Welcome Interns,
The internship is a culminating experience, and it is also the transition from the university classroom to day-to-day practice as a classroom teacher. Through sixteen week or twenty week dual internships, interns apply the knowledge, skills, and abilities they have acquired up to this point in time. Based on the conceptual framework guiding the College of Education teacher preparation program, the internship builds upon and develops the framework in the following ways:
- POSSESSES A LOVE OF LEARNING - With the knowledge of pedagogy held by the intern, the intern will demonstrate the ability to make instruction effective and increase the love of learning in their students. Throughout the internship, the openness and willingness to learn and to keep learning will be demonstrated by the intern.
- DEVELOPS A STRONG FUND OF KNOWLEDGE - Interns will continue to broaden their understanding and application of teaching pedagogy. They will be required to apply subject matter knowledge on a daily basis to the lessons that they plan and teach. They will demonstrate their continued growth in the fund of knowledge of the subjects they are teaching, and their pedagogical skills.
- ENGAGES IN REFLECTIVE PRACTICE - Interns will be asked to reflect regularly upon their intern experiences as they make decisions about the efficacy of lesson content, classroom management techniques, in classroom discussions, and use various teaching methods.
- VALUES DEMOCRACY AND MULTICULTURALISM - Interns will continue to have first hand experiences in working with culturally diverse students and with students who have diverse needs. Through these experiences, it is expected that interns will increasingly value democracy and multiculturalism.
All of the above goals are important to the internship, and internship requirements and activities are designed to help achieve them. As interns complete their internships, the underlying goals provide the framework by which the interns are evaluated.
Clearstar Financial Credit Union funds endowment for College of Education field office – The Clearstar Financial Credit Union recently established the Clearstar Financial Office of Field Experiences College of Education Endowment with a gift of $55,000. The office aids in the preparation of teachers by placing students in an internship at a school where students apply the knowledge, skills and abilities they have acquired while working under the tutelage of an experienced lead teacher. Educational conferences and supporting activities that aid in the preparation of teachers are supported by the Endowment.