TITLE:
Preparing a Profession: Development and Design of a Merged Program
AUTHORS:
Denise A. Soares, Ann Monroe, Susan S. McClelland
KEYWORDS:
Elementary Education, Special Education, Merged Program, Teacher Training, Teacher Preparation
JOURNAL NAME:
Creative Education,
Vol.8 No.8,
July
25,
2017
ABSTRACT: The need for improved teacher training arises from the limitations of current
teacher training programs. In many universities, general and special education
programs continue to operate under separate models. Research shows teacher
preparation programs failed to prepare general educators for the challenges of
inclusion and collaborative teaching environments. The purpose of this report
is to discuss the impetus for the program redesign by describing the outcomes
of the joint venture between faculty in the Elementary, Secondary, and Special
Education programs. A thorough description of the program (e.g. admissions,
course sequence, action labs, and field experiences) as well as critical components
will be discussed.