University and Public School Collaboration: Developing More Effective Teachers through Field-Based Teacher Preparation and New Teacher Support Programs.

The Collaborative Learning Network: Project Genesis, a partnership between California State University, San Bernardino, and the Ontario-Monclair School District (California) and its consortium districts is a multi-faceted program consisting of three levels of training and support. Phase one, Undergraduate Service Learning, recruits potential teacher candidates by providing undergraduate credit for working in elementary and middle school classrooms. Phase two, Project Genesis, Preservice Training, integrates teaching, learning theory and methodology, and classroom management courses with classroom practice during the preservice year. In phase three, Beginning Teachers: Project Learn, new teachers are assigned to mentor teachers for their first 2 years of teaching, and also attend workshops covering topics such as planning instruction, teaching models, classroom management, assessment, and cultural diversity. Of the 79 teachers who received their credentials between 1992 and 1996 through Project Genesis, 99 percent are still teaching, and 97 percent of these are still teaching at their original school site. While 25 percent of Project Genesis participants became bilingual teachers, all worked in classrooms with limited English proficient students. Also project participants, after their first year of teaching, indicated that they felt well prepared to take on responsibilities of full-time teaching and more able to meet the needs of linguistically and culturally diverse students. The blending of coursework and practice during the preservice year helped participants learn how to develop and implement curriculum effectively. (ND) University and Public School Collaboration: Developing More Effective Teachers through Field-Based Teacher Preparation and New Teacher Support Programs By Veronica Robbins and Mary Jo Skillings Between 1992 and 1996, approximately 80 teachers have received their training and certification through the Collaborative Learning Network: Project Genesis. This innovative teacher preparation program represents more than six years of collaboration between California State University, San Bernardino and the Ontario-Montclair School District and its consortium districts. University faculty, school district personnel, school principals and teachers sought to identify areas of weakness in teacher education programs. They worked together to develop a consistent supportive program for university students that would begin prior to and during their fifth year, the preservice year, and continue through their first two years of teaching. Since the 1992-93 academic year the program has been supported by a Comprehensive Teacher Education Institute Grant. The program is multi-faceted and consists of three levels of training and support for teachers: Phase 1 Undergraduate Service Learning; Phase II Preservice Year: Project Genesis ; Phase III First two years of teaching: Project Learn. Phase I Undergraduate Service Learning In an effort to recruit potential teacher candidates from a variety of specialized fields, particularly math and science, an undergraduate program of service learning was initiated. Under this phase, students receive undergraduate credit for working in elementary and middle school classrooms. High schools and junior colleges are targeted *ki.o.. for visitation and recruitment _information regarding the service learning program through U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) A originng d. 0 This document has been reproduced as receiv ..\,f 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. ati from the person or organization ed V \i’ Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. BEST COPY AVAILABLE 1 2 PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) the university and opportunities in the teaching profession. Approximately a dozen students each year since 1992 have participated in this level of the Collaborative Learning Network. Phase H Project Genesis Preservice Training Teaching, learning theory and methodology and classroom management courses are integrated with classroom practices during the preservice year of training. All courses are taught a local school sites where the students receive instruction from university faculty teamed with district specialists and experienced classroom teachers. Resident teachers go through an application process and are visited by district personnel to ensure that they are prepared to have teacher preparation students in their classrooms for a year. They also commit to taking training in mentoring beginning teachers and in supervising student teachers. Developed with the philosophy that students learn from having a cohort experience, students work together as pairs and are teamed with resident teachers (one primary and one intermediate level) to provide opportunities for students to plan, teach, reflect, and learn together. Students remain as pairs until they begin their formal student teaching. Students have both a primary (K-2) and upper grade (3-6) experience with at least three weeks of lead teaching provided at each level. During this experience, students are responsible for planning, preparing, organizing and implementing all learning and management experiences in the classroom. All activities are approved by the resident teacher. At the completion of the academic year, students are eligible for a California preliminary Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential with a Crosscultural Language and