Learn about the three key assessments which involve teacher preparation. The Diversity Case Study focuses on understanding student diversity and equal opportunities. The Mini Lesson emphasizes effective instruction planning. Data Literacy and Reflection fosters analysis and improvement of teaching practices. Learn about each one in detail below.
Diversity Case Study
Teaching requires the ability to gather information, figure out what that information means, and then, take action. Here, you will find the breakdown of the Diversity Case Study project, which you will be completing throughout the semester. This project is part of all teacher preparation programs and appears in the following courses: EDCI 3331, EDUC 3304, and UTCH 3302.
In this assignment, you, as the teacher, will demonstrate the ability to understand the environment and student backgrounds to make decisions about teaching. A Diversity Case Study is a description of a school community and its population (students, teachers, parents, etc.), which describes how varied and different students are, as well as how to honor those differences and provide equal opportunities to learn.
Mini Lesson
Teaching requires the ability to plan instruction by creating learning goals, figuring out how to assess them, and create engaging and appropriate activities. This project is part of all teacher preparation programs and appears in the following courses: EDCI 3332, EDUC 3304, and UTCH 3302.
Planning lessons is one of the most important skills teachers need to develop. It is a complex process with several planning stages that bring together a final product. This project is about following that planning process using information you already know about students. Planning a lesson is not done separately from the contextual factors.
*NOTE: This project uses information from the Diversity Case Study, the first major project you completed in a previous teacher preparation program course (EDCI 3331, EDUC 3304, or UTCH 3302).
Data Literacy and Reflection
Teachers do not plan instruction in a vacuum, and what is previously taught is examined and analyzed to figure out what learning students still need to do, and what types of successes and setbacks occurred. This is a vital part of being a reflective practitioner. Teachers learn from all teaching experiences, and this project will allow you to learn the skills needed to be able to become analytical and reflective about your teaching.