This multi-year program was based on the premise a digital divide exists between the technology skill levels of public school faculties compared to those of undergraduate teacher education candidates. The Technology Mentor Fellowship Program (TMFP) matched technologically-proficient pre-service teachers with K-12 teachers to model technology as an…

The purpose of this research was to determine whether particular biographic and academic characteristics would predict whether an applicant would matriculate into and successfully complete an online secondary teacher certification program for Texas public schools. Extensive biographic data on applicants were compiled into a program data base…

Three bases or decision-rules for selecting and organizing content for teacher preparation programs are discussed. In order to be considered as viable content for a teacher preparation program, the concept, principle, or process must be: (1) related to student growth; (2) a necessary curricular component; and (3) logically explained by a theory of…

This study investigates educational research and development productivity in teacher education among colleges and universities in the United States. For the purpose of this inquiry, productivity was based on contributions to the annual meetings of the Association of Teacher Educators, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, and…

Quality indicators of teacher education programs are proposed. Three components are addressed: (1) scope and sequence of the curricula; (2) the prior experience, academic preparation, and personal qualities of teacher educators; and (3) the inquiry products, both presentations and publications, of teacher educators. (MT)

This inquiry was conducted to determine the perceptions of classroom teachers regarding the curricular emphasis to place on various topics in teacher education. A mail survey request sent to 297 former students yielded returns from 125 subjects. Analyses of the returns yielded the following ordering of content domains: (1) classroom management;…

Results of this study provide empirical support for the inclusion of early field experiences in teacher preparation programs. While the effects of early field experiences in subsequent course achievement are modest, these effects are substantially greater than those reported for field experiences in conjunction with course work. (FG)

In discussing quality indicators of teacher education programs, three components of teacher education are addressed: the program's content, the faculty, and products of inquiry. Three different rationales are presented for selecting and ordering content for teacher education curricula. These rationales, phrased as "decision-rules" are: in order to…

Utilization of learner cognitive attainment as a measure of student teacher effectiveness is employed in this study of 2,540 secondary school students and 21 student teachers. Five conceptual research models are developed to determine the teaching skill level of the education majors through examination of their students' academic achievement.…

An evaluation of student teacher competency through the use of measure of learner cognitive attainment reveals that teacher expectations do not influence achievement. The amount of experience, degree of effectiveness as perceived by the university supervisor, and time provided for students to learn by student teachers do influence learner…

This paper addresses issues related to the development and preservation of tacit knowledge (i.e., institutional knowledge rooted in actions and experiences) for technology integration. Results of a 1999 survey of teacher preparation programs in Texas are presented. The survey asked administrators in colleges of education to identify skills that…

This article examines various policy responses to the need for more mathematics and science teachers and discusses characteristics of alternative teacher preparation programs. A program model for alternative certification of math and science teachers, developed at Texas A & M University, is presented along with lessons from its implementation.…

The need is clear for colleges of education to prepare student and teachers for a technological world. Most Texas institutions of higher education are struggling with integrating technology into courses and content areas an in offering online courses. This project was undertaken to address the need for increased faculty proficiency in technology…

This inquiry was conducted to determine whether an early field experience influences the academic achievement of teaching candidates in subsequent teaching methods coursework. The subjects were secondary education students who had successfully completed a field experience program preceding their enrollment in the methods course. The course was…

A review of studies on early field experiences centers on John Dewey's belief that pre-practice teaching laboratory experiences should foster reflective criticism of educational purposes and instructional methods and result in more effective student teaching experiences. Current studies have indicated that early field experiences, by focusing on…