Research skills are a valued commodity by industry and university administrators. Despite the importance placed on these skills students typically dislike taking research method courses where these skills are learned. However, training in research skills does not necessarily have to be confined to these courses. In this study participants at a…

Research regarding rubrics in K-12 classrooms and in higher education has focused on teachers' perceptions and use of them. Rubrics have been found to objectify subjective assignments, ensure accountability, and improve student understanding of teacher expectations (Andrade, 2000; Hall & Salmon, 2003; Walvoord & Anderson, 1998). This study focuses…

This paper observes that the "Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education" generated by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) (2000) provides a reasonable set of pedagogical goals to guide the construction and implementation of the undergraduate methods course. The paper argues that the particular…

Through specific practices in methods classes, prospective teachers can be taught the benefits of professional activism. One such strategy is to provide students with complimentary copies of "Language Arts" and ask them to read two or three articles that especially interest them. Another strategy asks students to read, select, and submit one or…

The theory and practice of whole language teaching should be integral and simultaneous components of preservice teacher education. A number of instructional strategies and class activities can be used to provide preservice teachers with experiences similar to experiences they will provide to elementary school children. Examples of class activities…

A series of computer tutorials provide opportunities for education students in an elementary-mathematics-methods course to explore a topic in depth. Tutorials cover content discussed in class and offer classroom situations for student response and reflection. At the end of each tutorial, students have a choice of assignments to complete in…

This project was designed to develop a model for teaching general music methods for elementary/early childhood education majors using musics of diverse cultures as discrete and infused entities, integrated across the curriculum. The proposed model's primary goal was to develop student awareness of sources of culturally diverse music and related…

This paper describes a preservice health education course for elementary educators that incorporated a technology component to help the students gain computer literacy. All students received instructional computer accounts and had access to a class bulletin board. One class session focused on learning the systems. Throughout the semester, students…

This curriculum guide provides instructors in part-time early childhood education programs with a comprehensive overview of course descriptions, themes and topics, classroom activities and assignments, and resources. Presented in four sections--including first year courses, first year observation practicum information, second year courses, and…

This paper discusses the need for university faculty to effectively model appropriate and engaging uses of computer technology in teacher education courses. Preservice teachers need to experience implementing meaningful ways to use available technologies in preparation of lessons and activities. Specific reference to infusion of technology in…

A professor from the University of Tennessee and a mathematics teacher who formerly taught kindergarten teamed up to plan and teach a kindergarten methods course for undergraduate elementary education majors. The course includes both practical and theoretical perspectives. Course readings consist of selections from textbooks and articles from…