Conceptual Framework

Students studying at USC Aiken

Expected Candidate Outcomes (Knowledge, Skills, Dispositions):

 

The Dynamic Educator as Planner:

  1. The Dynamic Educator as Planner understands national, state, and local standards.
  2. The Dynamic Educator as Planner has a strong content knowledge in the Liberal Arts and Sciences.
  3. The Dynamic Educator as Planner uses various forms of assessments to inform and plan instruction.
  4. The Dynamic Educator as Planner has the pedagogical content knowledge to facilitate short and long term planning.
  5. The Dynamic Educator as Planner is familiar with planning documentation (e.g., FBAs, BIPs, & IEPs) necessary for working with students with special educational needs.

The Dynamic Educator as Manager:

  1. The Dynamic Educator as Manager has knowledge of human growth theories, psychological theories, Manager theories and management techniques to facilitate learning for all children.
  2. The Dynamic Educator as Manager applies techniques and theories to create safe learning environments, manage instructional time, and manage instructional materials.

The Dynamic Educator as Instructor

  1. The Dynamic Educator as Instructor understands national, state, and local standards.
  2. The Dynamic Educator as Instructor has a strong content knowledge in the Liberal Arts and Sciences.
  3. The Dynamic Educator as Instructor uses various forms of assessments to inform instruction.
  4. The Dynamic Educator as Instructor has pedagogical content knowledge.
  5. The Dynamic Educator as Instructor understands various learning theories that enable them to facilitate the learning for all children.
  6. The Dynamic Educator as Instructor thinks critically and assesses the merits of various curricula and instructional approaches based on research.

 

The Dynamic Educator as Communicator

 

  1. The Dynamic Educator as Communicator has excellent oral communication skills.
  2. The Dynamic Educator as Communicator has excellent written communication skills.
  3. The Dynamic Educator as Communicator facilitates the learning of all children.
  4. The Dynamic Educator as Communicator effectively communicates with children, parents, and colleagues.

The Dynamic Educator as Professional

 

  1. The Dynamic Educator as a Professional is a reflective practitioner.
  2. The Dynamic Educator as a Professional fosters relationships with school colleagues and community agencies, such as social services and mental health associations, to enhance the learning and well being of students.
  3. The Dynamic Educator as a Professional displays positive dispositions with respect to: attitude, cultural awareness, enthusiasm, personal appearance, professionalism, rapport, reliability, and sensitivity.
  4. The Dynamic Educator as a Professional is committed to facilitating the learning of all children.
  5. The Dynamic Educator as a Professional stays informed on current trends and legislation and applies that understanding in practice.
  6. The Dynamic Educator as a Professional seeks opportunities to grow professionally.
  7. Although Diversity and Technology are integrated throughout the program, the following are the expectations of candidates in the fields of Diversity and Technology.

Diversity - Candidates in the School of Education are expected to facilitate the learning of all students. Therefore candidates in the School of Education are expected to:

  1. understand other cultures and their impact on student learning.
  2. understand and use various teaching strategies to accommodate diverse populations of students.
  3. be respectful, compassionate, considerate, friendly, just, and free of bias when working with students from diverse backgrounds.

 

Technology - Candidates will demonstrate acquisition of technology knowledge, skills and dispositions as defined by national and state standards. Candidates will:

  1. demonstrate a sound understanding of technology operations and concepts.
  2. plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology.
  3. implement curriculum plans that include methods and strategies for applying technology to maximize student learning.
  4. apply technology to facilitate a variety of effective assessment and evaluation strategies.
  5. use technology to enhance teacher productivity and professional practice.
  6. understand the social, ethical, legal, and human issues surrounding the use of technology in PK-12 schools and apply that understanding in practice.

 

Download the entire Conceptual Framework