Graduate Studies Self Study

17. Future Directions:

New Courses

The School of Education is seeking initial certification from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) for several programs including: Masters of Teaching, Special Education, Online Learning, Reading, and Leadership Studies. Additional resources to support faculty development and staffing are required to fully realize the potential of existing programs. The development, implementation, and expansion of new programs, including Leadership Studies and Heath Promotion are contingent on acquiring future funding sources.

New course development is supported through the School of Education’s promotion and tenure review process. This process occurs on an ad hoc basis, based upon professor’s personal initiative and response to programmatic needs. New courses in development include Ethnics in Special Education and Leadership Studies.

Expanded scholarly work

Scholarly work is primarily achieved through faculty mentoring of student research. The School of Education’s graduate faculty seeks to expand site-based action research in field experiences through the continued development of the Professional Development School (PSD) network. Expanding collaborative pedagogical practices and the communication of ongoing efforts between individual faculty members, and departments in the School of Education has the potential expand scholarly work by faculty and students. Direct financial support from the graduate school to assist in the development of research projects and faculty development is encouraged to supplement the ongoing informal efforts to realize synergies between School of Education graduate faculty members.

Curricula emphasis

The School of Education’s Graduate School Self Study reflects the department’s commitment to data-driven, continuous assessment processes. In conjunction with ongoing school-wide efforts, the School of Education is the process of defining course and program outcomes and related assessments. The Conceptual Framework of the School of Education at Fairmont State University incorporates a shared view of how to best prepare candidates to possess the knowledge, the skills, and the dispositions to help all students learn. As an integrative whole, the framework is comprised of the three main strands of the content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skills, and professional dispositions. Unifying themes of diversity and technology are infused throughout the major strands. Through its graduate programs, the School of Education is committed to the development of a cogent curricular emphasis based upon inquiry, reflection, and responsive action.