What vision of powerful social studies do field instructors have in mind as they work with student teachers?
In general, field instructors are responsive to the particular developmental needs of their assigned student teachers, and to the unique settings in which they student teach. That noted, field instructors share a common vision about powerful social studies teaching and learning, and much of their work is directed in support of this vision. A simple statement of this vision is that field instructors work to help student teachers develop instructional practices that encourage “active student engagement in worthwhile learning.” A more elaborated statement of this vision of powerful practice is found under the “Mentoring” menu, at the link titled “Vision of Powerful Social Studies.” A major emphasis in this program, given its commitment to “rationale-based” practice, is to help social studies educators think more deeply about the meaning of this vision of powerful social studies, given the diverse school contexts in which social studies takes place. For more elaboration of the intellectual
