Students experience urban, suburban, and rural schools. Discussions, at the schools and at the university, frame and extend the experiences. Students also develop a reflective inquiry project in collaboration with an experienced classroom teacher, who then becomes the first placement cooperating teacher during the spring semester. This project encourages the students to reflect clearly upon what they are observing and studying in the classroom. During the spring semester, students practice teach in two collaborative placements at two different grade levels.
Most students experience at least one urban placement during student teaching.
In TEI, the education courses are taught both by outstanding university and clinical faculty. In some cases, a course is co-taught. The course work provides instruction in a variety of instructional methods, curriculum development, and assessment. These methods include direct instruction, instruction for special needs, reflective inquiry, instructional technology, and cooperative instructional techniques. Prospective teachers are also prepared to work with students with different learning styles and needs.