Connection
is at the heart of Gallaudet’s education programs. At Gallaudet
we emphasize that all of our professional work in deaf education
is embedded in multiple contexts, and promote connections
to and among these contexts. These contexts include: Cultures,
Communities, Families, Schools, Universities, and Professions.
Graduates of our programs are able to communicate with, respond
to and build on lives in and out of schools to assure that
all students learn to their highest potentials.
Deaf/ Hearing Worlds:
An important goal at Gallaudet is creating connections among
deaf and hearing worlds. Candidates at Gallaudet learn
that "deaf", "hearing", and "hard-of-hearing"
are not unitary, separate identities, but are complex and
varied in language, communication and learning strengths and
needs. Because connections are based in language and communication,
these are a key focus at Gallaudet, both for our candidates,
and for their students. While at Gallaudet, candidates learn
about connections among people through classroom interactions,
guest speakers, community service, and clinical experiences.
Candidates leave Gallaudet prepared to be allies, advocates,
and leaders in deaf education.
Local, National, and Global
Perspectives: Gallaudet
is an ideal environment for promoting connections among local,
national, and global perspectives. Students come to Gallaudet
from all over the United States and the world, and programs
tap into the resources brought by our diverse and international
students. We model a focus on "local", or individual,
through a holistic approach in which advisors and program
faculty work closely with candidates beyond the classroom
to promote personal and professional growth throughout the
program. In class interactions, teaching, and content students
learn to tap diverse perspectives as a resource for learning.
When students leave Gallaudet, they go to an equally varied
set of locations, cultures, and perspectives in deaf education.
Language and communication, with the use of varied and multiple
instructional strategies, are at the heart of demonstrating
to and developing in our candidates the ability to teach for
and learn from multicultural and global students.
Tradition with Innovation:
Gallaudet’s education programs also connect tradition and
innovation. Gallaudet candidates learn from and build
on the histories and heritage of multiple deaf communities
and their larger cultures and communities. They do so while
tapping state-of-the art resources of the 21st
century, including new knowledge in learning, linguistics,
performance assessment, and deaf education. Candidates learn
to make use of innovations as resources in their teaching,
while valuing traditional resources.
Theoretical Practice:
Gallaudet’s programs teach theory in practice, and practice
that develops theories. Theoretical practice begins from
two foundations: personal/professional characteristics and
a strong knowledge base in areas such as linguistics, child
development, pedagogy, culture, and learning. We seek candidates
with a commitment to becoming excellent professionals. Candidates
must also have the power of a knowledge base that comes from
both formal (in-class and field experiences) and informal
(e.g., campus interactions, community service) program experiences.
Theory and practice are woven together in Gallaudet programs
enabling graduates to become theoretically-based practitioners.
Reflective Inquiry:
At Gallaudet we value reflection and interactive inquiry.
At the heart of reflective inquiry as an educator is the commitment
to the profession, and to deaf education specifically. Reflection
and inquiry into one’s own practice, as well as the vast uncharted
territory in deaf education, is a constant in programs through
interactive discussions, case studies, video-taped practice,
self-and peer assessments, and interactions with faculty who
are breaking new ground in deaf education. A corollary to
reflective practice during professional preparation is the
commitment to life-long learning throughout one’s career.
Reflective inquiry and life-long learning allow our graduates
to not only tolerate the ambiguity inherent in deaf education,
but understand that it is a catalyst for further growth and
development.
Revised 7/10/01
Links to Knowledge-Base statements
for each of the Professional Education Unit programs:
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