Social Studies Secondary Section 4
Candidate Preparation (printable version)

a. Candidate perceptions of history major and minor.
Students surveyed in Winter 2003 about their preparation at EMU in the History Department reported the following about the history major:

The program of study at EMU in my major has prepared me to teach this content effectively.
57% of students agreed or strongly agreed

The classes in my major modeled numerous instructional models to apply in my own classroom.
83% of students agreed or strongly agreed

The classes in my major gave me opportunities to do research that I can use in teaching my own students inquiry skills.
100% of students agreed of strongly agreed.

The program of study at EMU gave me a broad range of social science classes to base my teaching on.
67% of students agreed or strongly agreed.

My program and coursework at EMU was of sufficient depth to give me a strong teaching knowledge of my major and minor fields.
67% of students agreed or strongly agreed.

Students surveyed in Winter 2003 about their preparation at EMU in the History Department reported the following about the history minor:

The program of study at EMU in my minor has prepared me to teach this content effectively.
100% of students agreed or strongly agreed with this statement.

The classes in my minor modeled numerous instructional models to apply in my own classroom.
75% of students agreed or strongly agreed with this statement.

The classes in my minor gave me opportunities to do research that I can use in teaching my own students inquiry skills.
100% of students agreed or strongly agreed with this statement.

The program of study at EMU gave me a broad range of social science classes to base my teaching on.
63% of students agreed or strongly agreed with this statement.

My program and coursework at EMU was of sufficient depth to give me a strong teaching knowledge of my major and minor fields.
75% of students agreed or strongly agreed with this statement.

b. State Subject-Area Certification Test Scores,16 Administrations

Currently, 62% of EMU students pass the MTTC history subject test. The state average for passing the test is 62%.

c. Criteria for assessment of pedagogy. Students are encouraged, throughout the major and minor, to model professional standards and behaviors and to become a part of professional organizations (Michigan Council for the Social Studies, Michigan Council for History Education) in order to foster professional growth.

d. The Department of History and the College of Education are working toward a system in which student teachers are more accurately evaluated according to national standards, and in which greater feedback is given to the department about student teaching outcomes. The winter 2003 term is the first term this has been implemented.

e. Faculty views of candidate preparation.
In a 2003 survey, History Department faculty expressed their views about the adequacy of preparation required for the history major and minor for teachers. 64% of faculty agreed or strongly agreed that the history major provided an adequate basis for teaching, while 46% of faculty strongly agreed or agreed that the minor prepares students well for teaching. In the 2001-3 period, the department has voted to amend the major to include more coursework for future teachers and is planning a revision of the minor to better focus student learning on essential aspects of U.S. and world history.

f. As part of the Teacher Quality Grant program at EMU, several history students each term have compiled portfolios demonstrating their impact on student learning during student teaching. This pilot program is to be expanded for all EMU student teachers in the near future.

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