An evaluation of computer conferencing by student teachers and supervisors in four teacher-education programs found that during field experiences student teachers used computer conferencing primarily for exchanging emotional support and less for reflecting on teaching and exchanging pedagogical content. Results suggest attention should be paid to…

Investigated were the effects of an elementary methods course on preservice teachers. The preservice teacher's perception and performance of role expectations in the teaching of science, the preservice teacher's attitude toward science in the elementary classroom, and the preservice teacher's knowledge and performance in inquiry skills were the…

A study was made of the perceived success or failure of early field experiences prior to student teaching as perceived by cooperating teachers (CT) and field experience students (FES). Subjects were secondary school teacher education majors (n=145) and their cooperating teachers (n=34). Measures were taken of expectations, problems, and values…

Two myths concerning the value of preservice field-based experience are explored: (1) Practical school experience contributes to the development of better teachers; and (2) Teacher education's institutional structures are totally coercive and students passively conform to school bureaucracies' conservative norms. (JN)

The impact of field experience on attitudes toward science and science teaching of 80 prospective elementary teachers at East Carolina University was investigated. (HM)

Compares the impact of two types of early field experiences on prospective teachers' attitudes, beliefs, and dialect-speaking elementary school children. Assesses student teachers' perceived helpfulness of field-based experiences, theoretical orientation for reading instruction, and attitudes toward dialect speakers. Advocates an immersion-type…

The qualitative inquiry reported here describes the particular sociocultural aspects of an urban elementary school serving as the context for an award-winning reading/language arts early field experience, and takes a close look at how the sociocultural factors of this urban elementary school contribute to the professional development of the…

Discusses the issue of the effectiveness of non-Indian preservice teachers in an Indian school. Recommends research to determine the changes in professional performance of reservation student teachers, and to study the frequency, duration, nature, and outcome of cultural immersion field experiences. (SB)