RATE VIII: Teaching Teachers--Relationships with the World of Practice.

Overview & Synopsis

The Research About Teacher Education (RATE) project is an ongoing data collection effort to establish a reliable database about institutions of higher education where teachers are prepared, and about the faculty, students, and programs at these institutions. This RATE study is based on a survey of 91 heads of schools, colleges, and departments of education (SCDEs) and 388 teacher education faculty, and on institutional data concerning 91 schools of education. The study investigated changes in the responsibilities of teacher education methods faculty over time, relationships with P-12 schools, relationship of preservice programs to school reform, education heads' perceptions of SCDE contributions to reform in P-12 schools, progress in teacher education reform, and institutional arrangements to enable collaboration. The study found that about 80 percent of faculty and 80 percent of deans were involved in P-12 schools on a regular basis. Most of that time was spent on traditional functions such as supervising student teachers and providing school-based professional development. There appeared to be considerable initiative taken in SCDEs to pursue these relationships. The majority of faculty and deans reported an increased willingness to engage in cooperative ventures with schools over the past 5 years. The lack of resources to support initiatives in P-12 schools was acknowledged. Most relationships with P-12 schools tended to be negotiated on an individual faculty basis. Appendices list participating institutions and members of the RATE Research Team. (JDD)