The museum as an additional site for providing preservice teachers with classroom experience

摘要

This thesis stemmed from the idea that the museum can be used as an educational resource for both teachers and students. It examines how preservice art education majors worked with classroom teachers and students as part of a museum/university collaboration. The study was guided by three questions: (1) How did the student docents feel the experience enhanced their preservice teacher education? (2) How were student docents able to adapt activities developed around a museum exhibition to fit the needs of the host teacher and their class? (3) How can the museum and preservice teacher education programs collaborate to bring a variety of experiences to future art educators? Findings indicate that preservice teachers found classroom experiences and opportunities which link them with community resources beneficial as part of a teacher training program. The study asserts that programs which offer preservice teachers opportunities to work with teachers in schools should be included in preservice teacher course work.