Goals of Physics Teacher Preparation

Physics Teacher Education Program

Illinois State University

The goal of the physics teacher education program is to prepare teachers who are capable of using innovative teaching techniques that will move students toward scientific literacy as outlined in Science for All Americans, the National Science Education Standards, the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium principles, and the Illinois State Board of Education's State Goals for Learning and Professional Teaching Standards. To this end the prospective teachers must attain a certain level of content and procedural knowledge, and exhibit scientific dispositions. The end in view is to prepare prospective teachers who are motivated to enhance the achievement of the learner, produce better and more productive citizens, and improve society. These goals are aligned with Teacher Education's conceptual framework Realizing the Democratic Ideal.

Based on this preparation, graduates of the ISU Physics Teacher Education program are expected to:

• possess a comprehensive understanding of fundamental physics as well as allied sciences and mathematics;
• understand the value of and need for a comprehensive form of scientific literacy as the goal of science education;
• teach using inquiry-oriented methods that are consistent with the nature of science and the philosophy of contemporary science education;
• deal effectively with student learning difficulties and alternative conceptions that negatively influence student learning;
• establish and maintain classroom environments that are student centered, knowledge centered, assessment centered, and community centered;
• understand the value of and need for metacognitive and self-regulatory practices in and among students;
• employ a wide variety of individual and cooperative learning and assessment activities; and
• embrace the fact that all students can learn and work diligently to teach everyone, especially those who have been or are in danger of being excluded.

(Last updated 3/02/2009, cjw)

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