The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of self-efficacy preservice teachers developed as a result of participating in field experiences, types of field experiences that were the most beneficial for the professional development of the preservice teachers, and the degree to which pre-stated outcomes were addressed by the field…

Field experiences in a teacher certification program for elementary science, math, and technology were evaluated for their effectiveness in improving participants' cognitive, affective, and psychomotor ability. Surveys and interviews indicated participants felt little connection between the content coursework and educational methods course. They…

Curriculum is more than the syllabus, the required reading list, schedule of test, papers, or homework assignments. It is the manner in which the world enters the school. Curriculum encodes the social relations and the power of these relations with respect to people and knowledge. Music is known as the universal language; therefore, it can be…

In an age where multi-media, such as video games and computer generated games, are consuming the lives of young adults, students are reading fewer novels and engaging less in recreational reading activities. Because of the ever-changing diverse student population teachers are searching for ways to be competitive motivators. Today, teachers need to…

Increased parental involvement of parents may well be the hope of every educator. However, many teachers report little if any constructive parental involvement in the education of the children in their classrooms. This paper reflects on the growing need for parents to increase their involvement with their children in the home as well as become…

What effect does music have on the academic achievement and motivation to learn of students? Various studies and reports indicate that can contribute to the academic achievement, motivation, and to the development of creativity. This paper presents a review of literature that reports the benefits of integrating music across the curriculum.

This article is a review of the literature related to the reading attitudes and the instructional methods of teaching reading. The article provides a synthesis of previous studies on the reading attitudes of elementary school students in the United States and also addresses a brief review of literature on historic and traditional methods of…

The purpose of the article is to describe step by step procedures teachers can use to successfully engage their students in the development of science fair projects. The article further explains how the student should prepare their science fair project for science fair competition. It is expected that increasing student participation in science…

The value of extended clinical experiences for pre-service teachers has enjoyed strong support in many teacher education programs. Over the past ten years teacher certification programs have embraced the challenge of providing the best possible clinical experiences available to the pre-service teachers participating in their programs. What is…

With the expansion and continued development of computer technology, a new world of educational opportunities is opening up via on-line distance learning. While distance learning is far from new, recent years have seen an explosion in the mechanisms and tools available for its implementation and support (Spodnick, 1996). It is also reported that…

Orientation seminars for college freshmen facilitate the transition of students from high school to college. Could similar seminars work as well for those who want to be educators? Creating a Teacher Orientation Seminar for education candidates standardizes the transfer of information and confirms commitment for third-year undergraduates and…

A teaching model for distance learning (DL) requires a system (a technology) and process (a way of linking resources) that makes distance learning no different than learning in the traditional classroom. The process must support a design that provides for learning, ensures maximum transfer, and is student-centered. The process must provide a…

Schools are currently receiving increased funds for multimedia software for classrooms. There is a need for good software in the schools, and there is a need to know how to evaluate software and not naively rely on advertisements. Evaluators of multimedia software for education must have the skills to critically evaluate and make decisions not…

Improving parental involvement with public schools can improve schools. Parental involvement is highly important for pushing the public school systems to higher standards. Also, research reports that engaging parents in an active role in the school curriculum can open alternative opportunities for children to succeed in academics. This report will…

When educators are given the opportunity to speak candidly, straight from their heart and soul about their profession, what might they have to say? Twenty-three graduate students enrolled in a Leadership in Education class were given the chance to do exactly that via an on-line discussion board forum assignment. This article reports the results of…