[Interdisciplinary Teacher Education Program.]

Overview & Synopsis

The Interdisciplinary Teacher Education (ITE) Program at Wayne State University prepares teachers for initial certification in elementary and secondary education. It also provides the initial professional training for students in special education, physical education, music, and foreign language education. This program along with art education and vocational and applied arts education comprises the preservice component of the Division of Teacher Education of the College of Education. The operational philosophy underlying the ITE program is predicated on the following four domains: (1) philosophy of education, (2) facilitation of instruction, (3) improvement of instructional climate, and (4) fostering humaneness. The ITE structure consists of three interdisciplinary teams. Each team develops and supervises programs involving schools in at least one of the regions of the Detroit Public Schools and in at least one suburb. The program is field-based and student assessment is based on publicly stated competency criteria. Instructors in each discipline articulate appropriate knowledge with the practicum experiences in an early and continuous contact between public schools, college undergraduate teacher trainees, and college instructors. (Information concerning program objectives, personnel, budget, contributions to teacher education, and evaluation methods and results is included.) (Author/RC)