Eric.ed.gov – Personalizing Instruction Through Competency-Based Teacher Education.

The pilot program is designed to implement individualized instruction for the prospective teacher (Competency-Based Teacher Education Model) and public school children (Personalized Instruction Model). Students participate in an individualized learning program while aspiring teachers complete their teacher training competencies through knowledge and performance levels at Portal Schools. The children work in open-space instructional areas that utilize diagnosing and prescribing methods, scope and sequence activities, learning centers, learning activity packages, and contracts. Teachers demonstrate their competencies with specific skills, which include the following: motivating and reinforcing students, producing instructional materials, and personalizing instruction. All competencies are completed on-site with the assistance of clinical professors. Two supportive elements of this pilot program are a) using volunteers to tutor children in math and reading skills and to produce instructional materials for individualizing instruction and b) providing effective in-service training for other teachers interested in individualizing instruction, with emphasis on demonstrations and instructional material production. (In addition to the explanation of the program, this document contains a booklet, edited by J. Michael Davis, which gives presentations, demonstrations, and resources from the Southeastern United States Symposium on Competency-Based Teacher Education.) (Author/JA)