SCIENCE TEACHING IN THE 1990S -- AND BEYOND

comments by Robert L. Fisher, ISU C&I Department (1998)

Anyone preparing for a career or currently involved in a career that has responsibilities for curriculum and instruction of pre-K to 12 education should be knowledgable about the current developments in teacher education. New state and national activities influencing teacher education will impact teacher candidates, and anyone who works with teachers in higher education, schools and other agencies. Here are some pointers that you should be famliar with:

• Teacher Education begins with pre-service programs for teacher education and continues throughout a teacher's career.
• The education of a teacher continues beyond initial licensure, through an induction period, and throughout the teacher's career.
• Professional staff development for teachers and others in the schools is being guided by new research and effective practice to focus on building the knowledge and skills of teachers to direct school improvement.

Significant events are taking place on the national level:

• National standards have been developed for schools that raise the expectations for student learning, with obvious implications for the education of teachers to deliver that instruction.
• The organization of chief state school officers, including the state of Illinois, have developed a set of principles to establish a set of common standards for teacher education across states. INTASC, the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium, is working across the nation to promote improvement of teacher education programs at all levels, and for reciprocity of licensure across states.
• NCATE, the national accreditation organization for teacher education, is promoting the use of national standards to guide teacher education and is promoting the life-long perspective on teacher education.
• National subject area organizations are developing standards for teacher education.
• The Association of Teacher Educators has developed standards for those who conduct teacher education programs.

Significant events are taking place on the state level:

• In November, 1996, the Illinois State Board of Education adopted a statement to guide the reform of teacher education in the state. The Framework for Restructuring the Recruitment, Preparation, Licensure and Continuing Professional Development of Teachers, charts a course which includes a. a three tier certification system, thus removing the present life-long certificate. b. an induction period for all teachers, which would result in the second license. c. creating professional development programs for all teachers. d. building communities of learners in schools to promote teacher education.e. the commitment to incorporate new state and national standards in all teacher education. f. new qualifications for teaching in each of the disciplines to reflect the new standards.
• The state has committed to working with the INTASC principles and has initiated innovative programs in institutions across the state.
• The state has initiated communication with NCATE that would increase the impact of national standards on Illinois schools.
• The new learning standards for schools impact the preparation of future and present teachers.