A chronic shortage of certified special education teachers has plagued rural West Virginia counties. This shortage is exacerbated by difficulties in teacher recruitment and retention. The highest priority of training must go to teachers currently employed in special education positions on temporary permits, since they are likely to continue…

This study was conducted to determine the degree of variance which exists among different groups of evaluators relative to their assessments of the teaching competencies demonstrated by preservice education students. Participants in the study were 75 undergraduates certified to teach by Washburn University's (Kansas) teacher preparation program…

One strategy for better preparing students for teaching in contemporary schools is to offer them programs which provide extended field experience. If well-planned and directed, these programs can generate many benefits by integrating the theory and practice of teaching. The University of Victoria (British Columbia, Canada), through various…

This report contains findings and discussion concerning the influence of contextual factors upon the student teaching experience. Introductory remarks explain the rationale for the study as well as the substance of other documents resulting from it. A section describing methodology reports that data for the study were collected from two sites: a…

A review of pertinent literature on the evaluation of student teachers is presented. Descriptions are given of differing evaluation approaches and techniques, and several recent works discussing how to evaluate student teachers are appraised. One of these works focuses on what to avoid in teacher evaluation, while others describe different…

An ethnographic study of 12 student teachers in an elementary school field-based program determined, through observation and interviews, how they reacted to the socializing process that is an integral factor in practicum experiences. Institutional and social forces that shaped these preservice teachers' behaviors and ideas were the elementary…

These guidelines describe the role and duties of all participants in field experience programs for prospective teachers at Samford University (Birmingham, Alabama). Requirements for entry, retention, and exit from the program are described, and policies regarding the placement of students in local schools are listed. Outlines are presented of what…

This paper describes a study that explored the personal concerns of student teachers, how they viewed their apprenticeship and their hidden perspectives. A description is given of how information was obtained about the way four students viewed their field experiences. Journals, daily narratives of students' reactions to teaching experiences,…

Student teaching is the most powerful experience in the preservice preparation of teachers. Researchers have noted that during the student teaching experience, the norms of the university are quickly supplanted by the norms of the public school. This research is designed to examine the perspective that student teachers adopt toward teaching social…

The purpose of this study was to determine the adequacy of the preparation provided by the teacher preparation program at Washburn University (Kansas) relative to the competency of assessing and interpreting student progress. Answers were sought to the following questions: (1) How does the student teacher evaluate his/her competence in regards to…

This book is designed to provide an updated and practical reference for classroom supervisors of student teachers. The emphasis is on the interpersonal, cognitive, and instructional process involved in the student teaching experience. In each chapter, options, techniques, and principles are suggested and are often illustrated with case studies.…

A problem solving study focused on the effectiveness of the student speech therapy practicum, part of the speech pathology and audiology program in the Department of Communication Disorders at Hampton Institute (Virginia). The objective was to investigate participants' attitudes toward the program and its problems and provide solutions for…

The student teaching experience at Queens College is a cooperative venture between university supervisors, cooperating teachers, administrators, and student teachers. In an effort to evaluate and improve this performance based program, the education department surveyed cooperating teachers. Survey results indicate that the teachers were interested…

This document contains eight learning modules for use in the preservice education of secondary school teachers. The modules use various techniques and resources in helping the teacher trainee attain the objectives outlined and include identification questions, essay questions, case histories, and readings. The topics covered are: (1) teacher…

In a 2 1/2-year study of the application of interaction analysis (a method of classroom observation) to preservice teacher education, approximately 40 secondary student teachers were involved in an experiment during each of 3 semesters. A 2 by 2 factorial design made it possible to test the influence of 2 independent variables (student teacher…