The goal of teacher education is to prepare prospective teachers to become reflective practitioners who are able to make pedagogical decisions in light of sound theory. This report describes a model for integrating science and mathematics methods with student teaching. Efforts to maintain a critical bond between theory and practice is one…

The University of Alabama set up a communication network pilot program to enhance the early childhood and elementary methods block in the College of Education. The pilot program incorporated electronic mail (E-Mail), a fax machine, and a microcomputer communications network. The network made possible instructors' clarifications of assignments,…

This paper discusses a model for providing technical assistance to teachers of students with severe/profound mental handicaps who teach in rural areas. The model, known as the Institute for Educators of Students with Severe/Profound Mental Handicaps, is presently in its second successful year in the state of Georgia. Its unique design provides a…

Rural school districts have problems providing specialized training to staff in remote areas, and rural teachers often need specialized knowledge because of the lack of programs for rural students with low incidence handicaps. Emerging videodisc technology may lessen some of these difficulties. Utah State University has developed a…

Science may be the subject area in which elementary teachers are the least confident and prepared to teach. The purpose of this project was to develop an effective model to better prepare teachers by enhancing their content background, and helping them teach inquiry-oriented science. Three departments, Biology, Chemistry, and Education, combined…

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…

A three-part study was undertaken to determine the status of preservice elementary science education in New England. The first part ("Crisis in Elementary Science Education: New England") reports on a survey of New England teacher education institutions to determine the amount and types of science content and elementary science methods…

Specific areas in foreign language teacher training programs are defined as problem areas: the teaching of culture, activities to promote the study of foreign languages, and language testing. It is stated that foreign language teachers should have competence in (1) content area, (2) the learning-teaching process, and (3) the relationship of…

Reported is a study designed to test Hovland's principle of attitude change as related to attitudes toward science and science teaching. Hovland's research provided information that communicators who were perceived as being highly credible and authoritative are more likely to produce greater attitude change than are communicators perceived as less…

The collaborative innovation described in this paper, the use of cooperating teachers in instructing methods courses, is an integral part of a thorough revision of the student teaching program in secondary social studies at the University of Alberta. This innovation was the response to multiple problems with the student teaching program.…

This paper suggests a model for the preparation of social studies teachers based on the writings of sociologist C. Wright Mills. In 1961 Mills stated that the purpose of social inquiry should be to help people understand the connection of their personal lives to the social structure, the institutional arrangements of society. Based on this…

Results of a survey are presented concerning the status of social studies methods courses at undergraduate institutions in Arkansas. There are 16 colleges which provide teaching certificates at the secondary level in Arkansas; all include the social studies as one of their certification areas. All 16 responded to the author's questionnaire. It was…

Over a period of five semesters, the attitudes of preservice secondary mathematics teachers participating in seven varieties of educational experiences were measured using the Mathematics Teaching Inventory (MTI). Items on the MTI were scored for modern versus traditional attitudes. Seven subscales were generated by classifying items on the basis…

This document is a PowerPoint presentation intended for K-12 public school educators, administrators, and policy analysts as well as college and university educators involved or interested in teacher preparation programs. The presentation chronicles the partnership between Oswego State University and Parish Elementary School in north central New…

The effective use of technology in the classroom has become a focal emphasis in K-12 schools. Because of this emphasis, teacher education programs are expected to provide future teachers with an education that includes teaching specific content areas as well as an opportunity to become computer literate. During two semesters, pre- and…