This study aimed to gain a greater understanding of the mentoring process in pre-service teacher training in Great Britain where recent restructuring has called for more field experience training of preservice teachers. In particular, the study examined the perspectives of, and the dialogues between, student-teachers, mentors, and supervisors. A…

This paper discusses a reform project (The Professional Development System: Collaboration for Quality Education) collaboratively developed by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and the Brunswick and Duplin County (North Carolina) public school systems. The project takes a systems approach to changing the way teachers are educated and…

This paper provides a framework for examining the phenomenon of failure in student or practice teaching. The "failed" and "withdrawn" records and files of 25 student teachers over a 10-year period were analyzed. These cases represent the stories of preservice teachers who participated in teacher preparation at a large, regional research university…

This project identified work environment factors in eight schools where a teacher preparation program placed early field experience students and where the university students reported experiencing positive field placements. The purpose was to determine the impact of certain variables on teachers' perception of the quality of their own professional…

This volume contains nine case studies that focus on preservice teaching and multicultural education and four case studies on educational change, collaboration and reform for teacher training, and educational leadership. These cases are presented, followed by an introduction to conducting case study discussions, and then by discussion guides for…

Prospective teachers and their supervisors completed a pre- and post-student teaching questionnaire concerning the perceived impact of education and training on their capabilities to teach. Forty-one undergraduate and 18 graduate student teachers participated, along with 66 supervisory teachers. Extensive practica, consisting of over 400 hours in…

The concept of the professional development school (PDS) and the commitment to collaboration advocated by educational reformers derives in part from a recognition of the need to more fully incorporate the voices of teachers in teacher education and professional development. The Coolidge Professional Development School (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts)…

Mills College (California) was one of three sites selected to participate in a project designed to apply and use research in elementary teacher education. The project trained student teachers and cooperating teachers to measure academic learning time and active teacher behaviors with instruments developed by recent research on teacher…

To assess the impact of various rating scale formats in rating student teachers, a Likert-type scale (Highly agree/slightly agree/neither/slightly disagree/highly disagree) was derived from the graphic scale currently used by the cooperating teachers and university supervisors. They rated the music student teachers on an eight-point scale from…

Two Canadian universities conducted an experiment in which preservice teachers used computer-mediated communication to describe and discuss critical incidents occurring during their practicum. Participants in the practicum shared their teaching experiences with peers, cooperating teachers, and university supervisors. Over 3 years, 6 different…

This paper describes the daily interactions between university liaison and K-12 faculty and administrators at a professional development school. It contrasts various levels of collaboration and interaction within professional development schools and student teaching environments, contending that educational community develops in effective…

This paper examines three attempts to improve partnerships in the Netherlands (professional development schools, a curriculum development project, and monitor schools that report to the institution on student teacher progress and integrate theory and practice). Discusses the advantages for schools, student teachers, and teacher education. (SM)

Student teaching is a challenging period for preservice teachers as they make the transition from preparation to practice. Support from mentor teachers and university personnel can make this time easier, helping preservice teachers successfully integrate educational theory into their practice. Because of logistical, financial, and personnel…

This paper reports on research developed from a more comprehensive study of five teacher training programs at a large urban Southern university. During the initial study characteristics were observed in special education and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) cohorts which differed from those of students in the three traditional programs. The…

"Partners Transforming Education: School-University-Community," is a project of the Wright State University College of Education and Human Services (Ohio). The model brings together representatives of the PreK-12 sector, the university at large, and the community to work collaboratively in building a program that will prepare more…