Preservice Teachers Collaborating Across Universities in Social Studies Methods

• In Event: Teacher Education and Teacher Professional Development in the Social Studies

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the collaboration between the students in social studies methods courses at two different universities. The instructors used technology to connect preservice teachers from vastly differently teacher education programs in terms of geography, size, and type of university. Using archived data from the courses, the authors found benefits of intercollegiate collaboration for students such as participation in an expanded community of professionals, advanced networking opportunities, in addition to enhancing course objectives. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for preservice teachers and teacher educators, particularly at small colleges/universities.

Authors

• Jeremy Hilburn, University of North Carolina - Wilmington

• Brad M. Maguth, The University of Akron