To help educators better understand how to prepare reflective teachers, this study examined four preservice elementary teachers' theories regarding how elementary children learn and what instruction should look like. Participants designed and implemented learning activities for elementary students. Each activity was videotaped, observed, and…

This study, part of a graduate level social studies methods course at a large midwestern university, investigated beginning teachers' ideas about teaching and learning social studies before and after their participation in a set of open-ended interviews with children in the elementary grades. The interviews were designed to give new teachers…

A research study conducted by a classroom teacher explored the question of to what extent increased parent involvement through increased parent-teacher communication will act as a motivating factor for students in a seventh-grade reading classroom and whether this will relate positively to student success in reading. Parents and children took…

This paper examines the role of developmental psychology in reflective practice, using examples from the Department of Psychology at the University of Turin, Italy, and from a regional institute that deals with continuous teacher training. After introducing the topic and discussing the need for continuous teacher training, the paper presents…

This is a continuation study of the use of the achieving styles framework as an instigator for self-reflection among education students. The purpose of the research was to find whether the personal results of taking an achieving styles inventory could provide a means of promoting self-reflection (in this case, for undergraduate teacher education…

This paper reports findings in a study of an e-mail discussion activity in an undergraduate methods course. Students were asked to contribute an e-mail message to the class discussion at least once every two weeks; they could write on any topic suggested by their field experiences or related class discussions and readings. Critical interpretative…

Videotaped six groups of preservice teachers, each of which was solving the same mathematical problem but with different sets of materials, to determine whether videotape could be used as a reflective tool in elementary mathematics education courses. Found that using videotape influenced preservice teachers' conceptualizations of the effect of…

Describes how preservice teachers perceive their role and the practice of mathematics teaching during their teacher education. Data was drawn from a study on elementary school teacher preparation at a state institution. Contains 22 references. (DDR)

Discusses the potential of technology to reduce isolation during student teaching and reports on a study that examined entries of secondary student teachers and faculty related to readings, projects, and daily experiences in schools through an electronic discussion group. Makes recommendations for increasing reflectivity and improving use of…

Indiana University's Teacher Education Laboratory replaces and supplements portions of the preservice program previously provided through field placements in area schools. This article describes the initial field test of a laboratory experience for secondary education majors. Surveys rating students' attitudes about the experience indicated…

Describes a study that examined undergraduate physical education teacher education majors' levels of reflectivity. During one semester, students wrote about reflective teaching following various reading assignments, teaching experiences, and classroom observations. Analysis of the writing assignments for levels of reflectivity indicated that…

A study examined the developmental practicum experiences of five second-year graduate students in deaf education. Results indicated participants' experiences evolved through five stages: frustration, classroom engagement, emerging pupil knowledge, curriculum adaptation, and enthusiasm and positive attitude. Implications for practicum placement of…

Documents a five-year study of two instructors who collaborated on formally studying their teaching of a master's level instructional design course. Outlines their views on learning, teaching, and instructional design (ID), describes the ID course, and explains the reflexive instructional model used, in which the teachers examined their teaching…

Examined the experience of being part of a cohort-based Masters Degree program for practicing teachers. Data came from participants electronic portfolios and a qualitative survey that explored eight cohort dimensions. Results indicated that use of a cohort-based delivery model enhanced program coherence and fostered collaboration, inquiry, and…

Focuses on the reporting of critical incidents as a tool for self-reflection in a program to train English-as-a-Second-language (ESL) secondary school teachers in Malaysia. Case studies of critical incidents highlight the potential value of encouraging ESL trainee teachers to record, analyze, and reflect on significant personal events in their…