Using Urban Short-Term Travel Study to Diversify Preservice Field Experiences at Rural Colleges and Universities

• In Event: Diversifying Field Experiences to Prepare Preservice Teachers to Teach All Learners

Abstract

This qualitative case study explores how urban short-term travel study (STTS) can be used to diversify pre-service field experiences (PSFE) at rural colleges and universities. Both STTS described in this paper lasted one week in an urban setting and followed a semester-long course that involved a rural PSFE. Data include reflective writings of university students during both university courses and STTS, as well as artifacts from the courses and STTS. Data were analyzed using open and focused coding and member checked with study participants to ensure the validation of this research study. Through the use of STTS, universities can offer pre-service teachers contextually-diverse PSFE that better prepare them for the reality of teaching.

Author

• Jessica Sierk, St. Lawrence University