Describes the use of three educational innovations--prototypes, simulations, and protocol materials--in teacher education programs. Sample lessons and evaluations of each of the innovations are provided. (Author/DB)

This study explored the extent to which the development of written teaching units in university methods courses was useful in preparing teachers, noting ways in which practicing teachers designed and organized subject matter in the form of written units. Participants were preservice elementary teachers enrolled in an Oakland University methods…

Advocates that two methods courses should be developed for each subject area in elementary education so that prospective teachers can specialize in either the primary (K-3) or intermediate grades (4-6). In particular, suggested differences in science methods courses at these two levels are discussed. (JR)

Documented training and educational activities of preservice elementary education majors (N=20) to determine what (if any) aspects of their science training contribute to developing the apprehension elementary teachers have toward science, science education, and science instruction. Results, conclusions, and implications are reported from the…

Calls for dispelling the myth that no valuable art learning can be gained from structured elementary programs and suggests revising teacher education methods courses to train elementary teachers so they can help students develop significant awareness of art qualities, artistic processes, and art history. (JD)

Describes a four semester hour science and mathematics methods course for elementary education majors, offered at Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, Minn.) that has the following characteristics: (1) behaviorally stated objectives, (2) criterion-referenced measurements, (3) levels of competency, (4) options within levels of competency, and (5)…

Discusses activities that occurred during an elementary science methods course, and the fact that the students' success in these activities was not correlated with measures of success in a classroom teaching exercise as determined by assisting teachers. (MLH)

This study examined the effect that instruction about and participation in groupwork/cooperative learning had on preservice teachers' attitudes toward cooperative learning, especially their knowledge of related academic and social benefits, and their pedagogical competence to organize classrooms for group work/cooperative learning. Surveys…

Studied a model for integrating mathematical content and children's mathematical thinking earlier so that prospective mathematics teachers engage with children's thinking in their first mathematics course. Preliminary data from 47 preservice teachers indicate that the sophistication of students taught through this model increased more than the…

This study examined the difficulties and factors that led to understanding the learning cycle teaching strategy. Participants included 83 preservice elementary teachers (PTs) enrolled in multiple sections of a science methods course taught by the same professor, one of the authors of this study. Analysis revealed that there were four categories of…

We examined the beliefs about science teaching and learning held by elementary preservice teachers in a science methods course, comparing students who had experienced an inquiry-based physics course with those who had not. Students who had taken the physics course prior to the methods semester were better equipped to recognize and learn from…

This publication presents a six-year project (1972-78) funded by the National Science Foundation under the Undergraduate Pre-service Teacher Education Program (UPSTEP). The first three years of the project (Phase I) were concerned with a longitudinal study of a pilot group of prospective elementary teachers as they encountered science content and…

Prospective elementary teachers were surveyed at the conclusion of the course "Methods and Materials for Teaching Elementary School Mathematics" and one semester later at the end of their student teaching experience. The study attempted to determine if the goals and objectives of the course were met and to examine the recommended emphasis for the…

Concludes that elementary school teachers have definite opinions concerning what should be taught in college and university methods classes and what should be incorporated into reading instruction in the elementary grades. (FL)

Explains the rationale and goals for a physical science course for elementary education majors. Components include: presentation of a science lesson from one of the elementary science programs; hands-on experience with lessons taught by other students; and incorporation of current science-technology-society problems into discussions. Results from…