This paper presents a guide for developing and supervising field-based practicum activities to support training of special educators working in rural communities. Particular attention is given to organizing and overseeing practicum experiences that prepare teachers for integrating students with mild learning and behavior problems into regular…

An internship project was developed to prepare vocational and special education teachers to train special needs learners in vocational education. The program encouraged better cooperative efforts between vocational and special educators by providing an opportunity for these teachers to consult with and learn about and from one another. During the…

A new educational psychology course that combines mastery oriented content learning with direct participation in an elementary school classroom is described. The integration of theoretical-empirical information from psychology with the applied view of education in the classroom is the most important outcome of the new course. A variety of learning…

A junior level field based practicum course involving potential student teachers and their cooperating teachers is described. Students and teachers meet during the first week of the course in an informal, relaxing atmosphere to become better acquainted and to share procedures, expectations, and general information on the course. Student teachers…

The opinions of sophomore practicum students in elementary education at the University of Iowa were solicited with the intent of finding ways to assess and improve the teacher education program. The students answered a series of questions related to their experiences working in local public schools. Some of the most notable outcomes of the data…

The purpose of this paper is to assist interested faculty members in designing, developing, and evaluating political internships so as to produce the best learning experience possible. Political internship is a program developed to teach college students about politics and government by exposing them to a "real world" political experience. It can…

This 414-item bibliography contains citations of published and unpublished documents and journal articles processed by the Clearinghouse between July 1968 and June 1970 related to the "means and methods by which pre- and in-service school personnel can secure structured practice in developing skills and insights." Publication dates of the…

This report describes the evaluation of normal and model schools in New Zealand. Researchers examined the difference between the schools and the difference between them and other schools involved in preservice teacher education. The study used a mailed survey of the 22 normal and 8 model schools and telephone interviews with practicum coordinators…

A study compared performance on the Area Concentration Achievement Test in Social Work (ACAT) of 32 undergraduates who had nearly completed a field practicum and 38 who had not begun it. Results showed no difference in the groups' knowledge of social work professional foundation overall or in individual content areas. Other variables that could…

In a study with 13 social work and counseling interns, field supervisors' ratings of students' field performance were compared to an independent judge's content analysis of performance. Results revealed significant correlations between the evaluations, providing evidence of validity of the supervisors' assessments. Validity may have been enhanced…

Twenty-three second-year education students at Charles Sturt University (New South Wales) participated in a three-week practicum program at remote rural schools. Participants offered generally positive comments about the value of the teaching and living experience and willingness to teach in such schools in the future. (SV)

The Special Education Training Program at South Carolina State University offers training for school administrators on both theory and practice in designing, developing, implementing, and supervising programs for students with special needs in least restrictive environments. Each course requires a 10-hour field experience and students must also…

Introduces a series of seven articles that provide different perspectives on the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a field-based teacher-education program at Queen's University of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Explains features of the restructured teacher-education program, the aim and character of evaluating the program, and learning from…

Describes the use of focus groups with teacher candidates to evaluate a pilot program within the Queen's University Faculty of Education. The pilot study was designed to uncover problems in implementing the program before candidates registered. After reviewing focus-group techniques, the article describes how they were used in the pilot study's…

Wraps up a series of articles on the work of faculty and students at Queen's University of Kingston, Ontario, Canada, who were involved in restructuring the teacher-preparation program to be a field-based program. Discusses the profundity of the change, the political context for implementation, and the evaluation of the program. (SM)