Online Clinical Teacher Preparation Programs in Special Education: Perspectives and Critical Components

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 239-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer R. Ottley ◽  
Christan Grygas Coogle ◽  
Jon Ryan Pigman ◽  
Doug Sturgeon ◽  
Sara Helfrich

Online special educator preparation programs are growing in prevalence and popularity. Yet, implementing a clinical model of special educator preparation within online programs can be challenging. In this study, we explored the perspectives of the clinical model from a distance for school-based teacher educators and administrators. We conducted a survey followed by focus group interviews to identify perspectives regarding the clinical model from a distance approach and the components of a distance preparation program perceived to be critical for effective clinical practice. School-based teacher educators and administrators had favorable views of the clinical model (including clinical coaching) from a distance, indicating both feasibility and acceptability. Many perceived technology-related challenges were malleable aspects of online preparation programs that university- and school-based teacher educators can plan for in the implementation of their online program and clinical practice from a distance.

Author(s):  
Derek Decker ◽  
Jennifer Roth ◽  
Donna Cooner

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) set forth a set of new standards that demand excellence to produce educators who raise P-12 student achievement. This pilot multi-case study describes perspectives and across-case themes of the lived experiences of national key stakeholders in educator preparation programs and their professional development school (PDS) partnership system. CAEP's five guiding principles of Standard 2: Clinical Partnerships and Practice as a priori codes describe experiences and perspectives of three key stakeholders of the university's clinical partnership. The three key stakeholders include (1) university-based teacher educators, (2) school-based teacher educators, and (3) teacher candidates. The researchers discuss results and implications for practice and offer avenues for future research.


Author(s):  
Jarrett D. Moore

This chapter advocates for the (re)framing of critical thinking from a skill to a disposition and proposes a framework whereby teacher education programs can create space for pre-service teachers to develop a critical disposition. By studying the context of American education and schooling and their corporate interest, pre-service teachers along with teacher educators can start to unravel the discourse and power inherent in American education. Understanding how these concepts lead to hegemony can begin the process of creating a counterhegemonic movement among American educators that includes the reclaiming of the purpose of education, raising pertinent epistemological question, and practicing critical self-reflection. The final part of the new framework for developing critical dispositions is a reintroduction of broader theoretical concerns into teacher preparation programs.


Author(s):  
Tonya Huber ◽  
Elizabeth R. Sanmiguel ◽  
Lorena P. Cestou ◽  
Mayra L. Hernandez

As teacher-preparation programs educate and evaluate candidates to become globally competent instructional leaders, special attention should be given to international service-learning. Immersing teacher candidates in real-world experiences beyond their comfort zone is a cornerstone of this theoretical inquiry, including self-reflection strategies grounded on Paulo Freire's liberatory pedagogy for social justice. The research team reviews self- and cultural-awareness experiences, dispositions, and profiles of university teacher candidates, during a semester of curriculum studies affording opportunities to engage in local, local to global, and/or global/international service-learning. The discoveries will inform teacher educators as they develop and strengthen critical inquiry and service-learning components of their own courses.


Author(s):  
C. Lorraine Webb ◽  
Amy M. Barrios ◽  
Karen L. Kohler

This chapter aims to share the results of a study of faculty in teacher preparation programs across the state of Texas to identify ways educator preparation has shifted its instruction as a result of COVID-19. Both quantitative and qualitative data results are shared, along with implications. The research provides some clarity regarding how future educator preparation programs and K-12 classroom teachers can adjust instructional practices as the shift to a virtual learning environment continues. The authors offer suggestions for best practices in virtual instruction for lesson planning, classroom management, and technology integration for K-12 teachers, as well as recommendations for teacher preparation programs to prepare pre-service teachers for successful implementation in those three areas while teaching in a virtual environment.


2016 ◽  
pp. 1252-1272
Author(s):  
Dana L. Grisham ◽  
Linda Smetana

This chapter reports on a study conducted by two teacher educators in literacy instruction and provides examples of the ways teacher educators can “distribute” technology-rich writing instruction across their coursework. Using the TPACK model, 21 graduate students in a preservice course on curriculum planned, taught, and reflected on generative technology lessons with real students in real classrooms. Data collected included the lessons and reflections, ePoster presentations, and other writings by students on the topic. Findings indicate that graduate students chose a diverse array of technology tools, and planned carefully, matching tools with desired learning outcomes. Although graduate students initially felt “pushed” by the assignment, post lesson reflections showed positive changes in attitude and appreciation for the motivation and engagement of their K-12 students with the technology lessons. Graduate students also derived a more realistic picture of planning for instruction. Implications involve the necessity of supporting 21st century literacies in teacher preparation programs. Examples of lessons and tools used are included.


2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-134
Author(s):  
Greer Burroughs ◽  
Amy Lewis ◽  
Dan Battey ◽  
Mary Curran ◽  
Nora E. Hyland ◽  
...  

An essential component of teacher preparation is clinical practice that allows teacher candidates (TCs) to observe, reflect upon, test their ideas, and adjust and improve their methods in classrooms. Weaknesses in the structure and organization between coursework and clinical practice in teacher preparation programs often present barriers from fully achieving these goals. University–school partnerships have the potential to overcome these challenges and create spaces for mutually beneficial learning opportunities for all stakeholders. In this article, we identify six levels to illustrate the continua of work with schools in the preparation of TCs that describe how a program might move from current partnership practice to the kinds of partnership practice described by McDonald and colleagues and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). While developing partnerships with schools is work that has inherent challenges, the potential of this work to meaningfully transform the preparation of teachers is crucial.


2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-120
Author(s):  
Lisa Johnson ◽  
Jennie Rakestraw

John Goodlad, in his book A Place Called School (1984), suggested that, in order to improve schools and the work of teachers, a relationship had to exist between institutes of public education and teacher preparation programs. Today Goodlad’s message continues to hold significant bearing on whether or not all students receive a high quality, equitable education. The Agenda for Education in a Democracy, formulated by Goodlad and the National Network for Educational Renewal over twenty years ago, promotes simultaneous renewal of P-12 education and educator preparation, advocating equity in schooling and engagement in nurturing pedagogy to meet the diverse needs of students.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-15
Author(s):  
Andrew Markelz ◽  
Benjamin Riden ◽  
Lawrence Maheady

An emphasis on practice-based teacher education has led the Council for Exceptional Children to develop 22 high-leverage practices (HLPs). Each HLP is research based, used frequently in classrooms, and applicable across age, grade, and content area. In this article, we discuss the importance of a systematic process for teacher preparation programs to consider when identifying, implementing, and evaluating HLPs. The extent and quality that HLPs are integrated within preparation programs will affect graduating teacher’s professional readiness and their ability to immediately affect student outcomes. It is our intent that this article supports teacher educators and scholars to continue the conversation around HLPs in teacher preparation. In addition, we encourage preparation programs to consider data-based decision making when identifying, implementing, and evaluating HLPs within program curricula.   


2020 ◽  
pp. 002248712091586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Wolkenhauer ◽  
Angela Hooser

Calls for the renewal of teacher preparation through clinical practice have left many novice teacher educators to learn on the job. This article reports on the research of two such novices, studying their own practice. Addressing the need to better understand the approaches teacher educators take to clinically grounding their work, the authors used a hermeneutic approach to naturalistic inquiry to study their use of an inquiry community framework in a teacher preparation clinical setting. The authors found that within an arc of practitioner inquiry, explicitly teaching guided reflection and professional dialoguing skills within an inquiry community were key teacher educator practices. They found that an inquiry community approach holds promise as a structure and space for teacher educators to advance teacher preparation toward clinical practice.


Author(s):  
Barbara Ann Swartz ◽  
Jeremy M. Lynch ◽  
Sararose D. Lynch

Accrediting bodies and research have noted the divide between coursework and experiences pre-service teachers (PSTs) have during field placements. To address this issue, three teacher educators have integrated McDonald et al.'s (2013) cycle of learning to embed their teacher preparation coursework in the areas of mathematics and special education into local elementary school classrooms. These instructional activities consisted of PSTs experiencing or learning about the activity in the college/university classroom, co-planning and rehearsing the activity at the college/university with the teacher educator, enacting the activity individually or in pairs with whole class or small groups of elementary students at the elementary school, and then debriefing as a group with the teacher educator and classroom teacher after working with the elementary students. The three courses summarized in this chapter, and the subsequent student reflections, validate the effectiveness of this practice and signal a need for broader adoption in other content areas across teacher preparation programs.


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