Education Program
Enhancing The Teacher Education Curriculum
Course Revisions
The professional standards for teacher preparation programs in Georgia, as well as the rest of the nation, have advanced rapidly in the last several years, with major changes in state licensing requirements identified to be effective by 2006. Competition for teachers, particularly in math and science, is intense with neighboring states competing aggressively for qualified teachers and especially teachers who meet specific standards in educational technology.
The A+ Education Reform Act of 2000 requires that all certified educators in Georgia demonstrate competence in the application of instructional technology to promote high levels of student achievement. Thus, state and other local educational agencies along with colleges and universities share in the responsibility for ensuring that all educators are competent in integrating technology into classroom instruction. The Professional Standards Commission has been authorized to implement this requirement and is responsible for formally approving all courses, programs, and test-out options. Three specific goals guide course revisions and program enhancements:
- align higher education curriculum and practicum experiences with ISTE and NETS
- create consistent and credible performance assessments to measure technology proficiencies
- incorporate the Georgia teacher technology standards in teacher candidate electronic portfolios.
This activity will give Wesleyan education faculty the opportunity to examine their program and identify an appropriate sequence of technology learning experiences for pre-service teachers.
The end product will be new teachers who are not just technologically skilled, but teachers who understand how, when, and why to use technology to support their teaching and student learning.
