Background: For the past decade, science educators have been exploring the use of Socio-scientific Issues (SSI) as contexts for science teaching and learning, and research indicates that doing so can support significant learning gains. However, research related to how teachers take up the practice of SSI-based instruction is far more limited, due…

In their 1970 guidelines for teacher-preparation programs (TPPs), TESOL's founders promoted practicum experiences that include "systematic directed observation, supervised teaching practice and progressive teaching responsibilities." TPPs with field experiences as centerpieces of their programs have been more effective in meeting the…

This study examined the effects of audio and video self-recording on preservice teachers' written reflections. Participants (n = 201) came from a secondary teaching methods course and its school-based (clinical) fieldwork. The audio group (n[subscript A] = 106) used audio recorders to monitor their teaching in fieldwork placements; the video group…

Three video/web conferencing technologies (Pocket Camcorder, Skype, Adobe Connect) were used in regional schools in Australia to determine whether the technologies are appropriate for the needs of the university supervisor, trainee teachers and supervising teachers with regard to practicum teaching placements. Findings revealed that Pocket…

During field experiences, preservice teachers are typically required to observe mentor teachers in schools, but what exactly are they seeing? This research examined the patterns and variations that existed with regard to preservice teachers' classroom observations during recent field experiences. Data were collected from 24 preservice teachers…

In the study reported, we examine the evolution of preservice teacher observation, focusing on the essential nature of observation to preservice teachers' learning about teaching while in the field. The study was 3 years long, and it involved 79 preservice teachers during semester-long language arts methods courses in early childhood and…

Students' thinking is an integral part of English language pedagogy. Teachers need the pedagogical competence to teach thinking effectively. This research suggests a program to develop the teaching skills for thinking of pre-service teachers (fourth-year college students) in the English Department of the Faculty of Education at Princess Noura…

This article describes a video review process for providing feedback to students and documents students' teaching practices using the CLASS in a practicum course and student teaching. Students videotaped themselves in their field-based settings and then met with the course instructors and classmates in small groups to review strengths and…

Teacher education and the teaching profession are adapting to innovative methods to ensure the professional longevity and effectiveness of those who become educators. This is particularly important because of the early, and sometimes abrupt, exit of beginning teachers from the profession. Clearly, to mitigate such early exodus from the profession,…

This paper discusses research on a Partner Classroom pilot program that was implemented over a two-year period to provide "high quality," "targeted" field experiences in a senior-level elementary literacy methods course. The aim was to shift the focus from passive watching and engagement in routine classroom tasks to emphasize guided observations,…

This study utilizes a sociocultural activity theory approach to determine how, if at all, undergraduate coursework affects the attitudes of preservice English teachers, enrolled in a graduate teacher education program. Specifically, the study examines if there is any affect on the way the preservice teachers think about the teaching of writing…

Teacher educators need to consider preservice teachers' observational strategies and their level of skill in using them in unguided field experience settings. Suggestions for helping teacher candidates to choose strategies appropriately, to identify what to look for, and to observe with accuracy are offered. (MT)

This article seeks to understand the ways in which feedback was communicated in post-observation conferences in teaching practice supervision within the learning-oriented field experience assessment (LOFEA) framework. 32 post-observation conferences between 21 pairs of supervisors and participants of in-service teacher education programmes, and…

Six preservice physical education teachers were studied to discover what observatiotn and perceptual processes were used during an early field experience. Results revealed that subjects made observations about students' movement responses, students' movement characteristics, and organizational tasks and patterns. (Author/CB)

A development and field-testing effort explored ways of helping preservice teachers learn classroom management knowledge and skills during field-based preservice courses. An observation guide, "Learning the Classroom Environment, An Observer's Guide to Classroom Management" (Sanford & Emmer, 1985), has four general areas: the classroom setting;…