The study described in this report investigated the effects of field-based reflective practice on preservice teachers' sense of self-efficacy. Subjects in the study were 24 senior elementary majors participating in a 4-week field experience. Twelve students were assigned to the experimental school and 12 were assigned to two control schools. Each…

The purpose of the documents in this series is to provide educators in Saskatchewan with practical and relevant guides to teaching and learning as a means of expanding or refining teaching repertoires. This booklet explores reflection, a form of problem solving in which one tries better to understand and solve problems or concerns of personal…

This paper discusses development of the Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development (CLAD) credential in California's preservice teacher education. CLAD focuses on first and second language development, educational equity, linguistic and cultural diversity, equal access to core curriculum, respect for cultural and linguistic issues,…

This 2-year qualitative action research project focused on improving the experiences within several sections of an advanced methods course in an undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program. The course stressed preservice teachers' developing conceptions of curriculum and of their roles in defining the nature of the curricula they will…

The teacher's role and his or her understanding of it in the learning situation is one variable that needs to be included in any discussion of educational intervention. Bereiter and Scardamalia's (1991) teaching models provide a matrix for organizing teachers' classroom practice. Briefly, each model can be understood as a different view on the…

Maryville University (Missouri) believes in training competent beginning teachers who understand that all children can learn. Regarding mathematics, prospective teachers must often be convinced they can learn it themselves. Because most students do not have much math preparation, do not like it, and have great misconceptions, Maryville assumes…

The goal of teacher education is to prepare prospective teachers to become reflective practitioners who are able to make pedagogical decisions in light of sound theory. This report describes a model for integrating science and mathematics methods with student teaching. Efforts to maintain a critical bond between theory and practice is one…

The questions proposed by this study were: (1) Do students in the teacher preparation program develop relativistic thinking in the present course of their teacher preparation studies? and (2) Would a written modified reflective judgment interview be feasible as a screening device to help educators assess the development of reflective judgment in…

Scholars working from various perspectives are beginning to define teaching as a decision-making process. Research shows that teachers are reflective and connect knowledge to situations through observation, understanding, analysis, interpretation, and decision-making. This paper provides empirical evidence to show the relationship of…

Designed as an analytic, exploratory inquiry into the manner in which preservice elementary school teachers make sense of their early science teaching performances, this study focused on how teachers exhibited a capacity for understanding pedagogy. Specifically, it concentrated on the reflective process as it occurred in the context of clinical…

This paper examines the implementation of the CoVis Project in three schools. CoVis is a national Secondary School Science Education Testbed designed to promote project-based pedagogy supported by facilitative technology through reflective learning. The reflective learning that these three schools engaged in while enacting CoVis is examined in…

Reflective practice can be beneficial to preservice and inservice teacher professional development. This digest reviews the concept, levels, techniques for, and benefits of reflective practice. Donald Schon introduced the concept in 1987, and since then, many schools, colleges, and departments of education have begun designing teacher education…

Noting that research demonstrates that high quality early childhood education (ECE) has long-term benefits for children, this review outlines definitions of quality early childhood education within the context of New Zealand. The focus is mainly on two specific aspects of quality: staff qualifications and indicators of quality. The review notes…

Documentation is a process of observing, collecting, and organizing evidence of children's knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Noting that documentation can be used as an effective method for assessing children's growth and development over time, this 20 minute videotape discusses characteristics of documentation in the early childhood classroom.…

This study examined connections between being a cooperating teacher and professional development, demonstrating that veteran teachers who desire to transform their teaching practices can use their work with student teachers as professional growth opportunities. It discusses how the role of cooperating teacher can affect veteran teachers'…