Teaching is a complex task shaped by many external and internal influences, including the beliefs held by individual teachers. This study sought an understanding of the impact of field experiences on the beliefs developed by preservice science teachers. The participants were students in an undergraduate science education methods course that…

This paper reports on research that investigates the effectiveness of residential field courses in geography, earth science and environmental science courses at UK institutions of higher education. The research focuses on the effects of fieldwork in the affective domain, which is thought to be linked to the adoption of effective approaches to…

This study examined perspectives of field experiences among preservice teachers and their cooperating teachers because of debate in the politically charged atmosphere of No Child Left Behind regarding teacher preparation programs. Nine pairs of preservice and cooperating teachers were observed and interviewed over the course of a semester to…

This paper explores "meaningful learning" as influenced by "constructivism." The study focused on assessing and comparing the quality of essays written by students who learnt a given topic in a classroom setting ("control") to those who learnt the same topic in the field ("experimental"). The objective was…

Preparing European-American preservice teachers for diverse urban school settings pose multiple challenges. Of primary concern are the differences in race, culture, and community between teachers and students. Because new teachers prefer to work where they grew up, most preservice teachers want to teach students who are like themselves in familiar…

In this article, the author presents an investigative approach to "understanding Earth changes." The author states that students were familiar with earthquakes and volcanoes in other regions of the world but never considered how the land beneath their feet had experienced changes over time. Here, their geology unit helped them understand…

A study examined "Learning Community" meetings at the College of Education and Human Services at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in which professors, inservice teachers, and preservice teachers in a 15-hour semester block connected with a clinical field experience meet and engage in dialogue about the program. A total of four…

The purpose of this study was to plan and implement a tutorial program in an elementary school setting to: (1) provide practical experience for undergraduates majoring in education; and (2) assist elementary students in the acquisition of basic skills on an individual basis. Students from a sophomore level survey class were selected to participate…

This paper presents findings of a study that evaluated the effectiveness of a field-based doctoral program in educational administration. The Ed.D. program at the University of Utah attempted to link theory and research to the practice of improvement. Specifically, the study examined the degree and ways in which student field-based projects and…

This study examined preservice teachers' expectations of their field experiences and how those expectations were met. The study population included primarily college sophomores who were either elementary or secondary education majors at a medium-sized university. An expectation checklist was given to 110 students prior to the field experience at…

This study was conducted to examine changes in reflective thinking in preservice teachers in relation to length of time in the teacher education program, teaching certification type, and field placement. Information was collected from student teachers (N=13) through both completion of a questionnaire and through analysis of weekly journals using…

Beachhead college, an experimental program of the College of Business Administration of the University of Oregon, was designed to combine a learning situation with community service in Urban core areas. This article describes and evaluates the successful program, which included Preparation for Field Work (3 credits) and Field Work Experience (15…

The academic weaknesses in the CLASP program (described in SO 504 356) are examined by sociology professors at the same university. (DE)

Designed to bridge the gap between theory and application in undergraduate social sciences, the Lila Acheson Wallace School of Community Service and Public Affairs was established in 1967 at the University of Oregon. Its program is outlined including the four professional training programs and the interdisciplinary and field instruction…

A clinical clerkship is described that was organized around the goal of teaching information and skills that would be needed by the nonpsychiatrist physician. The setting in an outpatient clinic and the extensive use of videotaped psychiatric interviews were successful program components. Field trips to various mental health facilities were not…