Attempting to Bridge Theory to Practice: Preparing for Moving Day with Tele-Observation in Social Studies Methods

Abstract

Preparing teacher candidates to move from the methods course to K-12 classrooms is not an easy task. Educational methods instructors desire to provide a common experience with exemplars of powerful instruction for their teacher candidates. This project builds on previous research related to tele-observation by presenting an observation scheme while capturing a “live case” of social studies instruction prior to the practicum experience with the help of videoconference capabilities. The research questions guiding this study include: (a) In what way (s) could videoconference be part of the process of bridging theory to practice? (b) In what way (s) will teacher candidates pack up the concepts from the methods course and take them to their own practicum experience? Data sources include a three part tele-observation survey and the context of the live case is shared. Teacher candidates report teaching strategies and management strategies they will use in the classroom following the tele-observation experience.