This descriptive study addressed the role of virtual learning environments in fostering reflective thought among preservice teachers through dialogic interaction. Preservice teachers tend to view teaching as a formulaic application of theory and strategies. When challenged with making decisions in novel settings, they are often unable to apply…

This article chronicles the efforts of one college faculty and their school partners to respond to the contemporary challenges faced by teacher education. It depicts the authors' journey through the planning and implementation of an innovative initial certification master's of arts in teaching (MAT) program in elementary education in the…

The disparity between the ethnic and cultural makeup of our teaching force and the ethnic and cultural makeup of the student population demands initiatives on the part of teacher preparation programs. Preservice teachers need to learn about the various cultures of their students in order to increase communication and understanding. As preservice…

Secondary vocational-technical education programs in Mississippi are faced with many challenges resulting from sweeping educational reforms at the national and state levels. Schools and teachers are increasingly being held accountable for providing true learning activities to every student in the classroom. This accountability is measured through…

This second volume, the follow-on to "Teaching Music in the Urban Classroom, Volume 1: A Guide to Survival, Success, and Reform," extends the conversation to include educational leadership, teacher education, partnerships, and school reform. As with Volume 1, classroom music teachers, inner city arts administrators, well-known academics,…

A curriculum for preservice maternal health and public health professionals on children with special health care needs (disabilities and chronic illnesses) and their families is presented. Principles underlying the curriculum are considered, along with guidelines for developing partnerships with families for field placements. The eight core…

This publication updates information from prior surveys of the 50 states and the District of Columbia in the areas of: teacher licensure standards, standards boards, emergency or shortage-driven licensure, alternative preparation, minority teacher recruitment, state response to violence in classrooms, and linkages between efforts towards K-12…

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…

This paper argues that the reluctance on the part of university teacher educators to engage in thorough self-study, frequently a feature of accreditation processes, is inhibiting teacher education reform because the self-study can be a significant means to improve teacher education. Reluctance resides, in part, in the distinction between academic…

This practicum report describes the development and implementation of a course focused on development of problem-solving skills within a master's program in occupational therapy in pediatrics. The 12-week course was designed to teach students the use of appropriate occupational therapy intervention strategies through the use of case studies and…

This paper reports on a study examining preservice teachers' level of comfort in working with students and colleagues of a different race, and exploring the effects of special training and field experience on their level of comfort with multicultural situations. The study involved 55 predominantly white preservice teachers enrolled in 2 different…

This paper describes how the University of Northern Iowa constructed formal networks that increased communications with public school practitioners and infused new ideas into the teacher training program. Faculty in the Office of Student Field Experience decided all regional campuses of the university should provide some common experiences for…

"Partners Transforming Education: School-University-Community," is a project of the Wright State University College of Education and Human Services (Ohio). The model brings together representatives of the PreK-12 sector, the university at large, and the community to work collaboratively in building a program that will prepare more…

The integration of foreign language education and international exchange into a French graduate program in business administration is discussed. The 3-year program results in the equivalent of a master's degree in management. The historical, educational, cultural, and socio-political factors in development of the program are reviewed, and key…

The clinical faculty role is a new role for supervising or cooperating teachers that has evolved in the Division of Teacher Education at Western New Mexico University, producing dramatic changes in the design of the student teaching field experience. Clinical faculty are master teachers who supervise student teachers during their field…