Purpose: The study attempts to examine the viewpoints of those involved in evaluating the performance of section heads in Kuwait secondary schools; mainly section heads themselves, supervisors and principals. It sets out to determine the strength and weaknesses in the performance evaluation form designed for section heads.…

In this article a teacher/researcher and an academic mentor explore the potency, possibilities and tensions of the mentoring relationship from personal perspectives. The concept of mentoring as described in this article uses the model of mentor/mentee relationship as portrayed in Homer's epic narrative the Odyssey. In the examination of the…

This article explores the factors that contributed to personal learning and development as a result of being a member of a collaborative action research project group. The project took place in a university School of Education, and involved five lecturers and the students they were supervising for their dissertations. Data were collected by…

A critical analysis of the field practice component of early childhood teacher education is presented. As used here, the term "practice" includes on- and off-campus student teaching programs that provide preservice experiences for persons intending to work with children from birth to eight years of age and lead to a two-year diploma or a…

This study sought to determine the perceptions of preservice student teachers, cooperating teachers, and faculty supervisors regarding their roles and responsibilities. A total of 337 students, 38 faculty members, and 169 cooperating teachers responded to a questionnaire which elicited perceptions about role specific practicum activities connected…

The objectives and design of a 3-year study of research training and supervision in biology and physics are discussed. Scientific problems arising from work on the thesis will be a focus for the postgraduate students and their supervisors. Attention will be focused on supervisors' and students' conceptions of science, subject range, research,…

Observation of student primary school teachers, their college tutors, and supervising teachers during a structured 2-week introductory school experience indicated that individual student teachers needed a variety of forms and structures to benefit from the experience, reflecting the student teachers' and the other professionals' perception of…

This paper links the problem of questioning and answering in student teacher supervision with teachers' pedagogical thinking. The first section discusses whether asking the right questions or giving the right answers is more important and what is actually involved when the questions and answers are correct. The second section discusses the…

This study examined the justifications that Finnish student teacher supervisors gave regarding their advice and guidelines used in teaching practice, referring to the advice as teaching recipes. Both supervisors and student teachers were asked for information on justifications. Justifications were collected via questionnaires and interviews over…

This article describes a new student teaching element introduced in the Netherlands in which student teachers act on their own during a three-month practicum, with no classroom observation incorporated into supervision. Also discusses short-term learning outcomes (as perceived by student teachers and their supervisors) of this effort to increase…

Describes the process and outcomes of a collaborative self-study by five Chilean teacher educators interested in improving their supervision of student teachers, examining problems they encountered as first-time writers of a self-study report. Guidelines for scaffolding supervisees' reflectivity are included (e.g., attend to supervisors' and…

In Britain, 124 physical education student teachers were surveyed after their first teaching practice and 111 after the second. Being observed, evaluated, and assessed by their supervisors caused the most anxiety both times. There were no differences in level of anxiety after two practices. (SK)

Data from 15 United Kingdom organizations highlighted best practices in developing entry workers: direct managers play a key role, coaching in learning by doing is essential, and networking with peers is valuable. Development is influenced by a mix of factors: mentoring, personnel practices, attitude, organizational culture, peer group, and…

Draws upon empirical data from a random sample of 150 secondary and 350 elementary schools in England to consider how teacher governors perceive their role and explore areas viewed as problematic. Effective supervisors generally incorporate positive elements of three other supervisory styles: minimalist, watchdog, and communication-link. (MLH)

Swedish teachers are currently expected to become more involved in school improvement based on the findings of research. One of the main goals of this work is to develop practice in its own contexts. Teachers become involved in action and research or, in other words, the combination of practice and theory. A central issue in this work is whether…