The use of constructivism and its various manifestations in education has been a topic of much interest in recent years. Inquiry into this theoretical framework has resulted in teacher educators' attempts to help their teacher candidates apply constructivist pedagogy in university classrooms, field experiences and student teaching at two US…

It is a well-known theory and practice among early childhood educators that building early relationships with the children is crucial to their development. However, there is irony in the fact that many teacher education programs that propose to model "best practices" do not model relationship building with their preservice teachers. This study…

A content-area reading course for preservice teachers challenges them to engage in the kinds of activities that "real" teachers do or should be doing, demonstrating how teachers can work across disciplines and foster collaborative relationships, while at the same time assisting their students in making connections from one classroom to…

The Educational Research Department at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg) attempts to go beyond conventional use of a computer laboratory by offering services to further the educational knowledge of its students. Laboratory staff members demonstrate methods needed to accomplish educational tasks for program…

This paper outlines the application of Total Quality Management to schools and describes schools that are representative of the national trend toward Schools of Quality or Quality Schools. The traditional preparation program for teachers and administrators is described as being driven by certification requirements of the state departments of…

This book contains 15 chapters: (1) "Teaching Problem Solving"; (2) "Using Calculators and Computers in Elementary School Mathematics"; (3) "Organizing for Instruction"; (4) "Teaching Numeration of Whole Numbers"; (5) "Teaching Numeration of Common and Decimal Fractions"; (6) "Teaching Addition and Subtraction of Whole Numbers"; (7) "Teaching…

The teacher training program for teaching assistants (TA's) in the German department at the University of California at Berkeley is described in this paper. Problems common to both university and department are examined. The training program at the university is outlined in several areas including: (1) use of demonstration films, (2) class visits,…

The purpose of this paper is to formulate objectives pertaining to knowledge, thinking, attitudes, and skills for a methods course for prospective teachers of English in desegregated high schools, to discuss the selection and organization of course content, to illustrate the principle that prospective teachers learn to teach by performing and…

These materials are part of a one-week experimental program to bring together the language and the TESL components of the Peace Corps Training Program for Ethiopia. The program is based on the relationship between language teaching and language learning, that is, between the methods classes in the teaching of English as a second language, and the…

This fourth module in a sequence of instructional modules for preservice elementary teachers deals with the laboratory approach to mathematics. The module focuses on laboratory activities aimed at readiness, concept development, concept synthesis, recall, application, planning, evaluation, and remediation. Objectives for the module, prerequisites,…

Discusses a course taken at the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) by undergraduates majoring in elementary education. The course attempts to combine theory and practice, emphasizing teaching methods which stress that learners make use of "mental representations" in assembling a working understanding of various components of their…

Discusses the role of the chemistry teacher impacting elementary science by training elementary teachers. Provides information for a 28-hour hands-on workshop for elementary teachers and lists 47 activities for the teachers. Included topics are food science, observation, liquids, gases, and general chemistry. (MVL)

Several articles explain the integrated interdisciplinary approach used in Hawaii's PETOM (Preservice Education for Teachers of Minorities) program, which prepares educators to teach students of culturally diverse backgrounds. After an overview of PETOM, the articles look at the mathematics, science, art, and social studies modules. (SM)

Describes a methods course to prepare teachers of computer science for the secondary schools. Aspects of the course include goals and objectives, programing projects, assignments related to teaching methods, group projects, planned teaching experiences, and lesson planning assignments. Provides a list of 38 assigned readings. (MDH)

Demonstrates the value of the case-method approach in physical education pedagogy classes for preservice physical education teachers; presents a sample case in a middle school and outlines the accompanying questions. Holds that the case-method approach can bridge the gap between theory and practice through class discussion. (SM)