Programs that have enhanced the teaching profession are described, as part of a competition sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (Showcase for Excellence Project). Member institutions of the association developed program models in seven categories requiring initiatives and innovation in the teaching profession.…

Presented are the findings of a survey of students who are, or have been, participants in the King Foundation Forgivable Loan Program in Texas for preservice secondary mathematics or science teachers. Data on the number of respondents in the program and not in the program, and their reasons for staying or leaving (that is, teaching mathematics or…

The purpose of this study was to determine the adequacy of the preparation provided by the teacher preparation program at Washburn University (Kansas) relative to the competency of assessing and interpreting student progress. Answers were sought to the following questions: (1) How does the student teacher evaluate his/her competence in regards to…

In the fall of 1977, the College of Education of the University of Washington (Seattle) instituted a socio-ethnic course requirement for teacher certification candidates. To satisfy the requirement, candidates must successfully complete a course from each of two categories: Category A courses provide the student with a broad look at socio-ethnic…

A research study addressed the question: "If new and different information about some aspect of reality can produce attitude changes, can this be empirically verified in the case of foundational studies in teacher education?" Four hundred ninety education students, during the first two weeks of their required education classes, responded to two…

A teacher education program designed to select and retain students who have a probability for success is described. The program is a cooperative effort of the Department of Counselor Education and the Department of Elementary Education at Brigham Young University. The prospective teacher is provided experiences, both on campus and in the field,…

A survey was undertaken of residents within 300 km of Queen's University (Ontario) who would have an interest or stake in the Master of Education program to assess the needs for the program. Population strata were identified as: past and present students, employers of students and graduates, academic staff and faculty, and potential students.…

The possible existence of grade inflation at the Indiana University at South Bend was examined in this research study, along with possible differences in grades received between the divisions of Education and Arts and Sciences. Questions raised by the Division of Education Ad Hoc Committee on Standards at IUSB prompted the study. The sample…

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and undergraduate grade point average were examined as possible predictors of scores on the National Teacher Examination (NTE). The study population consisted of 166 education major graduates from North Carolina Central University (NCCU), a predominantly black institution, over a two-year period. The data on SAT…

This conference report is comprised of 23 papers which represent the Third National Conference of the Tri-University Project in which faculty members from more than 60 institutions work with the staffs of three universities (New York University and the Universities of Nebraska and Washington) to determine how elementary school teachers ought to be…

The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument which could be used to: (1) assess teacher sensitivity to cultural differences in children from the culture of poverty that could influence learning style; (2) help teachers recognize and interpret classroom behaviors that signal the presence of these cultural differences; and, (3) help…

This study was designed to (1) determine whether prospective English teachers who had taken a course in literary criticism differed significantly from those who had not, and (2) discover what books on critical theory students had read and whether a relationship existed between number of books read and scores on a literary criticism test. A test…

In terms of training teachers, the Ford Training and Placement Program is unique. It uses the cadre-model in the internship and placement year of the training program. The teacher training is focused on an attempted immersion of the university-based student into not only the grade level or subject-matter specialty in which he seeks a degree, but…

Authoritarianism is a negative factor in learning as well as a social problem. If teachers can be trained to counter authoritarianism, they can begin to break the vicious circle of people growing up in an authoritarian culture, becoming authoritarian themselves, and molding their institutions and overall behaviors in an authoritarian fashion. This…

While the value of portfolio learning and assessment has gained much support from the educational community, many questions arise as specific implementations are attempted. This study examined one aspect, namely, the content validity of specific requirements, and addressed the question "How do various constituencies (methods students, student…