Program Goals
Integrating research from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the goals for graduates will include the ability to:
- utilize concepts, theories, and research to enhance student learning
- effectively plan and implement classroom instruction and assessment
- expand the knowledge base of teaching and learning
- exemplify professionalism as lifelong learners
These goals will be met through ten program outcomes. Graduates will demonstrate accomplishment of program outcomes through required portfolio documents completed in each course. The completed portfolio will be part of the program review and the graduate’s exit interview.
Program Outcomes
- Knowledge of Learners – Graduates will be able to describe how students develop and learn and plan appropriate instruction
- Respect for Diversity – Graduates will be able to analyze issues related to culture, language, exceptionalities, and gender that impact the classroom environment and plan appropriate learning opportunities for students
- Knowledge of Assessment – Graduates will be able to identify and use appropriate instruments for individual and whole class assessment and apply a variety of methods for measuring student growth and understanding
- Knowledge of Curriculum – Graduates will be able to describe the curriculum taught at their grade/subject level and plan ways to help students make connections through real-world applications of their learning
- Significance of Learning Environments – Graduates will be able to design an effective physical, cognitive, and affective learning environment that keeps students motivated, engaged, and focused
- Instructional Decision-Making – Graduates will be able to organize instruction that meets learning goals, incorporating principles of effective teaching
- Teaching Strategies for Meaningful Learning – Graduates will be able to identify a variety of instructional strategies for a learning goal and integrate these strategies into lessons to enhance student learning
- Professional Collaboration – Graduates will be able to describe effective collaboration techniques to improve student learning and document the application of these techniques when working with colleagues, parents, and community members
- Professional Responsibility – Graduates will be able to define what it means to be an educated person and will document their increased teaching expertise and proficiency
- Reflection on Practice – Graduates will be able to identify relevant issues in education and examine their practice to apply research principles to locate potential solutions to educational problems