Frequently Asked Questions

The following is a glossary that explains commonly used terms and other terms that you will be hearing throughout your teacher preparation program. (Please know that the definitions below include references to NCATE terminology.)

• Who are the teacher candidates? Individuals admitted to or enrolled in programs for the initial preparation of teachers.
   
• Who are the students? Children and youth attending K-12 schools as distinguished from teacher candidates.
   
• What is a school partner? K-12 schools that collaborate with the higher education institution in designing, developing and implementing field experiences, clinical practice, delivery of instruction and research.
   
• Who are the school faculty? Licensed practitioners in K-12 schools who provide instruction, supervision, assessment and direction for student teachers during the clinical experience. These practitioners (also referred to as cooperating teachers)are directly responsible for mentoring the student teacher.
   
• Who are the clinical faculty? School and higher education faculty responsible for instruction, supervision and assessment of student teachers during the student teaching experience. The clinical faculty (also referred to as university supervisor) are the primary link between the school partner and the University during the student teaching experience.
   
• What is a student teaching experience? An experience that provides student teachers with an intensive and extensive culminating activity. Student teachers are immersed in the learning community and are provided opportunities to develop and demonstrate competence in the professional roles for which they are preparing.
   
• How are student teachers evaluated? A student teacher will be observed a minimum of four to five times by the clinical faculty. There will be a midterm and a final evaluation conducted by the clinical faculty and the school faculty. There will also be a self evaluation conducted by the student teacher.
   
• What is the solo period? A time during student teaching where the student teacher will gradually assume the responsibility for instruction. This could last for a period of one to four weeks depending on the length of the placement.
   
• What is a portfolio? An accumulation of evidence about individual proficiencies, especially in relation to explicit standards and rubrics, used in evaluation of competency as a teacher or in another professional school role. Contents might include end-of-course evaluations and tasks used for instructional or student teaching experience purposes such as projects, journals and observations by faculty, videos, comments by school and clinical faculty, and samples of student work. Portfolios can be electronic or hard copy versions.
   
• What is certification? The process by which a non-government agency or association grants professional recognition to an individual who has met certain predetermined qualifications specified by that agency or association.
   
• What are professional standard? Candidate knowledge, skills and disposition set by the Specialized Professional Associations (SPA program standards) and adopted by NCATE for use in is accreditation review. Professional standards also refer to standards set by other recognized national organizations/accrediting agencies that evaluate professional education programs (e.g., the National Association of Schools of Music).
   
• What are dispositions? The values, commitments and professional ethics that influence behaviors toward students, families, colleagues and communities, and affect student learning, motivation and development as well as the educator's own professional growth. Dispositions are guided by beliefs and attitudes related to values such as caring, fairness, honesty, responsibility and social justice. For example, they might include a belief that all students can learn, a vision of high and challenging standards, or a commitment to a safe and supportive learning environment.
   
• What is diversity? Differences among groups of people and individuals based on ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, gender, exceptionalities, language, religion, sexual orientation and geographical area.
   
• What is accreditation? A process for assessing and enhancing academic and educational quality through voluntary peer review. NCATE accreditation informs the public that an institution has a professional education unit that has met state, professional and institutional standards of educational quality. The decision is rendered by NCATE when an institution's professional education unit meets NCATE's standards and requirements.
   
• What is a letter of recommendation? It is an appraisal of the student teacher's knowledge, skills and dispositions to help all students learn.
   
• What is a Professional Development School (PDS)? Professional development schools (PDSs) are innovative institutions formed through partnerships between professional education programs and P-12 schools. PDS partnerships have a four-fold mission:
   
• the preparation of new teachers,
• faculty development,
• inquiry directed at the improvement of practice, and
• enhanced student achievement.