University of Minnesota, Morris Division of Education’s conceptual framework for teacher education describes the discipline’s intellectual philosophy and institutional standards, which distinguish Morris graduates from those of another institution. It reflects the teacher education program’s vision and mission, and provides direction for programs, courses, teaching, candidate performance, scholarship, service, and unit accountability. The conceptual framework is knowledge-based, articulated, shared, coherent, consistent with the unit and/or institutional mission, and continuously evaluated.
Coursework in elementary education is designed to meet standards of effective practice required for licensure and provide prospective teachers with opportunities to:
- understand central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of disciplines taught in the elementary school;
- understand child and adolescent development theory, individual and group motivation and diversity among learners;
- create instructional opportunities adapted to learners of diverse cultural backgrounds and abilities;
- use instructional strategies and technologies that reflect personal knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques;
- encourage development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills;
- understand and use formal and informal methods of student assessment; and
- collaborate with parents/guardians, families, school colleagues, and the community in an ethical manner.