Program Overview

The Master of Education in Teaching (MEdT) program aims to prepare reflective teachers who wish to become a significant influence in the livees of those they teach and agents of change in schools. It recognizes the complex nature of teaching and the vital interplay of theory and practice implicit in the work of the teacher. The MEdT partnership between the University and school and community partners aims to promote concurrent school renewal, support of local community values and reform in teacher education.

The Master of Education in Teaching program looks for applicants who have completed Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees and are highly motivated to enter a challenging two-year graduate program. The MEdT leads to a graduate degree from the University of Hawai‘i and teacher certification by the State of Hawai‘i. The MEdT requires a full-time commitment for two academic years and the intervening summer.

Program Principles

The program of professional studies is based upon these four principles:

• Professional learning should take place in the context of thinking and acting as a teacher.

  The primary vehicles for the professional content in the program will involve practical experiences in real school and classroom situations and with community leaders and organizatins. Students will be placed in schools by their program coordinators where they will work together with classroom teachers and leaders on school-based projects.

• Students should be actively involved in and responsible for their own learning so that they can develop into independent professionals and teachers.

  Students will study and learn in small groups and receive direction and support from university faculty mentors assigned to their cohort group. The the inquiry method is the primary approach to teaching and learning in the MET. The program therefore promotes active participation by students in problem formulation, problem solving and practical initiatives.

• Students should learn about teaching in collaboration with one another and with practicing professionals so that they can become teachers who know how to work collaboratively in schools.

  Throughout the program, tasks will be assigned to groups of students who will have shared responsibility for their successful completion. Students also will plan and implement instructional activities in conjunction with experienced classroom teachers and with MEdT faculty.

• Students should routinely evaluate and be evaluated for their learning and teaching so they can develop a thoughtful and self-critical attitude towards their own professional practice.

  Students’ explanations, justifications, and assessments of their professional judgements and actions will be a planned part of the program. MET faculty and partnership teachers will be regularly involved in the developmental evaluation of student performance in every part of the program.