In the present study, the personal epistemological beliefs of group leaders in toddler child care programmes are investigated. Epistemological beliefs are beliefs about knowing and learning. It is considered that the quality of these beliefs is influenced by educational experiences. In this study, such beliefs are assumed to be mediating factors…

The present study inquired into the varying kinds and degrees of reflectivity that ensued as first-semester secondary education preservice teachers' revisited their teaching actions and confronted peers' evaluation of their performance in a microteaching experience. The study sought to ascertain: (1) the recurring themes of reflectivity in the…

Elementary teachers engaged in weekly conversations about their students' writing. Conversations were guided by a protocol that began with an assessment of students' writing samples and then moved to the generation of instructional ideas. The conversations were analyzed for what the teachers talked about and the extent to which they generated…

U.S. research institutions are undergoing significant changes from patterns established in the decade following World War II. Declining undergraduate enrollments are predicted to lead to "steady-state" universities; federal policy is emphasizing industry-university research cooperation and calling for a decreased federal role in the…

To truly develop as teachers, we need to be free to explore teaching, and exploration can be based on a set of principles and ways to explore. Principles can include: (1) transcending the goal of improving our teaching by aiming at seeing teaching differently, (2) taking responsibility for our own teaching while recognizing the need for others,…

Categorizing Teacher Behavior, developed to measure acquisition of concepts portrayed in the Concepts and Patterns in Teacher-Pupil Interaction film series, measures the ability to identify and categorize instances of the specificed concepts as they are portrayed in reasonably complex filmed classroom interactions. The film series itself is based…

This article explores innovations in assessment of student teaching practice employed in the University of Cincinnati, USA, online associate's degree in early childhood education, the Early Childhood Learning Community. The program's components are identified with a specific focus on assessment of teaching practicum. The use of a range of…

Research on instructional improvement interventions for college teachers is reviewed and implications for practice are briefly considered. Attention is directed to both the methodological soundness of the program evaluations and the findings of the studies. Interventions to assist faculty to change their teaching attitudes, roles, or activities…

An approach is described for decreasing the costs and difficulties associated with providing adequate feedback to the student concerning his interpersonal performance when he performs operational tasks in simulated or actual job situations as part of his training. The computer is used to assist in the process of eliciting appropriate feedback from…

A method for combining the techniques of microteaching with those of interaction process analysis is presented. Using this method a matrix analysis can be performed which will give a teacher feedback on the target objectives for a given microteaching session. This handbook gives the rationale for this method, presents a General Inventory Guide for…

Numerous criticisms of college social studies methods courses have generated various reform efforts. Three of these reforms are examined, including competency-based teacher education, the value analysis approach to teacher education, and the human relations approach to teacher education. Competency-based courses develop among future teachers…

A specific scheme is provided for the teacher trainee, the experienced teacher, and the supervisor to assist in organizing and evaluating multicomponent English lessons. Based on the premise that effective instructional moves must be pre-structured and time sequences left flexible, 12 specific lesson/teaching strategies are offered to extend the…

An approach for selecting, modifying, and using protocol-related materials in elementary social studies is described. Protocol materials are defined as original records of an event or a behavior which can be observed and analyzed by inservice and preservice teacher education students. The approach, beginning with the presentation of an editorial…

Recent research has focused on how prospective teachers formulate beliefs related to teaching and learning mathematics and science. This paper examines the use of videotaped mathematics and science lesson segments to aid in the description or identification of initial belief structures of prospective elementary school teachers. Using a…

This research is a case study examining numeracy teaching and learning practices in an early childhood multiage setting with Pre-Primary to Year 2 children. Data were collected via running records, researcher reflection notes, and video and audio recordings. Video and audio transcripts were analysed using a mathematical discourse and social…