Examines the influence of both locus of control and three instructional strategies to foster an understanding of the nature of science. Reports that the nature of science was most predictable for a separate process/content/teaching methods and logical thinking ability was the best predictor of the nature of science. (Author/YP)

Asserts that a paradoxical situation exists in the United States where the general public and policymakers support enhanced arts education, but it remains marginal to the curriculum. Proposes 10 strategies by which arts education can be improved and enhanced. (CFR)

Describes a study of the content of 180 stringed-instrument preservice teacher education programs. Reports statistically significant findings for different regions of the country, with North Central division institutions requiring the greatest number of separate string technique and methods courses. (CFR)

Focuses on the context and major efforts designed to reform teacher education in the nation's universities. Provides an overview of systems governing and impacting teacher education. Concludes with a discussion of general educational reform trends and leadership opportunities open to geographers. (CFR)

This article notes that there are more issues and problems than positive programmatic trends; it looks at eight major challenges that U.S. schools of education must overcome if they are to become professional schools, analyzing where teacher education currently is vis-a-vis the challenges. (SM)

Students from 26 colleges nationwide shared their perceptions of how well their professional preparation programs had covered the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing competencies for entry-level health education. Results found no significant differences by gender or educational level, but responses according to geographical…

Results of interviews with 24 minority undergraduate teacher education students on predominately white campuses, as well as reviews of documents and interviews with faculty, indicate that these students want to teach within their own ethnic communities and that the teacher education programs lack significant cultural relevance. (39 references)…

Researchers investigated the extent to which elementary student teacher evaluation forms used by teacher training institutions embodied evaluative criteria identified by teacher effectiveness research. Reviews of 368 programs' forms indicated significant variability and a need for clear conceptualization of elementary teacher training programs.…

Describes an inservice program to improve the skills of school personnel who work with at-risk students that was set up as a collaboration between teachers in elementary and secondary public schools and Indiana University. The use of audiographics, coursework delivery, supervision of practicum projects, and the benefits of the approach are…

If teachers of students with behavior disorders are to be more effective, there must be several changes in preservice education. Teachers need training in one predominant theoretical philosophy, in remediation of academic deficits, in competent use of behavior management skills, and in writing individualized education programs. (SM)

The paper examines certain variables affecting teacher education in Slovenia, Yugoslavia, which represents just over 8 percent of the total Yugoslav population; presents information on educational policy, the educational system, the development of teacher education programs, and curriculum development. (SM)

Study examined the influence of an intensive chemical demonstration workshop on fostering pedagogical content knowledge growth among science teachers identified as novice chemical demonstrators (n=8). The two-week workshop was designed around four training elements considered important for effective teacher inservicing: theory, modeling, practice,…

Argues that social studies teacher educators verbally promote the concept of social studies as education for democratic citizenship but do not practice democracy in their classrooms. Contends that social studies teacher education programs should be considered as an apprenticeship in democracy. Acknowledges that this approach is not easy to…

Studies effectiveness of the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) in predicting subsequent grades for 9,064 Arizona applicants to teacher education programs in 1985 to 1989 and 100 students with subsequent performance data. The PPST has blocked minority students from teacher preparation programs, although correlations between score and performance…

Maintains that music teacher education should attend to the development of personal skills for effective classroom teaching. Describes the following exercises for skill development: positive-negative experience inventories, personal self-assessment questionnaires, and situation scenarios addressing specific areas. Illustrates how these exercises…