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| College of Education makes radical changes in teacher preparation
Teacher preparation programs at LSU have embraced the challenge to ensure that new teachers are both competent and confident to meet the demands of teaching in today’s schools. Rather than simply updating existing courses, LSU’s College of Education faculty have instituted a comprehensive redesign of the preparation program, in collaboration with faculty from the Colleges of Agriculture, Arts & Sciences, Basic Sciences and local schools. Aiding in the process, have been the students’ positive experiences in providing field-based service at area schools such as Highland Elementary, McKinley Middle, and Sherwood Middle, as well as the implementation of field-based master’s level programs. These factors have led to the development of content-rich, diverse experiences integrally connected with course work. In addition, all preparation programs incorporate performance assessment with comprehensive electronic portfolios that allow teacher candidates to reflect upon and assess their own development and effectiveness. Candidates also gain ongoing feedback from faculty, public school teachers, and peers. Preparation Programs:
The new PK-3, or pre-kindergarten through third grade, undergraduate program represents a dramatic shift from two separate, but related, paths toward a nursery school/kindergarten add-on certification. Instead, the program is now completely integrated, designed to prepare PK-3 educators. Teacher candidates move through the program in groups, gaining the advantage of close collegial relationships found to be effective for personal and professional development. Students participate in field-based professional blocks and student teaching in two different professional development school settings: one urban and one rural, one PK-K and one 1-3. In addition, candidates go through a reflective seminar. Consequently, the entire program is integrated, with expectations and outcomes threaded throughout the field-based professional blocks. Elementary Grades 1-6*
The redesigned grades 1-6 program* offers two concentrations:a
four-year teacher certification with a bachelor’s degree
and a five-year certification leading to a master’s degree.
Both of these concentrations incorporate field experiences in
varied
socioeconomic and cultural settings throughout the program, as
well as an intensive student teaching semester or year. Therefore,
each
candidate experiences a two-phased practicum in diverse school
settings. Secondary Grades 7-12* A completely new undergraduate 7-12 program* replaces the current, relatively traditional undergraduate 7-12 program*. Extended discussions among faculty in several colleges resulted in a plan for degree and certification programs offered through the content-area colleges, such as Arts & Sciences and Basic Sciences, in partnership with the College of Education.
This new plan is designed to address both the quantity and quality issues facing the state and nation by offering certification programs emphasizing improved academic content and effective instructional strategy. This is also accomplished by engaging the faculty of LSU’s College of Arts & Sciences in both recruitment and program delivery. The program centers on an introductory course that explores contemporary
educational issues, followed by a sequence of professional practice
seminars carefully integrated into the academic program. In addition,
content and teaching methods are interwoven throughout the program
to ensure the student’s understanding of the relationship
between the two. Like other programs, students move through the
program in groups, establishing identities as members of learning
communities. Secondary grades 7-12—Holmes Program* The secondary grades 7-12 Holmes
Program*, a 15-month certification and master’s degree
program, is tailored to meet the needs of students with content-area
bachelor’s degrees but no teacher education background. Students
spend extended time developing the expertise to enter the teaching
profession with a capacity for leadership. The program features
extended experiences in diverse school settings, the support of
peers working together in small groups, mentoring by graduate faculty,
and the development of teacher-researcher skills. Written by Josh Duplechain | LSU
Office of University Relations
Related Links LSU’s
College of Education |
