ED370921 SP035266
Title: Teacher Thinking and the Case Method: Theory and Future Directions.
Author(s): McAninch, Amy Raths
Pages: 141
Publication Date: 1993
ISBN: 0-8077-3243-5
Available from: Document Not Available from EDRS.
Availability: Teachers College Press, 1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York,
NY 10027.
Language: English
Document Type: Book (010); Opinion papers (120)
Geographic Source: U.S.; New York
Journal Announcement: RIEOCT1994
This book
provides reasons for the use of the case method in teacher education
and argues that decisions about teacher preparation must be grounded
in an understanding of how teachers learn, what they see as sources
of teaching knowledge, and how their workplaces influence what and
how they will continue to learn. If case studies are to support
reflective practice, they must help teachers see the value of systematic
investigations and theory. The volume's six chapters are introduced
in a foreword by Robert Floden. The first chapter summarizes the
literature, highlighting the practical orientation of teachers'
thinking. The concept of clinical mentality is used to describe
the consciousness of teachers generally. In chapter 2, it is shown
how the "feminization" of teaching sets teacher education
apart from other professional studies. The third chapter demonstrates
that clinical consciousness inhibits improvement, even though it
is a functional response to the immediate demands of practice. Chapter
4 shows why the case study approaches, dominant in other professions,
are not well suited to teacher education. It is argued that, for
teacher education, the approach must link theory and practice in
a way that will promote connected understanding. Chapter 5 lays
out a case study approach that does fit with the goals and students
of teacher education. The argument uses ideas from Joseph Schwab
to indicate what cases should be like and how they should be used.
The final chapter provides some concrete examples--cases of case
teaching--to show the connection of theory and practice in teacher
education. (Contains approximately 180 references.) (LL)
Descriptors: *Case Method (Teaching Technique); *Case Studies; *Cognitive
Style; Education Majors; Educational Environment; Educational Practices;
Elementary Secondary Education; Higher Education; Sex Bias; *Teacher
Education; *Teacher Educators; *Teaching Methods; *Theory Practice
Relationship; Womens Education
Identifiers: Clinical Reasoning; Knowledge Base for Teaching; Reflective
Practice; Schwab (Joseph J)
