In an effort to continue to improve the teacher education program in the College of Education, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, a variety of innovative programs have been developed. These practicum programs, referred to generally as field-based programs, involve university students in various rolls such as observers, aides, student teachers, and interns. A unified effort involving various university professors, public school teachers, school administrators, the director of student teaching, and the College of Education dean, has brought about challenging and unique experiences. The primary objective of each program phase is to provide a more effective preparation for university students in such areas as first-hand experiences with children, actual involvements in public school activities, and individually guided instruction (IGE).Begun five years ago with one fledgling fieldbased class, the program is now soaring with 11 action-oriented units. Most units offer a 12-semester hour block of methods courses packed with opportunities for extensive field experiences.The practicum programs, which are continually being evaluated with feedback from both students and public educators, have proved to be exciting, innovative approaches for providing practical and theoretical experiences in the teacher preparation sequence.Course offerings include a wide range of education methods courses with additional disciplines, such as music, art, and physical education, being included in some units. New approaches for providing field experiences prior to student teaching are being developed at the secondary level, while other program elements include a variety of activities at the elementary and early childhood levels.One commonality among the practicum programs is team-teaching among the university professors involved. Because each unit is staffed with two or more professors and includes three or four courses, teaming becomes a necessity. Along with the objective of providing practical experiences for Whitfield, a recent Texas Tech Ed.D. degree recipient, and Hogue, are lecturers on education at the Lubbock institution. Rooze is a professor and Purkerson is associate professor and director of student teaching. Anderson serves as dean, College of Education. college students, the program seeks to provide individually guided education (IGE).To help college personnel develop a repertoire of IGE skills, a workshop was conducted on the Texas Tech Campus in August 1976. The workshop, University Level Individually Guided Education (ULIGE), stressed the team-planning, team-teaching, IGE approach. Geared toward developing teaching strategies and providing professors with a background of information necessary for implementing the IGE model, the workshop was directed by Robert H. Anderson, dean, College of Education. Acronyms Chosen For identification, the practicum programs bear the initials of their titles: