Programs under Siege: Traditional Teacher Education Programs' Survival and Success

Overview & Synopsis

The purpose of this study is to identify the many challenges currently faced by traditional teacher education programs and to identify what they can do to survive and succeed. This phenomenological study is the result of the Investigator's journey as the longest serving member of a state's teacher education association and his involvement in state and national teacher education policy making, combined with experiences as a teacher education division chair, school of education associate dean, unit accreditation director, and assessment director. The Investigator identifies 10 areas challenging traditional teacher education programs and applies his personal journey as a teacher education association leader, policy maker, and teacher education administrator, along with relevant articles and stories, to each of them. Beyond discussion in each of the 10 areas the Investigator offers recommendations for each, regarding how traditional teacher education programs can survive the challenges and succeed.