A study examined students' reactions to the Student-Directed Discussion technique (an attempt to develop a class "text" from the students' joint construction of meaning) as used in a methods course on language development. The students (25 of 27 were present the day of the survey) responded anonymously concerning whether they thought the…

Northeast Louisiana University's Professional Semester began in 1976 to respond to a need for more practical application of what was taught in the required methods courses of the elementary education degree program. It was designed to avoid duplication of generic activities and to let students apply theory and teaching techniques in the classroom.…

Considers teaching to be the synthesis of a body of knowledge and the art of presentation. Comments on the American science teacher education process, particularly at the graduate level. (CP)

Author questions the idea that there are issues or points of conflict between science education and environmental education, presents some proposed characteristics of desirable environmental education programs, and suggests ways in which science education can contribute to the goals of environmental education. (PEB)

When designing a foreign language methods course, one important consideration should be the manner in which theory is connected with practical experiences, thus giving students an opportunity to use newly-gained knowledge in an actual classroom setting. Most children in Delaware's public schools are not exposed to foreign languages until they…

This paper describes efforts to develop a social studies methods course based on a foundation of critical theory in education. The literature concerning critical theory is discussed. Critical theory focuses on three areas of educational thought: (1) the relationship of school to society; (2) conceptions of knowledge and curriculum; and (3) the…

Implementation of global education in the classroom is possible only if the teachers themselves process a global content and are properly prepared to address the issue of globalness. In a discussion on traditional teacher education curriculum, it is noted that although virtually all teacher preparation programs include special methods courses at…

Recognizing that it can be a challenge to make an undergraduate literature methods course realistic, a methods instructor at a Michigan university has developed three major and several minor activities that have proven effective in preparing pre-student teachers for the "real world" of teaching and, at the same time, have been challenging and…

Discusses the offering of a special one-credit course in teacher training for the teaching assistants of the chemistry department of the University of Idaho, involving the films used, micro-teaching assignments, and course evaluation questionnaires. (CC)

Describes an activity in an elementary science methods course in which preservice teachers use a simulation exercise to select a specific elementary science curriculum program. (JR)

A mathematics methods course for pre-service elementary teachers is described. The course is designed to prepare teachers for individualizing instruction and for flexibility in a period of rapid curriculum change. (SD)

The author discusses the need for a "sideline" curriculum in a college methods course for home economics students that will prepare them for becoming effective FHA advisors once they are teachers. (Author)

This publication describes a joint program in which K-12 social studies methods students enrolled at Indiana University utilize the facilities of the Northern Indiana Historical Society Museum (NIHSM). The museum has developed two kits--the Indian Kit and the Pioneer Kit--which contain items most representatve of the pioneer and Indian eras of…

Presented are the results of a Delphi study designed to determine the objectives of secondary science methods courses and the concerns of the professors who plan them. The results present, in the order of importance, the three following concerns: (1) planning one or more science lessons, (2) constructing a classroom evaluation scheme, and (3)…