Innovation at Saint Bonaventure University
The Innovations Inventory of AACTE’s Innovation Exchange is an online database highlighting members’ pioneering practices in educator preparation that have shown a positive impact on issues of student learning, preparation program advancement, or educator workforce needs. This blog post is one in a series highlighting entries from the inventory. To request inclusion of your institution’s innovations, contact Zach VanHouten at zvanhouten@aacte.org.
The College of Education at Saint Bonaventure University (NY) has embraced the professional development school model in its initial teacher certification programs as a method for providing rich clinical experiences for teacher candidates. Under this model, candidates receive extensive supervised training in an apprentice style of learning, spending 2 full days per week for 2 semesters in the classroom acquiring the necessary skills to become full-time teachers. Candidates gain in-depth knowledge of classroom structure, management, and technique while learning alongside their cooperating teacher and their cohort of students. Prior to student teaching, each candidate spends a minimum of 300 hours in classrooms; upon completion of the program, each one has spent approximately 1,000 clock hours overall in clinical practice.
The Saint Bonaventure College of Education also incorporates technology such as online and blended learning, SMART Boards, and relevant software into course work so that graduates of the programs are ready to teach in the 21st-century environment, including experience with “flipped” classrooms and current digital tools.
Teacher candidates from the university’s programs enjoy a high pass rate on state licensure exams.
To learn more about Saint Bonaventure University or other institutions participating in the Innovations Inventory, visit http://theinnovationexchange.net/programs/innovations-inventory.
Tags: clinical preparation, content areas, data, school-university partnerships
