Effective Intern Conferencing

Abstract

The authors examine specific proce dures for conducting pre- and postob servation conferences with interns. The Supervision Throughput Model (STM) presented here assumes the use of selected interpersonal communication skills and details specific steps for carry ing out collaborative, goal-oriented con ferences. The idea of a "throughput" is drawn from industry and refers to in ternship programs as a structured expe rience or process that student interns enter as novices. As students are "put through" the internship, skillful super visors and directing teachers guide the student in developing the pedagogical knowledge, skills, and self-evaluative posture of a professional teacher. By the time they exit the internship, students' skills, self-concept, and status have ad vanced to that of a beginning teacher.