This inquiry was conducted to determine whether an early field experience influences the academic achievement of teaching candidates in subsequent teaching methods coursework. The subjects were secondary education students who had successfully completed a field experience program preceding their enrollment in the methods course. The course was…

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…