Interviewed three prospective elementary teachers regarding progress toward an integrated view of learner and learning concerns. Two had similar questions about balancing concerns for individual students' class experiences with concerns about learning content, despite having very different initial conceptions and conceptual paths. The third…

Surveys of European teacher education institutions examined the conceptualization and use of reflective practice in preservice and inservice teacher education. The varied responses showed similarities in teaching methods, lack of generic and explicit curriculum for reflective practice, and tendency toward a more formal approach in inservice versus…

Investigated the impact of a videotape-based intervention on preservice teachers' semantic reactions to the concept of gifted students. Data from before and after viewing videotapes of focus groups with either achieving or underachieving gifted students indicated that their attitudes about the concept could be differentially affected by the…

One government initiative in England and Wales involves moving teacher education away from higher education and into schools; establishing school consortium-administered postgraduate certification in education courses. From a study of one such program, this article reports findings related to weaknesses in program preparation and organization,…

Investigated the advantages and disadvantages of placing student teachers in a collaborative situation at one elementary school. Data from student teacher journals and surveys, cooperating teacher interviews, and supervisor field notes indicated that, despite a few disadvantages, there were many benefits to introducing collaboration during the…

Examines the issue of finding enough qualified teachers for the 21st century, highlighting a specific dichotomy in teacher education: the conflicting pressures for achieving high standards of quality in preparing teachers versus the need to replenish the teaching force. Discusses improvement in public education and teacher education and the need…

Explores the epistemological shift embedded in one preservice program that puts extended teaching experience first in the process of learning to teach. Emphasizes the role and power of experience in learning to teach. It responds to Jones's paper on the 10 dichotomies in teacher education (SP 527 128), relating them to the notion of early teaching…

Investigated similarities and differences in elementary student teachers' pre- and post-student teaching conceptions and the factors to which they attributed changes in their thinking. Participants completed surveys before and after student teaching, and some completed interviews. Results indicated that interpersonal and intrapersonal sources…

Many states, including Texas, use alternative certification programs to address projected teacher shortages and recruit highly qualified individuals into the teaching profession. Texas's State Board for Educator Certification has developed a framework of assumptions to facilitate the design of a system to ensure that all educators are recruited,…

Examines questions about culture and cultural identity that surfaced as student teachers in their elementary practicum attempted to learn about their students' communities and use culture in the classroom, illustrating how culture can be used in classrooms to frame and limit children and suggesting how to reframe classroom practices and…

Identifies constraints and opportunities provided by a British model of mentoring that involves inducting student teachers into a nationally prescribed but locally created community of practice. Considers how increased attention to student teachers' intentional and metacognitive learning may benefit mentors and schools and provide a counterweight…

Describes eight general functions and roles of teacher educators, including facilitator of learning, encourager of reflection, curriculum developer, teacher selector, researcher, stimulator of professional development, team member, and collaborator. Also analyzes the functions and roles of cooperating teachers, which include orientation, personal…

Discusses mentoring within British initial teacher education, exploring factors that motivate mentors, describing mentor self-actualization, and noting the importance of relationships developed during mentoring. Examples of mentoring where mentors and mentees are matched according to personality and professional goals are presented. Suggests that…

Cooperating teachers enrolled in a graduate course on the supervision of student teachers wrote case studies about their working with student teachers, describing thoughts, feelings, dilemmas, and strategies. The cases were used to study cooperating teacher development. Results identified six phases of cooperating teacher development as…

Describes one way to promote preservice teachers' awareness of the different kinds of science education resource centers that exist in their own communities. Involves students in making a directory of resources. (DDR)