Mid-America Christian University

School of Teacher Education

The School of Teacher Education (STE) at Mid-America Christian University endeavors to develop effective professional educators who have the necessary knowledge, skills, and dispositions for a positive impact on their students’ learning. To ensure teacher candidates succeed in the teaching profession, the STE provides a Global Vision conceptual framework that gives coherence to the program’s curriculum, instruction, field experiences, and assessment. The Global Vision is not only a perspective of an inclusive physical world of individuals, but of an emotional and spiritual world that provides freedoms for these individuals. The master teacher is not only a master at teaching academics to students and positively impacting their scholastic abilities, but a master at emulating the Master Teacher, Jesus Christ, in modeling a life dedicated to scholarship, diversity, community, reflection, and excellence that is then perpetuated through his or her students, just as Jesus did. The Global Vision standards reflect those represented in national and state standards in the field of teacher education and are provided as program highlights.

Program Highlights:

• Scholarship

  A commitment to current research and the wisdom of practice

  Teacher candidates are immersed in the current research in teaching in elementary and secondary schools and are provided the opportunity to develop knowledge in the subject area, human development and learning, instructional planning, classroom motivation and management, communication skills, and multiple instructional and assessment strategies. Field experiences provide ample opportunities for them to learn from experienced teachers and to demonstrate the skills they develop.

• Diversity

  A commitment to the needs of a culturally pluralistic society

  Teacher candidates learn the need to respect the worth and contributions of all learners and are provided the opportunity to gain the necessary skills to develop inclusion to meet the needs of diverse individual learners, providing necessary adaptations for them and learning experiences that draw upon their cultural experiences.

• Community

  A commitment to service and democratic ideals

  Teacher candidates are required to serve the community, either the community within the church or the community in which they live. One of the purposes of this requirement is to provide them the opportunity to foster collaboration with school colleagues, parents and care givers, and community organizations. Teacher candidates also gain knowledge in the legalities of the teaching profession, including the rights and responsibilities of students, their parents or care givers, and teachers.

• Reflection

  A commitment to lifelong learning and reflective practice

  Teacher candidates become lifelong learners and reflective practitioners. As lifelong learners and reflective practitioners, candidates understand the need to build upon the knowledge and skills they gain at MACU and to reflect upon their teaching, evaluating their methods and strategies and the effects of their choices on students, parents and care givers, colleagues, and other professionals.

• Excellence

  A commitment to professional development and the excellence of the Master Teach, Jesus Christ

  Teacher candidates gain a commitment to professional development that is necessary for lifelong learning and for excellence in the teaching profession. Candidates become qualified professional educators who strive for excellence, not only making a positive impact on student learning, but also emulating the global vision and excellence of Jesus Christ, the Master Teacher.

Program Outcomes:

The School of Teacher Education provides these learning experiences in the context of Elementary Education, Secondary English Education, Secondary Social Studies, Secondary Mathematics, and Elementary/Secondary Vocal Music.