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What is Teacher Education?

Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari

Teacher education is the process of providing teachers and potential teachers with the skills and knowledge necessary to teach effectively in a classroom environment. Most teacher education starts with initial training such as a degree program at a college or university, though other paths are available for a candidate to begin teacher education. Once a teacher has completed a degree program, and he or she has obtained certification, a teacher may continue his or her education while teaching full-time. Continuing education courses, seminars, and professional development activities are all considered part of ongoing teacher training.

A teacher must complete some sort of teacher education before becoming a full-time teacher. In most cases, a teaching candidate will enroll in a teacher training program at a college or university, thus allowing them the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree in education. A student may then choose to continue his or her teacher education by obtaining a master's degree, PhD., or professional certificate. Once a bachelor's degree is completed, however, a teacher may instead choose to take the necessary exams for certification and begin teaching immediately. Most school districts require a teacher work full-time to fulfill other educational requirements as he or she teaches; this often involves earning a master's degree in education or other field that will improve the teacher's knowledge, skills, and techniques for delivering instruction in the classroom.

Teachers often get hands on education in a classroom before becoming fully licensed.
Teachers often get hands on education in a classroom before becoming fully licensed.

Once a teacher secures a position teaching in a school, the first few years of teaching may be spent under the tutelage of a more experienced teacher or administrator. This is sometimes considered part of teacher education and is meant to allow the teacher a mentor under whom he or she can learn new skills and adapt to a new environment. Once that phase is over, or while that phase is underway, a teacher will be responsible for developing short- and long-term goals for furthering his or her education.

A teacher must complete some sort of teacher education program before becoming a full-time teacher.
A teacher must complete some sort of teacher education program before becoming a full-time teacher.

This process of continuing education within the teaching realm is sometimes known as professional development, and it may include any number of activities that improve the teacher's ability to teach. Many teachers take part in online or distance learning classes that adapt to his or her teaching schedule, while others may participate in on-site classes at a community college, four-year college, or university. These classes may be credit classes or non-credit classes, and a teacher may or may not work toward a higher degree.

Discussion Comments

surfNturf

@Moldova - I think that it is a good idea to receive a degree in education if you can because I know that in order to become a Reading teacher you have to have an undergraduate degree in either elementary or early childhood education and then you can apply for a Masters in Reading education.

I don’t think that they offer reading endorsements if you don’t have a degree in education. At least that is what I was told because I was interested in getting a Masters in Reading education. I also considered getting an art teacher education degree but I decided against it because a lot of the school systems are cutting programs like art and music so I know it would be difficult to find a job.

Moldova

@Suntan12 -I know that many school districts allow shorter certification programs for prospective teachers that already have a Bachelor’s degree in a different subject.

In Florida, if for example, you have a degree in political science you can take the four teacher certification courses and if you pass the teaching exam for social studies, you will be eligible to receive a temporary certificate and be able to teach social studies.

If you don’t have a degree in a related subject area, I know that you have to take the thirty credits associated with the subject that you want to teach and take the certification exam in order to be able to teach in the public school. I know with private schools you don’t necessarily need the certification.

suntan12

I wanted to say that I was looking into a teacher education program and if you receive a degree in a critical shortage area you can actually apply for a loan forgiveness program that forgives a teacher’s student loans as long as they work for the public school system for three consecutive years.

A lot of teachers that I know are taking advantage of this option and seeking a Masters degree online. I think that these scholarships for teacher education are really great because one of the things that I worry about when considering going back to college is the high cost of receiving a degree. This really makes it much easier.

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    • Teachers often get hands on education in a classroom before becoming fully licensed.
      By: sepy
      Teachers often get hands on education in a classroom before becoming fully licensed.
    • A teacher must complete some sort of teacher education program before becoming a full-time teacher.
      By: Monkey Business
      A teacher must complete some sort of teacher education program before becoming a full-time teacher.
    • In the United States, student teaching is a requirement for becoming a certified teacher.
      By: Monkey Business
      In the United States, student teaching is a requirement for becoming a certified teacher.
    • In order for teachers to remain certified, they need to take a specified number of continuing education courses.
      By: Nolte Lourens
      In order for teachers to remain certified, they need to take a specified number of continuing education courses.
    • Teacher education includes developing effective presentation skills for use in a classroom setting.
      By: Sergey Nivens
      Teacher education includes developing effective presentation skills for use in a classroom setting.