Assessing doctoral students' dispositions focuses on their attitudes, beliefs, interests, values, and ethics reflected in their behaviors toward those individuals with whom they interact. Dispositions continue to be one of the three evaluative areas for professional educators (knowledge, dispositions, and performances) (Council of Chief State School Officers’ Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium, 2020). Efforts continue to group dispositions and link them to educational theories to better understand their importance (Altan, Lane, & Dottin, 2019). The School of Education will assess dispositions in five areas: learning environment, collaboration, creative and critical thinking, professionalism, and diversity.
Doctoral students reflect upon the importance of the learning environment as a place to share experiences and learn from others with the realization of the varied nature of learning. Flexibility and responsiveness to others' learning processes and the ability to adapt to different learning styles are important indicators of the desired disposition for doctoral students. As scholars, students must also value and seek the engagement of other practitioners through professional organizations and learning communities. Relevant dispositions include the following:
Accepting others' perspectives and constructively resolving conflicts are integral parts of collaboration. Doctoral students should have a collaborative disposition that involves all stakeholders in collectively integrating ideas for growth. Flexibility and openness when making decisions using data-driven solutions to problems is a critical disposition. Doctoral students know consideration for others' perspectives and ideas can improve best practices, thus will seek to understand those perspectives and facilitate decisions that show respect for colleagues, students, and other stakeholders. Relevant dispositions include the following:
Doctoral students must seek continuous improvement through professional service and research opportunities. Examining their position within a learning community occurs through self-reflection and continuous engagement with others to share best practices and design a positive learning environment. Critically analyzing a problem by engaging with others leads to creative solutions. Relevant dispositions include the following:
As professionals, doctoral students must be able to make responsible, ethical decisions and communicate those decisions while constantly self-reflecting to ensure the implementation of best practices. This comes through actively listening to the opinions and ideas of all in the community of learners before deciding upon a plan of action. Doctoral students also seek opportunities to engage in activities to improve understanding of both self and others. Relevant dispositions include the following:
Doctoral students realize that powerful communities are built on diversity and strive to create a sense of community building upon respect for the beliefs and contributions of all members. Actions can be implemented and conflicts resolved when there is a professional consensus and this will develop a stronger academic community. Relevant dispositions include the following:
Council of Chief State School Officers’ Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium. (2020 July). InTASC model core teaching standards and learning progressions for teachers 1.0. https://ccsso.org/sites/default/files/2017-12/2013_INTASC_Learning_Progressions_for_Teachers.pdf
Rokicki, S. (2018). Dispositional transference in teacher preparation candidates. (Publication No. 107788192). ProQuest Dissertation and Theses Global.
The Danielson Group. (2013). The framework for teaching. https://danielsongroup.org/framework/framework-teaching
Dispositions are an evaluative area for professional educators. At the conclusion of the student’s SoE degree program, the NU School of Education assesses dispositions in five areas: learning environment, collaboration, creative and critical thinking, professionalism, and diversity.
For your oral defense PowerPoint, create a Program Reflections slide per the instructions in the Oral Defense Presentation template. The preceding information in this document will help you prepare the reflections slide.
List the three areas you will discuss as bullet points on the slide. Then reflect on your NU experience and use the slide as a guide to briefly discuss how your doctoral experience has contributed to the development of your skills and abilities in any three of the five areas listed below.
[ ] Flexible, productive, respectful learning environment
[ ] Collaboration including listening, respect, consensus, and implementation in local or professional communities
[ ] Creative, flexible, open, critical thinking, resulting in analyzing, prioritizing and creating solutions
[ ] Professionalism that fosters self-reflection, communication, professional development or service, and current research and best practice making ethical decisions
[ ] Diversity in others’ perspectives, inclusive practices, respectful interaction, and strategies and modifications for learners
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