No description available.

The purpose of this study was to investigate and describe Multiple Subject credential preservice teachers' growth in competence toward reading instruction. Study participants were engaged in full-time student teaching in kindergarten through third grade classrooms. Each of the six participants was videotaped teaching three reading lessons, one each at the beginning, middle, and end of the field experience. Two reading specialists used the Checklist of Reading Instruction Behaviors to verify the use of and level of complexity of thirty-five (35) different reading instruction behaviors. The target behaviors were based upon two documents: (1) the Teaching Tasks, Skills, and Abilities ( TKAs ) adopted by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in 1997, and (2) the content specifications of the Reading Instruction Competency Assessment (RICA). Using qualitative software, N4 Classic , all transcripts of the reading lessons and accompanying lesson plans were coded for the same thirty-five (35) target behaviors. A 15-item survey assessed participants' perceptions of program assignments that contributed to their growth toward competency. Finally, scores from the RICA were compared to the levels of competency observed during the videotaped reading lessons. The findings indicate that all thirty-five reading instruction behaviors were used by the participants as a group. Individually, candidates used an average of 58% of the behaviors in only three lessons. Although all preservice teachers in this study were placed in primary grade classrooms, grade level differences were evident in the behaviors that were used and well-developed, with the most variance between grades K–1 and 2–3. The course assignments reported by study participants as most helpful in creating perceptions of competence were regular classroom experience and evaluations by cooperating teachers. No relationship was established between the scores on reading instructional behaviors observed in the classroom and scores on the RICA. Finally, six suggestions for further study are offered to improve the level of competency in preservice teachers to provide reading instruction. Additionally, the researcher recommended that preservice teachers be directly taught the 40 Reading Instruction Behaviors in their reading methods courses, including the developmental levels of reading instruction behaviors described in the Observation Rubric. Also, the Checklist of Reading Instruction Behaviors should be used in systematic observations of preservice teachers with follow-up use recommended in induction programs.

Researchers have determined that field experience is crucial in education preparation programs, yet little information is available about field experience within online early childhood education (ECE) programs. Educators who work in online ECE programs need to understand how to facilitate field experience effectively. The purpose of this qualitative interview study was to understand the processes, procedures, and experiences of instructors who facilitate preservice teachers' field experience in online ECE programs. A constructivist framework was used to examine facilitation practices. Nine instructors from online ECE programs in the United States participated in 2 semistructured interviews that lasted approximately 1 hour each. A combination of a priori and open coding was used to support inductive analysis. Themes included communication, mentoring, collaboration, parity between online and live facilitation of field experiences, roadblocks, innovations, assessment, and reflection. Participants reported that a constructivist approach was crucial for online facilitation. Four key findings included an intentionality of design for parity between online and live facilitation, active engagement in responding to facilitation challenges, embedded constructivism in curriculum design, and a necessity for online options despite preference for live field supervision. Social change implications for ECE instructors include sharing of best practices to improve facilitation of field experience in online ECE programs and acknowledgement of need for research focused on quality of field experience. Enhancing the quality of field experiences could better prepare teachers, which would benefit young children in ECE classrooms.

No description available.

No description available.

A local college in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates began a Bachelor of Education program in 2008 to train prospective teachers to deliver a bi-literate education in Arabic and English to students in Abu Dhabi schools. Because there had been no examination of preservice teachers' perceptions of their practicum experience, a project study was designed to analyze the perceptions of a group of preservice teachers regarding the final practicum and whether that experience enhanced their ability to deliver educational practices to better serve students. This phenomenological study was guided by experiential learning theory, as preservice teachers learned from their experiences in a professional setting. The research questions addressed preservice teachers' experiences during the practicum and how those experiences contributed to their professional growth. Individual face-to-face interviews of 8 preservice teachers were the means of data collection. Transcripts of audio recorded interviews were coded to determine themes related to the practicum experience. The data revealed that preservice teachers felt that the practicum allowed them to experience the role of the classroom teacher and its day-to-day challenges. Based on the research findings, a project is proposed to assist preservice teachers in assessing students' needs, identifying instructional classroom practices, and planning lessons. Implementation of the project could lead to positive social change by engaging preservice teachers in professional development centered on professional learning communities. This engagement would encourage collaboration with professionals to develop lesson plans to reach all learners. This project has the potential to contribute to preservice teachers' professional growth, which may lead to continuous learning in their professional learning environment.