The School of Education

Education Unit Teaching Proficiencies

In an effort to clarify the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required of the professional education candidates at Salem State College, the faculty, for more than two years, worked together to develop and refine a set of teaching proficiencies to define what candidates need to know and be able to do in their work with students. In this work, the Unit's members considered our own goals/philosophy in light of state and national standards for educator preparation and licensure.

The teaching proficiencies defined by the Unit include:

• The candidate plans effective and developmentally appropriate lessons and units that show knowledge of the academic discipline(s) and the corresponding curriculum frameworks.
• The candidate draws on results of formal and informal assessments to plan activities, modify instruction, and confirm students' progress toward learning outcomes.
• The candidate delivers engaging and effective instruction through a variety of teaching techniques and clear communication.
• The candidate creates a classroom environment that encourages engagement in learning, positive social interaction, and self-motivation.
• The candidate modifies instruction to promote achievement of all students and meet the needs of diverse learners.
• The candidate fosters an appreciation of our multicultural nation, an understanding of the global community, and respect for individual differences.
• The candidate reflects on his/her practice through the reading of current research, critical evaluation of instruction, and informed discussion with colleagues.
• The candidate involves families in students' academic activities, drawing from the home community for resources to enhance instruction and learning.
• The candidate integrates technology into classroom instruction in ways that are developmentally appropriate and ethically responsible.
• The candidate exhibits professionalism based on an understanding of the intellectual, legal, and ethical responsibilities of educators.

Proficiencies Matrix [PDF 36KB]