Fall 2012
How could you have been better prepared as a teacher? Are there any specific areas you feel were
lacking from your preparation?
 Students felt that more field placement opportunities should be provided allowing for more
experience in the classroom.
 More courses on accommodating special needs students and English language learners.
 Classroom management courses including specific content and discussions on inappropriate
behavior in the classroom and how it should be dealt with
o Mentions of a possible counseling class offered for education majors.
 Special Education majors mentioned having their field 1 experience earlier on in the college
career.
 Special Education majors mentioned there being too much overlap with their courses.
 Special Education majors mentioned having some form of IEP training built in within a few of
their classes; this could include mock IEP writing, creating a more hands on approach.
What will you do now to address these identified areas of weakness?
 Students commented on creating a positive support system including professionals in the field
for ideas on how to improve teaching.
 Students mentioned furthering their research to become a better teacher and professional;
being lifelong learners.
 Students also mentioned attending professional development workshops in areas of need.
 Learning by experience was mentioned by numerous students.
What, in your opinion, are the strengths of the program and what areas of teaching do you feel well
prepared for?
 Students mentioned the excellent professors they encountered while their studies here at the
University of Scranton; the professors were very accessibly, professional, experienced, had a
positive attitude and created a work environment where learning was encouraged; also
displayed a willingness to help whenever needed.
 Students also felt they were very prepared to write lesson plans for their field experiences.
Fall 2013
How could you have been better prepared as a teacher? Are there any specific areas you feel were
lacking from your preparation?
 Students mentioned a need for classroom management courses built into their curriculum that
would deal with how to deal with issues in the classroom.
 Students mentioned the need for more technology instruction or courses offered by the
department.
 One student mentioned the possibility of observing a student teacher in the field towards the
end of their student teaching experience; this could be run as a mentor program for younger
students and a chance for upper level students to interact with younger students to pass on
advice and some lessons they have learned throughout their experience.
 Students mentioned developing more lesson plans for block schedule, rather than the typical 45
minute class period.
What, in your opinion, are the strengths of the program and what areas of teaching do you feel well
prepared for?
 Students appreciate the small class sizes offered here at the University of Scranton.
 Students liked the relationships they were able to build with their professors within the
department; being able to connect to them to gain knowledge on a daily basis was important.
 Students were well prepared to develop sound lesson plans when it came time for field
experience; incorporating the appropriate standards and how they were to match up with a
lesson plan; lots of experience writing sound objectives for their lesson plans.
 Students liked the idea of seminar groups during student teaching; gave a sense of a cohort and
a place where ideas could be shared.
 Students felt that the observations they did during their field II and field III were beneficial and
made the transition into student teaching a little easier.
Spring 2013
How could you have been better prepared as a teacher? Are there any specific areas you feel were
lacking from your preparation?
 Students mentioned the need for classroom management course;
o Students felt unprepared and overwhelmed with some of the situations they were
placed in during student teaching when it came to classroom management.
 Students mentioned the option of having more professional and career orientated opportunities
while in their professional seminar period of student teaching; this includes mock interviews,
resume building, preparing for the application process, and different practical information that
could be used later in their career.
 Students would like to see a course or more exposure within their curriculum dealing with
differentiated instruction; more specifically how to complete this task explicitly in the classroom.
 Students would like to see less theory and more methods in their classes.
 Students stressed the need for a technology class to prepare them for the many different ways
this can be used in the classroom to create a positive learning environment.
 Students mentioned having more exposure to diversity in their field experience and therefore
creating sensitivity of language used in the classroom; possibly a course offered on multicultural
education.
 Students feel that their Field III experience needs to be longer, with more time spent in the
classroom; possibly offering back to back days in the classroom with the chance of seeing
student growth; students said that there was too much time in between each visit for Field III.
 Students mentioned possibly creating an undergraduate reading course or a course focusing on
content literacy.
 Middle education majors mentioned the need of more special education; could be done with a
special education course, or more time dedicated to special needs students within their
curriculum.
 Multiple comments were made regarding the Textbook and Trade books class for Middle Level
Majors not being necessary.
What, in your opinion, are the strengths of the program and what areas of teaching do you feel well
prepared for?
 Students were satisfied with the amount of planning and instructional methods they were
assigned; this allowed them to be prepared for teaching in their content area during their Field
experiences and student teaching.
 Students mentioned the excellent professors they encountered at the university; students noted
how their professors were role models in the classroom, were professional in their interactions,
compassionate towards other students, and available when needed.
 Students liked how the education program is up to date and always current with what is being
taught; this promotes students to be lifelong learners.
 Students felt that the education department at the University prepares students better here
than at other institutions.
 Students mentioned how their professors prepared them for using a SmartBoard in the
classroom.