Philosophy of Education or Teacher Beliefs Paper

Students in CI/SPE 2800 will write a focused essay of at least 3 pages in which they examine their ideas about becoming a teacher at this point in their career.  They will identify, clarify and evaluate their personal beliefs based on course content and readings, the field experience and their prior experience. They will address questions posed by their instructor about teachers, schools and learners.  Students will support and analyze the ideas they present.   They will be expected to use appropriate writing conventions.

Students will address the following questions in their essays:

*How do my beliefs fit with the RCOE conceptual framework?

5 principles

-Community of Practice

-Constructivism

-Novice to expert development

-Identifiable knowledge base

-Common dispositions

*What have I learned about the diverse learner (including exceptionalities) and how does it apply to my teaching?

Students should address 2 additional questions of their choice concerning teachers, schools and learners.  Among the questions to consider are:

What do I think is the main purpose of schooling? 

Which of the major philosophies of education appeal to me and why?

What do I believe about the nature of knowledge?

What have I learned from the children/adolescents I have worked with this semester?

How have I changed my ideas about becoming a teacher during this semester?

How do my beliefs fit with the grade level and/or content area that I plan to teach?

Criteria	0 - Does not meet standard	1 - Meets standard	2- Goal
Addresses question about 5 core principles of RCOE conceptual framework       C2.1, 5.4	5 core principles of the framework are insufficiently discussed	5 core principles of the framework are discussed	5 core principles of the framework are discussed and addressed with depth of understanding
Addresses question about diversity        C3.1, 3.3, 3.4                  D5.1, 5.2, 5.3	Diverse learners are insufficiently discussed	Diverse learners are discussed	Several forms of diverse learners are discussed w/ depth of understanding
Addresses additional Q's about teachers, schools & learners  C5.4	Additional questions are insufficiently discussed	Additional questions about schools, learners & teachers adequately discussed	Additional Q's about schools, teachers & learners discussed w/ depth of understanding
Uses citations, details, examples elaborations & description for support    C2.3	Ideas are not supported	Ideas are supported adequately.	Ideas are well-supported with descriptive detail, strong examples and/or citations.
Analyzes ideas      C5.1, C5.4	Ideas are reported but insufficiently analyzed.	Ideas are analyzed with some depth.	Ideas are critically analyzed.
Connects to     CI/SPE 2800 content, field experience, prior    experience C5.1	Connections to course and prior experience are not evident.	Connections are made to course, field experience and/or prior experience.	Clear connections are made to course, field experience and prior experience.
Uses appropriate writing conventions and writes coherently C2.3	Writing conventions are not followed and essay is not focused.	Writing conventions are followed and essay has clear focus.	Writing conventions are followed and essay is well-organized around a clear focus.