Ed-Ventures Overview

Florida has identified and validated twelve generic teaching principles as the competencies needed by all teachers to support highest student achievement. Reflective of higher standards rather than minimum competencies, these twelve principles are referred to as the Educator Accomplished Practices. The twelve Educator Accomplished Practices are:

Assessment
Communication
Continuous Improvement
Critical Thinking
Diversity
Ethics
Human Development & Learning
Knowledge of Subject Matter
Learning Environments
Planning
Role of the Teacher
Technology

Three benchmark levels, along with corresponding sample key indicators at each benchmark for every practice, distinguish successive phases in a teacher's career. The benchmarks reflect the continuous quality improvement in the initial training and continued development of a professional educator. A candidate for a Professional Certificate in Florida must demonstrate mastery of each of the twelve Educator Accomplished Practices at the first benchmark level - the same knowledge, skills, and dispositions expected of a new graduate from a Florida approved teacher preparation program.

Florida's Alternative Certification Program offers an on-line curriculum of professional preparation in each of the twelve Educator Accomplished Practices. Individuals hired from other careers can use the curriculum as on-the-job training to acquire the beginning teacher's foundation for continued growth as a professional Florida educator. Supported in the learning experience by an on-line tutor, the new teacher has many opportunities to learn both as a reflective practitioner and through interactive dialogue with other teachers.

The on-line curriculum appears as twelve Ed-ventures - one for each of the twelve Educator Accomplished Practices. Each Ed-venture includes:

Introduction to the Educator Accomplished Practice
Goals and Learner Objective
Assigned Readings
Key Concepts
Glossary
Learning Activities
Assessment Tasks
Rubrics for each Assessment Task
Links to Other Resources

The Ed-ventures embrace an Alice in Ed-ventureland theme. The choice of this theme provides an element of sophisticated whimsy along with an important message for all teachers ~ learning should be an engaging educational adventure!