This is the first in a series of four books presenting a variety of field experience program models and philosophies that drive the programs provided to preservice teachers during their undergraduate teacher preparation. This publications focuses on developing and evaluating an effective field experience program. Several common themes emerge from…

This study examined how, prospective teachers, cooperating teachers, and university supervising instructors saw their roles as learners and teachers and what these individuals learned about learning and teaching English language arts in the context of a partnership arrangement between the University of Alberta's (Canada) Faculty of Education and…

This practicum reports on the creation of a professional development school (PDS) designed to improve field experiences for early childhood education majors at a rural private college. The goal of the project was to increase the number of qualified teachers at a local primary school who would be willing to participate in the supervision of student…

This paper presents case studies of four middle school preservice teachers' experiences with multicultural education during their approximately 16-week student teaching practicum in the southeastern United States. Student teachers were male and female, aged 21 to 42 years; one was African-American and three were European-American. The study was…

This study sought to determine how student-teachers perceived their competence as they proceeded through a 2-year certificate program and to identify what changes occurred in their perception during the first year of teaching. The subjects were student teachers in a new Certificate of Education Program (in primary education) at the Hong Kong…

As part of the evaluative process of a program at a professional development site (PDS), 30 participating elementary and middle school teachers were surveyed about their attitudes as participants in a field-based education program partnership. Each teacher was mentor to a preservice teacher for a semester before student teaching, while 10…

The University of Wyoming (UW) teacher education program is a collaborative between UW faculty and educators from school districts throughout the state. Though the university faculty is charged with teaching teachers, the equally important "teachers of teachers" are the exemplary classroom teachers who provide modeling and expertise for…

The case method is a popular teaching tool that can be applied to training for diversity and particularly the preparation of general education teachers for the inclusion of diverse learners in their classrooms. Case-based methodology teacher training activities focus on actual classroom experiences and prompt reflection and personal involvement. A…

This study focused on the "failure" experienced by four female novice teachers who were successful in university course work but experienced considerable difficulty in their initial teaching assignments. The difficulties these women encountered are examined through analysis of observation notes, interview transcripts, journals and autobiographical…

The purpose of this longitudinal qualitative inquiry was to describe the socially constructed, negotiated, and contextual nature of an early field placement in an urban elementary school. The objectives were to document subtle changes over time in preservice teachers' reading/language arts subject matter knowledge and teaching beliefs and…

This study on the role of university lecturers in supervision of practicum experiences for preservice teachers is based on a literature review that examined the ideal and actual characteristics, roles, responsibilities, tasks, and activities of university supervisors. A survey was conducted of 52 university supervisors, 93 supervising teachers, 35…

Preparation of teachers for home-school-community partnerships will be most effective if it is based on a foundational approach that makes teachers aware of the social and political context of teaching and cognizant of the economic, social, and political demands that are placed on schools. A foundational approach to home-school-community…

Northern Michigan University and the Marquette Area Public Schools are working collaboratively to improve both K-12 education and teacher education. Through several cooperative ventures, students and teachers in both institutions are benefitting from increased professional collaboration, becoming allies to reform and renew education. The main…

The Ford Foundation Clinical Schools Project was designed to assist higher education institutions, school systems, and teachers' professional organizations to collaborate in creating for teacher education the equivalent of the medical profession's teaching hospitals. Seven sites implemented experimental clinical training programs in six states:…

This report presents findings from the third phase of a longitudinal study of teacher education, based on a survey of 289 students in their third and final year of training at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch Colleges of Education in New Zealand and interviews with 74 of the students. The study investigated students' perceptions of their…