University Contributions to the Education of Teachers

Are the contributions of universities to the teacher education process unique? What is the role of the university in enhancing the quality of teacher preparation? Clift and Warner assert that universities make four unique contributions to the education of teachers — contributions that cannot be made by other educational institutions such as school districts. University teacher education practices: (a) provide the time and resources for reflecting on educational issues; (b) provide multiple perspectives on the teaching and learning process; (c) provide for intellectual diversity regarding the nature and purpose of schooling; and (d) provide for continued research into the nature of teaching, learning, and schooling.