Standards-Based Teacher Education
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
Conceptual Framework Overview
A sense of purpose, a sense of place:
Preparing knowledgeable, effective, and caring educators to contribute to a just, diverse, and democratic society
Vision and Mission of the Institution and Unit
The Manoa campus’s overarching vision states that
The University of Hawai‘i at Manoa is a premier research institution whose scholars are leaders in their disciplines and whose students are prepared for leadership roles in society. Manoa strives for excellence in teaching, research, and public service. Manoa is an innovative institution, comfortable with change. Manoa celebrates its diversity and uniqueness as a Hawaiian place of learning. We build on our strengths including our unparalleled natural environment and tradition of outstanding Asia- Pacific scholarship.
In keeping with these ideals, the vision of the College of Education is
A community of educators who provide innovative research, teaching, and leadership in an effort to further the field of education and prepare professionals to contribute to a just, diverse, and democratic society.
Our vision guides the direction and work of the College in and beyond Hawai‘i and is informed by a sense of purpose and a sense of place. To achieve this vision, the College of Education has as its mission to work as a diverse, just, and democratic community in three areas:
Teaching—prepare new educational professionals and provide on-going professional development in education.
Research—increase the knowledge base in education and related fields through the production and application of educational research.
Service—serve as partners and leaders for excellence in education.
The college also recognizes its responsibility to enhance the well-being of the Native Hawaiian people, and others across the Pacific Basin, through education.
Philosophy, Purposes, Goals, and Core Values of the College
The College of Education’s philosophy is reflected in our purposes: to promote excellence in teaching and scholarship, encourage life-long learning, and develop educational leadership at all levels. We are particularly focused on serving the needs of Hawai‘i, and we invite all members of our college—candidates, faculty, staff, alumni, retirees, and friends—to join our commitment to the children, communities, and citizens of this state.
As we strive to fulfill our purposes, we must understand and respect the history and culture of Hawai‘i and honor the uniqueness of this place. The candidates we prepare are different because their sense of who they are is deeply influenced by their experiences in this place.56
Our candidates’ work in schools and communities in Hawai‘i and beyond should reflect that difference. The wonder, the diversity, the complexity, and the spirit of Hawai‘i make our work here different from that anywhere else on earth. Thus, we embrace a sense of place in all that we do, especially in how we prepare future educators.
Diversity and cultural plurality among the students and families in our schools brings challenge and opportunity. The college strives to meet the needs of all children. We seek solutions to our challenges through research and research-based practice, and through our efforts to increase the numbers of teachers and leaders who can work effectively and respectfully with all learners in response to their diverse needs.
Hawai‘i is the most geographically remote archipelago in the world, with the nearest landmass more than 2000 miles away. The ocean both connects and separates us. Even within the state there is a high degree of local isolation. The geographical realities create potential barriers to providing equitable educational opportunities. We are committed to the creative use of communicative technologies to alleviate the effects of isolation, bring together our islands, and help us become global citizens.
Our goal as a college is to employ and prepare educators who are knowledgeable, effective, and caring professionals. COE educators must be prepared to serve in this place, nationally, and throughout the world and exemplify our core values.
• Knowledgeable
The College of Education values inquiry and collaboration in the learning process. We ask critical questions and encourage others to do the same. We draw from and contribute to the knowledge bases of our disciplines, the needs of unique learners, research and development, curriculum, pedagogy, human development, assessment, and evaluation. COE educators must be prepared to respect and engage with the divergent perspectives, wide-ranging backgrounds, and distinct ways of knowing that characterize our learning communities.
• Effective
The College of Education values active participation in school, community, university, and professional partnerships to enhance reflective practice. Building on a strong grounding in educational research and theory, we share our understandings, compare our experiences, and hone our skills to promote learning. Our aim is to provide, and to assist our candidates in learning to provide, quality and inclusive learning environments; deeply engaging and challenging learning opportunities; and the guidance and support that all learners need to develop intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically. COE educators must be prepared to work effectively and responsively with a diversity of students, families, colleagues, and community members from Hawai‘i and around the world. That preparation includes the development of expertise with the full range of technological tools available to educators for teaching and learning.
• Caring
College of Education educators care deeply about education and the lives they touch through their profession. The college seeks to help its members act in the best interests of their learning communities, advancing social justice and overcoming both discrimination and oppression, and working toward a sustainable world. The college requires a high level of professionalism demonstrated through ethical behavior, competence, reflection, fairness, respect for diversity, and a commitment to inclusion and social responsibility. We build relationships to nurture safe and positive learning communities in the belief that all individuals can learn.
Elementary and Early Childhood Education Program
The EECE program defines the COE core values for our teacher candidates as follows:
Knowledgeable
Teacher candidates are knowledgeable about content, pedagogy, and professionalism; human growth and development; and the physical, mental, emotional, and social needs of students with diverse backgrounds and learning needs.
Effective
Teacher candidates have the professional experience and skills to treat children fairly, and to teach so that all children can learn.
Caring
Teacher candidates care about students and their families and communities, teaching and learning, and their own professional development.
Introduction to Standards-Based Education
During the EECE program, teacher candidates will find themselves immersed in standards-based education. Standards describe what teachers and students at all levels should know and be able to do. The College of Education and the EECE program set standards for teacher candidates, aligned with national teaching standards. The Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) sets standards for Hawai‘i teachers. The Hawai‘i Department of Education sets content and performance standards for PreK-12 students. In addition, EECE methods courses integrate standards from national and state professional organizations.
University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
Conceptual Framework Overview
A sense of purpose, a sense of place:
Preparing knowledgeable, effective, and caring educators to contribute to a just, diverse, and democratic society
Vision and Mission of the Institution and Unit
The Manoa campus’s overarching vision states that
The University of Hawai‘i at Manoa is a premier research institution whose scholars are leaders in their disciplines and whose students are prepared for leadership roles in society. Manoa strives for excellence in teaching, research, and public service. Manoa is an innovative institution, comfortable with change. Manoa celebrates its diversity and uniqueness as a Hawaiian place of learning. We build on our strengths including our unparalleled natural environment and tradition of outstanding Asia- Pacific scholarship.
In keeping with these ideals, the vision of the College of Education is
A community of educators who provide innovative research, teaching, and leadership in an effort to further the field of education and prepare professionals to contribute to a just, diverse, and democratic society.
Our vision guides the direction and work of the College in and beyond Hawai‘i and is informed by a sense of purpose and a sense of place. To achieve this vision, the College of Education has as its mission to work as a diverse, just, and democratic community in three areas:
Teaching—prepare new educational professionals and provide on-going professional development in education.
Research—increase the knowledge base in education and related fields through the production and application of educational research.
Service—serve as partners and leaders for excellence in education.
The college also recognizes its responsibility to enhance the well-being of the Native Hawaiian people, and others across the Pacific Basin, through education.
Philosophy, Purposes, Goals, and Core Values of the College
The College of Education’s philosophy is reflected in our purposes: to promote excellence in teaching and scholarship, encourage life-long learning, and develop educational leadership at all levels. We are particularly focused on serving the needs of Hawai‘i, and we invite all members of our college—candidates, faculty, staff, alumni, retirees, and friends—to join our commitment to the children, communities, and citizens of this state.
As we strive to fulfill our purposes, we must understand and respect the history and culture of Hawai‘i and honor the uniqueness of this place. The candidates we prepare are different because their sense of who they are is deeply influenced by their experiences in this place.56
Our candidates’ work in schools and communities in Hawai‘i and beyond should reflect that difference. The wonder, the diversity, the complexity, and the spirit of Hawai‘i make our work here different from that anywhere else on earth. Thus, we embrace a sense of place in all that we do, especially in how we prepare future educators.
Diversity and cultural plurality among the students and families in our schools brings challenge and opportunity. The college strives to meet the needs of all children. We seek solutions to our challenges through research and research-based practice, and through our efforts to increase the numbers of teachers and leaders who can work effectively and respectfully with all learners in response to their diverse needs.
Hawai‘i is the most geographically remote archipelago in the world, with the nearest landmass more than 2000 miles away. The ocean both connects and separates us. Even within the state there is a high degree of local isolation. The geographical realities create potential barriers to providing equitable educational opportunities. We are committed to the creative use of communicative technologies to alleviate the effects of isolation, bring together our islands, and help us become global citizens.
Our goal as a college is to employ and prepare educators who are knowledgeable, effective, and caring professionals. COE educators must be prepared to serve in this place, nationally, and throughout the world and exemplify our core values.
• Knowledgeable
The College of Education values inquiry and collaboration in the learning process. We ask critical questions and encourage others to do the same. We draw from and contribute to the knowledge bases of our disciplines, the needs of unique learners, research and development, curriculum, pedagogy, human development, assessment, and evaluation. COE educators must be prepared to respect and engage with the divergent perspectives, wide-ranging backgrounds, and distinct ways of knowing that characterize our learning communities.
• Effective
The College of Education values active participation in school, community, university, and professional partnerships to enhance reflective practice. Building on a strong grounding in educational research and theory, we share our understandings, compare our experiences, and hone our skills to promote learning. Our aim is to provide, and to assist our candidates in learning to provide, quality and inclusive learning environments; deeply engaging and challenging learning opportunities; and the guidance and support that all learners need to develop intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically. COE educators must be prepared to work effectively and responsively with a diversity of students, families, colleagues, and community members from Hawai‘i and around the world. That preparation includes the development of expertise with the full range of technological tools available to educators for teaching and learning.
• Caring
College of Education educators care deeply about education and the lives they touch through their profession. The college seeks to help its members act in the best interests of their learning communities, advancing social justice and overcoming both discrimination and oppression, and working toward a sustainable world. The college requires a high level of professionalism demonstrated through ethical behavior, competence, reflection, fairness, respect for diversity, and a commitment to inclusion and social responsibility. We build relationships to nurture safe and positive learning communities in the belief that all individuals can learn.
Elementary and Early Childhood Education Program
The EECE program defines the COE core values for our teacher candidates as follows:
Knowledgeable
Teacher candidates are knowledgeable about content, pedagogy, and professionalism; human growth and development; and the physical, mental, emotional, and social needs of students with diverse backgrounds and learning needs.
Effective
Teacher candidates have the professional experience and skills to treat children fairly, and to teach so that all children can learn.
Caring
Teacher candidates care about students and their families and communities, teaching and learning, and their own professional development.
Introduction to Standards-Based Education
During the EECE program, teacher candidates will find themselves immersed in standards-based education. Standards describe what teachers and students at all levels should know and be able to do. The College of Education and the EECE program set standards for teacher candidates, aligned with national teaching standards. The Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) sets standards for Hawai‘i teachers. The Hawai‘i Department of Education sets content and performance standards for PreK-12 students. In addition, EECE methods courses integrate standards from national and state professional organizations.