Research has raised fundamental questions about the traditional supervisor-student-class teacher triad of student teaching and the influence of the social context in which it operates. Some alternative approaches to supervision are reviewed and problems of reconceptualizing the supervisor's role are examined. (Author/MT)

Results of this study indicated that university supervisors encouraged their students to participate in post-observation conferences more than cooperating teachers did. Their feedback was evaluative, prompting students to think critically about their teaching. Cooperating teacher feedback focused on events and telling the student teacher how to…

An analysis of the form and substance of supervisory discourse between university supervisors and student teachers in two teacher education programs with similar organizational structures but different ideological orientations indicated a need for changes in the organizational context of student teaching if innovations in the curriculum are to be…

Describes the process and outcomes of a collaborative self-study by five Chilean teacher educators interested in improving their supervision of student teachers, examining problems they encountered as first-time writers of a self-study report. Guidelines for scaffolding supervisees' reflectivity are included (e.g., attend to supervisors' and…

Three expert and three novice student teacher supervisors were interviewed on the ways in which they perceived their professional development, focusing on knowledge and change, reflection and criticism, theory and research, ideology and values, human relations, and difficulties. Results indicated substantial differences in the developmental stages…

Identifies two divisive patterns of tension within mentor-student teacher relationships (philosophical differences and tolerance for uncertainty) within a high school English teacher education program based on collaborative inquiry and teacher research. Interviews, observations, and written documents highlighted five differences in principles and…

This study examined the nature of a university supervisor's role during student teaching, highlighting issues shaping roles and relationships. Data from meetings, conferences, informal discussions, and interviews with the cooperating teacher, student teacher, and supervisor indicated there were tensions related to the supervisor's dual role in…

Explores the interpersonal dynamics of a graduate-student teaching-assistant supervisor, a department chair, a cooperating teacher, and a student teacher in a traditional university teacher-education program. Data from interviews, observations, conferences, and discussions indicated that the supervisor felt unsupported and disenfranchised,…

Narrative authority is presented as an alternative to positivism in teacher education research and curricula, emphasizing the personal practical knowledge of everyone involved in teacher education. After describing Dewey's conception of experience, the paper discusses the construction of knowledge from experience and the influence of authority,…

Collaborative biography was used to examine the effects of a school-university partnership on two elementary teachers. The partnership made teachers fully responsible for supervising and evaluating student teachers. The article discusses common and differential effects emerging from apparent interactions with teachers' personalities and career…

Paper examines relationships between student teachers and their university supervisors and cooperating teachers, noting the influences of the relationships on learning to teach. Data from a study that examined the process of becoming middle school mathematics teachers indicated that most cooperating teachers and supervisors played limited roles in…

Examined a program that paired preservice teachers with doctoral-student mentors during student teaching and joined the dyads to form a community. Data from observations, conferences, interviews, meetings, lesson plans, and journals indicated that traditional roles of students, supervisors, and cooperating teachers changed. Participants…