(a) A GaPSC approved professional educator
preparation provider may seek state approval to offer this field as either a
stand-alone endorsement program or as an endorsement program embedded in a
GaPSC-approved initial preparation program or an advanced (degree-only)
preparation program. In addition to meeting all applicable approval
requirements and standards, embedded endorsement programs must meet
requirements specified in paragraph (e) 3. (ix) of GaPSC educator preparation
rule 505-3-.01,
REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS FOR APPROVING EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROVIDERS AND
EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS.
(b)
To receive approval, a GaPSC-approved educator preparation provider shall offer
a preparation program described in program planning forms, catalogs, and
syllabi addressing the following standards for the preparation of teachers of
STEM and STEM related content:
1. The program
will prepare candidates who demonstrate their understanding of STEM education
as an interdisciplinary endeavor by demonstrating their ability to apply
rigorous content across STEM and STEM related disciplines as indicated by the
following:
(i) Candidates will demonstrate a
comprehensive understanding of and the ability to integrate STEM content
standards;
(ii) Candidates will be
able to articulate a clear definition and understanding of what STEM education
is and what it looks like in practice as both interdisciplinary and process
driven;
(iii) Candidates will
demonstrate the ability to apply integrated STEM and STEM related content to
answer complex questions, to investigate local, regional and global issues to
make connections and to develop solutions for challenges and real world
problems; and
(iv) Candidates will
demonstrate knowledge of the benefits of STEM education for all citizens,
enabling them to make informed decisions about challenges facing the next
generation, for future STEM workforce development and related career
opportunities and the skills necessary to be successful in them.
2. The program will prepare
candidates who demonstrate that they understand and can engage learners in the
ways of thinking and habits of mind used in STEM and STEM related disciplines
as indicated by the following:
(i) Candidates
will demonstrate the ability to think critically, evaluate complex data, draw
evidence-based conclusions, engage in effective argumentation and communicate
effectively in written format.
(ii)
Candidates will demonstrate the ability to engage students in STEM reasoning
that reveals how STEM professionals think and solve problems.
(iii) Candidates will demonstrate the
dispositions necessary to be effective interdisciplinary STEM educators (i.e.,
life-long learning, value collaborations, flexible, high tolerance for
ambiguity, risk taker, innovative, committed to the profession, self-reflective
perseverance).
3. The
program will prepare candidates who understand and demonstrate the role of
meaningful collaboration and partnerships as evidenced by the following:
(i) Candidates will demonstrate the ability
to work effectively within a STEM focused multidisciplinary professional
learning community to achieve a common goal and to co-plan authentic STEM based
experiences and interdisciplinary lessons;
(ii) Candidates will demonstrate the ability
to involve business partners in identifying and solving relevant problems;
and
(iii) Candidates will
demonstrate the ability to engage local STEM experts in their
programs.
4. The program
will prepare candidates who demonstrate the ability to engage students using
STEM and STEM related discipline pedagogical practices as indicated by the
following:
(i) Candidates will demonstrate the
ability to effectively engage students in engineering design processes to solve
open-ended problems or complete design challenges;
(ii) Candidates will demonstrate the ability
to effectively engage students in authentic or investigative research to answer
relevant questions;
(iii) Candidate
will demonstrate the ability to effectively engage students in using STEM
reasoning abilities (i.e., computational reasoning, model-based reasoning,
quantitative reasoning, engineering design-based reasoning and complex systems
thinking);
(iv) Candidates will
demonstrate the ability to effectively engage students in experiential
learning;
(v) Candidates will
demonstrate the ability to effectively engage students in project management
techniques;
(vi) Candidates will
demonstrate proficiency in differentiating instruction related to integrated
STEM concepts;
(vii) Candidates
will demonstrate the ability to effectively assess students using
interdisciplinary STEM performance tasks, and portfolio assessments and create
rubrics for these assessments;
(vii) Candidates will be able to demonstrate
the ability to facilitate student-led learning and to apply knowledge and
skills to novel, relevant and authentic situations;
(viii) Candidates will demonstrate the
implementation of authentic teaching and learning strategies, including
project-based learning, problem-based learning, and place-based
education;
(ix) Candidates will
foster a learning environment which encourages risk taking, innovation and
creativity; and
(x) Candidates will
demonstrate the ability to facilitate student-led team-based learning with
appropriate etiquette.
5.
The program will provide candidates with authentic experiences in STEM and STEM
related careers and teaching environments (a clinical component) as indicated
by the following:
(i) Candidates will show
evidence of an interaction with a STEM related business or externships with
STEM professionals to gain perspective of what it is to work in a STEM or STEM
related field;
(ii) Candidates will
show evidence of field based experiences that includes observation of
classrooms, collaborative planning and interview of teachers in an integrated
STEM education environment that is evidenced by reflective documentation;
and
(iii) Candidates will complete
an interdisciplinary STEM culminating project.