Subjective confidence for solving classroom problems while instructing students in appropriate academic material is crucial for effective teaching. One way to develop problem solving confidence may result from the semester most education majors spend in the classroom as student teachers. The problem solving inventory (PSI) was given to university…

Attempted to improve attitudes of college students toward various groups of special needs children through the use of a cognitive-experiential module. Treatment significantly reduced negative evaluations regarding ratings of physically handicapped, emotionally disturbed, and normal children and approached significance for retarded children.…

Investigated the relationship between success in student teaching and 13 instruments commonly completed before student teaching and whether the measures predict success in student teaching. The data indicated the measures were ineffective. Suggested alternatives to the instruments used are proposed. (Author/JAC)

Purposes were to (1) identify attitudes of teacher candidates toward teacher characteristics and (2) determine if there was a change in attitudes during student teaching. Subjects (N=120) showed significant positive shifts in attitudes toward the selected characteristics but maintained their feelings that training provided in these concepts is…

Questionnaires from undergraduate students with a declared major in special education showed 41 percent had at least one handicapped individual in their family background. Perceptions of special education were influenced by academic rank, academic concentration, and personal experiences with the handicapped. (Author)

Compared special education and regular education college students to identify teacher traits needed to deal with special needs students in the regular classroom. Results showed special education majors have stronger affiliation needs and regular education majors have higher achievement needs. Suggests characteristics needed by teachers dealing…

When the course selection requirements were made flexible in a college of education, the graduated students following the flexible program achieved lower scores on the NTE Mathematics Scale and did not achieve higher cumulative grade point averages in the college when compared to those who followed the more rigid program. (Author)

Teacher education students have favorable attitudes toward their professional preparation. Two groups of students were given affective domain tests before and after student teaching. Results showed less favorable attitudes toward children and school work after student teaching. (Author)

A sample of 168 male and 169 female college students on a secondary curriculum responded to statements as to why secondary teaching was preferable to elementary and to conditions that would cause them to consider teaching at the elementary level. Sex and attitude toward sex role showed no significant difference. (Author)

Tested the hypothesis that undergraduate teacher education students enrolled in a first course in educational foundations demonstrate limited understanding and knowledge of the field of professional education. A designed 15-item multiple choice course pretest was administered to 97 undergraduate teacher education students. Results confirmed the…

Examined the degree to which faculty and students found the programs satisfactory in meeting their needs. Evaluations of teacher preparation programs should include written feedback from students and faculty. A survey of both groups resulted in data that can be used to revise and improve programs. (Author/BEF)

This study evaluated attitude changes in student teachers placed in differing types of internship situations. Results indicated tendencies to become more concealing and controlling. There were significant differences between team teaching and more traditional approaches. The study supports calls for new experimental teacher education programs.…

Investigated the preference of special education students (N=73) for working with profoundly mentally retarded individuals, the amount of contact with such individuals, and knowledge about mental retardation. The profoundly mentally retarded were ranked as the least preferred group with which to work. (JAC)

On questions related to the role of consumers in society, prospective teachers scored only 64 percent correct. Those majoring in science scored highest. Males scored significantly higher than females. Having taken college consumer education courses had little effect on scores. (Author)

Analyzes 399 stated goals of participants in four separate student-teaching seminars. Evaluation revealed a correspondence with Snyder and Anderson's seven subsystems of teacher proficiency. Goal-setting assignments before student teaching experience, a follow-up self-evaluation, and analysis appear to have value for student growth and department…