In this article, Jaehan Bae describes one of the assignments he created for an art methods course for education majors (preK-8). In it, Bae asked preservice teachers to research the food as well as other aspects of a culture of their choice. Through this assignment, he hoped the preservice teachers would "explore art and the world through…

Early childhood preservice teachers participated in a qualitative multiple case study to explore and examine the effectiveness of reform-based constructivist methods used in a mathematics methods course to change their mathematics anxiety, mathematics self-efficacy, and mathematics teachers' efficacy beliefs. Findings indicated that instructor's…

In higher education we aspire to prepare students to develop international-mindedness suited to become world citizens. The purpose of this study is (1) to investigate the development of international-mindedness during students' participation in music methods coursework and (2) to find out how international-mindedness is related to preference for…

We describe the Science Semester, a semester-long course block that integrates three science courses and a science education methods course for elementary teacher education majors, and examine prospective elementary teachers' developing conceptions about inquiry, science teaching efficacy, and reflections on learning through inquiry. The…

We investigated curricular and pedagogical innovations in an undergraduate science methods course for elementary education majors at the University of Maryland. The goals of the innovative elementary science methods course included: improving students' attitudes toward and views of science and science teaching, to model innovative science teaching…

Fifty-two exceptional education pre-service teachers getting a K-6 endorsement were involved in this study that investigated the changes in levels of mathematics anxiety before and after a mathematics methods course for education majors. The changes were measured with respect to the use of manipulatives and other activities to make mathematics…

Typically, experiences shape one's attitudes toward the "thing" that is being experienced, whether it is a person, pet, movie, etc. Classroom experiences also shape one's attitudes toward a subject, teacher, learning, and so forth. Studies have shown that attitudes become more negative as students move from elementary to secondary schools.…

This article focuses on the use of digital primary sources to teach historical perspective to preservice teachers. Discussed here are the experiences of 90 elementary education majors during their inquiry-based elementary social studies methods course. A variety of digital primary sources were used to teach historical perspective and to model…

"Even the Janitor Is White" addresses challenges faced by teacher educators who are committed to diversity education. The chapters in this volume invite readers to reflect on their own practice as teacher educators as well as consider ways in which that practice might be improved. More than forty percent of students in U.S. schools are…

THE COORDINATED EFFORTS OF A TEAM OF EDUCATORS FROM THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, INDIANA UNIVERSITY, AND PERSONNEL AT FOUR SCHOOLS IN THE BLOOMINGTON METROPOLITAN SYSTEM TO PROVIDE TEACHER AIDE EXPERIENCES FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MAJORS AS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE TEACHING PROGRAM THROUGH CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS, WORK WITH INDIVIDUAL PUPILS, SMALL-GROUP…

Presents a miniresearch project from a college geometry class for preservice mathematics teachers involving Venn diagrams for five sets. (Author/MKR)

The purposes of this research were to: (1) gather information about attributes of methods course teaching that make it more or less effective, (2) compare the perspectives of instructors and students on attributes of effectiveness, and (3) understand more about how university teachers develop an understanding of the thinking of prospective…

Three practicum components are presented for consideration: A developmental reading practicum, a curriculum innovation practicum, and a reverse-student- teaching-assignment-level practicum. (DS)

This investigation traced changes in anxiety for teaching mathematics (ATM) among pre-service elementary school teachers (n=36) enrolled in a mathematics methods course by analyzing their weekly journal entries. Journal entries were coded for high level of ATM (ATM-high) or absence of ATM (ATM-absent) during the first class session, as well as…

Relying on only one method of assessment does not necessarily yield an accurate picture of student achievement. This paper discusses aspects of designing, implementing, and evaluating portfolios in a mathematics methods classroom; describes how the use of portfolios has influenced teaching practice; and contains excerpts from student portfolios.…