Student teachers on LabNet: Linking preservice teachers with a professional community

Abstract

This article describes our preliminary exploration of a use for telecommunications in preservice teacher education. During the 1993 to 1994 school year, eleven student teachers at Tufts University participated in LabNet, a project at TERC to develop a community of science and mathematics teachers who share an interest in "project enhanced learning" and who communicate with each other through bulletin boards and electronic mail (Spitzer and Wedding, 1995). This article reviews the student teachers' involvement in LabNet to suggest it benefited them in several ways. In particular, it provided them specific, practical ideas and advice, with respect to student projects and otherwise; a sympathetic and appreciative forum in which to discuss their own ideas and experiences; and the general support of a progressive, active group of teachers for experimenting with innovative methods. The student teachers' participation seemed to benefit the LabNet community as well, stimulating topics of conversation veteran teachers might not otherwise have explored. Finally, we suggest, this form of contact among intern and practicing teachers has further potential to provide continuity between preservice and inservice community and professional development.