Important features of practicums for teachers of elementary school language immersion programs include: mentoring and peer coaching; guidance in self-analysis, observation, and reflection on teaching practices; and experience with realities of immersion. A period of induction beyond the practicum is also recommended. (19 references) (MSE)

In contextual supervision (an adaptation of situational leadership), supervising teachers synchronize their leadership style to the teacher-intern's level of skill development. Application of the method with 15 Native student teachers helped the supervisor to identify contextual factors enhancing or impeding student-teacher progress, and…

Questionnaires completed by Australian preservice teachers before and after practical experiences in isolated rural settings revealed the value of these experiences in developing positive attitudes toward teaching in rural schools and in sensitizing teachers to the culture and conditions associated with teaching in rural areas. (LP)

Analyzes interactions between university tutors, cooperating teachers, and student teachers in practicums, focusing on modes of interaction and the nature of messages transmitted. Researchers observed lessons and conferences and found a lack of in-depth professional reciprocal reflection in postlesson conferences. The paper recommends focusing on…

Suggestions are offered to improve the educational experience of international students in North American library and information science programs. Reevaluation of course content, improved communication of program information to students, consideration of foreign realities and governmental practices, improved English language and keyboarding…

In contextual supervision (CS) (an adaptation of situational leadership), the student teacher's (supervisee's) level of confidence and competence determines level of supervisory support and task orientation. CS also encourages a global view of all contextual variables. Observation of 49 untrained pairs of practicum students and cooperating…

Describes the creation and implementation of the School University Partnership Providing Opportunities for Real Teaching in Physical Education at Adelphi University (New York), a field-based collaboration between preservice teachers and 20 school districts. (SM)

A study examined how academic staff involved in workplace supervision of students conceive of the workplace experience in four professional areas: engineering, business administration, health sciences, and social science. Five concepts are identified, and a relationship is seen between the conceptions and the quality of student learning. Staff…

Reports on studies that examine reasons and justifications trainee science teachers give for the ways they conduct practical work. A case for the reevaluation of practical work in science education is made and it is argued that science teacher behavior is best understood anthropologically. Implications for mentoring and school-based training are…

A West Virginia preservice program prepares professionals in a variety of fields to work with rural children with swallowing disorders. Program features include graduate assistantships, interdisciplinary academic coursework, a practicum in a swallowing disorders clinic under supervision of a faculty mentor, and a technology project related to…

The standards movement seeks to bridge the gap between universities and schools, smoothing the transition for student teachers from novice to professional. The imposition of standards and close monitoring of learning outcomes potentially violates the affective bond between student and teacher and the teacher's commitment to education. Resolving…

Teaching practicum requires a philosophy to give directions to values and actions. The philosophy proposed here aims for the development of a reflective and reflexive learner who learns through situational analyzing, theorizing, hypothesis testing, inquiring, experimenting, and justifying. Such development has to be built around the searching and…

Self-regulated learning (SRL) researchers have paid relatively little attention to questions concerning (a) the level of experience and expertise required to create high-SRL environments, (b) how teachers acquire such expertise, and (c) how expert instruction needs to be to influence students' SRL positively. We agree with Randi and Corno (2000)…

This paper is informed by Deweyean pragmatism, critical pedagogy, Marxist humanism and social constructivism, all of which see teacher professional learning as a process of constructing knowledge and identity through critical interdependence. In addition to presenting the philosophical root of the reflective approach to teaching and the structure…

The provision of feedback to students is an important aspect of teaching and learning processes. It is often a necessary requirement for the stimulation of self-reflection. This paper describes the use of video-enabled, web-based computer-mediated communication (CMC) for the provision of feedback to pre-service, trainee teachers who were involved…