Case Studies of Elementary Teacher Preparation Programs in Six Schools and Colleges of Education. Preliminary Study Findings.

Overview & Synopsis

Six midwest institutions, consisting of two major universities, three large state-supported colleges, and one smaller liberal arts college, were studied in an effort to provide an indepth description of how elementary school teachers are prepared in preservice teacher education programs. Objectives were to provide a clearer picture of: (1) the nature of teacher education curricula; (2) the instructional practices modeled for prospective teachers; (3) the scope, nature, and quality of opportunities teacher candidates have for learning how to teach; and (4) the extent of teacher preparation programs. Findings are discussed in terms of common positive attributes, common concerns, distinctive features of institutions, and attributes of specific programs. Fourteen characteristics are identified that appear to contribute to coherent programs that draw upon practices and policies endorsed by faculty and students across the six institutions. (MT)