Nature-based early childhood education programs and nature-based learning initiatives have deep roots in historically documented European nature education and the American Nature Study Movement. Education experiences in nature are designed to capitalize on the curiosity and natural explorational tendencies of young children to support quality and…

Undergraduate field courses are important learning experiences in many of the natural sciences, but they are not accessible to many students. Virtual field experiences (VFEs) have been evolving as a plausible alternative. A Delphi study, a method to seek systematic and iterative ideation from experts in a discipline, was conducted to synthesize…

Purpose: Grounded in self-determination theory, this study examined factors of secondary early field experiences that preservice teachers consider significant and how these experiences impact them as educators. Method: Preservice teachers (N = 13) completed two 10-week early field experiences, one at each level--middle school and high school. Data…

Field experiences are an integral part of teacher education programs because they provide preservice teachers with an opportunity to put the theory, they are learning in their university classrooms into practice. The purpose of this research study was to explore the preservice teachers' virtual field experiences at two universities during the…

This qualitative study takes place at a regional public university and partner public K-12 school district in the Southwestern United States. The study asked the research question: How have field experiences, in senior block courses, influenced/shaped students' perceptions in the semester before student teaching? Reflective data was collected from…

Studies have shown that preservice teachers come to their science methods courses with perceptions about science teaching and learning that can impact their levels of self-efficacy when it comes to teaching science (Bulunuz & Jarrett, 2010; Jarrett, 1999; Kazempour, 2014). Multiple students have been conducted to document the effects of…

The central research question was: what is the influence of COVID-19 restrictions and modifications on the pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) development of Arizona school-based agricultural education preservice teachers in agriculture, food, and natural resources content? This research was conducted using a single case study design of one…

Music teacher preparation programs typically provide preservice music educators (PMEs) experiences working with many student populations, including students with disabilities. Researchers have shown the positive impact field experience and coursework has on PMEs preparation to teach music to students with disabilities (SWD). Yet, few music…

This paper presents a case study of how two teacher educators responded to the disparities and challenges of field experience opportunities for undergraduate teacher candidates. The purpose of the study was to explore teacher candidates' perceptions of the benefits and challenges of having the teacher educators physically present during virtual…

The purposes of the research were to (1) study the quality of reflections among student teachers in the categories of self-reflection and peer feedback and (2) compare the level of reflection between groups of teachers with less and more teaching experience. The sample consisted of 112 general science student teachers. An analytical framework of…

Prior to the fall semester of 2017, the elementary preservice teachers who were enrolled in a science methods course engaged in a variety of field experiences across different settings, mostly informal. Beginning in the fall semester of 2017, students enrolled in this science methods course completed their field experience in formalized classroom…

This study introduces a multicultural field experience for pre-service teachers in China. Allowing pre-service teachers to work directly with multicultural students in multicultural contexts, the multicultural field experience was found to impact positively on pre-service teachers' culturally responsive teaching (CRT) beliefs and practices.…

Field-based experience has been an integral part of teacher preparation, and there is a consensus among key stakeholders that school-based practica are one of the most critical components of effective teacher education programs (Aspden, 2017; La Paro et al., 2018; Vick, 2006; Zeichner, 2002). Based on John Dewey's theory that knowledge is acquired…

Zeichner and Bier (2015) noted the "opportunities and pitfalls" of the shift toward a greater focus on field experiences in teacher education programs in the United States. In particular, equitable opportunities for all teacher candidates to experience and apply culturally sustaining ELA praxis are even fewer given the marginalization of…

In this policy brief we examine the initial licensure process of all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and classify each licensure process as traditional, transitional, or transformative, based on criteria suggested by a panel of expert practitioners and university faculty from the field of educational leadership. The expert panel…