Mission

Mission of the Undergraduate Teacher Education Program

All Undergraduate Teacher Education programs at Nova Southeastern University are proactive programs designed to address the current and future needs of classroom educators. The aim of the Undergraduate Teacher Education Program is to prepare its graduates to enter the teaching profession as developing professionals with knowledge, dispositions, and skills in three broad domains. These domains are as follows:

DOMAIN 1 Knowledge base and best practices: effective teaching practices including classroom management

• The teacher understands the conceptual, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and can create learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for students- (INTASC Principle 1) .
• The teacher plans instruction based upon knowledge of subject matter, students, the community, and curriculum goals ( INTASC Principle 7).
• The teacher uses an understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation (INTASC Principle 5) .
• The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students' development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills (INTASC Principle 4) .

DOMAIN 2 Sensitivity and responsibility to diverse student needs: students' academic, social, and emotional needs; at-risk, ESE, ESOL learners

• The teacher understands how children learn and develop, and can provide learning opportunities that support their intellectual, social and personal development (INTASC Principle 2) .
• The teacher understands and uses formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social and physical development of the learners (INTASC Principle 8).
• The teacher understands how students differ in their approaches to learning and creates instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners (INTASC Principle 3) .

DOMAIN 3 Communication and reflection: oral and written communication skills and reflective practice, ongoing engagement in both as exemplified in partnering with parents and community

• The teacher fosters relationships with school, colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support students' learning and well-being (INTASC Principle 10).
• The teacher uses knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom (INTASC Principle 6) .
• The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community) and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally (INTASC Principle 9) .