Teacher-Development Overview: A Survey of Top Programs

TL;DR

Schools of education are implementing early classroom experience, peer groups, mentor teachers, and student collaboration to better prepare teachers in content knowledge, classroom skills, and technology expertise.

Transcript

Teacher: Okay, ladies and gentlemen, let's rock and roll. >>Narrator: A good teacher is a precious commodity. >>Teacher: That's a pretty cool way to encrypt this. >>Narrator: There just aren't enough to go around, especially in urban and rural districts. >>Teacher: Do you think these Cray computers could break this? >>Student: In about two second... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍🏫 Schools of education are implementing early classroom experience to address the criticism of inadequate classroom knowledge and skills.
• 🧑‍🎓 Collaboration with peers, mentor teachers, and students enhances the learning experience for student teachers.
• 🧑‍🏫 Pre-service teachers need support in acquiring technology skills to effectively teach in the digital age.
• ☠️ The retention rate for teacher education programs that emphasize classroom work and collaboration is higher than the national average.
• 🧑 Students can provide valuable insights and support to their teachers, breaking the traditional model of learning from adults.
• 😑 Peer review and feedback are valuable tools for pre-service teachers to improve their teaching skills.
• 🧑‍🎓 Involving students in the education process creates a collaborative and engaging learning environment.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the criticisms surrounding schools of education?

Schools of education have been criticized for producing teachers with inadequate content knowledge, insufficient classroom experience, and limited technological skills. This is seen as a problem, especially in urban and rural districts.

Q: How are schools of education addressing these criticisms?

Many schools of education are implementing early classroom experience for student teachers, peer groups for collaboration, mentor teachers for guidance, and student collaboration for learning. These initiatives aim to provide student teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful in the classroom.

Q: What are some benefits of early classroom experience for student teachers?

Early classroom experience allows student teachers to observe experienced teachers in action, see how children react, and learn how to adjust their teaching methods accordingly. It provides invaluable hands-on learning and helps student teachers understand the complexities of managing a classroom and presenting effective lessons.

Q: How are student teachers being prepared to teach in the digital age?

Pre-service teachers are receiving support and guidance in acquiring vital technology skills. Programs like the Generation Y program pair tech-savvy students with tech-challenged teachers to help integrate new technology into lesson plans. This ensures that teachers are equipped with the necessary technological skills to teach in the digital age.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Schools of education are under scrutiny for producing teachers with inadequate content knowledge, classroom experience, and technology skills.

• A movement in teacher education focuses on early classroom experience, peer groups, mentor teachers, and student collaboration to address these shortcomings.

• The University of Virginia's Curry School of Education and Colorado State University's Project Promise are two programs that emphasize extensive classroom work and collaboration.