The Initial Teacher Education Program and the Advanced Programs of Teacher Leadership, Administrative Leadership and Master of Music in Music Education share a common vision of Educating Professionals for All Learners. Each program has developed a specific set of standards/competencies related to the three key areas or dimensions of Commitment to Others, Scholarship/Leadership and Reflective Practice and aligned with state, national, and professional organization standards for teachers or school administrators.

Program specific standards or competencies provide direction for the development and implementation of courses, field or practicum experiences, candidate performance and assessment, as well as the Assessment System developed for all Silver Lake College Professional Education Programs.

The three dimensions of Commitment to Others, Scholarship/Leadership and Reflective Practice provide a basis for coherence of course work, field experiences, assessment and evaluation within each of the four Silver Lake College Professional Education Programs. These common dimensions reflect ideas and practices advocated by educational leaders, as well as the mission of Silver Lake College.

Knowledge Base for Conceptual Framework’s
Three Common Dimensions

Scholarship/Leadership  - The concepts of leadership and service are presented to the initial and advanced candidates from a practical philosophic perspective that supports professionals who choose to serve first, and then lead as a way of expanding service to individual and institutions (Greenleaf, 1977). This view of leadership flowing from service is consistent with Judeo-Christian values, and relates to a current notion of shared instructional leadership that calls forth the substantial talents of teachers and thus links leadership with learning (Lambert, 1988).

Helpful Resources
Adler Archives
John Dewey
Multiple Intelligences
Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development
Piaget and Theory of Cognitive Development
Vygotsky
Aristotle
Brain-based Learning
Theories of Learning
Differentiated Instruction

Commitment to Others  — The concept of commitment to others is presented to the candidates as core values and actions that the candidates will develop and expand throughout their course of study and beyond. Commitment to others stems from the most essential element of the Franciscan philosophy: the promotion of truth, justice, and peace (Franciscan Committee Document, 2001).

Helpful Resources
Servant Leadership
Differentiating Instruction
Effective Teacher Characteristics
Service Learning
Culturally Effective Communication

Reflective Practice   — The concept of reflective practice stems from a recognition of the need for continuous assessment of student learning, teacher performance, and school-wide programs and activities in order to improve instruction, enhance school climate, and promote learning. Assessment is viewed as an ongoing collection of data or information that enlightens the teacher, administrator, learner, parents, and community members and aims at having a positive effect upon learning (Strickland and Strickland, 1998). The reflective practices integrated into the professional programs develop the leader while improving the learning environment of students at the same time. Each program includes a reflective component, and thereby gives the candidate opportunities to examine and evaluate his/her own learning.

Helpful Resources
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Marzano's Dimensions of Learning
Bloom's Taxonomy
Educational Objectives
Classroom Assessment

Standards or Competency Areas developed for each Silver Lake College Professional Education Program are listed on the chart below.

INITIAL AND ADVANCED PROGRAM
STANDARDS/COMPETENCIES