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Red AppleAssessment of Professional Dispositions

Candidates must demonstrate the following dispositions as they complete coursework in the program, during field experiences, and during student teaching:

  1. Collaboration: Works together with others to achieve a common goal in all academic and professional settings
    • Cooperates with others
    • Makes contribution to group effort
    • Shares information and materials with others
    • Assists peers
    • Supports decisions of group willingly, even if different from own
    • Plans and sets goals and priorities with others
    • Establishes professional goals that are aligned with those of the organization
    • Makes relevant contributions to discussions

  2. Honesty/Integrity: Demonstrates truthfulness, professional behavior and trustworthiness
    • Models behavior expected of both teachers and learners in an educational setting
    • Communicates without intent to deceive
    • Gives credit to others when using their work
    • Acts with honesty and integrity in all academic and professional situations

  3. Respect: Honors, values and demonstrates consideration and regard for oneself and others
    • Demonstrates a friendly and caring manner to others
    • Uses appropriate professional language
    • Takes care of property of others in all academic and professional situations
    • Demonstrates empathy and concern for others

  4. Commitment to learning: Demonstrates a respect for and is serious about knowledge acquisition
    • Values knowledge, content, and experiences presented in preservice academic programs
    • Takes initiative to expand knowledge base
    • Actively engaged during instructional time and field experiences
    • Seeks opportunities to learn new skills
    • Uses credible and data-based sources
    • Demonstrates enthusiasm for the subject being taught
    • Demonstrates positive attitude toward learning
    • Demonstrates intellectual and academic curiosity

  5. Emotional maturity: Demonstrates situationally appropriate behavior
    • Uses appropriate strategies to respond to emotional and emergency situations
    • Responds to situations professionally
    • Uses appropriate tone of voice
    • Initiates communication to resolve conflict
    • Maintains emotional control
    • Uses self-disclosure appropriately
    • Uses appropriate non-verbal expressions
    • Acts from a positive frame of reference most of the time, including when changes occur
    • Adapts to unexpected or new situations
    • Accepts less than ideal situations when necessary
    • Demonstrates good personal hygiene
    • Dresses appropriately for the situation

  6. Responsibility: Acts independently and demonstrates accountability, reliability, and sound judgment
    • Gives priority to health and safety concerns of others, as well as self
    • Protects personal health to avoid absences
    • Accepts consequences for personal actions or decisions
    • Submits individual and/or group assignments on time or follows procedures for extensions
    • Prepares for classes, meetings, and group work
    • Manages time effectively
    • Completes assigned tasks from group activities within an acceptable time frame
    • Seeks clarification and/or assistance as needed
    • Prioritizes work based upon established goals
    • Returns borrowed materials in a timely manner
    • Takes initiative to get materials and notes when absent from meetings or classes
    • Seeks/locates needed resources
    • Ensures accuracy of information for which he/she is responsible
    • Arrives for class on time
    • Attends class regularly

  7. Fairness: Demonstrates commitment to meet the education needs of all students in a caring, non-discriminatory, and equitable manner
    • Responds appropriately to actions and reactions of others
    • Accepts feedback from others
    • Identifies personal responsibility in conflict/problem situations
    • Considers opinions of others with an open mind
    • Displays equitable treatment of others
    • Uses sound judgment in decision making
    • Takes action to solve problems in an equitable manner
    • Makes decisions and acts with honesty and integrity

  8. Belief that ALL students can learn: Demonstrates behaviors that support a culturally diverse educational environment that provides opportunities for all students to learn
    • Listens attentively to others in a variety of contexts
    • Acknowledges perspectives of individuals from diverse cultural and experiential backgrounds
    • Interacts appropriately in relation to cultural norms
    • Appreciates and embraces individual differences
    • Demonstrates positive attitudes toward diverse cultures and learners
    • Conveys high expectations for achievement

Formal Assessment of Dispositions
Dispositions are formally assessed at three points during the program:

  1. During EIS 302

  2. During the second semester junior year methods courses

  3. During student teaching

Assessment of Dispositions When Concerns Arise
Faculty or mentor teachers may complete a disposition checklist or submit a letter of concern any time a candidate does not display the behaviors reflected by these dispositions.

Information about the assessment of dispositions can be found at
http://www.wiu.edu/studentteaching/dispositions.html