| Michigan is in the midst of major
changes in its instructional programs. As a result of many new
initiatives on the part of the governor, the state board of
education, the legislature, universities, and schools, the hope of
ensuring that all Michigan students will accomplish higher goals
and deeper levels of understanding and problem solving abilities
is becoming a reality. This challenge cannot be realized without
simultaneously changing the education of Michigan teachers.
Michigan State University has
developed a teacher preparation program that addresses teaching
for higher levels of understanding and provides teacher candidates
with opportunities to gain the critical knowledge and skills
needed to teach all children effectively, especially
those who come to school less well prepared than others for what
the school traditionally offers.
The goal of the MSU program is to
prepare prospective teachers who have:
- thorough knowledge of the
subjects they will teach.
- understanding of social and
cultural contexts in which students live and learn.
- practical skills needed to
manage the complexities of teaching of understanding.
- knowledge of the specific
methods, analyses, and examples that will promote pupil
understanding.
- commitment to high standards
of professional conduct.
- Understanding of the changing
relationships among schools, the communities they serve, and
the world of work.
- Ability to use information
technology to enhance learning and to enhance personal and
professional productivity.
KEY ELEMENTS
OF THE PROGRAM
In order to accomplish these goals,
we provide an integrated baccalaureate/post-baccalaureate internship
program. The program combines a baccalaureate degree in a disciplinary
major or minor concentrations with teacher certification courses
followed by a year-long internship in the school. The certification
program helps students build connections between theoretical
principles and practical situations that teachers confront daily.
Through the internship, teacher candidates benefit from continued
instruction and mentoring from university and school faculty
as they refine their skills, build more elaborate understandings
of teaching while in the classroom, and participate in several
school-wide and community initiatives. In addition, students
in the internship year combine teaching with graduate-level
professional study courses, some of which may apply to a master's
degree program.
Certification students in MSU's
program have better preparation in the academic disciplines that
undergird the teaching of subject matter through strong majors and
minors. Requirements for majors and minors in academic fields are
the same for both prospective elementary and secondary teacher
candidates.
Students in the program have the
opportunities to work with diverse K-12 students. As a major
strand in the program, the dual concerns for diversity and equity
are interwoven throughout the spiraling curriculum. Students spend
time working with special needs students in regular classrooms
and, whenever possible, in inclusion programs.
Michigan State University's
Teacher Education Program provides students with instruction from
nationally renowned faculty and classroom experiences with
outstanding K-12 teachers, resulting in preparation to meet the
challenges of the teaching profession. Students are prepared to
fulfill the standards and related proficiencies for entry-level
Michigan teachers as established by the Michigan Department of
Education. (See College of Education website: http://www.educ.msu.edu
under "Info.
For Students". See "Certification Resources".)
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