Three practicum components are presented for consideration: A developmental reading practicum, a curriculum innovation practicum, and a reverse-student- teaching-assignment-level practicum. (DS)

Describes an approach to teaching language based on teachers' and students' own experiences with language; outlines a one-week unit illustrating the approach. (DD)

Experiences in teaching basic research methods courses to graduate social work students are reported. A model of research learning is proposed based on introductory topics in a reverse order from that of the conventional basic research course. The theory is that data analysis should be the initiating point of research learning, not the final…

This study, using selected activities from the "Students Toward Environmental Participation" (STEP) program, compared the attitudes of forty-one preservice science and social studies teachers toward activities in environmental/ecological field trips. No significant differences existed between the attitudes of perspective science and social studies…

Presents abstracts of six ERIC documents selected specifically for secondary and college level history teachers. Includes sources on geography, evaluation of heroes and heroines in textbooks, images of war in the United States, alternative programs in social studies methods course design, teaching the U.S. Constitution, and global education…

Assessed the effectiveness of conducting an elementary science methods course based on the Concerns Based Adoption Model (CBAM) on the concerns and attitudes of 85 preservice elementary teachers. Results indicate that neither traditional nor CBAM methods courses proved superior in affecting concerns or attitudes of the preservice teachers.…

Describes the hardware and software, typical application, future use, and initial results of an evaluation of a program which enables future teachers to practice their teaching skills on microcomputer-simulated students. These "students" are programed with such characteristics as enthusiasm and prior knowledge and are able to interact.…

Describes a tutoring practicum that is an integral part of a content area reading course, focusing on tasks for building the capabilities needed in tutoring and techniques for ensuring that those capabilities are used. Cites formal and informal evidence of the practicum's effectiveness. (FL)

Described is a preservice, social studies methods course. Two fundamental premises provide the foundation for the course: (1) students need to learn how to investigate and discuss societal issues, develop personal positions, and make decisions through democratic processes; (2) secondary education should relate to the nature of today's teenagers.…

This study analyzed the effectiveness of an instructional model in environmental education and ecological foundations. Preservice elementary science methods students were tested for their ability to define environmental education and to acquire ecological concepts. Results indicate a significant gain in these areas by the experimental group. (MR)

A paper presented at a workshop on student teaching and the methods class at the Conference on English Education, April 10, 1976. (DD)

Describes microteaching/videotaping experiences of university students in an elementary school social methods course. Topics discussed include literature on microteaching as a teacher training device, videotapes in lesson analysis, possible microteaching lessons, planning and taping a lesson, viewing and critiquing the tape, and benefits and…

Recent research in civic education suggests much for shaping and focusing secondary social studies methods course work. This Digest: (1) provides an overview of selected findings from recent studies of secondary students' civic understanding and engagement; and (2) offers five research-based suggestions for social studies methods instructors.…

A study examined how the "Reading Classroom Explorer" (RCE, a hypermedia learning environment) might enhance the learning of preservice teacher education students as they prepare to assume internships. RCE is a searchable database of digitized video clips from the Center for the Study of Reading's video series "Exemplary Ways To Teach Reading."…

This paper summarizes one semester's use of a class LISTSERV with a graduate elementary science education course (n=9). Data were collected on student comments regarding the class LISTSERV from nonstructured interviews, E-mail inquiries, and an end-of-semester questionnaire. Student feedback indicated that student interest in communication…