This study determined the prevalence and patterns of smokeless tobacco use in a sample of preservice educators at a southern university, and identified factors associated with initiation and reinforcement of the activity. A 26-item survey was completed by 174 persons enrolled in a course required for completion of the teacher education program.…

Results of a study of periodicals cited in 139 Master's Theses in Education and Specialist in Education Projects written from 1968 through 1976 at West Georgia College are presented. Bibliographic entries total 4,166, of which 2,068 are nonperiodical items. Some 285 periodicals are cited, of which 117 appear only once and 30 others are found in no…

This study was designed to explore (1) whether empathy can be taught to undergraduates, (2) if gains can be achieved in a short training period, (3) whether gains will be maintained, and (4) if students will have positive attitudes toward the training. Results were all found to be decidedly positive. (Author/BW)

The fundamental purpose of an introductory course in education is to help students form a personal basis for decisions about entering the profession and preparing to teach. (JD)

An Inventory of Piaget's Developmental Tasks was used to assess attainment of five Piagetian tasks of elementary and secondary-level teacher candidates and of general population college students. Results were compared and are discussed. Recommendations to promote cognitive maturity are presented. (Author/MT)

Six preservice physical education teachers were studied to discover what observatiotn and perceptual processes were used during an early field experience. Results revealed that subjects made observations about students' movement responses, students' movement characteristics, and organizational tasks and patterns. (Author/CB)

Three sources of data, two national and one school specific, are used to analyze the characteristics of entrants to primary teacher education in Ireland. Reported are findings on demographic information, academic achievement, perceptions of salary, and prestige of seven occupations, personality traits, and attitudes. (Author/MT)

The role of cognitive style in academic counseling was examined in 427 female teacher education majors by investigation of field dependence among the students in different areas of specialization. Results supported the contention that field dependence is related to choice of area of specialization in a manner consistent with field dependence…

Students exiting Illinois State University teacher education programs were compared with students in other areas in an attempt to assess their quality. Findings indicate that teacher education students compare favorably with students in other academic areas, particularly when considering high school percentile rank and grade point averages. (MT)

This article cautions teacher educators about taking an uncritical view of technological literacy. Suggestions are given on ascertaining the appropriateness, relevance, and usefulness of various computer literacy courses. (CJB)

Three essay questions were administered to junior education major college students. Factor analysis of the ratings showed that content played a large role in the students' responses, yielding dominant first order factors. Generalizability theory, used to examine the reliability of students' ratings, showed the need for more raters and questions.…

Intrinsic motivation is usually regarded as a significant determinant of the use of elaborative and metacognitive learning strategies that, in turn, foster the acquisition of well-structured and transferable knowledge. In studies testing this assumption the following pattern of results is usually obtained: Intrinsic motivation is significantly…

Beginning education majors conducting in-depth interviews with experienced teachers as part of an introductory course is described. The interview would provide preservice teachers with more information on which to base a career decision and would enable them to switch majors, if so desired. A list of interview guidelines is included. (JM)

Discusses the benefits of early field experiences to elementary education majors. (SJL)