Windows Into Teaching and Learning (WiTL): An Overview
Abstract: Windows into Teaching and Learning (WiTL), a pilot study conceived and actualized by researchers situated in a large urban university in the southeastern region of the United States, captures the nuisance of online learning as a method for transforming school-based clinical experiences in teacher preparation programs. This presentation introduces and describes the theoretical context in which the project was developed. An overview of the challenges facing colleges of education in providing meaningful and relevant clinical experiences to pre-service teachers enrolled in online distance education courses is discussed and serves as the impetus of WiTL. In the presentation, we will explain the methods and technology used by the researchers. Furthermore, the presenters will provide a glimpse into the potential impact of WiTL as a means of facilitating meaningful field experiences in distance education and traditional coursework, as well as corollary benefits realized for student participants and mentor teachers.
Presider: Richard Cooley, Grand Valley State University