A national survey found that approximately 75 percent of the states in the United States required general education teachers to have a course or two in special education or to meet some specific competency criteria--an increase over a 1984 survey. Research on how well teachers make use of such training is encouraged. (JDD)

A synthesis is presented of the outcomes of the "Beyond the Looking Glass" Conference which brought together educational practitioners, policy makers, and researchers to make concrete suggestions for what should be done to improve the conditions, processes, and effects of teacher education. Three major points of agreement formed the…

Many problems arise from inaccurate expectations for preservice teacher education and its relationship to what goes on in elementary and secondary schools. Preservice education is expected to provide schools with a continuous supply of highly qualified candidates. However, preservice teacher education exerts little proactive control over teacher…

Historically, teaching has been considered an art, not a science, and therefore not subject to scientific analysis. However, there now exists a body of knowledge and a fresh set of conceptions about teaching upon which to base teacher education. Recent and numerous advances in pedagogical knowledge can now be used to provide teacher education with…

This summary report on the Study of Induction Programs for Beginning Teachers offers insights on the findings of the study. Two kinds of programs were studied: preservice internship programs, and induction programs. A discussion is given on what the study revealed about the experiences of beginning teachers in the transition period from students…

In this first of four volumes reporting the findings of the study of induction programs for beginning teachers, the problems and issues covered by the study are discussed. A description is given of the methodology used in the study, and a series of recommendations for teacher educators and policymakers are offered. In the first chapter, the human…

The document is part of the final report on Project STEEL (Special Teacher Education and Evaluation Laboratory) intended to extend the utilization of technology in the training of preservice special education teachers. This volume focuses on the first of four project objectives, the development and implementation of a microcomputer-based…

The University of Washington has designed a rural track in its master's level training program in early childhood special education. This paper reports on the components of the training program and the results of the first two years of teacher preparation, including placement of trainees in rural practicum sites. (Author/JDD)

Preservice elementary teachers need to be introduced to computer use first and then applications should be integrated across the curriculum. A program of computer education for elementary school teachers and computer specialists is presented. (MNS)

This report examines two components of federal legislation to enhance teaching quality by improving the training of prospective teachers and the qualifications of current teachers. One component provides grants, and the other (the accountability provisions) requires collecting and reporting information the quality of teacher training programs and…

These guidelines provide recommendations for certifying precollegiate teachers of civics, government, and social studies. The guidelines are intended for reference and use by: (1) colleges and universities with programs that certify elementary, middle, and high school social studies, civics and government teachers; (2) state education agencies…

Discusses the development of mathematics teacher education based on author's experience of the last 50 years. Describes activities of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Mathematical Association of America. Twelve references are listed. (YP)

Surveys of program graduates of a model science teacher education program were compared with responses from a national sample of exemplary teachers. Results indicated a high degree of similarity between the two groups and provided evidence that a good preservice science teacher education can have a positive effect on the development of preservice…

Regular classroom teachers (n=114) who had taken a special education course were queried as to the value of the information presented to them, after they had begun to teach mainstreamed students. Results indicated that teachers considered the topics covered to be very important, and reported themselves to be fairly competent to deal with…

This digest examines the spread of mentoring in the United States, obstacles to realizing the potential of mentoring as a vehicle of reform, needed research, and selected issues of policy and practice. While the education community understands that mentors have a positive effect on teacher retention, the question of what mentors should do, what…