| Description |
Teacher turnover rates are rising every year across the United States. These trends are similar within the state of Utah. This study aims to look at the experiences of undergraduate college students (i.e., preservice teachers) in the University of Utah's College of Education to see where improvements on the process of teacher training and certification can be made with specific attention to field experiences. These efforts were informed by Stanford's d.school. A collaborative by the state of Utah as part of a d.school partnership invited the University of Utah to participate in the University Innovation Fellows program, to help students identify areas of improvement in their own universities. Using the training provided by Stanford's UIF program, the researcher conducted interviews with undergraduate students who volunteered in classrooms, and host teachers to determine improvement in preparation. Findings indicate the importance of paring undergraduate students with experienced, veteran teachers. Students must engage in ample service opportunities and should experience time in classrooms and schools early in their programs. Improving preservice experiences may have an impact on overall teacher preparation and later retention. |
