Teacher Education Programs should be revised to make aspiring great educators of tomorrow. Clinical knowledge and experience are essential in a teacher education program to be a good mentor in the class. Along with the study of cognitive science and other knowledge attained from university clinical experience is considered important for present day teaching.
Reportedly, the teacher education programs in the United States are not adequately preparing teachers to be the educators of tomorrow. The education programs are not matching the challenges and realities of a real classroom. The inadequate preparation and training of teachers are affecting learners.
As per a recent report from the Learning Policy Institute, there is shortage of finding qualified teachers especially in fields like mathematics, science, special education and bilingual education or English language development. This leads to hiring of untrained teachers to meet these demands.
Teachers' shortage and inadequate preparation in the education programs are the reasons of missing "clinical knowledge" in the present day classes. In the present day teacher education programs, the common requirement to become a teacher is to take 36 credit hours with academic subjects. Aspiring teachers pass the exams, get a master's degree and a state licensure to open one's own classroom.
As per U,S. News & World Report, teacher education programs should put emphasis on the "doing" instead of theoretical learning. Educators must design teacher education programs that are related to real-world problems and actual engagements.
As students arrive from different levels of knowledge, experiences and preferred learning styles the teacher education programs should focus on learner-centered real trainings. A real-classroom learning and doing should be carried out with face-to-face group work and meaningful supports.
It is also emphasized that properly harnessing technology, teacher education programs can provide both knowledge and opportunities to the aspiring teachers. Parents demand to prepare teachers in an environment that values content knowledge and good equality education.
Teacher education programs must be prepared in such a way that they produce great educators who lead innovative schools. Meanwhil, the recently announced XQ Super Schools show the future of K-12 schools.
