Case studies to deepen understanding and enhance parental involvement skills in pre-service teacher training programs.

Preservice teachers are required to learn why parent involvement in schools is a vital component of their learning and how to deal with parental involvement issues before they enter classrooms. However, many preservice teachers find the theories and concepts they learn in university classrooms too abstract to help address parental involvement issues they encounter in schools. Case study method and case writing are two approaches that have been used in teacher education programs to connect theory and practice. This study describes a technology-based case study analysis approach to preparation of preservice and inservice teachers for dealing with parents.