Graduation Term

2014

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

School of Teaching and Learning

Committee Chair

Nancy Latham

Abstract

PERCEPTIONS OF COOPERATING TEACHERS CONCERNING

THE STUDENT TEACHING FIELD EXPERIENCE

Dawn Paulson

142 Pages December 2014

This study explored the views of cooperating teachers on (a) their work with student teachers and university supervisors, and (b) ways to improve the student teaching process. In a mixed-methods sequential explanatory study, 153 cooperating teachers answered closed-and open-ended questions using an electronic survey; then a subset of 12 participated in follow-up interviews. All participants taught at rural or semi-rural middle schools and high schools in Central Illinois; all had experience with student teachers from a mid-sized institution in that area.

Major findings of the study included cooperating teachers' lack of preparation for the semester, cooperating teachers' beliefs in a need for better selection of student teachers, their desire for feedback, roles they feel they should play (role model, mentor, judge, etc.), and their desire for power and respect. Recommendations include suggestions for university policy regarding candidates, university supervisors, and student teaching.

Access Type

Dissertation-Open Access

DOI

http://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2014.Paulson.D

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