Armstrong
Atlantic State University
College of Education
Conceptual Framework
Tenets
The PEU Conceptual
Framework Overview
(In Draft Form)
Armstrong
Atlantic State University's
Professional Education
Unit (PEU) supports
a program designed
to encourage candidates
to be prepared and
reflective decision-makers
who are committed
to teaching diverse
learners. Candidates
will study, learn
and grow in an academic
setting that integrates
and highlight the
connections among
liberal studies, content
area studies, professional
studies, and clinical
experiences. Candidates
will be immersed in
an academic program
that values six specific
tenets noted by the
faculty as essential
for the professional
development and growth
of teachers: namely,
respect for diversity,
the essentials of
professionalism, the
importance of collaboration,
the value of authentic
assessment, the merit
of reflection, and
the value of technology.
Guided by the best
practice research,
professional standards,
and the unit assessment
system based on data
driven decision-making,
the PEU commits itself
to the proposition
that candidates who
integrate knowledge,
theory, and practice
will begin their professional
lives as prepared,
reflective decision
makers committed to
teaching diverse learners.
Tenet
#1 - Respect for Diversity
The PEU is committed
to preparing candidates
who embrace diversity
and respond effectively
and humanely to the
needs of diverse learners.
Teacher candidates
will be able to:
* understand,
value, and demonstrate
respect for human
differences with regard
to race, ethnicity,
culture, gender, age,
intellect, exceptionalities,
physical abilities,
health, religion,
socioeconomic status,
language differences,
and/or geographical
area
* respond effectively
and appropriately
to the needs of diverse
learners as evidence
of their skill of
advocacy
Tenet#2 - Essentials
of Professionalism
The PEU is committed
to the concept that
the professional educator
understands the transforming
role of education
in human lives.
Teacher candidates
will be able to:
* training
in professional ethics,
pedagogy, appropriate
and technically adequate
assessment techniques,
as well as both research
and "wisdom of
practice" based
instructional strategies
* demonstrate
knowledge of the theories,
constructs, concepts,
philosophies, principles,
and key research that
define the disciplines
* demonstrate
knowledge of how to
acquire, integrate,
refine, and use information
in meaningful ways
Tenet #3 - Importance
of Collaboration
The PEU believes that
collaboration requires
a teacher understand
and demonstrate the
skills necessary for
effective communication
and be capable to
work with diverse
groups to attain a
shared goal or objective.
Teacher candidates
will be able to:
* demonstrate
the skills necessary
for effective communication
* work with
diverse groups to
attain a shared goal
or objective.
Tenet #4 - Value
of Authentic Assessment
Teacher candidates
who are actively engaged
in both learning and
reflecting upon their
own growth and development
are better able to
see the relevance
of their studies to
the "real"
world.
Teacher candidates
will be able to:
* utilize self-assessments,
written reflections
on planning and practice
during field-based
experiences, assessment
rubrics, as well as
formative and summative
portfolios to demonstrate
knowledge, skills,
and dispositions
Tenet #5 - Merit
of Reflection
The goal of the PEU
is to prepare individuals
who can reflect on
their own behaviors,
attitudes and decisions,
and understand the
importance of self-awareness,
self-assessment, and
personal responsibility.
Teacher candidates
will be able to:
* make educated,
thoughtful decisions
and evaluating their
actions with respect
to these decisions.
* utilize reflective
decision-making in
terms of lesson planning,
the development and
implementation of
assessments, the selection
of appropriate teaching
strategies and methods
of delivery, effectively
designing accommodations
and/or modifications,
and the creation of
effective, supportive,
and efficient learning
environments for diverse
groups
* reflect on
their own responses
to new ideas, diverse
attitudes, changing
societal trends, and
new ways of receiving
and assessing information.
Tenet #6 - Value
of Technology
The PEU is committed
to teaching candidates
about the role and
function of technology
in instruction and
to clearly emphasize
that technology cannot
substitute for effective
teaching.
Teacher candidates
will be able to:
* use technology
to enhance instruction,
expand learning resources,
support classroom
management, and broaden
educational opportunities.
* Evaluate
technologies and assess/reflect
on the effectiveness
and efficiency of
the technologies as
part of classroom
instruction.
