The purpose of this study was to examine the potential of asynchronous discussion forums (ADFs) as a medium to facilitate reflective thinking among preservice teachers. Of particular interest was the extent and manner in which this potential varies with respect to (a) the structure of the ADF, (b) the focus of the ADF, and (c) group dynamics.…

A study investigated both how teachers' effectiveness in the classroom reflected on their pupils' performance on the Certificate of Primary Education and whether teacher training programs prepared teachers for practical classroom demands. Responses were gathered from questionnaires and unstructured interviews with trained primary school teachers,…

This study examined teachers' content knowledge about the nature of science and how this knowledge was expressed in their classrooms. Understandings about science influence not only explicit lessons about the nature of science, but also shape an implicit curriculum concerning scientific knowledge. Consideration was also given to ways in which…

The Nebraska University Secondary Teacher Education Program (NUSTEP) incorporates educational equity concepts through a four-phased, theory-to-practice performance- and field-based teacher training program. The program was developed by college faculty, resource personnel in educational equity, and staff representatives from the Lincoln Public…

A study was conducted to determine how prepared recent vocational teacher education graduates consider themselves to be in teaching eight groups of exceptional students in regular vocational education classes. The 2,091 participants were 1981 graduates of vocational teacher education programs in 29 states. About 52 percent of these teacher…

The four papers in this volume address questions raised by the Dean's Grants Program. Among the themes addressed are the potential of deans to fulfill the role of change agent, techniques used in decision making and exercising authority, and faculty members' and deans' perceptions of the dean's role. Carole R. Sivage, in "Advocates of Change:…

Research findings on teachers' perspectives on teaching tend to indicate that institutional pressures are not strong enough to control what teachers think and how they act within their classrooms. While teachers will conform to organizational demands, their basic teaching styles are likely to remain unchanged. This study explored the socializing…

This study was undertaken to provide the College of Education at Idaho State University with data regarding the directions appropriate for its teacher education mission. Information was obtained from six groups: (1) students beginning the teacher education program; (2) students completing the student teaching experience; (3) cooperating teachers;…

The report examines the professional competencies needed by postsecondary and secondary school agricultural education instructors. A questionnaire covering 11 functions, 39 tasks, and 89 competencies was administered by mail to the 435 vocational agriculture instructors in Wisconsin, of Whom nearly two-thirds of the secondary school and…

The final report of the Responsive Care Program addresses itself to materials development. The Responsive Care Program was designed to facilitate the development of children's social and cognitive repertoires through provision of a rich environment and responsive instructional techniques. The Response Care Model was first implemented at Syracuse…

The report gives an account of a research and development project on Language Assistant Training. It shows the place of the Year Abroad in Modern Languages Degrees, and the need for training of English Language Assistants. After detailing the preparatory arrangements and timetable of a fieldwork visit to French schools to observe and record…

A questionnaire administered at Edinburgh's Moray House College of Education examined attitudes toward education/schools/teachers, indicated student social and community workers found school less expressively/instrumentally rewarding than did student primary teachers. Concludes that some problems of interprofessional communication between teachers…

This study, an evaluation component of the Mathematics English Technology Education Resources (METER) project, examined student teachers' and cooperating teachers' perceptions of the Secondary Teacher Education Program redesign at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. METER was part of the Illinois Professional Learners' Partnership (IPLP)…

This paper reports on an on-going action research study of the elementary school science education courses at the University of Victoria in Canada. The Department of Social and Natural Sciences requires that professors evaluate their teaching effectiveness annually using a variety of methods such as student evaluations, peer observations, course…

In an attempt to bridge the gap between general and vocational education, the Postgraduate School of Education at Agder College in Norway launched a trial teacher education program in 1996 that called for prospective vocational and academic/general teachers to attend the same course. The course, which was designed to encourage students to accept a…