Initial Teacher Training (ITT) has always been a partnership between schools and higher education. In recent years the relationship has been redefined into a more formal and contractual one, in which the school plays a far greater role than ever before. Improvement of partnerships between schools and higher education institutions for the…

Results are reported from a study of 21 student teachers (interns) enrolled at Western Michigan University during 1993. Data were collected from the interns via a 60-item questionnaire. Eight of the subjects were assigned to a secondary professional development school (PDS) for their student teaching internship and were enrolled in a redesigned…

This practicum was designed to acquaint seven early childhood education majors with various kinds of computer hardware and software. They were required to evaluate the software for its developmental appropriateness. Additionally, their assignment was to write a minimum of two lessons using technology in their 5-day unit plans and to teach one of…

Public schools are increasingly investigating portfolio assessment as a means of evaluating student performance. A project examined student participation in portfolio assessment and cooperative learning in a "Reading in the Content Areas" class for preservice teachers. Students were a diverse group which included preservice middle school…

This paper summarizes three presentations on the diverse teaching and assessment strategies used in a course designed to prepare preservice teachers for involving families and the community in the education of children. The course is required for early childhood and elementary teacher education majors at the University of Memphis (Tennessee). The…

This report investigated the extent to which students in public secondary schools are taught by teachers without basic qualifications in their assigned teaching fields--i.e., at least a college minor in the fields they teach--focusing on core academic subjects (mathematics, English, social studies, science). Analysis of the study data revealed…

A survey instrument was developed to examine preservice teachers' understanding of classroom issues related to exceptional needs and cultural diversity. The instrument was administered to 832 preservice teachers at universities in Alabama, Michigan, Montana, New York, and Washington at 3 levels (beginning, middle, and end of program). Data are…

Twenty professors who teach courses required for elementary certification at two state universities in southwestern United States were interviewed regarding the preparation of preservice teachers for diversity in classrooms, using a semistructured interview protocol. Transcripts of the interviews were reviewed, looking for definitions of…

This paper provides an overview of a teacher evaluation system designed to improve the education of preservice teachers at Auburn University (Alabama) by promoting self-assessment, reflection, and professional growth. The system uses a portfolio approach which includes a simulation exercise in pedagogical decision making. The portfolio contains…

A state university and a local school district collaborated to develop an apprenticeship model for field teacher training that benefited all parties involved in the field experience process. The model's foundation was based on experiences working with new teachers in inner city settings. The model was to create an environment that would provide…

The study described here was conducted to examine the impact of reforms made to an elementary education program which include broadened supervised practicums experience for all education methods courses thereby creating a link between theory and practice. Specific attention was given to prospective teachers' perceptions of the usefulness of their…

In 1986, the Appalachia Educational Laboratory (AEL) established a minigrant program to foster collaboration between K-12 schools and colleges of education. Between 1986 and 1991, AEL minigrants offered seed money for 63 college-school partnership projects in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. Prior to 1991, college-school…

Minority group students are disproportionately represented in special education programs and have alarmingly high dropout rates. In rural Louisiana, special educators must cope with teaching a population that is poor, ethnically diverse, and somewhat isolated from mainstream America. An assessment instrument designed to identify training needs of…

The purpose of this study was to analyze the perceptions of teacher education graduates from the Department of Education and Psychology at Berry College in Rome, Georgia. A survey was sent to 148 randomly selected individuals from the graduating classes of 1985 through 1990. The former students were asked to assess their level of preparation for…

This study was conducted at the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Buffalo to clarify the state of computer competence among elementary education majors. The impetus for the study was a local superintendent of schools' statement of his district's plans to employ teachers and administrators only if they demonstrate computer literacy. A…