Technology has certainly altered the landscape in which students learn today. The use of technolo... more Technology has certainly altered the landscape in which students learn today. The use of technology in today's classrooms is continually increasing as educators seek ways to engage learners and maximize learning potential. Incorporating Web 2.0 tools into the classroom can not only encourage collaboration among learners, but also provide a way for students to apply their knowledge. For such benefits to be gained, the Web 2.0 tools must be relevant and purposeful. In this study, researchers surveyed pre-service teachers at one institution of higher learning, whom took classes that integrated several Web 2.0 tools into the curriculum, and sought which instructional tools pre-service teachers found most beneficial, and hence, are more likely to use in their future classrooms.
Extensive field experiences can significantly impact the preparation of teacher candidates. Livin... more Extensive field experiences can significantly impact the preparation of teacher candidates. Living in a high-stakes era of accountability, education reform efforts have shifted toward educator preparation programs. Such programs are being examined to measure whether they are preparing effective teacher candidates who are ready for today's classrooms. In fact, the current accrediting body for teacher education programs, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), seeks to advance equity and excellence in education. Institutions of higher education and their partnering local education agencies understand the importance of clinical partnerships, purposeful placements, and reflective practices as they relate to teacher preparation. This study sought to create a pilot teacher residency model in an effort to make continuous improvements to the educator preparation program and prepare highly effective teachers.
Technology has certainly altered the landscape in which students learn today. The use of technolo... more Technology has certainly altered the landscape in which students learn today. The use of technology in today’s classrooms is continually increasing as educators seek ways to engage learners and maximize learning potential. Incorporating Web 2.0 tools into the classroom can not only encourage collaboration among learners, but also provide a way for students to apply their knowledge. For such benefits to be gained, the Web 2.0 tools must be relevant and purposeful. In this study, researchers surveyed pre-service teachers at one institution of higher learning, whom took classes that integrated several Web 2.0 tools into the curriculum, and sought which instructional tools pre-service teachers found most beneficial, and hence, are more likely to use in their future classrooms. Karen S. DiBella & Kimberly G. Williams Beneficial Web 2.0 Tools to Engage Learners and Maximize Learning 76 Journal of Learning in Higher Education 77 Fall 2015 (Volume 11 Issue 2) Internet use and access continu...
The United States has long been dubbed, “the land of opportunity,” but is there equality within t... more The United States has long been dubbed, “the land of opportunity,” but is there equality within those opportunities and more importantly, are today’s students receiving fair and just services within our schools? For the past five decades, we have witnessed numerous educational reforms, which have targeted educational equality; however, equal and fair opportunities fail to exist and the achievement gap continues to widen. This case study examined data collected from a Title I school regarding teacher effectiveness and student learning. The ramifications of the findings suggest that the educational consequences include a lack of professional development, less teaching experience, lower teacher retention rates, low student achievement, and a lack of culturally responsive teaching. This is important because these factors play a critical role in the dropout rate, unemployment rate, and the rate of those living in poverty, all of which significantly impact our society.
Extensive field experiences can significantly impact the preparation of teacher candidates. Livin... more Extensive field experiences can significantly impact the preparation of teacher candidates. Living in a high-stakes era of accountability, education reform efforts have shifted toward educator preparation programs. Such programs are being examined to measure whether they are preparing effective teacher candidates who are ready for today's classrooms. In fact, the current accrediting body for teacher education programs, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), seeks to advance equity and excellence in education. Institutions of higher education and their partnering local education agencies understand the importance of clinical partnerships, purposeful placements, and reflective practices as they relate to teacher preparation. This study sought to create a pilot teacher residency model in an effort to make continuous improvements to the educator preparation program and prepare highly effective teachers.
Pre-service teachers preparing to teach in twenty first century classrooms must recognize the cal... more Pre-service teachers preparing to teach in twenty first century classrooms must recognize the call for greater student engagement, enhanced critical thinking, and authentic, real-world application. It is widely accepted that using technology and applicable Web 2.0 tools in the classroom not only provides hands-on learning, but also can encourage collaboration and meet the myriad learning styles of diverse learners. That being said, it is imperative that the use of technology be integrated into college coursework in order to better prepare preservice teachers for their future classrooms. Researchers studied the impact that a technology integration workshop had on future teaching practices of pre service teachers using a mixed methods study. Based on responses from participants, researchers found an overwhelming amount of support that pre-service teachers not only found this hands-on workshop valuable, but also found effective tools that they feel adequately prepared to implement into future lesson plans and teaching. Additionally, the data supports the concept that pre-service teachers feel that technology can and should be readily implemented into future classrooms, used successfully in multiple content areas and for cross-curricular activities, and ultimately, feel better prepared to do so as a result of the technology workshop.
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