Preparing preservice teachers for diverse classrooms

• In Event: The Consortium of State and Regional Educational Research Associations: Distinguished Paper Session and Business Meeting

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to (1) describe how a teacher education institution developed a web application to record and calculate diversity of the field practicum placements; and (2) describe how the institution used the placement diversity data to research program improvement and decision making. The results indicated that the diversity level of the practicum placement was positively correlated with some outcomes, such as graduate and employer satisfaction ratings, and negatively correlated with others, like internship outcomes. The data from this study was used to guide program improvement decisions.

Authors

• Zafer Unal, University of South Florida

• Aslihan Unal, Georgia Southern University