Building Bridges at Home: Examining Perceptions of Clinical Faculty in a College of Education

• In Event: Faculty and Doctoral Students' Teaching Experiences in Higher Education

Abstract

To better align coursework and field experiences, it is essential to examine the perspectives of clinical faculty who occupy a dual role in both contexts. This study examined how nine elementary clinical faculty perceive the preparation of teacher candidates and their role within the larger faculty. Despite progress in teacher candidate preparation, there is a continued disconnect between methods courses and field work. Participants pointed to a lack of involvement from faculty in schools as a disconnect, with the exception of tenure-track faculty who served as Faculty-in-Residence. Clinical faculty feel valued by administrators and less valued by tenure-track faculty. Misperceptions of workload were bidirectional. Findings have implications for identifying gaps to improve faculty relations programs of study can be improved.

Authors

• Katrina Hall, University of North Florida
  Presenting Author

• Pamela Williamson, University of North Florida
  Presenting Author

• Elizabeth Hale, University of North Florida
  Presenting Author