ERIC Number: ED573898
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Apr-30
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
A Rural Education Teacher Preparation Program: Course Design, Student Support and Engagement
Eaton, Sarah Elaine; Gereluk, Dianne; Dressler, Roswita; Becker, Sandra
Online Submission, Paper presented at the Annual American Educational Research Association (AERA) Conference (San Antonio, TX, Apr 27-May 1, 2017)
Attracting and retaining teachers for rural and remote areas is a pervasive global problem. Currently, teacher education in Canada is primarily delivered in face-to-face formats located in urban centres or satellite campuses. There is a need for relevant and responsive teacher education programs for rural pre-service teachers. Recognizing this need, one university has responded by creating a Community-based Bachelor of Education program targeting rural students who reside beyond the reach of these campuses. This paper explores the inaugural year of this innovative program, the only one of its kind in Canada, through a qualitative case study. The methods used in this study included a demographic survey, focus groups, interviews, and document analysis. Key findings indicated (1) Collaborative course design enhanced the student experience (2) Student support programs were developed to address emerging needs, and (3) Using synchronous learning technologies to increase student engagement. Presentation slides are appended.
Descriptors: Rural Education, Teacher Education Programs, Course Organization, Student Participation, Learner Engagement, Preservice Teachers, Distance Education, Community Education, Qualitative Research, Case Studies, Demography, Student Surveys, Interviews, Focus Groups, Content Analysis, Student Experience, Academic Support Services, Synchronous Communication, Technology Integration, Foreign Countries
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A