Learner and Learning
In the EPP in UPR Aguadilla the teacher candidates expand their initial knowledge about the learner and learning beginning in the fundamental education courses for example Human Growth and Development I and II (EDFU 3001-3002), Social Foundation in Education (EDFU 3007) and Philosophical Foundation in Education (EDFU 4019) and Special Education course, Nature and Needs of the Exceptional Education (EDES 4006). They follow a series of learner and learning courses to become elementary or secondary school teachers K-12. These courses are methodology per class specialty, seminar, and teaching curriculum. (see the curriculums of the Department of Education and Physical Education on the website page, Areas of Study at https://ppm.uprag.edu/areas-of-study/).
At UPR Aguadilla the teacher candidates of our programs follow a specific series of learner and learning courses to approved PCMAS and become teachers serving the community. The teacher candidate needs at least to do field five hours of observations. Then, 15 hours of observations in the seminar and finally the candidate student will have to complete 300 hours in a practice center.
The Puerto Rico Department of Education (DEPR) establishes the regulations and policies that govern the teaching profession in PR. In 2022, the DEPR reviewed the Regulations for the Certification of Teaching Personnel of the Department of Education of Puerto Rico. The new regulations include new academic and professional requirements that an aspiring teacher must pass to obtain a regular teaching certificate. This allows him to work as a teacher in public and private schools on the island, in accordance with Law 94 of June 21, 1955, as amended, known as the Law to Regulate Teacher Certification. The regulations establish the requirements for academic and professional preparation, experiences, concentrations (baccalaureate level) and specialties (graduate level) that must be met by candidates to be certified to practice in the different categories of teaching staff positions. The required courses are aimed at satisfying the requirements of the Teacher Certification. The new revision requires that Bachelor of Arts in Education degrees include:
- Psychological, Sociological and Philosophical Foundations of Education
- Knowledge of the Human Being from Conception to Adolescence
- Pedagogical Evaluation that includes Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Development of Reading, Writing and Oral Communication Skills
- Introduction to the Exceptional Child that includes Technological Assistance and Inclusion
- Special Education – intervention for the regular stream
- Curricular Content and Preparation of Educational Materials
- Integration of Technology in Education that includes Distance and Virtual Teaching
- Clinical Teaching Experience in the Specialty
- History of Puerto Rico
- United States history
In the specific case of the certification for an English teacher, the certification establishes that the bachelor’s degree in arts education with a concentration in English integrates the K-12 or English Teaching (TESOL) levels that includes the aforementioned courses and in addition:
- Three (3) credits of methodology in the K-12 discipline or instead 3 credits in teaching methodology in elementary and 3 credits in teaching methodology in secondary school,
- Literature for both levels (elementary and secondary),
- Courses in phonetics, linguistics, comparative analysis, grammar and composition.
Given the changes presented in the new regulations, the faculty of the Department of Education evaluated the curricular sequence of the three bachelor’s degrees in arts in Education and recommended making the changes to adjust the curricula to the new Puerto Rico Teacher Certification Regulations of the DEPR, 2022 The changes were approved by the Academic Senate through certification 2022-23-29.
The learner and learning category are addressed in The Integrative Activity in the course (EDES 4006). The activity is designed, coordinated, and implemented by teacher candidates from both programs and is aimed at children and young people with disabilities and/or significant cognitive impairment. Considering this population, teacher candidates integrate diverse, varied, and fun activities to provide appropriate spaces for students with disabilities to enjoy, while practicing different skill development according to the needs of students with functional diversity. Some of the impacted academic skills are in music, art, physical education, health, Spanish, mathematics, science, social studies, among others.