Conceptual Framework

The mission of the teacher education  unit at York College is to promote Excellence through Diversity of Knowledge, Diversity of Culture, and Diversity of Communication.

Towards this end, York College seeks to provide prospective teachers with the following knowledge, skills, and dispositions:

Diversity of Knowledge

• Broad and deep knowledge of academic content
• Broad and deep knowledge of pedagogy
• Ability to be reflective practitioners with a strong conviction that learning is a lifelong process achievable by all
• Openness to examining the power and biases of knowledge and knowledge construction

Diversity of Culture

• Ability to be caring and ethical persons in order to build teaching and learning environments that draw on the strengths of students' diverse cultures and learning styles
• Ability to prepare students to be active and effective participants in a political and social democracy

Diversity of Communication

• Strong communication skills
• Strong technological literacy skills
• Ability to collaborate with parents and leaders/agencies in the local community
• Ability to collaborate with the professional educational community

Candidate Assessment: 

Candidates are assessed throughout the teacher education program to ensure that graduates of the program possess the knowledge, skills and dispositions to help all students learn in P-12 schools. Candidates are assessed at each program benchmark reflecting the underlying themes of Excellence through Diversity of Knowledge, Diversity of Culture, and Diversity of Communication. Some of the ways in which candidates are assessed include: grade point average, proficiency exams, writing samples, field experience logs, student teaching evaluation, reflective journals, and portfolios. Follow-up studies of graduates and employers are also conducted.

For additional information about the teacher education program at York College, please contact the Department of Teacher Education.