An investigation of the relationship of diverse field experiences and evaluations of student teachers from a small, rural teacher's college in Southeast Nebraska
Abstract
This study investigated one assessment of student teacher performance in diverse field settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between student teacher placements in terms of degree of diversity and student teacher evaluation scores for teacher candidates in a small, state-sponsored institution of higher education in Southeast Nebraska. This study was conducted during the spring of the 2004–2005 academic year and utilized aggregated, archived data provided by Peru State College and the Nebraska Department of Education for the 2004–2005 academic year. Student teacher evaluation scores and degree of diversity were obtained from Peru State College School of Education and Graduate Studies Student Teaching Evaluation (PSC-STE) form and the Student Teaching Classroom Demographic Information (CDI) form, respectively. Analysis involved investigating Person's correlation coefficients. Student teacher evaluation scores were correlated with overall diversity and with sub-categories of overall diversity including ethnicity, children with exceptionalities, and socioeconomic diversity. Each of the four hypotheses was tested for significance at the .05 level. All four null hypotheses were retained as there was no significant relationship between scores and degree of diversity. Additional findings included a relationship in the sub-category of special education teacher candidates and overall diversity and ethnicity. As the social demographics picture within Southeast Nebraska rapidly changes, it has become increasingly important to prepare future teachers through exposure to the many facets of diversity. Among the initiatives implemented by PSC for pre-service teachers is exposure to diverse classrooms during practicums and student teaching. The results offered another form of assessment to help inform practitioners of diversity considerations in the area of student teacher field placement.
Subject Area
Teacher education
Recommended Citation
Ellie Kunkel,
"An investigation of the relationship of diverse field experiences and evaluations of student teachers from a small, rural teacher's college in Southeast Nebraska"
(2005).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI3187597.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI3187597