Conceptual
Framework: An introduction
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| The Center for Education offers
certification programs and
academic degrees at undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels.
Undergraduate students who are education majors earn the baccalaureate
degree and initial instructional certification in elementary education,
early childhood education, and special education. Students who major in
the humanities, social sciences and sciences are also able to earn
initial instructional certification in secondary education. The Center
for Education also offers the Master of Education Degree in 22 areas of
study. Graduate degree programs may be combined with either initial or
advanced levels of certification. Students also have the option of
certification at the graduate level, without seeking a graduate degree.
Doctoral degrees are offered in 4 areas of study including: higher
education, human sexuality, reading/language arts, and school
administration. The doctorate in school leadership can be combined with
the Letter of Eligibility granting certification as superintendent or
assistant superintendent in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Faculty and students engage in teacher training in a variety of field settings, including two professional development schools and a university affiliated charter school. The professional development schools include the Lakewood Elementary School and the Ridley Middle School: both in the Ridley School District, which borders the campus of Widener University. In addition, in AY 2006 Widener University received authorization to begin the Widener Partnership Charter School. Both the professional development schools and the charter school are settings where collaboration among students, faculty and seasoned teachers, administrators, and supportive educational specialists provide opportunities for field experiences and community engagement. (This link was added to provide a quick review of the conceptual framework.) Visit this link to view an overview of the Center for Education Conceptual Framework. http://muse.widener.edu/~aad0002/NCATEConceptualFramework.ppt The Mission and Vision of the Center for Education. In the Center for Education our pedagogical values cannot be divorced from our place within a metropolitan university. We have pledged to translate our values and goals into actions that have positive consequences for the communities we serve. The mission of the Center for Education is to create and sustain communities of informed and critically reflective practitioners who function in a variety of institutions at all levels of the educational enterprise. Unit faculty encourage interactive learning experiences among faculty and students that promote the development and application of higher order thinking skills in the university and in the field. The vision of the Center is to maintain a leadership role and to build on its strong academic and professional reputation for preparing leaders in education at the initial and advanced levels. Faculty are dedicated to insuring that graduates are competent and successful in PK-12, higher education, clinical and community settings. Purpose Our purpose is to prepare educators who willingly and knowledgeably assume the mantle of their respective professional roles. Therefore our professionalism as educators is defined by the values of academic excellence, diversity, collaboration, and life-long learning in terms of fields of practice, as follows: 1. Academic excellence -Candidates understand that academic excellence is more than mastery of knowledge and skills; it also requires the ability to transform current levels of knowledge and skill in response to new challenges presented by diverse contexts of community and culture. 2. Diversity -Candidates adapt what they know and what they can do, responding effectively to the needs of individuals who are different. 3. Collaboration - Candidates collaborate with one another, with faculty, and with their respective communities so that many perspectives and realms of experience can enrich their professional expertise. 4. Lifelong Learning - Candidates renew and reinforce the expertise needed to be professionals. |
| Conceptual Framework |
Elements |
Educational
philosophy |
Assessment
overview |
