Tenets
The core set of tenets which under girds the NIU Community of Learners model is broadly defined as knowledge, practice, and reflection. The faculty believe that future professional educators need to demonstrate competencies identified by the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for the initial certification programs and by the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) for the advanced certification programs. These competencies, as well as those established by the national organizations in each of the disciplines, are integral to the core tenets of knowledge, practice, and reflection that define the exemplary educator. As such, they are also a part of our University Assessment Plan for Teacher Certification.
Knowledge
- The teacher understands the central concepts, methods of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) and creates learning experiences that make the content meaningful to all students.
- The teacher understands how individuals grow, develop, and learn and provides learning opportunities that support the intellectual, social, and personal development of all students.
- The teacher understands instructional planning and designs instruction based upon knowledge of the discipline, students, community, and curriculum goals.
- The teacher understands various formal and informal assessment strategies and uses them to support the continuous development of all students.
Practice
- The teacher understands how students differ in their approaches to learning and creates instructional opportunities that are adaptive to diverse learners.
- 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.
- The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students' development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.
- The teacher uses knowledge of effective written, verbal, nonverbal, and visual communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.
- The teacher understands the role of the community in education and develops and maintains collaborative relationships with colleagues, parents/guardians, and the community to support student learning and well being.
Reflection
- The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates how choices and actions affect students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community and actively seeks opportunities to grow professionally.
- The teacher understands education as a profession, maintains standards of professional conduct, and provides leadership to improve student learning and well being.
- The teacher is a life-long learner of both content and pedagogy.
