A teacher compares his former position as an assistant professor preparing teachers of students with hearing impairments with his present position as an administrator of a public school program serving these students. The emphasis of teacher education programs on self-contained or residential school settings instead of inclusive schools is…

Investigated definitions and perceptions of multicultural education among 103 preservice early childhood education students. Found that students' definitions illustrated minimal understanding of multicultural education, limited to race and ethnicity. Most students constructed their definitions from college courses. Participants witnessed…

Surveys students at two Russian pedagogical universities, Nizhnii Novgorod Pedagogical University and Iuzhno-Sakhalinsk State Pedagogical Institute, regarding their attitudes toward obtaining a higher education in general and acquiring an education in pedagogical specialties. Suggests that Russian youth value access to professional status over…

Examines changes in attitudes towards computers and basic computer skills of preschool teachers participating in a two-year, school-based teacher training program. Written responses to a pre/post administration of the Computer Attitude Survey and computer skills survey, freehand drawings of metaphors expressing computer use, and verbal responses…

This introductory article highlights concerns faced by teacher education programs that prepare teachers to support students with severe disabilities in today's schools. Teacher shortages and the challenge of maintaining a teacher education program in a low incidence disabilities area are discussed. (Contains references.) (CR)

This article describes two distance education programs in the area of severe disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte project and project UPLIFT, each of which uses a multi-university consortium. Technologies employed in each project are discussed and preliminary data are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of distance…

Discusses the experiences of Piedmont Virginia Community College students who have transferred into the teacher education program at the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education. Makes recommendations for the improvement of such programs, such as monitoring cohort groups for the duration of the program and providing intensive advising.…

A survey was conducted with 45 instructors from teacher training programs for teaching students with visual impairments. Respondents evidenced a strong commitment to Braille literacy and teacher preparation, however, findings indicate a lack of consistency in Braille courses with respect to standards and criteria for competence in Braille…

Addresses the development and problems associated with British teacher education programs particularly focusing on the practices that failed to prepare student teachers during the 1965-76 period. Argues that locating teacher education in the schools will not solve the problems in education but instead the program should remain in the university…

Distance education is a well-established medium for training specialist teachers of children with visual impairments at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. This article describes the background and organization of the program, analyzes its outcomes, and considers the challenges the program will face in the future. (Contains four…

Details investigation of characteristics of early childhood teacher preparation programs at 2- and 4-year institutions through a survey of program chairs or directors. Presents findings on faculty characteristics, including racial makeup; course and practica requirements; comparisons between early childhood programs and the institutions as whole…

This article discusses the need for educators to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to help students with severe disabilities from mainstream groups to develop cross-cultural knowledge, values, and competencies. It outlines goals for multicultural understanding for educational researches, for teacher educators, and for school leaders and…

The racial and cultural naivete of the pool of preservice teachers entering into many teacher education programs presents a challenge, one that is both daunting and transformative. To counter the negative idea of urban schools, teacher education programs in the U.S. must commit to new teacher education strategies that will ultimately prepare…

This study examined the multicultural classroom practices of two novice secondary English teachers employed by the same U.S. school district that serves a diverse student population. Findings indicated a high level of consistency between the teachers' intended multicultural practices and their implemented practices. Based on classroom…

The portfolio, a collection of a student's work over their course of study, has become a popular tool for college teaching. Portfolios have the distinct advantage of engaging the learner in reflection (Reis & Villaume, 2002; Willis & Davies, 2002) and self-assessment (Hill, 2002), while at the same time creating documentation useful for…