Clinical Studies for Education Programs
Tasks
Lesson Planning
Student teachers are expected to prepare appropriate and acceptable lesson plans for every instructional activity for which they are responsible during the clinical semester. Lesson plans must be prepared and submitted to mentor teachers and/or clinical advisors for approval prior to lesson initiation. This is an extremely important part of student teaching. Please note that the University uses the Pathwise™ lesson plan format for all student teachers in all programs. Lesson plan templates and guidelines are in the Candidate Handbook.
Major Field Test
All student teachers are required to pass the Praxis II exam appropriate for their program. The Praxis II tests, developed by ETS, measure knowledge of specific subjects that K-12 educators will teach, as well as general and subject-specific teaching skills and knowledge. The exam gives candidates the opportunity to assess their knowledge in relation to others who are about to enter the teaching profession. The exam also helps the University identify areas of program strength, and areas where additional focus might be needed. The appropriate Praxis II is the major field tests for the student’s program.
Portfolios — All Programs
The preparation of a Professional Portfolio is an expectation of all Wilmington University teacher preparation programs. Portfolio guidelines are in the candidate handbook and are reviewed during seminars. Portfolios are not "scrapbooks" of student teaching experiences. A well-designed teaching/professional portfolio contains a collection of documented accomplishments, evidence of student learning, and reflections. It will have a theme, will illustrate an underlying philosophy and will provide information about instructional goals and teaching context. It will link theory and practice, will link a candidate's philosophy and Delaware's professional teaching standards with educational outcomes, and it will show growth over time. Portfolios are evaluated by teams of faculty and practitioners. (Note: See the MSE Program Notebook for details on the MSE portfolio requirement.)
Registration for Graduation
Check with the University registrar for details on application procedures, costs, and deadlines for graduation. It is each candidate's responsibility to make sure that all financial obligations have been satisfied and that all graduation requirements have been met. Completion of student teaching is not a guarantee of a degree.
Seminars
Seminars are an essential part of the clinical semester. They are arranged by the University Supervisors and may occur at the University or at the placement sites. Advisors will arrange and conduct approximately 15 hours of seminars for their advisory groups during the semester (the equivalent of about 11/2 hours per week). The seminars are designed to encourage candidates to analyze and reflect on learning environments, professional issues, linking theory with practice, classroom realities, and research-based best practices. The seminars will also address site-specific and program-specific issues, program requirements such as the research paper and portfolio, lesson planning, classroom management issues, critiques of videos, etc.
This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2011-2012 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2011 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.
