Unity College
Teacher Education Program
E³ Conceptual Framework
Vision
The Unity College Teacher Education Program will thrive as a recognized leader of certification programs preparing environmentally aware, experientially oriented and personally engaged teachers.
Mission
The Unity College Teacher Education Program prepares dedicated students for professional practice as engaged and environmentally aware experiential educators. Graduates of the Program are qualified for certification as secondary science teachers in the state of Maine.
Experience, Engagement and Environment
At Unity College we believe that learning happens most powerfully when effective people are deeply involved with the natural world, their communities and each other. The Unity College Teacher Education Program E3 Conceptual Framework translates Unity College’s singular educational and environmental mission into a practical programmatic philosophy. The E3 Conceptual Framework: Experience, Engagement and Environment guides the development, describes the commitments and provides the inspiration for the Unity College Teacher Education Program.
Experience (Program and Pedagogy)
Unity College students expect hands-on/minds-on, practical and authentic learning experiences. The Teacher Education Program is committed to delivering a program that not only employs experiential learning strategies, but also examines and evaluates experiential teaching and learning as pedagogy.
Unity College Teacher Education Program faculty, staff and students…
Collaborate to create a supportive, authentic and exploratory learning community.
Investigate, plan and employ diverse styles, strategies and philosophies of teaching and learning.
Value early and ongoing professional practice, project-based learning, constant feedback and continual reflection.
Engagement (People and Professionalism)
Unity College enjoys a culture of participation that encourages a high degree of involvement and responsibility. As members of The Teacher Education Program, students are treated as professional partners in teaching and learning and demonstrate the highest character in the classroom and in life.
Unity College Teacher Education Program faculty, staff and students…
Are dedicated, collegial and empathetic professionals.
Fulfill moral, legal and professional obligations.
Celebrate diversity, commit to service and engage community.
Value and engage in purposeful teaching and learning.
Keep pace with technological and professional developments.
Environment (Place and Purpose)
In keeping with our mission, all Unity College students are prepared to live lives of Environmental Stewardship. By extension, Teacher Education Program members value the environment, nature and place as both ecological and pedagogical resources.
Unity College Teacher Education Program faculty, staff and students…
Are environmentally aware citizens who apply insight and information to teaching and to life.
Utilize the natural world as a laboratory and understand the educational value and power of place.
Deliberately set and evaluate the intellectual, physical, emotional and social conditions that facilitate learning.