Reports results of field observations and interviews with the first cohort to graduate from a collaborative elementary/special-education teacher-education program at the University of Florida. Students were not troubled by the diversity of instructor perspectives; in fact, they considered this diversity a program strength. Findings are discussed…

Students profit greatly from seeing geology in the field. Unfortunately, many factors make using the field as a training area difficult. Recommends that teachers participate in field excursions and transmit their learning into the classroom. Describes the GeoVenture concept and a trip to Great Britain. A slide set is available for nonparticipants.…

Examined preservice teachers' journeys toward becoming reflective professionals within the context of a reading/language-arts methods course and elementary field experience. Observations, journals, surveys, and interviews indicated that participants' behaviors were grouped into three categories: questioning as a way of learning, constructing a…

Presents six case studies of EARTHWATCH expeditions which provide teachers with opportunities to work with scientists, participate in scientific discovery, and employ new technology. Educators join EARTHWATCH teams to explore tropical and dry forests, monitor ecosystems and species, unearth remains, and consequently develop innovative classroom…

This paper examines research in science education, making a case for the interpretive researcher to value both reason and emotion for generating a reflective and reflexive understanding of the classroom experiences of teachers and students. It discusses the role of rationality and emotions in fieldwork, and presents two impressionistic…

The chronology of ideas and events that nurtured the development of field-based experience to train educational leaders is presented. The philosophical and intellectual foundations upon which field experience is based are identified. Field-based experience is a supervised on-the-job learning approach that is conducted in such ways as internships,…

This document researched the utilization of SET: Research Information for Teachers, a package of articles presenting a smorgasbord of educational research information. Five case studies in New Zealand schools were presented; five institutional visits were described. The purpose of the school visits was to investigate what happened to SET…

Describes a summer workshop, funded by the National Science Foundation, to train elementary teachers in Oklahoma to serve as leaders in implementing modern elementary school science curriculum programs. (PB)

This collection of articles on effective teaching strategies is divided into the following ten major categories: (1) the lecture; (2) computers; (3) simulations; (4) peer teaching; (5) case studies; (6) self-pacing and modules; (7) use of multimedia; (8) field studies; (9) problem solving; and (10) research. The book is primarily addressed to…

This study examined how collaborative processes of communication and knowledge construction over time and space are structured and organized utilizing two-way video conferencing strategies for distance education in undergraduate child development courses at two universities. Several qualitative research methodologies were employed to document…

Describes the New Mexico Rural Science Education Project, a school-university-museum cooperative effort that seeks to improve rural elementary science education through teacher workshops, teacher-developed materials on local themes, individualized support services, and natural history field schools for teachers and students. (SV)

Discussed are research methods as applied to research in the mathematics classroom. Included in the discussion are objectivity, development, evaluation, observation, reflection, research design and methods, and data reduction. (CW)

Argues that the usefulness of strictly quantitative research is still questioned in educational studies, primarily due to deficiencies in methodological training. Uses a critique of a recent study by Heitmeyer et al. (1995) to illustrate the requirements of "good" empirical research. Considers the problems of hypothesis testing in field research.…

Contends that excitement can be infused into the K-12 geography curriculum by involving teachers in real research projects led by professional geographers. Describes a project where K-12 teachers and geographers participated in geography field research in the mountain highlands of the Valle Nuevo Scientific Reserve of the Dominican Republic. (CMK)

A way to assess the large volume of student data generated in an introductory graduate-level course in qualitative research in education is described. Primary attention is given to assessing the technical aspects of field data collection, and only secondary attention is given to the consideration of the substantive aspects of the field data. In…