Professional
Understandings, Practices, and Identities
The College of Education at the University
of New Mexico believes that professional education should seek to help
individuals develop professional understandings, practices, and identities.
These understandings, practices and identities frame the life-long learning
of professional educators and reflect the values articulated in our Mission
Statement and in state and national standards and competencies.
Understandings frame the identity
and practice of educational professional. We seek to help you better understand:
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Human Growth and Development
Patterns in how individuals develop physically,
emotionally, and intellectually. How to provide conditions that promote
the growth and learning of individuals from diverse cultural and linguistic
backgrounds, including those with special learning needs.
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Culture and Language
The nature of home, school, community,
workplace, state, national, and global contexts for learning. How social
groups develop and function and the dynamics of power within and among
them. How language and other forms of expression reflect cultural assumptions
yet can be used to evoke social change. How one's own background and development
shape understanding and interaction.
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Content of the Disciplines
The substance of the disciplines you teach
-- the central organizing concepts and factual information -- and the ways
in which new information is created, including the forms of creative investigation
that characterize the work of scholars and artists.
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Pedagogy
Theory and research on effective educational
practice. How to create contexts for learning in and across the disciplines.
How to assess student learning and design, plan, and implement instruction
to meet the needs of learners. How to evaluate educational practice.
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Technology
Effects of media and technology on knowledge,
communication, and society. How to critically analyze and raise awareness
of the impact of media and technology. How to use current technology.
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Professional Issues
The social and political influences on
education, both historically and currently. Local, state, and national
policies, including requirements and standards. How to critically analyze
and participate in the formation of educational policy. Strategies for
leadership, collaboration, and research.
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Nature of Knowledge
How knowledge is constructed within social
contexts, including the academic disciplines. The differences and connections
among the knowledge constructed in different social contexts. How to conduct
inquiry into the nature of knowledge within and across the disciplines.
These understandings enable you, as a professional,
to value and engage in practices that embody the following qualities:
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Learner-Centered
Students' past experiences, cultural backgrounds,
interests, capabilities, and understandings are accommodated in learning
experiences. Routines promote learner risk-taking and allow learners to
take increasing control of their own learning and functioning.
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Contextual
Experiences engage learners in ways of
thinking, doing, talking, writing, reading, etc., that are indicative of
the discipline(s) and/or authentic social contexts. Ideas and practices
are presented with the richness of their contextual cues and information.
Learners are provided with models and opportunities to reflect on their
experiences and to relate their learning to other social contexts.
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Coherent
Learning experiences are organized around
the development of concepts and strategies that learners need in order
to participate in other similar situations. Learners are assessed on what
they had to opportunity to learn.
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Culturally Responsive
Diversity is valued, and learners are
helped to become aware of the impact of culture on how they and others
perceive the world.
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Technologically Current
Available technology facilitates learning.
Learners are helped to understand the effect of media
on their perceptions and communication.
Developing a professional identity
is central to lifelong growth as a professional educator. The University
of New Mexico College of Education will help you to develop the following
attributes of a professional:
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Caring
Attentive to learners, willingness to
listen and withhold judgment, and ability to empathize while maintaining
high expectations for learner success.
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Advocacy
Committed to ensuring equitable treatment
and nurturing environments for all learners.
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Inquisitiveness
Habitual inquiry into the many, ever-changing
ways in which knowledge is constructed, how people learn, and how educators
can support learning.
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Reflection-in-Action
Able to analyze, assess and revise practice
in light of student learning, research and theory, and collegial feedback.
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Communication
Skilled in speaking, writing, and using
other modes of expression.
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Collaboration
Able to work cooperatively with students,
parents, community members, and colleagues.
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Ethical Behavior
Aware of and able to work within the ethical
codes of the profession.