Conceptual Framework

In relation to the college, the Division of Education's conceptual framework represents both the liberal arts foundation of the college's general curriculum and the educator preparation programs' curriculum. The framework builds on candidates' liberal arts experiences to provide a common set of expectations that, when realized, become hallmarks of a Carthage College graduate. The accreditation of the Carthage College program is the result of compliance with the regulations of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the North Central Accreditation Agency.

The conceptual framework is a shared vision that identifies the teaching knowledge, skills, and dispositions teacher candidates will master at a level appropriate for beginning teachers. The Division of Education objective, using the conceptual framework as the cornerstone, is to provide the region with educators who are well prepared to serve their communities. The Division of Education faculty maintains high standards of professional development through research endeavors and extensive local, state, and national involvement. The research and knowledge base is adopted from standards of learned societies to which the members of the Education Division Faculty belong and in which they are active participants. Faculty members incorporate this research knowledge and the knowledge base depicted by 10 Wisconsin Standards for Teacher Development and Licensure into their syllabi and their specific course objectives. Courses taken while at Carthage include various strands of essential knowledge and skills, and affirm the relationship between the liberal arts foundation and the professional education knowledge base. The Division also strives to maintain its positive relationship with the public and private schools through its undergraduate and graduate program, and responds readily to the needs of the schools and their communities.

The basic preparation and advanced programs in the Division of Education are designed to provide experiences and lay a foundation for a professional who continues to learn. The Division's conceptual framework has certain fundamental principles, which prepare students for licensure as teachers in Wisconsin. Within this program graduates will encounter the philosophy that teachers should be educated to be competent, caring, and committed while being reflective decision-makers.

Principles included within that philosophy of competent, caring, and committed are part of every program within the College and are listed below.

  1. Graduates will possess a general knowledge of human heritage in several fields of learning including the arts, humanities, and sciences.
  2. Professional knowledge of graduates will include the development of oral and written communication skills and a facility for critical and constructive thinking.
  3. Graduates will demonstrate knowledge of appropriate instructional foundations, and the ability to apply content and pedagogical knowledge in appropriate educational settings.
  4. Graduates will demonstrate knowledge of learners' needs and the ability to meet those needs, including experiences related to multicultural education, cultural pluralism, and students with disabilities.
  5. Graduates will be able to integrate content knowledge and professional knowledge with theory, methods, research, and instructional technology appropriate to the educational field, with emphasis on what is best for the learner. The research and knowledge base is adopted from standards of learned societies to which faculty members belong.
  6. Graduates will complete a program with a basic knowledge and skill base that fosters a love of learning, openness to diverse ideas, and a commitment to education as a lifelong process.
  7. Graduates will demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the professional roles and responsibilities related to their selected discipline in appropriate clinical experiences and field work.

Each education class has a performance based system imbedded within the class. Candidates will demonstrate their proficiency within the classes and with regard to the strands of the conceptual framework, state approved teaching and content standards, and the knowledge and performance indicators specified in statutory requirements and rules. Graduates will be assessed using a variety of measures based on performance-based standards. The results of these assessments will also be used in evaluating the program along with data collected from other stakeholders.

The Carthage College education provides the opportunities for individuals to identify themselves, recognize the defining aspects of the cultures in our society, as well as their individual roles within this society while preparing for their professional roles and responsibilities. The conceptual framework used by the Division of Education ensures students will have the opportunities to become creative thinkers who are competent, caring, and committed and who make appropriate decisions. The College places significant value on producing educators who are reflective, effective planners and sensitive to cultural needs so its teacher candidates can succeed in an ever-changing school environment.