Preparing Students To Work Effectively with Diverse Students in Multicultural Settings. Final Report.

Overview & Synopsis

This document describes a two-year elementary teacher education program conducted jointly by the Madison Metropolitan School District and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The program focused on developing more effective strategies for school-university collaboration in preparing students to teach effectively a racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse student population. The report is divided into three parts. Part A, "Project Portrayal," describes and evaluates the program, which inaugurates significant alterations in the following aspects of the traditional teacher education program: (1) organizational structure (creation of a student cohort, use of three "clinical training sites"); (2) instructional roles (creation of position, "clinical teacher-supervisor"); and (3) preservice curriculum (emphasis on multicultural education). The evolution of the program is outlined, and major issues, strategies, and collaboration approaches discussed. The following major outcomes are discussed: (1) collaboration as a school, university, and community activity; (2) integration of school and university-based teacher education; (3) support systems at the school and university level; (4) integration of multicultural education into university and field-based curriculum and instructional strategies; (5) the role of the clinical teacher supervisor; and (6) the effects of the cohort group. Part B is a draft of the program assessment report. Part C is a practice profile. Appendices to parts A and B provide additional data, including an outline of approach to multicultural education, three tables, and the evaluation instruments. Nine references are included. (BJV)