This unique collection of chapters takes the reader on a tour to explore innovative preservice and inservice teacher education practices from many regions of the United States, Canada and the world. Each of the chapters offers an authentic, documentary account of successful initiatives that break the traditional mold of teacher education. Section…

This paper is a discussion of several of the short-term, intensive field practica experiences which have been integrated into the Memorial University graduate counselor education program. The approach in counselor education provides needed counseling services to more remote communities, enables school boards to see counselors in action, thus…

A study was undertaken to assess the quality and quantity of practical experience and field work provided in the instructional programs of American Library Association-accredited library schools. Some 62 schools in the United States and Canada were surveyed by mail, and personal visits were made to 13 of the 62. In 65% of the schools some formal…

In 1990 the University of Alberta introduced a substantially revised Ed.D. program in educational administration to provide a more practice-oriented program and a reduced requirement for continuous full-time attendance. The revised program featured five mandatory courses and two course-equivalents of field experience. Examples of students'…

Describes the recent phenomenon of early exploratory field experiences in teacher education programs in the United States and Canada. Describes the rationale, structure, personnel, and reactions to the early field experience in the teacher preparation program at the University of Calgary. (SB)

University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, in partnership with the North York and Metropolitan Toronto Separate School Districts, began a two-year pilot program in 1995 that incorporates a school-improvement project into beginning teacher preparation. A key aim is preparing preservice teachers to be improvement-minded…

The retention rate for rural teachers has historically been low, often with loss of two or more teachers per school year in some areas. Recently, a surplus of teachers has relieved this problem, but a predicted shortage will aggravate the situation. A survey of rural teachers was conducted in 1980 in British Columbia to try to find a reason for…

The paper explains how political science educators at the University of Michigan, Dearborn, structured political internship experiences for American college students in the Ontario, Canada, legislature and Metropolitan Toronto government. The internship program allows junior and senior undergraduate political science majors to work for five weeks…

Based on research and discussions with rural educators in Australia and New Zealand, a new rural teacher preparation program at the University of Victoria (British Columbia) is intended to sensitize students to the professional life of teachers in small rural communities and to acquaint them with the demands of teaching multi-graded classes. The…