From where and from whom? An exploration of the experiences supervisors draw upon in their practice

摘要

As the teacher education preparation climate shifts to emphasize extended clinical field experiences as the heart of preservice teacher preparation, the research community has attempted to understand more about the pedagogies and personnel that will support learning in these areas. Supervisors of clinical field experiences are a staple in the clinical field experience, yet the research community has a limited viewpoint of the practices and decision-making that lay underneath their work. Using a multiple case study methodology and a select but diverse group of participants, most from a PDS context, this study investigated the resources that supervisors draw on to resolve challenges in their practice. The results of this study highlighted the significance of coursework in the field of teacher education preparation. Specifically, the results noted that exposure to and practical application of philosophies and pedagogies learned during coursework were utilized to resolve challenges in supervisors' work with preservice teachers. Additionally, supervisors in this study highly benefited from a community of supporters where struggling supervisors drew knowledge and information for immediate use.