. The NCATE requirement…

The purpose of this study was to determine if, in the view of the supervising teacher, there were differences in the performance of student teachers in an eight week program and in a full semester program. Participating supervising teachers had supervised two or more student teachers under a full-time, eight week student teaching program, and also…

This study examined whether increased exploratory field experiences affected the perceptions and evaluations of secondary school student teachers at Indiana State University. Studied were 238 student teachers who were simultaneously undergoing two different professional preparation programs: 154 were in a program requiring only one field…

In the Austin College (Texas) Teacher Program, a five-year program of study is required before students obtain a teaching certificate and a master's degree. A liberal arts program is emphasized, and students are provided with a public school classroom teaching assignment as an intern or student teacher, for at least 4 to 5 months, at the graduate…

Discusses the issue of the effectiveness of non-Indian preservice teachers in an Indian school. Recommends research to determine the changes in professional performance of reservation student teachers, and to study the frequency, duration, nature, and outcome of cultural immersion field experiences. (SB)