Dear Student Teacher,
We are writing to share with you the key findings of a study about student teaching experience at Teachers College. In February and March 2006, the Office of Accreditation and Assessment conducted a focus group study to determine the perceptions and feelings of student teachers about the information, support, and services available to them prior to and during student teaching. (Please note that as a follow-up to this study, we will be sending the Student Teacher Feedback Survey to all current student teachers in December 2006.)
Our focus group participants agreed that student teaching experience is successful if the following conditions are met:
- Programs carefully set up, structure, and coordinate the placement process, and accompany the placement with support and services.
- Programs clearly articulate and communicate the student teaching requirements and expectations to cooperating teachers and supervisors.
- There is an office or a person who student teachers could turn to, and/or there is a procedure they could use to express grievances, concerns, and complaints, as well as to obtain advice.
- College supervisors and cooperating teachers are experienced, well-prepared for their roles, and committed to student teachers’ professional development.
- Coursework is aligned with the knowledge and skills required in the field. Assignments in courses, especially those taken simultaneously with field experience, are applicable to real-world educational problems, and reasonable in amount.
To address student teachers’ suggestions and concerns, the Office of Teacher Education and School-based Support Services (OTE/SSS) has already instituted some changes:
- Updated handbooks for student teachers, cooperating teachers, and supervisors to include student teaching requirements, responsibilities, and expectations. All handbooks are available in the OTE/SSS office (400 Russell Hall). The handbooks can also be downloaded from the OTE/SSS website.
- Offered two orientations on September 11 and 15 for all student teachers. Thirty-one student teachers attended these meetings. The next orientation will be offered in the beginning of the spring semester.
- Offered a series of informational meetings about New York State teacher certification requirements for students and faculty. OTE/SSS is working on creating information videos featuring a presentation by Faride Suarez, Associate Director for Certification Compliance. Computers in OTE/SSS are available for students to register for TEACH.
- Offered orientations for supervisors and cooperating teachers. The participants discussed College and program expectations and requirements for student teaching as well as guidelines for effective communication and for building positive relationships with student teachers.
- Is presently launching a database containing information about school characteristics and the qualifications of both cooperating teachers and supervisors, to help programs with the placement process.
We also communicated student teachers’ suggestions and concerns to student teaching coordinators to help them make student teaching experiences more beneficial for all participants.
Please take a look at the focus group report highlights. We invite you to share your thoughts and reactions about the findings of the study with us (see contact information below).
In December, you will receive the Student Teacher Feedback Survey. We look forward to your feedback!
Thank you,
Sasha Gribovskaya, DirectorOffice of Accreditation and Assessment
410 Russell Hall
(212) 678-4157
Gribovskaya@tc.edu
Clare Sng, Associate Director
Office of Accreditation and Assessment
410 Russell Hall
(212) 678-3093
Sng@tc.edu
Julia Yu, Associate Director
Office of Teacher Education and School-based Support Services
400 Russell Hall
(212) 678-3978
Yu@tc.edu