Relating Knowledge to Teacher Education. Responding to NCATE'S Knowledge Base and Related Standards.

Overview & Synopsis

New standards set by the National Council for Accreditaton of Teacher Education (NCATE) focus on unit, rather than program, acccreditation. The unit is the body within an institution that is primarily responsible for the preparation of teachers and other educational personnel. Units are required to focus on the knowledge bases pertinent to professional preparation and to focus on the world of professional practice. This monograph has the following purposes, to: (1) state the rationale for knowledge based curricula for teacher education; (2) describe the kinds of knowledge necessary; (3) clarify and illuminate the NCATE standards; (4) describe various institutional stategies for compliance with the standards; and (5) provoke discussion on considerations basic to teacher education programs. Chapter 1 addresses the rationale for knowledge as a base for program definition and evolution in teacher education. The second chapter considers different kinds of knowledge that inform the design, development, and delivery of teacher education. Chapter 3 is an interpretive treatment of NCATE's knowledge base and related standards. The final chapter describes strategies and tactics that units might use to meet the knowledge base standards. Appended are other NCATE themes, knowledge base exercises, a prospectus for the beginning teacher, and NCATE standards. (JD)