Dispositions
Why does St. Norbert College assess dispositions and human relations?
It is very important for all educators and teacher education students to possess:
in-depth content knowledge of the discipline they teach,
a thorough understanding of pedagogical knowledge so that they can teach the content in an effective, clear, and challenging way,
professional knowledge and communication skills to enable them to reflect upon the teaching-learning process and to consider the context in which this process is embedded.
Besides these types of knowledge and skills, a candidate must also possess:
appropriate dispositions (attitudes, beliefs, and values) toward children and education, and display professional behaviors, and
human relations that characterize professional, equitable, effective, and successful educators.
Teacher education programs have an ethical responsibility to prepare candidates who appear to possess these elements necessary to support all learners (Da Ros-Voseles & Moss, 2007) and is a required component of all WI educator Preparation programs by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as outlined in WI Administrative Code PI 34.021.
When will I be assessed on these dispositions and human relations?
At Admission to the Teacher Education Program:
As a part of the application to the program, TED candidates will be made aware of these expectations as part of being admitted into the TED program. During Application to the program, each candidate will self-assess themself on disposition and human relations elements using the following form, and also sign that they understand the expectations that they are to demonstrate in all course work, field/clinical experiences and other activities associated with becoming a licensed teacher. This self-assessment and signature will become part of the student's professional education file as part of the application process.
During Sophomore Block of Classes:
At the end of EDUC 279, EDUC 280, EDUC 200, EDUC 281 classes, each instructor will complete the assessment of dispositions and human relations form (next page). While the scoring of this assessment does not impact the overall course grade, results do inform the candidate and the Teacher Education program faculty of progress towards licensure. Any candidates demonstrating unsatisfactory marks will need to initiate a Dispositional Concerns Referral Form. These assessment forms and referral forms become a part of the students professional education file.
Ongoing:
At any time in the Pre-Service teacher’s program, an instructor, staff, cooperating teacher, field supervisor, or other stakeholder has the obligation to complete a Dispositional Concerns Referral Form on a candidate if they show concerning dispositional or human relations behaviors.
At Admission to Student Teaching.
Candidates may progress into student teaching if they have met the other requirements to do so and have successfully completed any remediation plans discussed in the Dispositional Concerns Referral Form. If a student has any unresolved remediations, they may not move forward to student teaching or endorsement for licensure (if in student teaching) until they have resolved the concern. This may mean a delay in program completion or a removal from the program.
During Student Teaching:
During student teaching, each candidate will self-assess themselves once again using the disposition and human relations form, along with the cooperating teacher and the college supervisor. Any candidates demonstrating unsatisfactory marks will need to initiate a Dispositional Concerns Referral Form. These assessment forms and referral forms become a part of the students' professional education file.
What happens if someone fills out a concern referral form on me?