Student teachers and teacher advisors reported generally positive attitudes toward a yearlong Ontario on-site preservice teacher education program. In particular, 21 student teachers rated the convenience of being in one school as important, and 19 teacher advisors rated the social prestige of being involved in the innovative program as important.…

This study examined preservice elementary teachers' perceptions as they engaged in an action research project. Data from surveys and interviews indicated that the active support of cooperating teachers or peers led to more meaningful experiences. There was some interaction of background life experience and quality of social support during the…

Surveys of student teacher field placement practices in the United States and Canada reveal that colleges in both countries highly value the preparation of cooperating teachers and placement of groups of student teachers in the same school. However, Canadian institutions place greater value on collaborative strategies, while U.S. institutions…

The degree of agreement between evaluations of trainee biology teachers using students' perceptions of teacher skills and characteristics obtained from Science Student Perception Questionnaire (SSPQ) and evaluations of these same teachers by their university supervisor and their school supervisors was determined. Results indicate an agreement and…

Research indicates that most conventional teacher education practicum programs tend to encourage uncritical acceptance of conventional instructional and management techniques. Advances seven basic principles for the design of field experiences that will develop teachers who share the norms of collegiality and experimentation. (97 references, 13…

Five special education student teachers and their cooperating teachers maintained weekly journals reflecting upon successive, prescribed themes. The journal entries of both students and teachers confirmed that a practicum situation provides an opportunity for critical reflection, enhancing the student teaching experience as a shared occasion for…

Describes how an eighth grade teacher uses differential procedures (cognitive apprenticeship) to supervise preservice teacher interns in early, middle, and late field experiences; presents tables which offer the teacher's descriptions of her work alongside descriptions using the vocabulary of cognitive apprenticeship. (SM)

Discussion of research on student teaching experiences and the process of producing effective physical educators examines: origins of student teaching in teacher education, cooperating teacher/supervisor interactions with student teachers, content of teacher-student interactions, reasons for participating in the process, and ways to enhance the…

Interviews with five beginning teachers in a one-year Alberta internship program revealed that the relationship between intern and supervising teacher determined the intern's identity and status and whether the experience promoted professional development. Interns believed that internship should be integrated into preservice teacher education.…

A case study of student teachers in a rural high school indicated that curriculum decisions by student teachers are influenced by supervision practices of the cooperating teacher; both the student teachers' and the cooperating teachers' perception of the student teacher's role; cautions from methods instructors; and existing curriculum and texts.…

Describes student teachers' developmental stages. After reviewing pertinent literature, the paper examines a recent study that qualitatively and quantitatively outlined stages of development applicable to contemporary student teaching contexts. The study found that each of five student teachers passed through four developmental stages…

Two cohorts of Australian preservice teachers provided information on their teaching practicum concerns and the coping strategies they used. Survey data indicated there were significant reductions in stress from the first to the second practicum. Students' principal coping strategy was seeking the support of the supervising teacher, which…

Examined the extent to which English primary schools are increasing involvement in teacher training and the impact this has on school development plans, classroom teaching and learning quality, and teachers' career development. Data from 1997 surveys of 462 primary schools that had recently received student teachers are being used to examine…

Fifty-four special education student teachers were evaluated by university supervisors and cooperating teachers on eight variables, during the first and last weeks of their student teaching. Student teachers who had either participated in university-sponsored field-based experience or had obtained such experience independently received…

Explores the experiences of 17 Canadian seconded teachers--school teachers who act as university teacher-educators for a few years. Identifies seven phases of secondment and five central themes related to university and school cultures, reflective practice, seconded teachers' commitment to teaching and professional identities, and secondment as…