After a review of the literature on electronic discourse (ED), including research from teacher education and several other academic fields, the authors describe an investigation of the efficacy of integrating electronic discussion sites into an elementary language arts methods class. Findings from students' pre and postdiscussion dispositions and…

This study reviews allied literature and specific teacher educator behaviors that promote preservice teachers' development of a personalized, research-based elementary science teaching rationale (STR). Declaring absolutes is not the goal of the rationale. Rather, the goal is to initiate, among preservice teachers, the lifelong professional…

This study explored how implementing a constructivist approach in a mathematics methods class might change the prospective teachers' conceptions about mathematics and mathematics teaching and learning. The study used qualitative measures: interviews, classroom observation, review of written assignments, classroom interaction, and journal of…

A study was conducted to ascertain the extent to which instructors incorporated reading- and writing-to-learn skills and strategies into the methods courses of secondary social studies preparation programs. A questionnaire was mailed to the instructors of social studies methods courses at the colleges and universities in Region Four of the Teacher…

Methods classes in teacher education are under attack. If teacher education programs are to survive with a methods component, teacher educators need to begin living and demonstrating the models of pedagogy they advocate. Methods courses must go beyond the lecture mode to democratic practice in which students and instructors build social learning…

This study explored the impact of cooperative learning in a college level laboratory science course by comparing classes taught by a conventional lab-lecture technique. Students in a basic science skills course for preservice elementary teachers participated over a 14-week period. Instruments used were the Science Attitude Survey, Test of Logical…

ONE HUNDRED PROSPECTIVE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS PARTICIPATED IN A MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXPERIMENT TO TEST A METHOD OF INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TEACHER PREPARATION IN COMPOSITION INSTRUCTION. TWO CONTROL GROUPS COMPLETED THE CUSTOMARY PROGRAM OF FRESHMAN ENGLISH, MODERN ENGLISH GRAMMAR, AND METHODS OF TEACHING LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION.…

This document explores some aspects of Competency Based Teacher Education (CBTE) in the area of elementary mathematics teaching methods. The essential and distinguishing features of CBTE are examined. The following topics are discussed in detail: (1) how competencies may be identified; (2) the effects of a competency orientation on methods…

The guide presents 15 learning tasks for students preparing to teach business education. Each task contains problem areas, performance objectives, prerequisites, and learning activities. The learning tasks are: orientation to basic business; systematic planning of instructional units; writing objectives for teaching bookkeeping or a basic business…

One of the purposes of this study was to examine the differences between knowledge of pre-service physics teachers who experienced model-based teaching in pre-service education and those who did not. Moreover, it was aimed to determine pre-service physics teachers' perceptions of modelling. Posttest-only control group experimental design was used…

Instructors of methods classes in social studies for preservice teachers were surveyed concerning their class goals, their instructional methods, and the attributes they believed essential for teacher success and competence. Study findings suggest some factors that may help to account for the alleged lack of impact of teacher education courses.…

Presents tabular and narrative findings from a survey of industrial teacher educators to obtain data on the delivery systems they preferred to use in teaching specific teacher competencies and the categories or clusters of teaching competencies. The educators still preferred print-base materials and the lecture-discussion method. (MF)

This article describes Memorial University's overseas campus program in Harlow, Essex, where special education teacher trainees spend 13 weeks gaining insight into British methods of special education through lecture-seminar courses, practicums in local schools, and field trips. Three field trips to special schools are discussed in detail. (SJL)

This study compared a teacher-directed interactive video classroom management training program, interactive video instruction, and teacher directed instruction for effectiveness in developing preservice physical educators' knowledge of classroom management. Results found that the interactive video method was more effective in developing preservice…

The role of methods courses to help prospective elementary teachers learn to teach mathematics was investigated. The influence of past experience on preservice teachers, their lack of subject knowledge, and the lack of time set aside for a methods course are discussed. (KR)