ERIC Number: EJ994844
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0892-3647
EISSN: N/A
Preservice Teachers' Experience in a Virtual School
Kennedy, Kathryn; Cavanaugh, Cathy; Dawson, Kara
American Journal of Distance Education, v27 n1 p56-67 2013
Situated in the theoretical perspective of phenomenology, the purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of three preservice teachers who voluntarily participated in a field placement in a virtual school in the southeastern United States. The preservice teachers were paired with online teachers for four weeks. Their experiences were documented via four phenomenological interviews. Using phenomenological analysis, the interview data were analyzed, resulting in the essence of the virtual school field placement. The essence of the virtual school field placement was made up of six shared horizons, consisting of (1) communication with supervising teacher, (2) information systems at the virtual school, (3) modification of course content, (4) exposure to new technologies, (5) balancing act, and (6) unmet expectations. The results have implications for preservice teachers, teacher education programs, virtual schools, education policymakers, and teacher certification organizations. Suggestions for future research are provided.
Descriptors: Preservice Teacher Education, Teacher Education Programs, Information Systems, Phenomenology, Course Content, Preservice Teachers, Educational Experience, Learning Experience, Virtual Classrooms, Interviews, Student Teacher Attitudes, Teacher Placement, Field Experience Programs, Supervisor Supervisee Relationship, Delivery Systems, Technological Literacy, Expectation, Distance Education, Educational Technology
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education; Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A